Having Nixed Subsidies, T-Mobile Tries a Different Kind of Phone Discount Program

T-Mobile is offering a program called Score, where, for a $5 monthly fee, customers get various discounts toward their next phone purchase.

After six months in the program, T-Mobile says customers can get a free low-end smartphone, or after a year Score members can get a discount on top-of-the-line models like the Galaxy S5 or Nexus 6. It’s an unusual approach, with customers paying ahead for an uncertain discount on their next phone. For T-Mobile, though, the benefit of Score is clear as customers will be, in essence, incentivizing themselves to stick with the carrier for their next phone.