Verizon is taking a page out of T-Mobile's book, offering a new free line to its customers. This strategy is similar to the company's previous plays, when it would hand out discounts every other day to keep its subscribers around.

According to reports online, and The Mobile Report, some lucky Verizon customers are getting an offer for a free new line in My Verizon. It's a BYOD offer, so you can't get a new phone unfortunately. To claim the offer, customers will have to visit a Verizon store.

That's good to hear. It means Verizon isn't thinking of more mass layoffs, especially of store personnel. Unlike T-Mobile, Verizon isn't relying solely on an app like T-Life, either.

The free new line will be an Unlimited Welcome plan. If you're on Unlimited Welcome or postpaid Unlimited Plus and/or Unlimited Ultimate, you may receive the offer on My Verizon. Customers who have received this offer previously will not be eligible for a new free line now.

The new Verizon line will require an autopay discount. It's only eligible for three years, after which it will be converted to a standard paid line. T-Mobile is offering a free line it claims is lifelong, but the company has broken that promise in the past. Verizon's three-year offer may be more realistic.

[image|center|1765649701345-7y5nk8ke076.jpg|Red Verizon logo over cream background|Verizon is trying to increase its subscriber numbers.]

How this affects you

A free line is always welcome, especially on a carrier whose customers are one bad day away from leaving. There are only positives here, and if you get the offer on My Verizon, you should go for it unless you don't need a new line at all.

By the time three years have passed, Verizon will have other offers for you to claim. It's how the company has been keeping its customers around for years. If the bad ever outweighs the good, it's very simple to switch to another carrier.

T-Mobile's new Easy Switch T-Life feature lets you join up with the un-carrier in only 15 minutes! It's so effective that AT&T is suing T-Mobile, and T-Mobile is not budging.

Images courtesy of Verizon