Why Apple Requires a Cellular Account Through a Big Three Carrier to Lease an iPhoneFollowing up from last week, when I asked:When you lease an iPhone through Apple Upgrade, you need a cellular account on one of the big three U.S. carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon. You’re leasing the iPhone through Apple and Klarna, not the carrier, so I don’t know why Apple cares. But the bigger reason is the complex nature of the contracts between Apple and each of the big three carriers. But for many years now, part of the co-marketing agreements between Apple and the Big Three is Apple agreeing to require a postpaid account with a Big Three carrier for all “special” iPhone financing deals, including the old iPhone Upgrade Program and the new Apple Upgrade leasing. So perhaps some of the bigger MVNO carriers might work their way into Apple Upgrade — but if they do, it sounds like they’ll need to pay Apple for the privilege.