How to get a free iPhone, apparently.

I was listening to Leo Laporte (techguylabs.com, twit.tv) today and he brokedown how to get a deal on the iPhone if you are an existing customer... (In my opinion this trick should work with any phone company, but this discussion was specifically in regard to the iPhone).

- Call Customer Service (611 for AT&T subscribers) and tell them you're going to go to [insert competing phone company]

- You say you like AT&Ts services but because you don't want to pay full price to switch to the iPhone, and therefore you would like to cancel your service.

- Eventually they will forward you to a "Customer Retention Specialist". (their job is specifically this- to retain customers). You repeat the same story and he/she will try a bunch of different deals, and eventually, make you an offer you can live with. If the CRS doesn't give you a deal, then politely end the conversation, hang up, call again and start over until you get a CRS that will work with you.

Why does this work? Why, money of course! The $2000 a year they make off of you is worth giving up a $200-300 discount on a phone. According to Leo Laporte, that is.

So, try it, and let me know if it works!