Apple eliminates two-year AT&T contract on iPhone, iPhone 6 Plus: Customers can now subscribe to Next plans

Customers buying Apple iPhones from the Cupertino-based company's online retail stores will now not be offered customised two-year wireless contracts by AT&T in the US.

Customers will be asked to choose for an exclusive AT&T Next plan. These plans offer tariffs beginning from $21.64 per month based on the Apple iPhone model.

The AT&T Next offers three different tariff plans viz AT&T Next 12, AT&T Next 18 and AT&T Next 24. Subscribers opting for any of these plans do not have to pay any initial cost, and can cover the cost of the iPhone in equated 12, 18 and 24 monthly instalments.

Moreover, AT&T's Next plans allow customers to upgrade to newer smartphones after 12, 18 or 24 months of purchase of the device.

The monthly mobile share value savings offered by these plans is between $15-$25 per month, which is common to all AT&T Next tariff plans for newer iPhones.

"With AT&T Next, you can buy iPhone with $0 upfront and trade up to a new one every 12, 18 or 24 months. AT&T Next gives you the flexibility to choose a 12-, 18- or 24-month trade-in period and get the latest iPhone sooner. If you're on (or switch to) an AT&T Mobile Share Value plan, you can even save up to $25 per month on your wireless service when you buy a new iPhone using AT&T Next," states AT&T in an official statement.

Apart from AT&T, people purchasing newer iPhones also get to choose between multiple tariff plans offered by Verizon and Sprint wireless carriers respectively.