Apple may expand iPhone Upgrade program beyond retail stores


Tim Cook:

Ultimately Apple would like to "have that automated and working with our partners, with service providers," Cook said Tuesday.

I assume this would mean customers could do Apple's upgrade program at Walmart, Best Buy, Verizon, AT&T, etc. Companies have their own upgrade/trade-in schemes, so it would be interesting to see how willing they would be to offer Apple's. Still, more options would be nice.

What I'd like is a mail in option. Apple sends you the new iPhone with return label. You then pack up your old iPhone and ship it back. Perhaps this would be an option for phones with Apple Care coverage, and worse case is you'll be out $100 to do whatever needs to be done under the extended warranty.

On the flip side, I'm not sure if people would like that level of uncertainty, but they could always go into a store and know upfront.