During a webcast this afternoon, Sprint and Palm confirmed that the forthcoming Palm Pre will require the Everything plan lineup for purchase and activation in the vein of the Samsung Instinct.
This means that the phone will be limited to the 450 minute ($69.99), 900 minute ($89.99) or unlimited plans ($99.99) along with the Everything Family plans at 1500 minutes ($129.99), 3000 minutes ($169.99) or unlimited ($189.99).
Business customers will be able to pool their minutes together using 5 different plans. No mention was made of other plan types such as SERO, its successor plan lineup or other more obscure plan types such as Third Party or Advantage Club.
The reasoning behind the requirement was the same reasoning given for the Instinct, that is, the company did not want people buying voice only plans and end up surprised by potential data usage charges. In the same call, availability was once again reiterated for the first half of this year, though no specific availability information was given.
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Hmmm, correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t they say that it had to be a plan which had unlimited data? I have a family plan, with unlimited data, text etc, and I was under the impression that this plan would be fine. (124/month)
If its listed under the Everything plan lineup, you should be fine.
It doesn’t need to be listed under everything plan lineup at all. The only exclusion will sero.
Few Sprint customers change plans when renewing their contracts.
I spoke at length with account services about this and they already marked my account for Pres in June. I have a three line family account that is not an everything, in fact data is free as “evdo casual.” They said I am fine for Pre (she was not confusing it with Pro). They apparently already have guidance. Only sero is out.
If the Pre will require an “Everything” Plan, only the plans listed will work. If a customer wants to upgrade to the Instinct and they are not on an Everything Plan, they MUST change their plan. It is not possible to activate the Instinct on anything else.It would make sense for Sprint to do this with the Pre (and future model devices), as the Everything Plans are in line with Sprint business goal as far as data is concerned. Check with Account Services and ask if you can activate an Instinct on a Fair and Flexible or free incoming plan.Even with a data plan, I guarantee the answer is “NO”.
So does anyone have any proof or facts that this will not work with SERO plans? I hope that’s not the case or I will just go with verizon since then there is no point in staying with them.
I would speculate that you would need to be on an Employee Plus Plan in order to have the Pre (for those of you who do not know, Employee Plus is the new SERO). While these plans are not the same price as the original SERO, they are still a great value. These plans were designed to be the equivalent of the Everything Plans, just a little less expensive. Therefore, the Pre should work as long as you get on the new Employee Plus plans (or SERO).
I love how people think “well, my account is NOTED so I will be exempt from the Everything Plan requirement!”. Then when the Pre is launched, they are forced to change and wonder why. The WebOS obviously uses the data a LOT. Sprint does not want people on voice only plans, and they only want them on plans that include data so there is no way to remove the data portion. If you are on some old plan that has a data add-on, it simply will not work..at all. Sprint knows the interest in this phone is bigger than any phone they ever had, so they will capitalize on it and demand people on older plans switch to the new ones. It will most certainly be locked down in the system so that even if someone tried to get that old plan to stick, it wont take.
I can see how a customer would be mad at that, but I applaud Sprint for it. It will get customers off these old plan with free this and free that and force customers to modernize their plan, which should bump up ARPU. People cried foul at the Instinct for this same tactic, but I don’t see an issue with it. Its a smart move on Sprint’s part.
The SERO plan has unlimited data. Plus how is the data on a data add-on plan different than the everything plan? It is still the same data being used and it is unlimited. I don’t know how a data add-on won’t work except for the fact they want you to pay more for the same data. Can anyone explain this to me?
As Dave said, Sprint is looking to increase it’s ARPU. While it is the same data being used, there are a lot of data plans out there that don’t include the same things (i.e. Sprint TV, Navigation, Sprint Music, etc). Plus there are a lot of customers with data plans that are $10, $5, or even free. Sprint is a business like any other. They need to make money. The Everything Plans are the best value in wireless. Nobody can beat the price AND offer the same features.
Very goo point yoda. Thats very true. Do you think sprint Sero plans should be excluded? Or what if they offer it to sero but require an extra charge, would that work out?
JJ, the difference is that the Everything Data & Simply Everything plans have the data built into the plan. You cannot remove it off the plan. If someone has an old plan with a data add-on, the data plan can be taken off the plan. That’s the difference. Sprint doesnt want someone to remove the data off the plan if they own a Pre since its OS is basically on the web 24/7. Part of it is to simplify the plans and the other part is so they can make more money and get people off older plan that give data away for free or for really cheap. If Sprint had its choice, everyone would be on the new plans. The old plans are usually not as profitable for Sprint.
The Pre is gonna be a hot phone. If the iPhone has taught us anything, its that people will pay more per month if the phone is the “cool” thing to own. Its just smart business of Sprint. Sure, a small % of people will be upset or try to buck the system and activate the phone anyway, but it wont work. Some of them wont upgrade, and some of them will, which is the point Sprint is going for.
Yes, the old $30 SERO includes data, however only a fool would think Sprint would accept a Pre being on a $30 plan. I bet they wont let employees put it on their employee line or Advantage Club for a while too.
Dave, u r absolutely right. The only way anyone will be able to activate their new Pre is to comply by having a Simply Everything Plan period. No if, ands, or buts about it. Their following the same strategy they had with the Instinct.
“I can see how a customer would be mad at that, but I applaud Sprint for it. It will get customers off these old plan with free this and free that and force customers to modernize their plan, which should bump up ARPU. People cried foul at the Instinct for this same tactic, but I don’t see an issue with it. Its a smart move on Sprint’s part.”-Dave
Man that bs if ive ever heard. one of the reasons i dont get the iphone is because of the rediculous monthly plan. im not spending $80 a month on a phone especially if i never go over my minutes of 200. sprint is just finally getting some good phones(ex.pre, touch pro2, diamond2) being cdma we cant import phones because the rest of the civilized world is on gsm network. sprint is fighting an uphill battle with gsm and they do something STUPID like this. im on a $29.99 w/200min $20 for internet w/300 text msg. y should i get the everything plan if i hardly text or go over my minutes. im not interested in this phone because the touch pro2 is around the corner. but i did the math im better off buying the phone off ebay than getting a new contract with features i dont want. DONT BE LIKE AT&T! give people affordable cell phone plans and phones that can compete with the iphone because t-mo is starting to look good..
My problem is that I am currently on a family plan. My line has the $15 data plan, but my wife’s line does not. She never uses data and has no interest in data. Plus, we never go over our 500 minutes. According to this, I would have to change my plan to one that gives me 1000 minutes more than I need plus data on a line that doesn’t need it for $40 dollars more each month. How is that worth it?
Hey latino, i understand sprint trying to make more money, but when a company raises their prices their customer service and coverage should get better also. I still dont see that happening with sprint. Especially since i still cant make a call when im in a building. I don’t think i should have to pay extra for a service that hasnt improved. I dont understand these people that “applaud” sprint for forcing a higher cost plan down their throats. Maybe you guys are made of money or just simply work for sprint. I would understand paying extra, but when service still doesnt match the price why pay for more if it hasnt improved? Unless everything changes with the pre. But i doubt a new phone improves a companies service. Just look at the iphone.
I agree with latino 100%.
1st iPhone $20 for data. 2nd iPhone $30 for data. And both plans included no text messages. It sold millions. The higher plan worked for ATT and Apple. Hopefully it will work for Sprint and Palm.
Actually, the first iPhone included 200 text messages per month at the $20/month price point. Only GoPhone prepaid plans lacked the free 200 text messages on the original iPhone.
JJ, no carrier is going to tell you that calls can be made in buildings and if this continually happens it may be the device. I don’t see a problem with it as long as the phone itself isn’t expensive
Actually Don louie, verizon guarantees cell phone coverage in most buildings. And it is not the phone because it happens to my wife’s phone and my brother in laws phone which both have sprint and both have different phones. I also have an inpulse phone with verizon and I can use that phone in most buildings that sprint doesn’t get a signal in. So there is definitely room for improvement there for sprint.
Ken you have a good point there. The only way the price increase will work for sprint is if people really love the pre like they love the iphone and don’t care about lack in coverage or customer support. I have been with sprint for 8 years and I hope to stay with them a lot longer. The way I look at it, if your loyal to your cell company they should be loyal back. That is all that I’m asking. Plus with the economy the way it is I’m thinking twice before I spend any extra money, unless I get service that is worth a little more money.
Ya know, if it is true it is quite sad. Right now Sprint isn’t in a position to have control. Sprint needs to play catchup with AT&T and Verizon in the customer base area and the Pre would be a good way to do it. Sell a few million of these to non-existing customers and it would greatly help. By not allowing your existing customers to move to this phone and be potential sales people to all of their friends, all we are doing is spinning in circles. This is nothing more than another phone if they require an everything plan.
Plus my g/f wants one, and she has SERO.
Not sure if all SERO customers were turned away with the Instinct, but if the phone sells better than the Instinct with the everything plans I feel it will be a success for Sprint and Palm. And once again they need it.
For those people who say they don’t need/want to switch plans, then I suggest to NOT buy the Pre. Simple as that. If the plan you are on now suits you better, then stay on that plan. Sprint isn’t forcing you to buy a Pre.
So, is there a link to this webcast???
Your right, if my plan didn’t have data then i would have no problem changing plans. But my plan does have data and the data i use on my htc touch is not different than the data on the pre. I understand if i was on the old vision plan and i got a device that is power vision, then i see the reason for forcing a plan change. But its not like its going to be accessing a faster network with the pre.
The Pre will most likely have the same plan restrictions that the Instinct has. The plans for the Instinct and Pre most likely is as follows: For the individual, there is the everything data 450 min ($69.99), 900 min ($89.99) and Simply Everything ($99). For the Family, there is the 1500 min Everything Data ($129.99), 3000 min Everything Data ($169.99) and Simply Everything Family ($189.99). All of these plans include the following: Unlimited night and weekends starting at 7pm, unlimited Sprint-to-Sprint, free long distance and roaming (non-excessive), unlimited text, picture and video messaging, email (includes Blackberry BIS btw), internet, TV premier, Radio premier and navigation. Simply Everything of course is unlimited minutes. Company discounts can be used on these plans except for the Simpy Everything.
Another brilliant decision by Sprint. (sarcasm).
Palm has already confirmed they will have a GSM version shortly after the CDMA version. Just wait til the GSM version is released and pop your AT&T SIM card in. No need to play games with forced plans.
That’s the problem with CDMA- the carriers screw it up. It’s wouldn’t be bad if carriers didn’t screw it up.
For familys that have one person that uses data and the other person doesn’t, you would either have to switch the whole plan to the new family plan with data integrated or separate the lines into individual plans. One plan can be on the Everything Data 450 for example and the other line can be on whatever. For those that have data add-ons such as the $15 Vision Pack, those will not work because being that it’s an add-on, it can be removed easily. The new plans have data integrated so it’s impossible to take data off. Also the $15 data just includes web, email, basic TV and radio. It doesn’t include TV premier, Radio Premier or navigation.
SaltyDowg, AT&T does force plans on the Iphone and on all their PDA/smartphones. Verizon too. As a matter of fact, the Iphone forced plans are ridiculously high but yet it sells. Why would you own a device like the Pre with its WebOS and not have data on your plan?
“I can see how a customer would be mad at that, but I applaud Sprint for it. It will get customers off these old plan with free this and free that and force customers to modernize their plan, which should bump up ARPU. People cried foul at the Instinct for this same tactic, but I don’t see an issue with it. Its a smart move on Sprint’s part.â€-Dave
Sounds like you are on payroll, for the guy who needs more than 1.000.000 new accounts of minimum $30 just to pay for his $28.000.000 salary, hint initials D.H.!
Over 6.000.000 customers, have moved on since the introduction of the Instinct. Great marketing, since we are doing so good, why dont we force the remaining customers to minimum $70 everything plans,this way we can sustain the salary and secure it for a few years to come, since letting go of 8.000 employees last month only goes so far, in keeping the margin! Besides fewer customers is better, hence less need for csr and big time savings and don’t forget the B&W commercials starring D.H., no need to hire anybody else!! The bonus, that means we do not need new phones either, in fact during the last four months we have released 1 brand new phone! The stunning NEW Pink Instinct, and also 6 months of hype for the PRE, pre release rumors, and constant delays on the aPREs (apres french for after), also known as the PRO.(Of course meanwhile,the competition is standing still!!)
Sheer genius, to force the remaining loyal customers into higher cost plans,that should make them feel apreciated, since the economy is doing fantastic and people do not have any fincial concerns what so ever, except for how to spend the extra money!
After all, they can always feel free to leave! lol
Keep it up Sprint, if this pattern continues,sadly, logic dictates that your day’s are numbered,even though we the loyal customers, have helped you grow since 97!
Sorry fincial=financial !
Ro Said:
“SaltyDowg, AT&T does force plans on the Iphone and on all their PDA/smartphones. Verizon too. As a matter of fact, the Iphone forced plans are ridiculously high but yet it sells. Why would you own a device like the Pre with its WebOS and not have data on your plan?”
Yes, AT&T makes y9ou get an iPhone plan if you buy an iPhone from them. But if you buy an unlocked iPhone you can just pop your SIM in and it works without any special plan. And ifyou unlock your own iPhone and change plans, putting your SIM in will work just fine.
I am not saying I would not want data with the Pre. Obviously I would. But if I already had a plan that had data, why would I want to pay even more for the same data? if they want to require the phone to have data, fine, require it to have data. But they shouldn’t force anyone to change plans if they already have a data plan. Just build it into the system that the Pre requires a data plan, so nobody can drop the data add on. If they built it in the system that it requires an everything plan, they could have just as easily built it into the system that it requires a data plan.
It’s just Sprint gouging customers. They better hope Palm puts forth the billions in marketing that Apple did for the iPhone. Otherwise this could be another nail in Sprint’s coffin.
Like I said, I’ll just wait for the GSM version and pop my SIM in and not worry about changing plans. And that’s if I even get a Pre, I might just get the Touch Pro 2 and call it good.
“1st iPhone $20 for data. 2nd iPhone $30 for data. And both plans included no text messages. It sold millions. The higher plan worked for ATT and Apple. Hopefully it will work for Sprint and Palm.”- ken
it worked because the phone (at the time) is amazing. But now with the pre and the TOUCH PRO2 coming out sprint has a chance to get a bigger chunk of the market. sprint needs to remember that it is a CDMA carrier and it is at a disadvantage because the rest of the civilized world uses gsm. its like sprint brought a feather to a sword fight. i would get the daxian t32+ right now but since its a gsm phone i cant because it wont work. sprint needs to reward customers instead of canceling accounts for people that have complained in the past remember that?. SPRINT=MICKEY MOUSE CONPANY. wake up.
Ya it’s too bad Sprint is still bleeding customers but not as much as last year. Sprint does have a long road to recovery but at least they are moving in the right direction. F1, Sprint released early a ton of phones for the holidays as well as the Blackberry 8350i recently. The Palm Pro should be in stores starting today actually too. Yes it has been delayed several times but that was because of memory issues and other stuff related to Palm. The first batch of Verizon Storms released were plagued with issues and still suffers a high return rate. At least Sprint was waiting for the bugs to get fixed before finally releasing the Pro.
Ok so lets say for the sake of argument Sprint is gouging customers. How are they any different than AT&T and Verizon gouging customers? They are the third largest wireless carrier so who cares if they are or are not gouging customers. At least they are cheaper than Verizon and AT&T still. It is a smart business decision to require a new plan with the Pre. They are going to capitalize on the popularity of the phone and make some money to pull them out of the gutter. It worked with the Instinct as it was their fastest selling phone. Sure you can pop a SIM card in an unlocked Iphone and use it without data. You can take a Sprint phone, and flash it to another CDMA carrier if you wanted to as well. As far as not rewarding customers latinoartielange, keep in mind that with the new plans, you get full upgrade eligibility only after a year. Not two years like with any other carrier.
@ Ro:
We’ve been down this road before, so I won;t get too much into it. But I will say that Sprint is NOT always cheaper than AT&T and Verizon. Both AT&T and Verizon have cheaper plans than Sprint is requiring for the Pre. Sprint is cheaper in SOME cases, but AT&T and verizon are also cheaper in SOME cases. It looks like Sprint is doing to minimize the cases where Sprint is cheaper by forcing the customers who have bargain plans into the higher payin gplans. Not smart business from a company who is already struggling to hang onto customers.
And how is Sprint going to capitalize on the popularity of the Pre? The average joe on the streets has never even heard of the Pre. It worked with the iPhone because Apple spent BILLIONS in marketing, andthey already had a pretty good sized fanbase because of their iPods and Mac computers. Can Palm match any of that?
It did NOT work with the Instinct. Sprint has continued to lose millions of customers since the Instinct was launched. Granted, the instinct is a pretty crappy phone, especially compared to the Pre- but does the average joe know that?
And you are wrong on the iPhone. If you pop your SIM into an unlocked iPhone, data DOES work just fine.
As far as flashing your Sprint phone to another carrier, good luck getting it activated. Verizon sure won’t activate it. Some of the small regional carriers will, but Verizon won’t. And even if they would, it’s not the same as going to ebay, buying an unlocked phone, popping your SIM in, and using it right then- without ever calling the carrier. No need to worry about plans, no need for BS like Sprint is pulling making you change your plan to activate a phone.
@ Ro
Sprint released early a ton of phones for the holidays as well as the Blackberry 8350i recently.
1.Yes, Sprint was early,… all out of Amo, just as the season started and ever since,every one of the top Sprint releases has been matched, by “V” and “A”, in marketing, timing is everything!!
2.In addition Storm and Bold, both came as bonuses,and both were rumored along with Omnia Andro,and another HTC HD,…to be on their way to Sprint! Somehow the budget keeps falling short, and they keep getting lost along with a large number of employees!! This “Check is in the mail” excuse, is getting old!
3.8350i is a Nextel unit! (That was Mr.Shortsight’s gift, that keeps giving, I meant to say Mr.Forsee, the previous genious decision maker!)
Ro, Sprint used to be first with new tec phones, the loyal customers know what I am talking about, they started falling behind with the Moto Rzr, the rest is history.
I agree with Sawlty. Sprint right now has great plans that include data and are a great price. Why force these customers to pay more for the same data? If they do that the prices will be almost identical to verizon and if thats the case, why stick with them, unless coverage issues get resolved? Im trying what i can to stick with sprint but their not giving us much choice. I hope someone at sprint reads these posts and use the feedback for the better.
“Actually Don louie, verizon guarantees cell phone coverage in most buildings.”
Actually, JJ, they don’t. No cell carrier GUARANTEES in building coverage to the best of my knowledge. From the Customer Agreement on the VZW website:
How Service Works
Wireless phones use radio transmissions, so we can’t provide service when your phone isn’t in range of a transmission site used to provide service. Even within a coverage area, there are many factors, including network capacity, your phone, terrain, proximity to BUILDINGS, foliage and weather, that may impact availability and quality of service.
Also:
You agree we aren’t liable for problems caused by you or a third party; by BUILDINGS, hills, network congestion, tunnels, weather or other things we don’t control; or by any act of God.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?textName=CUSTOMER_AGREEMENT&jspName=footer/customerAgreement.jsp
Man, Verizon’s marketing (brainwashing?) is good!
Why force plans? Because they can. I dont think Sprint is really risking much here. If you dont want to switch your plan then you dont buy the Pre. I cant see people flocking away from Sprint for the sole reason of they couldnt buy the Pre and put it on their plan. People said forcing plans on the Instinct would kill Sprint and it became their most popular phone ever. Yes, Sprint is losing customers, but it sure inst because of forcing plans. Its about customer service mostly I’d wager.
Let’s summarize:
1. Sprint announces everything plans…basically everything plans give all features for a minimal price to make up for Sprint’s awful coverage. It’s a trade off…but at least there was the option to have this or not if you were a current Sprint owner.
2. Samsung announces that the Instinct will be exclusive to Sprint to compete with the iPhone.
3. Sprint is happy, Samsung is happy, current Sprint customers are happy.
4. Sprint capitalizes on this exclusivity and forces everything plans for the Instinct.
5. This screws over old loyal customers (ie: SERO customers, customers with freebies and perks on their plans bc they have been with the company for forever, etc. etc.)
6. Sprint pumps heavy marketing dollar in a futile effort to thwart the iPhone.
7. Early indications: The instinct is a success…sells well within the first month of release.
8. Later Indications: Instinct and Sprint in fact suck balls. The floodgates open. Customers who have had Sprint for two years around this time did not renew their contacts…they just got the iPhone. Brand new customers who bought into Sprint’s marketing of the Instinct realized Sprint’s crappy service and were able to cancel within the first 30 days and sign up for the iPhone. If they stuck with it for a little, they paid the ETF and sold their Instincts on Craigslist…thus starting the cycle over.
9. Sprint lost a CRAPLOAD of customers in Q3 and Q4 of 2008, and Q1 2009 ain’t looking much better.
10. The end result: The Instinct on Sprint was a failure. Not a bad phone, but no iPhone. Stupid Sprint pitted it against the iPhone and screwed over poor Samsung. Samsung never released the Instinct on any other network (although they are foolishly releasing an Instinct Mini….hmmmm weird).
11. The only customers left on Sprint are mainly old loyal customers again (who did not upgrade their old perky plans).
12. In comes Palm to save the day (and themselves) with the Pre….the Pre seems like a much better piece of hardware than the Instinct…however, unlike Samsung, right out of the gate palm announces the Pre is coming to other carriers.
13. Palm announces the Pre to be exclusive to Sprint until 2010. They also announce a GSM version and most likely a Verizon version is in the works.
14. Sprint is happy, Palm is happy, current Sprint customers (read: loyal and SERO customers) are happy
15. Sprint again tries to capitalize on the exclusivity, and requires the Pre to have an everything plan….
16. Lather, Rinse, Repeat
LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKE SPRINT! LEARN FROM PAST HISTORY! JESUS!!!!!
Yeah dave, instinct has really helped sprint. oh, maybe not since its still one of the only companies loosing customers by the hundreds on a daily basis. Or maybe you can pay the difference for everyone who currently has a data plan that is no more different than any other data plan that sprint offers. Maybe you should just go get a job with them if you think there ok in charging extra for the pre. oh wait there also loosing employees by the hundreds too.
One thing I forgot to mention also is this very important fact:
***Word of mouth matters***
If a friend tells me that something is awesome, I will definitely look into it more than if some douchebag CEO on a commercial tells me it is. Sprint does not realize this…or if they do they do not care. Look at the scenario with the SERO customers and customers with perks. Sure, people took advantage of SERO, so Sprint stopped that program. But hey, whatever, the customers who “got in” were happy, and the people that were with Sprint for years and had perks and really cheap plans were also happy! They tell their friends..”Hey, I just got this great deal from Sprint…its great blah blah blah..they really care about their customers, and if you are loyal yada yada yada”.
Even though they can’t get in on the SERO plan, and they haven’t put their time in to get perks, they are hearing great things about Sprint. Then Sprint releases the everything plans, and customers feel that they are still getting a good deal (because they are). But then….then something goes wrong. Sprint gets a pretty cool looking phone with the Instinct, but decides, hey let’s screw over the people who would actually spread, by word of mouth, about this cool phone, and force them to upgrade their plans to the new everything plans…even though they have all the requirements to use the phone on their old plans.
So what happens? The Sprint customers go and tell their friends…”Yo, Sprint blows…they just screwed me. Don’t get Sprint because if you have a good plan or get a perk, when the next new phone comes out they will screw you.” What do people do then? THEY DON’T GET SPRINT! They will go get that iPhone.
True story. It happened to me.
I am trying my best to stick by sprint. I really hope that in the end, this pre thing having to be on an everything plan is just a rumor. Hope is always good in these times. Heres to HOPE and hoping I can still get the pre.
I hope you enjoy the sub par 3G network AT&T has and the ridiculously high plans to boot. TRUE FACT: The Instinct was a good thing for Sprint. It was their best selling phone and Best Buy will say the same thing. Of course it was no fancy Iphone, but it is not a bad phone. It can do several things the Iphone can’t do. Sprint does not go from bad to good in a day or even a year. It’ll take them a while to get back to good business again. I hear stories all the time of Verizon FORCING people to change to their nationwide plans just to get any phone. Sprint has TWO phones that require plan changes. The Instinct and the Pre. Big deal. If current Sprint customers don’t like it, they can get the Touch Pro. It’s got like twice the hardware specs than the Verizon version anyway or you can spend like $90/month to get an Iphone that can’t even play music wirelessly over bluetooth but my 4 year old E815 from Verizon can. Forget about unlocking your Iphone to do anything useful and forget about SERO. It’s the mass consumers that matter. You know damn well that Verizon and AT&T would require plan changes for something like the Pre and Verizon will probably cripple the phone too.
@Ro:
Once again, you are dead wrong about almost everything you just said. Let me spell a few things out for you…
1: AT&T 3G is FASTER than Sprint’s EVDO rev A when you have equal coverage. When you start talking about inside buildings and other areas where Sprint’s coverage is lacking and AT&T’s is not, then AT&T’s 3G is MUCH faster than Sprint. It’s a fanboy myth that Sprint’s is faster. If Sprint’s was really faster, they would have sued AT&T a long time ago for claiming theirs was the nation’s “fastest 3G network” in every single commercial. Remember when sprint tried to claim they had the most powerful network in some commercials right after they launched EVDO? remember how AT&T (then Cingular) sued them over it and made them stop making that claim? Yeah, the fact that Sprint hasn’t returned the favor says it all. As if anyone really needed any proof- all the specs for Sprint’s EVDO versus AT&T’s HSPA are pretty clear on the matter. And anyone who has ever used both can easily confirm- in areas of equal coverage AT&T will win every time.
2: You keep saying the Instinct was a success because it was Sprint’s best selling phone. But you are talking about the best selling phone at a time when sprint lost over 6 million customers (and counting). Should GM be claiming success because the Cadillac (or whatever) was their best selling car last quarter? Should Washington Mutual be happy that their home equity loan (or whatever) was their best selling product last year? Should Circuit City be happy that Compaq laptops (or whatever) was their best selling product last year? Give me a break, Sprint is barely able to stay in business. They are losing customers by the millions- at a time when all the other carriers are adding customers. Sprint is also laying off workers by the thousands, losing money by the billions, and their stock price continues to tank. There is no way they can claim ANY success with what they are doing until these numbers start to improve. Right now they are getting worse and worse, with no sign of improvement in the near future.
3: It does NOT cost $90 per month for every single iPhone plan out there. Heck, you can get an iPhone on pre pay if you want. And you act like the iPhone is AT&T’s only phone. Remember, you will be able to get a Pre on AT&T too if you so choose, and you won’t have to change your plan to some ridiculous plan to do it. Sprint may be getting the Pre first, but Palm has already confirmed a GSM version will be launched after the Sprint version. And there are a ton of phones you could get right now to get by until the Pre launches. But, if you’re like me, you may not even wait for ther Pre. the Touch Pro 2 will be out soon, and it looks like it might be even better than the Pre (to me anyway).
There is just no way to justify what sprint is doing right now. The only reason anyone chooses Sprint over Verizon and AT&T right now is because they got a better deal there. Once Sprint starts raising prices, customers will leave in droves. Well, bigger droves than they are already leaving in. And it doesn’t matter if it turns out to be their most popular phone if 10 people leave for every one that signs up.
I agree with Joe, the most effective form of advertisement and the most efficent form, is infact, word of mouth, and Sprint is acting like an “indian giver”, stay with Sprint and we will give you the world, but then good old fashioned greed rears it’s ugly head!!
I will Never recommend someone, who changes his word based on laisez affair, loyalty is priceless, but taking someone for granted is equally a mistake, I will not sell my referal recommendations, for $20, $100 or even $1000, if I can trust you, I will recommend you for FREE!
We should be free to pick any phone with any plan, force is never a foundation of trust, try to explain that to someone who makes $28,000.000 in salary, and lets go of 8000 low wage people, whose job was to make you feel welcome at the store!!!
lets see when i joined sprint i could choose what voice plan, data plan and text plan. very competitive price, but its a CDMA carrier and the phones sucked with the only exception the mogul.sprint drops customers who complain. NOW the phones are finally getting good pre, diamond2 touch pro2 but they are requiring a higher price(everything plan BS) and customers still leave for gsm carriers because sprint is still a CDMA carrier. its like mopping the floor with dirty water.Just give us great phones at competitive prices…whats so hard with that..
OMG F’n Jesus come on people, If you really think you can do better at Sprint, then go work for corporate then! Quit your bitchin and move on, if you don’t like Sprint then there’s the door, don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!
@Jose
“If you don’t like Sprint then there’s the door. Don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!”…yeah real smart thinking…really. It’s pretty much the attitude that a out of work people/business’s had that I can think of in very recent memory:
1. Circuit City…..yeaaaaaaah…most customers just ended up going across the street to Best Buy
2. Opie and Anthony (yeah, totally different realm than electronics, and but I love the bbboys, but they always said…”If you don’t like us, turn the radio dial”…and yeah..now they are canned from FM completely. I’m not talking about the latest format switch in NYC, but I’m talking about Philly…Buffalo…and Boston).
Like I said…word of mouth matters…it’s not a matter of working for Sprint corporate to realize this. And yeah…I work in a SUCCESSFUL corporate environment in Big Pharma…and that’s clearly not a winning attitude.
As stated before, it’s all a matter of preference. If you dont like the service, go to another provider that suits you. Problem solved……..
Yeah, you guys that are saying “if you don’t like it go somewhere else” , your right we can do that. The bad thing is hundreds of people are doing that everyday. At this point sprint doesnt have the luxury to let customers do that. You people that say that obviously dont own a business and that mentality is probably the reason why so many businesses are closing. The only cell phone company that could probably do this is verizon, and their not. So lets just hope sprint isnt taking advice from Idiots who have the mentality of “dont like it then leave”. Companies that are lasting in this economy are the ones who put the customer first and keep in mind that most americans arent rich like some of you i guess.
::CONFUSED:: So i see a few people saying that they will switch to Verizon if Sprint makes you do aan everything plan. Im looking at Sprint and Verizon’s plans cuz AT&ingular sucks in the Midwest. If i pick one of Verizon’s PDA/Smartphone Nationwide Email & Messaging plan for 450 mins its 99.99 a month no gps or tv. Sprint’s 450 everything plan with nights at 7 not 9 is 69.99 Did I miss 1st grade math to not realize Sprint is cheaper?
@someguy
In the United States we have two system Choices, GSM by AT&T expensive, T Mobile affordable,or CDMA by Verizon expensive and Sprint affordable.That is the beauty of our country, choices for all budgets. Bentley or Chrysler 300M ?
I just found out that some people have the instinct on a sero plan. Hopefully some of us will be able to convince sprint to let us have the pre on a sero plan. Plus guys, this is just a rumor. A phone like the pre would put sprint on the map again when it comes to competition with verizon and att. Maybe they will let anyone with a data plan use it just like they let anyone use the
Diamond and the HTC Pro. I guess none of us can really say anything till the pre is actually released. All these back and forth comments are good to learn from one another but really don’t mean jack until the pre is released and then we will know the exact details of everything. Till then, I will just wait in peace and hope. Peace!
@someguy
It’s not just about price…but about customer service, and frankly cell phone service in general.
I think a lot of you want SERO, which is now SE Plus, to stick around and translate to all future phones and I admit when the Instinct was rumored to have this restriction it angered me but not because of SERO. I had an old Free And Clear Fam plan with a text add on and 3 data packs (Ultimate, Nav and Basic) with two of my phones being able to do all that the Everything plans do but after careful evaluation the savings won out plus I was infatuated with the Instinct. You SERO holders need to be happy with the savings had over even the regular plans and decide on another phone, change plans (Everything or SE Plus) or leave and pay way more elsewhere for a less expansive 3g network on GSM or neutered devices on vzw
Don Louie, the concern is that Sprint is going to use SERO to force people off all future phones. If they can do it with Instinct, and then Pre, why not Touch Pro2 and Touch Diamond2? Why not all smartphones?
One can argue that Sprint has the right to do that… and they do… but it certainly doesn’t make Sprint’s most savvy customers any more loyal. In fact, it does quite the opposite. It’s that word-of-mouth feedback that is the number one reason why Sprint is hemorrhaging customers.
It is a very bad move to ban the Pre from SERO. Sprint can make that move, but they do so at their own peril.
AT&T Wireless tried what Sprint is doing. It didn’t work.
Hey don louie, like i stated before, I understand if you had an old vision plan and they introduced a new phone that was power vision, then they could force you to change your plan. But the data on the Sero is exactly the same as the data on the everything plan. If sprint doesnt see it that way then they should have never offered it. Plus what is the difference between htc touch pro and the pre when it comes to data? The pro is more data intensive than the instinct. So those of you who still say “hats off to sprint for forcing the everything plan” then you can just sit there and let others walk over you or go get a job with sprint if you love to agree with them so much. In the meantime i will just sit here and be a loyal sprint customer and I will just let them offer me the pre on my sero account like they have offered others the instinct on the sero account. We will just wait and see.
I’m not endorsing the practice, it just doesn’t seem like a good argument because you get so much for that $30 and $50 that the average customer doesn’t with ample phones to choose from. If the phones are wanted that much a $10-$40 increase isn’t bad because they will migrate you to the new discount plan. Leaving will not get the person a better deal, my reference point is the regular plans though
I dont get why people say Sprint has terrible coverage. I cant remember the last time I dropped a call with Sprint. The data speeds are nice and fast too. And why are people still arguing about SERO plans not working on the Instinct/Pre. Sure, the data is the same. Sprint knows that. But, if you want those phones, you have to pay more. Its supply and demand. I honestly dont think the people that Sprint is losing is due to them not being able to get an Instinct on their SERO plan or other older plan. Lets be real, thats not a big factor.
Also, I have never see Sprint offer ANYONE the Instinct to a $30 SERO customer. The $60 Everything Plus customers can get the Instinct, not the SERO customers. I suggest that if having to change plans upsets you so much, go to AT&T or VZW and see what kind of plan you can get.
You gotta remember too that SERO customers do not make up a large portion of the customer base. At best, its a few hudred thousand at MOST. Its not like its millions of people on SERO. Sprint decided that offering phones like the Instinct and Pre to a customer paying $30 is not worth it. Its their call and as mad as it might make you, would you really cancel a $30 plan and go somewhere else? You would be screwing yourself of a difference of opinion. That would be silly.
The problem with SERO customers is that a lot of them were taking advantage of a system. You were supposed to get offered SERO by an employee of Sprint.. and most weren’t. People signed up because they found out online through a forum or blog, and well, I would have done the same thing. At this point you have enjoyed your cheap plan for 2 or more years and it is time to decide to pay the same price as the rest of us so you can get the phone you want, or suffer with a different phone and pay less than half of what the current consumer offering is.
Mustang46L – actually sprint opened up SERO to everyone with the savings@sprintemi.com email address. its sprint who closed it, raised rates, added more features, and renamed it the simply everything plus referral plan (i think thats what its called haha). they kept it open for years too.
i’m sure people will find a way to get the pre on the original $30 and $50 sero plans. i definitely will be trying myself. i did it with the touch pro and im going to try my best to get the palm pre. if not, oh well.
Yes, and there were other SERO addresses as well. As we reported previously, Sprint has acknowledged and admitted already that SERO was open to the public, via various low-promotion offerings. This was done on purpose, as Sprint has readily admitted.
Now that leadership has changed at Sprint, they (for some inexplicable reason) want these customers to pay more. These customers aren’t loss leaders, they’re evangelists for Sprint… and pulling the rug out from under them has been tried with other carriers.
Those other carriers don’t exist anymore. Worse, the leadership from those carriers are now trying the same bag of tricks at Sprint.
Yeah, chew on that.
They want them to pay more but are only making that happen if you buy one phone at the moment. I just don’t think SERO subs should be complaining that the hottest phones are incompatible with the cheapest plan.
Hey don louie, how is the pre incompatible with the sero plan? The htc touch pro is probably just as data intensive as the pre, and definetely more than the instinct. At this point its just a matter of principle. well see how smart sprint really is,especially in this economy. Plus, as the news article said, they havent mentioned anything about the sero plan yet. So like i said before, lets wait and see.
It’s not just SERO. If you have an old family plan with a data addon, you will have to change your plan to get the Pre. That is just stupid.
That’s correct, but it’s a similar situation. Remember, SERO was offered immediately preceding the Everything plans, and Sprint’s first-ever banning of a compatible phone on a compatible plan (Instinct).
I can understand Sprint wanting Instinct and Pre to require a data plan. But, it’s a false premise to extrapolate from that, that an Everything plan must be used exclusively. Sprint could easily check if folks have a Power Vision pack (just like they have done in the past).
Even iPhone does not require a voice plan change in most cases. You can have a Cingular plan from nearly a decade ago, and you can activate an iPhone on that.
This is being done for one reason, to raise ARPU as much as possible. And, it’s worst effects are on customers who are the most loyal. That’s a poisonous scenario that Sprint doesn’t need right now. These customers didn’t want Instinct, but they do want the Pre. Keeping it from them over an (unnecessary) plan limitation, is a huge, huge mistake, that I’m afraid could start Sprint down the path of collapse.
And yes, I said that last sentence.
Sprint is already well on the path of collapse. They need to be trying to change that path. What they are doing here is speeding up the inevitable.
At a time when customers are jumping ship left and right, the ones that weathered the storm and stuck with Sprint are now being forced out. Brilliant decision if your goal is to tank the the company. Horrible decision if your goal is to stop the bleeding.
But hey, Sprint will be able to say, “The Pre is our best selling phone!” No matter that they will be losing 10 customers for every customer that buys a Pre, as long as the Pre is the best selling phone it’s all good in their eyes. and as long as that is the case, that CEO needs to be fired ASAP, and his entire management team replaced.
I’m sick of Sprint complaining that SERO customers are causing them SO much loss of money. They opened it to the public, and those who had the chance took the offer. Now they closed the door. End of story (sort of…let’s not forget Russ McGuire at Sprint gave his email address and CID number for the new SERO everything plus crap…but hey…whatever). Anyway, for simplicity sake, end of story. Their own fault. To punish customers who took advantage of their self promoted plan is bull.
However, this just proves my point. The reason SERO got so widespread…was because of WORD OF MOUTH advertising. People got a hold of this great deal and started talking up a storm about it. If it ended, and people that didn’t get it said “oh, that sucks, but hey, let me check out Sprint anyway”…it would be a great, and rather clever viral marketing ploy. Take a loss for a few customers, then have these customers talk about how great Sprint is, thus attracting more customers. It’s pretty much FREE marketing for them. I was telling everyone how great Sprint was…
Sprint is now offering a $100 gift card for everyone you get to sign up for Sprint (if you are a current subscriber) for up to $1200. That’s over 3 years of SERO plans ($30 plan). But trust me…the way Sprint is going…I am not recommending any of my friends to get Sprint. After the situation with the Instinct, and now the same thing happening with the Pre…what loyal customer would recommend them? None. The complete opposite of what should be going for…when the can simply stop being idiots and realize the marketing potential I explained above.
The only reason I still have even my SERO plan is because I am using my HTC Touch Pro on it. Once they start doing this crap with the Windows Mobile phones…bye bye Sprint.
Another thing to take note is that Sprint is marketing that the everything plans are so awesome and save so much money. Individually, yes, they are worth it. However, once you mix in family plans that other carriers have, and realize that a mother, father, and two teenagers go in on a family plan together, the savings are minimal. I know personally my parents (I’m 25) have no use for the Sprint Radio, Sprint TV, Sprint Navigation, or the unlimited texts. They just want a phone. Also, keep in mind that basic plans are the same across the board, so anyone who wants a phone with 450 minutes is really not going to find much savings from one carrier to another.
In conclusion, once the loyal Sprint users leave…which Sprint is unwisely pushing out the door…it’s pretty much going to be the end of Sprint.
An Open Letter
Problem
“The reasoning behind the requirement was the same reasoning given for the Instinct, that is, the company did not want people buying voice only plans and end up surprised by potential data usage charges.”
PhoneNews
Data is Data, if you have “unlimited Data” on your account, it should not be “limited to 5 GB Data” or select cherry picked devices, i.e. Instinct, or Pre or any other future devices.
The Industry has executed a Coup d’etat against the consumer,by perhaps conspiring and enforcing, hence implementing the following two main steps:
1.The term “unlimited” has been forced silently modified to a “limited 5GB”, with no legal challenge by the consumer, first by Verizon,… now by Sprint.That is in lew with the ever expanding technical capacity!
2.Next they limited the consumer’s choice of hardware, by concucting a new plan which allows them to discriminate against any prior agreement, which they breached again, without any legal challenge.Limiting it to a specific device i.e. iPhone by AT&T and Instinct by Sprint, “reverse discrimination” against the rest of the accounts.
C.P. ” …they (for some inexplicable reason) want these customers to pay more.”
They always want the customer to pay more…its called greed, with one exception, that is when they are just establishing themselves and starting up, when they need customers to lay the foundation for the new company.
The trick is the oldest trick in commerce, legaly known as “bait and switch”.
Sprint is not the sole violator, Verizon started with step 1, AT&T took it to step 2 with the iPhone and its plans, and Sprint is building on step 2 by adding “other devices” to the industry trend ,Pre as a second additional device after Instinct cleared the path and established the pattern of step 2 for the customers of Sprint.
The Cellular Industry in the U.S., argueably lead by Verizon, has been gauging the consumer, by charging the consumer for incoming calls, not allowing you the consumer to have the same controls as with landline, i.e. tollfree calls, select blocking,limited caller id with no matching name,out of control incoming charges fom text or calls e.t.c.,unlike the rest of the consumer’s in the advanced free market.
Sprint is just the lesser evil/expensive actor in this Industry,grasping for more of a slice of the cake, the motto is “it is never enough”! Just like children in a candy store with no parental control.
Solution
1. Congress, at some point in not so distant future, enhancing the consumer rights of this Industry, which is ran like the “Wild Wild West”.
2. Class action lawsuit on behalf of the 60.000.000 consumers, with complains in common, to maybe bring some real change to this abuse pattern.
Sincerely: F1
Consumer Experience:Airtouch/Verizon,Tmobile,Sprint Spectrum/PCS
Sprint :Since 1997
Plan: modified Fair & Flex 700 with unlimited Data
Device: m610 Dec 2006.
I think they ought to let SERO in on this but really don’t care one way or the other because that deal is already head and shoulders above anything out now. The data is the same no matter what device so the Pro Pack should be the option for the older plans or Data Premier w/fam messaging for fams. All you guys leaving because the extremely cheap, inclusive plan doesn’t fit thier feature phones is your right but you’ll be paying more elsewhere. Why don’t you all voice your displeasure on buzzaboutwireless?
An FCC invesitagation into the Industry practises, could and would also pave the path for the above two solutions!
I think an FCC investigation into the practices of wireless providers is LONG over due. There is no way they should even be asking you what kind of phone you have. If the phone works, it should be activated, no questions asked. It shouldn’t have to be branded with a carrier’s logo, and have a special plan, or whatever. Just let people buy a compatible phone, from wherever they want, and let them activate it on whatever plan they want.
That crap Verizon tried to pull with the GPS on the Mogul was ridiculous. And all the carriers are guilty of doing simiar things (locking down bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, tethering, etc).
Sawlty you make a great point. Me and you have clashed in the past but your point on letting any phone get on any data plan just makes sense. There should not be any types of blocks whatsoever. So for those who say “hats off to sprint or any other company who does anything similar” go on, keep letting companies dictate what you do. Maybe you should move to china and that you can let the government also dictate what you do online. As for the rest of us, we will stand up for ourselves and demand better service.
Man, you people sure get up in arms about this. I dont think the average customers is that worried about it.
I wonder how many of thier subs switched over to the new plans? I did just for the Instinct but returned it because it wasn’t ready and almost picked it up again til rumors of other stuff came about. I feel for those that have older plans but not SERO because those were the 1st everything plans
We will all see what happens when the phone is released. If its true and they require an everything then ill cancel my sero plan and leave the other for my wife and go to verizon and get the omnia. Then ill just get a 20% discount with my job and also have better coverage. So i guess well see what happens. Hey, maybe the retention dept. will let me do it anyway. You never know.
I wish I could follow some of the people on this site around for a day… I wanna see you go to the grocery store and haggle with the manager on the price of eggs..
Mustang-
You can follow me around if you want. I try to haggle all the time. The economy has been a little bad for me so I have become a professional haggler. I can teach you a couple of things about haggling.
If I had already paid for eggs, but when I went to leave they told me it cost extra for the carton because it had a new design, you better believe I would start haggling.
JJ, you will probably be leaving then. I haven’t read about one person who got the Instinct on anything other than an Everything or Everything Plus plan. I understand where you be coming from but you’ll be loosing money because there is no $30 plan anywhere else that includes what SERO does and if you’re planning on getting an Omnia your discount will be for the primary alone which does apply for the data plan too though. If you have become a pro haggler you should recognize where the true value is and just stick w/the Touch Pro or pay the $60 Everything Plus because it still beats what else is out there
Don Louie, My brother in law currently has the htc touch pro on a sero plan and I used to have the instinct on my sero plan before. That is why there is a possibility of getting the pre on my sero plan. The reason I took it off was that I needed a pda phone that did more than the instinct. Plus you are right that I will not be able to find another plan better than the sero but if I have to pay an extra $60 to get the pre, then why not pay a little more and get better coverage with verizon? I can get the 39.99 plan with $5 text package and $30 data package which is $75 total. With the better signal coverage it will more then compensate for not getting the pre. But I will wait till the pre comes out and cross my fingers. Like they say, it doesn’t hurt to try. So we will see what happens. Plus my wife has a sero plan also and if in the end me switching to verizon doesn’t work out I can just call sprint and say I want the same plan as my wife and get the sero plan again.
None that includes nav or entertainment, that’s just me though. I don’t see the big deal as far as SERO is concerned
This might be a record for the amount of posts on the comments section at Phonenews.com. Is it
Hardly. Some of our articles have attracted hundreds of comments.
I like that it has remained on topic and when Christopher brought up how att let’s you add the iphone data to existing plans. That is why I side with people on the old Ultimate and Nav data packs that were turned away from Instinct and will by the Pre too, for SERO holders not so much. Either way the SERO holders go they will still have the best deal going
Many of you may not remember but at the time of the Samsung Instinct Fiasco Sprint Wrote this little tidbit and it’s posted here on PhoneNews.com:
Sprint Responds to SERO Woes: http://www.phonenews.com/sprint-responds-to-sero-woes-3699/
What pisses me off is after saying that in fact they would not do this again, here we are!
I have been Twittering / Blogging and emailing Sprint and Palm hoping that they would change their minds on this issue. So far I have yet to get a reply.
Sero Plan Holders need to make a bigger fuss as do older plan holders.
Heck I looked at the Everything Plans but Sprint Refused my plan discount that I have had for years. ATT will let me use my 16% off on an iPhone plan if I decide to purchase it but Sprint won’t.
At this rate Verizon will Own Sprint within what a year, two at the most?
Come On Sprint, your screwing another couple million out of getting a new phone for what? 100,000 may stay for $70 but you lose 900,000 at $40…..
If my calculator is correct this is your gain loss ratio:
Staying Customers 100,000 x $70 = $7,000,000
Loss of Customers 900,000 X $40 = $36,000,000
Net Loss: $29,000,000 — Thats Negative Cash Flow Sprint –