Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

T-Mobile’s New Jump Program Lets Customers Replace Phones Up to Three Times a Year

This latest incentive is designed to help T-Mobile gain subscribers in the hyper-competitive domestic mobile phone market.

T-Mobile

Correction: This post has been corrected to accurately reflect the terms of T-Mobile’s new phone payment plan.

T-Mobile has introduced a new payment plan* that gives subscribers the flexibility to replace their mobile phones whenever they want — up to three times a year.

For a monthly payment of as low as $15, consumers can get new phone and gain the flexibility to exchange their old phones for new ones at no additional upfront cost. There are certain caveats to the new Jump On Demand program, which starts June 28: The phone you’re trading must be in good working order.

“Jump! On Demand is the best way to get a new smartphone whenever you want. Zero out the door. Zero at upgrade. Zero fees. Zero wait. Zero BS,” T-Mobile CEO John Legere said in a statement.

This 18-month lease agreement is available initially on the most popular phones: Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the Samsung Galaxy S6, S6 edge and Note 4 and the LG G4. Monthly payments range from a $15 limited time promotion on iPhone 6 to $32.49 on a a Galaxy S6 edge. Consumers who want to keep the device at the end of the term will need to pay off the remaining balance of the retail price for the phone.

This latest incentive is designed to help T-Mobile gain subscribers in the hyper-competitive domestic mobile phone market. In its most recent quarter, T-Mobile added 1.1 million mainstream customers using the lure of incentives and aggressive marketing. It is on the verge of eclipsing Sprint as the nation’s third-largest carrier.

Jump On Demand is a twist on T-Mobile’s existing Jump early access program.

That program charges $10 per month in addition to the device rental fee, and also included device insurance but offered more limited upgrade rights. Device insurance is not included in Jump On Demand and is sold separately for $8 per month.

The introduction of Jump prompted all the other carriers to offer early upgrade programs of their own. Verizon customers who use its Edge installment payment plan can replace their phones anytime they want — so long as the phone is paid for in full. There are no upgrades or activation fees. AT&T’s Next plan requires subscribers who have financed the purchase of their device to make all of their remaining installment payments in one lump sum before upgrading.

Correction: This post has been corrected to accurately reflect the terms of T-Mobile’s new phone payment plan.

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

See More:

More in Technology

Future Perfect
The simple question that could change your careerThe simple question that could change your career
Future Perfect

Making a difference in the world doesn’t require changing your job.

By Bryan Walsh
Technology
The case for AI realismThe case for AI realism
Technology

AI isn’t going to be the end of the world — no matter what this documentary sometimes argues.

By Shayna Korol
Politics
OpenAI’s oddly socialist, wildly hypocritical new economic agendaOpenAI’s oddly socialist, wildly hypocritical new economic agenda
Politics

The AI company released a set of highly progressive policy ideas. There’s just one small problem.

By Eric Levitz
Future Perfect
Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.Human bodies aren’t ready to travel to Mars. Space medicine can help.
Future Perfect

Protecting astronauts in space — and maybe even Mars — will help transform health on Earth.

By Shayna Korol
Podcasts
The importance of space toilets, explainedThe importance of space toilets, explained
Podcast
Podcasts

Houston, we have a plumbing problem.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Technology
What happened when they installed ChatGPT on a nuclear supercomputerWhat happened when they installed ChatGPT on a nuclear supercomputer
Technology

How they’re using AI at the lab that created the atom bomb.

By Joshua Keating