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Take Two

US cell carriers eye no-contracts model in wake of T-Mobile's move

By Take Two Staff
Published Apr 8, 2013
A T-Mobile connected iPhone 5 is shown on display after John Legere, CEO and President of T-Mobile USA made an announcement during an event about new contract pricing on March 26, 2013 in New York City. Legere confirmed that T-Mobile will start carrying the iPhone 5 starting April 12, under it's new no-contract plan called The Simple Choice, with the customers paying $99 down, then $20 a month for 24 months, on top of the monthly service plan.
A T-Mobile connected iPhone 5 is shown on display after John Legere, CEO and President of T-Mobile USA made an announcement during an event about new contract pricing on March 26, 2013 in New York City. Legere confirmed that T-Mobile will start carrying the iPhone 5 starting April 12, under it's new no-contract plan called The Simple Choice, with the customers paying $99 down, then $20 a month for 24 months, on top of the monthly service plan.
(
John Moore/Getty Images
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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US cell carriers eye no-contracts model in wake of T-Mobile's move

 T-Mobile made headlines recently when they announced a radical shift its mobile plans: No more contracts ... I repeat, no more contracts

The carrier, currently fourth behind the likes of AT&T, Sprint and Verizon, will allow customers to use a phone they already own. If they want a new model, they'll free to buy the phone outright or pay it off in installments. The idea might be catching on with other providers 

David Lazarus is a business columnist for the Los Angeles Times.