[mnehring]

They didn’t really kill it, they just front loaded the cost so you are paying as much for the phone as if you canceled the contract and paid the penalty.

[Theoria]

This will naturally push down the prices of phones. Subsidizing the phone over a 2yr agreement vs purchase any phone and use a no contract term.

I use a service that has been around for a while, straight talk, a Walmart service, that uses t-mobile, $45 a month, unlimited everything.

[PapaBear3625]

They didn’t really kill it, they just front loaded the cost so you are paying as much for the phone as if you canceled the contract and paid the penalty.

With the result that people won't be tempted to get a new "free" phone every two years, and just hang onto their old phones. It may also create a market for "old" phones from people on a contract plan who upgrade their phones.