T-Mobile announces new JUMP! twice yearly upgrade program

T-Mobile is holding an event in New York today and just sent out the press release that includes four announcements. The first one is very interesting for readers like you, the smartphone fan, who is interested in upgrading your phone or switching to the latest and greatest more often than every two years without having to pay the full retail price.

As stated in the T-Mobile press release, they announced the following:

• JUMP!: A radical new program that allows T-Mobile customers to upgrade their phones when they want, up to twice per year. The program also includes total protection against device malfunction, damage, loss or theft – all for just $10 per month.
• Rapidly expanding 4G LTE network: T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network now reaches 157 million people across the United States and is live in 116 metropolitan areas. T-Mobile remains on target to have nationwide 4G LTE network coverage by the end of the year, reaching 200 million people in more than 200 metropolitan markets.
• Simple Choice Plan for All Families: Families can get four Simple Choice Plan lines with unlimited talk, text and Web and up to 500MB of high-speed data for only $100 per month (plus taxes & fees) — with no credit check and no annual service contract required.
• Expanding 4G LTE device lineup: T-Mobile introduced pricing and availability for two new 4G LTE-capable devices, including the Xperia Z from Sony and the Nokia Lumia 925. In addition, T-Mobile is providing Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 users with an LTE software update.

JUMP!

I used to changes my smartphone every couple of months, but over the past couple of years they have gotten better and better so I now can be seen with a phone for 6 to 10 months. I rarely use the phone subsidy on carriers though and typically pay full price for my gear.

The new JUMP! option for T-Mobile is a $10/month program (just a few dollars more than you pay for their current carrier handset protection) that lets you bring in your current phone and trade it in for a new one financed with their zero interest Equipment Installation Program (EIP). Any remaining EIP payments from your previous phone will be eliminated by the trade-in. You get to purchase the new phone for the same low upfront cost that new subscribers are offered, all still with no annual service contract.

I haven't ran all the numbers to see how the bottom line shakes out, but at first glance it seems like a good program to keep existing customers coming back to T-Mobile.

LTE expansion

There is no pretty good LTE coverage here in the Puget Sound area and I can see LTE at work and home. In addition, their HSPA+ network covers 228 million people in the US and I personally use that more since the coverage is better at this time.

Expanded family options

I am already loving my $130 Simple Choice family plan for five phones and now T-Mobile is offering it to people who may have been struggling with financial issues lately. No credit check and no annual service contract are required to get four phones with unlimited talk, text, and Internet for just $100.

New smartphones

The Sony Xperia Z, Nokia Lumia 925, and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 are all coming to T-Mobile this summer. The Lumia 925 is coming on 17 July and depending on tomorrow's big Nokia Lumia announcement I may pick up the 925 and join the JUMP! program.