T-Mobile’s dropping support for some phones — how you can get a replacement

T-Mobile's dropping support for some phones — how you can get a replacement

(Paradigm credit: Akos Stiller/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

As phone carriers evolve over fourth dimension to adjust new technology, certain phones will go left behind. And that's what'due south about to happen at T-Mobile, where the carrier is ready to driblet support for most 20 phones, which means customers with those devices will have to upgrade.

There's some practiced news, though. The devices on T-Mobile's list are pretty former ones. And the carrier is apparently helping afflicted customers by offering a option of new phones.

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All of this results from T-Mobile dropping support for any telephone that isn't capable of utilizing vox over LTE (VoLTE) service in January. According to Android Police, an internal document from T-Mobile lists xix devices, including phones, tablets, and cameras that are on the chopping cake for January. 29. Touch devices include the Samsung Milky way Notation Edge (AT&T and Verizon versions), Google Nexus 9, Huawei Mate viii, HTC Want 10 Lifestyle and four dissimilar Sony Xperia Z3 variants.

About of the devices on the listing look to be at least five years old, so they're due for an upgrade anyhow. And manifestly, starting on December. 28, T-Mobile will be contacting customers who take those phones to permit them know they can grab a complimentary upgrade from the carrier.

Specifically, those customers will exist able to replace their aging handset with a option of Samsung Galaxy A21, Samsung Milky way A11, Alcatel Become Flip iii, or the T-Mobile Revvl 4. Those phones aren't exactly cutting border, ranging in toll from $100 to $250, simply at least the onus won't be on customers to grab their own upgrades.

The promotional period for free telephone upgrades officially began yesterday (Dec. 24. However, not every customer volition be eligible for the free upgrade. If you're going to be impacted, it'south worth contacting your T-Mobile store or representative and asking whether yous'll be able to get in on the promotion.

Some customers may instead receive offers that take $150 off of new phones, should they determine to purchase a new device from T-Mobile. Reports point that T-Mobile employees have been brash to "stay tuned" for additional offers that will be "specifically targeted" to impacted customers.

Android Police reports that, according to T-Mobile, this promotion isn't tied to its ending support for not-VoLTE devices, though it seems awfully convenient given that certain customers with said phones are beingness targeted for upgrades. T-Mobile hasn't yet made an official announcement regarding the upgrade programme just yet, nor has it confirmed which customers volition be eligible.

Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over 13 years for publications including Tom'south Guide, MTV, Rolling Stone, CNN, Popular Science, Playboy, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Saying, and more than. She'southward likewise appeared as a panelist at video game conventions like PAX East and PAX Due west and has coordinated social media for companies like CNET. When she'due south not writing or gaming, she'south looking for the next great visual novel in the vein of Saya no Uta. Yous can follow her on Twitter @MolotovCupcake.