• Zetaphor@zemmy.cc
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      1 year ago

      It’s not free, the cost is built into your monthly payment. This is how all carrier supplied phones are funded. If they allowed you to bring your own unlocked device they could charge you less. They wouldn’t, but they could because they wouldn’t need to recoup the hardware expense.

      • dudebro@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Err, you’re wrong.

        I only pay $25/month for unlimited data. My bill didn’t go up, either.

        Whether they supplied me with a phone or not, I’d still be paying the same price.

        In fact, I was using my own phone initially but they offered me an upgrade for free.

        • Zetaphor@zemmy.cc
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          1 year ago

          Then that means the cost of the devices has already been factored into the base price of your contract. Nothing is free, companies don’t make money by giving away phones that they paid for. You’re just paying a higher base fee regardless of whether or not you get the hardware from them. By not taking the phone from them you’re increasing the profit margin they make on your monthly contract.