Beginning August 1, the mobile carrier AT&T will charge $45 for new installations and upgrades to those who are under a one to two-year contract. The company will also add $15 activation fee for AT&T Next and Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) consumers.
Several reports suggest that AT&T is increasing its activation and upgrading fee from $40 to $45 effective August 1 for its new and present consumers under the one and two-year installment plan. For people signing a new contract with the discounted phone, an extra $5 will be charged.
Before, people do not have to pay anything when they visit the AT&T store with a new phone applying for AT&T's Next installment plan. However now, the mobile carrier will charge new subscribers $15 activation fee starting August 1.
Also, the same $15 charge applies to people who bring their own device (BYOD) and sign-up for a new line of service. However, present AT&T Next consumers who have an active installment plan before August 1 will not be charged $15 on their next upgrade, according to MacRumors.
Rumors are also doing the rounds that the mobile carrier Verizon Wireless will follow AT&T's move. According to reports, AT&T increased its fee from $35 to $40 in June, and finally Verizon Wireless did the same.
The mobile operator AT&T had grossed 6.2 million from new upgrades and installations in the first quarter of 2015, according to the AT&T website. The revenue from AT&T Next also scaled up by 65% with 70% of the transactions were BYOD (from consumers who have their own phones).