Verizon has announced that customers signing on to a new two-year contract with subsidized hardware will be forced to pay a $30 upgrade fee. So for those of you who got your iPhone 4 on Verizon and are looking to upgrade to whatever the next version of the iPhone is, you’ll have to face an extra fee for that privilege. Here’s the company’s official statement:
On April 22, Verizon Wireless is implementing a $30 upgrade fee for existing customers purchasing new mobile equipment at a discounted price with a two-year contract. This fee will help us continue to provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect which includes Wireless Workshops, online educational tools, and consultations with experts who provide advice and guidance on devices that are more sophisticated than ever.
While the upgrade fee is not unique to Verizon Wireless, most devices can be traded in with our green friendly trade-in program atwww.verizonwireless.com/tradein as a way to save money or potentially offset the fee completely.
Unfortunately, Verizon is hardly alone in this regard — and in fact, this fee is one of the less expensive ones. AT&T and Sprint both ask for $36, and T-Mobile $18. It still smarts to have to pay extra for the honor of signing on to a two-year contract.
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