Sprint iPhone Will Come With Unlimited Data Plan Option

(Reuters) - Sprint Nextel plans to offer customers who buy the Apple Inc iPhone its unlimited data service for a flat monthly fee, potentially putting pressure on bigger rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc.

Sprint will become the third U.S. mobile provider to start selling the next iPhone model along with AT&T and Verizon Wireless, which both charge consumers for services like mobile web-surfing on the basis of how much they use.

Sprint will be banking on the iPhone to bolster customer numbers as it has been losing subscribers for years.

While analysts say that unlimited data could give Sprint an edge over Verizon and AT&T among heavy data users, they still say that the majority of Sprint iPhone customers will be people who are already on the Sprint network.

Nomura Securities analyst Mike McCormack estimated that only about 10 percent of Sprint's iPhone customers will move from another carrier compared with 33 percent at AT&T and Verizon Wireless.

Verizon Wireless is a venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Plc.

(Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Bernard Orr)
Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[PCPrincess]

11:16 AM on 10/07/2011

I think they may be underestimating the edge this will give Sprint. They are assuming a percentage of customers who may switch from ATT and Verizon, but they may have forgotten to include the many who own phones and use a pay as you go plan. Pay as you go continues to be a MUCH better value for me. E.G. If I were to get a 'cheap' unlimited plan at $50 a month and multiply that by 12 months, we are looking at $600 a year for unlimited phone service. I pay $100 which allows me use of my phone for a year without re-upping and that will get me through the whole year. I use my iPAD on a wireless connection so I only use my phone for text messages. I can even SEND text messages using Yahoo Messenger in the iPAD, so I only need to turn on the phone to receive messages when I'm not on the iPAD and not at home on the PC.

[Patrick Romandy-Simmons]

03:00 AM on 10/07/2011

Great, so Sprint will offer unlimited data IF you can actually get a signal. Unlimited data on a lousy network, no thanks.

[Steven Travis]

10:59 AM on 10/07/2011

Don't have an iPhone but around here Sprint works great. I've had less dropped calls than poeple on the Verizon network (Detroit area)

[T Howell III]

09:14 PM on 10/06/2011

Quick question here: Will the Sprint network allow for simultaneous talk/web browsing for iPhone? I know it wasn't possible on Verizon but was on AT&T. Thanks.

[Patrick Romandy-Simmons]

02:59 AM on 10/07/2011

Actually it is possible with the Verizon version, the statement by AT&T that is was not is a half truth. As long as you have WiFi you can talk and browse the web at the same time.

[RecreationalPilot]

08:00 PM on 10/06/2011

I just got the vibe (a personal feeling)... T-Mobile Might Just Be Going Out Of Business!

I've been a customer for over 5 years, having 5 phones with them. Several are getting ready to hit their 2 year upgrade and one already is available to upgrade. I stopped by the store and T-Mobile is no longer offering deferred billing on phone upgrades.... it's all cash up front. This was confirmed at both the local store and when I called the corporate support line.

I've seen many companies over the years change their policies like this.

Most times, it's because they want to make sure they have all their costs covered!

[Post31]

02:08 PM on 10/06/2011

Sprint I choose you

[BlueHorde]

09:31 AM on 10/06/2011

Is the unlimited data plan really an "option", It has been *required* with most Sprint smart phones - was when I got the original Palm Pre.

[RyaPdc]

07:53 AM on 10/06/2011

What's a better phone, the EVO 3D or the iPhone 4S? I have had sprint for 10 years and honestly, living in the DC area, I feel the service has gotten worse. Customer service is amazing, however.

[FullFrontal]

08:44 AM on 10/06/2011

i have the 3D and it's a great phone. but with today's technology, I'd go with the 4S only because it's newer BUT looking at the specs, i wouldn't pay the money for the minor bump in hardware/software advantages. Aside from the 3D capabilities of the EVO not being able to share the pix/vids with most of the world, I would say it's just a preference thing

[joeytad2010]

03:24 PM on 10/12/2011

The Sony Xperia Ray is the better phone and it's not tied to any carrier.

[angela61]

02:53 AM on 10/06/2011

Am I the only person who can't afford my Sprint phone anymore? Lol Everyone is losing there jobs but it seems like everybody still has a nice phone.

[Bill M NY]

11:51 AM on 10/06/2011

Can't afford sprint, you really can't afford anything but a track phone, which of course is most likely sprint.

[angela61]

06:30 PM on 10/06/2011

Never heard of a track phone? Im going back to T Mobile

[ASiegel12]

10:51 PM on 10/05/2011

If Sprint did not have an unlimited data plan then switching from my blackberry to the iPhone 4s would be in my opinion pointless. Without a great Data plan I would be paying a lot of money for a not iPhone 5

[sallysatellite]

10:09 PM on 10/05/2011

Steve Jobs was an incredablely ingenious man. He contstruted, and was at at the helm of what was well respected and innovative. If I had a choice, financially, all of my computer workings would be with Apple. He created computers that were vertually free from viruses. Top notch new innovations. I was proud to see him living what appeared to be his life's dreams comming to fruition. His loss is most likely felt nationaly, and beyond. He demonstrated such strength when he was still ill, and kept on going. I will always admire him, and strive to purchase his incredable and innovated products. HIs work was, in my eyes, the gold standard for all others to live up to , or immitate. He is missed already. Love and prayers to his family and friends.

[hungrypilot]

09:25 AM on 10/06/2011

Thankfully there's 3045345 other articles that you can comment on about this subject. Read the headline next time.

[sallysatellite]

12:29 PM on 10/09/2011

guess i stand corrected...oops

[Clint Harris]

08:15 PM on 10/05/2011

Switching the company over to sprint next month... about 1/2 as expensive as ATT. I'm stoked.

[SteveDenver]

08:52 PM on 10/05/2011

If you support Liberal politics, please check with CREDO Mobile. They use the Sprint Network and contribute only to Liberal candidates and causes, as well as keeping track of and petitioning political activity. www.credomobile.com

[jgsuperpants]

09:30 PM on 10/05/2011

Sprint, as a company, is more responsible and progressive than the rest. I think that's why CREDO uses them, and why I have stuck with Sprint for so long.

[Cheshiremoe]

12:49 PM on 10/06/2011

I have been thinking of switching to Credo... But I need to find out if they support 4g and find a good unlocked android phone.

[Daedalus22]

08:14 PM on 10/05/2011

Sprint may be offering unlimited data plans but they are still Sprint--and their plans will cost more than their competitors (as they do now). The only reason they are doing this is Apple locked them into buying a gad zillion IPhones for the privelege of finally having them like their competitors. They are No. #3 in the market and falling for years. I've been locked into Sprint's plan for years and years and I've grown to loathe this company.

[xmw]

08:30 PM on 10/05/2011

Really??? Interesting. I have been with them almost 13 yrs now. First and only carrier I have ever had and loyalty has it's rewards. we have several lines. They always step outside the box for us from early upgrades if needed, waiver of activation fees to putting $100 credits on account so we can buy a phone without needing the $100 mail in rebate. How are you "locked into sprint for years". The contracts expire. Why are you with a company that you loathe???

[catalyst1219]

10:09 PM on 10/05/2011

I'm with you xmv. Sprint was my first carrier back in 2001 when I was in 11th grade and I've had the same account ever since. They aren't a perfect company (who is?) but overall I'm very happy with them and have no real major complaints. They've worked with me on upgrades or billing or most other issues too. I remember back in '03 when I got my first palm smart phone, before iphones existed, and I accidentally used up $700 in data charges (I stupidly thought it was just included) and they wiped out the whole thing, I actually ended up with a little bit of a credit. Barring any unforeseen circumstances I have no intention of ever leaving Sprint.

[admiralj]

08:45 PM on 10/05/2011

Since Dan Hesse has taken over things have been improving. Have you tired AT&T? I left Sprint after 14 years to get the iPhone. But now will be moving back, they are much better than the dropped calls that you must endure with AT&T. Besides, their network is all fiber optic and much faster than the old ma bell.

[inthedesert]

08:13 PM on 10/05/2011

And in about 6 months this will be "old" and everyone will need a new "techfix". LOL. Ah, I love you sheeples out there..you apparently have much more disposable income than brains and common sense. LOL.

[Donatella]

08:36 PM on 10/05/2011

Ahh, what a superior person you are. It must be uncomfortable to have to mingle with your inferiors on a daily basis.

[jozie]

09:20 PM on 10/05/2011

Thank you, someone had to say it!

[Smurfaveli]

11:19 AM on 10/06/2011

Are you still using a Motorola StarTAC?

[Steven Travis]

11:04 AM on 10/07/2011

Nope - I'm sure he's using just a rotary land line based phone.

[tequila2040]

08:02 PM on 10/05/2011

this is just the beginning Iphones are going to be anywhere now

[johuyik]

07:49 PM on 10/05/2011

The day my contract expires I'm switching to Sprint. I don't even care if ATT matches their offer, I'm making the move.