Sprint Looking To Ditch Two-Year Contracts Again?

Here we go again, some subscribers of Sprint may be thinking that right now. The fourth biggest wireless carrier in the United States is apparently back to eliminating its two year agreements for mobile users. As reported by Android Central, an internal memo was retrieved, purportedly showing that the mobile service provider is planning to stop offering contracts with subsidized devices to subscribers beginning on May 24th of this year. With two year contracts ditched, Sprint’s customers can either opt for purchasing devices via the wireless carrier’s Easy Pay and Lease installment plans, or buy handsets at full retail price.

As for those subscribers currently under an existing two year agreement, it has not been made clear yet whether they can re-sign as soon as their contract ends. As stated by Fierce Wireless, Sprint has not officially released a statement regarding the leaked internal memo, choosing instead to state that it is still in the process of updating its mobile plans.

Back in January early this year, it was reported that Sprint had plans to fully get rid of its two year agreements. But less than a couple of months later, the wireless carrier had changed its mind, resurrecting the two year smartphone plans it initially ditched, and then promising to offer even more options to its customers. At the time, Sprint has claimed that it was all a reaction to feedback from mobile users who wanted more device options.

For years, various wireless carriers have had success adopting the two year agreement business model. But relatively recently, the mode in which smartphone plans are delivered have slowly started to change. The introduction of installment and early upgrade smartphone plans have cause some mobile service providers to go for a zero contract business model for cellular service. In this set up, mobile users do not find themselves tied into a service contract, but by choosing to sign up for an installment or payment plan for their handsets, they are still tied to a wireless carrier for their phone’s repayment period, which can range up to 30 months.

Among the Big Four wireless carriers in America, T-Mobile got the ball rolling about a couple of years ago when it eliminated standard two year contracts. Other players, such as industry leaders Verizon Wireless and AT&T, have since followed suit, both ceasing to offer subsidized handsets for new subscribers within the last two quarters. On a rather curious note, the Big Red appears to ail from its decision, confirming recently that subscribers on current contracts have not displayed that much enthusiasm in switching to new payment options when upgrading their handsets.

For more information on Sprint offers, you can start exploring plans and phones from Sprint at Wirefly now.