Must Read: Samsung Galaxy S4 review

Topic: Mobility

Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

Summary: With the latest move from Sprint, the end of smartphone unlimited data is inching a lot closer.

Ricardo Bilton

By for The ToyBox |

Where there's smoke, there's fire, and right now Sprint is throwing the kindling on the blaze that will eventually toast its smartphone unlimited data plans.

Sprint announced on Thursday that it is killing its unlimited 3G and 4G data for mobile broadband devices. The end comes on October 31st, after which users of the services will be limited to a monthly 3GB, 5GB, or 10GB, depending on their plans. Running past the limit will cost a startling five cents per megabyte.

"If you have a mobile broadband device such as a tablet, netbook, notebook, USB card, connection card or Mobile Hotspot device, effective beginning with your next bill following notification, your on-network monthly data allowance will no longer include unlimited 4G," Sprint's says. Sprint isn't even grandfathering in current subscribers, which certainly adds to the sting.

The move doesn't affect smartphones, but if Sprint's recent decisions are any indication, smartphone unlimited data will meet its end soon enough. Considering that one of the company's biggest selling points is its unlimited data, it's unlikely that customers will stick around when that eventually happens. Once unlimited data jumps ship, so does any remnant of Sprint's competitive advantage.

[Sprint]

Topics: Mobility, Hardware, Telcos, Wi-Fi

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Talkback

27 comments
Log in or register to join the discussion

  • The time to jump ship is near.

    I started with Sprint just over a year ago. One reason why I jumped to Sprint was because of unlimited data. I am not what you would call a heavy user, but at the same time, when I do use my phone I would note how quickly the network became congested and almost useless.

    Seriously though, if they end my unlimited service, I want to be able to get out of my contract because to me that voids my excuse for using them in the first place.
    nucrash
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

      @nucrash This is a very interesting question; if the phone company dropping "unlimited" voids the 2-year commitment. Please post what you find out.
      XXP
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    This would be an epic fail if Sprint decides to do this... The unlimited data is the reasoning why people are 86ing their current mobile plans and coming to Sprint.
    hataman
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

      @hataman Well, that and it's cheaper with better customer service. That's the trifecta of reasons I went to them. That and a pure Google 4G device. And no I'm not going back to Verizon for the Galaxy Nexus.
      Snowsong
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    I guess now there is no reason to consider a move to Sprint.
    javajolt
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    I'm due for a new phone come November 1st and I'm quite tempted to try to get it then before anything changes. I'd rather go back to a normal phone and find Wi-Fi spots for my laptop than play the "I have to watch my data" game.
    robneilhendrix
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

      @robneilhendrix The one nice thing about upcoming Android phones with Ice Cream Sandwhich is you can tell the device what your data allowance is and even set limits per app and it will disable/deny data when the limit is reached. Along with warnings to you and whatnot.
      Snowsong
      Reply Vote

  • Twas ever thus

    When you're the only guy who offers unlimited data, you collect people who use above-average amounts of data. So you have to set your prices to cover that. The average people leave. Pretty soon your customer base consists entirely of people who need and use huge amounts of data. This way lies bankruptcy.
    Robert Hahn
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

      @Robert Hahn <br><br>Oh, bullplop! These guys are just trying to gouge customers and everyone with a brain knows that.<br><br>It's time for the feds to step in here and mandate that these plans have to be unlimited calls and data for X dollars a month, somewhere between 50 and 80 dollars.

      No problem with them putting a 'maximum speed' or slowing things down because of network congestion (though if they have to do that a lot, they need to be forced to put some of their profits into improving their networks).
      Lerianis10
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    It's time for the feds to step in here. This is an obvious case of consumer price-gouging, to be mild on the subject.
    Lerianis10
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

      @Lerianis10

      Hate to tell you this, but in Sprint's case, it's far from price gouging. They're actually losing money, not making it.
      Marine_01
      Reply Vote

    • At what price would it not be gouging?

      @Lerianis10 And how does one arrive at this price?

      But I'l play your game. I say the feds should step in cause its obvious that Sprint is DUMPING by pricing their plan too low...lower than the competition.

      See how ridiculous this is?
      otaddy
      Reply Vote

    • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

      @Lerianis10 Their service is still cheaper than Verizon's, all things considered.
      Snowsong
      Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    I was an original Sprint Customer. I left them some time ago as their sales people lied to me on the phone and I had to file a BBB Complaint just to get them to listen to me.

    I met my contractural obligations and then moved to another company. This seems to be more of the same dishonesty especially since they have been spending a great deal of adverts dollars on their unlimited data plan.
    dbosley
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    they already charge a $10 extra when you activate a new smartphone. I doubt they will cancel the unlimited plan for mobile. If so, they can expect to have one less customer. I would rather change to AT&T instead of staying with sprint.
    The Black Mamba
    Reply Vote

  • May just leave

    My current contract ends in Feb... if this is really coming down the pipe I see no reason to stay with Sprint. Their coverage is pathetic with more dead zones than any other provider and their rates aren't any better than the others. Unlimited Data is the only reason I've stayed with them for the past several years. If that goes away so does any reason to stay with Sprint.
    elnator
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    Sprint is going to build out LTE starting next year, so this is just a logical move toward obsolescence of CDMA and the consequence of the pricing structures for LTE. The party is over.
    lomamonster1
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    90X Extreme Fitness System ONLY ONLY 42$$$$$$$
    ???W w w.proxy4biz.c o m???
    Sunglasses(Oakey,coach,gucci,Armaini)$16

    Tshirts (Polo ,ed hardy,lacoste) $16
    Jean(True Religion,ed hardy,coogi) $30

    ???W w w.proxy4biz.c o m???
    weizzzz
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    gfhgfh
    weizzzz
    Reply Vote

  • RE: Sprint kills unlimited data for mobile broadband devices

    Hold on, Let me be Apple. LAWSUIT! commercials are still being aired for unlimited data with sprint.
    Nate_K
    Reply Vote
CNET Join | Log In | Privacy | Cookies Close