While carriers such as MetroPCS and Cricket might not be on everyone’s radar due to their relatively smaller sizes compared to AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, they have recently started to offer high-end smartphones, making them an attractive option for customers who prefer the pre-paid option. Now it looks like both carriers are hoping to become even more attractive by introducing financing programs of their own which will allow customers to purchase high-end smartphones from them by only paying a small upfront fee, with the rest of the payment to be made over the next few months.
According to the folks at FierceWireless, both MetroPCS and Cricket will be working with Progressive Financing, with MetroPCS additionally working with BillFloat. For example customers will be able to purchase an iPhone 5 via Cricket for $105, which Leap normally sells for around $500 (it has been subsidized a little). Granted the interest rates will eventually lead up to customers spending more, but we guess some might not might as long as they get to own the phone right now. This comes about as T-Mobile has announced that they will be ending carrier subsidies in 2013 and offer a financing plan of their own, and it definitely looks like they might have some competition.