The worst thing about phone contracts is having to have the same phone for 2 years whilst there are constantly new ones being released. O2 have their refresh tariffs to allow you to change phones mid-contract and now EE have launched Swap.
Swap allows users with eligible handsets to swap for any new phone on the same or higher price plan for a small fee as long as they have had the contract for at least 6 months. The handset being returned needs to be in good working condition. It also allows Orange and T-mobile customers an easy way to upgrade to faster 4G speeds. If customers don’t have an eligible handset then they can still take advantage of EE’s early upgrade offer to receive 33% off their remaining line rental.
It doesn’t matter where you bought the phone from, EE store, online or a 3rd party but you can only do the swap in an EE store.
EE INTRODUCES ‘SWAP’ – THE EASY WAY TO UPGRADE MID-CONTRACT
- · EE pay monthly customers now able to ‘Swap ‘ to the latest 4G smartphones after just six months from as little as £49
- · Launching on the 17th September, the new ‘Swap’ service is available to customers on 4GEE, Orange and T-Mobile plans
10th September 2013. EE, the UK’s most advanced digital communications company, today announced the launch of ‘Swap’, an industry-leading way for customers to switch to the latest smartphones.
With the launch of ‘Swap’, customers with eligible devices can upgrade from any point from six months into their 18 or 24 month price plan.
Simply by returning their existing device, starting a new 24 month 4GEE plan and paying a one-off fee, customers will have access to the latest smartphones. ‘Swap’ is available to customers on 4GEE, Orange and T-Mobile plans bought directly from EE as well as through indirect partners. Swap provides an easy way for Orange or T-Mobile customers to upgrade to 4G.
Customers must already have an eligible device that’s in good working order, with no significant dents, scratches, or cracks on the screen. Swap is available exclusively in EE stores, so customers can get the latest device the very same day they hand in their old one. The one-off fee a customer pays is directly related to the 24 month plan they choose, and they have the option to move to any smartphone in the 4GEE device portfolio.
Available 4GEE ‘Swap’ plans from 17th September:
| 4GEE 24m plan |
£51 4GEE
|
£46 4GEE
|
£41 4GEE
|
£36 4GEE
|
| Details |
20GB data, unlimited UK mins. and texts
|
10GB data, unlimited UK mins. and texts
|
2GB data, unlimited UK mins. and texts
|
1.5GB data, unlimited UK mins. and texts
|
|
One-off payment
|
£49
|
£129
|
£199
|
£249
|
|
All plans also include a range of benefits, including EE Film (offering 2 for 1 cinema tickets), Clone Phone Lite, discounted fibre broadband and fast-track customer service. Customers on plans £41 and above receive an inclusive add-on, with a choice of Deezer Music (access to 25m tracks), EE games or EE Mobile TV.
|
*An additional charge will be made for larger storage capacity devices. For the full list of eligible devices for ‘Swap’, please see ee.co.uk/swap
Pippa Dunn, Chief Consumer Marketing Officer, EE said: “With smartphone innovation moving at a relentless pace, we realise that some customers want to move to the latest handset at the earliest possible opportunity. That’s why we’ve introduced ‘Swap’ to sit alongside our existing upgrade offers – providing a new, simple and easily affordable option for pay monthly customers to move to the latest 4G smartphones.”
Swap will complement EE’s existing upgrade options. EE offers pay monthly handset customers in the last 45 days of their plan the option to upgrade for free, as well as Early Upgrade for all pay monthly customers who have been with EE for a minimum of six months. With Early Upgrade, customers will receive up to a 33% discount on their outstanding monthly commitment. Customers who choose this option can choose to either keep their device, or recycle it through EE’s recycle and reward scheme.
4G from EE is available to businesses and consumers in a total of 105 towns and cities across the UK, covering 60% of the population – with double speed 4GEE offering average download speeds of between 24-30Mbps now available in 20 towns and cities across the UK.
Swap launches on 17th September. For further information, including details of supported devices and terms and conditions, please visit www.ee.co.uk/swap.
– ENDS –
Vodafone are offering something similar. I must say, I’m really not bothered enough by 4G to shell out for the remaining line rental just to get a 4G phone, even if it is reduced. The way I look at it, by the time my contract finishes, the 4G network should actually be worth using.
The way I thought this would work would be for them to take your existing handset to clear the remainder of the line-rental, and then just allow you to start a new contract – no further cost. You are taking out a new 24-month contract, so surely they’re not going to lose out too much?
It all sounded good, until they revealed how much the one-off payments cost!
Ridiculous – just trade your phone in when you want another and save money!