Telecoms Bigwigs Backtrack on iPhone upgrade fees
;)
;)
AT & T
Business Week have reported that telecoms giant AT&T have yielded to angry customers and changed their initial pricing for iPhone upgrades.
Existing customers were outraged when they learned that they would have to pay big fees if they wished to upgrade to the new iPhone 3G S, which has led to the company “listening to their customers,” and issuing a new upgrade scheme.
Now, existing customers who wish to upgrade will have to go through an “eligibility” process, which will be evaluated by the amount of money they currently spend on iPhone services. Customers who spend in excess of $99 per month will be allowed to upgrade after 12 months. Those who have the greatest upgrade eligibility will have the option of purchasing the new iPhone for $199 or $299 on either the 16GB or 32GB models respectively.
A spokesman for AT&T said that eligibility: “typically occurs anywhere from 12 to 24 months into a two-year contract based on your spending levels, how promptly you pay your bill, and other factors. If you spend more, as iPhone customers tend to, you become eligible for an upgrade earlier. If you spend less, you become eligible later.”
Customers will have to check their iPhone accounts to see where they fall in the eligibility tiers. Of course, another factor will be the actual availibilty of the iPhone 3G S itself. AT&T has already run out of stock that was available for pre-order of the hugely popular device, but Apple stores may still have stock.
AT&T will be in so much trouble if Verizon ever get the chance to sell iPhones. There’d be an exodus.
No iPhones for me. I ain’t no touchscreen for me. I still love ma Blackjack.