The iPhone upgrade dilemma

Benjamin Brooks, writing for TBR:

The idiocy of wireless carriers has reached a new low.

Here are a few options that you may want to consider to try and get the upgrade pricing (this applies to AT&T customers, as I have never been a customer of another network):

• Using a plan of a family member to buy your new phone. This only works if they like hand me down iPhones, or have no interest in buying a new phone for a couple more years.
• Call AT&T and ask for the upgrade pricing. Threatening to leave to another carrier if they do not relent. This works in many cases, but not in all cases. You need to be courteous, but adamant — fine line and all.
• Change your account to a Family Plan and add a new line, using that line to buy the iPhone 4S at the upgrade price. I have been on one so long I can’t say for sure if this is a better deal, but it is an option. Do the math first. The fringe benefit here is that you should always then be able to buy a new phone at an upgrade price — I emphasize “should” here.
• Actually switch carriers.