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Sat TV biz Dish: I'm not an authorized iPhone repairer ... but $20 is $20

Budget telly outlet finds a second job to feed the kids

Satellite TV service Dish has announced plans to moonlight as an unauthorized iPhone repair service.

The US telly provider said it will be dispatching its technicians to offer on-site repairs or replacements for the screens and batteries in certain Apple phones ranging from the iPhone 5 to the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

The service will not require a Dish network subscription, and customers will be charged upfront for service, including a $35 fee for the on-location service. Customers can set up appointments online for same day or next-day service calls.

Dish said plans are underway to expand the service to other phone models.

Don't expect Apple to sign off on the repairs, however. Dish says it is not authorized by the iGiant to repair any handsets under warranty and that the replacement parts come from third-party suppliers.

Dish does, however, offer its own 60-day warranty on any repairs or replacement parts its technicians install. The company believes that, with a fleet of trained technicians and service vehicles, it is equipped to fill a gap Apple has left with its in-house repair services.

"Fixing your phone shouldn’t mean losing your phone for days on end, so we come to you – whether you’re at the office, the gym or even the coffee shop,” Dish executive VP of operations John Swieringa said in announcing the service.

“Dish is uniquely positioned with the technical know-how and ability to respond to a customer’s needs in every state across the country."

Dish is not the first company to see a niche in the market for iPhone repair services. Tech bloggers have long complained about the dearth of repair services Apple makes available for its phones, and sought out third-party alternatives for those areas where Apple has yet to set up a store or authorize a service provider. ®

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