Because the overall costs associated with upgrading to a new device have increased, effective Sunday, February 12, 2012, AT&T will change its upgrade fee from $18 to $36
How quaint. I can remember back when T-Mobile first initiated their ‘Upgrade fee,’ it wasn’t met with open arms by customers. I do believe we were the last or the top 4 to implement one though. Expect what ever price you see for a new phone to cast you another $36 to actually own it. Kinda takes the FREE aspect out of the equation doesn’t it. It would have been pretty amazing if this was for iPhone upgrades only though wouldn’t it?
I have yet to ever get a straight answer as to why this fee ever popped up on carriers in the first place. If anyone could give me a real answer other than the tradition corporate answers, that would be appreciated.
Via BGR
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I’m getting tired of AT&T and all the greed. The only reason I stay with them is because I’ve had my cell phone account and same phone number with them since they were L.A. Cellular.
Sprint did the same exact thing about 6 months ago. It’s BS but I guess that is the normal upgrade price now.
Really, I must have missed that. I think Verizon’s has always been that high. T-Mobile was still $18 last I checked. I assume theirs will be doubling soon to if it hasn’t already.
The reason the upgrade cost, is that they (ATT) have to cover the cost that they paid for the bail out on the assumed buy out of T-Mobile. They paid 3 Billion to T-mobile in case the buy out fell though.
ATT are not going to write that cost off, they are passing it over to the users.