Sprint Ups Data Rates by $10/Months on New Smartphone Plans

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://hothardware.com/News/Sprint-Hits-3G-Subscribers-with-10-Premium-Data-Fee/' target='_blank'>http://hothardware.com/News/Sprint-...emium-Data-Fee/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Ruh roh Shaggy, get ready to fork over an extra $10/month to Sprint to cover the wireless service provider's "Premium Data add-on charge to activations of smartphones." But don't worry, the additional funds coming out of your pocket is how Sprint shows it's "committed to providing its customers a great wireless experience now and in the future." Does that help ease the sting?"</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1295370497.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>This is going the wrong way - if carriers want more customers to get on board with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Average_revenue_per_user" target="_blank">ARPU</a>-boosting data plans, they've got to get cheaper, not more expensive. Unless of course, due to spectrum constraints and an inability to actually cope with the data usage happening today, carriers like Sprint don't particularly want hordes of new customers signing up. I find that hard to believe - data service plans are one of the few areas of new growth for wireless carriers based on what I read.</p>

[The Yaz]

I think this press release was more about covering themselves from complaints about their "4G" premium that they rolled out with the EVO.

My wife just renewed and picked up the Samsung model and asked when/where the 4G would be available in our area. The sales person said "Honestly, not until after your contract expires". So by renaming the fee and charging everyone, the people with 4G phones cannot go back and demand money back for a service they will never receive.

On the positive side, she is impressed with the phone so far. Coming from Windows 6.1 she really likes setting up the panels and the browser works great.

Steve

[Sven Johannsen]

So they haven't raised their data rates, there is just this new fee. Is that right? Kind of like the fee for having a suitcase when I travel, or the $75 worth of fees on top of the $95 a week rental car I have reserved. I also have a fee for being hooked to utilities in my town. That's over and above the cost of the utilities, or any taxes that help subsidize them. This is a fee, so it's OK. Bought some theatre tickets on line the other day. Honest to gosh, they had a print at home fee. Seriously. They also had a pick them up at the box office fee, same amount.

[Jason Dunn]

So they haven't raised their data rates, there is just this new fee. Is that right?

According to the article I linked to, it said that new activations - or new lines added onto an account - would have the higher fee. And maybe at contract renewal time? Seems like Sprint will try to hike everyone's data rate charge eventually. :(