Poll results: Will you sign up for Apple's new iPhone Upgrade Program?
AppleCare+ is included in the monthly installment, and covers up to two accidents for the two rolling years, though you still have to pay the $99 service fee if you, say, broke your screen, and want it replaced. The new iPhone-for-life project is available only in the Apple Stores, though you can reserve online, and only for eligible US customers with valid credit.
Apple's strike-back move to the decreasing carrier subsidies makes the cost of iPhone ownership pretty bearable when spread over time, plus you can always get the new gear on the next upgrade cycle. Apple, on the other hand, will make roughly $884 in revenue from this arrangement (12 months x $32, plus selling the iPhone as refurbished for around $500 the next year), so it sounds like a win-win combo for both sides.
As you can see above, there are some cheaper iPhone-for-life options from carriers like Sprint, though, that is why we asked you yesterday if you think the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program is a good deal to take part in. It turns out that 65% of the respondents won't be getting an iPhone in recurring installments, while 9% are looking at other upgrade options than Apple's offering. A full quarter of the respondents, though, find the new iPhone Upgrade Program an enticing deal, and intend to sign up, not a bad number for a limited rollout.
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