$10 is really bothering you? Check this out.

[jbearamus]

Originally Posted by Cicatrize

Look what the iPhone did to AT&T's network. I think Sprint is trying to avoid this from happening by getting some extra money to make sure their network doesn't face the same perils.

except that in 3g areas it probably wont sell an obscene amount more than any other phone and in 4g areas, the network can handle 5 phones in the same amount of space that 3g can do 1 so i'm sure sprint isn't worried about it

[jbearamus]

Originally Posted by rose1

Also, If I remember correctly, someone from sprint said that the $10 charge is not for 4g, it's what you have to pay for having the best phone in America.

problem with that thought though is the only reason it is the best phone in the country right now is the 4g, the Incredible has everything else just with a slightly smaller screen, a screen that actually has the same resolution so in actuality would look better
so throwing out that one discrepancy the only difference between Evo and Incredible is 4G
so using your reason, how is the charge not for 4G?

[Lost My Mind]

When we look at this, we have to consider what the 10 dollar charge is truly for. I've seen some people on this forum (but not this topic) say "it's just to recoup the discounted price of the phone".

This is discredited for three reasons. The $10 charge will ALWAYS be on your bill. For the rest of your time at sprint as an Evo user. So, $450 - $200 = $250 that has been discounted with the price of a 2 year contract. $10 x 24 = $240. So it would take 25 months to recoup that $250 they discounted by putting a fee. However, on month 26, they would in fact make a profit.

Reason two: If you buy the phone full price, no contract at $450.......you still get that charge.

Reason three: EVERY cell phone gets discounted if you sign a contract. The longer they can keep you the more profit they make, and they can easily recoup the price of that phone that way. This is the only phone with the fee.

So we know the fee isn't to recoup the cost of the discounted price of the phone itself.

Some people believe that the fee is being used to help build the 4G network. This MAY be true in the short term, but what happens when its 100%? After that its just pure profit. I could understand if the fee was flat out said to end when 4G is fully implemented. Or if the fee was applied to you for 12 months, and it was said to only be applied for 12 months while they help build the networks 4G towers. The fee is endless.......you could be paying it for 10 years, should you decide to stay with sprint that long. From what I was told on the phone, the fee stays with you as long as you own (not use, but own) an Evo.


Some people say the fee will be used to maintain the network, and avoid an AT&T style crippled network. At first glance this reasoning has some validity to it. When an item is hott, and people want it, they buy it in mass doses. They use the service in mass doses. The mainstream society all buying the Evo at once, paired with the fact that the device itself is capable of faster speeds, and without limits? Yeah, I could see how that argument could hold ground at first. Here's the problem with that. The iPhone IS a mainstream society toy. The Evo is a tech junkie's wet dream. The iPhone is simple, easy for the masses to fall in love with. The Evo is powerfull, and runs the highly customizable/highly complex android operating system. The Evo will be a major hit with the ever growing tech populace. The Evo will not reach mainstream status anywhere NEAR iPhone. The Evo will be beloved 100000x over the iPhone by visitors of this site. The general population may not even know the device exists, unless it gets some really powerful advertising......and even then, it'll be too hard for them.

Simply put, The Evo will not be as draining on the network as iPhone is, simply because it wont be as popular.



Now lets look at the more popular belief that the phone will consume more data due to it being 4G.

The idea being that if you CAN consume data at a faster rate, that you WILL consume data at a faster rate. Here's the problem I have with that...I don't want to consume data at a faster rate. Currently I'm on an old Alltel plan waiting for my contract with (now) Verizon to expire next month. I have the HTC Touch (vouge). This phone doesn't even have 3G. It has Evdo. I'm fine with Evdo. For me, 3G will just be a step up. I'm fine with that too. I want this phone because of the phone itself. The front facing camera wins BIG points with me, as does the HDMI out, and 720 video recording. Data consumption? Meh. I could care less about using web on the phone. I DO have a laptop. Its fine and all that they want to offer 4G, but for the argument to be valid that $10 will be simply overlooked just because it's 4G and no data cap, wouldn't one have to first assume that data cap was an issue to begin with, and 4Gs services would even be used regularly?

I can find no reason why the $10 isn't "for" 4G. In my mind that's all that it is. Anyone defending otherwise is blindly obeying because they love the phone.

So yes, I DO believe the $10 charge is directly a result of the Evo. I also believe they are doing this not so they can maintain the 4G, but rather to profit from it. If it were a choice, I wouldn't complain. At all.

If they said "heres what you get for 69.99, insurance is extra, and then you have taxes......also, if you want 4G with no data caps, thats 10 dollars more as well", then I would have no issue with it. I personally wouldn't opt-in for the $10, but i'm sure many wanting 4G would.

By making it a choice sprint could bring in so many people (myself included) who would switch to it for the cheaper plan, and awesome phone hardware. By NOT making it a choice, the plan is no longer cheaper. So you force people to wonder if they really want the plan. Also, by telling people this phone, and this phone alone, comes with a $10 charge.....your scaring away any casuals you may have originally lured in.

[gullzway]

Originally Posted by Lost My Mind

Currently I'm on an old Alltel plan waiting for my contract with (now) Verizon to expire next month. I have the HTC Touch (vouge). This phone doesn't even have 3G. It has Evdo. I'm fine with Evdo. For me, 3G will just be a step up.

I'll let you in on a secret, EVDO "is" 3G!


http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/37/61/

[Lost My Mind]

Originally Posted by gullzway

I'll let you in on a secret, EVDO "is" 3G!


http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/37/61/

I was still talking about the HTC Touch (Vogue) when I said that. The Vogue is only an evdo connection, not 3G.

[eman]

Originally Posted by Lost My Mind

I was still talking about the HTC Touch (Vogue) when I said that. The Vogue is only an evdo connection, not 3G.

eman <- puts his head down in shame for LMM.

[Cicatrize]

Originally Posted by Lost My Mind

I was still talking about the HTC Touch (Vogue) when I said that. The Vogue is only an evdo connection, not 3G.

I'm just going to go ahead and reiterate what the other guy said.

EVDO is 3G. lol

[capthr]

EVDO is 3G

[p-slim]

Originally Posted by jbearamus

problem with that thought though is the only reason it is the best phone in the country right now is the 4g, the Incredible has everything else just with a slightly smaller screen, a screen that actually has the same resolution so in actuality would look better
so throwing out that one discrepancy the only difference between Evo and Incredible is 4G
so using your reason, how is the charge not for 4G?

The incredible doesn't have 720p recording, nor does it have a front facing camera.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

[Cicatrize]

Originally Posted by p-slim

The incredible doesn't have 720p recording, nor does it have a front facing camera.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

You forgot the kickstand! lol