Sprint limits more unlimited plans, smartphone data still safe

By on Oct 21, 2011 at 8:50 AM
mobile October 21, 2011

Sprint confirmed last month that beginning October 2nd, unlimited mobile hotspot plans would become limited mobile hotspot plans, affording users of the optional smartphone add-on 5GB of tethering data per month. Now, Sprint has added a second service to the unlimited data cemetery: mobile broadband. “If you have a mobile broadband device such as a tablet, netbook, notebook, USB card, connection card or Mobile Hotspot device, effective beginning with your next bill following notification, your on-network monthly data allowance will no longer include unlimited 4G,” Sprint said on its website. Starting next month, Sprint will offer three new mobile broadband plans that cap users at 3GB, 5GB or 10GB of combined 3G and 4G data per billing period depending on their plans. Additional data will be charged at $0.05 per megabyte, and the same overage charge applies to mobile hotspot plans. A table outlining the new plans follows below.

Read

Tags:
, , , , , , ,
34 Comments

Related Articles

  • Brian Wenger

    Only a matter of time…

    • Cashman

      I don’t think so, their ONLY selling point is the unlimited data on their cell phones. If they lose that, then people have no true reason to choose Sprint over any other carrier.

      • Anonymous

        its always about Price in the end for many users

      • eugene Park

        I’d have to agree here.
        Sprint’s strategy all along is to keep unlimited data plans for smartphones.  I’m assuming that mobile broadband plans was the sacrificial lamb to keep that going.

  • Anonymous

    Thank you apple :)  

    • Gara56

      I wouldn’t blame Apple but the telcos for trying to find ways/reasons to add more charges to your bill. Anyone who thinks that Sprint would have remained status-quo in its billing strategy (even without the introduction of the iphone) — is living in a fantasy world.

      • Anonymous

        Yes its apple’s fault.  Sprint had to compete with carriers with apple before so they remained competitive. Now that they are on the apple gravy train there is no reason for them to compete.  Remember they payed apple billions of dollars over 4 years to get the iphones, now this is their way to recoup that money.

  • Anonymous

    Wait a minute.  After all those commercials bragging about their “unlimitedness”. Seriously? I do like Tmobile’s philosophy. Throttle bandwidth after your “cap”. It’s better than throttling my wallet…

    I wonder when ATT is going to cap their grandfathered unlimited people? Because you know they are hurting for cash and can’t afford to be “giving” away that bandwidth… The carriers are inhibiting the future…

    • Anonymous

      what part of mobile broadband dont you get?

    • anyonymus

      they already have capped their unlimited data plans back, they throttle customers now that use “excessive” data on old unlimited plans on iphones and BB’s

      • Anonymous

        I don’t understand why they capped data for blackberry users when they use the least amount of data…

  • SonnyBono

    The end is near

  • fishkid13

    Not for long, thanks iPhone. 

  • discusted

    another case of bait and switch i believe there are laws oh wait laws don’t apply to big corporate greed 

    • Anonymous

      Laws only apply to ordinary people, not big CORPORATIONS! Oh wait! Is Sprint still considered a big corporation?

  • Ryuluddy

    What is Sprints selling point once they no longer offer any unlimited?

    Less coverage, slower speeds….but less money.

  • Anonymous

    Sprint wont do the smartphone thing.  Their road map has VOIP service.  Started with google voice and the plans to 4g show pure 4g.  killing 3g and using that range for 4g.  Thats what I understand during the call forward from the CEO.  Still pissed that i have to pay for the P Data when i get bad 3g and no 4g in my area.

  • Rwalford79

    If Sprint is limiting days starting next bill cycle to those already locked in contracts I’d like to see sprint claim that’s not a materially adverse change to contracts like they claim the raising of the Administration Fee isn’t. ETF waivers for Millions

  • http://twitter.com/Big_BlueBox Ray

    I’m not sure they can one-sidely change the terms of your contract, without giving you a time to accept or decline the changes, which would provide you with an opportunity to leave the carrier without an ETF.

  • Windontree

    BOOOoooooo !

  • Anonymous

    And so the WiMax hotspot goes back….
    I might as well just use my data capped 4G LTE Verizon hotspot if everything is going to be limited.

    Sprint must not want my money.

  • zacamandapio

    Who wants a CDMA hotspot anyways.

    • Anonymous

      Get over CDMA/GSM.  Its what we have

  • KenG

    This is the problem with the carriers, they don’t understand what “competition” means.  They think it’s about running the most misleading ads and hiding limitations and provisos in the small print, and lobbying for protection, not things like offering great service and lower prices.  They don’t want to do something like that, not when the other companies in their market (usually called “competitors”) don’t offer great service or low prices.

    Sprint, when you’re running third, you don’t get rid of the things that make you look better than 1 and 2.

  • Qweqwe

    heh, throw out that commercial now they look like all others

  • Anonymous

    Only time will tell, when Sprint will drop the axe on these plans and I have a feeling it will be soon!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_H5RMP2XLUR2TSIKYN3SN26NDHI Cobra

    I knew it was just a matter of time before they too would eventually erode their unlimited plan.   This will spell their end.   Some are blaming the IPhone on the network now for this change but this was coming anyway.   Sprint was a decent alternative but it won’t be long now before they’re gone.

  • Disqus

    Hook them with UNLIMITED with reserve the right to change terms.  Then when they come on board for two years and the iPhone craze is over, change  everything to LIMITED.  Awesome!

  • Anonymous

    This is due to the poison that is called the iPhone.  Every carrier’s excuse for capping and cutting off extras.

  • Steve

    There goes Sprint’s selling point

  • http://www.sk1wbw.wordpress.com Wayne Williams

    Not sure what the hype is over the hotspot.  Do people literally spend hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours and hours a day using a hotspot from a damned cell phone?  Find a Starbuck’s or something.  It’s free.

    • Getitwhileitzhot

      Dude, that comment made my day, lol, funny stuff

    • http://www.facebook.com/aedebiri Airen Edebiri

      There are some people whose only option for high speed internet are cell phone carriers with mobile hotspot/mobile broadband devices. These are the people who likely use the most data, with some not actually paying for the hotspot service on their phones. I’m sure part of the reason for limiting the hotspot and mobile broadband plans are to prevent these people from using Sprint as their main internet connection.

      I read a post on the Sprint Facebook from a woman who was upset with the new cap because her data card is the only way she can get high speed internet in her area. She said she uses something like 30GB a month. Mobile broadband and mobile hotspots aren’t really meant for that kind of usage, they’re meant for people who need to be productive while they’re away from home. It sucks, but I can see why Sprint is capping their plans. To be fair, it’s not like any of the other carriers have better options in terms of data caps or throttling.

  • Zack

    They set out the bait, now it’s time to cap the customers!!!!

    Poor fools for thinking sprint was going to keep unlimited. Enjoy the next 2 years!!!!

blog comments powered by Disqus