AT&T Increases iPhone Early Upgrade Fees

AT&T isn't making it easy for contracted iPhone users to upgrade to the newest model.

As reported by AndroidCentral, the company has increased the upgrade fees for the 32 GB iPhone 4 by $50 to $549. Other models faced similar increases, AppleInsider reports, with the cost of upgrading the 8GB iPhone 3GS increasing to $299 and the 16 GB iPhone moving to $449.

Other smartphones saw similar increases for early upgrades. Non-iPhone upgrade prices have increased to $150, with no-commitment pricing also increasing by $50

The increases in update fees come after AT&T announced last June that it would allow certain subscribers to upgrade to the iPhone for for either $199 or $299. The deal, however, was only valid with a two-year contract, locking subscribers in.

We've updated our early upgrade and no commitment price points for smartphones and feature phones, a company spokesman told AppleInsider. 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, the spokesperson said.