DoubleK
Doublek
join:2003-03-04
Beloit, WI
clubs: | WOW!
I sure am glad that my wireless contract expired with US Cellular last October!
Here is an idea that will spur the others to follow suit until Sprint is out of the picture. Who says competition doesn't work (until their is none)? |
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DataDoc
My avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.
Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC | It's about time
It was fine to charge by the minute when cell phones were unusual, but now they're ubiquitous. |
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moonpuppy
join:2000-08-21
Glen Burnie, MD | This will not end well for Sprint.
Claims of abuse by certain people will cause Sprint to cancel these people like ISPs cancel for "network degradation." |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
| Not sure about this...
I think from a consumer standpoint, no minute limits would be great. However, from a business standpoint, this could be a red mark for profits. There will always be top users who sit on the phone 24/7. Kids, teenagers, etc usually make up this group though adults are not immune. Let's say someone sits on the phone 8 hours a day (home from work and talks nonstop). that would be 480 minutes x 30 days. That would equate to 14,400 minutes used in a given month. Now lets say this unlimited plan costs 100 dollars. Will sprint be able to turn a profit? Does the airtime, man hours in providing the airtime etc, cost less than the plan? There are some serious questions sprint, their board, and their shareholders need to address. Personally, I would love unlimited minutes though I RARELY use my cell phone. Why? Well its that comfort if I need it I never have to worry. Still, I don't think such a plan would be good for the company. |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
 ·North State Commun..
|  Actual Limits
While I'm sure there will be an actual minute cap and abusers will be terminated, I think this would be great for the industry as a whole. If nothing else, I hope it would push the minute caps on other providers up.
$99 for 700 shared family minutes Verizon? Seriously? |
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myokitis
join:2004-06-19
Alexandria, VA
| Not A Long-Term Differentiator
I don't get it . . . what will prevent T or VZ or TM from responding accordingly and offering their own flat-rate plans, if they're so-pressured?
This may change the game somewhat, but they won't be able to sustain any lead they gather from it, as a billing-arrangement such as this can be easily duplicated.
An unanswered question: What will such a flat-rate plan cost? Will it be affordable for most consumers?
If it's something that most people could afford then they'll just succeed in pricing-down their (and the entire industry's) customer base. |
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs: | That would make me actually want a cell phone IF the price..
..was also reasonable.
Otherwise, I'm fine without one. Haven't needed one yet. |
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Killa200
Premium
join:2005-12-02
Spring City, TN | Pending on the price...
...this is the kind of deal that would make me glad sprint is the other alternative to cell in this area. |
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FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD
| reply to DoubleK
Re: WOW!
Actually, this isn't really a case for the "competition" works crowd; these assholes started throwing IDEAS on an unlimited package as they go down the drain. It's funny how bankruptcy disturbs the natural order of corruption and in-general-dicking-of-the-customers... |
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Jim Gurd
Premium
join:2000-07-08
Plymouth, MI | reply to DoubleK
This sounds a lot like what MetroPCS offers. |
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FiL
Premium
join:2005-08-16
Silver Spring, MD | reply to Doctor Olds
Re: That would make me actually want a cell phone IF the price..
Damn Doc, wish I was as resourceful as you! But your still stuck in the stone age, you got to work up to Barbarism THEN you can join us here in Feudalism! hehe  |
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e_dub
franknbeans
Premium,VIP
join:2001-08-12
kickin ass | reply to Jim Gurd
Re: WOW!
So true, we have Metro PCS here in Atlanta and I have my daughter on their service. Unlimited calling local and long distance, with unlimited text and video mail or $45. |
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The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium
join:2001-07-24
Omaha, NE
clubs:
 ·ViaTalk
| Price is not the problem
Sprint has much larger problems than price.
Customer Service.
It's worse than a root canal during a colon exam.
If they can't make the customer happy, even a great price will not keep them around.
Personally I have the Sprint SERO plan and price wise can not be happier, my phone performs flawlessly in the Omaha suburbs.
I take my phone 30min west to Lincoln and it roams constantly drops calls and has 1 bar. (Still a 200k+ Town)
I have a Blackberry 8830 so my phone should perform in both places without a hitch.
This is what sprint needs to fix, sure they have the largest network, now it needs the network to work right. |
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jack24
@bu.edu
| Good idea if the "price is right".
If Sprint does this and hits the critical "price point" that will drive sales, sales may just go "through the roof".
Or at least this will shake up the market, which needs shaking up.
It will also make it "simple-stupid". You pay this price, you get a phone to use, period. If you want to cancel, fine, no charge.
It will also simplify billing and eliminate many billing problems and complaints.
And if done properly, customers won't need to worry about the "stick-it-to-you fine print legal-ease agreement" that most people never read anyway. 
Sure, some people will never hang up their phone. But these "phone junkies" will "sing the praises" of Sprint's "Flat-rate" calling plan that is a "no-brainer".
The reality is that most customers calling habits will not change.
Looks like a "win/win" situation to me, but hey, what do I know? |
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PhoenixDown
-- Wants FIOS
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY
clubs: | reply to e_dub
Re: WOW!
Pretty good deal there! |
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JoeOnSunset
Doublethink Is Doubleplus Ungood.
Premium
join:2002-11-25
Ormond Beach, FL
| reply to The Beer
Re: Price is not the problem
I don't think that customer service has much to do with their business problems. Having bad customer service can only hurt you when your competition offers something better. The (major) alternatives are Verizon (cripples their phones, and people on here complain about their svc every day) or AT&T (kind of like being issued your cell phone by the DMV.)
I think, in general, people accept poor service from these companies as a given... like we do with, say, airlines. You know, once in awhile we freak out and have a breakdown in the terminal, but usually we just get in line with that dim look on our faces and Moo. |
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GMFreak8
join:2005-11-17
Malone, NY | Didn't ATT Offer This?
I seem to remember seeing commercials a few years ago before Cingular came around where ATT was offering unlimited calling for $99 per month? Does anyone else remember this? |
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jjsk8r85
join:2005-02-17
Belleville, MI | reply to PhoenixDown
Re: WOW!
the only thing about metropcs is they have a small footprint, limited roaming, and roaming is expensive. if you stay local, youre good to go, but for those who do a bit of traveling, this type of plan will look really appealing for sprint. |
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CCTVTech
Premium
join:2003-04-23
Phoenix, AZ
clubs:
·Integra Telecom
 ·Cox HSI
·Qwest.net
 ·GoDaddy Hosting
| Not a new idea
Here in Phoenix Cricket Wireless has always had flat rate unlimited calling.
»www.mycricket.com/
--
==== Eye In The Sky ====
I Fight Crime - One Camera At A Time |
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX | reply to jc100
Re: Not sure about this...
Actually the costs for in network calling is practically nothing. I doubt people will sit on the phone all day long just because they can. Voice calls are small compared to the data calls. Compression gets them down to 3kbps per voice channel. |
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