Just ahead of Apple’s expected launch of new iPhone models on Tuesday, T-Mobile US said it would provide the highest trade-in value for used devices among nationwide operators.
Along with tracking the market for trade-in values, T-Mobile US said that if a consumer finds a higher value it will beat the offer, give customers back the difference and provide an additional $50 credit. Consumers will be required to purchase a new device from T-Mobile US and sign up for service to gain the credits, which will appear on subsequent bills.
The offer is set to begin Sept. 17 and will be available for “a limited time.”
Apple is expected to announce the new iPhone devices on Sept. 9, with rumors suggesting the new model(s) will be available as soon as Sept. 19. T-Mobile US also has its next “Un-carrier” event scheduled for Sept. 10.
—Sprint’s Boost Mobile division sweetened its no-contract rate plans by cutting prices and adding more data.
The company said that between Sept. 3 and Nov. 3, new and existing customers can sign up for its new Data Boost Plans that range between $35 and $55 per month. Those plans are $5 cheaper than the carrier’s Monthly Unlimited Select plans that it rolled out in May.
All of the plans include unlimited domestic voice calling and text messaging, with the $35 plan now including one gigabyte of un-throttled data; the $45 plan including 5 GB of un-throttled data; and the $55 plan including 10 GB of un-throttled data. The plans are compatible with all of Boost Mobile’s devices.
Sprint recently reported that its direct prepaid operations, which include Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile USA, its branded Sprint Prepaid product and Assurance Wireless, lost 542,000 customers during its most recent quarter. Rival T-Mobile US capitalized on the losses by proclaiming it is now the largest prepaid provider in the country.
—Speaking of T-Mobile US, the carrier continued to bolster its MetroPCS operations, announcing the expansion of services into 10 new markets. T-Mobile US, which acquired MetroPCS last year, noted that it has now expanded the brand from 6,000 points of sale in 15 metro markets to nearly 11,000 points of sale across 55 metro markets.
The latest expansion includes:
–Chattanooga, Tennessee
–Chicago
–Kansas City, Missouri
–Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minnesota
–Milwaukee
–Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport News, Virginia
–Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia
–Salt Lake City
–St. Louis
–Yakima-Pasco-Richland-Kennewick, Washington
As part of the latest expansion, T-Mobile US said it would provide current customers on MetroPCS’ “$40, Period” plan with double the allotted, un-throttled data from 500 megabytes up to 1 GB, and customers on MetroPCS’ $50 plan increased from 2.5 GB to 3 GB.
AT&T Mobility’s Cricket brand recently announced a limited-time offering of five lines of unlimited voice calling, messaging and 500 megabytes of un-throttled data services for $100 per month. The pricing builds on the carrier’s previously launched Group Save multiline discount program that was initially offered by Aio Wireless.
—GreatCall, which provides mobile services targeting mature consumers, launched the Samsung Touch3 smartphone that includes embedded health and safety services “at the touch of a button.”
That “button” access applications including GreatCall’s 5Star service that taps into the phone’s GPS signal to alert emergency services in case of a health emergency; Urgent Care that provides access to registered nurses and doctors; and MedCoach that is a medication reminder application.
The device is priced at $170 with a $20 “introductory discount,” and rate plans begin at $25 per month.
GreatCall offers the Jitterbug service, which like Consumer Cellular, caters to seniors or those consumers looking for more basic communication needs.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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