Times are really changing, with a lot of wireless carriers having already started getting rid of their standard two year contracts. T-Mobile got the ball rolling with its Uncarrier makeover over two years ago, and others then followed suit. Before the end of 2015, AT&T, the number two mobile service provider in the United States, revealed its plans of scrapping its two year smartphones starting this year. Meanwhile, industry leader Verizon Wireless eliminated its service contracts back in August of last year.
Now, it appears that the fourth biggest wireless carrier in America also wants to join the club. There are reports surfacing that Sprint is currently finalizing its plans to eliminate its traditional two year smartphone contracts once and for all. Interestingly, in August of last year, it was reported that Sprint was considering abandoning its two year contracts. It seems that those reports are becoming true after all.
As indicated on a document leaked by Android Central, Sprint seems to be intent on removing its regular 24 month smartphone plan as well as the subsidized model as an option for those who are new subscribers to the wireless carrier. What the company is planning to do instead is push purchasing on installments to new sign ups, via its Sprint Easy Pay and Sprint Lease options.
For those not in the know, Sprint Easy Pay basically lets the wireless carrier’s subscribers pay zero amount upfront, and then pay off their handset via equal monthly repayments over a period of 24 months. As for Sprint Lease, it allows subscribers to pay a lesser amount every month over the same period of a couple of years, but the customers actually do not get to own their smartphone at the end of the contract, that is unless they choose to pay an additional amount.
When viewing the whole picture, eliminating two year contracts for new subscribers will not actually affect existing customers of Sprint. This is because two year contracts will still be made available for those who decide to avail of upgrades and extra lines of service on their current smartphone plans.
And even though Sprint is getting rid of its two year plans for smartphones, tablet devices can still be purchased with the regular contract and subsidized mobile device price structure. Moreover, those who are new subscribers of the major US wireless carrier can still also choose to purchase devices at the full retail price upfront.
For more information on Sprint deals, you can start comparing plans and phones from Sprint at Wirefly now.
