Earlier this summer, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile each launched early upgrade programs in an effort to keep customers locked into their service without the regret of having to hold on to an old phone. Unfortunately, since those programs don’t do much, if anything, to bring down the monthly cost of phone service, we didn’t see the appeal. Sprint is reportedly set to join in the early upgrade fun, but is its program any better? [More]
t-mobile jump
Does T-Mobile’s “No Money Down” Deal Make JUMP Worth The Extra $10/Month?
T-Mobile was the first of the three national wireless carriers to introduce a pay-for-early-upgrade program when it unveiled JUMP earlier this month. We questioned the worth of JUMP because of its $10 monthly fee and T-Mobile’s requirement that customers make hefty down-payments on their phones. But with the carrier ditching down-payments, at least temporarily, does that change the math? [More]
Without Drops In Monthly Wireless Rates, New Early Upgrade Programs Are A Fool’s Bet
In just the last week, three of the four national wireless providers have each announced their version of some sort of program to entice people to pay more for early upgrades. But AT&T and Verizon aren’t lowering their monthly rates to account for the higher phone prices (and T-Mobile is actually charging extra for the program), people who enroll in these offerings are really just paying for other customers’ phones. [More]
Verizon Jumps On The “Pay For Early Upgrade” Bandwagon With New Edge Program
Yesterday we looked at the motives and math behind the new early upgrade programs from AT&T and T-Mobile and said that Verizon would likely be unveiling its own version of something similar. Well that day has come, with Verizon Wireless announcing its Edge program that let’s you upgrade as early as 6 months after getting your new phone, if you’re willing to pay a bit extra. [More]