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Sprint just tossed some new data options our way for those of you who tend to sip gulp gigs of data each month. Under the new plans, 6GB of data will run you $49.99, while an extra 30 bucks will let you boost consumption to 12GB — an amount exceeding Verizon’s standard offering (but not the holiday LTE promo) by two gigs, while blowing away AT&T, which doesn’t offer an option quite so beefy (12GB there will run you $120, after overage fees). Sprint customers with lighter use can add a 3GB plan to their tablets, mobile hotspots or USB cards for $34.99, while tablet users can opt for 1GB of data for just $19.99 per month. All plans include overage rates of 5 cents per MB for in-network usage (a whopping $50 per additional GB), while roaming will run you 25 cents per MB. All of these plans apply to data-only devices, and don’t affect smartphones. Jump past the break for the full PR from Sprint.

Continue reading Sprint undercuts AT&T and Verizon with new Mobile Broadband data plans

Sprint undercuts AT&T and Verizon with new Mobile Broadband data plans originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint may have plenty of changes in store for its upcoming “strategy update,” but it looks like one crucial policy will remain in place — unlimited data plans. Speaking to reporters at Mobilize in San Francisco yesterday, company CTO Stephen Bye confirmed that even though competitors like Verizon and AT&T are phasing out their unlimited plans, Sprint remains committed to providing its customers with infinite data. Doing so won’t come without costs, since, as Bye explained, not all unlimited subscribers eat up the same amount of data. But the exec pointed out that these efforts are counterbalanced by the relative simplicity of managing unlimited schemes, and don’t seem quite as prohibitive when compared with the hidden customer support costs involved with more complex, tiered plans. Yet despite all this optimism, Sprint seems fully aware that some major expenses are on the horizon, especially with a revamped 4G LTE network in the pipeline and, perhaps, with the iPhone 5 on the way. “Is there pressure? Yeah,” Bye acknowledged. “There’s a challenge for all engineers to work on how we get the cost structure down.” Bye went on to reiterate, however, that although a new data network may attract new investors, it’s ultimately Sprint’s unique data plans that will keep its customer base intact.

Sprint’s unlimited data plans aren’t going anywhere, CTO confirms originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The scan above purports to show a Verizon customer brochure that will appear in stores next Thursday, revealing nothing beyond the detailed leaks we’ve already reported but at least providing some reassuringly crinkled corroboration of the salient details. New customers will barred from the happy land of unlimited data, and will instead have to cough up tiered monthly fees ranging from $10 for 75MB up to $80 for 10GB, plus an extra $20 for tethering rights. In a separate turn to this tale, we hear that customers who want to tether to a 4G handset will have to pay $30 per month to keep Big Red happy. This might come as a shock if you’ve been living it up on the free tethering offer that ends next week, but we had a strong inkling it was coming. Besides, it’s not all bad: those 30 bucks will get you unlimited data on the fastest LTE network around, whereas $20 crew must make do with a mere 2GB monthly.

[Thanks, Verizon Guy]

Verizon data charges leak continues, $30 tethering for 4G customers originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With each and every passing day, the rumors surrounding Verizon’s new “usage plans” are getting tougher to ignore. It’s only been two days since we initially heard Big Red was ready to ride its unlimited data plans into the sunset in favor of switching to a newer, more usage-friendly model, and the leaks continue to flood in. This go-round, very official-looking docs that offer up a whole slew of details are in the open air. Many of the details echo what we’ve heard before: the data plans are the same price, starting at $30 for 2GB and working up to increments of 5GB for $50 and 10GB for $80; mobile hotspot access is an additional $20 and you’ll get hooked up with an extra pair of gigs; finally, going over these allotments will cost you $10 per GB.

As rumored yesterday, all customers grandfathered into the unlimited monthly data will be allowed to keep it, even when upgrading to new phones. Business discounts, currently applied to the limitless plans, would now only apply to primary lines that are willing to fork out $50 or more; however, the wording did not indicate whether or not those grandfathered in would still receive those same benefits. More leaked docs can be found after the break, so grab some lunch and find your favorite chair — you’ll need ‘em.

Continue reading Verizon’s ‘DataGate’ plans leaked in excruciating detail

Verizon’s ‘DataGate’ plans leaked in excruciating detail originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yesterday’s revelation that Verizon may soon be enforcing usage-based data plans came as a slap in the face to many, but there may be at least one speck of sunlight shining through the dark clouds above. Screenshots appeared today, purportedly from employee communications, that would go a long way toward assuaging our worst nightmares: Verizon is indeed planning to mirror AT&T’s policy of letting current customers hang onto their grandfathered data plans — even when renewing contracts. It’s probably best to keep your fingers crossed, but we understand if your hands are busy clutching those old plans as if your life depended on it.

Verizon’s tiered data plans won’t affect grandfathered customers after all? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Verizon tiered data plans coming July 7, starting at $30? (update)

Verizon tiered data plans coming July 7, starting at $30? (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’re not the biggest fans of new tiered data plans that are slowly but surely becoming the norm, and if the latest ad from Sprint is any indication — that particular carrier isn’t either. CEO Dan Hesse takes the offensive, reminding viewers that the word ‘unlimited’ shouldn’t include things like metering or throttling, while touting the company’s “Simply Everything” plan that actually does include, uh, everything. With customer gains on the upswing, the move is probably a good one — though that whole ‘premium data‘ thing is a little iffy. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Sprint’s Dan Hesse differentiates between unlimited and ‘unlimited’ in latest TV spot

Sprint’s Dan Hesse differentiates between unlimited and ‘unlimited’ in latest TV spot originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 21:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Verizon’s made no secret of the fact that $30 unlimited smartphone data wouldn’t last forever, but CFO Fran Shammo just made things a little more interesting today at the same Morgan Stanley conference Sanjay Jha rocked yesterday: turns out they’re targeting “mid-summer” to rearrange the carrier’s data pricing. Interestingly, Shammo says they’re still working through the details and that they don’t yet know whether the tiers will be based on speed, bit buckets, or some combination of the two. Of course, Verizon’s already dipped its toes in the tiered game with a $15 / 150MB option that evaporated around the time that the CDMA iPhone launched. Speaking of the iPhone, Shammo notes that the unlimited data plan was kept around to draw users into the iPhone fold — iPhone users tend to consume a lot of data, after all — so it’d seem that they might comfortable with that one-time conquest before parting ways with unlimited for good.

Verizon targeting mid-summer for tiered data plans, doesn’t yet know what kinds of tiers they’ll be originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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