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Sprint has posted some new data options for tablet owners and mobile broadband/hotspot customers. For tablet users, you can get either 1GB, 3GB, 6GB or 12GB of data for $20, $35, $50 and $80 per month. Mobile broadband/hotspot users can get 6GB f0r $50, as well.
All plans include 4G and 3G data and will run you 25 cents per MB if you go over ($50 if you somehow hit 1GB, hardly an affordable accident).
If you’re going off Sprint’s network, you’ll get up to 100MB on the 1GB and 3GB plans and 300MB on the rest of them. You’ll incur even more charges at 25 cents per MB if going over, $250 if you end up creeping toward 1GB.
This makes them cheaper than the competition if you stay within boundaries but with no option to add additional bandwidth for a small fee will make you keep your best eye on usage from month to month. Read on for full press details
Sprint Launches New 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Plans, Delivering More Data at a Lower Price Than Competitors
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), November 14, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE: S) today launched new 3G/4G mobile broadband plans that deliver more data at lower prices than similar plans from national competitors. The new plans are available in all Sprint sales channels.
Customers can choose from 6GB of combined on-network 3G/4G data usage for $49.99 per month or 12GB of 3G/4G data usage for $79.99 per month. The new plans deliver 20 percent more data for the same price as similar plans from Verizon and AT&T.
Sprint Verizon AT&T
$49.99 per month/6GB $50 per month/5GB $50 per month/5GB
$79.99 per month/12GB $80 per month/10GB NAWith an extra 1GB of data vs. Verizon and AT&T’s $50/5GB plans, Sprint customers subscribing to the new $49.99/6GB plan will be able to view approximately 6,667 additional Web pages, 2,000 more photos or 67 extra YouTube videos each month.1
“Sprint is committed to delivering exceptional value to its customers, and our new 3G/4G Mobile Broadband plans are the latest example of that,” said Will Souder, vice president of pricing for Sprint. “Sprint gives customers more data at lower prices than competitors, so they can do more with their mobile broadband devices on Sprint’s 3G and 4G networks.”
The $49.99/6GB and $79.99/12GB plans are compatible with all Mobile Broadband devices sold by Sprint, including tablets, dedicated mobile hotspot devices, USB modems, netbooks and notebooks.
In addition, Sprint is also launching a new plan available for tablets2 and dedicated mobile hotspot devices3 priced at $34.99 per month for 3GB of 3G/4G data usage, along with a new plan for tablets priced at $19.99 per month for 1GB of 3G/4G data usage.
The new plans replace all previously available Mobile Broadband plans and are available to new and existing customers.
Sprint provides to customers tools to monitor and manage their mobile broadband data usage and avoid overages:
Customers who have opted-in for notifications will receive email and/or SMS notifications when their 3G/4G data usage has reached 75 percent of their plan limit or higher.
Customers are also able to view their data usage by logging into My Sprint at www.sprint.com.
Customers with devices featuring the SmartView application can use the app to view data usage.
Tablet users can text “usage” to 1311 to receive a text with their current 3G/4G usage.
So I guess they’re going to have to can the “We’re the only unlimited data!” commercial for the “we’re the only data that rapes you if you go over!” commercial
Except the commercial has to do with unlimited data on PHONES, not tablets or broadband sticks.
This does not apply to smartphones. Only smartphones still have unlimited data on Sprint.
For now.
It would be nice if carriers would just upgrade you to the next higher tier automatically in the event that there’s an overage on your current bill that would cost more than the next higher tier, meaning that you would never actually pay an overage fee until you’ve exceeded the cap of the highest tier. With Sprint’s new plans, having 1GB of overage on the 1GB plan would cost you $70 (for a total of 2GB), whereas the 3GB plan gives you a gig more for half the cost. But, I’m guessing that will never happen. You can get that tactics like this are what’s allowing them to continue selling smartphones with unlimited plans. Gotta offset the cost somewhere.
ATT comes close to that. It’s not automatic, but if you do it youtself within your billing cycle it’s retroactive in that you won’t pay overages, you just pay for the higher data packages you selected. I am not sure if other carriers offer that or not.
One step closer to canning unlimited to phones. Not a smart move, if you look back the past few years they almost went almost bankrupt
…coming soon to an EVO near you!
i miss the unlimited data. i get GB from tmo at 4g, its then slowed, home internet hasn’t been working the past two days and ive used GB on tethering i remember the days i used to use my phone as a primary internet connection. I was planning to go to sprint once they have their lte running but i don’t know anymore. id rather slow down then get charged an extra $70
Cheaper than the competition? T-Mobile has faster internet speeds in more places than Sprint or any other carrier for that matter. Look up the rates for their Value Mobile Broadband plans they’re cheaper plus there are no overage charges.
T-mobile has better data speeds, but they might merge with evil AT&T.
In which case you would be grandfathered into your rate plan
They would likely just give you the option to either take one of their current rate plans or terminate your contract.
Doubtful. This isn’t a small merger we’re talking about like the acquisition of SunCom. At&t would acquire 33 million customers. They are not going to give that many customers a chance to leave. At&t has already stated to Congress and in print that they will honor all T-Mobile plans even if they upgrade their phone. The worst I could see happening is At&t trying to push you onto one of their plans come upgrade time, and that’s not even that bad you could always buy gsm devices off contract and stick your sim card in and it might even come out cheaper that way.
That’s the thing. Where would they go? Even if ATT does place them on their way more limited plans there are no longer any better options out there. People can bail for the principle, but if they actually need mobile broadband there will no longer be an unlimited option anyway.
This is a win win situation for ATT. With TMO out of the picture they can take away the good deals that TMO offered and still be the best value nationwide.
AT&T has stated a lot of shit over the years.
Sprint had to do something to keep unlimited until they rollout the new LTE network. I hope you all realize how much strain is on Sprint’s 3G network with no 4G or 2G to get rid of some of the weight…
Can’t wait for my contract with Sprint to be up, headed to AT& T since my company gets a 13% discount :-)
13 percent won’t cover the increased cost of the AT&T plan. Get the full pricing before you switch. I left and returned to Sprint and have no regrets. I am in San Antonio Tx and Sprint works great here. If you have good coverage it is most likely not worth switching.
tgusnik
At 23% I know I pay slightly less than I did on the Sprint plan (where I had something like 15-20%), and that includes unlimited texting add-on. 13% would be pretty close, and it really is a far better network.