We’d Like to thank Brian @ explainthefee.com for writing this article and giving his insight!
Premium Data. What is it? Is it something tangible like shrimp and crab at a buffet? Or is it like the Easter Bunny, elusive and mysterious, hidden from the world only to show up every month on your Sprint bill?
Explainthefee.com has continued it’s campaign to bring the truth out to EVO users everywhere and have Sprint define exactly what that they’re paying for. One of their latest battles, is a phone conversation that took place between Brian (Owner of the aforementioned site,) and a Sprint “Executive Analyst” who responded to a BBB complaint. This legal recording demonstrates Sprint’s ability to apathetically defend the fee, even when asked specific questions.
Sprint says Premium Data is for Shrimp and Crab! from Explainthefee on Vimeo.
This is a highlight of what was talked about:
Me: Your reply to me is that the $10, the $10 premium data add-on is for unlimited data usage, my plan already has unlimited data, what would be the difference between this and I went to say, an all you can eat buffet, that was basically all you can eat, and this term, this is all you can use, what is, why would the $10 premium data fee ensure that I have unlimited data?
Sprint: It would be for shrimp and crab.
Me: OK um..
Sprint: The shrimp and crab is not included in the regular buffet.
Me: OK, what is shrimp and crab, what is the comparison to shrimp and crab on the HTC EVO?
Sprint: The high quality video, like I said, the YouTube application, it’s the other phones have, they do have the YouTube applications, they do have the ESPN and things like that, the ESPN that you’d be able to stream on the EVO is different, it’s higher quality, like I said, it requires more actual data, when you’re using that actual feature.
Sprint seems to be defending the fee with the fact that the EVO can view YouTube in high quality. This might be a hard argument since YouTube just released their “m.youtube.com” on July 9th, which allows anyone to see high quality videos on any mobile phone.
Watch the video or read the transcript, but the decision is yours. Are you willing to pay for “shrimp and crab” when you’re getting lobster and caviar* at no extra cost?
Stay up to date by following @explainthefee and facebook.com/explainthefee. You can also stay tuned to PPCGeeks for more information and the possibility of future action!
© 2010, Laos101. All rights reserved.
Why do you guys keep talking about the $10.00 dollars fee? Do you know the phrase “move on”.
that picture looks delicious
this is one reason i dropped Sprint. adding in extra fees for nothing
*insert dead horse here*
@tlhop911 –
and you went to what carrier and paid less?
i think this is a stupid issue. To me its just this.
Sprint is giving an unlimited buffet but you are allowed to get 1 lobster tail for every time you get up and then have to sit back down to your table.
What the $10 extra is mainly for is instead of getting only 1 lobster tail for each time you request for it, you can now get up to 10 lobster tails in 1 helping.
You are just getting more at one time, its still unlimited both ways, its just how much you are getting at each time mainly is what the $10 is supposedly for.
As 4G spreads out more widely throughout the US, it will make more sense.
I think its stupid to charge $10 extra if you dont have 4G coverage in your area tho.
So if we have an unlimited plan the $10 fee gives the evo more unlimited data on an unlimited data plan?
with this post people will try to presion the company to quit the friking flee of the 10 bucks hope finaly they understand that his clients are not stupid and they are loosing it. Its a good idea to move on to other company but for me in my contry the only company that have the best phones are sprint so im F**** up ! no verizon ! jejejeje for a droid
ATT& sucks with his new data plan so what other company wee will move on :S
i guess sprint can’t just say this
we calculated the data that people would use and based our previous rate plans on this. we called it unlimited because we know about how much data people will use even if they have unlimited use of it. the evo is being marketed to do things that will require more data. the screen and features of the phone will allow people to use the device in many ways they never thought of before. on average, these things will use more data. we have added the $10 premium data charge in order
a) to avoid changing the rate plans as a whole. The only phones being charged are ones that will have an increased data use.
b) to avoid going to bucket data or a pay for what you use plan stucture
c) to avoid having to charge more money for the phones by subsudizing the hardware at a lower amount.
I have never seen people gripe so much about $10. Its not like they added the fee on to a phone you already had. why don’t these people go to at&t and ask them why they got rid of unlimited data. i guess people don’t realize that a very possible result from this complaining is bucket data – then watch them start to whine again!
Crab and Shrimp are free at the buffet down the street…
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i think its kinda funny…
most people on this site are dogging the “sheep” that use the iPhone4 and for just “sitting back and taking” AT&Ts poor excuse for IPhones 4s antennea issue…
yet thats all the EVO users are doing… just “sitting back and taking” Sprints poor excuse for a $10 a month increase on your plan…
we need to see some bandwith comparisons i think(ie between some 3g Sprint phones and the EVO)… thats what the fee is really about.. not using more data, b ut using more bandwith along with that data.. atleast thats Sprint explination…
I agree – I think so many people are just accepting this and not understanding what they’re paying.
Keep up the good work!
I say “Meh.” For the longest time, most carriers charged a premium (in most cases $10) to use BlackBerry devices – Sprint was one of them. Fast Forward to today, some carriers still charge a premium for BlackBerrys, but others have just rolled it into the cost of their plan – again, Sprint is one of the latter ones.
I don’t see much difference between the two premiums, eventually people will stop griping about the extra $10 (like they did with the ‘Berrys), and it will get folded into the cost of the plan down the line. It’s still the same as it was 2-3 years ago, if you don’t want to pay the extra fee, then get a different phone.
Hey everyone is right in this instance lets face it, Sprint has to cover the investment they made in the 4g network, and their purchase of Clear. They also lost a large volume of customers in the process. Lets face it they need to increase their profit margin in order to get back up their with the big boys. What Sprint should have said simply put, is that WE EXPECT LARGER BANDWIDTH, AND OR DATA USAGE FROM OUR HIGHER END PHONES, SO WE ARE ADDING THIS $10 FEE TO KEEP FROM CHARGING THOSE WHO HAVE LOWER TO MIDDLE GRADE DEVICES. I as a Sprint user expect this type of respect, don’t just feed me a line like Apple did when they first found out about the antenna problem. That being said, our users still need to recognize that we don’t get charged for tethering, Sprint does not block 3rd party apps, we still have the cheapest plans available, and our real problems wont begin, unless or until the Sprint T-Mobile rumor comes to light.
So long story short, Yes their explanation is an insult to our intelligence, and they owe it to us to say it like it is, but at the same time, we have to realize that their could be larger storms brewing, so lets focus on those to keep being in the same boat as customers from the other major carriers.
I think some people are missing the point here. Sprint at first said the $10′s extra was for the uber hardware inside the EVO. Why would you want to keep paying a fee for hardware you already bought. It’s like paying for your car in full the day you bought it, but then still being charged a fee every month from your car dealership because of the “hardware” inside the car even though you paid for the car in full. Would you pay a monthly fee every month for your car just because it has a bigger engine in it, even though the car is paid for? Sprint is just doing this because they don’t want to get sued because Ol’ Dan Hesse stated 4G was free, point blank!
seriously…
since iphone started they’ve been charging a $30 data plan that you MUST have to have if you have that phone. even on 2G
if you look at it this way…
sprint minimum plan
69.99 unlimited everything.
except only alloted 450mins land line connections
10.00 what ever fee…
vs… comparable plan
100.00 unlimited voice
30.00 data plan
20.00 messaging plan
70.00 tethering plan
hmmm… those are all things that the evo 4g can do…
so… i’d rather pay the 80 bucks than the 220.00 bucks that ATT wants to charge…
(and im not even sure about iphone able to tether data)
2 of the 3 phones (droid x being the third) that are headlining cellular world as of now. switch to the other 2 phones… pay over 140 a month more than what your getting charged for now.
Im not sitting on my thumbs not caring. I just did the math. (im asian… im good at it)
@dibbson –
no, its not like that. its more like you buying a sports car and bitching because premium gas costs $.30 more per gallon than regular…
@Kodak X –
Since you’re breathing all that “premium air” you should pay me $10 a month, since you’ve shown you don’t care about paying extra.
@srtpusher – No, it isn’t. Try more like a “premium air tax”.
They ALREADY charge for data services.
@srtpusher –
Direct quote from Sprint explaining what you get for the $10 “Premium Data” fee,
“features including an 8MP auto-focus camera with HD-capable video camcorder and front-facing 1.3MP camera, superfast Snapdragon processor so navigation on the phone is quicker and apps load faster, 4.3” touchscreen for a great multimedia experience”
So yes, my engine metaphor is appropriate when they list having a “superfast Snapdragon process” makes “apps load faster”. What usually makes a car go faster? A better engine maybe?
Look, I think the $10 fee is fine to charge for 4G service, but… Sprint should have stated that the $10 “Premium Data” fee is for unlimited 4G data up front, instead of all that other junk. No where in their original statements did they say it was for unlimited 4G data.
I look at it that it this way. It is worth it to me to pay the $10 to have the Evo. It would not have mattered to me whether they just raised the plan cost by $10 or the way they are doing it. It is still the best deal out there. Everyone is free to go get an inferior phone on another network at higher costs. So I agree with most of the other posts here, lets move on with this already.
If you don’t want an EVO don’t buy one. Everything…and I mean everything (files) takes up more storage memory on the EVO than on any other smart phone with sprint. The videos are higher quality, the images are much larger, and the applications pump out much more data than say the stock applications on an HTC Touch Pro 2. This coupled with the fact that it has an upgraded 4G antenna accounts for the $10. More data being pumped out in general across the board in almost every single application and feature, much more constant streaming than on most other smart phones, plus being able to do all this over 4G.
WHAT THE F*CK IS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN GETTING SCREWED BY SPRINT, LEAVE THEM. EVERY SINGLE OTHER CARRIER HAS A PHONE JUST LIKE THE EVO OR WILL VERY SOON.
These Sprint fan boys are really getting to me. They’re trying to rationalize with daddy about why he hits them so hard.
[...] 1 votes vote Sprint’s $10 fee claimed by Executive Analyst to be “Shrimp & Crab” at the Buf… We'd Like to thank Brian @ explainthefee.com for writing this article and giving his [...]
well i think the main bone of contention about the fee is….exactly what fee is it for? it started out as a fee for having a premium phone….and then moved on to fee for 4G…and now…it’s for higher quality videos.
which is it for?!?! i don’t have an Evo, but if i do get one, i’d be paying for the fee anyways…so they might as well just tell me exactly what the fee pays for. since it’s a mandatory additional fee, the least they can do is just man up and say what the $10 is exactly paying for.
This is my view:
If you live in a 4G area and want the higher speed, than they should give you a choice by either continuing 3G service at the regular price or pay the extra 10 for the 4G service.
If you are not in the 4G service area, than you shouldn’t have to pay the extra fee.
That is a fair deal. It is just not right to charge you an extra 10 if your only on 3G.
The idea that the fee includes “shrimp and crab”, something that is not normally included in the buffet is ridiculous. Data wise, the only unique thing included in the Evo/Epic vs any other phone is 4G…both the premium data phones and regular phones get unlimited data already in 3G, so what exactly is the shrimp and crab that the Evo/Epic are getting?
Whoever thinks that their Evo will cost $80/month is ridiculous. The 450 minute plan on Sprint is 83 bucks after tax. Add in an extra $10 for Sprint’s fee and another $30 for mobile hotspot. You’re up to $125 after tax. If Sprint would have just made their unlimited data a dollar more all the way across the board for all phones to prepare for the future of the 4G network, people would have barely noticed and they would have the extra cost covered. Not everybody that would pay the extra buck would be using more data at that point and time, but a dollar a month from everyone is a small price to pay to ensure that everyone’s next phone won’t come with a $10 increase on the monthly bill. I(as a non-Evo user) wouldn’t mind paying an extra buck each month to avoid paying it ten fold later on.
So its 20$ for unlimited data then… I find this to be a bullshit move. And i dont have to deal with that company…..
Funny how not one cellular company has ever reported “ACTUAL” high,low and average data useage of certain smart phones..
Where is the actual numbers for:
-blackberry
-iphone
-windows phone
-android phones..
Unlimited is unlimited. Average users are shurely under 1gig a month.. (maybe not in the first few months of the honeymoon but soon after most are probably under 500meg-1gig…. But how come the phone these guys wont show the facts to there customers to help justify the added fee.
Tethering, and hotspotting the phone is why they are really raping the owners of this phone…
oh crap i just read the post above mine, your already getting raped for 30$ to hotspot your phone?? WOW
My current diamond is unlimited and i tether all the time… makes me not want to leave my plan….
@Mike G. –
I only pay 91 bucks including all taxes and fees on my iphone4, 900 minutes, unlimited data and 1500 text messages because I get a corp discount. So the EVO plan isn’t as cheap as the Sprint guys were making it out to be.
@Mike G.so if its gong to be “$125 after tax” why am i only paying $149 after tax on the family plan? 1500 landline min (which we never touch) with the EVO and a crappy TP (running TankRom) I dont know but your math seems wrong. i will gladly pay this $10 on her phone and on my SGS 4G when it arrives. XDA Dev and ppcgeeks has this stuff on lockdown and i doubt my iFriends will be able to touch the functionality we have on Sprint.
Stop the bitchin’. Either pay it for the most kick-ass phone on the market or move on. That simple.
@NIKKG….
Your data is capped and sprints is unlimited including text. So that makes it cheaper no matter how you look at it. Plus…we don’t have to put on a “bumper” for our phones to work correctly.
Oh yeah baby, this is really starting to get good now. Talk about entertainment after a hard days work.
@NIKKG
you’re comparing apples to oranges because the calculation Mike G presented is the full plan amount…WITHOUT factoring any corporate discount an individual may get. and the comparison you presented is WITH your corp discount. and Mike G’s price is with the $30 mobile hot spot. to make a real comparison…iphone4 does not have the mobile hot spot capability unless you jailbreak it first (no need to hack the Evo to get this feature). so if you put your plan and the Evo’s plan without the hot spot add-on, sprint’s Evo plan is still cheaper compared to your iphone4 plan with your corp discount. granted the difference in price might be because your plan has 900 minutes and the cheapest plan you can get the Evo on is the everything data with 500 minutes. but that doesn’t matter because this plan has the anytime mobile anywhere minutes.
@Mojary – Not to mention at&t off peak times are from 9 to 6 and sprint is from 7 to 7.
dont charge us for something we own
I love your reply, as a Sprint employee (me). I wish executives would have explained it like you. Sprint is still cheaper by even comparison.
Thank you.
@srtpusher -
you guys are friggin funny.
someone saying i only pay $91 bucks for this and this and this… CUZ I HAVE A BUSINESS DISCOUNT.
some guys say… man… I should leave my plan and get on yours… 99.9% of people don’t have access to that business discount… so i guess your special. dont post it up for the average user…
yes, they can “average” out the use of data on any certain phones. its called math. and averages. not everyone is going to be the same. and some are going to be a lot more than others, hence the word AVERAGE.
the way you do this is just by finding out the data capabilities on the phone. 3G/4G it doesn’t matter if you have a 4G phone that can only dl/up at 52k/s or a 3/G that can dl at 7M/s… put on both 4G or 3G cell sites. then average out the PROPER usage of the phone.
I see my phone logging certain applications at certain times, utilizing the internet.. IE maps… Qik, news, stocks, facebook, youtube. blah blah blah…
my EVO is averaged at 1228k dl speed, multiplied average video, music, blah blah blah size… compared to 512 average dl speed for my Touch Pro 2 and my average was at 2.3 gigs / month. I guess now that i can utilize more ill probably use more… so say 3.0 gigs. maybe more maybe less.
now obviously the the content size will differ bc of the pixels psi… quality in sound gets better, pictures uploaded is 4x larger (2megapixel vs 8 megapixel).
and that’s how u get the average of certain data use…
you want free tethering? root your evo. its free, its fast… just make sure everything is sync’d to your email and backed up. that’s it! saves the …$30 tethering fee that they are trying to charge. its not like the diamond was free to tether either. geez.
so back to my easy calculation… it is right… 80 bucks vs 220 bucks w/o taxes.
Uhm, this “Executive Analyst” wasn’t even aware of the Samsung Epic. ….Really?
They could have avoided all this hooplah by adding the $10 into the data plan and giving the plan a new name instead of making it an add on. I feel that would’ve made the $10 pill a little easier to swallow for customers. Just my opinion…
let’s see
i’ve read some schmuck say that it’s like a sports car and you usually pay more for super unleaded right? you know you’re right, i drive a m3 and i use super unleaded and understand i have to pay more. so basically what you’re saying is that if i bought a m5, i use a more premium gasoline and pay more? or does it just stop at the m3? or is that the more expensive and faster the car gets the more expensive the gasoline??
this is a good fight and what most of you fail to understand that when the dual core processor devices come out which are better, then sprint will have reason to jack up the prices again.
Those of you that want to pay, then just pay, don’t criticize people that are trying to get the proper reasoning behind this charge.
there are many of you that will say, then don’t get the evo and you wont pay the $10 charge.
Here is a clue for the rocket scientists that say that, eventually all devices will be 4g and be high quality smartphones. You will not be able to get around that charge unless you leave sprint. Yes, you will be pushed into a corner and will have to eventually pay that charge or leave.
here is another clue, it’s not just a $10 charge, because in most cases it’s a $20 charge because one’s wife wants a smarphone like the husbands.
Let me explain this so that everyone can understand….
You’re paying for 4G R&D and deployment.
Sprint makes X amount of dollars from its current network. This money is analyzed and projected based on the current mobile market.
4G WiMax is NOT a guaranteed future so:
Researching new technology costs money….
Rolling out new equipment costs money….
New Marketing costs money…
…and they don’t spend this against normal budgeting because it may or may not succeed.
If they just called it a 4G fee would you all understand and move on already?
@srtpusher – dead horse inserted lol
Let’s chill out everyone! Merely because we posted news to elaborate on what Sprint (The creators of the fee) calls it doesnt mean we have to go to war on arguing it in the first place.
Remember this is 120$ extra a month, and whether or not you agree to argue over it, it’s a misunderstood fee and we release news on similar events (such as $1.99 charges from Verizon) and so on.
@animeva –
Yes but that lobster tail is really nothing more than shrimp in the shape of a lobster tail!
@itster –
This is the most intelligent and non-fanboy post I’ve seen yet and I agree 100%.
Actually, the data isn’t “unlimited.” If you look at the fine print you can be charged for usage over 5GB and roaming.
Not to mention the very simple solution to not be charged $10 extra is not to get an EVO. Not to mention that people are already using the hotspot feature without paying the $29.99 fee. Heck with all the discounts everyone is taking advantage of, what is the complaint?
If you bought the phone you agree to pay it. Not like it was a surprise.
Here’s the explanation. If you get an EVO, you pay $10 more a month on your plan. Why? Because, that’s why!
@Mojary – First of all, I do have unlimited data with ATT because I was grandfathered in before the cap. Although I have the corp discounted 900 minute plan, it also comes with the A-list (fav 5 feature), so I put my google voice number on it and makes my phone minutes unlimited.
For any carrier I use, I make sure to get some type of corp discount because you have to be a total idiot these days to pay full price. The only reason I went to ATT is because Sprint sucks in my area and ATT is much much better here, plus the iphone kicks@ss and and is fun to use. Also, the data speeds i’m getting here range anywhere from 2400-5400. Since Sprint signal sucks where I live, I was lucky to have any data at all.
Anyways, back to the original issue. Yes, Sprint is ripping you jokers off with that 10 dollar fee, stop being wusses about it and trying to justify the rip off. You all have that beaten women syndrome trying to justify your man slapping you every night.
That fee is 240 bucks in 2 years not calculating the interest, you can use that money to buy another nice phone when the contract expires for that 240.
To those who say move on and or get over it listen up. I gave up a retention plan that included free data add on on all 5 of my lines. My avg bill was 115.00 monthly. Now I have 3 evo’s on my account, i pay 30.00 (3×10.00)AND my bill increased another 70.00 because i change plans. That is 100.00 extra a month that sprint is getting just from my plan and MY DATA USAGE HAS NOT CHANGED AT ALL. My data usage is still on avg the same and i DO NOT have 4G in my area. So before you look at it as “just a simple 10.00 fee” please understand that it has affected some plans in a very big way. I feel sprint should just be happy with the 70.00 increase they will get from me being forced to change plans if i want to use their best device. Why hit me with another 30.00 in fee’s because I have 3 evo’s and my data usage hasn’t changed 1 bit? Because i can “multitask now? BULL#$%. Sprint released a “heads up on how to save battery life that is stickied in the evo forum. It states i should “disable” all the features I’m not currently using to help save my battery.So basically don’t multitask right? Just think if this fee affects 5% of there clients the way it has affected me. Can you even understand how much more money that is for them?Read between the lines folks.
post script: By the argument that the above sprint exec gave to justify the fee, then by the same argument i want my account reviewed monthly to monitor when i use “far less” or NO data/texts/sprint nav/sprint TV etc. AND I WANT CREDITS APPLIED accordingly. If they can charge me something for ASSUMING im going to increase usage, then i should get credits for things i pay for that i can prove that I AM NOT using. works both ways.
The way I see it, if you are upset root your evo tether it for free and in sprints terms eat the entire buffet.
I had over 15 gigs the first month. (though I am in a 4g area)
@meccadon123 – let’s not forget all the extra money sprint is making from App sales because of this premium device.
here’s the formula for you that didn’t understand that:
premium device with big screen + more enjoyment of apps + more purchases of apps + more money for sprint when purchased = more money for sprint (even without the $10 fee).
as one of my best friend (he’s Colombian) would always says jokingly, undatrain? or are you on the bus?
I wonder how much they’re going to charge for windows phone 7 devices… i can tell everyone this much, if xda does not come up with perm roam switch i will be defecting to verizon and will be ver happy to pay the extra $60 for my wife and I. There is no reason for me to lose valuable client over $60, no reason at all.
i don’t even download apps! my wife has an evo and she doesn’t even have a google account to allow her to download apps! to me, if my wife wants it and she works hard as it is, she can spend the $10 extra. When it comes to me, i kill myself daily for my cash and i will not spend the $10 extra for an inferior service.
by the way, we have 4g in syracuse.
@qbertlives -
Are you paying the $30 for the hotspot usage? I went over the numbers with many of Sprint reps at corporate stores and got the same numbers. The 1500 minute family plan is around $125 and with tax its like $135 to $140, plus the $10 fee that puts you up to $149.99. Your Evo isn’t full equipped. My math is right. You’d be paying close to $185/month if you did have that included.
The average person isn’t going to root their phone, so I’m not really speaking on the ones that do root when talking about the hotspot fee. Thank god for websites like this where we can find and share solutions to these cell carriers shenanigans.
Ahhhhhhhhhh…………
That explains the $10 Fee very clearly now. It is like finding the Golden Challis, or finding the elusive BigFoot.
Yes, it is all clear now……………It’s like Shrimp & Crab. Thanks Sprint for your Fantastic analogy.
The Biggest bunch of BS I’ve heard from Sprint yet.
At least Sprint is not as Bad as Apple is with their BS!!
I hope everyone knows the mobile hotspot feature is completely optional and you don’t have to get it if you don’t need it. There are other tethering options available for cheap or free also. Most people don’t need the mobile hotspot, and considering it’s optional, I wouldn’t factor that into the base cost of the phone. If you’re on the 450 min plan, your base cost is 79.99 + taxes and fees. If you’re on the 1500 min family plan, your base cost is 139.99 for 1 4G phone, (+ taxes and fees) or 149.99 for 2 4G phones, with the price increasing $10 for every 4G phone added.
@dibbson –
Even a car that is paid for has a recurring monthly expense (insurance, gas…) and the bigger the motor, the faster and more powerful it is, the more the charge is… uses more gas, and insurance companys determin the premiums based on how bad ass the car is… So like many people have pointed out, if you don’t like it don’t buy the phone. Sprint still hooks it up better than any of the others
@Mike G
You can compare all you want but your prices are incorrect. It is still a lot cheaper to get use the evo than it is to use the iphone.
Here are the correct prices:
Single line (EVO): 69.99 add Premium fee: 10 Total: 79.99 add taxes =$85 to $90 depending on where you live. With this you get unlmtd web,text,navigation and anymobile and 450 mins to land lines. Tethering is free with pdanet and it doesn’t require rooting.
Single line (iphone): 39.99 add $30 data, $20 unlmtd text $10 navigation=99.99 add taxes=$110 to $115 depending on where you live.
That is a difference of $25 on the high end. Not to mention that data for att is now $25 for only 2gb. Sprint is still 5gb although it is not capped on cell phones, only on aircards.
Family plans are even worse. With sprint a family plan with data included it is 129.99 for 2 lines and 1500mins. That comes to 64.99 per line before taxes. Att is much higher.
So before you start stating prices do some research and state the facts.
That’s the most BS answer I’ve ever heard, and could be VERY wrong.
“Shrimp and crab at the buffet”…EVERY buffet I’ve ever been to (from Chicago, Ohio, Carolinas, Florida, Vegas, and Phoenix) has ALWAYS had free crab and shrimp (among more expensive items that were also free.)
So, either he’s going to the wrong buffets, or they still don’t have a real answer.
I still call BS.
yeah… right… unlimited my *ss… If its unlimited, then why can I not send a 30sec video MMS? It says the file is too large. Is this not limiting my enriched data experience? I don’t give a damn about Youtube or ESPN… I just want to be able to send videos and pictures I take with this phone to my family and friends. Whats the point of having this HD vid camera, if you can’t send the vids to anyone? The whole thing is BS!!!!
couldnt finish the video, got pretty boring and redundant
When a buffet happens to have shrimp or crab or even steak for that matter, it’s always included in the standard price. There isn’t any extra charge. Where does this guy eat anyway? I’ll make sure I stay away! Just like I’m staying away from the EVO. I WON”T get it (or any other Sprint phone) if they insist on this bogus extra fee.
i believe it goes hand in hand. the more bandwitdh 4g is going to use, the more expenses the company is going to use. the faster we want the network to be the more we should pay for it. 10 bucks is not alot considering the fact that like in 1 year we will be able to cancel our home internet accounts hence saving 20/30/40+ bucks a month and connect to sprint via cell phones with hacks and mods.
@yankees45us – Well, before you try to check me, why don’t you get off your iPhone fanboy high horse. I never once compared the price to AT&T’s. I have the 450 minute everything plan for my TP2 on Sprint and pay $83 a month for that after taxes. Add $10 and what do you get? $93! Add $30 more for hotspot usage(optional) and you are at $123 plus the tax would be 2 or three bucks more because the percentage for tax is calculated off of the base price. My math is correct and if you would check with Sprint they will confirm my math. Or don’t, doesn’t matter to me if you can’t count. Just don’t work at the register of my local grocery store. You might get a watermelon thrown your way.
excuse me…. Evo fan boy.
Also, if you peeped my first comment you would have saw that I said without the $30 hotspot the bill would be $93. Is the three dollars of tax really enough to comlain about my math? I’m going off of experience. I’ve was with Nextel when Sprint bought them and had the Simply Everything plan all the way until the first month of Any Mobile, Anytime. The bill never changes for me. It’s been $83 a month since the first bill. Add $10 and you basically have the price YOU calculated. If I stated the mobile hotspot is optional, what part of my math is wrong? Don’t be a jerk dude.
If it was Shrimp & ‘Lobster,’ that’s a different story. The crab is usually that man made BS!!
@knewBee4lyfe – Nice breakdown!
If you don’t want to pay the $10 fee…move on. I have 3 Evo’s and pay 3 of those fees and I don’t mind one bit. Its much less then I would pay for a comparable phone on a comparable plan elsewhere…wait, there is no comparable phone or comparable plan elsewhere….
nuff said.
Tp
LOL at most of the OT posts here. The point is sprint has given all of these stupid reasons for the fee that make no sense. Weather or not you want to pay the fee or want to defend the fee doesn’t matter. If you feel sprint has EXPLAINED the fee then by all means post how they have done so here.
I really don’t see why all you guys have to jump in here and bitch about the few of us that actually understand the problem here. All we want is for sprint to STAND UP and tell us what we are getting for our $10.
These new powerful phones are designed to be data consuming. It is very likely you will use more bandwidth on one than you would a Moment, etc. The additional $10.00 covers this inevitable increase in bandwidth usage, and it’s STILL cheaper than the competition.
The gentleman on the phone said this multiple times. What don’t you understand? The fact that you spent so much time talking about things like the “wicked fast” blurb when you know it’s just advertising the lingo shows you are just out to waste peoples time. The site is called explainthefee.com, and he explained at least 5 or more times. It’s to recoup the cost of inevitable increased bandwidth usage.
Get over it.
We are already paying for unlimited data.
What don’t you understand about that?
Why should Sprint cater to the people who use the most network resources by charging the same as those who don’t? With your new device you can and will use more data in the same or shorter period of time. What it comes down to, is that your additional bandwidth usage will cost Sprint more than what your plan is worth, and the company will just start to go broke. And it’s still cheaper than your other comparable options!
Well not everyone uses more data on their EVO. Why should they pay more?
If this is really about how much data people are using then sprint needs to define how much data you can use on the regular “unlimited” plan vs the “premium” unlimited plan.
The point is moot though as sprint has not officialy given this as their reason for the fee. the guy on the phone tried to put it that way but its not in any of sprints printed advertising. probably because they are already charging us for unlimited usage.
I guess my point is that everyone knows its a 4G fee but sprint won’t come out and say it. They need to own up say its for 4G and try to explain to people why they said 4g was not going to cost any more then 3G. Not sure why that is so hard to do.
Wow this is getting old. Even with the 10.00 fee, I still pay less than any other carrier with the same features. Who gives a damn. Just consider it a luxury tax like you pay for high dollar cars and move around.
What is your solution, then, for Sprint?
Would you prefer tiered plans? Or would just prefer Sprint start losing money? They could always just raise their prices altogether since they are cheaper to begin with. Or how about the fairest solution?
Charge a reasonable, nominal fee to the people with the capability and intention of using the most data.
Sprint is being chastized for choosing the most reasonable rate increase, that will typically affect data hungry customers only. I mean, really, if you bought an Evo without the intention of surfing more, watching and listening more, downloading more, and sharing more, then why did you buy it?
@stangdriver52000 –
“Even a car that is paid for has a recurring monthly expense (insurance, gas…)”
That recurring monthly expense is the base plan that EVERY cell phone owner has to pay for their actual service. Of course every car needs insurance and gas, just like every cell phone needs a service plan that is paid for. What we’re talking about is if you pay $200k up front for your Ferrari, and then the dealer decides to add on another $100 a month just because the Ferrari has a fast engine in it. Sure $100/month is probably a drop in the bucket if you can afford a Ferrari, but it makes you wonder why you have to pay extra for a car you’ve already paid for.
@Grizzly_Addams –
“I mean, really, if you bought an Evo without the intention of surfing more, watching and listening more, downloading more, and sharing more, then why did you buy it? ”
Because some of us just wanted a nicer phone!!! I could give a crap about 4G or anything like that, the only reason I was interested in the Evo in the first place was the 1ghz processor. I have a Touch Pro 2 and I’m tired of it lagging and freezing up on basic things like checking text messages and email. I thought the Evo was going to be a quick and easy fix for that. Problem is I’m on an older plan and would have to switch to a more expensive Everything plan just to be able to get the Evo…I don’t like that but I would have done it. Now on top of switching to a more expensive plan, I have to pay an additional $10 a month for what appears to be nothing? Ferk that. Not everyone is data crazy on their phones. There are plenty of things you can do on the phone that don’t require data connections, many of us wanted the Evo just for the phone, not for the data capabilities. . There are some of us that are always near a computer anyways. There are some of us whose phone usage habits don’t need us to “surf more, watch and listen more, download more, and share more”.
If Sprint charged everyone on the network a dollar more, people would barely notice and the $10 fee on 4G phones would be either eliminated or drastically cut to about 3 or 4 bucks.
@mike g
How am I on the iphone fan horse? The prices I gave were to show that sprint has lower prices than att. I’m not trying to be a jerk. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.
Also like I said before, there are programs out there that let you tether without the $30 and your phone doesn’t need to be rooted. Before you get all high and mighty just calm down. This is just a forum where people share their thoughts. I’m not trying to pick a fight dude. Also just a tip…. If your 69.99 plan ends up being $83 and all you have is a tp then you might need to look over your bill cause you might be getting charged extra. By the way have a good day.
@yankees45us –
Maybe he has insurance on his plan.
My EVO has the wifi’s and the GeeBee’s. It also prints money and turns into a jet and flies me to that little island the app built me. Although, I need a DEV to deliver an app that can use the money it prints to pay my bill.
Guys, I think sprints statement was crap but that’s the way it is. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure it out. witht hat said…I have a turtle hed pokin’ out and I really need to poop.
Is the $10 add on fee that big of a deal? not really.
Is Sprint justification for the $10 add on dollar fee the actual reason it exist? Not really.
The simple fact its called a “add-on” should suggest its optional, but it’s actually not optional it’s a requirement for 4g capable phones.
I wonder why they just don’t describe the fee as it actually is.
I would prefer if this “add-on” was for wifi hotspot instead.
But I don’t know why carriers are always trying to figure out how to make more money on top of their already expensive voice and data plans.
Basically, they are saying you are now renting the hardware you paid $200-$700 for as long as your on their network? huh.
I do have insurance on my phone. In my opinion, it’s kinda frivolous to spend 300 dollars on a phone and not get it insured.
So you saying “So before you start stating prices do some research and state the facts” isn’t trying to check me? You said the same price as I did! The hotspot fee is optional and I never said it was mandatory. I also corrected myself about calling you a Apple fanboy in the very next post and called you a Evo fanboy. Hope that makes you feel better.
Basically, you tell me I’m wrong and then say the same price I said. This is received as a needless statement from you just to try to seem smart by disproving someone else. This is the argument provoking stuff I don’t see the need for. Then you turn around and act as if you did nothing. Cowards throw stones and hide their hands. You could easily say sorry for singling out my comment to talk trash about, but you’d rather follow it up with remarks to downplay your involvement in this back and forth. I guess dude. You life doesn’t mean anything to me to value an apology from you anyway. I’m done with this, it’s a waste of time.
@BigJohn89 –
That’s because in order to use a BB, you have to go through BB servers and that means more cost to all providers providing BB service and phones. THAT is justified. $10 for doing the same exact thing I was doing on a Hero isn’t.
Good one. Like the joker says “Why so serious”? Its just a forum. No one is getting paid so take it easy man.
@Mike G. -
Still cheaper! , Wait let me see …….(oh yeah ) ……..carry the one ………………………………………….Nope still cheaper than all the rest!
flogging dead horse insert foot
I also talked to a executive relations person and I came to the conclusion that the $10 fee is bull. They are charging it because we are paying it. All of the arguing in the world make a difference. I gave up on it. The only way they will drop the fee is if we drop the carrier. Talk with your checkbook! (but, I feel on the floor laughing when he asked about airplane mode hahahhaa!
Here’s an explanation that I hope will explain Simply Everything that can be explained about this matter:
because THEY can … and because X NUMBER OF people will
Despite the Sprint spin, everyone knows that this $10 fee *is* for 4G data. And yes, this is even if a particular customer doesn’t (yet) live in a 4G area. History repeats its, because this is exactly what happened when Sprint deployed 1xrtt data (Vision), and then later “3G” (EVDO, Power Vision). With each new data network, Sprint has increased the cost for data, *even* for customers that don’t live in an area that gets that new data service.
But Sprint apparently got tired to explaining on this and its “fairness”, therefore the “premium data”, “more data” spin, as if this stupid notion explains *anything* or is more palatable…
@monkeyboy –
I think part of the reason they have to come up with a different explanation is that Dan Hesse said 4G would be free – it would look terrible if they came back and said they’re going to charge for it.
I don’t know of any price increase that occurred between 1xRTT and EvDO – I’m still on my old $15 Vision plan from my Sanyo 8100 6 years ago. My friend who switched from T-Mobile to get the A900 a few years later also paid that same $15 data plan.
In this case, the fee is a little easier to swallow for most because it comes with an awesome phone lol. Most people don’t care about the fee, they care about the phone, and will pay the $10 without question just to get the phone.
Well, they needed some sucker to fund all those Sprint commercials on TV and the EVO users don’t seem to mind bending over for the privilege.
I think they should charge $20.00.
They have to pay the Head Cheese, CEO Hesse for his Egotistical TV Ad Campaigns. He must be getting paid a hefty Sum for those DA commercials.
@NIKKG
I posted my post without reading yours first.
Seems we’re on the same page, at least about those sprint commercials.
In addition, I would like to know what ceo hesse is getting paid for those commercials, in addition to his most likely astronomical salary.
Heck, charge $30.00 for 4g. Hesse gotta put gas in that Yacht of his…………..
@TWO515TY – Wireless Web (2G data) was a $5/mo addon
1xrtt Vision was a $10/mo addon
Power Vision was/is a $15/mo addon
now you have 4G, which is $10 on top of whatever…
It is unrealistic to think that Sprint could provide 4G for “free”, since not only does it have a HUGE buildout cost ($10B?+), *and* higher backhaul costs, but also Sprint does not fully own Clear (only about 51%), so Clear *must* be paid *something*!
Doesn’t matter how Sprint spins this… the reality is that the $10/mo goes to help pay for 4G and Clear one way or the other…
I agree with Monkeyboy
It is unrealistic for sprint to offer 4g for free. Everytime sprint upgraded the speed of their network they charged an extra fee or introduced plans that included the new speed.
The only real complaint on this fee is those who don’t have access to 4g. They shouldn’t be charged the $10 if they don’t have access to 4g coverage. This is when the complaint is valid. This is when sprint can’t explain why the fee is valid. Other than that the 4g premium fee is okay.
@yankees45us – I’ve always thought that Sprint charging the “new data network fee” to be unfair if the customer doesn’t live in or have access to the new data service. But that is how Sprint has *always* behaved. The same issue arose when EVDO/Power Vision was first being deployed and phones had EVDO. Any customer buying an EVDO phone *had to* upgrade to Power Vision ($15/mo) over Vision ($10/mo), even if EVDO hadn’t been deployed in their home area. There was a big fuzz over how unfair it was… This is exactly the same scenerio (and I agree that it is still unfair)…
On the flip side though, it would probably be a huge headache for Sprint to figure out how to charge for when a customer enters a 4G area if he doesn’t have 4G at home. It could get very messy, as it would have been with EVDO vs 1xrtt — phones would have to be authenticated for which data service they were allowed to use on the fly (second by second… ugh, messy) instead of letting the phone use the “best” data signal available.
Still… I think Sprint is wrong for doing it this way, as they were wrong in the EVDO/1xrtt transition…
Think about how Sprint could work it so that it is both fair to the customer (who might not generally have access to 4G) and yet also be SIMPLE and fair to Sprint (if that customers starts using 4G, knowingly or otherwise)…
It isn’t easy… about the only scheme I could think of so far is to CHARGE for the $10 4G fee monthly, BUT also credit $10/mo for each month that the customer doesn’t use 4G. You would still have arguments about: Gee, I only used 1MB of 4G accidentally when I visited my parents in NYC… But this would at least take care of most cases and not require complicated plan changes, contract changes midstream, etc….
This is one of the reasons for the $10.00 monthly charge >>
Daniel R. Hesse Salary & Compensation for 2009 was OVER $12 MILLION$$ >>
Compensation for 2009
Salary $1,200,000.00
Bonus $0.00
Restricted stock awards $708,333.00
All other compensation $42,365.00
Option awards $ $9,060,764.00
Non-equity incentive plan compensation $1,322,634.00
Change in pension value and nonqualified deferred compensation earnings $0.00
Total Compensation $12,334,096.00
Options Granted
@Biker1 –
And you know this how? Cause I’m sure it’s public info. But If you took the time to find all this out, take the time to delve into the CEO’s pay for other wireless operations, they would be the same or substantially higher. It seems to me that your jealous of his position otherwise you wouldn’t have brought it up.
If you don’t like it (his salary or the $10 charge), move on. NOTHING is putting a harley to your head and gunnin’ the throttle. Get over it.
@gator352
How ’bout I stay put, and still have something to say???
Sounds like someone who had his milk spilled.
Can I not state facts without having to move on?
Can I not criticize the Carrier I have been with for over 10 years, and criticize them?
Maybe YOU should be the one to move on.
I don’t give a hoot what others are paying their CEO’s.
I’m talk’in about Hesse.
Btw, you fan boys are funny. You Attack the Messenger, and not the Message. Unbelievable, or rather believable…..
@Biker1 –
How am I a fan boy for having a wireless carrier that’s cheaper than all the rest? Has nothing to do with being a fan, but it does have everything to do with my bank account.
You can stay put and have something to say…it’s a free country last I checked.
Milk spilled? Never once have I been screwed by sprint.
Facts? Prove it? I seriously doubt what he actually earns is public data…
You can criticize the Carrier all you want….again…free country.
Why would I move on…I’m happy where I’m at.
Why not give a hoot. If you ever leave sprint, you’ll complain about the data caps, botched anntena designs, and of coarse….what their CEO makes….
Who cares what Hesse makes. As long as “his” pricing plans are cheaper and he doesn’t impose a data cap….I could care less.
Now, I do happen to think that most CEO’s are overpaid, underworked, and are mostly worthless morons that take way to many vacations. But what am I, or you, to do about it? Nothing. As long as there is business and capitalism, there will be CEO’s. Look at Obama…he is CEO of the USA in a sense and is worthless as all hell. I agree that the $10 charge is a farce and I have voiced my opinion to sprint. I agree Hesse is overpaid. I agree tootsie rolls are too hard. But in all honesty, that’s just the way it is. I have come to peace with these terms and I live with it.
I would rather put my energy into things I can actually change. I also don’t worry about the things I can’t.
I see. So just roll over and accept. You can, while I make some waves.
It would appear you doubt my Hesse Salary Compensation figures.
Seek and you shall find………..I don’t have to prove anything, especially to you. It is public knowledge. Now you wouldn’t be saying I’m making things up, would you?
Forbid the person who has any criticism for their beloved carrier. Sprint is just a Carrier. You shouldn’t get that emotional over a Company.
Sprint with their Rip offs and you and your tootsie rolls. That makes sense….Sheeezzee.
But I understand your point, don’t make waves and accept whatever is dished out. If some question what they are being told, just keep quiet and don’t upset the powers to be, or they will get angry. Sssshhhhhhhh, and everything will be fine..
Sprint may have lower priced plans than others, BUT that doesn’t mean others have to keep quiet as you chose to do. Your choice, my choice and everyone elses choice. That the way of the World.
Sprint has a lot wrong with it, and hopefully others will continue to voice their criticisms.
Btw, I agree on your comment about Obama. We have something in common. SSSShhhhhh, don’t tell anyone though………
First off, I expressed my opinions to CS on the phone, in Emails and retensions on multiple occasions only to have a one time $10 credit. I know you didn’t know that because you don’t have all the facts. Hesse’s actuall pay (with incentives) is not public knowledge. Do you see his actual paycheck and bank account? If so, I don’t think you would be sitting here complaining because your plan would be….um….free. But yeah, you stating a so-called and unproven fact does put the burden of proof on you. You don’t have to show me cause I could care less what he makes. I don’t worry about others, I worry about me and my family.
Getting emotional over a company? No. Keeping them in business so we have a choice of carriers…yes.
You can critcize all you want. That’s your choice. But don’t think for one second that everyone agrees with you, heaven forbid.
Sprint a rip off? They all are. They are all like politicians and you have to choose between the lesser of two evils. AT&T’s data cap/plan is more of a rip off than anything Sprint has ever done.
Sprint has alot wrong with it? Yet again, they all do! I never stated Sprint was perfect, then again nothing is. I voiced my opinion about this to them, others, and now you. But you seem to have a serious problem with sprint and if it gets your goat that much, go see what verizon and AT&T, hell even T-Mobile can do for you.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this $10 fee is an actual new tax Obubba churned up to pay for his precious death panel health care system…..
Admit it……the tootsie roll comment was funny…….
All I’m doing is pointing out certain facts about Sprint. I don’t care if >>
a) other carriers do it
b) all carriers are a ‘Rip Off’
etc., etc.
a), b) etc. does not negate Sprint’s frailities.sic
I didn’t request a $10 rebate cause I don’t have an EVO.
I personally couldn’t give a rat’s behind if Sprint stayed in business, went out of business or merged. That’s life. Whatever it be, it be……….
I have No Loyalty to ANY Carrier. As they, and most Companies have No Loyalty to their Customers.
I can still comment on Sprint as a Carrier, and still be a customer.
You have to choose the lesser of 2 or 3 or 4 evils.
But as I said, if Sprint went under, so be it………
And Hesse taking Big Bucks from a Company that has issues is part of the Problem. Oh, Hesse’s Salary is Public knowledge. Or else i would have not found it.
Google is your friend……..
Btw, this all started by me just posting Hesse’s salary, and basically suggesting he should take a smaller salary due to Sprint not doing that well, and it may be that part of the $10 fee is going to Hesse to pay his Salary, and to pay the Sprint Advertising Dept. to cover the costs of those dumb Hesse Commercials…….
As for the tootsie roll comment, a ‘Jolly Roger’ would have been a better analogy……..
Ok…
a) if others didn’t do it, this would be a total valid complaint.
b) if you don’t care if others are a rip off, how do you know what to compare it too for it to be a rip off?
a), b) etc, do infact express upon sprints frailties because it is the sole purpose of your complaints.
You don’t have an EVO? Then your complaint is invalid. You don’t pay it. Why are we having this conversation? This is like you complaining about others complaining about having to pay $10 a month for XM radio in their new fords, but you don’t own one. Are you serious?
Yeah, I googled Hesse the other night…..I believe nothing of what I read and only half of what I see. Most of those are just projections, etc, not actual money in hand so I take no stock in it. For god sakes, it’s the internet. So everything must be true.
I agree all CEO’s are overpaid nimwits. They don’t deserve what they get. But hey, I have no say in the matter…that is for the board of directors to decide. But I do agree that the $10 goes toward his salary, but it just might go towards paying the employees too.
Naw, tootsie rolls are still a little to hard…
Jolly Ranchers are harder.
As for your other comments, ‘Life is like a box of Chocolates.”
No sense beating a dead horse, unless it’s getting exported to japan……….
I think it is just the same as charging less for unlimited dumbphone data. While you can use unlimited data on your dumb phone, they don’t plan on you downloading very much.
My point was that no one complains about smartphone data being more than dumbphone data when both are unlimited
I was upset when the best buy rep mentioned the extra $10 p/phone p/mth but I figured, hey smartphone, really smart smart phone whatever $20 extra for much better phone than blackberry curve I’ll go for it. What really ticked me off was when I realized the unlimited data plan I have plus the $10 extra isn’t really unlimited. If it was, then sprint would include Mobile Hotspot… Instead they not only want $10 (forced into, if not you supposedly can’t use the phone) and then $30 for the mobile hotspot the phone has built in.. WTF is that????.. I called sprint about that and never got a straight answer.. Even the rep let it slip that it was BS… Still love my evo and still see the plan cheaper than everyone else. Ohh, just as long as you don’t pay for the mobile hotspot, then it gets ridiculous.
@Biker1 –
LOL man! Dead horse sushi anyone?….
@richarc93 –
It is unlimited. Only if you tether, or use an aircard,your capped at about 5GB per month. But as far as your EVO goes….download away…it’s unlimited.
Still another Sprint Add on charged whose explanation is muddled at best….as usual.
I agree. Tethering should be a feature of the phone and not charged. BUT…you can root it and tether for free. It’s a non-issue for power users but for the average joe who has no clue, will pay for it.
This should get your goat biker1…..
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/home/nextmail_messaging_service_nudges_all_sprint_devices
I don’t know about you, but I can just use the voice recorder and send it mms, or put it as an attachment in an email. So this is usless for me and I’m not gonna pay for it.
@animeva –
Sprint does NOT give unlimited data, there is a data cap.
@sanjsrik –
I’m sure there is…if you consistantly download 5+ Geebee’s a month. 5 GB’s is the unwritten data cap but if you go over here and there, they will not charge you. Well, I haven’t at least and I downloaded two 4 GB (give or take a few MB) movies on my pre back to back and wasn’t charged a dime. But I’m sure if I did that every month, they would charge something….
@gator352 –
LOL!!
Hey, I’m an Amimal Lover!!
@gator352 –
Mistype >>
‘Animal’
@gator352 –
I just use emails and text.
With the Diamond, I can receive voice text via that voice text phone number, but I dk if I can send. Probably not.
@gator352 –
Now I know why Sprint is charging $10……………Lol!! Your over usage of the 5gb cap..
You drunk biker1?? LOL!
Amimals. Are they like animals but not really??
It’s more like they charge me $10 for the all the p0rn I download….lol….just kidding, I would never do that!
@gator352 –
Porn???
Oh, I didn’t know that was available over the internet………….
I think I’ll go have a brewsky
The EVO and the TP2 have the exact same pixel count for their screens which is 800×480. How can the EVO use more data? It can’t. So why the extra $10 fee? Just because it has a faster processor? Sure the EVO can someday possibly use 4G speeds but my area isn’t going to be upgraded for quite a while.
And for everyone that is okay with the extra $10 charge, what are you going to say when your EVO is 1 year old and there are many faster phones out there now that don’t charge $10 extra? Are you going to feel that is unfair?
@animeva – Does the term “Unlimited” elude you? Let me help.
Unlimited-
adj.
1. Having no restrictions or controls: an unlimited travel ticket.
2. Having or seeming to have no boundaries; infinite: an unlimited horizon.
3. Without qualification or exception; absolute: unlimited self-confidence.
The problem is that they screwed up by calling things unlimited to begin with. They only use the term as an advertising grab and then put :”limits:” on it. They have lied to their customers and we are just supposed to take it.
Secondly, we are being charged monthly for phone hardware improvements that should simply be part of the price of the phone. Its like selling me a TV and then trying to bill me monthly for the privilege of using it.
Just to point out a few things……
Sprints CYA in its Terms and conditions… basicaly everything you agreed to when you started using Sprint.
I may not (in my opinion) believe they are ethicaly correct, however this is a lawful contract that all sprint users have agreed to by using sprint service.
“Service Agreement: The Agreement is provided to you at activation. There are several parts to the Agreement, including, but not limited to, the Subscriber Agreement you sign or accept, the detailed plan or other information on Services we provide or refer you to during the sales transaction, and any confirmation materials we may provide you.”
http://shop.sprint.com/en/legal/legal_terms_privacy_popup.shtml
1.) Prohibited Network Uses. To ensure the activities of some users do not impair the ability of our customers to have access to reliable services provided at reasonable costs, you may not use our services in a manner that is unlawful, infringes on intellectual property rights, or harms or unduly interferes with the use of Sprint’s network or systems. Sprint reserves the right, without notice or limitation, to limit data throughput speeds or quantities or to deny, terminate, end, modify, disconnect, or suspend service if an individual engages in any of the prohibited voice or data uses detailed below or if Sprint, in its sole discretion, determines action is necessary to protect its wireless networks from harm or degradation.
2.) Examples of prohibited data uses: Sprint data services are provided solely for purposes of web surfing, sending and receiving email, photographs and other similar messaging activities, and the non-continuous streaming of videos, downloading of files or on line gaming.
3.)Unlimited Use Plans. If you subscribe to rate plans, services or features that are described as unlimited, you should be aware that such “unlimited” plans are subject to these Sprint Prohibited Network Uses.
FYI for all of you who thought Phone as modem was free… You are in volation of your contract.
4.)Except with Phone-as-Modem plans, you may not use a phone (including a Bluetooth phone) as a modem in connection with a computer, PDA, or similar device. We reserve the right to deny or terminate service without notice for any misuse or any use that adversely affects network performance.
Just because it worked on phone without paying for it and they dont catch you, doesnt mean its free.
And the final word on the 5 GB limit…. Seems like they didnt include data usage for your phone in this limitation, but they do point out PAM.
5.)Data Usage Limitation (Mobile Broadband Cards, USB Modems, Embedded Modems and Phone-As-Modem):The amount of data transmitted over our network is measured in kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB). Sprint reserves the right to limit throughput speeds or amount of data transferred; and to deny, terminate, modify, disconnect or suspend service if usage either exceeds (a.) 5GB/month in total, unless specified otherwise or (b.) 300MB/month while off-network roaming. 1024KB equal 1MB. 1024MB equal 1GB.
Finally my two cents.
Nobody forced you to buy it.
If you dont like it, dont buy it.
and remember
“Sprint, YES they CAN” lolz…../rant
haha i just realized this is a dead thread….
The fee does not make sense to me. I use to do well over 5gb with my touch pro 2 and was never charged.
Bottom line for me is, even with the extra charge, it’s still cheaper then other carriers and they really do have caps, lol. So I pay it!
I don’t know what half-assed buffets Sprint goes to, but the buffets I go to all INCLUDE shrimp & crab at no additional cost.
Unlimited shrimp, crab/lobster. Grab as much as you want each time you go up.
@Kodak X – Why do people continue to allow multi-billion dollar companies to screw them, and worse, expect everybody else to do the same.
The Sprint guy seemed very nice, and tried to explain the $10.00 fee, but failed miserably. He either couldn’t or wouldn’t explain the fee, but I certainly can.
The $10.00 fee is to help Sprint pay for their role out of 4G, period. Well over 80% of their customers will not be able to use the features he talked about over Sprints 4G network, but will still be paying Sprint anyway.
If what the Sprint representative said is true, if you live in the country where you don’t get and won’t any time in the next 2 years get 4G, but purchased the EVO because you wanted the faster (wicked) processor, more memory, and larger screen to use on your own WiFi network, you still have to pay Sprint an extra $10.00 for the privilege of paying a premium price for a premium phone. This person in the country just uses Sprint’s network to send text messages, some emails, and a few pictures just like any other smart phone on their network which doesn’t have this extra charge. According to the Sprint rep, if you don’t like the $10.00 charge, don’t buy the phone. So now, we have to pay the carriers in addition to the manufactures for the purchase of a high tech smart phone, and we have to pay the carriers every month. The phones true cost is endless, going up each and every month.
People are sick and tired of these deceptive practices that ALL these muli-billion dollar companies use, and more people everyday are making that known. People do not want to help Sprint pay for their network without getting any benefit from it. This is why – moving on – is not an option.
Omegaman