Mobile Miscellany: week of November 26th, 2012
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, another carrier revealed a shift to shared data plans, Sprint introduced new LTE markets with help from a regional partner and a Verizon MVNO debuted a new smartphone plan -- if only it could say the same for its phones. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of November 26th, 2012.
C Spire announces shared data plans
Come December 3rd, C Spire will be the nation's third carrier to make the leap to shared data plans. It's said the plans will start at $50, which includes unlimited voice and messaging, along with 1GB of data usage. Tiers extend up to $150 for 20GB of monthly data. C Spire will charge $20 for additional USB modems, $30 for additional feature phones and $40 for additional smartphones. In a unique twist, subscribers may also purchase data passes as needed to avoid overage fees. These passes will be available from $10 for 500MB, and will extend to $75 for an additional 5GB buffer. [Fierce Wireless]
Sprint and Shentel make LTE magic in the Shenandoah Valley
Sprint is now the proud parent of LTE networks in 11 new regions. With help from its regional partner, Shentel, the Now Network recently confessed to spreading its love in the following areas:
Anderson, South Bend, Mishawaka and Muncie, Ind.
Clarke County and Shenandoah County, Va.
Harrisonburg and Winchester, Va.
Jefferson County and Martinsburg, W.Va.
Harrisburg, Carlisle and Hershey, Pa.
Peabody, Mass.
Salina, Kan.
Hagerstown, Md.
At any rate, Sprint users can now stream Take Me Home, Country Roads in the appropriate surroundings. [Fierce Wireless]
Page Plus debuts new 5GB data plan
Verizon MVNO, Page Plus, has established a new monthly plan that's geared for smartphone users. Known only as the $69.95 Plan, it includes unlimited voice and messaging, along with 5GB of monthly data usage. Data overages are levied at $0.05/MB. While the prepaid plan could be a decent value for some, the carrier's selection is composed of phones from 2010 and 2011, with the best of the bunch being the Motorola Citrus and Kyocera Milano. In other words, they're banking on customers not knowing what the hell is going on. [Fierce Wireless]
Other random tidbits
Verizon Wireless has expanded its LTE network to 12 new sites that surround Rochester, N.Y. [Verizon PR]
The Samsung Galaxy S III is now available at Koodoo Mobile in Canada for $550 outright, or on a sliding scale -- down to $400 -- with the carrier's tab program. [MobileSyrup]
[Mobile Miscellany photo credit: Thristian / Flickr]
[Shenandoah Valley photo credit: J. Todd Poling / Flickr]
