Sprint, within the next 60 days, will begin to aggressively pursue customers that excessively roam or use too much data. Previously, Sprint has not had hard caps on these components. However, internal documents show that Sprint will put caps on both.
Specifically, customers that use more than 5 GB of data, or roam more than 800 minutes in a month, are subject to termination of service.
The company’s change is in-line with the rest of the industry. Nearly every national carrier has a 5 GB cap on consumer and business data usage per line. Verizon Wireless has even put into place overage charges for going over the 5 GB limit. AT&T was the first carrier to terminate customers for excessive roaming.
Customers will not be subject to an Early Termination Fee for leaving the carrier, and will be offered time to resolve their account, as well as port their phone number to another service provider.
Clarification on the data: they will poteneially terminate users who use over 5 GB of ROAMING data.
That is incorrect Jonny. The internal documents state that the limit is a soft cap of 5GB per month on the Sprint network or 300MB when using data while roaming. Blatant, excessive usage after repeated warnings will result in termination.
From what I have read on other sites, it seems like its a 5GB cap on ALL data and 300MB on roaming.
I stand corrected. I misread the memo.
Will this affect EVDO network cards for laptops or just phones/smart phones? I bought a Sony TZ specifically to have internet anywhere, anytime for surfing, work, etc.
Yes, the policy will apply to all phones, smart devices, and mobile broadband cards (including integrated mobile broadband cards). Essentially, it covers all devices.
With all due respect Christopher Price, where exactly did you get this information to validate that claim, yes I am well aware of the internal memo floating around, but have you verified that memo to be true and accurate?
Sorry, we have a long-standing policy of not commenting on sources. However, I will say that we have a high standard of retrieving independent confirmation on all general news before reporting on it.
i dont think we have to worry
5 gb of data on a phone or smartphone is ALOT
I use vision alot and i have only used a few megs in a month
So the SE plans have a cap too? So much for not worry about the meter running, just when you think they are making progress another step backwards
[…] will continue a trend of purging customers by cracking down on customers who roam excessively and who use more than 5GB of data. It’s like Sprint wants to continue losing a million customers a quarter. Seriously, though, […]
so how do you find how many bites ( kb, mb,gb ) you are using monthy so can avoid going to exceeding the 5gb o
Go to “My Account” on the Vision Home page and then “Current Usage” or logon from a pc and check usage detail. I didn’t get a tally of data usage until after the Ensemble migration so maybe they planned this all along
To HELL with charging what the market bears. Set yourself apart Sprint. If you that concerned with what the others are doing start offering more free phones and/or lower the prices on exixsting phones like ALL the others are doing.
DonLouie – unfortunately, that doesn’t work for laptop cards. On phones, do you have any idea how the page works? It says my mogul has used “2270” in just 3 days. Is that 2270 bytes? k? MB? I hope it’s not MB or I’m dead.
So when does this go into effect. Would I be subject to the ETF if I cancel their breach of contract, by setting a limit to the unlimited data card plan?
This will be very concerning to all the Public Safety Users out there. Fire, EMS, Police, Sheriff, etc. If they can’t get data because of the cap during a major incident (think hurricanes, major wildfires, national political conventions, etc) – – food for thought!
Nina, no customer will be terminated instantly. You will receive multiple notices before your service is cut off.
To “Christopher Price”… Incorrect. One of my lines was canceled without notification for excessive data on an “unlimited” phone as a modem plan. They would only restore service if I agreed to the 5 gb limit and warned that the account would be monitored and on a probationary status. Been with sprint over 12 years! Simple corporate extortion. Pure greed. Cutting costs and services to increase profit is the mark of a doomed company. Now sprint has nothing but it’s age to set it apart from the herd… Guess whats for dinner?
Lance, the comment was posted over two-and-a-half years ago. Things change.
However, this is the first report we’ve heard of Sprint ever cutting off a customer without warning for excessive data use. Sprint continues to tell us that they notify customers before-hand, and that it requires multiple months of notification before any such action is taken.
It’s quite possible they tried to call you multiple times, and simply could not reach you.