Sprint forcing premium data on ALL SMARTPHONES

[BPFerrari1]

Sorry, I'm on the Everything Data. I don't have SERO.

So, even if I want to swap phones to a spare phone I have, they will add the $10 premium fee to my account?

[yankees45us]

Originally Posted by BPFerrari1

How does this fee affect people wanting to simply swap phones?

I have the Bold 9650 currently and looking to swap out to a spare Samsung Moment for a little while to get back on the Android scene.

If your on an everything plan this will affect you if you swap your phone as the $10 fee will automatically kick in. If you are swapping it with an insurance replacement sprint said that they won't activate your $10 until you swap it for another phone on your own.

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[guitardoc64]

Originally Posted by BPFerrari1

Sorry, I'm on the Everything Data. I don't have SERO.

So, even if I want to swap phones to a spare phone I have, they will add the $10 premium fee to my account?

YES. I confirmed it with Sprint. Just an esn swap will kick in the b******* charge.

[Sunsparc]

Still cheaper than Verizon and AT&T.

[gullzway]

Originally Posted by Sunsparc

Still cheaper than Verizon and AT&T.

You should have included Tmobile to get doc8820 stirred up, even though the $50 Sero premium is still cheaper than the unlisted $60 450 minute TMo plan.

Sent from an Epic 3G on SERO

[yankees45us]

One thing I do like about tmobile is their tactics. I heard they are going to give every phone on their lineup for free in the coming days. Of course with a 2 year agreement. Also they have that limited $10 data plan right now. If your in the market for a cell phone plan I would give tmobile a try with all those great deals.

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[tx_dbs_tx]

I'm tempted to give T-Mobile a try to see if they have better 3G service at my house. If I can get a free phone and try it out for 14 days then its worth a try.

I know Sprint 4G is much faster than T-Mobile here in the Houston area but I don't have 4G at my house anyway. I'm more concerned about T-Mobile's 5gb data throttling. I'd throw the damn phone in the sewer if they did that.

Edit: On second thought, T-Mobile doesn't even have a phone I like other than the HD7 and it doesn't have Adobe Flash or even a front facing camera. The G2 would-be my second choice but it has a small screen and is only 800mhz. I like having my 4.3" screen and a front facing camera with my EVO. So there goes that idea... no T-Mobile for me.

[Mojary]

Originally Posted by tx_dbs_tx

I'm tempted to give T-Mobile a try to see if they have better 3G service at my house. If I can get a free phone and try it out for 14 days then its worth a try.

I know Sprint 4G is much faster than T-Mobile here in the Houston area but I don't have 4G at my house anyway. I'm more concerned about T-Mobile's 5gb data throttling. I'd throw the damn phone in the sewer if they did that.

Edit: On second thought, T-Mobile doesn't even have a phone I like other than the HD7 and it doesn't have Adobe Flash or even a front facing camera. The G2 would-be my second choice but it has a small screen and is only 800mhz. I like having my 4.3" screen and a front facing camera with my EVO. So there goes that idea... no T-Mobile for me.

yeah i was looking at tmo's website today because my sister was thinking of going to them because of their free smartphone deals. i looked at their plans and i was that close to talking myself into going to one of their stores. i like how certain plans have unlimited calling. so i called their CS number and the guy confirmed that it's unlimited calling to any cell phones or landlines. but i just couldn't talk myself into biting because of the prices. while unlimited calling is well and good, i don't even use more than 50 minutes on my sprint plan now. plus whether i get their unlimited everything plan or get a cheaper plan plus add-on unlimited data (which is what i use most), i'll be paying more if i switched.

[tx_dbs_tx]

The bottom line concerning the topic of this thread... The additional $10 "premium" data charge that is applied to all smartphones on top of the already UNLIMITED everything data plan is completely ridiculous! If Sprint offers you a truly unlimited data plan then how is truly unlimited if Sprint has to charge extra if you choose a smartphone?

I understand the reason Sprint wants a premium data fee on today's smartphones, but it is really a slap in the face and is pretty much your typical "bait & switch" tactic used to reel in customers. This needs to be changed ASAP because it SERIOUSLY hurts Sprint's image as an affordable and competitive wireless carrier. I would recommend eliminating the so-called premium data fee and changing the initial "advertised" price for unlimited data plans for smartphones. This would be much more acceptable for the customers instead of bait-switching like they are doing now.
Totally STUPID idea Sprint!!!

[quick99si]

tx_dbs_tx, I'm not a Sprint fanboy but I think you're looking at the situation from a skewed perspective. Consider looking at it as a price adjustment for increasing costs of x, y, and z (presumably, delivery of data). I'm sure you will agree that Sprint prices have been on the lower side of the spectrum when compared to the other 3 major carriers, especially before these new $10 fees. Instead of raising prices across the board, they targeted smartphone users and justified it by saying that smartphones consume more data.

I don't agree with the fee myself. On the face of things, they're effectively charging twice for the same service while not offering the choice to opt out of that service. I blame their naming of their fees (among other things because I feel that Sprint management is a gym full of morons).

Now consider the alternatives:
1. $10 more for everyone who has a phone that supports data (read: every phone sold today). It's easier and seeminly more fair, but how do you justify that to the dumb phone users like my mother who consumes 5mb/mo of data?

2. Scrap all current plans and come out with new price points that better reflect the increased cost of data, that are better aligned with their strategies, etc.. Then you have to worry about an entirely new marketing strategy, huge spikes in call volume and time in educating consumers, more negative light in the public eye, etc etc etc

Take it for what it is and let the wallet do your talking