Readers Respond: Is the iPod touch Upgrade Fee Fair?

June 2010 Update: The upgrade to iOS 4 is free for iPod touch owners. It is unclear whether other future upgrades will be free.

Apple charges iPod touch owners a fee for many of the software upgrades that add new features to the iPod. However, iPhone users who use the same upgrade don't have to pay this fee. The reason is due to U.S. accounting and financial regulations, but is it fair that iPod touch owners should have to pay for upgrades that others get for free?

FAIL

I got iPhone, so ha--I get updates free. BTW, get iphone. No point buying iPod.

—Guest dan

NOT FAIR!

This is not fair. We are paying all these money to get our i-Pod and we download all these songs that cost money and all these apps, shows, podcasts, and movies then you plug your i-Pod in and it says there is an update so you update then you go back to buy more songs and you see that update took money off of your gift card. SERIOUSLY! YOU COULD OF TOLD US THIS WHEN WE WERE BUYING OUR I-POD! They have so many amazing products and the apple name is gorgeous but they are the same quality stuff with less hiden fees. So I suggest (yes you apple) that if you want more customers and you want more returning customers I suggest you take away those fees and GIVE US THE REALRIGHT OF OUR I_POD! When does everyone come about money in the end. It should come down to just siting on the beach looking at the waves crashing while you sipping an ice tea, eatting a snickerdoodle, reading your favorite book, and listengin to your favorite songs on the most updated i-Pod for FREE! Yes FREE! F-R-E-E!

—Guest Madison

why should I have to pay

I paid the same amount of money as other for this iPod - $399.00 - and now they want more. I don't thinks its right at all!!!

—Guest Daniel Walker

must be incorrect because....

Sony does NOT charge for updates to its PSP or PS3 firmware (PSP in particular is very close to the iphone model..new bits get addedto you home screen ..comic readersfor example...incidentally they dont charge you again for downloading software you already own...hmmm) which means that either Sony or Apple has the law wrong. Sony make no money from their interpretation of the law, Apple make money from their interpretation. Interestingly..whilst this law may apply in the US, does that explain why the upgrade would cost money in non US territories? Methinks it may be money making. The 'its an OS not a firmware' may apply, but the PSP's is referred to as 'system software' officially, not as firmware, and since there is only one 'OS' for the ipdo touch, and it requires it to operate at all..well, the line between OS and firmware is somewhat blurry. They want to make money. As long as its cheap, well, I guess theres no problem...perhaps.

—Guest JayMei

2 year data plan contract with iPhone

To get the iPhone you have to commit to a 2 year contract with the data plan that costs at least $30 a month. That is a deal Apple made with AT&T so I'm sure they get a nice kickback for it. Thats $720 over the cost of the iPhone additional. It would be nice just to pay the $10-$15 for the update like ipod touch owners do!

—Guest Slick

Not Fair if you buy iPod T after update

Now when I plug it in iTunes wants another £7 to update software to Version 3. This is is not fair because * I bought the latest and did not get the latest incarnation of the iPod Touch. * You are not warned when buying the Ipod that you may have to pay for upgrade right away. * Apple runs the "up to date" program for Mac buyers when this happen on computers ie comes with Leopard but Snow Leopard has been released. * This is like the dismal ( batteries not included ) sticker on a new toy. * This would be easy to fix. Register an ipod Touch from serial number x onwards and get a iTunes voucher for cost of upgrade. This would also hook people in to iTunes store that is the partial aim of upgrade. Gannett

—Guest gannett