Most Americans aren’t paying anywhere close to the sticker price for a top-tier iPhone. Thank the phone company.
Because of promotional discounts and other financial goodies from the three major mobile providers in the United States, a typical American has been paying nearly $400 less than the list price for a top-tier iPhone, according to an analysis by BayStreet Research.
Almost no one loves mobile providers. But maybe you should, just a little. Go hug your nearest cellphone tower. (Do so only in your mind, please.)
This continues a pattern of technology innovation. Phone companies, for their own selfish reasons, have played an underappreciated role in making smartphones affordable and one of the most popular products in world history.