Sprint at the start of next week will execute several major changes to their plans structure and sales, as well as introduce up to four new Vision-class phones. As standard procedure for Sprint, these changes are expected to take place on Sunday, giving stores time to adjust to the measures. Read more for the details…
Phones
Sprint is expected to launch up to four new phones next week. The phones are expected to be the Motorola C290, Nokia 6165i, Sanyo 3100, and Samsung A580. Some stores are already reporting taking stock of the Motorola C290. All four phones are Vision devices, and aimed at the low and mid-range user.
Plans
Continuing with the transition to Sprint Nextel, Sprint will remove several rate plans from the Nextel side of the company. This includes offerings in the Power Plans, Team Share Plans, and Local Instant Connect Plans.
Sprint will also be moving to force customers to sign two-year agreements. Free Incoming Minute plans will now require a two-year plan making Sprint’s Free & Clear Area-wide plan the only one-year offering. This will leave the carrier without a national plan available without a two-year contract. In addition, Free Incoming CDMA plans will be reduced to an entry level of $39.99, and will include a no-roaming charge option. Free Incoming overages will increase to $.45 per month.
Also, Nextel customers will benefit from further parity between rate plans, as Fair & Flexible for Families will now be fully offered. However, to encourage customers to use CDMA, additional lines will be $20 instead of $10. But, as an added benefit, Nextel F&F for Families will include walkie-talkie on all lines.
Add-On Plans
Attempting to add more premium services, and posture itself to be more agressive in the PTT market, Sprint will lower the cost of PTT services dramatically. Nextel local walkie-talkie will be only $5, as will be unlimited ReadyLink per-line.
Vision packs will be changing as well. Sprint will unify existing Vision Packs into a single $15 Sprint PCS Vision Pack. This will include Picture & Video Mail, as well as Sprint TV. Power Vision packs will not change with this offering, and will continue at their different levels of service offerings. Nextel data plans will also be unified for consumers with a $15 plan similar to the Sprint PCS Vision Pack.
