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Why would anyone want to purchase a smartphone outright when they could instead just rent it indefinitely?

That seems to be the thinking of Apple, which is reportedly working on a hardware subscription service that would allow customers to pay recurring fees in exchange for access to the latest iPhone. So notes Bloomberg in a report that, while admittedly light on specifics, suggests Apple is eyeing a future in which owning an iPhone isn't a prerequisite to getting locked into the Apple apps and services ecosystem.

We reached out to Apple in an attempt to confirm Bloomberg's reporting, as well as with a host of questions about the company's timeline and plans. A company spokesperson declined to comment.

If confirmed, Apple wouldn't be the first tech company to push toward a subscription model. Way back in 2013, Adobe, the maker of the widely popular photo-editing software Photoshop, ceased selling its software outright and began requiring customers to pay a monthly access fee.

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Now, it's important to note that nowhere in Bloomberg's reporting does it claim Apple would stop selling phones. Even so, reactions were swift.

"So bringing back iPhone upgrade program? I tried that once and I *hated* paying monthly for my phone and vowed to never do it again," wrote Karissa Bell, a senior editor at Engadget.

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Others merely bemoaned the general trend away from actual device ownership, which brings with it all sorts of implied right-to-repair issues.

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Apple's exact hardware subscription plans remain a mystery at this point. But perhaps in the face of a viscerally negative customer response, Apple will show some courage and go ahead with it anyway.

TopicsAppleiPhone