New Wireless Upgrade Plans Could Boost iPhone Sales

U.S. wireless carriers are making it easier for customers to upgrade phones more often. That's welcome news for consumers and could also provide a much-needed lift for Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Samsung Electronics Co.

Verizon Wireless is following AT&T Inc. (T) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS), which earlier this month gave users an option to replace devices as often as every six months, rather than two years — the typical contract period for U.S. cellphones. Smartphone makers could use the help as they grapple with falling prices and a maturing market.

The success of the carriers' upgrade-friendly strategy, which lets consumers pay for a phone in monthly installments instead of an upfront fee, depends on the bulk of their customers reacting like Mona Khanna, a physician in Chicago. Read more...