SPRINT MAKING EARLY UPGRADES MORE DIFFICULT

BGR is reporting that beginning on April 1st, U.S. wireless carrier Sprint will increase the requirements customers must meet to qualify for early hardware upgrades via the Premier program.

Currently, customers who have an individual line costing more than $69.99 per month, or a family plan line costing more than $99.99 per month (before any applied discounts), are eligible for Sprint’s Premier member program. One of the largest benefits to program members is the ability to upgrade a handset, at the fully subsidized price, after just 12 months of service (customers who have been with Sprint for over 10 years automatically qualify for these benefits). But that all will be changing on April 1st. While the Premier program and its associated benefits will still exist — Sprint isn’t going Verizon-style and axing them completely – the requirements to qualify for the rewards are getting a little more stringent.

On April Fools’ Day, the Premier program will be divided in to two levels: gold and silver. Users will automatically qualify for Premier’s gold level if they have been a wireless customer with Sprint for over 10 years or have an individual monthly plan that retails for $89.99 or more before any applied discounts — $139.99 before discounts for family lines. All other Sprint customers will be given silver level Premier status.

Gold members will get all the benefits current Premier members receive: 25% off the purchase of 2 or more accessories, customer news letters, “just because” perks, first to buy offers, and the ability to upgrade a device after 12 months of service. Silver members will enjoy all the same benefits… with the exception of the early upgrade option — they will have to wait the full 22 months to upgrade. Furthermore, we’re being told that those currently enrolled in Premier will not be grandfathered-in to Premier’s gold level program once the changes are implemented in April.

VERIZON THROWS BONE TO CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED PHONE BEFORE iPHONE ANNOUNCEMENT

Any Verizon customer who regrets picking up a new phone between Thanksgiving and the day of the Verizon iPhone announcement won't have to kick themselves too hard; the carrier's granting $200 debit cards to people with iPhone 4-inspired buyer's remorse.

Take heed, though! You're only eligible if you buy a new iPhone 4 at full retail price, which is a whopping $650 for the 16GB model and $750 for the 32GB. In other words: still very expensive! From the Verizon iPhone FAQ page:

I just purchased a new smartphone during the holiday season, but if I knew that iPhone 4 was going to be available soon I would have waited. What are my options now?

Current Verizon customers who purchased and activated new smartphones, feature phones or certified pre-owned phones between 11/26/2010, and 01/10/2011, are eligible to receive up to a $200 Visa debit card when they purchase an iPhone 4 at full retail price by 02/28/2011 and return their existing phone. Note: This offer is only available on consumer accounts with five lines or less, who are purchasing iPhone 4 through Verizon Wireless retail stores, telesales, or through verizonwireless.com.

So between the returned phone and the discount, you're probably looking at a $250 purchase

VERIZON CONFIRMS NEW EVERY TWO AND EARLY UPGRADES ENDING

We previously reported a rumor that Verizon Wireless would be ending their popular New Every Two and early upgrade programs. This has now been confirmed by Verizon. The programs officially ended on Sunday, January 16th.

For those customers still under contract, and have the programs, Verizon will honor them, however upon signing a new contract customers will not be re-enrolled.