site Search:


 
   
story category
Sprint May, May Not Someday Cap 4G Service
Throws out 20 GB a month as a random number they consider excessive...
by Karl Bode Thursday 15-Jul-2010 tags: business · wireless · alternatives · bandwidth · caps · Sprint Mobile Broadband
At the moment Sprint still caps their EVDO 3G mobile data service (but not smartphone users) at about 5 GB a month, though the company doesn't cap their Mobile WiMax (4G) users. That doesn't mean they won't someday, Sprint tells Network World. Todd Rowley, vice president of 4G at Sprint tells the website they "saw subscriber behavior change" when they imposed caps on 3G service, and does not want the same thing to happen to their Mobile WiMax network. According to Rowley, they might someday place a cap on 4G service, but it would be a very high one:

Click for full size
At some point in the future, if average data use goes much higher -- Rowley quoted an arbitrary figure of 20GB per month -- Sprint might cap users' monthly downloads, he said. All of Sprint's WiMax plans also include 3G service and are subject to the usual 5GB cap for use of that network. Sprint has no current plans to remove the 3G cap, Rowley said.

As analysts like Dave Burstein have noted, while caps may be necessary on wireless networks, ever-expanding wireless capacity allows them to be quite high (as in 20-30 GB) this generation. That's in sharp contrast to AT&T's new smartphone pricing plan, which is to impose absurdly low caps (from 250 MB to 2 GB a month) in a quest to ramp up profitability through overages down the line.

As such, Sprint's "use and enjoy our product, please" rhetoric mirrors comments we've seen from Sprint partner Clearwire, and is in in stark and refreshing contrast to AT&T's continual complaining about people actually using their product. Of course, Sprint's looking up at both AT&T and Verizon as an underdog and needs any advantage they can get, while a company like AT&T has the power, size and market position to frankly not give a damn whether or not you think their caps are fair.

view: topics flat text 
Post a:
steveymacjr

join:2001-01-25
Matthews, NC

Article not very clear

I just wanted to point out there is no 3G data cap with the Sprint EVO 4G, even if you use it as a Hotspot...
stanleycr1

join:2008-12-02
Ivor, VA

Re: Article not very clear


Where does it say that?? I thought there was a 5 Gig cap on 3g use even on a 4g plan.
kxrm

join:2002-07-18
Fort Worth, TX

Re: Article not very clear

No caps currently for any EVO phone, it's be stated over and over again, the caps are strictly for notebook cards.
talz13

join:2006-03-15
Avon Lake, OH

Re: Article not very clear

said by kxrm:

No caps currently for ANY PHONE, it's be stated over and over again, the caps are strictly for notebook cards.
fixed

AmeritecTech
Change we can believe in, 1922
Premium
join:2002-09-06
Houston, TX
kudos:6

Re: Article not very clear

said by talz13:

said by kxrm:

No caps currently for ANY PHONE, it's be stated over and over again, the caps are strictly for notebook cards.
fixed
And also for tethering...though it is getting harder and harder for them to detect it.
--
"Independent thinkers tend to ALWAYS have someone Not agreeing with them. It's The non-thinkers that ALWAYS come in legions."
-John Callari
wispalord

join:2007-09-20
Farmington, MO
it says it online and every where thats the selling point
Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

Att laptop plans are 5gb then $0.05 per meg.

Att laptop plans are 5gb then $0.05 per meg.

Dagda1175

join:2001-06-17
Goleta, CA

(but not smartphone users)

That doesn't seem to be true. All the fine print I was given points out 5 GB on sprint no matter what device, though that was before 4G was available.
steveymacjr

join:2001-01-25
Matthews, NC

1 edit

Re: (but not smartphone users)

There is Unlimited 3G/4G data for the EVO 4G
Look at this link: »now.sprint.com/firsts/evo4g/#/plans/
It states Unlimited data...
If thats not good enough check out this link as well: »shop.sprint.com/en/shop/why_spri···ils.html
Both state Unlimited Data on the Sprint Network..this is the reason for the $10 fee...
hottboiinnc
ME

join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

3g

3g cap is NOT enforced though. That should be noted.

Jim_in_VA

join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA
kudos:3

No cap on my Sprint plan

Unlimited data with my Sprint phone and plan - I can tether it to a router or laptop ... no 5GB limit.
--
... need help? »evdo-tips.com/

hareDROID

@chase.com

lol ATT

ATT is going down with that new IPHONE "DEATHGRIP FEATURE" That drop calls if you dont hold it a certain way. Sprint has been pretty cool I cant get my bill down for some reason though lol.
cw30000

join:2008-07-11

Re: lol ATT

said by hareDROID :

ATT is going down with that new IPHONE "DEATHGRIP FEATURE" That drop calls if you dont hold it a certain way. Sprint has been pretty cool I cant get my bill down for some reason though lol.
Never underestimate the power of the new religion and it's leader (Job's Apple Koolaid). Fanboys will ignore it or denying it ever exist. Or they just have obey's Job's order, start a new revolution and hold the phone a different way.

benc
Premium
join:2007-06-17
Glen Carbon, IL

Sprint Can't Afford to Cap

     Not on WiMax anyway.  The way I see it is that this is their competitive advantage.  They need all the advantages they can get.
sonicmerlin

join:2009-05-24
Cleveland, OH
kudos:1

Burstein

He also noted that caps may not even be necessary. With modern network management techniques and the increasingly cheaper cost of bandwidth, caps become rather unnecessary.

Besides, caps don't really address the issue of congestion during peak hours. Outside of the 3-5 hour evening peak period, why should people be restricted in their usage habits?

jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Ashburn, VA

Pushing the Limit with My HTC EVO

While certainly not what I anticipate being my average usage, I have burned through about 3GB in the last week streaming the Tour de France and British Open (as of today) each morning with my Slingbox over a 3G connection. This phone is a dream come true, but only if the caps stay very high or remain unlimited as I am using it now.

I do see 4G in areas near me, but my office is just barely out of reach, and this is where I spend a majority of my time. Now, if I only had a personal bathroom and break room, with the streaming TV, it's almost like working remotely from home.
WHT

join:2010-03-26
kudos:3

Re: Pushing the Limit with My HTC EVO

You work in your bathroom at home?

I digress...I have four Sprint Palm Treo PRO phones with WiFiRouter app and a USB data card. All on a shared four year old grandfathered data plan with no limits. Truly unlimited is literally worth its weight in gold.

jmn1207
Premium
join:2000-07-19
Ashburn, VA

Re: Pushing the Limit with My HTC EVO

said by WHT:

You work in your bathroom at home?
Occasionally, but whenever I have to use the bathroom at home, it's not closed for cleaning. Too bad there isn't a high-paying job finding janitors, because whenever I have to pee, I guarantee they can be found cleaning the bathroom.

MSauk
MSauk
Premium
join:2002-01-17
Sandy, UT
Reviews:
·Vonage
I thought Sprints network speed was very solid. Their 4G when I was in Utah on a layover using 4G was great as well.

Sprint has really turned around their service without a doubt, plus their prices can't be beat right now.

Contract is up in Sept with Verizon, moving the family over to Sprint at that time
--
801 Images

nightwalker
Nightwalker

join:1999-08-07
Chicago, IL

3 edits

what i don't like about 4g

My only complaints about 4G phones, is that you cannot order 3G only. They charge $10 extra per month, and there is no way to just keep your existing 3G service for the upgrade.

I am happy with 3G speed, and don't feel like paying extra for 4G speed, when for the most part, I only have 3G coverage. With 3G I get from 500-1000kbit/s, which is ample for my needs.

--
»www.reverse.net

Alcohol
Premium
join:2003-05-26
Climax, MI
kudos:3

Re: what i don't like about 4g

Don't buy a 4g phone then. Sprint has plenty of non 4g phones.
--
I found the key to success but somebody changed the lock.

w0g
o.O

join:2001-08-30
Springfield, OR

Re: what i don't like about 4g

the extra fee isn't for 4G access, either. it's a 'premium data' fee for phones that they believe use more data than traditional ones, and is basically a price increase/tier system to offset anticipated higher usage.

nightwalker
Nightwalker

join:1999-08-07
Chicago, IL

Re: what i don't like about 4g

It seems its only for the EVO 4G phone. I refuse to upgrade to EVO and pay $10 more for the 'experience'
--
»www.reverse.net

w0g
o.O

join:2001-08-30
Springfield, OR

Re: what i don't like about 4g

EVO is the first phone it applies to, but Sprint has said it will also be required for others in the future. For what all it is justified to cover I'm not sure, because there are already phones with most of the capabilities of the evo, ie web browsing, etc. But the EVO is the first with webcam chat capabilities, HD video recording, YouTube HD and other HD playback, large full-screen web browser, flash support (I think, maybe that's Froyo...), plus 4G network access. Naturally they probably won't ever push it onto strictly 3G customers but they claim the fee is really aimed to cover the premium data usage capabilities rather than just 4G access itself, therefore it's not optional.
cw30000

join:2008-07-11
said by w0g:

the extra fee isn't for 4G access, either. it's a 'premium data' fee for phones that they believe use more data than traditional ones, and is basically a price increase/tier system to offset anticipated higher usage.
You read the definition wrong. "Premium Data", according to Sprint, has nothing to do with data. It is for the hardware of the phone, or 4G. Although they denied it, since Dan said 4G is free.
uteck

join:2009-12-30
I have been getting marketing material from Clear for months, and Sprint's site says my area of the Chicago suburbs is very well covered. But I can't get a 4G signal at home, even outside, and at work I can barely get 4G and if I put the phone down it loses it.

I'll whine at Sprint one of these days and see if I can get something out of them for the misleading 4G coverage map.
kxrm

join:2002-07-18
Fort Worth, TX

Re: what i don't like about 4g

Clear modules do better then phones, it's an antenna issue. The device is just much smaller then Clear devices.

Van
Premium
join:2009-07-08
New Orleans, LA

The minute it becomes popular I am sure we will

see a ridiculous cap followed by a statement about how consumers win with the cap and that is proven by the fact that nobody in the universe has ever gone over the small cap per Sprint

So, it is completely fair

ringadingdon

@sbcglobal.net

los angeles

can anyone recommend sprint service in comparison to verizon in the LA area ? verizon rules but how far behind is sprint ?

theCLEARblog

@comcast.net

No Caps

Clear 4G WiMAX is proud to remain without data limits and caps. A statement about tiered pricing was posted about a month ago on the official blog. They have detailed maps also to whether you fall in a 3g or 4g zone. You can find all of this from their website or theCLEARblog-dot-com.

Thursday, 24-May 05:10:47 Terms of Use & Privacy | feedback | contact | Hosting by nac.net - DSL,Hosting & Co-lo
over 12.5 years online © 1999-2012 dslreports.com.