If you’re debating whether to buy an iPhone 6 now or wait for the inevitable hardware refresh this fall, T-Mobile is trying to make that decision a lot easier.
The carrier is extending the $15 per month promotional pricing for its Jump On Demand program, which lets users upgrade to a new phone up to three times per year. T-Mobile customers who buy an iPhone 6 by September 7 can get the next iPhone at no extra cost when they upgrade by the end of this year. (The larger iPhone 6 Plus costs $19 per month.)
T-Mobile is also adding Apple Music to its “ Music Freedom” lineup, letting users stream as much as they want without it counting toward their 4G LTE data allotment. Music Freedom now supports 33 streaming apps, and T-Mobile says Apple Music has been the most-requested addition as of late.
Why this matters: Anyone who serves as the resident tech expert for friends and family knows that “iPhone Upgrade Oracle” is part of the job description. And while we can safely assume a new iPhone is coming within the next few months, telling people whether to pull the trigger now is always a tough judgment call. T-Mobile customers won’t have to stress about it anymore, provided they’re okay with Jump On Demand’s particular traps.
Jump On Demand explained
Jump On Demand is a slight return to the contract-based smartphone plans of yesteryear. Subscribers get a new phone for no money down, but pay a monthly hardware fee plus the cost of wireless service. With the promotional pricing, iPhone users pay $15 per month for the hardware, plus service charges that start at $50 per month for individual users. Users can also upgrade to a new phone up to three times per year at no extra cost.
Assuming you stick with T-Mobile and routinely upgrade your phone (while keeping it in good condition), Jump On Demand is a good deal. But canceling Jump On Demand or leaving T-Mobile altogether has a price: At that point, you’re on the hook for the full price of the phone, minus any monthly hardware payments you’ve already made.
When T- Mobile announced Jump On Demand last month, it said the $15 per month pricing was a limited-time deal, but didn’t say when the promotion would end or what the monthly price would become. Subscribers who buy a new iPhone 6 won’t have to worry, as T-Mobile will lock in the current price indefinitely.
Author: Jared Newman
Jared Newman has been helping folks make sense of technology for over a decade, writing for PCWorld, TechHive, and elsewhere. He also publishes two newsletters, Advisorator for straightforward tech advice and Cord Cutter Weekly for saving money on TV service.