[GreenLantern2814]

This isn't meant to turn into an Android v Apple v Blackberry discussion, let's get that out of the way right now. Im currently on an iPhone 3GS, coming up on one year left on the deal. I'm looking at the big 3 carriers' upgrade policies, and they all appear to be rather godawful. Paying 'eligibility fees' and 'hardware upgrade charges' are garbage business and it seems wrong that when one company implements an ass-backwards policy the others dont undercut them, they follow suit.

But these companies are cowards by their very nature, so I'm thinking the best way to go about getting an upgrade after two years is to simply threaten to go to a different company at the contract's conclusion. I'm not asking for a free iPhone 5, I would just like to be able to upgrade for the 3-year contract price without paying ridiculous surcharges. And if they give me that, I'm sure i'll want to re-up in another two years in exchange for a new phone.

Actually, you know what? I do want a free phone. Maybe not an iPhone 5 because of the way apple does business, but you can get a Galaxy S2 in the UK for free. Give us that option, stop trying to #### your customers; you're cell phone providers, not the LAPD.

Anyone else have thoughts or stories about stupid wireless carrier policies, and possible solutions?