Sprint today has announced a new Mobile Broadband plan, aimed at lighter data users. The plan aims to match the $39.99 plan recently released by Verizon Wireless. Verizon offers a $39.99 plan that was at 50 MB, but increased that to 250 MB upon the launch of their variant of the HP Mini netbook.
The new plan from Sprint doubles Verizon’s 250 MB, to 500 MB for $39.99/month.
Moreover however, overage rates are being cut dramatically. Users will only pay $.05 per MB for overages. 100 MB of additional data is now only $5.
Unfortunately, the plan is only available to corporate-liable customers, and is not being offered to consumers at this time. You will need a federal tax ID to sign up for this plan. The plan is compatible with all Sprint Mobile Broadband cards, and laptops with integrated Sprint Mobile Broadband
Many, myself included, think that 5GB is a light user. Oh well.
Is the only requirement the tax ID? Anyone can register online at the IRS and get a EIN instantly. Just claim “sole proprietorship” http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html
$5 for 100MB… oh well a fabulous deal… so what happens when you go over by 5GB, which is super easy to do if you are a heavy user. $250 overage charge! Heck it would be easier to subscribe to 3 or 4 cards and swap them out every week.
As someone who works on the go constantly, I’m always using my card for daily usage. 5GB is nothing for a month, especially with all these sites with Java and Flash usage. Sprint needs a real plan for heavy users and they need it now. 4G is still years away.
“The 5GB Joke”
Example:
@5GB
In 30 days, by visiting 7-8 Sites per day, with “zero” downloads = 2GB
Add “30” PowerPoint file downloads=2GB+1GB=3GB
Add a “600MB” PDF Torrent file, doubles usage to “1.2 GB” = 4.2GB
No Youtube visits!
@10GB
10 GB would allow
add “one” 4.7GB DVD 120 min download/upload +4.2GB = 8.9GB
add “200” MP3 download/upload @ 1 GB + 8.9 GB= 10GB
The websites today, are flash intense/heavy, no longer 2000 era tech-data standards, 10GB should be the minimum choice/option @ $40 per month.
VZ started the “5GB Unlimited”, the rest in the tradition of “price fixing”, jumped on the bandwagon, and no one, no FCC filed a law suit for falls advertising of the word “Unlimited”!
Anyone say “LOB-corruption”??
ThanK You
A $39.99 plan has been around for years, but it was very limited- 30 mb if I remember right. It’s been around since the 1xRTT days where it wasn’t common at all to use 30mb in a month.
Sprint saw a clear need for a plan that meets the needs of Corporate Liable business users whose data usage is moderate.