Sprint gearing up to offer $60 / month unlimited calling plan?
By Darren Murph 
posted February 20th 2008 12:42PM
posted February 20th 2008 12:42PM
posted February 20th 2008 12:42PM
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$60 unlimited? Not a chance. Try $80 at best - there's no reason for an already beleaguered wireless provider to undercut the competition to that degree. Hesse is smart enough to know that he's got to offer a value proposition without destroying margins.
Besides, as mentioned by many other news sources including Engadget, sadly this is just a ploy to lock in customers on the limited to no-growth voice side at a much higher ARPU while driving further data ARPU growth through higher priced plans. SMS per-message has already increased by 50-100% at most providers (despite being a zero-impact to the network) and every wireless provider has explicitly stated to Wall Street that further revenue growth will not driven by subscriber net adds, but through data ARPU increases.
On the other hand, it is mighty nice to see the first step in what I hope is a rationalization of wireless services. In my view, the only thing holding back widespread adoption (100%+ penetration of wireless services) are these archaic pay-for-use plans. It's the same way the wireline business evolved.
It shows how phone companies don't see voice overages as a profit point anymore.
Overages are going away like late fees for movie rentals. Its better to simplify--for both the consumer and the corporation--and pay a flat monthly rate.
With texting, picture mail, wifi, and 3g ppl are communicating much more efficiently and inexpensively.
Sprint Rules. I'm based in LA. At the lower levels you'll always have crappy service with any cell company. Dealing with Sero service has been great for me. No complaints. Read my fatwallet post on the "Sero for Everyone" thread. I think I'm on page 618 or something.
I pay about $55 including taxes for:
2-lines (shared)
1000 minutes anytime
Unlimited web on both lines
500 text messages
N&W at 8PM
To get the same on AT&T or Verizon, I'd have to at least double my monthly cost. The reason this is so cheap? Corporate discount, plus various freebies and discounts that Sprint gives longtime customers (in my case, 8 years). Their customer service is pretty bad, but as long as you never call them - I can't complain about cheap, clear service.
Billy....wd love to know how you managed to get such a great plan and WHEN did you get it? not available now to my knowledge...if it were I wd return to Sprint in a heartbeat
This screams of "Please like us!" their prices are dropping more than their calls and customers!
Whatever this is just rubish news to me, for all the networks to come out with unlimited plans... Good thing I discovered Skype and have made the switch. I had Sprint since 2003 and cancelled on them to much money $60 a month not worth it. Got my self a prepaid phone virgin mobile $90 bucks for a good year of service, plus $36 a year for skype's 3000 skypeout way better, sorry but not going back again ever.
The real reason they are coming out with these plans is skype and other companies that are going to be a big impact when wifi becomes more available like in europe then you will see more people pick up skype and other services. Skrew T-mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint.
I pay $34 for 600 minutes (100 recurring bonus), unlimited data (i'm tethering now), unlimited texts, 6pm n/w, m2m, ld and Pick 3(call any three numbers for free).
Thanks Sprint!