May 21, 2008 4:07 PM PDT

Sprint to limit data usage on everything plans

When is unlimited not unlimited? Apparently when it comes from Sprint. Though the carrier has been very active about touting its new "simply everything" plan, which includes unlimited mobile Internet and messaging, it plans to place a cap on monthly data usage next month. Sprint will limit its simply everything customers to 5GB of data usage per month, plus 300MB per month for off-network data roaming.

A Sprint representative told BetaNews that the cap is needed to ensure a great customer experience. "The use of voice and data roaming by a small minority of customers is generating a disproportionately large level of operating expense for the company," the representative said. "This limit is well within the range of what a typical customer would normally use each month." I asked Sprint for further comment and I'll let you know what the carrier says.

BetaNews said Sprint began notifying customers in monthly bills that were mailed this week. The change will go into effect 30 days after customers receive the note. Also, the carrier said it will call customers next month to make sure they're aware of the changes.

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Add a Comment (Log in or register) 17 comments (Page 1 of 2)
by DarkCloudLives May 21, 2008 5:20 PM PDT
Good thing I refuse to use Sprint. I use that much in one day sometimes for work.
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by Lerianis May 21, 2008 10:25 PM PDT
Sprint is going to learn where people file lawsuits that unlimited is supposed to mean unlimited, period and done with. I really hope that companies who do this **** like Comcast and Sprint are thinking of doing will be driven out of business by myriad lawsuits.
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by 7aji88 May 21, 2008 10:45 PM PDT
good thing to know because my contract with Cingular (I like to call it that better than at&t) is almost over and I was considering Sprint for their unlimited plan because of the unlimited internet access, still I think 5 gb is still enough for a mobile device, but I don't know about keeping skype open all the time.
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by kneeyogi May 22, 2008 5:55 AM PDT
You do know that all the other major national carriers have had similar policies, right? Still, it's sad that Sprint has fallen as well.
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by zgreenwell May 22, 2008 1:18 PM PDT
5GB isn't a lot if you're using your phone as a modem especially in their high speed networks. If you are doing so you're probably download work related materials so the limit is incredibly annoying to the business customers sprint is working hard to court.
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by radiorange May 22, 2008 2:18 PM PDT
I've been a Sprint data card customer for 5 years. Sprint has now just sold me on Verizon. It is very simple: -- same limit as Verizon -- better coverage with Verizon -- a penalty-free cancellation to leave Sprint Further, according to Sprint sources, the charge for going over the 5GB limit is $.03/kilobyte. An inadvertant OS update of 500 megs over the limit puts you into debt to Sprint for $15,000. When I contacted Bob White, Senior VP of Corporate Communications at Sprint about this drastic change, he said he checked my records and found that I would probably not be affected by the change. Well, this is even more reason to go to Verizion, because Sprint has now just confirmed that I can live within Verizon's limit and get more coverage for the same cost. The ONLY reason I was staying with Sprint was the peace of mind that with unlimited I did not have to worry about inadvertently going into serious debt and that I would have the data throughput when I needed it. If Sprint would do something innovative like roll over the unused bandwidth for future use, then it they might something going with this limit.
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by superiorsam May 22, 2008 3:02 PM PDT
i am in canada and even our cable internet here has a limit something like 60 or 90 gigs a month. realistiacally for most people 5 gigs is more than enough. only if you tether it and use it as a modem maybe you will if need more if you use torrent or something like that. but for just internet surfing its more than enough. especially on any mobile device. how much can you really do on a small screen. i only use it for quotes and scores.
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by G3tR34l May 22, 2008 3:30 PM PDT
For everyone commenting about modem usage being capped. You CANNOT use your phone as a modem via a legit method through sprint without having their data plan for PDAs which is about 40 dollars a month. That IS UNLIMITED as in really UNLIMITED. I don't know how you would use 5GB of data on a regular cell phone. To the user who said something about an OS Upgrade of 500MB, why would you do that over a cell phone connection. I live in the DC Metro area and I only see about 175kbs actual download speed to begin with, so you're better off going to a free wi-fi spot with your laptop. Please be sensible in your responses.
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by strykernyc May 22, 2008 6:03 PM PDT
G3tR34l no one can say it better than you. it is funny how ppl complain about their mistake for their lack of knowledge. Don't blame sprint because you can't use a small portion of your brain. I use my pda phone for mostly business work and most files are ms office or maybe a video clip here and there but I don't even get close to 500mbs a month and I have unlimited internet/data etc.. I watch sport center and braking news and also use my phone as gps sometimes but 5gbs is alottttt.
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by Duce7414 May 22, 2008 7:03 PM PDT
"This limit is well within the range of what a typical customer would normally use each month." Typical users don't opt for the "unlimited" plan!
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