Still no break in monthly service charges for buying a device off-contract
Newly leaked Verizon training documents indicate that the carrier is planning to release a new device purchasing plan called "VZ Edge". Building on the previously announced "Verizon Wireless Device Payment Plan" that lets customers buy a device off-contract with a year of monthly payments, VZ Edge will give customers an option to buy yet another device after paying off half of their current payments on a device. Presumably to fall in line with T-Mobile's new JUMP! upgrade plan, VZ Edge would offer customers "upgrades" every 6 months.
The waters are still murky on this one, however.
The current Device Payment Plan splits up the full off-contract price of a phone to 12 equal payments, with an additional $2.50 per month in financing charges. What isn't revealed by this current leak is how the devices will be handled when moving on to a new device mid-way through a payment plan on VZ Edge. Will the device be returned to Verizon for a credit? Will future payments be forgiven or tacked on-top of new payments from the next device?
Whatever way Verizon plans on laying out the payments of new devices, there is still no indication that the carrier will cut your monthly bill for not accepting a subsidy on your device. It's great to see more options emerging for buying devices off-contract, but Verizon's really double dipping (into your wallet) charging full price for a device and again for a subsidy that you're not taking advantage of.
Hit the break to see the promotional materials, which indicate that VZ Edge is ready for launch at the end of Q3.
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