Why is internet on other providers so expensive?

[zeitgeist]

It seems that other providers such as Cingular, and Verizon (which both have more subscribers than Sprint?) charge a lot more for internet data plans. I'm curious why this is, or maybe I'm looking at the wrong plan, or does Sprint have the best prices?

[The SPCS Guy]

They are money grubbin providers. They charge it, because people will pay it. Why do you think Sprint raised their Unlimited Text messaginig fee to $15. Time to PLAY THE GAME! Why should Cingular and VZ get all the profits, while Sprint discounts their services?

JE

[zeitgeist]

lol. I was reading VerizonWireless.Com and they have an unlimited data plan for $44/per phone. Outrageous, compared to Vision which is unlimited.

[vporter]

As much as I want to switch to Cingular, Sprint data plans keep me. I can't imagine paying $20 for unlimited data and still not get unlimited texts when I get all that for $10.

[danny.boi]

lol. I was reading VerizonWireless.Com and they have an unlimited data plan for $44/per phone. Outrageous, compared to Vision which is unlimited.



PHONES:

Verizon Wireless charges $ 15 for unlimited Mobile Web 2.0 with VCAST where available.

They also have a plan that allows you to use you plan minutes towards data use for $ 4.99 per month. Of course, nights and weekends are completely free with this plan.

Many legacy customers who have a NA MOU rate code added to their plan are able to browse the web using their plan minutes without subscribing to a data plan.

The above plans are designed for phone use only. Any customers who claim to use the above plans on a PDA or via wired or bluetooth tethering risk being held accountable for abusing the terms of agreement they originally signed for. Some customers who have circumvented the original use of their data plans by tethering have had no negative recourse while others have been charged a heavy fine after getting away with it for so long.

As always, your mileage may vary. :)


BLACKBERRY/PDA SMARTPHONE PLANS:

You can subsribe to the following data plans:

10 MB: $ 29.99 per month
Unlimited Data Use: $ 49.99 per month

or bundled VOICE/DATA packages:

450 Anytime Minutes. Unlimited IN Calling. Unlimited Night/Weekend Minutes. Unlimited Data Use. $ 79.99 per month.

1,350 Anytime Minutes. Unlimited IN Calling. Unlimited Night/Weekend Minutes.
Unlimited Data Use. $ 109.99 per month.

4,000 Anytime Minutes. Unlimited IN Calling. Unlimited Night/Weekend Minutes.
Unlimited Data Use. $ 169.99 per month.


DATA CARD:

National Access: Unlimited Data Use. $ 59.99 per month.

Broadband Access (EVDO) + National Access: Unlimited Data Use: $ 59.99 per month with voice plan or $ 79.99 without.

[Jake]

Not all are more expensive, I have US Cellular and it is $5 for unlimited data (I just got retention, but its normally $10) and unlimited texting is $2.98... I'm pretty sure Alltel is in that price range as well.

[the2ndflood]

It seems that other providers such as Cingular, and Verizon (which both have more subscribers than Sprint?) charge a lot more for internet data plans. I'm curious why this is, or maybe I'm looking at the wrong plan, or does Sprint have the best prices?


Sprint year after year is ranked highest when it comes to their mobile Internet access. They are geniuses! They offer nicely priced, Unlimited web access, and that get their customers to buy High-End phones, use the Internet to buy content, and lets them add new Techie customers like me, who use their Treo's web access more then the voice. Plus they know they have the dependability and capacity to allow for this. This also allows them to have the second highest monthly rate per users, right behind Nextel (When they were their own company).

Russell

[the2ndflood]

Not all are more expensive, I have US Cellular and it is $5 for unlimited data (I just got retention, but its normally $10) and unlimited texting is $2.98... I'm pretty sure Alltel is in that price range as well.


Alltel is not unlimited. They detect from your minutes of use. Plus you can not use a Smart-Device with those plans. Does US Cellular allow you to use your smart-Device with that web access price and without deducting from your minutes?

[the2ndflood]

As much as I want to switch to Cingular, Sprint data plans keep me. I can't imagine paying $20 for unlimited data and still not get unlimited texts when I get all that for $10.


Why would you ever want to switch to Cingular? What do they have that Sprint doesn't? From what I know, nothing. Plus their PDA data plan is $45 a month! That is horrible!

[Matt]

She is interested in using unlocked phones.

[the2ndflood]

She is interested in using unlocked phones.


Oh, that makes sense. I really don't like those SIM cards though. I love the idea if I was to lose my phone, No one can ever use it again. With my old T-mobile and Cingular phones, that did not apply. I have used Cingular before, and trust me, it is not worth switching to. Everyone I have known and now know, hates them, but they don't want to pay anything to break the contract. That was not a problem for me, it was worth it.

Russell

[vporter]

She is interested in using unlocked phones.

Matt, you know me so well! :hug:

Sprint's unlimited Data with my treo is the only thing that keeps me around. Their CS is crap and they are very argumenitive, good reps are very few and far between. The second Cingular or TMo were to do a data/ text plan compareable to that of Sprint's, I would jump ship so fast you'd think the USS sprint was sinking.

[pdx77]

Oh, that makes sense. I really don't like those SIM cards though. I love the idea if I was to lose my phone, No one can ever use it again. With my old T-mobile and Cingular phones, that did not apply. I have used Cingular before, and trust me, it is not worth switching to. Everyone I have known and now know, hates them, but they don't want to pay anything to break the contract. That was not a problem for me, it was worth it.

Russell

What is wrong with SIM cards? I'm sorry, but I don't like the idea of being locked into a phone, and not being allowed to use any phone I want.

[vporter]

The fact that I can use any phone I want to without have to input 100+ numbers into everytime is such a wonderful thought. If only data plans were compareable!!

[mcurtiss1970]

i never understood why people think SIMs are so bad in terms of not being able to lock out someone's phone from future use. do people really pop a chubber from locking out an ESN when 9 times out of 10 they still won't get that phone back?

SIM card. ESN. either way, the phone is likely gone.

[Dale]

Matt, you know me so well! :hug:

Sprint's unlimited Data with my treo is the only thing that keeps me around. Their CS is crap and they are very argumenitive, good reps are very few and far between. The second Cingular or TMo were to do a data/ text plan compareable to that of Sprint's, I would jump ship so fast you'd think the USS sprint was sinking.

Yup, the CS department stinks more than a hog farm!!! I wrote to eCare several times and I had to correct his email since he kept on telling me that my account is a shared 2,000 minute plan for $30/mo - 30% ... Oh, I should have said ... okay, make it happen, but he was so confused, even a coinless parking meter had more sense than this guy!!! What an idiot. Even bozo the clown was smarter!!!

[Jake]

Does US Cellular allow you to use your smart-Device with that web access price and without deducting from your minutes?

Yeah, you can use PDAs also for $10, and it does not take away from your minutes.

[the2ndflood]

Matt, you know me so well! :hug:

Sprint's unlimited Data with my treo is the only thing that keeps me around. Their CS is crap and they are very argumenitive, good reps are very few and far between. The second Cingular or TMo were to do a data/ text plan compareable to that of Sprint's, I would jump ship so fast you'd think the USS sprint was sinking.

Cingular and T-Mobile CS aren't that great. T-mobile is a bit better, but Cingular is worse.

[pdx77]

Cingular and T-Mobile CS aren't that great. T-mobile is a bit better, but Cingular is worse.

I wouldn't really say that. I've had no problems with T-Mobile CS at all. Now on the other hand, I always had tons of issues when I called in to SprintPCS.

But it's all a matter of personal opinion, what works for you doesn't mean will work for others.

[Matt]

Yepp that's true.

That is why I do not bash other carriers (or phones for that matter). That said, Sprints customer service was awful in my opinion.

Whatever works for you.

[the2ndflood]

I wouldn't really say that. I've had no problems with T-Mobile CS at all. Now on the other hand, I always had tons of issues when I called in to SprintPCS.

But it's all a matter of personal opinion, what works for you doesn't mean will work for others.

Very true. I have never had any problems with Sprint's CS though. But would you at least say Cingular's CS is worse? For me, they were the worst.

[vporter]

I used to have TMO back in 99 and they were great... except for a small $700 roaming fiasco, but in the end we forgave each other. :p So far all my friends with Cingular have nothing but nice things to say. I still have time to decide, but everyday Cingular looks better and better. I just wish Sprint would get off their asses and put out a small phone instead of these bricks they always put out (except for the Treo and other PDA phones... there's a reason for that size.) Even though the blade strikes me as a generic razor knock off, I'm just glad to see a phone that will not suggest I carry a back up weapon while I'm at work.

Dammit Sprint...size does matter and only in this case, the smaller the better!

[mcurtiss1970]

But would you at least say Cingular's CS is worse? For me, they were the worst.

in my experience, Cingular's reps are way better at solving any issues than Sprint's reps could. i've called them at least 4 times already- quick and easy solutions with very easy to understand communication (meaning- i could understand what they were saying)