Sprint and big-box retailer Best Buy announced a new arrangement that will see Best Buy offer an all-inclusive wireless service under its brand name.
The service will tap into Sprint’s device portfolio and network assets under the Best Buy One Plan, which will include unlimited domestic voice calling, messaging, Internet access and a smartphone for a single price. The service launched March 1 at Best Buy locations.
The plan will allow “well-qualified customers” to pick up an Apple iPhone 6 16GB with the included unlimited services for no money down and $65 per month. Or customers can lease a smartphone powered by Google’s Android operating system for $75 per month. Pricing excludes taxes and fees, and requires a two-year commitment, though for an additional $10 per month customers can cut that commitment to one year. Through March 28, Best Buy said it will also kick in a $200 gift card for new lines of service.
The Best Buy plan mimics Sprint’s own leasing option launched last year with its iPhone for Life plan, later extended to Android-powered devices and tablets. The iPhone offer includes unlimited domestic voice calling, messaging and data for $50 per month, with customers tacking on a per-month lease charge for their device and term of commitment.
The move expands Sprint’s relationship with Best Buy. Sprint in late 2013 announced a deal with Best Buy that targeted students by offering one year of free service with a full-price device purchase. The plans included 12 months of unlimited talk, text and one gigabyte of data on a smartphone or just unlimited talk and text for a basic phone and did not require a contract.
Sprint has talked about plans to expand its retail presence in order to better compete against aggressive rivals. That manifested itself last month as the carrier announced plans to tap into 1,500 RadioShack locations.
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