EE UK Launch Lifetime Smartphone Warranty and Swappable Benefits
Mobile operator EE (BT) has today launched a new range of “Smart” 4G plans for Pay Monthly customers that come with the UK’s first “swappable benefits” (comprised of the Video Pass, Music Pass, access to the BT Sport app and Extended roaming), as well as the first “lifetime smartphone warranty” from a network.
The new Smart Plans start off by being very similar to ordinary mobile plans with the usual mix of unlimited voice and text calls, as well as various data allowances for mobile broadband via the “UK’s fastest 4G speeds.” But where they differ is with the introduction of ‘Swappable Benefits‘, which simply represents a choice of paid add-ons that can be swapped as your needs change (NOTE: SIM Only plans don’t include any benefits by default).
All Smart Plan customers (i.e. when you take a plan + handset) will get access to at least one Swappable Benefit and customers can also choose to purchase any of the benefits as an extra monthly addition should they so wish. Swappable Benefits can be selected by customers and swapped on the My EE app or by visiting ‘My EE‘ online. These are on top of EE’s existing discounts (e.g. 6 months free Amazon Prime Video, MTV Play and Apple Music as well as 3 months free BT Sport).
Swappable Benefits At Launch
EE Music Data Pass (+£7.99 monthly) – A music centric data pass which ensures that customers can stream as much music as they want and their mobile data isn’t impacted when they’re streaming Apple Music, Deezer and Tidal.
EE Video Data Pass (+£8.99 monthly) – This benefit allows customers to stream and download their favourite shows to their hearts’ content without impacting their data allowance when they’re watching Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BT Sport, TV Player and MTV Play
BT Sport App (+£15 monthly) – Customers will have access to amazing on-demand and live sport such as the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, UFC and more
Roam Further Pass (+£10 monthly) – This gives customers access to their UK plan allowances in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand
Customers with Smart Plans and Essential Plans bought directly from EE can also benefit from brand new EE Service Packs “at no extra charge,” which includes a so-called lifetime guarantee.
EE Service Packs
EE lifetime guarantee:
A customer’s device is covered against any manufacturer faults for the lifetime of their new contract, until they upgrade or leave, providing extended warranty protection, and repairs using authorised experts – all at no extra cost.Annual device and account MOT:
Available to handset and Smart SIM customers, it ensures that their device is still at its best midway through their contract. Customers will be able to book an appointment at their local store and EE will give their device a thorough check up, polish and clean, as well as check for any apps or software that could help them make the most of their phone. An EE expert will also spend time reviewing the customer’s account(s) to make sure they are getting the best value. Customers will be provided with a full service report, just like with a real car MOT.£10 off protective kit:
Also available to handset and select SIM only customers, they can keep their device at its best with £10 to spend on EE’s premium range of cases and screen protectors keeping their phones protected from life’s bumps and scrapes.
One downside of all these different approaches that mobile operators seem to be taking is that it has become increasingly difficult for consumers to make a simple comparison between the various different options and network operators. The market for consumer mobile services is today much more complicated than it once was and simply figuring out all of the various promotions takes a lot of time, even for us.
Edward Goff, EE’s Marketing Director, said:
“Our new plans offer customers a more personal, flexible smartphone experience. Only on EE Smart Plans can customers now receive an extended smartphone warranty, as well as an annual account and device MOT, with the option to upgrade to the latest smartphone whenever they want.
EE Smart Plan customers also get to choose the benefits they receive as and when they want them, so they can take out the Video Data Pass when they fancy a boxset binge and simply swap it out for the Roam Further Pass if they’re off to the US on holiday. EE Smart Plans offer the best 4G experience for our customers and will be the foundation for our 5G plans which we’ll launch this summer.”
Interestingly EE says their new Smart Plans will also form the “foundation” of their 5G plans, which are due to launch this summer.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook and Linkedin.
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Had a look at their website. These new price plans, make SIM only deals more expensive, even though you get slightly more data. Personally, I think this is, a contrived price hike.
Still way overpriced plans ans especially data, its not worth your money
They say that they have done this at no extra cost…..really then why has your plans all increased in price, eg your basic sim only plan has gone up £2, you used to be able to get the j4+ for £15, then £18 with no upfront cost but now it’s on a minimum of £23, all your prices have gone up on all plans, your taking the piss out of us.
RPI – standard price plan refresh happens each yeah so plans will be amended. Year before last they used to end in 0.99p Price rise has nothing to do with the extras.
given the choice of having EE and nothing I would choose nothing.
I bet you any money (not that you’ll have any left) that a 5G plan will attract an extra monthly fee, just like they did with 4G (and still offer a plan with 500mb on it)
If someone could do the math, as full speed 5G with obliterate 500mb in a matter of seconds.
I believe that EE have already stated their 5G plans will cost more then their 4G ones…
They definitely have the fastest network, but they definitely make you pay for a it! A lot!
Do you need 5G? If you use EEs 4G it’s in many cases better than competitor 4G in terms of speeds and availability. When they spend so much on infrastructure and licensing someone has to pay to early adopt and lets face it, it’s ALWAYS the customer.
You won’t be forced into having 5G so you know, you could always just not have it for a while if cost is an issue for you and you don’t feel it’s essential. I’m not going to make excuses for high prices but, you have a choice.
5G is more about the reliability of the network as opposed to the speed you will not see the huge jumps in speed from 3g to 4g when 5g is launched and I think you will find all networks will be priced very closely as they always are the only places that have cheap pricing is 3rd party sellers such as carphone ware house which 9 out of 10 contracts are mis sold to the customer. EE has now stated it’s taking away it’s swappable price plans from 3rd parties because of their mis selling antics just like phones 4 u
Bolt on crap that could just be included as default to make lemmings feel special.
Disgusting my plan was £31a month now with rpi and price increase its nearly £50a month and what do you get for free (absolutely nothing) extra data if your lucky, but have to have broadband aswell which has also gone up £3.00
Yeah Trev your price has went from £31 to £50 a month due to RPI and price hike, I tad bullshit there.
Also I believe that if any ISP increases their costs you can get out the contract and switch, so what you waiting for?
RPI went up but 2.7% so I think your maths is out. Most people forget the majority of flagship phones are £1000 so you really need to consider that this price needs to be accounted for in your monthly tariff
How much????
To add stuff that I get free, on three…. Lol
Don’t need music and video passed for unlimited
That’s true – I took Go Binge off as I never go out the UK so it’s pointless when you have unlimited data! And like others I pay £20 a month for this
I am often tempted by Three’s attractive pricing and unlimited plans but it’s difficult to ignore the constant complaints from Three customers about awful speeds.
So if you happen to live and use your Three data in places with low contention (if that’s even a thing on Three’s network) and good speeds, then great. But what is the benefit of cheap and plentiful / unlimited data that you struggle to use because the network is so congested?
Talk talk price plans went up yearly as with all business ,like insurance .. it’s a price you have to pay to stay mobile .. and what’s a couple of quid anyway.. you want the best then you have to pay for it and be happy or go elsewhere ..simples
I’m with the 3 network. I pay £22.18 for 4G data, unlimited texts and calls. My contract is up in December and I’ve been looking at what EE has to offer, as I’m after a SIM only contract. Where I work in Christchurch Dorset, 4G internet is diabolical on my Samsung Galaxy S10 plus. All I can manage is H++. On my iPhone 6s plus, I get 3G. I don’t know whether it’s my S10 plus, the area, or 3’s 4G is rubbish, but it’s fine elsewhere!
That is 100% your network being awful I know at the moment you can get 20gb 4g Dara unl mins and texts for £20 at EE which is a really strong offer you can also get 50gb for £27 a month or 100gb for £35 a month