BlackBerry has announced the launch of a new protection plan that offers to cover the cost of your phone’s repairs should it suffer an untimely accident.
This is basically an extended warranty that offers protection beyond the initial one year warranty that BlackBerry offers with the purchase of its phones. Here’s what you’ll get if you sign up:
• An additional year of coverage for mechanical and electrical breakdown due to device defects that occur after BlackBerry’s standard one year limited warranty expires
• Coverage for accidental damage from handling (such as damage resulting from dropping the device, liquid spillage, or in association with screen breakage)
• The option of a smartphone replacement to minimize downtime in the event of a claim.
It’s worth noting that this protection is only available for BlackBerry’s newest handsets, so you’re not going to be able to avail of this unless you have the Passport, the Classic or the upcoming Leap. Of course, this kind of service isn’t free. BlackBerry is charging a monthly fee for Care Protection as well as a substantial deductible. Payments start at $3.49 per month for users in the United States and Canada and go up from there.
When the Leap does launch, users will be able to purchase protection for $3.49 US or $4.25 CAD per month. The Classic is a little more expensive at $399 USD or $4.75 CAD, while protection for the Passport is the priciest at $4.49 USD or $5.25 CAD.
If your phone does break and you end up having to call upon your BlackBerry Protection Plan to save your skin expect to pay a further $49 for repairs to your Leap, $99 for the Classic, or $129 for the Passport.
No word on whether Canadians will be paying more on the deductible or if this price is consistent throughout North America, regardless of currency.
[source]BlackBerry[/source]
