I understand why everyone is so angry about a $10 fee that has no explanation, but why should you care when you are receiving a top of the line phone and service cheaper than you can get it anywhere else? It's 99.99 to have an iPhone with AT&T and I left verizon because of the ridiculous service prices. I gladly pay the $10 dollars because it could be worse and no one would have said anything if you needed to have the $99.99 package from Sprint to run this phone from the begining if the explanation was like that of the Blackberry; special Blackberry Package. I do think it's a little weird that there is really no explanation, but even with the $10 the monthly plan is the cheapest so I am still satisfied.

It's $85 to have an iPhone, at least with the current plans. The iPhone is only one phone anyways, which most people considering the EVO or other Android phones do not even consider. When looking at other comparable phones like the other Galaxy S phones, the Droid X and Droid 2, the Nexus One, HD2, etc, it makes you wonder why Sprint has to charge extra for their EVO and Galaxy S phone, which are quite similar to all those other phones that don't require any extra fee. The one glaring difference between Sprint's phones and all those I listed is that Sprint's phones have 4G, while the others don't. Wouldn't it be plausible that Sprint is charging that extra fee for their 4G? Many of us don't it's fair to pay for 4G when we're not receiving it. Not to mention, that price difference becomes even less when you have multiple devices that require the fee on a family plan.

I understand your point of saying it's wrong to compare Sprint's 450 plan to AT&T and VZW unlimited plans. However, you can't really compare their 450 plans either. Obviously, we are all well aware that AT&T and VZW don't have unlimited to any mobile. Which for some users, makes a huge difference. I used to use all of my 450 minutes on VZW, last month on Sprint I used 22. Yes, AT&T has roll over, but when you are using the majority of your minutes, the roll over doesn't really seem like a benefit. Additionally, AT&T's 450 plan doesn't even include unlimited nights and weekends.

All that said, this $10 fee is still utterly ridiculous.

I guess what upsets me the most is the false advertising of these providers. How can "unlimited data” actually mean limited data? Please correct me if I am wrong but isn't that false advertising?
I have been a Sprint customer for quite some time now and for the most part I feel Sprint has stepped up and straightened their !@#$% out. Their customer service, in my opinion, has vastly improved. However, this idiotic fee will eventually cause me to go with another carrier.

I got my fee waived for 24 months by talking to retentions. I called them and said that I was thinking of leaving because I could get a cheaper plan through T-mobile and get the HD2. I advised her that I don't have 3G in my area and that due to that fee I was thinking about leaving. That's when she offered to waive $10.00 from my account for 24 months -- i would call retentions and pretend like you are going to leave for another carrier - the worst thing they can say is no!

So I e-mailed Dan@sprint.com after watching Dan tell us all about how 4G would be available at no additional charge. And I received a call back, very timely mind you, from a nice lady from sprint. I asked her about the charge and she told me that it was because people would be using more data than normal because there would be more ways to use it. So I asked her if my current plan was for unlimited data usage to which she told me yes, and then I asked her for clarification. She then went on to tell me that the HTC Evo allows users to use so much data that it's kind of beyond unlimited.. Wow, they really have some awesome answers at sprint. Don't get me wrong she was very nice and agreed with me that it didn't make sense, but whoever is feeding her these answers is absolutely crazy. I really would like to talk to the think tank or whoever that came up with this idea and ask them if it really makes sense to them. Anyway, I asked her if she would wave the fee for me and she said she could not. Some one on here said they got their fee waived. Anyone else have similar luck? If so wanna share your success story?

Great info, thanks for useful post. I'm waiting for more

Great website! You should also point out that Verizon and AT&T don't require you to purchase an unlimited texting plan (unlike Sprint). If you don't text like a 14 year old girl, then Sprint's plan is about the same price as Verizon and AT&T. Furthermore, the HTC Incredible on Verizon has almost all of the features of EVO and they don't charge you extra to have that phone.

I agree with this article!! I just hope the Sprint Execs. start paying attention (doubt it!). Good thing I got my $10 fee waived for 24 months! I am sad that sprint is making the $10 move - if it was optional then that would be a one thing but to have it mandatory is ridiculous. I swear sprint gets over-cocky when they release a new phone - i.e. the supposed other "iphone killers" instinct and palm pre. They have to realize that the iphone is so huge in pop culture and Sprint need to SERIOUSLY entice those people away from their iphone's and charging a $10 fee mandatory fee for a new phone is not a great start!

New phone: $199.99
Cost of plan: $79.99
Additional fee for 4g: $10
Not being able to use because it's not in your area: Also costs you $10
Sprint messing up, yet again when everyone was hopeful: priceless