T-Mobile opens iPhone & iPad leasing for businesses with help from Apple

The U.S. branch of T-Mobile on Wednesday launched iPhone and iPad leasing for businesses, an option run in cooperation with Apple Financial Services.

A company activating 25 lines or more can lease Apple devices with reduced monthly payments and no upfront pricing, T-Mobile said. Under this arrangement an entry-level iPhone 8 costs $43 per month, including a $25 unlimited data plan.

To encourage adoption, T-Mobile is further covering the first $100 of every leased device for a limited time.

Leasing has two main advantages for businesses. It transforms phones and tablets from capital expenditures into operating expenses, and also permits cheap annual upgrades, something critical given that products like the iPhone X are hitting the $1,000 mark.

iPhones and iPads have become a staple of many U.S. workplaces, thanks in no small part to popularity with workers. This has also been fueled by BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) initiatives and more frequent flexibility in letting people choose between iOS or Android.

The program comes ahead of Apple's Sept. 12 press event, when the company is expected to reveal three new iPhones and updated iPad Pros.