Apple reportedly plans to start offering pre-paid and month-to-month plans for unlocked iPhones in an effort to boost in-store device sales.
While Apple devices are generally very popular and enjoy great sales figures, most of them are reportedly sold through third-party channels instead of the company's own stores. Apple has already made efforts to boost in-store device sales, most recently targeting iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S owners and encouraging them to upgrade to an iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C. This rumored move, however, would be far more exciting.
Buying an unlocked iPhone is quite an investment, as you have to pay the full retail price of the device. For many it's still worth it despite the high price, as not everyone likes buying a subsidized device and being tied to a lengthy carrier contract. Buying an unlocked iPhone, on the other hand, is not very convenient either, at least not yet.
Currently, customers who shell out a small fortune to purchase an unlocked iPhone from an Apple Store have to visit a carrier store or use a pre-activated SIM card afterwards to get service on the handset, as they can't get it straight from Apple. According to a new report from 9to5Mac, Apple will finally allow customers to add pre-paid or month-to-month plans directly in its stores, without any additional hassle.
As part of this effort, Apple stores will be stocking AT&T GoPhone pre-paid activation kits and T-Mobile SIM cards. This way, customers who want an unlocked iPhone from Apple can get service on T-Mobile or AT&T pre-paid plans straight from an Apple Store. The company will reportedly train its employees over the next few weeks.
"Sales staff will promote ATT's $60 per month pre-paid plan (with 2.5GB of internet data and unlimited talk and text) to those seeking AT&T plans, while the stores will offer $50/month (1GB LTE data) and $70/month (5GB LTE data) unlimited data plans to customers seeking T-Mobile devices," 9to5Mac reports. "The activations must be done at the time of purchase in Apple Stores and those devices will be unable to be returned to Apple for a refund."
Another issue with purchasing unlocked iPhones, meanwhile, is the wait. Unlocked models are never available on launch day when a new iteration makes its debut, as they arrive weeks after the launch. Moreover, even when the unlocked model of the new iPhone finally makes its debut, it's only available online and shipping takes another month or longer.
If Apple indeed plans to add pre-paid and month-to-month plans in its stores, it may also consider changing its strategy for unlocked devices. If the iPhone 6, for instance, would be available in an unlocked version as well on launch day, insteqad of a good while after, launch sales would likely be considerably higher.
The report further reveals that these new pre-paid and month-to-month plans may become available at Apple Store locations across the U.S. in the last week of June. Apple has not made any official announcement yet, but we'll keep you up to date as soon as it does.
