Satellite TV provider Dish Network has a new service in place for customers in the United States, but it is likely not what most would be expecting.
Through the new Smart Phone Repair program, Dish is diving into a new business, although who would have guessed that the company would expand into the business of fixing smartphones?
Through the program, users can request for a professional technician to come to their homes to have their smartphones repaired. The service is available in all 50 states, but for now only includes iPhones ranging from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6 Plus models and covers only battery replacements and screen repairs.
Dish technicians can be deployed to any location in the country for a flat charge of $35. For a battery swap, the cost of the service starts at $74.99, while for screen repairs, users will be paying $134.99 for 4-inch iPhones, $154.99 for the iPhone 6, and $184.99 for the iPhone 6 Plus.
The prices, however, are much higher compared to what customers would pay at an Apple Store for screen replacements, which would also keep the original warranty of iPhones intact. In the Apple Store, screen replacements for 4-inch iPhones and the iPhone 6 Plus cost $129 while for the iPhone 6, it costs $109.
The benefit of Dish's Smart Phone Repair program, however, is the fact that the technician will be coming to the customer's home. In addition, it will largely benefit customers that do not have access to nearby Apple Stores to repair their broken iPhones.
According to the company, customers can set appointments any day of the week, with all repairs to come with a 60-day warranty. Dish technicians will be using high-quality parts for replacements, the company added, as original Apple parts are not being made available to repair companies.
Older iPhones and the latest models - the iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE - are not yet part of the program. Dish, however, said that it will be adding more devices, which would hopefully include Android-powered smartphones, and more services in the coming weeks and months.
Interested customers can check out the service and perhaps avail it through its official page on the Dish website.
