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AT&T offering iPhone insurance

Carrier will cover theft, loss, and damage to the iPhone for a monthly fee of $4.99 and a deductible of $50 or $125 depending on the model.

Lance Whitney Contributing Writer
Lance Whitney is a freelance technology writer and trainer and a former IT professional. He's written for Time, CNET, PCMag, and several other publications. He's the author of two tech books--one on Windows and another on LinkedIn.
Lance Whitney

AT&T will soon offer iPhone owners a new insurance policy to protect their mobile devices.

Apple

Due to start covering the iPhone on July 17, the company's existing mobile insurance policy will offer coverage against loss, theft, accidental physical or liquid damage, and mechanical and/or electrical failure after Apple's warranty period expires, according to AT&T. Managed by Asurion, the plan already covers other phones and mobile devices (PDF).

Insuring an iPhone will cost $4.99 a month for each mobile number, while a $50 or $125 deductible will be applied for each claim, depending on the model. AT&T is promising to replace the phone within the next business day in most cases with either a new or remanufactured device but is limiting the number of claims to two within 12 months. Customers can cancel their policy at any time.

AT&T currently offers similar iPhone insurance through Asurion but at a cost of $11.99 per month and a deductible as high as $199, depending on the model. Verizon Wireless also offers insurance on its lineup of phones, including the iPhone, through Asurion at a cost of $6.99 per month and a deductible that can go as high as $199 based on the phone.

In contrast, Apple sells its AppleCare Protection Plan for a flat fee of $69. The plan extends the standard Apple iPhone warranty by up to two years but limits what it will cover (PDF).