More information on Sprint’s new $10 premium data fee

ATT 5 smartphone family plan with family texting + 2GB datapack for all lines
$90 baseplan + 3x $10 for additional lines + 5x $25 for datapack + $30 for family text = $275

Oh… my previous post on Verizon also include family text, or whatever they call that

I can’t believe they are adding this to iDEN phones. What a joke. I could see adding it to the CDMA devices, but seriously, iDEN is the SLOWEST network anywhere.

Any word if this is a get out of contract free card?

Also, I wonder if they have some new magical device in the cards that might suck a lot of data. You know, something like the iPhone.

somebody please explain how this info is any different than the last post about it.

Sprint thinks that its current (and near-term?) offerings make it a first tier provider. If you’re with Sprint strictly for financial reasons it may be time to re-evaluate before you renew. Of course, everyone may have bumped up their prices by then. My concern is that Verizon’s move into 4G is going to result in added costs and by the time that I get to replace my phone 4G will be my only smartphone option. Between telecommunications companies and energy companies I’m getting squeezed tighter and tighter.

Sprint needs money to fund it’s Network Vision Initiative and possibly help fund or buy Clearwire. I’m glad Sprint is still cheaper than the other carriers. If adding 10 dollars per month to a customer’s bill will give Sprint’s customers CDMA 1X Advanced (simultaneous voice & data, faster data speeds, and improved voice quality on the 3G network) and increased WiMAX (4G) coverage, then Im all for it. If I were Sprint, I would have created new plans that increased the minutes such as a 700 minute Everything Data Plan for 79.99 and 1000 Everything Data Plan for 99.99, which would make the customers feel like they are getting a good deal even with the price increase. Sprint needs to learn how to sell the advantages of the price increase with their plans on how to use the additional revenue. Sprint must announce more details of the Network Vision Initiative and specifically how it will benefit customers. That could ease the minds of their customers and make them more proud to invest in the company’s plans.

Verizon charges extra for everything…example is visual voicemail.

I’ve been with Sprint 11 years, but this is the dealbreaker. T-Mobile for me now.

I signed on with Sprint last April with 4 lines for $X.

I got the Evo in June, fought the Evo tax but lived with $X+10.

I got the notice a few months ago that discounts will no longer apply to additional lines. I fought this but lived with $X+20.

I now get notice that when my 3 other lines are up, I will now be paying $X+50????

Enough is enough. We won’t be upgrading with Sprint. When those 3 lines are up, we’ll be heading back to Verizon since the previously staggering price difference which was Sprint’s only upside, is now much less of a draw.

lol @ the Sprint Defense Force at work… You guys crack me.

o0, i thought this fee was on top of the current 4G-device tax, but it just changes to ALL smart phones… that’s not so bad then since i get madd discounts- 25%… you gotta pay to play :]

The only thing sprint had going was their plans. I would have go sprint when my contract was up but was not interested in paying $10 extra per line, and that is keeping a lot of people away, why pay extra if that service is unavailable. Sprint has boring phones and now is forcing $10 extra per line, i think AT&T which used to be the one to laugh at is now laughing at sprint.

Having been on Sprint for ten years and currently owning 5 smartphones and an Airave repeater in the houseI think I can speak with some authority. Sprint changes plans whenever it feels like it needs more revenue and then discounts it again when another vendor gets more competitive. When I first signed up it was advertised thoughtout every piece of marketing literature as UNLIMITED data. But the contract still said 5GB limits. Still using Sprint because with 3000 shared minutes, unlimited texting, unlimited cell to cell calling (relatively new benefit in and out), the largely unused Sprint TV and other crap, plus Sprint navigation which works well in hands free mode Sprint is still cheaper.
I have 5 smartphones because I want my wife and kids to have GPS as an important safety function, texting is very convenient when in meetings or/and email wherever. So I got rid of most of my landlines, use cell phones and magicjack and come out about even costwise. If I switch carriers how much would it cost just for new phones for 5 people? If you don’t like it just bitch to retentions and they will adjust your fees somewhat!

So… are 4G phones going to pay $20 instead of $10? Or is everybody (with a smartphone) going to pay the $10 extra now?

This $10 charge is Sprint forcing its customers to pay for its huge mistake of choosing the wrong 4g horse, Wi-max is already slower than HSPA+ (which is just fancy 3g) and LTE. If you notice they haven’t expanded wi-max as fast as t-mobile expanded HSPA+ or verizon plans with LTE, even clearwire their wi-max partners have all but given up on wi-max prompting many sprint execs to leave clearwire’s board. It is looking pretty grim for a company which hasn’t been profitable in years.

Iol sprint giving it to the customer again. Trying to offset there poor financial mistakes on the end user.

I heard that they will only carry 4g smart-phones pretty soon. If that is the case then you would be forced to pay the extra $10 anyway. I wonder if you bought a phone off of ebay or the like and wanted them to switch service over to that phone if they would count that as an upgrade?

What a bunch of idiots and cry babies. Think about it……….Customers have been all over buying EVO’s and Epics and are thrilled that the service is a flat, consistent $79.99 a month which includes UNLIMITED DATA!!!!! Flat $79.99 a month for all you can eat with Unlimited Calls to/from Any Mobile. Ya, don’t forget about that little nugget of extra value. I’m lovin’ my EVO.

People, I work for corporate Sprint. Before everyone goe wireless nuclear Hiroshima, let me clarify something. All current customers and future ones who have/will have one of the 3/4G handsets WILL NOT incur an additional $10 Premium Data service charge per month as they already pay for it now/will pay for it when they purchase one of these devices. People with 2G/3G non smartphones WILL NOT pay this service charge either. The only ones who WILL pay this service charge are those who either activate and/upgrade to a 3G handset such as the Samsung Instinct series, any Android devices, all the RIM ones, Palm OS (Garnet or WebOS) or any Windows Mobile device.

It does suck but Sprint is still the better value. If you get good service in your area with Sprint, stick with them. If not, go to another carrier and pay more in hopes of better coverage. This doesn’t really affect me since I have an EVO and already pay the $10 fee, and my monthly bill is 66.84 for unlimited everything (with discount) so I don’t mind it. But for everyone else, it does suck, but it is what it is – Sprint’s got to keep up with the demand for mobile broadband just like everyone else. And remember, in the end you’re still paying less than the other carriers.

I pay exactly $59.72 a month 900 mins unlimited data and unlimited text for my iPhone 4 on AT&T. So yea.