The company states that the in-store repairs will be done by “industry-certified experts” coming from insurance provider Assurant, the same company T-Mobile works with to provide Protection 360. The in-store device repair will only be available at 500 stores located in major cities. T-Mobile has 7,500 retail locations across the United States, but the company states that it plans on extending this service to additional locations. Protection 360 is T-Mobile’s insurance plan for customers who want an extra layer of support in case they ever break or lose their phone. Subscription plans start at $7 monthly, which includes theft coverage, live tech support, and more. In addition to the in-store repairs, Protection subscribers will now have five claims covered instead of three claims. When it launches, subscribers can check T-Mobile’s Store Locator to find authorized stores and use the online appointment tool to get their phone repaired that very day. Customers can join Protection 360 within 30 days of buying or financing a new device. The company aims to compete with other carriers who already have an in-store repair service, as well as third-party companies like uBreakiFix that offer similar amenities. T-Mobile has yet to say if and when more stores will have in-store repairs, and also hasn’t said if it plans to extend this service beyond Protection subscribers.
