T-Mobile, AT&T oppose unlocking rule, claim locked phones are good for users

Can't they do the same thing with statement credits? I got a Pixel on Google Fi that was $X and over the next 24 months I will get a statement credit of $X/24, so after two years it will be "free" if I stay with Google until then. Otherwise, I paid the difference.

Consumers, especially lower-income ones, mostly look at the sticker price. Paying upfront and getting a discount later is the opposite of what they want and carriers know this.

What do you mean? This is what they’re doing. “Switch to [carrier name] and get the iPhone 16 Pro on us!” Then it’s explained that it’s all statement credit to cover the purchase price over X months.

There's two ways "statement credits" can work (which is a little confusing).

A. Pay money upfront and get a discount every month.

B. Pay nothing upfront but the service is full price. (This is what I see on the T-Mobile site.)

My point is that many people prefer B even if the total cost is higher.

Right. I know of no consumer products that are sold using way “A” as you describe it.

Google Fi apparently because Google always has to be different.