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Tag: upgrades

  • T-Mobile’s Jump Being Changed For The Better [Report]

    T-Mobile’s Jump Being Changed For The Better [Report]

    In its quest to shake up the mobile industry, T-Mobile revealed Jump last year as a way to allow consumers to upgrade their devices twice a year. It also instigated a six month waiting period between signing up and being able to upgrade. All of that may be gone by next week.

    TmoNews reports that T-Mobile will be introducing a new Jump program on February 23 that will remove pretty much all of the restrictions found in the original. No more will you have to wait six months before signing up and upgrading. There will be no more limits on how often you can upgrade. Tablets will also be added as eligible devices.

    So, how will the financials of all this work? When upgrading, you will bring in your old phone and trade it in. Upon doing so, T-Mobile will offer you some trade-in credit for your old device. If the payments you’ve made on the phone combined with the trade-in credit meet or exceed 50 percent of the original purchase price, T-Mobile will take care of the remaining cost of the phone. From there, you’re free to upgrade to the latest and greatest device.

    What about current Jump customers? Will they still get this deal? The leaked memo states that current Jump customers will get all the features found in the new Jump if they’ve been a member of the old program for six months or more. We can assume that recent signups for Jump will have to wait six months before being transferred to the new plan, but we’ll likely find out more on this next week when it’s announced.

    It will be interesting to see if T-Mobile announces anything else at its upcoming press event on February 23. The carrier seems to not be finished with shaking up the wireless industry for the better and we’re interested to what it does next.

    In the meantime, enjoy these silly Valentine’s Day breakup macros T-Mobile CEO John Legere has been sharing all morning:

    Image via TMobile/YouTube

  • Sprint to Unveil Its Unsubsidized Pricing Plan

    Back in July, T-Mobile introduced its “Jump!” pricing plan. The mobile provider’s new plan, instead of subsidizing the cost of new smartphones, allows customers to pay for their devices on a monthly basis. In addition, customers on the plan can upgrade to newer smartphones on a yearly basis instead of being locked into a two-year contract.

    Within days of T-Mobile’s announcement, AT&T and Verizon had both announced similar plans with their “Next” and “Edge” programs, respectively. Sprint seemed to be the only major U.S. carrier caught off guard by the new system. Now, with its big SoftBank merger out of the way, Sprint is coming around with its own unsubsidized plan.

    According to a CNET report, Sprint is readying “One Up,” its monthly payment plan for smart devices. The service is reportedly scheduled to start on September 20 – the same day the new iPhone 5S launches in the U.S.

    “One Up” will be very similar to competing plans, allowing customers to pay for smartphones over the course of 24 monthly payments. Customers can trade in their current smartphone after one year and upgrade to a newer one.

    It appears that Sprint will be positioning “One Up” as the least expensive of the new unsubsidized plans carriers are now offering. In a chart provided by CNET, Sprint estimates the cost of one year or “One Up” as being around $220 less expensive that T-Mobile’s “Jump!,” which is less expensive than both AT&T’s and Verizon’s offerings.

  • No Contract, Flexible Upgrade “Verizon Edge” Plans Announced

    Though T-Mobile got the ball rolling with its “Jump!” plan that allows customers to upgrade their phones twice every year, AT&T soon followed suit with its similar “Next” pricing plans, which allow customers to upgrade after making payments on a device for one year. The announcements seem to have put pressure on Verizon, which earlier this week was rumored to be readying its own “VZ Edge” flexible upgrade plans for a September launch.

    Today, “Verizon Edge” was officially announced. The offering will allow customers to make monthly payments on the price of a smartphone, spread over two years. Customers can then trade in and upgrade their device after 6 months, as long as half of the cost of their current device is paid off. The only requirement is that customers also purchase a month-to-month mobile service plan. No long-term contract with Verizon is needed. The plan is very similar to what AT&T’s Next service is offering.

    The Edge payment plans will be offered to customers with “Share Everything” plans starting Augusst 25 – a bit sooner than the company’s leaked documents indicated.

    The coming shift in U.S. mobile pricing could indicate that carriers are beginning to see new subscriber numbers slow as the U.S. smartphone market begins to saturate. Verizon has the most subscribers of any U.S. carrier, and added 1 million new subscribers during its second fiscal quarter of 2013.

  • AT&T Next Lets You Upgrade Your Phone Every Year At No Extra Cost

    AT&T Next Lets You Upgrade Your Phone Every Year At No Extra Cost

    For years, wireless carriers made it all but impossible to upgrade your smartphone. Sure, you could pay the full price of the phone, but you could only get those wonderful upgrade subsidizations every two years. Now the wireless carriers are beginning to wise up and offer better upgrade options.

    AT&T announced AT&T Next today – a new plan that allows customers to upgrade their phone every year. Like always, there’s a catch. The surprising thing, however, is that the catch this time around is pretty reasonable.

    Here’s how it works – You buy a new smartphone or tablet from AT&T and agree to pay monthly payments on it. After 12 payments, you can either choose to upgrade your phone to a new device at no additional cost, or continue paying off the rest of your current phone. If you choose the former, you will start paying monthly installments on the new phone while the old phone is traded in. If you choose the latter, you will continue paying off the phone for a total of 20 months. After that, you will owe no more payments on your current phone.

    “With AT&T Next, customers can get the newest smartphone or tablet every year with no down payment. That’s hard to beat, and it’s an incredible value for customers who want the latest and greatest every year,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer of AT&T Mobility.

    So, what do these monthly payments look like? AT&T isn’t offering specifics just yet, but it does say that payments will range from $15 to $50 a month. For example, it says that a Galaxy S4 will cost $32 a month. You can choose to upgrade to a new phone, however, after 12 payments, or continue paying $32 a month for 20 months if you choose to keep it. It should be noted that you can always pay off the device early.

    AT&T Next is just the latest plan from wireless carriers that encourages users to upgrade. T-Mobile started the trend last week with its Jump plan. It allows users to upgrade their phones twice a year by paying an extra $20 a month. Verizon is also rumored to be implementing its own upgrade plan called VZ Edge that lets consumers upgrade to a new phone if their current phone is more than 50 percent paid off.

    If you’re liking the sound of AT&T Next, the carrier says that it will be available to customers on July 26. On that date, new customers and those eligible for upgrades can sign up for AT&T Next.

    [h/t: DroidLife]

  • T-Mobile Announces Jump, Allows You To Upgrade Twice A Year

    T-Mobile Announces Jump, Allows You To Upgrade Twice A Year

    T-Mobile made headlines earlier when it ditched contracts, and became the “uncarrier.” Now it’s ditching another much maligned carrier practice – the two-year upgrade cycle.

    T-Mobile just announced Jump today at its press event. The new service, which costs $10 a month, allows those on T-Mobile to upgrade their smartphone twice every year. Even better, Jump treats you like a new customer so you don’t have to pay the full price of the phone when you upgrade. Instead, you only have to pay the down payment just like a new customer would. Like always, you can also pay off the rest of the phone at any time. As for your old phone, it must be traded in to T-Mobile upon upgrading. You wont owe anything more on it either.

    Some people may think that $10 a month is a little much for Jump, but T-Mobile is injecting a little more value into it besides the aforementioned two upgrades a year. You’ll be automatically enrolled into T-Mobile’s Premium Handset Protection and Mobile Security program. In short, it’s an insurance program that will replace your phone in the event of it being stolen or destroyed.

    T-Mobile says that it will start offering Jump to its customers on July 14. Incidentally, T-Mobile will start selling the Sony Xperia Z and Nokia Lumia 925 three days later on July 17. It’s a perfect excuse to pick up a new phone from T-Mobile while signing up for Jump for that sweet upgrade action.

    As an aside, T-Mobile has released two new ads for Jump starring SNL alum Bill Hader:

    [h/t: Gizmodo]

  • Windows 8 Upgrade: Should You Make The Jump?

    Windows 8 upgrades will be coming to current Windows users on October 26. The question now is whether or not you should take Microsoft up on their fantastic offer to upgrade to the new OS for only $39.99. Some doomsayers claim that Windows 8 will be bad for everyone, but it’s true value will be determined by what you use a PC for.

    As everybody should know by now, Windows 8 introduces the radically different start menu. It used to be called Metro, but now it’s just the Windows 8 UI after Microsoft found out that Metro was already taken by a Germany company. It’s definitely the most controversial aspect of the new operating system. Our commenters have expressed their love and utter contempt for the new look, but it really all comes down to the same question once again – what do you use a PC for?

    Windows 8 and the new UI is going to be fantastic for consumers. Everything that you could ever want to enjoy in life – movies, music, games, etc – are all available at your fingertips in the new UI. It might take a little getting used to at first, especially with a laptop trackpad, but you’ll get the hang of it. I’ve been using the Windows 8 release preview on my two-year-old laptop for the past month and it’s second nature now.

    Those who come out swinging against the new UI use their computers for more than just entertainment. These people use computers for work or for general purposes. They’re not interested in Windows 8 for its easy to use UI or its immediate access to all of their songs or movies. They just want to send emails to potential clients or work on an Excel spreadsheet. That’s where Windows 8 hits a major snag. It’s not that great for productivity at the moment.

    Now, I’m not saying that Windows 8 can never be great for productivity. The stuff that Microsoft showed off in the latest version of Office looks great, but it’s the same problem ran into when Microsoft switches to a new version of any software. There’s a pretty steep learning curve and people are far too comfortable with older versions. Most businesses still use Windows XP and they will probably upgrade to Windows 7 before 8 due to its relatively easy learning curve.

    The learning curve is definitely going to be Microsoft’s greatest obstacle as they move into the Windows 8 era. The OS was obviously designed for tablets and they pushed it to desktops to achieve parity across all platforms. They will need to convince business owners and regular desktop users that Windows 8 can be just as effective, if not more so, at completing everyday tasks. Thankfully, the Classic Shell add-on really goes a long way to fixing the various productivity issues that plague Windows 8.

    My month with Windows 8 has convinced me that Microsoft isn’t quite there just yet. The separation of the new UI and desktop kills any momentum I was having in the new UI. Having to switch out of the new UI and go to desktop mode just to launch Firefox really slows down the experience. That may no longer be the case once more apps can launch inside the new UI.

    For now, I would exercise caution when it comes to upgrading to Windows 8. If you use your PC for more than just content consumption, sticking with Windows 7 is probably your best bet for now.

  • Microsoft Is Insane: Offers Windows 8 Upgrades From XP Onward For Only $40

    I never upgrade to the newest version of Windows until I get a new computer. There’s a reason for that. I don’t feel like spending $120 on the newest version of Windows unless I’m going to get some hardware with it. Microsoft has never really made it cost effective to upgrade to the next version of Windows until now.

    In a really bold, un-Microsoft-like move, the company announced today that all Windows installs from XP onwards will be eligible to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for only $39.99 when the OS launches later this year. Even better, this deal is available in 131 markets. Also, you may recall how Microsoft was making Windows Media Center a paid add-on in Windows 8 – it’s totally free if you upgrade from a previous version.

    So, how will this magically cheap upgrade work? Microsoft has prepared the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant to help users prepare their computer for the onslaught that is Windows 8. First, it will make sure that your PC is capable of running Windows 8. You don’t want to spend $40 and then realize that you can’t even run the OS, right?

    In even better news, the Upgrade Assistant will go through all of your drivers and applications telling you which ones are incompatible with your current set-up. It will also set up a page where you can choose to keep settings, applications and files from your current installation of Windows. Unfortunately, those upgrading from Windows XP will only be able to transfer personal files as system settings are apparently not cross compatible.

    The Upgrade Assistant then goes to work downloading Windows 8 to your macine after purchase. After it finishes, you can jump the gun and start installing it. If you were smart, you wil instead choose to create a backup on DVD for upgrade purposes.

    This crazy promotion that will undoubtedly drive people to buy Windows 8 will be available in over 100 countries and 37 languages. If you prefer to own a physical copy of Windows 8 Pro, it will be available at retail for $69.99. Both the digital and retail promotion end on January 31, 2013.

    As far as I’m concerned, this is the craziest move Microsoft has ever made in regards to Windows. I don’t know if they’re scared about adoption so they’re lowering the price or they’re just that confident. I’m probably going to snag a copy for my laptop and keep running Windows 7 on my desktop. What about you guys?

  • New Ustream Interface Focuses On Exploration

    Live video streaming site Ustream has announced that some pretty big changes to the site are on the way. It’s “rebuilt from the ground up,” they say, and its goal is to “provide a simplified experience for viewers and broadcasters.”

    The new interface is being called Ustream Explore, as it “reflects the increased focus on allowing you to quickly explore the best live content from around the world.” One of the cool features of the new site involves multitasking – allowing users to browse and watch videos at the same time.

    Now, when you’re exploring new content, you can click on any video and it will immediately begin playback on the left hand side of your screen. While the video is playing, you can continue to browse without disrupting it. Check out their video below for a rundown of all the new stuff:



    Video streaming by Ustream

    As of right now, the new site is available to anyone that wants to try it as an opt-in beta. All you have to do it log in to your Ustream account and you’ll see a blue button on the right hand side that prompts you to “Try the New stream.”

    In 2011, Ustream recorded over 2 billion total views (both live and recorded). They also boasted 51 million global viewers per month and 49 million hours viewed per month. Their highest amount of concurrent viewers during the year was an impressive 800,000.

  • Ice Cream Sandwich To Galaxy Devices In Early 2012, Says Samsung

    Now that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus has been released as the first smartphone pre-installed with the new Android operating system, all the attention now turns to when other devices might be getting a yummy Ice Cream Sandwich.

    If you’re looking for news on other Samsung devices, look no further. The company has announced that a fairly lengthy list of Galaxy devices will be receiving the ICS upgrade soon:


    Samsung Electronics plan to provide the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update for GALAXY devices. The platform update for GALAXY S II and GALAXY Note will start in the first quarter 2012, and other GALAXY devices will soon follow.

    The ICS-upgradable devices are the GALAXY S II, GALAXY S II LTE, GALAXY Note, GALAXY R, GALAXY Tab 10.1, GALAXY Tab 8.9, GALAXY Tab 7.7, and GALAXY Tab 7.0 Plus.

    Samsung adds that they will make separate announcements for each device when specific timeframes becomes available.

    So it’s not exactly a bunch of specific dates, but users now know that they only have to wait a few more months to get the new OS for their existing Samsung smartphones and tablets.

    Ice Cream Sandwich sports a brand new UI as wells as NFC capabilities and Face Unlock functionality. Are you excited to install ICS on your device? Let us know in the comments.