Why would anyone want to buy a phone when they could just rent it?
That seems to be the thinking of Apple, which is reportedly working on a hardware subscription service that would allow customers to pay recurring fees in exchange for access to the latest iPhone. According to a report, Apple is eyeing a future in which owning an iPhone isn't a requirement to get into the Apple apps and services.
We reached out to Apple in an attempt to confirm the reports, as well as the questions we had about the company's plans. A company spokesman wouldn't comment.
Apple would not be the first tech company to push for a subscription model. The maker of the popular photo-editing software, Adobe, stopped selling its software completely and began requiring customers to pay a monthly access fee.
It is important to note that there is no claim that Apple would stop selling phones. Reactions were swift even so.
Is it possible to bring back the iPhone upgrade program? Karissa Bell, a senior editor at Engadget, wrote that she hated paying monthly for her phone and vowed to never do it again.
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The general trend away from actual device ownership brought with it all sorts of implied right-to-repair issues.
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At this point, it is not clear what Apple's hardware subscription plans are. In the face of a negative customer response, Apple may show some courage and go ahead with it.
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