> I was thinking the same thing. My understanding was prior to iPhone, phones were purchased outright, typically costing a couple hundred dollars, and there wasn't such a thing as paying off the phone as part of your monthly cell phone bill.
This was absolutely a thing before the iPhone. Many carriers offered Blackberries, Palm Treos, and even higher end dumbphones and featurephones at discounts when you signed a service contract.
This was absolutely a thing before the iPhone. Many carriers offered Blackberries, Palm Treos, and even higher end dumbphones and featurephones at discounts when you signed a service contract.