Sky Mobile UK Launches Swap – Get the Latest 4G Smartphone Every Year

Sky (Sky Broadband) has today moved to make their recently launched and O2 MVNO based Sky Mobile service more attractive by launching a new service called ‘Swap‘, which will allow customers to get the latest Smartphone every year.

The new feature, which claims to be “free of charges – no upgrade fees, no admin charges and delivered for free“, comes in two flavours – Swap12 and Swap24. Essentially, after 12 or 24 months, Sky Mobile will let customers know when it’s time to Swap and they can then choose a brand new phone from Sky’s entire range of handsets, including Samsung, LG and Sony (these aren’t available until tomorrow).

The catch is that customers’ will have to provide details of their old phone online, so that it can be sent back to Sky. However, if you’d rather keep your old phone then Sky Mobile “will reduce [the customer’s] monthly payments until the end of their contract.”

Stephen van Rooyen, Sky’s UK and Ireland CEO, said:

“Our mission to shake up the mobile market continues. Customers told us they want an affordable way to have the phone they want, when they want – so that’s exactly what we are doing. This means no more paying for expensive upgrade fees or long waits to get the latest models. Customers are already loving the flexibility and great value of Sky Mobile and we expect Swap to make this the most compelling offer in the market.”

Sky claims that this new service is “radically new” and should “shake up the mobile market again,” although it’s roughly similar to the existing O2 Refresh service. Never the less customers of Sky Mobile will be able to make use of Swap from tomorrow, when the new service goes live.

As a quick recap, the Sky Mobile plans charge from £10 per month for 1GB of data, £15 for 3GB or £20 for 5GB. This isn’t particularly attractive, unless you’re an existing Sky TV subscriber and that allows you to benefit from the free inclusion of unlimited UK calls and texts. Sadly Sky’s non-TV broadband and phone subscribers have been left to whistle in the wind, with the same unlimited calls and texts adding a +£10 monthly cost.

The other big weakness is the lack of bigger data allowances, although some of this may be mitigated by their data roll-over feature.

Sky Mobile’s Other Key Features

· Roll – Customers can roll over unused data into their online ‘piggybank’ each month (in 1GB increments), to use whenever they need for up to 3 years. Some rivals do this, but the data roll-over usually expires quite quickly.

· Mix – Customers can create a plan that’s right for them, which they can change every month. Just to clarify this, Sky Mobile plans are still 12 month contracts, but customers are free to change their “Mix” of data, calls and texts every month.

· Save – Sky TV customers don’t have to pay for unlimited UK calls or texts with any Sky Mobile data plan. Each household will also be able to register up to 5 SIMs, which Sky claims could generate an annual saving of up to £600 a year on their Sky Mobile bill. In addition, Sky+ customers choosing to take Sky Mobile will receive Sky Go Extra for free, saving £60 a year.

· Sync – Sky TV customers can create their personal playlists of favourite shows, synced from their Sky box at home, to watch wherever they are. This mobile entertainment service is available for Sky+ customers at launch, with the functionality coming for customers with a Sky Q box next year.