HTC 'Uh-Oh' Plan Offers Free Replacement of Damaged HTC One M9 and HTC One M8

For people prone to dropping their smartphones, HTC is offering a new solution in the form of its "Uh-Oh" protection plan. The plan provides the owner a free phone if he or she damages his or her HTC One M9 or HTC One M8 within a year of its purchase.

This protection plan has been described as "gimmicky" by critics who view it as a desperate attempt by HTC to get more people to buy its latest smartphone. But some reviewers said the plan has many advantages compared to other phone insurance plans.

The HTC One M9 is without doubt a beautiful phone with a full metal body that is hand-polished. But it does not have any major improvement on the previous model, the M8, which was released last year. Its launching did not capture much attention during the recent MWC 2015 as it was overshadowed by the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and its variant with the curved edges, the Galaxy S6 Edge.

With HTC One M9 units due to hit stores next month, the company appears intent on attracting customers away from Samsung's latest phones with its "Uh-Oh" protection plan, which is a godsend for people who often end up dropping and cracking the display of their phone or even end up accidentally submerging it in water.

HTC is offering the "Uh-Oh" exchange plan in an easy three-step process. For those who do not want to go without their phones for a day or two while waiting for a replacement, the company will even send them a device via overnight shipping as soon as they call. After the customers get the new phone they can just shift their SIM card into it and ship the damaged device to HTC. However, under this option the company will place a $299 hold on their credit card until they get the old device.

An added feature in the "Uh-Oh" protection plan is that HTC One M9 or M8 users may get a replacement phone even if they are switching carriers. As for users who damage their phone after one year and cannot avail themselves of the free replacement, they will be provided with a $100 discount when they buy a new HTC One M9 or M8. The terms and conditions of this plan apply to all M8 and M9 devices purchased before Aug. 31, 2015.