After your 2 year contract is up, your bill doesn't go down. The phone is paid for, yet they keep charging you the same amount.
They're getting rid of the 2 year contract. You can either pay $700+ for your phone or buy it and pay an additional fee in monthly installments. But your monthly bill, except for that, will still remain at the same rate.
You will be, in essence, paying for the phone twice over two years. After two years, you'll keep paying for it AGAIN.
This amounts to fraud. It's not just AT&T, it's most of the telcos in the industry. They've determined Americans are too stupid to realize they're being ripped off.
Speak up. Here. Anywhere online. To your congressman, your senator - let them know you don't like to be ripped off.