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

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

Posted: 21 Oct 2011, 09:27, by Ian M.

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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

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

56 Comments

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posted on 21 Oct 2011, 09:49 9

1. lubba (Posts: 1313; Member since: 17 Jan 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 21 Oct 2011, 10:18 1

10. warlockz (Posts: 156; Member since: 10 Oct 2011)

Shady indeed

posted on 21 Oct 2011, 10:44 8

16. arcq12 (Posts: 733; Member since: 13 Oct 2011)

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

posted on 21 Oct 2011, 21:25 1

41. lubba (Posts: 1313; Member since: 17 Jan 2011)

Yeah I know. They gotta cut somewhere!

posted on 22 Oct 2011, 04:32 1

45. tim7722 (Posts: 4; Member since: 21 Oct 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 21 Oct 2011, 14:02 1

30. Droid_X_Doug (Posts: 5993; Member since: 22 Dec 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 23 Oct 2011, 17:56

52. Phoneguy007 (Posts: 218; Member since: 02 Jun 2011)

this is old sprint said this weeks ago

posted on 23 Oct 2011, 17:59

53. Phoneguy007 (Posts: 218; Member since: 02 Jun 2011)

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

posted on 21 Oct 2011, 15:45

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 21 Oct 2011, 22:11

42. networkdood (Posts: 6330; Member since: 31 Mar 2010)

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

posted on 24 Oct 2011, 08:26

56. JeffdaBeat (unregistered)

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

posted on 21 Oct 2011, 09:54

2. WirelessCon (Posts: 311; Member since: 11 May 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 21 Oct 2011, 09:56

3. EclipseGSX (Posts: 1737; Member since: 18 Oct 2011)

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

posted on 21 Oct 2011, 09:57

4. Tux4g63 (Posts: 119; Member since: 21 Oct 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 21 Oct 2011, 10:01 2

5. EclipseGSX (Posts: 1737; Member since: 18 Oct 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 21 Oct 2011, 14:30 1

32. Tux4g63 (Posts: 119; Member since: 21 Oct 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 22 Oct 2011, 15:24

48. Lotus (Posts: 6; Member since: 15 Sep 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 21 Oct 2011, 10:05 2

6. DROIDX0430 (Posts: 469; Member since: 24 Nov 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 21 Oct 2011, 10:07 1

7. arcq12 (Posts: 733; Member since: 13 Oct 2011)

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

posted on 21 Oct 2011, 10:13 3

8. miker875 (Posts: 3; Member since: 21 Oct 2011)

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

posted on 21 Oct 2011, 10:20 2

13. warlockz (Posts: 156; Member since: 10 Oct 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 21 Oct 2011, 10:17 1

9. warlockz (Posts: 156; Member since: 10 Oct 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 21 Oct 2011, 10:18 2

11. catfacepanda (Posts: 16; Member since: 20 Oct 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 21 Oct 2011, 12:05 2

29. Snapdude (Posts: 128; Member since: 27 Aug 2009)

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

posted on 22 Oct 2011, 04:39

46. tim7722 (Posts: 4; Member since: 21 Oct 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 21 Oct 2011, 10:20 1

12. akhi216 (Posts: 61; Member since: 01 May 2011)

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

posted on 21 Oct 2011, 10:23 1

14. spanky (Posts: 81; Member since: 02 Jun 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 21 Oct 2011, 10:23 1

15. skymitch89 (Posts: 1359; Member since: 05 Nov 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.