Database Users

Evo Gouging

So, according to this: http://www.androidcentral.com/sprint-evo-4g-pricing-availability-announced -- Sprint's going to charge an extra $10/month for premium data and $30/month for mobile hotspot. Is it worth it? An extra $40/month on top of whatever "Simply" plan you have.
In all fairness, the hotspot fee can probably be avoided once the phone is rooted. . . but still. XDA, what do you think?

Sorry for the double post, but I just saw this: http://www.androidcentral.com/how-do-you-feel-about-evo-4g-pricing
Apparently the premium data, is 4G and is optional. However, if you do happen to live in a 4G area AND you want mobile hotspot, paying $40 more per month seems too much. IMO. For scale, a personal Simply Everything plan is $70/month.

For mobile hotspot just use wifi tether (once we have root). I don't believe that Sprint has the right to tell me how or where I can use the data I purchased from them (furthermore I believe it's a violation of net neutrality, which isn't law yet, but it will be).
As for the $10 premium data - I'm fine with it. My Sprint plan will still cost half as much as what an iPhone user pays. I don't mind Sprint charging extra if only it means less people will sign up for it and keep the network load down.

greymalken said:
Sorry for the double post, but I just saw this: http://www.androidcentral.com/how-do-you-feel-about-evo-4g-pricing
Apparently the premium data, is 4G and is optional. However, if you do happen to live in a 4G area AND you want mobile hotspot, paying $40 more per month seems too much. IMO. For scale, a personal Simply Everything plan is $70/month.
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It's not optional. You WILL pay +$10 every month if you have an Evo activated.
http://jbtaylor.posterous.com/more-detail-on-the-sprint-evo-4g-10month-prem

keatre said:
It's not optional. You WILL pay +$10 every month if you have an Evo activated.
http://jbtaylor.posterous.com/more-detail-on-the-sprint-evo-4g-10month-prem
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Just called, it doesn't cost extra to use 4G

extra
It does cost extra, I currently have a 4g air card and pay the $10 extra fee (this covers 4g for every line) so when the phone come out I won't be paying any more than I am now. As for the $30 fee for the hotspot, I might as well ditch my air card for that, but we will see. There is always wifi teether.

mrono said:
Just called, it doesn't cost extra to use 4G
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That is incorrect. The reps are being flooded with calls at the moment, and no one really has a clue what's going on. Sprint has said it will cost extra, the head PR guy said it will cost extra, ALL blogs/tech sites are reporting it will cost extra. The evidence stacks up against a lonely rep.

This really pisses me off. I blame it on the god damned I-Phone sheep that didn't mind paying 100 a month to AT&T for something I've been getting included in my cell plans for years. Sprint is trying to pull an AT&T, and will probably get away with it.
No WONDER it's only 199- You're (and maybe me) going to be paying them an extra $240 for 4g access. Add in the mobile hotspot (Which I absolutely will not pay for), and that's an extra $960-
It's called back loading, and it's crap.
It's 1's and 0's.... OTA. Same 1's and 0's as I get now. I'm going to use probably the same amount of data as I do now- but have to pay more?
Device specific charge? WTF is up with that? It's a &()@*( phone.

jesus, calm down. it's called sprint wanting to make some money since they've been financially in the ****ter for ages now and viciously undercutting competitors and offering discounts left and right hasn't done much to improve their situation. now that they have a phone people want and the first 4g network, it makes sense that they'd use it to their advantage. besides, even at $80/mo base if you get the 27% discount (which everyone can if they bother to check slickdeals) it's still around $60/month, cheaper than anyone else by a bit

billobob said:
jesus, calm down. it's called sprint wanting to make some money since they've been financially in the ****ter for ages now and viciously undercutting competitors and offering discounts left and right hasn't done much to improve their situation. now that they have a phone people want and the first 4g network, it makes sense that they'd use it to their advantage. besides, even at $80/mo base if you get the 27% discount (which everyone can if they bother to check slickdeals) it's still around $60/month, cheaper than anyone else by a bit
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Whats slick deals?

jscurek said:
This really pisses me off. I blame it on the god damned I-Phone sheep that didn't mind paying 100 a month to AT&T for something I've been getting included in my cell plans for years. Sprint is trying to pull an AT&T, and will probably get away with it.
No WONDER it's only 199- You're (and maybe me) going to be paying them an extra $240 for 4g access. Add in the mobile hotspot (Which I absolutely will not pay for), and that's an extra $960-
It's called back loading, and it's crap.
It's 1's and 0's.... OTA. Same 1's and 0's as I get now. I'm going to use probably the same amount of data as I do now- but have to pay more?
Device specific charge? WTF is up with that? It's a &()@*( phone.
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What bothers me is that i'd rather have it be a fee for using 4G, not the phone in general, considering most of us don't even have access to 4G yet. So they are charging us to use something we can't!

mrono said:
What bothers me is that i'd rather have it be a fee for using 4G, not the phone in general, considering most of us don't even have access to 4G yet. So they are charging us to use something we can't!
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'nother way to look at it is paying $10 to remove the data cap..(btw, I dont agree with or like the fee, just sayin')

mrono said:
What bothers me is that i'd rather have it be a fee for using 4G, not the phone in general, considering most of us don't even have access to 4G yet. So they are charging us to use something we can't!
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+1 on this one. Sucks for us that don't have 4G available.

Perhaps a legitimate reason for the $10/mo EVO fee

Just a thought I had today, but since the $10 fee did seem to come out of no where, but sometime after they said the 4G would be free at CITA, and since they haven't expressly said it was for the 4G data...
Perhaps, they knew the first batch of phones were going to have the screen problem, as well as other problems, but they found out after they had several thousand/hundred thousand made, thus knowing they were going to have to replace a hell of a lot of phones within a month or two and with this so-called "Prem Data Fee" they could regain some of the money for replacing all the early adopters phones.
I don't have the screen problem...yet, but I'm going to be exchanging mine because the speaker is half blown or something in the earpiece.
Any takers on the idea?

Doubt it, but it's definitely an excuse to pad their pockets a bit more, since Sprint has the lowest margins across all post-paid providers.

I was thinking more along the lines of the stupid amount of data we are going to be using on these phones with 4g. on 3g alone i've used 350mb in 3 1/2 days (i love it) Honestly this 3g is really fast, faster than verizon and t-mobile thus far (speed test prove it). I get better signal is area that my verizon phone does, but that might because its a storm 2 ()

Interesting theory, but I think it's a bit far fetched. I truly think the $10 is for unrestricted data usage, which I am thoroughly enjoying.

I for one hope they plan to use the extra money to strengthen and expand the 4G coverage.

It is a little bit far-fetched, but you never know. Last minuet stuff always happens and companies might make drastic measures to compensate themselves.
It was just a thought, especially since they've never actually said the fee was for the data, it's for the phone experience, which directly links it to the phone, if you go by what they say the fee is for.

why is everybody obsessed with this fee
the reason the fee exists is because the market will bear it.
whether that makes you happy or sad is on you

strung said:
the reason the fee exists is because the market will bear it.
whether that makes you happy or sad is on you
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Strung you are boosting the IQ of the forum with answers like these
Lord knows we need all the help we can get since I'm on here bringing us down

Probably the same ideology as to why AT&T ditched the unlimited data plan right before or when the iPhone 4 was announced.
Sprint needs customers and since the EVO is going to be one major source of income and/or data usage...they probably decided to implement a fee for unlimited 3G/4G data usage while keeping the unlimited plan available. When you think of Sprint, you immediately think "SIMPLY UNLIMITED EVERYTHING!"
What I say or think really doesn't matter...the $10 fee is mandatory so there is no use in trying to fight it or be sneaky about trying to get out of paying it.

I am glad I have this fee and no soft cap. I have used 1GB+ in the last 6 days. I get to laugh at ATTs new customers about their 2GB cap hahahaha.

engagedtosmile said:
I am glad I have this fee and no soft cap. I have used 1GB+ in the last 6 days. I get to laugh at ATTs new customers about their 2GB cap hahahaha.
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But why? According to AT&T, a majority of its customers wouldn't even come close to the 2GB cap and do not need unlimited data

I was always under the assumption for the charge that you can hook the evo up to any computer via usb and use it for internet access.

eck0728 said:
I was thinking more along the lines of the stupid amount of data we are going to be using on these phones with 4g. on 3g alone i've used 350mb in 3 1/2 days (i love it)...QUOTE]
That's exactly what Dan Hesse said the fee was for.
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Well, just an update...
The Sprint store said that my speaker was wacko for sure, and when I checked the other two phones we have tonight, both of their screens are raising up. What find strange is, mine got 10x the usage over the last week than the other two did and mine doesn't have the screen problem...yet.
Anyhow, I guess Sprint will be sending us 3 new phones.

i am rooted using wifi tether and i dont feel the least bit bad for it.. they are going to screw me for an extra 10 bucs a month im going to get my monies worth..... take that sprint.

I plan on returning my Evo tomorrow. I don't care how much data you use, they shouldn't offer a unlimited data plan if they don't like you using unlimited data. I have filed a complaint through the FCC and encourage everyone here to do so as well. This is deceptive advertising, and an unlawful fee. The name of the fee is "premium data plan" but other than the 6 people that live in a 4g network, it is a "right to own the Evo fee". You DON'T have to pay it, you SHOULDN'T be paying it. I am never passionate about anything ever, but this one really puts me over the edge. http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm.

Thank goodness I don't pay it... well not really. 10$ off from the IO conference.

bigough13 said:
I plan on returning my Evo tomorrow. I don't care how much data you use, they shouldn't offer a unlimited data plan if they don't like you using unlimited data. I have filed a complaint through the FCC and encourage everyone here to do so as well. This is deceptive advertising, and an unlawful fee. The name of the fee is "premium data plan" but other than the 6 people that live in a 4g network, it is a "right to own the Evo fee". You DON'T have to pay it, you SHOULDN'T be paying it. I am never passionate about anything ever, but this one really puts me over the edge. http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm.
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Why did you buy a 4g phone if you don't live in a 4g area?

rutter9 said:
Why did you buy a 4g phone if you don't live in a 4g area?
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I got the phone for the hardware, and android. I want to go to T-Mobile for the HD2, but it lacks the 8mp camera, no WiFi tether, and WinMo, yuck. I understand the fee in 4g areas, but they can't justify the fee for any other area. Call/email them, they sound like idiots trying to explain why we're being charged $10. "Rich data experience" (3g network?), "1ghz processor", "YouTube hd", "android operating system" are all the reasons I have gotten. I can provide email proof. The fee is a scam, not premium data.

Unlimited bandwidth discussion.

So this has been coming up a lot and I want to make something VERY clear to a few members on here who wish to back up Sprint/Evo whenever possible without looking at the facts.
Most of the members on here flame other people who complain about the extra $10 a month charge. I have been here, I have seen it and from day one I have been against the extra fee. Members have been so harsh and irrational as to say "Idiot you signed up without reading the contract?" or "Obviously said an extra $10 you don't HAVE to get this phone" etc etc etc.
Fine. You win. We didn't have to get this phone nor Sprint etc.
But let me make something VERY f*****g clear.
Sprint outlined that we pay an extra $10 for a "richer data experience" and "truly unlimited bandwidth". Now, the same logic applies to Sprint. So when I see users such as fachadick going off on how WE are stupid for downloading whatever we want yet he criticizes people for not wanting to pay the extra $10 a month it makes me question his line of thought. Clearly we pay an EXTRA amount for nothing other than Sprint to capitalize on their 'new iPhone killer'.
Lets face the facts:
Sprint clearly outlined our Evos to have unlimited bandwidth usage and that is the bottom line on the deal. A lot of members need to get off Sprints nuts and realize they are a mega corporation just like anyone else. If they had the iPhone they would be hijacking their prices and capping their bandwidth just to make extra cash too. This is how companies work.
If you need more evidence look into computer hardware. Currently, AMD is considered the best price/performance valued CPU on the market. There are a TON of AMD fanbois going around saying "we support AMD because they are an amazing corporation that does not cheat their customers like Intel does"
Bull****. When AMD was on top they were selling their native quad cores @ 1,000 when Intel was selling theirs for ~ 400. These server markets were untapped and AMD had the performance advantage. Now the tides have turned and people support AMD for the other reason.
The point I'm trying to make is there is a lot of FANBOISM going on in these forums. I have accepted it with phones but when people start to do it with carriers it just pisses me off. Carriers don't care just like any other corporation. Members here have to understand there is no difference between Sprint/ATT/Verizon/Criket/Metro etc besides their prices and the phones they offer. In the end, ALL of us are being f****d by their ridiculous prices and horrible customer support. Other industrialized countries have far better speeds and much cheaper prices than we do.
All in all, if Sprint cant back up their 'truly unlimited extra $10 a month b***hit' then let them fail - that is how capitalism works. The consumers get shafted with ****ty prices but we also get the best that the producers are willing to offer at the time.
Viva la download.

Dude, most of the people that don't agree live in the UK and frequent these boards.

What came first, the fanboi or the anti-fanboi?

nebenezer said:
What came first, the fanboi or the anti-fanboi?
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.. same goes for religion.. .. LAFF

I did argue with the sales man about why should I pay extra for 4g because I'm a two hour drive from the nearest 4g coverage.

Oh Noooo! I never realized I was paying an extra $10/mo.
My goodness, that's almost 34 cents a day!!
I'm gonna have to give up 2 trips to Starbucks every month.

werxen said:
Carriers don't care just like any other corporation. Members here have to understand there is no difference between Sprint/ATT/Verizon/Criket/Metro etc besides their prices and the phones they offer. In the end, ALL of us are being ****ed by their ridiculous prices and horrible customer support. Other industrialized countries have far better speeds and much cheaper prices than we do.
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No, the service is much different. CDMA is much stronger here than GSM. I have, many times, seen ATT/T-Mobile phones drop coverage completely while I wouldn't even loose data on my EVO. Metro isn't in my area, but Cricket is sh!t and not just in my area, everywhere. Dropped calls everywhere, hidden charges, ect. Also, I have had FANTASTIC customer service with Sprint and terrible customer service with ATT. I have not used Verizon or T-Mobile in a long time so I cannot comment on their customer service.
Honestly, yes we are paying MORE than the service costs, otherwise why would they provide that service? It costs about $6/month to provide service to a customer for the major carriers, possibly less. The point of ANY business is to convince the consumer that what they are buying is worth more that it actually is, which they have successfully done. It is worse in the wireless industry because there is much less government regulation, which is slowly changing. Other countries DO NOT have far better speeds on wireless networks, the US has the most robust 4G network in the world, though it is still weak. Wired connections are a different story, but we are not talking about that.
As bad as it may sound, our economy is based on deception of the consumer to maximize profits, that is just how capitalism works. Also, I really don't mind paying the $10 surcharge, 5 EVOs on Sprint (or EPICs) would cost $240/month while Verizon would cost $300/month and ATT would cost you $245/month (note that is for 2GB per phone and not unlimited) and T-Mobile costs you $250/month. And those prices are for the lowest minutes possible, while on Sprint we get any mobile. Now, I'm not going to say Sprint is the end all for all carriers, it is possible for any of the carriers to change their policies and prices. I have changed carriers 3 times, Verizon to T-Mobile, to ATT, to Sprint and have never been more satisfied with my service. That is partly due to the increased footprint of all networks, not just Sprint, but not only reception, full service.

@OP,
While this is a good topic for discussion, please try to keep the tone of your language down a bit. Thanks.

Is this argument still going on? It's a service. The company offering the service puts a price on it. If you find the service worth the price then you should buy it. If you think it is overpriced for the value you will gain out of it, then you should not buy it.
I personally find it worth $10 to have access to any city-wide Wimax hotspot as well as uncapped 3G data. That's why I bought the phone and the associated plan. Either way it is cheaper than similar Wimax-less and capped plans on Verizon or AT&T.
If you don't use a ton of data or Wimax then maybe you should buy one off contract and then activate it or maybe pick another phone/plan.
The world isn't perfect. Most things are a compromise. Ultimately the minutiae of high end wireless data plans and devices is a first world problem and I prefer to save my energy for other things.
Your mileage may vary.

egzthunder1 said:
@OP,
While this is a good topic for discussion, please try to keep the tone of your language down a bit. Thanks.
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I disagree. OP starts threads looking for emotional reaction far too often for me to take this thread seriously.

Ha, dude, get over it. If you think other countries have better service and cheaper prices, then GO THERE...and to another forum.
One less winy, self-righteous individual clouding up the forums with their worthless rants.

dont feed the troll people...

werxen said:
So when I see users such as fachadick going off on how WE are stupid for downloading whatever we want yet he criticizes people for not wanting to pay the extra $10 a month it makes me question his line of thought.
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Should I reply or shouldn't I? Ok, I'll bite.
werxen said:
So this has been coming up a lot and I want to make something VERY clear to a few members on here who wish to back up Sprint/Evo whenever possible without looking at the facts....
snip
But let me make something VERY f*****g clear.
Sprint outlined that we pay an extra $10 for a "richer data experience" and "truly unlimited bandwidth". Now, the same logic applies to Sprint. So when I see users such as fachadick going off on how WE are stupid for downloading whatever we want yet he criticizes people for not wanting to pay the extra $10 a month it makes me question his line of thought. Clearly we pay an EXTRA amount for nothing other than Sprint to capitalize on their 'new iPhone killer'.
Lets face the facts:
Sprint clearly outlined our Evos to have unlimited bandwidth usage and that is the bottom line on the deal. A lot of members need to get off Sprints nuts and realize they are a mega corporation just like anyone else. If they had the iPhone they would be hijacking their prices and capping their bandwidth just to make extra cash too. This is how companies work...
snip
The point I'm trying to make is there is a lot of FANBOISM going on in these forums. I have accepted it with phones but when people start to do it with carriers it just pisses me off. Carriers don't care just like any other corporation. Members here have to understand there is no difference between Sprint/ATT/Verizon/Criket/Metro etc besides their prices and the phones they offer. In the end, ALL of us are being f****d by their ridiculous prices and horrible customer support. Other industrialized countries have far better speeds and much cheaper prices than we do.
All in all, if Sprint cant back up their 'truly unlimited extra $10 a month b***hit' then let them fail - that is how capitalism works. The consumers get shafted with ****ty prices but we also get the best that the producers are willing to offer at the time.
Viva la download.
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I'm a fanboi because I think the $10 charge is legitamate? OK, let's go over it again. Devices that have the premium data fee do give you a richer experience. If you just want unlimited data, get yourself a Hero or Moment, and avoid that extra $10 fee. What does the $10 get you? Well, Sprint charges $29.99 for the hotspot feature on the evo and epic, but without the EVO or Epic, you would need the Overdrive from Sprint to acheive the same functionality, which would cost you $60/month. The extra $10/month on the Evo/Epic gives you access to this same functionality for half the price.
The $10 also gives you access to devices with a front facing camera, which gives a much better experience with video chat applications, and lets not forget the access to nationwide wimax access (which just opened up where my office is, and I'm consistently pulling 7mb down. Again, if you don't feel that those items are any type of enhancement, or worth $10, go with a hero or moment, or hell, even the i1 - those are all android devices on sprint where you can get unlimited data without the $10 fee or access to what that $10 gets you.
As far as abusing the unlimited data goes, it's not that people are using the unlimited data that is causing the issue - by all means, use that data, after all, it's included in the plan. What will eventually screw us all over is the fact that people are using the unlimited data, and abusing the prohibited network usage clause in their contracts while doing so.
You're right, Sprint is just another big corporation. That's the whole point. Now that people are abusing the probited network usage clause, and not only using wireless tething for free and using it their main connection to the internet at home, but are also using it for things like torrents, and just to see how much they can actually download for the hell of it, there becmes a point where it no longer makes financial sense for them to offer unlimited data so cheap (compared to the other carriers) - and then we all lose out.
edit - and I never called anyone stupid, either.

dmc971989 said:
dont feed the troll people...
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I really just can't help myself sometimes.

fachadick said:
I really just can't help myself sometimes.
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except for you, you can feed the troll...

dmc971989 said:
dont feed the troll people...
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+1
Why do people even complain? Don't like the pricing or how the company is setup, pick up your crap and go to the next carrier. I don't pay for anything I don't find value in
/thread

If you weren't aware of the $10 charge or didnt pay attention cuz you were too excited about getting your new phone, THATS YOUR FAULT! Not Sprint's. Just like what's been said before, Sprint offers other Android phones that don't come with an extra $10 fee. If it bothers you that much, sell your EVO on Craigslist or eBay and buy one of them.

fachadick said:
I'm a fanboi because I think the $10 charge is legitamate? OK, let's go over it again. Devices that have the premium data fee do give you a richer experience. If you just want unlimited data, get yourself a Hero or Moment, and avoid that extra $10 fee.
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You know...I don't "like" paying an extra $10, but I feel it is fully worth it.
As of a week ago, I have an add a line with a hero. First android phone for my gf, and she has been on the thing constantly. Guess what? Light usage for me and I have used three times the data in an identical time frame. The two ROMS I downloaded were on 4G so they don't add to the total.

dglowe343 said:
If you weren't aware of the $10 charge or didnt pay attention cuz you were too excited about getting your new phone, THATS YOUR FAULT! Not Sprint's. Just like what's been said before, Sprint offers other Android phones that don't come with an extra $10 fee. If it bothers you that much, sell your EVO on Craigslist or eBay and buy one of them.
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Yeah ok... I was never told about it when I purchased. Also.. signing the contract was digital so I saw nothing on any fees or pricing. Hell I didn't even know about it when I went on this forum. Again. I'm not really mad about paying for it.. not at all... but not everyone was told about it.. I gave him my info. Was told to sign twice on the electric pad and picked the 69.99 package. Turned my phone on and activated, printed out the contract form and told me thanks for joining sprint.. so you tell me when I was told about it. The package says unlimited data. I asked a Rep at the store and its for 4g service and owning a premium smartphone. Nothing about unlimited data? I was told I could go to blackerry and have same plan and have "unlimited 3g" so again its for 4g and owning the already paid for phone. I rather pay 10 bucks even if not here if it helps get it faster in Wisconsin. But don't say its for the unlimited data crap.. or they told you.. because not everyone was told about it.
Edit: the printed contract was stuff in the bag with the evolution box as soon as it printed and handed to me thanking for choosing sprint. So again never seen a contract.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

martyzidek said:
Yeah ok... I was never told about it when I purchased. Also.. signing the contract was digital so I saw nothing on any fees or pricing. Hell I didn't even know about it when I went on this forum. Again. I'm not really mad about paying for it.. not at all... but not everyone was told about it.. I gave him my info. Was told to sign twice on the electric pad and picked the 69.99 package. Turned my phone on and activated, printed out the contract form and told me thanks for joining sprint.. so you tell me when I was told about it. The package says unlimited data. I asked a Rep at the store and its for 4g service and owning a premium smartphone. Nothing about unlimited data? I was told I could go to blackerry and have same plan and have "unlimited 3g" so again its for 4g and owning the already paid for phone. I rather pay 10 bucks even if not here if it helps get it faster in Wisconsin. But don't say its for the unlimited data crap.. or they told you.. because not everyone was told about it.
Edit: the printed contract was stuff in the bag with the evolution box as soon as it printed and handed to me thanking for choosing sprint. So again never seen a contract.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
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I never mentioned anything in post about "contract". I'm not trying to argue or call you out, I'm simply saying the tiniest bit of research of the phone prior to purchase would've revealed the extra $10 charge. It was displayed on Sprint and BB's websites. I never saw a contact or was ever told by the Sprint rep that sold me the phone either.
Sent from my SUPERSONIC

Sprint $10 'premium data' to apply to ALL new smartphone activations starting Jan 30.

"Sprint will increase its postpaid rates by applying a $10 per month Premium Data add-on charge to activations of smartphones beginning Jan. 30. The charge will assist Sprint in offering simple and affordable unlimited plans for its customers while maintaining a wireless network able to meet the growing appetite for a richer mobile experience. Subscribers with smartphones will still receive the best value in wireless, with features such as Any Mobile, Anytime offered nationwide only by Sprint."
More at this XDA thread in 'General' as well as the press release.

Why doesn't that suprise me!
Sent From My Pedal-to-the-Metal Hero!

Well crap... they better release some bad A phones if they're gonna make me pay extra for everything.
I'm talking top o' the line stuff. And consistently too.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Coincide with they're Feb. magic show???
Sent From My Pedal-to-the-Metal Hero!

Wow so I guess I won't be going back to them. Maybe I'll go to virgin once they get the lg optimus

Asadullah said:
Wow so I guess I won't be going back to them. Maybe I'll go to virgin once they get the lg optimus
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I'm with you. Sprint's "Just Because" fee for fake 4G is crazy already but now for 3G?
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

the thing that upsets me is they aren't changing the prices of plans, so they can still advertise the 69.99 rate for "unlimited" data. they need to just call it a 4g fee or raise the overall price of plans. I don't like the idea of charging an additional fee for a feature that's supposed to be "unlimited" in their plan rate.

That's so messed up that's what turned me away from the evo and epic was the extra fee when I wouldn't have 4g in my area anyway thank God I'm locked in for two years now I'm really going to tether as much as possible just to piss them off lmao
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Sprint actually improved their company image over the past year thanks to Android, but I think this will destroy most of, if not everything, they worked for. What a shame. In the future I will definitely consider T-Mobile as they are almost the same price and I think their HSPA+ is a much better concept than 4G.

I look at this as another excuse to get that HTC Evo upgrade

glad i went to virgin mobile. lol JK.. even with the new fee its still cheaper.. I just wish sprint would have just came out and said.. hey listen we gotta raise X fee to help improve our network or this or that. etc.. with that said I would be mad if I was still on sprint.lol
but 25 bucks a month is too hard to pass up. sure i have a crappy phone ( intercept ) but im sure virgin will get something better down the road.. etc..
But this will impact sprint in a negative light again. unless they do something. lol oh well enjoy your 80 dollar plan without 4g. lol ( for those who dont get it that is )

Bierce22 said:
That's so messed up that's what turned me away from the evo and epic was the extra fee when I wouldn't have 4g in my area anyway thank God I'm locked in for two years now I'm really going to tether as much as possible just to piss them off lmao
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
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Are you serious? Your saying you would spend alot of money for a phone (Evo/Epic) but can't afford the extra $10?
All of y'all stop acting like cheap bastards.. Even with the extra $10 were still paying WAY less then Verizon.. For 2 lines I'm paying $132 unlimited everything... The homie who has a blackberry on Verizon is paying that exact same thing... by itself lol...

igtheactt1 said:
Are you serious? Your saying you would spend alot of money for a phone (Evo/Epic) but can't afford the extra $10?
Your not seeing the bigger picture those who have family plans will have to pay for each line so if u have 5ppl that's an extra 50$ a month for something u already had for free witch is pretty rediculous
All of y'all stop acting like cheap bastards.. Even with the extra $10 were still paying WAY less then Verizon.. For 2 lines I'm paying $132 unlimited everything... The homie who has a blackberry on Verizon is paying that exact same thing... by itself lol...
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Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

igtheactt1 said:
Are you serious? Your saying you would spend alot of money for a phone (Evo/Epic) but can't afford the extra $10?
All of y'all stop acting like cheap bastards.. Even with the extra $10 were still paying WAY less then Verizon.. For 2 lines I'm paying $132 unlimited everything... The homie who has a blackberry on Verizon is paying that exact same thing... by itself lol...
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No, its that it is a charge for 4g service that is not in my area and therefore can't use it. But coming soon it'll be an extra $10 just for having a smartphone so might as well get 4g phone if you want it
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

wow major bummer as if my bill wasn't high enough already.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

igtheactt1 said:
Are you serious? Your saying you would spend alot of money for a phone (Evo/Epic) but can't afford the extra $10?
All of y'all stop acting like cheap bastards.. Even with the extra $10 were still paying WAY less then Verizon.. For 2 lines I'm paying $132 unlimited everything... The homie who has a blackberry on Verizon is paying that exact same thing... by itself lol...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Extra $240, since it's a monthly fee over a 2 year contract. People never think of total cost of ownership when it comes to cell phones.
Yes, still cheaper than Verizon and AT&T.

This is the aftermath from the lawsuit in which the people filed against the fake 4g charge. Sprint said the $10 wasn't for the 4g, but for the more capable phones. Now to retaliate they are charging the fee across the board...

spiritcrusher33 said:
glad i went to virgin mobile. lol JK.. even with the new fee its still cheaper.. I just wish sprint would have just came out and said.. hey listen we gotta raise X fee to help improve our network or this or that. etc.. with that said I would be mad if I was still on sprint.lol
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This.
Basically, the way I look at it, their requiring an "Everything data" plan for a smartphone should have covered this, and they should have increased the base price of the plan (for new customers only) instead of instituting this bull**** addon fee.
Second, I have no desire to move to a 4G phone - my Hero does everything I need it to. If I lose or otherwise need to replace my phone, now my bill goes up $10, even though I will be using the EXACT same phone in the EXACT same config? Since I have a family plan with 5 lines, that's a potential for $50/month.
Lastly, doing away with the 1 year upgrades for Premium members is the final straw. In the last two days, without me gaining a single iota of value, I am looking at an additional $50/month for the next 17 months (contract is up in May 2012) in addition to missing out on the $150 upgrade credit for 5 phones. This is on top of the changes they made for corporate discounts in August (which is costing me $15 more a month).
I'll be shopping for a new carrier in short order, even if it does cost me more. I'm tired of Sprint changing the rules and making up bull**** explanations, just so Hesse can have a bigger yacht.

Man sprint is on a roll this week..lol
oh well come 2012 its not gonna matter, lol

is it just me or are people missing the point?
"Sprint will increase its postpaid rates by applying a $10 per month Premium Data add-on charge to activations of smartphones beginning Jan. 30....."
For example my Hero is already activated

Sprint increasing 3G data plan pricing by $10/mo

WTF is this all about ?
http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/18/sprint-increasing-new-3g-data-plan-contract-pricing-by-10-call/
The nation's third-largest carrier just announced that it's tacking on an extra monthly $10 "premium data" charge to its 3G Everything data plans.

Now only if my Evo could operate at 3g speeds that would be freaking awesome.
FYI: 70Kbps is not acceptable for 3g speeds, wtf.

Learn to read. It's only for new customers and new smartphone activations via upgrades. If you don't upgrade then you don't get the charge.

cosine83 said:
Learn to read. It's only for new customers and new smartphone activations via upgrades. If you don't upgrade then you don't get the charge.
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But won't I get whacked for this new $10 charge when I upgrade to the EVO 2 this June ? So will EVO 2 charge me $10 for 4G + 10$ for 3G too ?

cosine83 said:
Learn to read. It's only for new customers and new smartphone activations via upgrades. If you don't upgrade then you don't get the charge.
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Click to collapse
Still a slap in the face. That means when your contract is up and you buy that new phone, you are also paying 10$ more (can anyone confirm if this is added onto the 10$ we pay for 4g?).

I'm pretty sure if you have a 4G phone that comes with a $10 charge anyway, you'll just keep paying the same additional $10. I think this extra $10 is only for people on 3G phones. So basically, everyone's paying that additional $10 now.

The "4g" fee now applies to all smartphones, that's all.
Sent from my HTC EVO

js2393 said:
I'm pretty sure if you have a 4G phone that comes with a $10 charge anyway, you'll just keep paying the same additional $10. I think this extra $10 is only for people on 3G phones. So basically, everyone's paying that additional $10 now.
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it can't get much clearer then this people, so no if you have a 4g phone you won't be paying $20, you only be paying the $10 that we already are, this additional fee is just for regular 3g phones.

Yeah. The are starting to see $ signs and possibly getting greedy. I'm going to follow this thread so I can see the same people claim that it's all lies.
The funny thing is I was talking to a rep yesterday about the new upgrade policy and brought up the $10 premium data. I asked her how come an HTC Hero doesn't have the charge and it accesses the same internet and it considered close to the Evo aside from 4G. I even told her that I would expect Sprint to make that charge mandatory on all phones being that they are seeing they can get away with it with current Evo owners.
That's the price you pay for a smartphone nowadays.

Wouldn't a better marketing strategy be to just incrrease the cost of the Everyting data plan to $79.99 and $139.99? Even with the increase Sprint's plans are the best out there. Extra charges piss me off though.

Ddt928 said:
Wouldn't a better marketing strategy be to just incrrease the cost of the Everyting data plan to $79.99 and $139.99? Even with the increase Sprint's plans are the best out there. Extra charges piss me off though.
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that would make more since honestly, but then what about the 4g phones then, lol, since a single line for the evo is already 79.99, that would be like tacking on another $10 on that so they could say it's a whatever fee, then someone ends up paying 89.99, cause they didn't realize they are getting screwed more then normal, though i would hope and think sprint would say the evo would only be 79.99 as any other smartphone would be.

So I guess its clear now that the David Blaine thing on the 7th is for making more of your money disappear along with premium status.

brownhornet said:
So I guess its clear now that the David Blaine thing on the 7th is for making more of your money disappear along with premium status.
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Same thing I was thinking.

Well all you "4g premium fee" complainers. Not so unfair you have to pay an extra 10 bucks anymore? LOL. Part of me is wondering if this is their way to make the 4g phone lineup more appealing..."you're gonna pay a premium anyways, why not have the ability to use 4g just in case we decide to roll it out in your city...as long as we don't go broke before then."
Welcome to the (give us money) NOW network!

my guess is that their announcement has to do with adding new cool phones that are 3G.
iphone could be a possibility, but maybe they'll say they allow any CDMA phone on their network.

illwafer said:
my guess is that their announcement has to do with adding new cool phones that are 3G.
iphone could be a possibility, but maybe they'll say they allow any CDMA phone on their network.
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http://m.engadget.com/default/artic...-unlocking-phones/&category=mobile&postPage=1
Sprint already had a lawsuit over this. You "should" be able to put iPhone from Verizon on sprint. Quoting a Rep.
Sent from Evo powered by CM7

aray92 said:
http://m.engadget.com/default/artic...-unlocking-phones/&category=mobile&postPage=1
Sprint already had a lawsuit over this. You "should" be able to put iPhone from Verizon on sprint. Quoting a Rep.
Sent from Evo powered by CM7
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Funny, when I was on the phone with a Sprint rep last month getting my unlocked EVO activated the lady said they can activate phone 'as long as its labeled with the Sprint logo'. I figured she was wrong or lying but I just wanted to get off the phone.

It's about to get worse. There are rumors that Sprint is going to drop the Premier Upgrade every 12 months program. That they will NOT give Sprint Premiere customers the rebates until their two year contract is up. IF this is the case I will be leaving Sprint as soon as they announce this. They just can't get out of their own way. One of the main reasons I stay with Sprint is because of their annual upgrades. It would not shock me to see Sprint file bankruptcy if they start to implement all these idiotic plans.
http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216413
http://community.sprint.com/baw/thread/58531?start=0&tstart=0&reqsorting=dec

The thing that sucks about this and might be the reason why they just didn't add $10 to plans is that corporate or work discounts do not apply to these fees and only towards the base plan. I was mad when they took the discounts off the $19.99 additional lines.
I won't leave Sprint over this because they are still cheaper, especially with our work discount but I guess I have no reason not to get my wife a 4G phone. I was hoping to save some money since we get 4G at work but not at home and she wouldn't use 4G anyway.
However, if this happens in addition to the Sprint Premier changes, I am going to get really mad for getting screwed in two places.

As long as my data is still unlimited i'll be happy. I don't come anywhere near 2gb or 5gb but if they start screwing around i'll say screw it and buy a damn contract free phone. I like my mobile internet but what they're all doing now is getting a little silly.
They have to raise prices as needed but they should've just upped the whole plan without a $10 tack on. The whole point of Sprint's pricing scheme is to keep it simple for people. That was one of the biggest reasons I came to sprint this year. That and the EVO of course