Following in the footsteps of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, Sprint is expected to launch its own early smartphone and tablet upgrade program later this week.
If the rumblings prove legitimate, the program would be in place in time for the arrival of Apple’s new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C this weekend.
Sprint’s upgrade program, which is reportedly called “One Up,” would allow customers to pay for their mobile devices on an approved payment plan (monthly installments, for example).
An annual upgrade would also be permissible through the nation’s third largest carrier with a device trade-in.
CNET‘s sources indicate that Sprint’s One Up will launch September 20th.
Sprint is the last of the national carriers to offer such a program, after T-Mobile kick-started the trend in July with its own Jump program. Shortly after AT&T launched NEXT, and Verizon introduced Edge. The moves underscore the increasingly competitive nature of the business, with each player looking to mimic its rivals.
Representatives for Sprint haven’t yet commented on the rumor.
