AT&T Increases Smartphone Upgrade Prices

[Maura]

Boy Genius Report notes today that if you want to upgrade your AT&T iPhone or other smartphone early before the end of your current contract, then you’ll soon be having to pay more for the privilege. AT&T has confirmed to Boy Genius Report that it's increasing its early upgrade fees by $50 for those customers in the middle of a 24-month contract, and by $150 for those customers in the middle of a 12-month contract. The increases apply for all smartphones, including the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

“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.”

According to the spokesperson, the reason for the price hike is the increased cost of the handsets themselves, as they become more and more technologically sophisticated, which AT&T is passing on to the customer.

Source: AT&T confirms early upgrade price changes for iPhone 4, other smartphones | BGR