EnTech: AT&T plans to drop two year contracts through third-party retailers, Apple included

AT&T plans to drop two year contracts through third-party retailers, Apple included

We’ve confirmed that ATT’s plans to stop offering two-year contracts through third-party retailers will also extend to Apple.

Droid-Life first reported that ATT was planning to drop its two-year contracts through third-party retailers starting June 1, and we’ve confirmed with several sources that the move will also kick in at Apple retail.

ATT will continue offering phones on two-year contracts in its retail stores and through its website, but it will instead be pushing its no-contract ATT Next installment plans through Apple and other third-party retailers like Walmart.

Apple is already well prepared for the transition, as the company started offering iPhones on ATT Next plans through its retail stores and online last summer. Apple is also preparing retail employees for the change, according to sources.

ATT wouldn’t comment directly on the news, but it said “Customers love ATT Next, and we are continuing to focus on it as the preferred way that customers want to shop. We have 2 year plans available for those customers who choose them.”

The original report from Droid-Life claimed some third-party retailers would still technically be able to sign-up customers on a two-year contract, but that option means you won’t walk out of the store with the device and it will instead ship out from ATT days later (essentially the same as ordering from ATT online). It’s unclear if Apple will have that option once the transition is complete. Otherwise, ATT Next monthly installment plans will be the only option for those signing up or upgrading at Apple and other third-party retailers. 

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1. Mikey Trapp (@slcpunkin) says: Now they just need to end tiered data plans. Ha ha, I’m so funny.
   
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2. triguyfun says: Amazing how this company stays in business given how badly the CEO is hell bent on screwing customers everyday he can. Thankfully, the competitive monopoly that gives him that ability is beginning to weaken- even the Federal Government is now suing ATT for ripping off consumers by misrepresenting ‘unlimited’ data plans while ‘throttling’ speeds down by over 90% after 5gbts
   
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   • sparkymalone says: I have worked for ATT in the 90’s. Back then ATT was hell bent on screwing the customers (and employees) everyday and everyway they can. Nothing has changed.
     
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3. jfu222 (@jfu222) says: Am I just being grumpy or does this seem like a way to make it more difficult for unlimited data users to renew their plan?
   
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   • r00fus1 says: If you want real unlimited, you should go to Sprint or TMobile. Seriously, ATT and VZ “grandfathered” plans are crappy compared to what you can get legitimately (and with no contract) on other providers.
     
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