Dish Network, a satellite TV provider with nearly 14 million subscribers, is expanding its business. But how it’s doing so might surprise you.
Dish (DISH) will now repair iPhones for consumers across the United States. Available in all 50 states, the service will dispatch Dish’s “fleet of professional technicians” to repair cracked screens and replace an iPhone’s ailing battery.
The program, known as “Smart Phone Repair,” is available starting on Tuesday. However, it might be somewhat surprising that a company that makes its money by providing pay TV service nationwide would want to fix iPhones. What’s more, Dish says it’ll deploy its technicians to wherever customers desire for a flat fee of $35.
“Dish offers appointments seven days a week including same-day and next-day availability, and guarantees all repair work with a 60-day warranty,” the company said in a statement.
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Fixing a cracked iPhone screen or replacing its battery can be a substantial pain for iPhone owners—especially if they’re out of warranty with Apple (AAPL). In many cases, those iPhone owners will either pay a fee to Apple to fix their devices or use a third-party repair company in hopes of saving some cash. The quality on those third-party replacements, however, vary.
For its part, Dish says that it will use only “high-quality replacement parts” that it sources from “respected” third parties.
Still, jumping from television to iPhone repairs seems like a big leap for Dish. However, a company spokeswoman told Coins2Day that Dish might actually be “well-positioned” to fix iPhones thanks to its “mobile network of professional technicians.”
The Dish spokeswoman added that the company has been expanding to include more than its services repairs.
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“Dish has a nationwide network of trusted technicians who deliver a consistent, exceptional experience for our customers as they visit 20,000 homes daily,” the spokeswoman said. Indeed, over the last five years, Dish has offered a wide array of in-home services beyond getting your television service up and running through its Smart Home Services program. That service offers customers the option to set up and mount televisions, install surround sound systems, and get an in-home wireless network installed.
“The launch of smartphone repair is the next step in this progression,” the spokeswoman says.
Dish’s Smart Phone Repair page asks users to input the type of device they have and then lists the price for service. All of the fees include the $35 travel charge. Fixing an iPhone 6’s screen, for instance, will cost $155. An iPhone 6 Plus display replacement will cost $185. The service is available to both Dish customers as well as those who don’t use its television service.
Dish says it plans to expand its smartphone repairs to other devices in the future. For now, though, it’s all about the iPhone.