[NewsPoster]

Sprint has seemingly reversed course on a recent decision to quietly eliminate two-year contracts for new plans, by reinstating the option just one month later. Following a general trend by carriers to push customers into installment plans for smartphones and a separate cheaper plan for the line, Sprint removed the two-year commitment option for new customers last month, but the ability to pay for a 24-month contract has since returned in the Sprint online store.

"We listened to our customers and are giving them more choices to get their new device," Sprint spokesperson Michelle Leff Mermelstein advised FierceWireless. "Sprint is the only carrier to offer the most choices to obtain a new device – lease, installment bill, two-year contract, or pay full retail price."

The rest of the mobile industry has largely shifted away from offering contracts to consumers, in favor of installments. T-Mobile largely started the trend in 2013, with Verizon doing the same in 2015 and AT&T just last month. For the most part, the carriers wanted new customers to use installments, with existing subscribers being permitted to continue using contracts for new devices in some cases.

Consumers may want to check the specifics of the installment plans and two-year contracts before signing up, as there are some slight differences between the payment options. An iPhone 6s 16GB on Sprint with the lowest data allowance will cost $20 for the device under installments with a $60 plan fee, costing subscribers $82 per month in total, as well as an upfront $150 charge. The same iPhone and plan under the two-year contract has a higher initial fee of $199, but a monthly fee of $65, making the contract the cheaper option.

On the other hand, the two-year contract and installment options for the iPhone 5s 16GB are approximately the same monthly cost. The installment plan does edge out the contract, as it does allow consumers the option to change their device far more easily than the contract, making it a more flexible choice.