Could A 12 Month Lease On Your Next Android Phone Make Contracts More Appealing?
Think about it. A newer, sleeker, more powerful Android device comes out just about every month. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just borrow the latest Android powered smartphone — for a monthly fee — and trade it in, say… every 12 months for a new model? That’s kind of the idea TMNG Global is pitching to major carriers around the US, offering the first of its kind, mobile device leasing program here in the states.
The way it works is carriers would offer 1-year leases — with no money down — on smartphones for their customers for only $20-$30 a month. And just like when leasing or financing a car, the customer would then be required to pay for insurance on the handset, should any harm befall the device. According to MDLx, the subsidiary of TMNG who would be handling all the paperwork, this would provide consumers who not only don’t want to be locked into a 2-year agreement, but keep them up-to-date with all the latest in mobile technology (read: Android users).
The “Mobile Device Lease xChange” hasn’t officially been picked up by any big name carriers although MDLx is said to be in talks with several tier one carriers so we’ll have to wait and see how that pans out. In my experiencing working with Best Buy Mobile, getting customer to fork out $300, $200, even $100 dollars on an Android device that would last them through their contracts was like pulling teeth. For those of you wondering, seems the UK is always 1-step ahead the US with O2 leasing iPhone 4S’s for $86 a month on a 1 year term.
Having new Android releases every few months suddenly sounds a lot more fun, right?
[Via GigaOM]