Boost Mobile will let you lower your phone bill by playing games and watching ads

Photo by Gloria Sin / The Verge

You can pay part of your phone bill with boost coins, which are earned through watching ads and playing games. In a press release, the carrier says that you can get boost coins by interacting with the games, ads, and partners within the app.

Don't get too excited just yet, one boost coin is only one cent. If you want to see any savings, you'll have to devote a lot of time to the app. You will get two boost coins for watching an ad that lasts several seconds. There is a Wheel of Fortune-style Spin and Win game where players can win up to $5 in a single spin. It is not clear whether there are limitations on how many games you can play per day or how many ads you can watch.

The CEO of Boost Mobile said in the press release that it was an exciting new business model and a stepping stone into the future for wireless consumers.

Users will be able to share their coins with each other in the future, as well as other ways to redeem them, like trading them for a free phone. The parent company of Boost coins didn't reply to the request for comment.

This isn't the first time that Dish has tried to move into the web 3 space. Project Genesis is a 5G network launched by Dish in Las Vegas. The accompanying app has gamified ways to help the company fine-tune the network, and it offers some rewards for participating.

The company's new postpaid wireless plan is coming this fall. Users could exchange their unused data for digital currency, as well as pay for their new phones with cryptocurrencies. The deadline to cover 20 percent of the population with its service is close by, as Dish tries to squeeze its way between T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon to become the fourth major carrier in the US.