re: Apple iPhone upgrade program....

Don't get the iPhone upgrade program if you actually want to upgrade your phone on release day. I am going through this pain right now. I was awake at 3am to preorder and could not get the phone in the color or size I wanted.

You have to trade in phones in store, so you can only purchase through store stock. The blacks were all gone before 3:05 when most people could get into the store. This basically leaves me paying more payments until I can get a black in store. Instead of making 12 payments, I could make 13 or 14. This is basically more payments that I give them for free since there is no discount for upgrading at 13 or 14.

Lesson here is buy outright and sell on eBay every year. Probably save money this route.