Top US carriers, including AT&T Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., are offering the models at no cost, or with $1,000 discounts and even free annual upgrades. (Unsplash)

New Subscribers Can Get a Free iPhone 15 When Signing Up With AT&T or T-Mobile

Febin MathewSeptember 13, 23 Apple, iPhone 15

Following Apple Inc.’s unveiling of its latest models on Tuesday, the leading US wireless carriers have announced free iPhone promotions, making it the most significant phone launch of the year with the most affordable price tag. The new iPhone 15 is available starting at $799, while the iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999.

Major U.S. carriers, including AT&T Inc., T-Mobile US Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., offer models for free or at a $1,000 discount and even free annual upgrades. Dish Network Corp, which owns Boost Mobile, is also offering deals for the first time.

The intensity of the campaign not only shows the urgency of sales during the holiday season, but is likely to be a test of how much costs operators are willing to pay in the hunt for subscriber growth. Growth has slowed dramatically in recent years, especially due to the cold of phone purchases caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

AT&T has previously set the tone for freebies, this year it’s giving away an iPhone 15 to new and existing customers and offering $1,000 on the iPhone 15 Pro. Both offers require one of AT&T’s unlimited data plans and an eligible exchange.

T-Mobile has upped the ante a bit, offering a free iPhone 15 Pro or $1,000 on any iPhone 15 model. The deal is for existing and new customers using its top-tier Go5G plans and is subject to eligible trade.

Dish, a newcomer to iPhone promotions, is including the iPhone 15 for $60 a month with its Boost Infinite membership plan. The offer promises customers a free iPhone upgrade every year and an unlimited data package, which is limited when usage reaches 30 gigabytes. Dish is also offering $1,000 off higher-end iPhones.

Verizon announced that it plans to announce its iPhone 15 promotion after the Apple event.

Operators have seen the growth of mobile phone subscribers slow down as the industry cools down compared to previous years. Adding to the struggle to find new customers, cable giants Charter Communications Inc. and Comcast Corp. have been competing fiercely for wireless subscribers by offering free cell phone lines.