Q: iPhone upgrade program

The Apple Upgrade Program is just for the device, however it does require you to have an account with one of the 4 major carriers in the US. I believe you have to either have the account with the carrier before hand, or you will have to activate it at the Apple Store. As far as what plan you want to get, that is up to you to decide with the carrier as to what will fill your need.

As far as payment, you will be providing a credit card at the time of purchase for the Citizen Bank to use to deduct your monthly payment for the phone. The payments for your cellular and data usage will go to whatever carrier you are using on the device. You do not have to have a contract, just service with one of the carriers.

You're welcome.

Hi,

I dont have a contract but I am using a ''pay as you go'' (ATT). Does this count as a service? Can I enroll to the upgrade with this?

Thansk

I find the upgrade program costs much more. Whether you purchase an unlocked phone or get it with a 2 year agreement, the cost of mobile service is the same, so it doesn't impact the cost comparison.

iPhone 6s 64GB

Purchase outright:  $749

Own with monthly installment:  31.20*24=$748

Own with 2 yr telco agreement:  $299

the upgrade plan costs 36.92*24=877.58, however it includes Applecare for 129 so net of AppleCare it would be $747.58. Unfortunately, though you would have the latest model for the second year, you would never own the phone, so it is essentially a rental fee.

It seems far cheaper to pay $299 with a two year agreement and let the telcos pickup the temaining $450 of the purchase price. If you sell it on eBay at the end of 2 years you will get about the same $299 you paid for it.

You are commenting on a year old thread. Since that time, most, if not all of the US carriers have eliminated subsidized phones with contracts. They have moved to a similar plan to the Apple Upgrade, where you purchase/rent your handset to allow for faster upgrades. AT&T has the Next program, which I am familiar with, and other carriers have their own. They are not subsidizing any longer, so the days of getting a cheaper phone with a contract are pretty much over.

True, the new upgrade program was introduced about a year ago, but the discounted 2 year agreement pricing I listed can still be obtained at the Apple Store. Some telco sales staffs are not offering it, but I feel there is a possibility that similar pricing will be reintroduced in the late fall, once sales of the iPhone 7 have been assessed. Otherwise Apple's earnings will hit the slide some analysts discuss on Bloomberg and CNBC.

If only the "full price" offers remain, consumers have been asked to pay $450 more to have the privilege of using the latest 64GB 4.7" diagonal iPhone instead of a similarly capable Android OS phone like the unlocked $150 (Amazon) Alcatel OneTouch Idol 3.

I have truly enjoyed my iPhone 5, 5s and 6 like all the Apple products I have enjoyed since running a Mac user group in 1988, but I strongly feel consumer demand will shift when asked to pay $375/year plus the telco service charges to use the iPhone over its far less expensive Android brethren, even though iOS is better. It is a discussion that should be explored and not suppressed.

The upgrade program is pretty much inline with what the US cellular carriers are offering as part of their programs. I"m not sure where you are seeing 2 year subsidized programs at, but they are not contract programs in the US. And, the Apple Upgrade program is not available everywhere. I have seen lately that some carriers are offering some deals, but they are not really subsidized contracts, in the true sense of the word from past carrier subsidizing. Most all carriers are providing full price purchases, but with differences with annual upgrades that forgive the balance of the cost for the trade-in of the device.

I'm not sure where you are coming from when you stated "it is a discussion that should be explored and not suppressed". However, the TOS for the forum are about technical support questions, not about Apple and/or carrier policies and programs.

If you go to http://www.apple.com/shop/buy-iphone/iphone6s and choose a 64GB 6s with Sprint or Verizon (not ATT or T-Mobile), you will still be able to get the $299 price with a 2 year agreement. Try it!