Sprint

Sprint taking the "unlimited" out of unlimited 4G mobile broadband plans

posted by Ian M. / Oct 21, 2011, 9:27 AM

Sooner or later this day was going to come as Sprint has announced that they are putting an end to the all you can download buffet for all 4G mobile broadband devices such as tablets and mobile hotspots; smartphones however are still unlimited.

Sprint is the last remaining of the four main carriers to offer truly unlimited 4G data with no caps or speed throttling. Their mobile hotspots such as the Overdrive have been available on a monthly plan that included unlimited 4G data courtesy of Sprint’s WiMax network while a 5GB cap would be in place when in 3G areas.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Sprint also took away unlimited data when using your smartphone to tether. This all comes after Sprint CTO Stephen Bye labeled unlimited data as a “differentiator” last month. Even though Sprint’s smartphones still will not be capped, this must be asked. How much longer until it is?

In addition to tablets and mobile hotspots, affected devices include netbooks and laptops with built-in WiMax support and USB connection cards. Sprint is making this change effective in November but dates will vary depending on the billing cycle. Once that change happens there will be three different plans to choose from; a 3GB, 5GB and a 10GB option. Instead of speed throttling Sprint is going the way of charging overages as every extra MB of data will cost $.05.

Unfortunately Sprint will not be grandfathering anybody into this plan. Once the change goes live everybody will be affected. It really only was a matter of time until this happened. What do all of you think of Sprint putting an end to unlimited 4G mobile broadband?

source: BGR

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56 Comments

1. lubba

Posts: 1313; Member since: Jan 17, 2011

Deceitful business. Get the iphobe, lock millions of customers in, then change the plan. With the losses from the iphone deal, gotta break even somehow. No way they can run unlimited 4G with all them smartphones out there, especially the iphobe.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 9:49 AM 9

10. warlockz

Posts: 156; Member since: Oct 10, 2011

Shady indeed

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:18 AM 1

16. arcq12

Posts: 733; Member since: Oct 13, 2011

idiot aren't you? it's only for mobile broadband do you understand that?

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:44 AM 8

41. lubba

Posts: 1313; Member since: Jan 17, 2011

Yeah I know. They gotta cut somewhere!

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 9:25 PM 1

45. tim7722

Posts: 4; Member since: Oct 21, 2011

and at 5 cents a MB thats 51.20 per GB of data where verizon only charges $10 per GB for overage. Good news is, those silly "are you truly unlimited" commercials will be gone.

posted on Oct 22, 2011, 4:32 AM 1

30. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

It will be interesting to see how many of the customers for Sprint's data devices switch to VZW. A large majority of the data devices that are the subject of the current shift in contract terms are probably not under the $325 early termination fee and are probably close or fairly close to the regularly scheduled contract end date. Given the larger LTE footprint that VZW has compared to Sprint's WiMax footprint, I suspect that if prices are comparable, Sprint data customers will make the move to VZW.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 2:02 PM 1

52. Phoneguy007

Posts: 218; Member since: Jun 02, 2011

this is old sprint said this weeks ago

posted on Oct 23, 2011, 5:56 PM 0

53. Phoneguy007

Posts: 218; Member since: Jun 02, 2011

I dont know why it took pa so long to post this.

posted on Oct 23, 2011, 5:59 PM 0

34. JeffdaBeat unregistered

I don't think that's quite the case. If you signed your contract with an unlimited plan, you should be able to keep it. If Sprint decide to change that, they would have to let you out of your contract...I think that's why there are so many grandfathered plans...

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 3:45 PM 0

42. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

nope, read it again - this is for existing and new customers - AT&T did this at one time, too....

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:11 PM 0

56. JeffdaBeat unregistered

Then they have to let people out of their contract...

posted on Oct 24, 2011, 8:26 AM 0

2. WirelessCon

Posts: 311; Member since: May 11, 2010

Wow, so many people I know are on Sprint specifically for the unlimited data. This will disenfranchise many customers. OCCUPY SPRINT! THEY ARE THE 1% Time for some data legislation methinks.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 9:54 AM 0

3. EclipseGSX

Posts: 1777; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 9:56 AM 0

4. Tux4g63

Posts: 121; Member since: Oct 21, 2011

Although their will not be any grandfathering, will current subscribers still be allowed to download unlimited 4G data per the terms of their original contract?

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 9:57 AM 0

5. EclipseGSX

Posts: 1777; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

"Unfortunately Sprint will not be grandfathering anybody into this plan. Once the change goes live everybody will be affected" that would be a no

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:01 AM 2

32. Tux4g63

Posts: 121; Member since: Oct 21, 2011

I understand that no current subscribers who have unlimited data would be able to renew their contract, but im wondering about people who are in "mid contract." I may very well be wrong but my impression was that grandfathering in the wireless industry meant for those who are trying to resign another contract.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 2:30 PM 1

48. Lotus

Posts: 6; Member since: Sep 15, 2011

You are mistaken. To be "grandfathered in" in this context means you are locked in because you currently have the service. According to Phone Arena's report, even a currently unlimited subscriber will be subject to the new rules.

posted on Oct 22, 2011, 3:24 PM 0

6. DROIDX0430

Posts: 469; Member since: Nov 24, 2010

Unlimited data is a thing of the past..with the influx of 4g and people capable of dowloading 60gb or more....creates a loss for the business...and cell phone companies arent in business to lose money....luckily you arent stuck...all contracts are two years...but where are you going..metro pcs. Boost....so you can complain because itsnot going to get better. The now network is now canceling unlimited and the premier customer perk incentive....going down..down..down

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:05 AM 2

7. arcq12

Posts: 733; Member since: Oct 13, 2011

wrong move by Sprint. next stop most likely are for smartphones.. good luck sprint users..

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:07 AM 1

8. miker875

Posts: 3; Member since: Oct 21, 2011

don't know if anyone is reading correctly, but this is for broadband devices not phones

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:13 AM 3

13. warlockz

Posts: 156; Member since: Oct 10, 2011

Good call. However given the fact that no one would be grandfathered in it will be only a matter of time with cell phones. But ya I don't think ppl read it clearly such as myself lol

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:20 AM 2

9. warlockz

Posts: 156; Member since: Oct 10, 2011

First of all lol at sprint. There are two opionions and they are only mine. I don't like to state facts without documentation and support of said facts. From my understanding given the information I have read it seems people are abusing tethering if that's the case than shame on them a cell phone is ment for what it is not for maintaining a server lol but given the fact that sprint just got the iphone and now they decided to halt the unlimited data plans and NOT be grandfathered in is shady shady shady. I feel ashamed that I was considering going from vwz to them just for their plan. I rather pay vwz extra premium now more than ever because they didn't take my unlimited plan away. Nexus here I come.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:17 AM 1

11. catfacepanda

Posts: 16; Member since: Oct 20, 2011

Since they aren't grandfathering anyone, the people who signed a contract prior to this change will probably have the option to get out for free.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:18 AM 2

29. Snapdude

Posts: 128; Member since: Aug 27, 2009

doubt it, there are terms in the contract allowing for plan changes to maintain "network integrity"

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 12:05 PM 2

46. tim7722

Posts: 4; Member since: Oct 21, 2011

That would fall under other things like Throttling, cutting you off at your data cap and so forth. when they're main selling point is selling you on an "unlimited plan" and then saying it's 51.20 per GB for overages is just plain old misleading and I can see this becoming a big legal issue. They may not willingly let you out of your contract but you can definitely argue your way out of this one.

posted on Oct 22, 2011, 4:39 AM 0

12. akhi216

Posts: 61; Member since: May 01, 2011

That's why I left that sinking ship and went to Verizon.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:20 AM 1

14. spanky

Posts: 81; Member since: Jun 02, 2011

this has been out for a while now. it is only affecting mobile broad band, not phones. increased revenue from this is being used to find the network vision project. i know very very few people that use more than 5gb of mobile broadband anyway.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:23 AM 1

15. skymitch89

Posts: 1453; Member since: Nov 05, 2010

And that's why I don't have a tablet or mobile hotspot, not to mention that I can't afford it. I'm happy with my teathering app that I have on my phone, though it would be nice for wireless teathering.

posted on Oct 21, 2011, 10:23 AM 1

17. ZayZay

Posts: 571; Member since: Feb 26, 2011

Already knew about this for a few weeks. Phone arena your behind the times.