Why are $600 phones coming with a commitment?

[NJRonbo]

It's bad enough that I am not eligible for a discount
until November. I had thought, at least according
to this chart, since my upgrade eligibility is after
December 2010 that I would pay $399 or $499 for
an iPhone 4...

So that chart is obviously wrong.

I go to preorder a 16GB phone and the price is
$600.

Here is the kicker: it comes with a 2-year contract.

Aren’t phones at the $600 mark no commitment?

 

[Applejuiced]

That doesnt make any sense.

 

[NJRonbo]

Only sense it makes to me is that I am 12 moths
into a new 2-year contract I entered last year with
the purchase of the iPhone 3GS.

So, they won't let me buy a non-commitment phone
until I finish my original commitment first.

 

[JediZenMaster]

I'm confused because if you pay 600 dollars your paying full price and therefore there is no 2 year contract. Maybe i misunderstood this.

 

[macatak911]

Yeah I was under the assumption that the $600 price is non-contract. It seems if you order from Apple.com at the price you are getting a contract.

 

[NJRonbo]

I started this thread and I think I understand the situation.

I still have another year on my contract.

So, to buy a phone at $600 they won't make it "no
commitment" because I still have to finish my original
contract out.

That is the same reason I can't even get a discount.
I am only one year into a 2-year contract. They want
at least 18 months under your belt before offering a
slight discount.

If I was out of contract then the $600 "no commitment"
would make sense.

 

[JediZenMaster]

Yeah I was under the assumption that the $600 price is non-contract. It seems if you order from Apple.com at the price you are getting a contract.

That blows, I didn't realize they re-upped my contract. So this is going to mess up my "Real" upgrade that i get next year then? Or will it balance out in the system?

 

[mathieuheartmac]

$199/$299 price is for new customers or customers eligible for an upgrade. Full price for anyone else. You must sign a contract to buy one either way.

FROM APPLE WEBSITE:
"Can I buy an iPhone without an AT&T contract?
No. iPhone requires a two-year AT&T wireless service contract."