What's the difference between AT&T Next and AT&T standard contracts?

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AT&T Next vs. Standard AT&T Contracts

• Devices sold under a standard two-year contract are allowed on Swappa.
• Devices sold under a financing or equipment installment plan such as AT&T's Next program are not allowed on Swappa.
• If a buyer purchases an AT&T device from an AT&T section that is unable to be unlocked due to it being purchased via a standard two-year contract, the seller is not obligated to accept a return of the device, because it did meet our listing criteria.
• If a buyer purchases an AT&T device from an AT&T or Unlocked section and is unable to unlock the device due to it being under a Next Agreement (i.e. it is financed), the seller is obligated to accept a return of the device, at the discretion of the buyer, as it did not meet our listing criteria.

The Reasoning

Devices on a standard two-year contract and devices being financed through Next are treated differently by AT&T. Swappa has contacted AT&T directly to verify this information on multiple occasions. A device that is being financed through Next is considered to be owned by AT&T, and therefore at any point could potentially be blacklisted and/or "repossessed" by the rightful owner: AT&T. On the contrary, a device on a standard two-year contract will likely maintain the ability to be activated on another AT&T line, even if the original account owner stops paying his or her bill, as the device is owned by the customer. On a standard two-year contract, the billing problems stay with the account, not with the device.