T-Mobile now covers all of switchers’ outstanding phone and tablet payments up to $650 per line

Today, during an event held to announce Un-carrier 9.0 − Un-carrier for Business − John Legere, the President & CEO of T-Mobile unveiled two new “Un-carrier” initiatives for consumers.

First, with T-Mobile’s new “Un-contract,” customers will also now have more certainty in their wireless pricing. Consumers and businesses alike can now rest assured that their Simple Choice rate plan won’t go up as long as they’re a T-Mobile customer and keep their plan − and even customers with unlimited 4G LTE will lock in their rates for a minimum of two years. The Un-carrier also launched “Carrier Freedom,” a new move where T-Mobile will now cover all outstanding phone and tablet payments up to $650 per line when customers switch to T-Mobile − freeing 29 million people currently using AT&T, Sprint or Verizon to make the move.

Wireless customers don’t trust the carriers, and they have good reason. Nearly half of consumers and business owners surveyed say they’ve been offered a good deal by the carriers only to have their rates raised later. And, more than two-thirds of consumers and business owners believe their wireless rates will go up in the next two years.

With the Un-contract, T-Mobile is putting an end to price uncertainty − and flipping the very idea of the carrier contract on its head. Now, we sign the contract, you get the freedom.

“We’re the Un-carrier. Everything the carriers do, we un-do,” said John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile, in a stetement. “The other guys have been throwing out all kinds of desperate, short-term promotions to suck you in and lock you down − only to jack up rates later. We’re not playing that game. The Un-contract is our promise to individuals, families and businesses of all sizes, that − while your price may go down − it won’t go up.”

The Un-contract kicks in automatically on March 22 for all existing T-Mobile Simple Choice customers. No crazy strings, no hoops to jump through, no hidden fees, no BS.

Second, T-Mobile launched Carrier Freedom, a new move designed to free the 29 million people currently locked in to a device payment plan or lease with the old-school carriers by covering their outstanding device payments when they switch to T-Mobile.

“The carriers will do everything they possibly can to lure you in − then screw you out of every possible penny while you’re locked in,” added Legere. “Now, the millions who feel stuck with AT&T Next and Verizon Edge can jump to T-Mobile at no risk. Carrier Freedom is the next phase in bringing more choice and flexibility to this broken industry.”

For wireless customers, the single biggest obstacle to switching providers is cost. And last year, T-Mobile launched its Contract Freedom program, offering to pay every penny of the carriers’ punitive early termination fees (ETFs). The move helped catapult T-Mobile into the fastest growing wireless company in the U.S. with more than 8.3 million net new customers last year.

Now, with Carrier Freedom, T-Mobile is extending this concept to cover outstanding phone or tablet payments for those who bought their device on AT&T Next, Verizon Edge or other carrier equipment installment plans (EIPs) or leasing plans. The move frees 29 million more people locked into equipment payment plans or leases to switch to T-Mobile. Now, consumers and businesses feeling stuck with their carrier − because of contracts or phone payment plans or both − can make the move to T-Mobile without worry.

To take advantage of Carrier Freedom, a customer simply ports their number to T-Mobile’s Simple Choice plan, trades in their smartphone or tablet and buys a new smartphone. They’ll get the trade-in value right away, and a prepaid card with the balance of additional outstanding phone payments after the trade-in value when they submit the carrier’s bill to T-Mobile − up to $650 total per line on up to 10 total lines. Businesses with more than 10 lines also can also take advantage of Carrier Freedom, with bill credits up to $100 per line after the 10th line.

Un-contract guarantee excludes, fees, & other (e.g., “pay-per-use”) charges. EIP Pay Off: qualifying credit & postpaid service, with trade-in in good condition req’d. Pay off paid as device trade-in credit & prepaid card for remaining device balance (including valid exercise of lease purchase option, if applicable), minus trade-in credit. Sales tax on device excluded. Validation req’d. One offer per line. $100 business payout once per account as bill credit (includes trade-in value). See T-Mobile.com for offer and other details.

Source: T-Mobile US, Inc.

MacDailyNews Take: The more desperate the carriers get, the less we dislike them.