On October 1st Verizon
Wireless announced:
Customers
Can Change Calling Plans Without Extending Contracts; New Policy Now Part of
Industry Leading Worry Free Guarantee
On October 16th AT&T announced:
Beginning in November, customers who change to any one of the
company's standard wireless calling plans during the course of their
contract will no longer be required to extend their current contract or
enter into a new one.
In addition, those customers who choose to exit their contract early
will no longer be required to pay a flat early termination fee.
Instead, that fee will be progressively lowered during the term of the
contract. Beginning early in 2008, this early-termination policy will
apply to new and renewing wireless customers who sign one- or two-year
service agreements. More details will be forthcoming at that time.
Then on November 7th
Sprint followed suit and announced:
Beginning Monday, Nov. 12, as part of the
company's pledge to enhance the overall customer experience, customers will
have even more flexibility by being able to change their rate plans without
having to renew their contracts.
Corporate
accounts have long had the ability to upgrade or downgrade plans without a contract
reterm but for consumers that hasn’t been the case. However, the new policy may
affect some businesses. Companies that allow employees to expense their mobile
costs (individual liable) rather than having a corporate plan will now have
more flexibility when employees need to move from high minute plans to low
minute plans or vice-versa.
In these situations the employee is ultimately responsible
but as the company is paying the bill as an individual employee expense the employee may
not be motivated to change plans since they would have incurred a one or two year
contract renewal prior to the policy change. The company then ends up paying
for an expense that’s higher then necessary.
Now the carriers
weren’t being nice of course, they’re hand is being forced by lawmakers and
class action lawsuits. Here’s a little more background
on the events unfolding.
Sprint also
announced a more aggressive upgrade policy:
"New For You" Handset Upgrades
This valuable upgrade program offers
savings to current Sprint customers on the newest, most innovative phones and
connection cards. That way, long-time, loyal customers can continue to enjoy
the same great services while keeping up with the latest technology. Existing
customers may be eligible to receive savings of up to $150 off devices if they
have been a customer for 22 consecutive months. Visit Sprint.com/upgrades for full program details and
eligibility.
The upgraded phone policy
will allow more folks to upgrade to Smart Phones, potentially making them more
productive with work related communications.