 cpsycho
join:2008-06-03
Orangeville, ON
 ·Wightman Telecom
 ·Rogers Hi-Speed
| Canada Decides That Canadian Ownership Is More.... Canada Decides That Canadian Ownership Is More Important Than Real Telco Competition
The only thing that needs to be done is, the government should take back control of the last mile infrastructure and rent it out to any company that would like to sell services.
There, instant competition. Only if Jean Creatin was still our leader, he is the only guy I could ever see doing this. | |
| Mce Saint
join:2007-10-03
Saint Louis, MO
·AT&T Midwest
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
1 edit | Ah, Sprint and PAM How do you take a bad situation and make it worse? Do what Sprint did.
On the one hand, Sprint did - in small print - say that the Everything Plans (Simply, Family Share, etc.) did not include Phone as modem (PAM).
On the other hand, why should Sprint be allowed to market something as "everything" that doesn't include . . . well, *everything* a smartphone can do (or a smartphone user would use)? Did we learn nothing from limited "unlimited" data plans?
Add to this that although Sprint (in small print) disclaimed that PAM was not included in the Everything plans. . . the instruction manual for Sprint's version of BB devices did layout (in large print) exactly how the purchaser's BB could be used to PAM. The instructions? Download Sprint's Smartview Program, connect BB, enjoy!! Nary a word about having the proper plan.
Add to THIS (on top of the above) - PAM worked . . . for over a year . . . for those on the Everything plans. Apparently CLOSING this "loophole" for Everything plan customers wasn't a high priority.
Calls to Sprint's vaunted CSRs were often more confusing than illuminating - producing results that flat out contradicted Sprint's (small print) disclaimer.
Yes, Sprint is "technically" correct here. It did disclaim that PAM was NOT included in the Everything plans. Technically, though Sprint is bleeding customers and revenue.
So what did Sprint do? It pizzed off existing customers and shot itself on a chance to make revenue. Brilliant!!
Reports are that - despite closing the Smartview "loophole" - Tetherberry still works. $55 for Tetherberry (a one time payment) versus having to buy a USB aircard and $60 a month data service from Sprint (or, worse, decreasing your minutes, adding PAM and getting nickled and dime to death). Hmmm. . . what will the masses do?
IMO, Sprint would have been better off allowing Everything plan customers to ADD PAM for a reasonable fee - $20 to $30 a month. There's no compelling reason for BB phone owners to have a SEPARATE aircard . . . since the BB can fill that role (though, at the slower EVDO Rev. O speed).
A message like this would have done wonders for it's image among customers and - again IMO - captured revenue stream it's now going to watch go out the door:
"Dear Sprint customer: Thankyou for using Sprint and being a member of it's 3G (and soon to be leading 4G network). To ensure the continuation of our network capabilities, Sprint has been reviewing its account and notices that you've enjoyed the PAM capabilities of your BB.
Unfortunately, such capabilities were not included in your Everything plan nor factored into the plan's pricing. The unauthorized use of such capabilities also burdens Sprint's networks and its ability to continue to provide you with outstanding service.
As of two-weeks from now you will no longer be able to use the PAM feature of your BB UNLESS you also purchase the PAM "add on" for the Everything plan for the low monthly fee of $20.
And, oh - for the record - I'm a Sprint customer; have a BB; the Everything plan; . . . AND one of Sprint's USB aircard (U737) AND a data plan (you do NOT want to see my monthly phone bill).
Still, despite having a separate aircard and data plan, there were times I did use my BB as PAM. Specifically, those times when my aircard (which was the size of a pack of gum) was there (usually in the pocket of another jacket or my desk drawer) and I was here. | |
|  | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Ah, Sprint and PAM From the posted article....:
" A Sprint forum employee posted a response saying, “PAM has never been included in the Everything plans, so a lawsuit won’t get far. It would be different if it had ever been offered as an included option, but it hasn’t.” In other words, hahaha try it."
The funny thing about this is that they tell you and market it as "everything your phone is capable of"... Well, if the phone is capable of being tethered, then that would be included.
This posting buy a Sprint forum employee is the exact reason why companies put leashes on their employees when it comes to public matters. (Then again, I don't know which forum this came from, nor if this alleged employee is a real employee or not) | |
| | | seederjed
join:2005-02-28
Snellville, GA
1 edit | Re: Sprint blocks phone use as a modem said by Mr Matt  :  When I again threatened to cancel my service the Sprint CSR said I still had access to data service and basically I could go defecate in my chapeau. By that time Verizon had banned the use of their handsets as a modem and I had no recourse. Just threaten to go to ATT. All the WinMo phones have Internet Sharing installed from the factory. You could even turn it into a wireless router if you wanted.
While "technically" not approved, I have never heard of them telling anyone to stop. I don't think they can tell if your browsing from the phone of if your plugged into your laptop or PC.
edit to add - this assumes you are on a standard data plan already. | |
| | | fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| Re: Sprint and PAM While I don't support their move to pull PAM access on their phones for customers on the everything plan, what I also don't agree with is the mentality that people shouldn't have to pay for data use.
I don't agree that you keep your customers by not giving them the service.
If they are offering the plan at $20 a month, I find that VERY reasonable especially considering ATT charges you a mandatory $30 iPhone data plan and you STILL can't tether the phone and a good majority of the iPhone data is over WiFi.
So I still consider the $20 PAM access plan to be a bargain considering the value of the service for many people.
BUT, I do NOT agree that you have to give MORE service for the same price to stop losing customers and not charge more.. that's a "gimme" mentality. I believe that you have to offer a good service for a reasonable fee. $20 is reasonable for those NOT in the everything plans.
I do believe that sprint did market the everything plans wrong though... When they brought out the Everything + Data, they should have thought about the tethering service. And, they never should have said "...everything your phone is capable of, it's provisioned for".. as they ALWAYS said.
What Sprint should have done is grandfathered the people already using it, ate that mistake, and re-packaged the everything plan not to include the PAM service. | |
| | | qworster
join:2001-11-25
Los Angeles, CA | Re: Sprint and PAM Obviously, Sprint doesn't offer what people want-if they did, they wouldn't be losing customers in droves. | |
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Friday Morning Links
Sprint blocks phone use as a modem
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