Brief:
- Verizon updated its Verizon Up loyalty program to give customers a reward credit every month after paying their bill instead of every $300 spent. Customers can use credits toward discounts on a smartphone, tickets to live events and to shop at Starbucks, Amazon and Uber, per an announcement shared with Mobile Marketer.
- Verizon is hosting a private concert with performer Shawn Mendes for 2,000 Verizon Up members in New York City on May 14 as part of its "super tickets" offer. Mendes and singer Camila Cabello are among Verizon's 2019 "artist partners" for special offers like stage-side access to concerts, the company announced this month. Verizon Up offers the tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Verizon Up offered members free Starbucks coffee on National Coffee Day (Sept. 29) and a free Mrs. Fields cookie on Tax Day (April 15). Customers can sign up for the program with the My Verizon app or by visiting the Verizon Up website.
Insight:
Wireless carriers are working to outdo each other with incentives and offers hoping to lock in existing customers as they ramp up costly 5G network offerings. While churn rates have been relatively low for wireless carriers recently, 5G is expected to appeal to consumers with promises of significantly faster data downloads, meaning customers could be more prone to being lured away if another carrier is first to a market with 5G.
Verizon's expanded rewards program aims to give customers another reason to spend more money with the carrier. While the $300 threshold to earn rewards was lowered to a system of monthly credits, the accumulated points expire within 60 days, per its website. Verizon is merging its wireless and wireline customer loyalty programs, announcing on its website that the My Rewards+ Program for FiOS broadband subscribers will be discontinued on May 30. The company's wireless plans also offer free subscriptions to Apple Music on certain plans.
AT&T Thanks offers premium event access, Ticket Twosdays for movies and a chance to win VIP experiences. The program has tiered rewards to incentivize customers to sign up for bundled services like cellular service, pay TV and broadband internet. The telecom and media giant bundles free access to 35 pay-TV channels of live TV on its Watch TV app, on-demand access to 15,000 movies and shows and a free subscription to one of seven premium services such as HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, Starz or Amazon Music.
T-Mobile US this month started offering checking accounts to its customers in its new T-Mobile Money app. The app provides access to no-fee checking accounts from BankMobile, which is part of Customers Bancorp. Monthly wireless subscribers who deposit at least $200 a month can earn 4% interest on up to $3,000, and 1% interest on balances above that level. The app connects to services like Venmo and Apple Pay, and comes with a credit card. In the lead-up to the Super Bowl, T-Mobile expanded its T-Mobile Tuesdays promotion to offer free tacos from Taco Bell and free rides from ride-hailing service Lyft.