T-Mobile's Project Dark includes option for buying phones in monthly installments?

Still no confirmation on any all-you-can-eat data plans, but Boy Genius Report has some convincing screens that seem to reveal some other precepts of T-Mobile's enigmatic (and purportedly company-saving) Project Dark. Two new plans have emerged, Even More and Even More Plus. The former is the traditional two-year contract, along with options to do data only and get a subsidized phone. Even More Plus doesn't require a contract, going month-to-monthly instead, and subsequently the phone is full price. However, what's gonna be interesting to see is the FlexPay option, which allows you to pay for a device in monthly installments instead of upfront, a plan we've seen before in markets like Germany and Japan. In the example above, a $400 G1 on the non-contractual Even More Plus plan is divvied out to an initial $170 payment and 19 subsequent installments of $12.10, or $33.33 over three months after the related upfront cost. It's no game-changer on its own, but it's certainly an intriguing prospect that's gonna make some (initially) cash-strapped individuals very happy to be able to walk out with a decent Android device.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 18th 2009 5:11PM]

FIRST YES FIRST.
But srsly as others have said this is no different than the way the cost of the mobile is covered in the contract here in the UK.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 18th 2009 9:55PM]

im confused. how is this part of project dark? my friend melissa bought a g1 at the beginning of summer with "flexpay." she paid an upfront payment with 4 remaining monthly payments, as shown in your image. and this was months ago (yes, with tmobile usa)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 19th 2009 1:40AM]

"FlexPay" has nothing to do with buying equipment. It is an alternative to having to put a deposit down if you're credit challenged or don't want to have a credit check.
Being able to spread payments out over four payments is called "EIP" or equipment installment plan.

[impasse Posted Oct 20th 2009 8:57AM]

now what i don't get is, what happens when you get even more plus with the phone payments in installments for 20 months..what happens if you stop paying completely? do you just get charged the rest of the phone or what?