AT&T is changing their plans come June 9th

Beginning June 9, consumers and businesses with AT&T can lower their monthly payments, thanks to changes the carrier is making on its Next program. Once June 9 rolls around, AT&T will only offer two different Next plans, down from the current offering of four plans. These two plans are the straightforward AT&T Next plan and the AT&T Next Every Year plan.

The way both plans work is relatively simple. On AT&T Next, customers can upgrade their smartphone every 2-year cycle, based on a 30-month financing program. On a 30-month program, instead of 24-month, your device payments will become cheaper, which AT&T (and probably consumers) sees as a good thing. For AT&T Next Every Year, customers can upgrade their smartphone every year, with a 24-month financing program. While your payments will be slightly higher each month (due to the shorter financing program), the idea that you can upgrade each year when a sweet new phone is released seems like a good benefit for the added price.



Additionally, AT&T is introducing two new ways for customers to lower their monthly bills. There is a device trade-in program, as well as a down payment option. For trade-ins, AT&T will accept your current smartphone and apply its redemption value towards the price of your new phone. Once done, you will be paying for the remainder of the price, not the complete retail price. As for a down payment, it simply means you can put any money down at the time of purchase towards your total price owed, which would lead to lower monthly payments.

Again, these changes take effect on June 9, 2016.