Sprint debuts "Simply Everything" plan for $99 a month

We're not sure what took them so long, but Sprint finally has joined its fellow major carriers in offering an unlimited plan for a flat rate -- the now industry standard $99 -- only this time it's for all the marbles. Instead of just the unlimited voice offered by AT&T and Verizon, or the voice + SMS that T-Mobile has on offer, Sprint is undercutting the competition with a $99 plan that includes voice, data, text, Sprint TV, GPS and more. "Simply Everything" is available today to both CDMA and iDEN customers, and is open to existing and new subscribers. If you've got a family plan, it's $5 less for every line you add ($99 + $94 + $89 and so on). While those with the gift of gab but no desire to surf the mobile webs might be disappointed that the rumored $60 unlimited voice plan didn't materialize, this certainly undercuts the competition by healthy margin for the smartphone crowd, which is exactly what we were hoping for out of Sprint.

[Erwos @ Feb 28th 2008 9:18AM]

Does it include tethering? Because I could see this plan being HUGE if it does.

[Brandon @ Feb 28th 2008 9:51AM]

Dumb question: What exactly is tethering? I've seen that term around on their websites but none of them explain what it is.

[Canadian Bacon @ Feb 28th 2008 9:53AM]

@Brandon

It's hooking your cell phone up to your computer and using it as a model using the cell phone network.

[Frankenstein Black @ Feb 28th 2008 10:02AM]

Can be done via:
Com
USB
Bluetooth
etc.

[turn_self_off @ Feb 28th 2008 10:20AM]

i cant even begin to grasp how they are supposed to tell tethering from all the other traffic, data is data...

[Only morons take this seriously. @ Feb 28th 2008 10:26AM]

@turn_self_off
You have to dial #777 to activate the phone when tethering. I am sure they have some way of tracking clients on their network.

[Dale @ Feb 28th 2008 10:42AM]

I can't think why it wouldn't, that's such a bog-standard feature.

I have a Sprint data card, and I have to say, data is definitely their strong suite... I connect my Mac via the data card, then share the connection with my Wii and 360 (I can't get regular internet) and I have zero problems.

[Nabil @ Feb 28th 2008 2:17PM]

This is like an all access pass at a football game...

[Joshua Walters @ Feb 28th 2008 6:33PM]

Agreed, if it includes tethering, I will totally drop Verizon in the year as I begin to travel more.

[b_a_boone @ Mar 3rd 2008 12:11AM]

I've used it for 2 years and never paid for it, they can tell that you are teathering but they can tell the difference in traffic if you use a 3rd party software.

[Mark Teitelbaum @ Feb 28th 2008 9:20AM]

Even if it doesn't include tethering, this announcement is awesome. Not because I want to switch to Sprint, but because hopefully Verizon will follow.

[KR @ Feb 28th 2008 9:20AM]

Just keep the undercutting going. Lets hope we see unlimited plans down by 30%-40% within a year or less. It's just not at that sweet spot for most consumers right now.

[Jason @ Feb 28th 2008 9:22AM]

Knock knock.....

.... Who's there?

Chapter 11.....

[Glenn @ Feb 28th 2008 9:31AM]

Chapter 11 who?

[riggs @ Feb 28th 2008 9:52AM]

chapter 11 of how to run a company for dummies.

[Frankenstein Black @ Feb 28th 2008 9:59AM]

Chapter 11 (aka The Drunken Grim Reaper), and Miss Sprint is the last chick at the bar at 4am in the morning...

[Jay @ Feb 28th 2008 10:02AM]

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

[Kamokazi @ Feb 28th 2008 9:22AM]

Dear god I hope this turns into a cellular price war.

[Grizz @ Feb 28th 2008 10:10AM]

You and me both pal! I don't care about the crazy hardware costs so long as I don't have to sell blood to receive txt updates.

[Bob @ Feb 28th 2008 10:15AM]

@ Grizz -> Centennial Wireless (centennialwireless.com) now has a nationwide plan, and it includes unlimited incoming text messages, maybe you should take a look at their services.

[rv @ Feb 28th 2008 10:18AM]

Price wars are the shit, because all the companies lose and we all win :)

[David I. @ Feb 28th 2008 9:23AM]

Any word on if corporate discounts will be applied? I get 25% off on Sprint monthly charges. This would be ridiculously tempting for 74.99/month...

[matt @ Feb 28th 2008 11:20AM]

This plan does not include provisions for employee/corporate discounts or any other monthly recurring discounts other than those given to specific customers by sprint for service issues.

[DonatoM3 @ Feb 28th 2008 11:55AM]

Then again no other discounts are supposed to be applied to SERO plans and I'm getting 25% off my $50 Sero Plan. It's basically an unlimited everything plan except it's 1250 anytime minutes but unlimited N&W starting at 7pm. But I get unlimited Text and data.

[h8rain @ Feb 28th 2008 9:33AM]

I see Blackberry in the picture. Wonder if that is including the crazy $45ish/month required BB service.

[Rick @ Mar 2nd 2008 9:29PM]

YES! It does include the non-enterprise version of BlackBerry!

It also includes Nextel, which I have been a satisfied, and well traveled customer of, for years.

[J L @ Feb 28th 2008 9:35AM]

I don't see why AT&T + Verizon have to charge $99 for just voice. In my area, SunCom gets better signal than AT&T, and the unlimited voice plan is only 69.99. (Yes, I do realize that SunCom isn't exactly a nation-wide carrier.)

[Nelson @ Feb 28th 2008 9:38AM]

Thank you Jesus. At least one company has the freakin' business sense to come out with plan that BEATS the competition. I can't stand big companies and their idea of "we'll match it." That doesn't make me want to switch if I end up paying the same price.

But thank you Sprint, I might have to switch now.

[Cycomachead @ Feb 28th 2008 9:39AM]

This is getting good! I'd much rather have fair plans - price and features and unlocked phones - even for CDMA networks

Of course I want unlimited data for a good price without the unlimited talk - If I had know about SERO before I got my phone - I might be the only one in my family on sprint. Though, I'd prefer something like the $20/mo that the iPhone has. That alone makes the cost of the phone better.

In any event we're making progress (knock on wood).

[MasterCKO @ Feb 28th 2008 5:27PM]

um, the Power Vision access plan (EV-DO) for phones on Sprint is 15 or 20/mo. Unlimited. You might want to take a look now.

[Mystic @ Feb 28th 2008 9:42AM]

What took them so long? They were FIRST!!! with their $119 UNLIMITED EVERYTHING PLAN! Goddamn Engadget, you are the biggest fanboys ever for Verizon, Sony, and Microsoft. Now it's an even better deal at $99.

[Chuck @ Feb 28th 2008 11:05AM]

You started to convince me until you mentioned Engadget as Microsoft fanboys...

[stankychicken @ Feb 28th 2008 1:26PM]

What you meant to say was verizon, Sony, and Apple.

[Jason @ Feb 28th 2008 9:44AM]

If this includes BB I might sign up. Otherwise I am already on SERO and get more then enough minutes as is.

[Buddah @ Feb 29th 2008 4:35AM]

Yes this will include BlackBerry (BIS). But the BES will be extra. Still no info about useing phone as modem. Being a sprint employee, I can say no discounts will be applied. That also means mine too.

[Brian Yorks @ Feb 28th 2008 9:48AM]

Nextel has unlimited for everything at $150 years before they where Sprint. I use to have them back in 2002/2003 with unlimited.

[NHAnimator @ Feb 28th 2008 11:51AM]

May be true. But now it's just 3 digits/month instead of 2. Psychological point to sprint.

[Jon @ Feb 28th 2008 9:52AM]

I disagree with everyone. I like sprint, their EVDO actually is very very fast and has 2x the coverage over anyone else. I was out hunting in the middle of nowhere dodge city, ks, and I happened to look at my phone. EVDO indicator was lit. wootah

[Brian @ Feb 28th 2008 10:22AM]

I agree. Sprint is the best in my area (Kansas City / Overland Park)

[Jon @ Feb 28th 2008 10:31AM]

Thats because their headquarters is in your neighborhood...

DISCLAIMER: I live in Shawnee, KS.

[ROFISH @ Feb 28th 2008 11:15AM]

I had Sprint in KC (north of the river) and it totally sucked. Couldn't hold a call at all and had to stand in the middle of the street to get signal. I switched to Cingular and got signal in my basement and all bars upstairs.

[decypher44 @ Feb 28th 2008 11:46AM]

Been with Sprint just a short time, maybe 3 months. I have the SERO plan which is the balls. I live in OC, CA and reception is great! I was just in Big Bear up in the mountains and got phone great reception PLUS 3G... in the freaking mountains!

[Organic_Shadow @ Feb 28th 2008 9:59AM]

If Sprint is 3G I might have to switch from tmobile around october when my contract is finally coming to an end...

[Only morons take this seriously. @ Feb 28th 2008 10:29AM]

Sprint has EVDO Rev A, which is 3G and has speeds around 1.5Mbps, i usually get just over 1Mbps sustained. Sprint has always been on top of things with data... their unlimited plans are reasonable and always have been, unlike the competition.

[ezra hilyer @ Feb 28th 2008 10:10AM]

What about PAM tethering? I doubt it.

[Brian Yorks @ Feb 28th 2008 10:12AM]

Wait...does this actually include Blackberry service?

[Brian @ Feb 28th 2008 11:38AM]

"I have not seen anything on this yet ... from what I have heard (I am not a Sprint Employee so I don't know for sure)

It has been implied to me the following:

Simply unlimited does not include BES - but it does include BIS and all other e-mail platforms

NVP discounts do not apply (similar to aircards)"

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1715618

[Elliott Pogue @ Feb 28th 2008 10:12AM]

The Simply Desperate plan for Sprint.

[OboroNinja @ Feb 28th 2008 2:04PM]

As a Sprint employee we had a nationwide meeting and webcast this morning. The 99.99 Simply Unlimited plan does inlude BIS(blackberry internet service). However the BES(blackberry enterprise server)is only $20 extra a month (orig.$39.99/mo.). And all employee discounts through a customers workplace still apply ex.25% discount on the $99.99 unlimited plan is on $74.99 after discount. Add BES for an extra $20, and you get $94.99 before taxes for unlimited everything with BES!

[RoseGold @ Feb 28th 2008 10:15AM]

yes sprint is 3g