Starting August 1, AT&T will charge $45 for new installations and upgrades to those who are under a one to two-year contract. AT&T will also charge another $15 activation fee for the new subscribers of AT&T Next even if you bring your own phone.
A report from Droid Life notifies that AT&T is raising its activation and upgrading fee from $40 to $45 effective August 1 for its new and current customers under the one and two-year installment plan. For new subscribers signing a new contract with the discounted phone, an additional $5 will be charged.
Before, you don't have to pay anything when you visit the AT&T store with a new phone applying for AT&T's Next installment plan. But now, AT&T will charge new subscribers $15 activation fee beginning August 1.
Please note that even if you are a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) customer having your own phone from your old carrier, you will still pay $15. However, Next subscribers before August 1 will not have to pay $15 for an upgrade.
Some rumors predict that Wireless Verizon will also follow AT&T's move. The Verge elaborated that in June, AT&T raised its fee from $35 to $40, and eventually Wireless Verizon did the same.
Consumerist asked AT&T about it. The company confirmed the increase on August 1 but did not discuss any details. "We are making a few adjustments to our activation and upgrade fee structures," A spokesperson from AT&T confirmed that lines already on a Next plan before August 1 are not affected.
According to the AT&T official website, in the first quarter of this year, AT&T had grossed 6.2 million from new installations and upgrades. The revenue from AT&T Next also went up by 65 percent with 70 percent of the transaction were BYOD (from customers who have their own phones).
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