AT&T Will Significantly Raise Early-Upgrade Prices for All Smartphones

[dgstorm]

Earlier rumors in the industry have been confirmed by AT&T that they will raise their early-upgrade pricing on Android smartphones and all other smartphones as well. Early upgrades on all smartphones will now cost a whopping $150 more if you upgrade before your contract has expired, or $50 more if you get the phone out-of-contract. An AT&T spokesperson had this to say,

”We’ve updated our early upgrade and no commitment price points for smartphones and feature phones,” an AT&T spokesperson told BGR. “Only customers who are not yet upgrade eligible or who do not want to sign a contract are impacted. As mobile devices become more sophisticated, their cost goes up. This change reflects the increased costs, while still allowing us to offer customers the latest device before they qualify. We’re happy to discuss individual account and upgrade needs one-on-one with customers.”

Source: BGR

[furbearingmammal]

We want your money. We demand contracts. If you don't go that way, we'll still gouge you for the extra money we'd make. So, to all our new customers, we wish to warn you that you should open wide for all the %^Q@ we're going to make you eat just for the pleasure of being our customers. Thank you, that is all.

Just for those of you that don't speak AT&T Corporate lingo.

[cush2push]

they got to pay for the merger somehow

[furbearingmammal]

You mean they have to find some way to pay the $3,000,000,000 they promised if the sale doesn't go through. :D

[Paul Gyver]

hmmm wonder why they are having mass layoffs around here.....

[Droid-Xer]

I would be surprised if the fcc allowed this. It would only be a matter of time before sprint was acquired and a monopoly would be around the corner.

[alostpacket]

Considering a lot of devs buy their phones off contract this is bad

[furbearingmammal]

Well, AT&T will do anything they can to maintain their death-grip on control over their devices...