Following the introduction of early upgrade programs from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile earlier this year, a leaked document from Sprint (via CNET) shows that the mobile carrier is planning to roll out “Sprint One Up”, a program that allows its customers to upgrade their handsets and tablets at regular intervals. The program is reportedly set to launch on September 20, which is also the first day of availability for Apple’s new iPhone 5s and lower-cost iPhone 5c. /article-new/2013/09/sprint_one_up.png?lossy)
All of the carrier programs principally work the same, with a few nuanced differences. Sprint's One Up lets customers pick up a phone with no money down and pay for the device in 24 monthly installments. A phone that costs $649.99, for instance, will cost $27 a month (with the difference tacked on to the 24th payment). If a customer leaves the service early, that person is on the hook for the balance of the device cost, due the following month.
The program also states that customers can upgrade to a new phone by trading in the device after a year of service, with Sprint’s Unlimited, My Way or All-In plan eligible for the program. One Up also provides a $15 discount on the service plan, which allows for an unlimited talk, text, and data plan that costs $65 a month at minimum.
Current customers who have been on contract for at least a year are also eligible for the program, and also must trade in their existing phones unless they are already eligible for a discounted upgrade. The program does not apply to Sprint prepaid customers and does not discontinue Sprint’s other upgrade program, “Upgrade Now”, which allows customers to upgrade for a set fee.
Top Rated Comments
1) Their data coverage is weak. It is near useless in many places, and even where you have LTE the signal is often inconsistent. They've totally botched their LTE deployment.
2) Your phone is forever, irrevocably locked to Sprint. Sprint will not unlock an iPhone for any reason, ever; they are much like AT&T used to be until they finally saw the light. Verizon iPhones come unlocked. AT&T will unlock iPhones when your contract is over, and you can purchase unlocks from several vendors on the web. T-Mobile will unlock phones once they're paid for. Sprint? Never.
Avoid Sprint. Any money you might save is not worth the hassle. And to think I used to be a fan of them back in 2004-2010, but they've definitely changed for the worse.
All these programs are a sham.
Pay full price every year for a new phone but spread it out over 20 payments or so. If you upgrade at 12 months you owe the balance early but get a credit for your trade in. Nonetheless you are paying $649 for a new phone every year rather than $199 every other year.
I called AT&T. Since I upgraded to a 5 last Sept I am not eligible for a 5S at subsidized price. I get that, that's how it has been. Under their Next program I would get a new 5S for $649 spread out over 20 months of payments. However, I don't qualify for their Next program until next Sept. At which point I would be able to buy a subsidized phone as usual for $199. Why would I agree to pay $649 spread out at that point.
What a joke.
Exactly This.. I am in the exact same situation and phoned ATT to find out what I could do.. Spreading $649 over 20 months is still paying $649 for a phone that new customers are getting for $199.. Why on earth would I want to do that next Sept when I will just get the new iPhone for upgrade price then..
You guys understand that that $199 price doesn't mean you ONLY pay $199 for the device right? Your monthly bill includes the $20 (or so) to pay off your device. The worst part is that even after you pay off your device, your bill doesn't shrink. That's why T-Mobile's plans are better. They stop charging you for the device once you've paid it off.They are all trying to fleece us and don't care about old customers, they only want to entice the new ones to sign up. Wankers.
It's one of the reasons I don't understand buying an unlocked phone. Most carries include the stupid device cost in their plans so it's like you're paying twice.
Pay full price every year for a new phone but spread it out over 20 payments or so. If you upgrade at 12 months you owe the balance early but get a credit for your trade in. Nonetheless you are paying $649 for a new phone every year rather than $199 every other year.
I called AT&T. Since I upgraded to a 5 last Sept I am not eligible for a 5S at subsidized price. I get that, that's how it has been. Under their Next program I would get a new 5S for $649 spread out over 20 months of payments. However, I don't qualify for their Next program until next Sept. At which point I would be able to buy a subsidized phone as usual for $199. Why would I agree to pay $649 spread out at that point.
What a joke.
The main problem with this is it's Sprint. Just about everyone I know that's had Sprint has been very dissatisfied with their service. Every company has their detractors but I'm very leery of Sprint. And so far, we're happy with T-Mobile.