JUMP plan to cut out phone upgrade wait

Phones 4u has launched a new mobile plan that allows users to get a new handset as often as every six months for an additional monthly premium.

The mobile retailer introduced the new JUMP — Just Upgrade My Phone — plan on Friday following the completion of a trial scheme that started in May 2011 in 100 Phones 4u stores. The company said it expects customers to be able to sign up for the new plan from any of its retail stores or channels by May.

"Technology is moving fast and innovative handsets are launching all the time on the market but to date there's been a disconnect between the frequency of smartphone releases and the length of mobile phone contracts on offer," Alistair Firth, director of customer development at Phones 4u said in a statement. "People were frustrated by the inability to upgrade their handsets sooner."

The plan, which adds between £2.99 and £3.99 per month on top of the contract cost, allows people to switch handsets every six months without having to pay an up-front fee.

Unlike O2's recently launched lease plan, customers on the JUMP plan own the handset and can choose to keep the phone when they upgrade, or trade it in alongside up to two more handsets.

The company guarantees that handsets under 12 months old that switch on, are not water damaged and have an intact screen and battery will be worth at least £100; "cosmetic wear and tear is fine", it added.

In contrast to standard phone agreements, the JUMP plan is comprised of two separate contracts — one with the network provider for the minutes, texts and data and one with Phones 4u for the handset. Both are for a minimum of two years.

In addition to providing a new handset, the JUMP plan also offers remote data back-up and storage for contacts, music, pictures and videos, as well as customer support accessible via a dedicated number and website, Phones 4u said.