[beingbenjamin]

My 24 month contract doesn't end until November. But logically, this is essentially like buying your own unlocked phone. You will still have to finish your contract commitment, but that doesn't mean you can't bring your own phone along and start using it.

I'm not eligible for a subsidized phone but I have every right to acquire a new phone on my own, whether buying it outright or using apple's new upgrade program. Whether paying in full up front or by monthly payments doesn't matter. I'm fully paying for the phone. So I reserved an appointment to do so*. When it arrives, just pop the sim over. Finish the contract. Sell the old phone.

Am I right?

*-I'll actually be in LA on vacation that day and reserved a slot at an Apple Store there.

[Bigeric23]

If you are on the same carrier with both phones, you should be fine.

[Rob Phillips]

I'm in the same boat, but I'm actually switching from Sprint to Verizon. I received mixed responses to my original form post. Hoping this works for me on the 25th. Worst case, I have them set up a Verizon account at the store with a brand new phone number and then just have Verizon port my number over after the fact and have it assigned to my existing phone number.

[beingbenjamin]

Well I definitely have the answer now and it is "no". I could not pick up my 6S yesterday without paying for it fully up front. Seeing as i am currently vacationing in California (I reserved it at a store here, knowing where I'd be), I was not eager to tack on another $800 to my credit card.

Verizon has me by the balls for six more weeks until my contract is over. I went to a Verizon store and asked about buying out my contract, but was told I would lose my phone number. They spent most of the time trying to get me on their upgrade program, even "qualifying" me for early upgrade. But I don't want any more contracts.

Apple's upgrade program requires activation by a carrier, which the carrier will not allow if you are still on contract. So even though it is like you are buying the phone outright, and should have ever right to do so, they have stymied me.

I really want to sync up my qualification for an upgrade for when the phones traditionally come out. I asked the Apple rep if I could pay more than the monthly payment in order to qualify sooner. If I pay off the phone in a year, then yes. (Obviously.)

Oh well, guess I'll wait until November for my new shiny.

[bailbrae]

Well I definitely have the answer now and it is "no". I could not pick up my 6S yesterday without paying for it fully up front. Seeing as i am currently vacationing in California (I reserved it at a store here, knowing where I'd be), I was not eager to tack on another $800 to my credit card.

Verizon has me by the balls for six more weeks until my contract is over. I went to a Verizon store and asked about buying out my contract, but was told I would lose my phone number. They spent most of the time trying to get me on their upgrade program, even "qualifying" me for early upgrade. But I don't want any more contracts.

Apple's upgrade program requires activation by a carrier, which the carrier will not allow if you are still on contract. So even though it is like you are buying the phone outright, and should have ever right to do so, they have stymied me.

I really want to sync up my qualification for an upgrade for when the phones traditionally come out. I asked the Apple rep if I could pay more than the monthly payment in order to qualify sooner. If I pay off the phone in a year, then yes. (Obviously.)

Oh well, guess I'll wait until November for my new shiny.

That must be carrier specific. I just bought my 6 plus in December, under ATT next plan. Reserved 6s plus the day pre-orders started to pick up in store because I wanted to apply for the upgrade program through Apple. Picked it up no problem. Went BACK today because when I woke up and checked the Apple Store app, I discovered that my store got some stock of rose gold in (the color I originally wanted but was unable to get). They couldn't do an exchange. They returned the gold 6s plus I purchased yesterday, cancelled the contract I signed yesterday, THEN rang up the rose gold as a new purchase, still with the upgrade program. Sure, I am still obligated to my next plan I started on ATT in December (which is a non-issue because I will do that with the money from selling the 6 plus). But ATT had nothing to do with my Apple Upgrade purchase yesterday, or today.

[pjs37]

I didnt have an issue with AT&T. I got an S6 in June and just got the 6S Plus through the Apple upgrade program. I mean its an unlocked device so I don't see how it matters to the carrier is like if I just bought a phone and showed my Sim in it. As long as I stick to my two year contract they shouldn't care.

[beingbenjamin]

That's what I thought but the Apple Store employee told me I couldn't do it. It is their concession to the carriers, she said. I don't know, maybe I'll go try anyway. Worth a shot.

[Rob Phillips]

I had zero issues switching four in-contract phones over from Sprint to Verizon using the Upgrade Program.

[beingbenjamin]

But I'm not switching and I'm not trying to get out of my contract. I just want to finish out th contract, and buy a new phone now on my own, using the upgrade program. Which. Seems to me is just like buying it outright from the carrier's point of view. Or even like a broke my phone Nd had to buy a new one on my own. Why does I matter to them what phone I use a long as I finish my contract? Which I will...

[Rmorton0573]

I'm not sure if this is the answer your looking for, but I'm with Verizon. My two year contract is not up until November. However, I was able to early upgrade to the 6S Plus by doing Verizon's device payment option. I did have to give them my old phone and I'm still under contract for another month.

[pjs37]

Sounds like something weird with Verizon; just like they need to whitelist phones unless the rep misunderstood which upgrade program you wanted

[beingbenjamin]

Guess what. I GOT MY PHONE.

I just couldn't figure how, practically speaking, Verizon could keep me from buying a new phone outright, whether in full or via an option to do monthly payments (apart from their own). So I made a reservation and didn't say a word about being on contract to the Apple rep. It got time to activate and I remember thinking "this is it". It took several cycles to go through and I just knew it was going to deny. Bam. Went through. Phone activated.

Other than blatant dishonesty or complete incomprehension on Verizon's part, I just could not fathom why I could not do this. And the discussion here emboldened me to go try anyway. But like I said, they spent most of their time trying to get me to use their program for reasons. Like "you aren't forced to buy an extended warranty (aka AppleCare)." Um, I WANT to. Anyway, after it was activated, I confessed my experiment to the Apple rep and he affirmed everything we have discussed here. My 5S is still locked until contract is over , of course, but that doesn't mean I have to use it. And when the end date comes around in a few weeks, I'll be able to pass off to my mom! Thanks everyone! When in doubt, common sense rules out!

[Rmorton0573]

Glad you got your phone. However, if you are on Verizon your 5s is not locked as Verizon cannot legally lock LTE devices. It Most likely cannot be used on another CDMA carrier, but a AT&T or T-Mobile sim should work fine.

[beingbenjamin]

Oh interesting. I'll definitely look into it for my mom. She's on AT&T. Thanks for the tip.

[Rob Phillips]

Congrats! Enjoy your new phone. I took a similar leap of faith at the Apple Store after several people told me they wouldn't let me get the new phones because I was under contract with Sprint. Worked like a charm for me too!