AT&T extends early upgrades to iPhone 3G
updated 03:05 pm EDT, Fri March 27, 2009
Early AT&T iPhone upgrades
At least some AT&T customers can now upgrade to an iPhone before the expiry of their normal contracts, representatives are said to confirm. Though not advertised, a deal has been introduced under which non-iPhone subscribers can upgrade to an iPhone 3G roughly 14 months into a standard two-year contract, at subsidized prices rather than any penalized ones. Some subscribers may be able to switch phones earlier, depending on account history or corporate loyalty.
The offer appears to solidify views that Apple is intent on clearing out iPhone inventory as soon as possible. AT&T recently began selling contract-free iPhones for $599 and $699, and on Thursday was joined by Apple Stores, which also removed the ceiling on the number of phones an individual can purchase. It is generally thought that Apple will announce a new iPhone at WWDC, and thus wants to sell as many iPhone 3Gs as possible to avoid being saddled with unsaleable inventory.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2005
Inventory clearance
Last few days have shown a flurry of news, all about getting to sell iPhones outside of the existing offering plans. First no-contract, unsubsidised; now full-subsidy, early phone upgrade. If anybody had doubted before, it now looks certain that Apple wants desperately to get rid of all existing 3G devices in the channels. I can't imagine why would they want to do that.....