<i>Providers have switched from &quot;free upgrades every 2 years&quot; to a plan cost and a monthly phone cost, so people now really know how much their phone costs--and many would rather save the $30 a month than upgrade their phone.</i><p>Wasn&#x27;t this why Apple was quietly introducting the &quot;iPhone Upgrade Program&quot;?<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.apple.com&#x2F;shop&#x2F;iphone&#x2F;iphone-upgrade-program" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.apple.com&#x2F;shop&#x2F;iphone&#x2F;iphone-upgrade-program</a><p>Seems like Apple realized the future will be a place where everyone just leases their equipment on a monthly basis and switches stuff in-and-out as they need to...including the carrier (gasp!)