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Looks like Sprint is quietly starting to kill off unlimited data, starting with MVNOs

SunnyD

SunnyD

Belgian Waffler
Yesterday Millenicom announced that at the end of the October they will no longer be providing unlimited data to any users - this includes existing users.

Apparently today an actual Sprint brand - Virgin Mobile - is officially hard capping its data service as well with some reports that they won't be grandfathering in existing customers.

My guess is it won't be terribly long before Softbank reneges on Sprint's "unlimited for life" deal as well. But in the meantime, it's probably going to be the major differentiator between Sprint proper and its MVNOs.

Link
 
Virign Mobile has for the longest time (I don't remember if it is months or years) a throttle cap of 2 or 2.5 GBs (once again I am doing this from memory when I signed my dad up for virgin mobile with the samsung victory a dual core krait 200 at 1.2 ghz and lte).
 
Step 1. Cancel Sprint
Step 2. Rejoice

Unlimited data is meaningless when the 4G speeds are slower than others 3G speeds. And that doesn't even discuss the fact their 3G speeds are like surfing the internet on a 56K modem.
 
Dulanic said:
Step 1. Cancel Sprint
Step 2. Rejoice

Unlimited data is meaningless when the 4G speeds are slower than others 3G speeds. And that doesn't even discuss the fact their 3G speeds are like surfing the internet on a 56K modem.
Click to expand...

Done and done on both steps above.

I thought people were exaggerating when they said Sprint's 4G is slower than others' 3G speeds but it's 100% true within Chicago city limits. I've been trying a T-Mobile sim in my other phone and their 3G and HSPA+ is faster than any level of service Sprint offers. I'll eat a $100 ETF to leave but Sprint's service is just that awful.
 
Staples said:
This will be hilarious if they go back on their "unlimited for life" campaign.
Click to expand...

Heh... if they do, good luck collecting ETF's from anyone who cancels their accounts. Even the most crooked judge would have trouble explaining how that change isn't a breach of contract by the carrier.
 
SunnyD said:
Yesterday Millenicom announced that at the end of the October they will no longer be providing unlimited data to any users - this includes existing users.

Apparently today an actual Sprint brand - Virgin Mobile - is officially hard capping its data service as well with some reports that they won't be grandfathering in existing customers.

My guess is it won't be terribly long before Softbank reneges on Sprint's "unlimited for life" deal as well. But in the meantime, it's probably going to be the major differentiator between Sprint proper and its MVNOs.

Link
Click to expand...

Virgin isn't a Sprint brand. Boost is Sprint's prepaid service.
 
TerryMathews said:
Virgin isn't a Sprint brand. Boost is Sprint's prepaid service.
Click to expand...

Virgin Mobile is a sprint subsidiary.
From wikipedia

Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sprint Corporation that provides nationwide, prepaid, wireless voice, messaging and broadband data products and services to customers in the continental United States under the Virgin Mobile, "payLo by Virgin Mobile" and "Assurance Wireless Brought to You by Virgin Mobile" brands.[8] Founded in 2001 as a joint venture between Virgin Group, Singapore Telecommunications Limited and Sprint Corporation, Virgin Mobile USA commenced operations in June, 2002 as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) providing services via the nationwide Sprint 1900 MHz PCS, CDMA, digital network.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mobile#Virgin_Mobile_USA
Click to expand...

Boost Mobile was originally a nextel subsidary in 2001, it became a sprint subsidiary when sprint bought nextel in 2006.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boost_mobile#United_States
 
its interesting how things go in the way of more hard caps - usually i would expect better and more availible plans; thank god there is tmobile for those who live in a metropolitan area...and its a tmobile that is actively, and very aggressively, trying to get customers to switch.

When I look at my usage, I'm actually in the 2.5-4gig/month crowd...so capping me at 2 or 2.5 gigs really doesn't help. Even 3 gigs is kinda spotty....5 gigs? Now we are talking...
 
The only problem with Tmobile is that there are no subsidized upgrades for new phones.

I have a friend who (is cheap as hell) and when his phone broke, he switched to Sprint because they were giving out iPhones 5c for free.
 
Staples said:
The only problem with Tmobile is that there are no subsidized upgrades for new phones.

I have a friend who (is cheap as hell) and when his phone broke, he switched to Sprint because they were giving out iPhones 5c for free.
Click to expand...

Strictly speaking dollars, he's saving around 300 bucks over 24 months. Some people are like that but at least there's options for everyone: coverage, plan prices, phone selection, support .. all weighed differently by people.
 
Dulanic said:
Step 1. Cancel Sprint
Step 2. Rejoice

Unlimited data is meaningless when the 4G speeds are slower than others 3G speeds. And that doesn't even discuss the fact their 3G speeds are like surfing the internet on a 56K modem.
Click to expand...

I think I've been the biggest advocate of never signing up with Sprint here. I can't wait until my contract is up. No wonder they're always losing customers. Their service is complete crap.
 
senttoschool said:
I think I've been the biggest advocate of never signing up with Sprint here. I can't wait until my contract is up. No wonder they're always losing customers. Their service is complete crap.
Click to expand...

Like I always say... Nobody wants to be on Sprint, not even people on Sprint.

A buddy of mine is the manager of the local Sprint store, I always give him shit about their crappy network.
 
Staples said:
The only problem with Tmobile is that there are no subsidized upgrades for new phones.

I have a friend who (is cheap as hell) and when his phone broke, he switched to Sprint because they were giving out iPhones 5c for free.
Click to expand...

You end up paying for the phone anyways, subsidized or not. The plans on Tmobile are cheaper, and if you don't buy a 700 dollar phone you can save quite a bit. I think with Tmo I'm saving almost 1500 dollars over a 2 year period vs a comparable AT&T plan.


But LOL @ switching to sprint for a free iphone5c. I must admit I'm impressed with the fact that he really wanted an iphone 🙂
 
Dulanic said:
Step 1. Cancel Sprint
Step 2. Rejoice

Unlimited data is meaningless when the 4G speeds are slower than others 3G speeds. And that doesn't even discuss the fact their 3G speeds are like surfing the internet on a 56K modem.
Click to expand...
Exactly. I did this last year, and am quite pleased.
 
Staples said:
The only problem with Tmobile is that there are no subsidized upgrades for new phones.

I have a friend who (is cheap as hell) and when his phone broke, he switched to Sprint because they were giving out iPhones 5c for free.
Click to expand...
If your friend really is cheap as hell, he'd realize that he's paying more by buying a contract with Sprint over paying the full cost of the phone and going with T-Mobile or the many prepaid options on the market.
 
they told me at the sprint store a couple months ago that unlimited was going to end soon ,which is why theyve recently been advertising grandfathered unlimited for life. sprints data is so awful though that i dont know why anyone would want unlimited from them anyway
 
lothar said:
If your friend really is cheap as hell, he'd realize that he's paying more by buying a contract with Sprint over paying the full cost of the phone and going with T-Mobile or the many prepaid options on the market.
Click to expand...

Most cheap people I know are extremely short-sighted and only interested in saving a buck now even if it means they'll pay more later.
 
TwiceOver said:
Like I always say... Nobody wants to be on Sprint, not even people on Sprint.

A buddy of mine is the manager of the local Sprint store, I always give him shit about their crappy network.
Click to expand...

It's sad too... if only Sprint increased their data capacity, they would have tons more customers. I would take them over TMo any day only due to overall coverage. I mean TMo coverage isn't bad in cities, but when travelling it can be challenging and I love to listen to internet radio when driving.
 
My brother has sprint and what a joke. Half the time doesn't even know you called him because his phone don't ring and his "4G" is worse than when my Verizon goes on "3G" and Verizon 3G is TERRIBLE.

Unlimited is pointless with Sprint, might as well have a Tracphone.
 
chin311 said:
My brother has sprint and what a joke. Half the time doesn't even know you called him because his phone don't ring and his "4G" is worse than when my Verizon goes on "3G" and Verizon 3G is TERRIBLE.

Unlimited is pointless with Sprint, might as well have a Tracphone.
Click to expand...

when you check out the phones in the sprint store, the reps try to sell you on the lower price. as if going from having data everywhere with verizon to having crappy/no data with sprint would be worth saving a lousy forty bux a month
 
Staples said:
The only problem with Tmobile is that there are no subsidized upgrades for new phones.

I have a friend who (is cheap as hell) and when his phone broke, he switched to Sprint because they were giving out iPhones 5c for free.
Click to expand...

Apparently your friend is cheap but dumb.

I bought an HTC One unsubsidized for over $500 and i'm still going to save way more than him because i pay $37 a month buying prepaid cards off ebay for Straight Talk 😛
 
Phokus said:
Apparently your friend is cheap but dumb.

I bought an HTC One unsubsidized for over $500 and i'm still going to save way more than him because i pay $37 a month buying prepaid cards off ebay for Straight Talk 😛
Click to expand...
Going to the effort to save even sales tax, are we? 😛 (of course, I'm now going to start doing exactly that!)

But, yeah, people really need to look at their total costs over time. With a family, all using smart phones, some of the big telco plans actually work out pretty well. For one or two people, you typically have to get in on some promo, or not want data. If you upgrade your phone a lot, however, the differences might be pretty small, in the end.

I could snap my phone (Pantech Discover) in half and then replace it every 4 months (~2.5mo, if going with good-condition used units), and it still not quite reach the cost of what month-to-month on AT&T was. A flagship phone might still not require even a year, so playing to averages over time, it may not be worth the big telco costs even for free/cheap replacements, depending on plan.
 
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