Sprint PCS Becomes 'Fair and Flexible'

[SU-News]

Sprint PCS is launching a new calling plan today dubbed 'Fair and Flexible,' which is designed for low-usage customers who may exceed their monthly bucket of anytime minutes. Customers who purchase this 300-minute plan will pay $2.50 per 25-50 overage minute increments. Read more about it here (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2004-05-03-cellmates_x.htm).

[mcurtiss1970]

"The flexible plan is part of a broad Sprint strategy to make its service more customer friendly. It will be backed by a major ad campaign starting next week. Other new features let customers:
......
• Get a $150 rebate on a new phone after using their phone for 18 months. "

Interesting that they call the 18-month rebate new.

[TechGeek]

We've seen this coming for a while now, we're just not sure if it will be a huge hit or a miserable failure, I think it will be a big help to the "yo-yo" usage customers.

I also wonder if this is in retaliation to Cingular's (that's who has it, right?) rollover minutes?

[steveymacjr]

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — May 03, 2004
Sprint (NYSE: FON) today introduced a break-out strategy aimed at permanently changing the wireless industry for the better, the first in a series of company-wide initiatives that promise to significantly improve the total experience for new and existing Sprint customers nationwide. Today’s announcement changes the way customers will experience wireless – from purchase to care - and sets the stage for a fundamental shift in the way Sprint approaches all of its product and service offerings.

The new Sprint PCS Fair & FlexibleSM Plan is the wireless industry's first pricing plan available to customers nationwide that adjusts automatically to meet a customer's usage month to month while eliminating high overage charges. It is the first of many changes that illustrate the company's transformation to a customer-facing organization. Taking its cue from the customer, Sprint has shattered wireless industry norms by launching a plan that responds directly to customers' desires for the industry to change things for the better.

"Sprint's heritage of innovation comes to life in our new plan and represents a bold departure from standard industry practices," said Len Lauer, the company's president and chief operating officer. "Today's changes are expected to provide the foundation upon which Sprint continues to grow its strong competitive position and deliver strong financial performance. With this new offering complementing our lineup of traditional priced plans, we expect to add to our share of customer decisions and sustain our strong average revenue per customer."

The Sprint PCS Fair & Flexible Plan represents an entirely new way to buy wireless and is built on the tenet that people should not have to guess how many minutes they will use. Customers won't pay penalizing overage anymore for going over their minutes, and they won't pay too much for plans with hundreds of minutes they never use.

Further evidence of Sprint's commitment to improving the total customer experience is its investment in the network, initiatives to dramatically improve customer service and the expansion of its Sprint Store locations.

Sprint PCS Fair & Flexible is a tiered pricing plan providing a base 300 Anytime Minutes for $35 a month, then automatically adds more Anytime Minutes in 25- or 50-minute increments for just $2.50. (Pricing may vary.)

"Many customers who have varying phone usage from month to month or experience high overage charges will find value in the Sprint PCS Fair & Flexible Plan," Lauer said. "Because it will alleviate many of the issues customers have had with traditional wireless plans, Sprint believes the long-term customer loyalty will become even stronger. "

In the old wireless world, new customers were treated differently from current customers. Beyond a new pricing strategy, Sprint has taken a holistic look at the way it treats all of its customers, old and new. Sprint has changed this practice for the better – breaking from standard wireless-industry practice and giving many benefits granted to new customers to long-time customers. In addressing direct customer feedback, Sprint developed the Sprint PCS Better Wireless Guarantee:

Sprint PCS Better Wireless Guarantee
The Sprint PCS Better Wireless Guarantee is Sprint's commitment to ensuring that new and existing customers are completely satisfied with their service, plan and equipment.

For new customers, the Sprint PCS Better Wireless Guarantee takes the risk out of buying wireless phones because they have the flexibility to return the phone or select a different calling plan that will better meet their needs. Existing customers also have more flexibility to change pricing plans and can leverage the phone upgrade program to stay on the cutting edge of wireless technology as Sprint continuously offers new, innovative phones and devices that use the latest applications.

Sprint PCS New For YouSM Upgrade Program – Existing customers are eligible for a mail-in rebate of up to $150 towards the purchase of a new phone, once their old phone has been activated on their account for 18 months.
Sprint PCS 14-Day Satisfaction Guarantee – Customers who are not completely satisfied with their service can return their undamaged phone for a full refund within 14 days of activation.
Sprint PCS Right Plan Promise - Within the first three months of signing a Sprint PCS Advantage Agreement, new and existing customers can change their service plan to a plan with an equal term without incurring any fees or having to extend or renew the agreement.
New Advertising
In early May, new consumer advertising will launch nationwide that is representative of Sprint's new customer-focused wireless plans. In the summer, Sprint will unveil a campaign designed to promote benefits to business customers, specifically focusing on solving business problems by providing useful, innovative and unmatched communications solutions.
For a graphic detailing the Sprint PCS Fair & Flexible Plan, please go to the online media kit at http://www3.sprint.com/PR/CDA/PR_CDA_Press_Kits_Detail/0,3685,158,00.html.

Sprint management will hold a conference call today with industry analysts to discuss the Sprint PCS Better Wireless Guarantee and the Sprint PCS Fair & Flexible Plan. Sprint management will not discuss financial information on this call.

Wow, SPrints going all out with this, even calling a conference call. It says new advertising, and a new campaign. I wonder if this means no more sprint guy, or if he's being refocused, hehe fair and flexible guy LOL.. oh i tried using that link to get the press graphic, but it doesn't work. bummer:(

[Mario9086]

An AWESOME plan for customer that may have small usage one month and a large amount of usage the next month!!!!