We now know why Sprint killed off its OneUp device upgrade program just a few days ago. The company has announced the successor to the OneUp program, Easy Pay. Much like OneUp, users who enroll in the plan will be able to purchase a device on a payment plan which spans 24 months, and upgrade their device once the balance of that device is paid off. Customers can then trade in the old device with Sprint’s Buyback program.
“Customers simply purchase an eligible wireless phone through the Sprint Easy Pay program, paying for it in 24 monthly payments. The only cost at purchase is the down payment and applicable sales taxes. Existing Easy Pay participants can also upgrade their phone whenever they want but must first pay off their balance to receive a new phone.”
Sprint is pushing its Framily plan aggressively, which allows up to 10 Sprint customers to join one plan and be billed separately.
Press release follows below.
No More Waiting For a New Phone – Sprint Allows Eligible Customers to Upgrade Their Phone Anytime with Sprint Easy Pay
Sprint customers can upgrade their phone immediately by using Sprint Easy Pay
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Jan.16, 2014 – Go ahead, Sprint customers – ask today for that shiny, just-launched, perfect-for-you phone you’ve been drooling over – and you’ll receive it –today. Sprint customers don’t have to be patient anymore when it comes to phone upgrades; on Sprint Easy Pay customers can upgrade whenever they want. For a limited time, Sprint (NYSE: S) is giving its customers the opportunity to upgrade their phone early with Sprint Easy Pay.
To participate, existing Sprint customers can go to www.sprint.com/upgrade to check their eligibility. Then, they simply purchase an eligible wireless phone through the Sprint Easy Pay program, paying for it in 24 monthly payments. The only cost at purchase is the down payment and applicable sales taxes. Existing Easy Pay participants can also upgrade their phone whenever they want but must first pay off their balance to receive a new phone.
Once they’ve upgraded and purchased their new phone through Sprint Easy Pay, Sprint customers have the option of keeping their old phone or selling it back through Sprint’s highly acclaimed Buyback program.
“With technology changing as quickly as it does, we know our customers don’t want to wait a certain amount of time before they can switch to the latest and greatest phone,” said Tom Roberts, Sprint senior vice president for marketing. “Now, our customers can get what they want, when they want it – along with a won’t-break-the-bank way to pay.”
With the advent of Sprint Framily Sprint customers (new and existing) can spend as little as $25 a month on their Sprint bill. When current customers move to the Sprint Framily Plan they can create a new group with any phone lines on their account and invite friends to join Sprint and be a part of their Framily plan.
More on Sprint Framily
As more people are added to the group, up to 10 phone lines, the savings increase for everyone on the plan. Because each account can be billed separately, customers can choose who is in their group.
For one line of service, new Sprint customers pay $55 per month per line for unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data. For each additional new Sprint customer who joins the Framily group, the cost per person goes down $5 a month up to a maximum monthly discount of $30 per line. When you build a group of at least seven people, everyone gets unlimited talk, text and 1GB of data for $25 per month per line (pricing excludes taxes and surcharges).
All members of the group can customize their plan to meet their unique needs. For only $20 per month per line, Framily members can buy up to unlimited data and get a new phone every year. Plan members can share the savings, without the hassle of sharing a bill. Each account can be billed separately. Unlimited features are while on the Sprint network.
About Sprint
Sprint (NYSE:S) offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint served more than 54 million customers at the end of the third quarter of 2013 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The 2013 American Customer Satisfaction Index rated Sprint as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all 47 industries, during the last five years. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.