Update, August 14, 04:45 ET: Following the initial announcement regarding T-Mobile’s new and improved JUMP! On Demand service, the carrier has now launched a dedicated page for the program, and it reveals some (potentially) disappointing news.
JUMP! On Demand is pitched as a way to get you a new smartphone every 30 days. The amount you pay each month for the service depends on a few factors — including which device you pick up — but it would, by all accounts, be less than what you would pay to buy a new device every month through other means.
However, details on the new T-Mobile page (spotted by Pocket Now) reveal that further charges may be incurred.
“Starting in August 2018, due to the rising costs of superphones, a device down payment may be required, and customers upgrading in supported channels (retail, telesales) will be charged the upgrade support charge at upgrade,” wrote T-Mobile on its website.
It’s not yet clear how much the down payment or “upgrade support” charges would be, or which devices they would affect, but it seems likely that this would apply to flagship phones arriving after the twelve month period.
While paying a little extra a year down the line may not be a complete deal-breaker (flagship phones tend to increase in price most years anyway), the fact that these costs are unknown could put some people off the scheme entirely. To read the rest of the Jump! On Demand fine print, visit the official website here.
Original coverage: T-Mobile’s revamped JUMP! On Demand program now lets you upgrade to a new device once every 30 days for 18 months.
It was two years ago that the self-proclaimed “Un-carrier” launched the original “JUMP! On Demand” program, which let you upgrade your device up to three times a year. Although there were certain terms and conditions, it was considerably more flexible than its previous JUMP! early upgrade program and game-changing compared to what the other three major carriers offered at the time. Well, if having four flagships a year wasn’t enough, T-Mobile has an even better deal for you now: with the revamped JUMP! On Demand program, you can now get the latest flagship smartphone every 30 days.
Best T-Mobile plans in 2024: Pricing, phone options, and moreThe basic premise remains unchanged: when you sign up, you enter into an 18-month lease period, and after 30 days or more, you are eligible for an upgrade to a different model or memory size. Yes, that’s right – as long as the phone you are leasing is in a good condition, you can get your hands on the latest flagship device every month or so. The amount you pay each month for your lease will vary, as T-Mobile points out, on your credit rating:
Your monthly payments, and the total amount you pay during the entire lease agreement, will depend on your credit approval, the device and plan you choose, and any taxes and government fees.
That combined with the cost of the Simple Choice plan you choose will be the monthly total, and eligible devices include the Galaxy S8, LG G6, and Moto Z2 Force among others according to a Reddit thread.
You will be charged for excess wear, damage, hardware and software alterations, and more.Again, because you are technically leasing these devices from T-Mobile, they must be in a good condition; you will be charged for excess wear, damage, hardware and software alterations, and more. It’s worth noting that Device Protection is not included with JUMP! On Demand. If you wish to purchase the device, you can do that by paying for the amount of remaining installments. If you want to get more information on T-Mobile’s revamped leasing program, call 1-800-866-2453, and if you are already with the magenta network, you can simply dial 611 on your phone.
Would you want to upgrade your phone every month? Do you think JUMP! On Demand is a good deal? Let us know by leaving a comment below!