Sprint changing hotspot plans; 5GB data cap starts Oct. 2

[tybo31316]

In the latest Sprint Playbook we're seeing another plan change, this time to the mobile hotspot feature. Starting Oct. 2, current and future customers will have a 5GB limit when using the mobile hotspot add-on to their plan. Data used on the phone itself isn't being limited (other than the 300MB "roaming" data cap, it's still all you can eat), but both 3G and 4G data used via the hotspot feature will now be subject to a $0.05 per MB charge once the 5GB cap is reached. Before, 4G data was unlimited.

A similiar change is being made to mobile broadband devices like aircards, tablets, and portable hotspots that used to have unlimited 4G data. It could be worse, but we're pretty sure that even though most don't subscribe to the hotspot add-on and use other methods, there will still be plenty of wailing and gnashing of teeth. Can't stop changes folks.

http://www.androidcentral.com/sprint...plans-changing

[4wheelfurry]

Again just for clairifaction and ease of mind how will this impact the ability to tether via root (such as my EVO!)?

EVO / PPCG app

[Riley]

Boy oh boy. I'm so glad Sprint is fighting for the 4 major carriers and regional carriers to promote rigorous competition and push innovation.... They are consumer advocates let me tell you...wait essentially another price hike for Sprint?? And they still feel they have any right telling ATT to not merge with tmobile? This is comical folks. I don't use the hotspot that much and granted I know they need to make changes. Having said all that, they are really just begging people to drop them and their 1x network like a bad habit. lol. I guess all will be answered on Oct 7th It better be a good chat Hesse.

[gTen]

Originally Posted by Riley

Boy oh boy. I'm so glad Sprint is fighting for the 4 major carriers and regional carriers to promote rigorous competition and push innovation.... They are consumer advocates let me tell you...wait essentially another price hike for Sprint?? And they still feel they have any right telling ATT to not merge with tmobile? This is comical folks. I don't use the hotspot that much and granted I know they need to make changes. Having said all that, they are really just begging people to drop them and their 1x network like a bad habit. lol. I guess all will be answered on Oct 7th It better be a good chat Hesse.

--Oct 13th comes--

Dan Hesse: It is the moment you all have been waiting for..here is the solution we have came up with that will innovate the industry...we are now introducing an industry first phone with 3 screens!!!!
*crowd boos*
Dan Hesse: Hmm..tough crowd..I guess you all want to hear network change ha? ok then we are gonna go LTE! and we should have our LTE entwork functional by 2014!
*tomatoes thrown*
Dan Hesse: And we are an industry leader so we will offer something that beats all the others by introducing tiered data of 3gb and 6gb which beats all other competition!
*crowd turns into lynch mob*
Crowd: Any last words?
Dan Hesse: We are getting an iphone!
*hanged*


>.>

[DaveTN]

Like I've said before... Sprint, where Unlimited is um, limited.

Seems like all the wireless providers are going the way of the cable companies in overselling the market and doing anything they can to drag people in but little to keep them except for exhorbidant ETF's. Years ago I got a great deal from Charter for my cable internet and it seemed like it kept slowing down. They give you the same old "spyware and virus" garbage but digging into the modem reveals that my cap was dropped from 7 meg down to 1 meg. That happened 3 times before I finally dropped them. (sorry, a bit of a tangent) but its what they are going to do when they oversell and can't meet the demand.

Wireless on the other hand, is going to lure you with the best phones that are capable of all types of multimedia and bless you with an "unlimited" plan that they good and well know will eventually be limited. So if the mysterious Sprint iPhone unicorn shows up, what good is it going to be? If you use it a lot as its intended, then its going to cost you a heck of a lot more in the long run.

Its like having a Lamborghini in my garage but the gas stations will only sell you 5 gallons of 87 octane. What good is it?

David

[Da Uniq 1]

That's why I'm glad I changed to the new Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited plan. Where anything you do us unlimited except for the unlimited parts.

[gullzway]

Originally Posted by DaveTN

Like I've said before... Sprint, where Unlimited is um,

David

My Sero 500 plan is still unlimited! And cheap.

Sent from an Epic 3G using ppcgeeks.

[eric12341]

well at least smartphone data is still unlimited for now, but if they do decide to cap there will be no difference between them and the others.

[DaveTN]

My guess is that there will still be an unlimited plan but I'm willing to bet that it will be at a premium, and a higher one than there all ready is. Unfortunately (and I'll bet) is deals like SERO and EPRP will be capped and entry and mid level data plans will be competetively priced - and higher than we pay now.

Afterall, I started paying for an "unlimited" data pack addon a couple years ago, which while it still works for my TP2, it is no good for much snything else other than a Replenish or a standard or feature phone. At that time, unlimited WAS unlimited until they limited it.

So, once again, unlimited is unlimited... for now.

David

[fixxxer2012]

Originally Posted by gullzway

My Sero 500 plan is still unlimited! And cheap.

Sent from an Epic 3G using ppcgeeks.

until they axe it.