Sprint Joins Early Upgrade Program Parade With OneUp

Sprint may be the last of the major carriers to add an early upgrade program, but that doesn’t mean its offer isn’t worth taking a look at.

The OneUp program allows customers to get a new phone as often as every year. Customers won’t get a discounted price for their new phones, but Sprint will cut $15 off the monthly service fee. For a limited time, Sprint said, it is also offering phones for no money down, and giving existing customers that have their phone for at least a year the opportunity to trade in their device and join the program.

And, of course, Sprint’s announcement is well-timed, coming as it does with the launch of new iPhones on Friday. Sprint said OneUp is starting today at its company-owned stores. (The program isn’t available in Florida and Washington, D.C.)

T-Mobile began the trend with its Jump program, which offers customers the ability to trade in their smartphone up to twice a year. The program has a $10-per-month fee, though that also includes device insurance.

AT&T and Verizon added programs of their own, though their offers remove the device subsidy offered on their traditional plans, and don’t offer any corresponding cut in monthly service rates.