This has nothing to do with carriers. This is Apple's own financing plan. The requirement to activate with a carrier is Apple's and the banks doing, not the carriers.
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iPhone Upgrade Program [MERGED]
- Thread starter kybldmstr
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Why would the bank care so long as you're paying the bill? As a matter of law, the lien holder doesn't own the phone. Their only recourse is to sue and get a judgment for the amount owed. I supposed they could try to repossess the collateral too, but that's usually not worth it on small items like phones.
So, if you have two open lines with ATT out of contract, can you use that as proof that you have an account and put your sim in? Or are they saying you have to activate a new line with a carrier?
Nobody knows for sure. Some Apple customer service people have said MVNO and prepaid are ok, but whether that's going to be the official line on the 25th remains to be seen.
I don't know the exact reason. Typically with all leased items, you're required to provide proof of continued ownership. I assume the same reasoning applies here. It's just less risky for the lender when the require that you use the product as they intend.
From what I can tell it requires activation, but who knows. When you visit the Apple website you have to enter carrier information in order to purchase a phone using the pay in full option. The only carrier that doesn't require that is T-Mobile. I assume this is because their phones are unlocked from the beginning.
Well, I can run mine through as a debit (using a pin) or as a credit (where you sign). Netflix has recurring charges on it, our car insurance and even bills with auto pay. I think I will stick with NEXT this year and see how it all plays out with Apple
I do the same thing, but the service providers treat the card as a credit card not PIN debit.
That is my assumption that it is accepted anywhere visa is accepted.
So if you are currently in the middle of a two year contract on Verizon, you should still be able to join the new upgrade program from Apple, no? It would be just like buying an unlocked phone and then activating it on your number I would assume.
It is daily deliveries the first few weeks for new model iPhones.
So you will have to check back at some time either before or very early on each day going forward to check availability! (until stock stabilizes)
Does anyone know the story with work/corporate accounts? T-mobile corporate perhaps?
I understand they don't have an activation fee and they seem to be the easies to buy out-right without any carrier account info...
Would I be able to simple switch T-mo SIMs from a 6 to a 6s, verify in front of the apple employee and proceed with the upgrade program (without any account info)?
I understand they don't have an activation fee and they seem to be the easies to buy out-right without any carrier account info...
Would I be able to simple switch T-mo SIMs from a 6 to a 6s, verify in front of the apple employee and proceed with the upgrade program (without any account info)?
Made an appointment for 9/25 at 9:30am twice with the iPhone app and got the confirmation screen which I saved. But no email, and that screen shot gives no personal identifying info that it was my reservation. Seems very strange and doesn't give me much confidence that I have an actual appointment.
Is it just me or is this upgrade program too good to be true? I still have yet to see any downsides other than a possible infinite monthly bill 
.
1. Starting with the 4S we were keen on trading in our iPhones to get money for new iPhones. We didn't care that we weren't getting top dollar, we liked the convienence.
2. With the fiasco of no subsidized pricing offered by Apple that left us in a bind. So I'll sell one of my 5S to a friend and give the other to my dad I think.
3. With IUP, they take our old phones from us and essentially give us $540 dollars remaining on the phone balance.
What I mean is this:
If the iPhone 6S Plus 128gb with AppleCare+ is $1078, you only need to make $539 dollars of payments before you can get a new iPhone.
This means next year you can get a new iPhone.
The downside is a monthly bill and $450 extra dollars in a calendar year no matter how you look at it. if you do 2 year contract you are stuck with iPhone 6S next year but don't have the bill.
I'm about to cancel my AT&T 2yr contract preorder and go for this. I have both right now. Reservation for IUP and my AT&T preorder.
My wife likes a new iPhone every year and she is leaning towards this too. It seems to make the most sense.
.1. Starting with the 4S we were keen on trading in our iPhones to get money for new iPhones. We didn't care that we weren't getting top dollar, we liked the convienence.
2. With the fiasco of no subsidized pricing offered by Apple that left us in a bind. So I'll sell one of my 5S to a friend and give the other to my dad I think.
3. With IUP, they take our old phones from us and essentially give us $540 dollars remaining on the phone balance.
What I mean is this:
If the iPhone 6S Plus 128gb with AppleCare+ is $1078, you only need to make $539 dollars of payments before you can get a new iPhone.
This means next year you can get a new iPhone.
The downside is a monthly bill and $450 extra dollars in a calendar year no matter how you look at it. if you do 2 year contract you are stuck with iPhone 6S next year but don't have the bill.
I'm about to cancel my AT&T 2yr contract preorder and go for this. I have both right now. Reservation for IUP and my AT&T preorder.
My wife likes a new iPhone every year and she is leaning towards this too. It seems to make the most sense.
Is it just me or is this upgrade program too good to be true? I still have yet to see any downsides other than a possible infinite monthly bill
1. Starting with the 4S we were keen on trading in our iPhones to get money for new iPhones. We didn't care that we weren't getting top dollar, we liked the convienence.
2. With the fiasco of no subsidized pricing offered by Apple that left us in a bind. So I'll sell one of my 5S to a friend and give the other to my dad I think.
3. With IUP, they take our old phones from us and essentially give us $540 dollars remaining on the phone balance.
What I mean is this:
If the iPhone 6S Plus 128gb with AppleCare+ is $1078, you only need to make $539 dollars of payments before you can get a new iPhone.
This means next year you can get a new iPhone.
The downside is a monthly bill and $450 extra dollars in a calendar year no matter how you look at it. if you do 2 year contract you are stuck with iPhone 6S next year but don't have the bill.
I'm about to cancel my AT&T 2yr contract preorder and go for this. I have both right now. Reservation for IUP and my AT&T preorder.
My wife likes a new iPhone every year and she is leaning towards this too. It seems to make the most sense.
Yeah if you upgrade every year and want AC+ then it makes sense. I hate the whole Sprint 2 year contract subsidized phone thing so for me it could be good since I never sell my phones anyway. I won't mind having to send the old phone back to them plus hopefully it puts me at the front of the line every year.
The fine print for the upgrade program specifically says that you need to have service with AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, or T-Mobile.
..." and iPhone activation with a national carrier — AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon"
http://www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program
All phones bought with Apple Upgrade are unlocked, if not sim-free. I would argue that service with Cricket is service with AT&T (or Boost/Sprint etc).
I agree. Forcing an in store activation, with one the the 4 majors, is Apple's way of throwing a bone to the carriers for cutting them out of the phone sales. It seems like the carriers want out of the phone subsidizing business anyway. I'm curious about what the carriers are going to do to lock people up with contracts if the subsidies go away.
Good luck arguing that. It doesn't say activation with any MVNO or any carrier. It specifically lists the big 4 US providers.
I hope you can activate with any MVNO, but I doubt it. Why would they specifically call it out in the fine print at the bottom of their website?
You can't buy the att, Verizon, or sprint versions on the Apple website without having an account with them, so I expect the same to be in place when you go in store and they process your order.
Also, I know there are going to be phones left over. Think of how many people have made appts. who will change their minds in the next 10 days. I ended up with two appointments myself, so there'll be an extra space grey 64 gb!