Engadget reports that Sprint will finally begin offering its Total Equipment Protection (TEP) plan for the iPhone beginning January 25. The TEP plan offers coverage not only for device failures that occur outside of Apple's standard warranty but also loss, theft, and damage.

sprint tep iphone
The TEP plan consists of two parts, an $11 monthly fee for the service and then a significant $150-$200 deductible for cases where the phone requires replacement due to loss, theft, or physical damage. Consumers have 30 days from the date of purchase of their device in which to enroll in the program.

AT&T offers a similar program, although it costs $6.99 per month with a $199 deductible for all iPhone, iPad, and iPad mini models. Verizon's Total Equipment Coverage carries a special higher rate for iPhone compared to other devices, with the monthly fee set at $9.99 and deductibles ranging from $169-$199 depending on model.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

BillyBobBongo Avatar
160 months ago
Sprint will replace the phone for free if the problem is a manufacturer defect.

$132 a year...doesn't exactly sound free to me.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Carmenia83 Avatar
160 months ago
Any of the carriers insurance plans are a rip off. If you don't want to get AppleCare fine, but even without it apple will replace a broken out of warranty iphone for a flat fee. $149 for iPhone 4 and older, $199 for a 4s and $229 for a 5. Why would you pay $11 a month to pay the same deductible as the apple store charges for a new phone? The only benefit the carriers offer is if the phone is lost or stolen, but if you haven't enabled Find My iPhone by now you're an idiot and aren't responsible enough to have a $600+ phone.

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_States&product=iphone (http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_States&product=iphone)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleGuesser Avatar
160 months ago
Ok, I don't get it... AppleCare+ is $99 plus $49 for each of up to 2 replacement iPhones.
Why are people using these outrageous carrier plans?

Exactly! AT&T has their own "protection plan," but I would rather have AppleCare+ myself :) After all, Apple is the company that makes and fixes my phone. Why would I expect a carrier to do the same? Thats like asking Comcast to fix my TV if it breaks. That doesnt make any sense?

If someone can explain this to me, by all means, I'd love to know :)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Tiger8 Avatar
160 months ago
Any of the carriers insurance plans are a rip off. If you don't want to get AppleCare fine, but even without it apple will replace a broken out of warranty iphone for a flat fee. $149 for iPhone 4 and older, $199 for a 4s and $229 for a 5. Why would you pay $11 a month to pay the same deductible as the apple store charges for a new phone? The only benefit the carriers offer is if the phone is lost or stolen, but if you haven't enabled Find My iPhone by now you're an idiot and aren't responsible enough to have a $600+ phone.

http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_States&product=iphone (http://support.apple.com/kb/index?page=servicefaq&geo=United_States&product=iphone)

Thank you! You are so right! I keep telling family and friends NOT to buy any of the extended warranty crap (Apple or otherwise and definitely not carrier ones), and with Apple's half price replacement you describe, I think it's worth the risk.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlphaVictor87 Avatar
160 months ago
The only upside i see to any of these carrier plans is that it covers theft and loss.

If you damage your iPhone out of warranty you go to the apple store and pay out of warranty replacement cost which last time i checked was the same as buying the phone with a new contract. So to replace an iPhone 5 if you broke it out of warranty would be $199.

Scams for money, thats it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spb3 Avatar
160 months ago
sprint sucks.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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