Leaked email shows Sprint capping its unlimited mobile hotspots at 5GB monthly

posted by Alan F. / Jun 06, 2012, 1:57 PM

Leaked email shows Sprint capping its unlimited mobile hotspots at 5GB monthly

Sprint appears to be capping its Mobile HotSpots to 5GB a month

Sprint has really pushed its image as the only one of the four major U.S. carriers to offer unlimited data to new customers. The nation's third largest mobile operator really loves to get this fact out when advertising the Apple iPhone 4S and will probably do the same with ads for the Samsung Galaxy S III. But is Sprint planning on continuing its truly unlimited plan? Not according to an email from Sprint obtained by techdirt.

According to the email, starting sometime this month, Sprint will be capping the amount of data available to phone and tablet owners using the device as a Mobile HotSpot to 5GB of data from the Sprint network. Users will be able to set up a system to receive notification from Sprint via email or text as you head toward the 5GB cap. The reminders can be received when a user reaches 75%, 90% or 100% of the monthly cap. Those who exceed the 5GB cap will be billed at an overage rate of 5 cents for each additional MB used until the next monthly cycle starts.

While this has no effect on unlimited data for smartphones and tablets, it is a crack on the wall that could spread. In other words, how much longer can Sprint be the lone holdout with unlimited data, especially when new customers aren't exactly flocking to the carrier.

source: techdirt via electronista

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13 Comments

1. kcombs

Posts: 275; Member since: Dec 15, 2010

wow didn't see that coming.

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 2:11 PM 0

2. huwah

Posts: 1; Member since: Jun 06, 2012

umm, guys, this has been clearly stated on hot spot plans for several years now, and it's been disclaimed in most of the ads for awhile too. just sayin...

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 2:17 PM 4

3. aikonix

Posts: 60; Member since: Apr 08, 2012

who ever posted this needs to get their facts straight... As an emplyee of Sprint, the mobile Hostpot service has been "capped" since august of last year 'ish, and that was with the 5g package at $29.99. We now expired that and have a $19.99 for 2gb and $49.99 for 6gb... get your facts straight. we will still always be unlimited for actual MOBILE data for our plans.

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 2:18 PM 3

4. DigitalBoy05

Posts: 276; Member since: Jun 04, 2011

not knocking your company with this comment but dan hesse has said himself that he would try to keep unlimited data on sprints mobile phones for as long as possible. meaning he knows there could be a day and most likely will be a day when sprint switches to capped data. sidenote 5 cents per megabyte for overage is a down right rip off. 1GB overage is = $51.20 when VZ charges a flat rate of $10 per GB the user goes over.

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 4:10 PM 0

7. lsutigers

Posts: 832; Member since: Mar 08, 2009

One day that may happen but it wont be anytime soon. Sprint's Network Vision 3G / 4G LTE upgrades were designed to OVER-engineer the network to accomodate unlimited data. Additionally, Sprint will be deploying LTE on the re-farmed iDEN 800mhz spectrum and Clearwire's TD-LTE network will provide extra capacity. Sprint thought about this in advance and given their industry-leading spectrum position nationwide, there should be plenty of capacity for awhile.

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 4:45 PM 0

9. aikonix

and honestly, right now, if u call in and ask a customer representative "how much hotspot usage have i used?" we will stumble and not know what to do... currently sprint is trying to enforce the "Tiered" packages in their mobile hotspot, but as of right now, we cannot track it... Its rediculous. Some agents, myself included, know how to look it up and find the MB/GB usage, but when we have to tell the customer "Oh you used 13.2 GB out of a 5GB plan, but I currently don't see charges for overages" .... it feels a little awkward lol

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 7:26 PM 0

10. aikonix

i love it ^_^

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 7:49 PM 0

6. lsutigers

Aikonix is 100% correct, this is not new, mobile PHONE data will continue to be unlimited.

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 4:40 PM 0

8. moofoodooloo

Posts: 137; Member since: Jan 04, 2011

Aikonix is 100% correct. Edit: didn't see lsutigers post before I posted my identical comment. Just vouching!

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 5:58 PM 0

5. aikonix

that could be true, i have heard the speculation where he said we are keeping it for now, hopefully this is not true, but who knows on that part, im just saying this article just came out like its crazy news from a "leaked" email.. nothing leaked on this when its been out for a while.

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 4:23 PM 1

11. 305Bucko

Posts: 506; Member since: Aug 07, 2011

Wow... did Verizon, At&t or Tmo pay Phonearena to post this rediculously OLD news. This isn't a secret. This change happened months ago and was announced. It's in all the brochures... just saying, NOT news and NOT a secret. SIDENOTE: if you are using a rooted android, or jailbroken iPhone, Mobile hotspot is unmetered, undetectable, an most importantly, still UNLIMITED.

posted on Jun 06, 2012, 11:52 PM 1

12. rusted

Posts: 2; Member since: Jun 07, 2012

This is garbage! Sprint still sells UNLIMITED data plans for phones and they plan to for quite some time. Where did this writer get his information? Was he paid to write this? Sprint ceased offering unlimited data plans for their tablets and air cards because they are not meant to replace desktops and most mobile data users only need $35 plans.

posted on Jun 07, 2012, 9:06 AM 1

13. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

Bad article. Here's the facts: Hotspot always had a limit. However, due to the metering of the hotspot not being readied by the system yet, customers theoretically did get unlimited due to this. However, customers with excessive overage on hotspot were contacted and dealt with accordingly. Now the system metering is prepared and usage is tracked separately, also 5GB plans no longer offered, but 2GB and 6GB now. Also tablets never had unlimited. Do some research before you write pieces that are so full of lies that it looks like it was commissioned by a competitor. And if it was, you are legally disclosed to reveal the details of this, such as if it was a paid advertisement.