iPhone 6 Price Wars Commence With Deals From Verizon And Sprint

Brace yourselves: An iPhone 6 price war between U.S. mobile networks is coming. Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) new devices haven’t even been official for 24 hours and carriers are already doing whatever they can to get consumers to choose their network to power their new iPhones.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) has drummed up a deal that would allow consumers to get the new iPhone 6 for free. However, they would have to trade in their old iPhone model in exchange for a $200 gift card that they can use to purchase the iPhone 6, which is selling for $199 with a two-year contract on Verizon. Big Red hasn't indicated how long the deal will be available.

Sprint Corp. (NYSE:S) CEO Marcelo Claure wasn’t kidding when he said Apple would become a crucial part of the Now network. Sprint is establishing a new plan specifically for the iPhone 6 that would allow subscribers to lease the new device as opposed to buying it, paying $20 per month for the hardware. Subscribers will be able to trade in their device for a new model every 24 months.

Under the iPhone 6-specific plan, Sprint subscribers will get unlimited talk, text and data for $50 per month and would pay $70 monthly for the new iPhone. Prices for the iPhone 6 Plus under this plan haven't been disclosed but will be slightly higher.

Sprint customers still have the option of purchasing the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus under a two-year contract or through the network’s Easy Pay installment program. But both plans are more expensive than the iPhone-specific plan.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and T-Mobile US Inc. (NYSE:TMUS) haven't indicated any new plans since the new iPhone was unveiled on Tuesday; however, the Magenta network does already have a special deal going on with Apple. T-Mobile’s Test Drive program allows consumers to try out the network’s service for seven days on an iPhone. T-Mobile is also hosting its Un-carrier 7.0 press event on Wednesday, but there are no clues as to what the network will announce.

Apple’s official preorder period begins Friday, and the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus will be available starting Sept. 19.