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Sprint debuts new ‘iPhone for Life’ plan with unlimited data and iPhone upgrades every two years

Screen Shot 2014-09-09 at 8.55.56 PM

Sprint has debuted a new iPhone-exclusive plan that allows users to “rent” an iPhone for two years, then upgrade to the newest model for $70 a month (via Bloomberg). The plan allows users to get the latest Apple smartphone for no money down and no tax, then pay $50 a month for unlimited data, texting, and calling, plus $20 each month for the phone, for a total of $70 monthly.

After two years, users will be able to switch to the newest iPhone model. However, because the phone is only being “rented” from the carrier, it must be returned in at the time of upgrade, where customers on a typical two-year contract would be allowed to keep the device after they paid it off.

These prices are for individual plans only. For family plans, the monthly cost of the iPhone comes out to $80 instead of $20, which drives the monthly cost up to $180.

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Comments

  1. Not sure how I feel about the “every 2 years” part. Most diehards who want an “iPhone for life” want every new iPhone that comes out, including releases between the new whole numbers…. Change it to every year and you’ll have a deal.

  2. Who cares? It’s Sprint!

    • Chaz Stephens - 10 years ago

      Honestly, I have nothing but excellent things to say about their network. Im in St. Louis and the LTE coverage is better than most of my friends with ATT or Verizon.

    • breakingallillusionsx - 10 years ago

      Well said! Used to have them. It’s a good service if u want to avoid getting calls and receiving texts a day after they were sent.

    • Robert Nixon - 10 years ago

      Sprint has easily been the best cellphone carrier I’ve ever had to deal with in terms of customer service. Their network leaves a lot to be desired, but Verizon, AT&T nickel and dime you and T-Mobile is garbage.

    • Spencer London White - 10 years ago

      I work in the phone business (best buy mobile) and here in the Dallas Fort Worth area Sprint is HORRIBLE! They are 10x slower than any other network, and there are so many outages that we will loose business because “a tower in your location is currently being serviced” and the phones won’t activate. In my area we never recommend sprint. I won’t recommend sprint to customers until I can see some improvements.

  3. WBb - 10 years ago

    Is it worth testing.? Okay let us go testing it.

  4. “…for Life” is a very dubious term, coming from a company that might not last the long haul. Let’s just hope they allow you to unlock the iPhone so you can bring it to another carrier when they get swallowed up by another carrier or close up shop altogether.

    • herb02135go - 10 years ago

      Sprint sucks.
      I had it for a week. Went two days without being able to access the network.

  5. Johhny (@NemoHoes157) - 10 years ago

    what an awesome deal! but i can’t leave att for sprint! but pricewise this kicks ass

  6. Winski - 10 years ago

    STOOPID…

  7. Gostek (@gosteklbn) - 10 years ago

    What is the best network for tourists or for 3 months (work&travel) ?

  8. Gregory Wright - 10 years ago

    In defense of Sprint 4G LTE, it has made significant improvement in service. I live in South Fulton County Georgia. I never go below three bars whereas my sister who lives near me has TM and struggles in spots to maintain connection. If you read the forums that are dedicated to a given service you will find weaknesses in all of them.

  9. smigit - 10 years ago

    Maybe this is something some what new for most US customers, but more flexible variants of this pricing structure has been in place for decades elsewhere in the world. If anything the one time payment at the time of purchase is probably an abnormality.

    In Australia most contracts are 24 months, and you would never have to return the device after 24 months. Realistically as long as you continue to pay the monthly cost, you’re quite capable of selling the handset the same day you receive it given you’ll receive it unlocked on a post paid plan.

    Since you are paying $20 a month in handset repayments, it’s a bit of a joke that you have to hand the handset back after having spent $480 US on handset fees over the contracts life. If you can’t keep it the handset payments should be far cheaper, with an excess for lost or excessively damaged handsets.