22Oct/1019

Do you REALLY need Premium Data?

I’m going to be asking a lot of questions in this article. Over the last few months, I’ve done a lot of research and spoken with Sprint numerous times regarding the Premium Data add-on. If I could have someone read one article on my site – it would be this one. I think that after you finish reading this, you’ll have a better understanding of what I’ve been trying to prove. If you’re up to the challenge, call for yourself and go down this list and see for yourself. E-mail me your results and let me know if they are adding anything else to this list!

Do you REALLY need Premium Data?

Sprint says that it’s required to run their latest dual-band (3G/4G) phones. They say it can’t be waived, you won’t be credited and it cannot be removed. Sprint says that this allows the phone to unlock features that have the potential to provide a “richer data experience”. So what does Premium Data really provide? If you could take out a piece of paper and start numbering the features that you get with this add-on, what would you really be able to mark down? Like I said before, I’ve talked to many.. many people and I think I may have finally figured out every possible response and counter-argument that they could provide. Let’s see what Sprint has listed on their piece of paper!

A

1. 4G Service

Some representatives have this down as their “go-to answer”. I’ve actually heard them say this before I can even finish my sentence. In my experience, this sets the tone of the call; if they mention this, you know that the person you’re speaking to has successfully used this previously to silence someone. If you’re advised that the phone requires Premium Data because of the access to the 4G network, the appropriate response would be this:

“What if I’m not in a 4G area?”

The typical answer will be - “But sir/madam, you can always travel to a 4G coverage area and experience the accelerated speeds offered in our 4G network.” That’d be a great answer if most people took out a Sprint coverage map when planning their weekend getaways, but in the real world you expect to pay for a service that you’d get all the time, not just when you need an overnight bag. What if you suffer from agoraphobia and never intend to leave your home, or just simply live hundreds of miles from the nearest 4G coverage area? If you’re going to say that it’s for when I travel to a 4G coverage area, the simple answer here is to charge me when and IF I’m in the 4G area! If the agent on the phone does mention this, press them on it. They will almost always withdraw their answer and finally admit that it’s not for 4G service, after they come back from putting you on hold while they “double check” this.

If you are lucky enough to speak with any management level person on the phone, I guarantee that they’ll quickly advise you that Premium Data is NOT for 4G and they will apologize for any previous misinformation given to you by the other representatives.

A

2. Increase in Data Usage

Sprint’s next argument is that they have an expectation that EVO/Epic owners will use more data compared to the non-4G phone owners on their network. The important thing to remember here is that some most users are not currently in a 4G area. Let’s consider your EVO or Epic a 3G phone at this point, that’s what it would be right? Apples to Apples! Now, when you’re comparing these phones and start to talk about any data usage, let’s remember what type of plan you must sign up for:

All of the plans include unlimited data! How fantastic! So what’s this talk about more data? What if I don’t use more data?

“Will I get a refund if I do not use ‘more’ data?”

The answer is obviously “no”. Even though Sprint says that they’re assuming you’re going to be using more data, you are still required to pay for “more” data on your “unlimited” plan even if you use less data than you did when you had your Palm Pre, BlackBerry or Touch Pro. This is a sticky situation, as the definition provided by Sprint clearly says that your plan is unlimited, but I’ve been advised by several Sprint reps that the “Premium Data” actually unlocks unlimited data on dual-band (3G/4G) phones. That’d be great, if I wasn’t in the same 3G network as my previous phone, using the same unlimited data plan. My next question for Sprint:

“Do the ‘Everything’ plans include Unlimited Data?”

Since I just showed this to you in the previous diagram, you already know the answer, but ask them anyways. It sets up the next few questions:

“Is there a 5GB or any data cap on either the 3G or 4G phones?”

I’ve received conflicting answers on this by several different reps. I’ve been told this - “The Premium Data add-on allows you to get past the 5GB cap.” I’ve made it very clear in previous conversations with Sprint and even pointed out their incorrect information on their website about this information. Here they corrected this information – basically, there is no cap.

The question should no longer be if I’m using more data, the question should be - “Why is there a question of my data usage?” If I have two phones activated on my “Family Everything Data” plan and I’m living in a 3G area, regardless of the phone being capable of connecting to 4G, the phones are on the same network. Unlimited data usage with NO cap should mean that I can use my phone the way I want to (within Sprint’s regulations) and not be penalized just because I have a new phone.

A

3. Hotspot

Having the ability to turn my phone into a Mobile Hotspot is another feature that Sprint wants me to write down as a “Premium Data” feature of the EVO/Epic. “Sir/Madam, did you know that the phone is able to be used as a Mobile Hotspot, capable of powering your iPad or Nintendo DS, or even your laptop?” My question is simply – “Is it required?” Just because I have the ability to turn the phone into a Mobile Hotspot for another $30 a month, doesn’t mean I need to be charged $10 for a “Premium Data” add each month. I’ve approached this issue with the following question:

“Is the $10 Premium Data fee a pre-requisite to the mobile Hotspot?”

The $30/month Mobile Hotspot is an add-on just like the Roadside Rescue for $4/month. Just because only these phones have the ability to use the Hotspot feature, it doesn’t mean you can mark it down on the list of what Premium Data is actually for.

A

4. “Cool” Software

If you ask Sprint what the differences are between the Samsung Transform and the Samsung Epic, they’ll read off their comparison fact sheets and you’ll probably be told that the Epic has Combined IM, MMS, and SMS messaging. It also has integrated contacts, linked contacts and a layered calendar. Don’t forget the chat-style messaging. Yes, these are “features” that are only available on the Epic. The Transform does not come with these features; you can see this comparison on Sprint.com

If these are “Premium Data” features, then surely the EVO must have these, right?

“Does the EVO have any of these ‘Premium’ features?”

Wait, another “Premium Data” phone lacks these “Premium Data” features? This obviously can’t be the reason, so they might start to mention that the Epic has the ability to use AllShare. This is the ability to stream content between other Samsung devices through a WiFi connection. I was told that if I had a Samsung TV, I could easily watch movies on my Samsung TV from my Epic and wouldn’t have to worry about any wires. Let’s just ignore the fact that not everyone has WiFi and a Samsung TV, but let’s focus on the fact that they’re trying to sell this proprietary feature as “Premium Data”? Does the EVO have this? What about the Samsung Media Hub? Again, it’s proprietary software to the device that you're buying.

A

5. Faster Speeds

Ah, arguing with Sprint regarding this “feature” has amazed me. I’ll try to explain this without getting too technical. I’ve been told that the dual-band phones have the ability to experience faster (wicked) speeds than any phone ever. Right away you can see an issue with this claim. First of all, if you’re talking about faster speeds on the 4G network, then isn’t that technically charging $10 for 4G speeds? You cannot come out and say that the $10 isn’t for 4G, but then say that the fee is for faster speeds. 4G is faster speeds! Now I must admit that this is something they thought through, so they included a short disclaimer while mentioning this. They’ll say something like this: “You will have a richer data experience whether you are in the 3G or the 4G network.” They claim that you will have faster speeds even in the 3G network! How can this be? Ask this if you’re curious to how this is possible:

“Will Premium Data allow a 3G/4G phone to receive faster speeds than a 3G only phone while connected to a 3G only connection?”

Believe it or not, the answer that you’ll typically receive is “yes!”, so you must ask further about the technical specifics:

“What is the maximum download speed that the Samsung Epic could achieve on a 3G connection?”

The answer is “up-to 3.1Mbps”. That sounds like a very solid answer; it’s an exact number.

So let’s ask a different question:

“What is the maximum download speed that the Samsung Transform could achieve on a 3G connection?”

Oh snap. Again, it’s “up-to 3.1Mbps”.

See what I’m doing? I’m asking questions that I know the answer to. I’m proving a point. Dual-band 3G/4G phones will have the same maximum download speeds that “3G only” phones will have. It’s a fact. Sprint has actually approached this issue with an unconventional solution. They’ve told me that my download speeds would actually appear faster because of the superior processor. Websites will load faster, applications will download faster and in general, the phone will be vastly superior to any other phone out there on the market. The appearance of my download speed will be faster? Are you serious?

Yes, I admit that websites will probably load faster, but that’s because you’re using a faster processor. Wouldn’t you expect the phone to be faster? That’s why you’re buying the most expensive phone that they sell, which brings up my final point.

A

6. Hardware

The dual-band phones will outperform any other Sprint phone that they currently sell, in every way. They have faster processors, more memory and of course prettier screens. These are top of the line phones. They are very high quality phones; you’d expect to get awesome hardware. Let’s ask this question:

“Why is there no Premium Data charge on the Samsung Transform?”

“Wait, why does the phone ..[pause].. lack the charge?” Yes, you’ll often hear a pause on the phone.

Someone who isn’t versed in the Samsung Transform might say that the ability to have a dual video chat with the dual cameras is obviously one reason, but that can’t be it, since the Transform has a dual camera for live video conferencing.

They’ll probably jump next to the fact that the screen is .5”-.8” smaller than the Epic/EVO. This is true, the screen is smaller. However, there is another difference: the processor. Quickly follow up to whatever answer they give you with this:

“Why does the Epic cost $100 more than the Transform?”

The answer will probably be similar to this: “The phone is vastly superior and overall a higher quality phone.”

I agree with that answer. The reason why you’re paying $100 more for the phone is simple; it’s because the phone is a higher quality phone! Consumers will decide if they need the “bells and whistles” or if they need a basic model. That’s why people buy the 60” LCD and not a 36”, or decide to upgrade to a Blu-ray player. Pose this question:

“Is the Premium Data add-on for a better hardware experience?”

Yes, it does seem very baiting. You’re asking a very straight question; “Is the add-on allowing me to have a better experience using the hardware of the phone?”

Follow up with this final question:

“If I’m paying $100 more for a superior, higher quality phone and then additionally $10 for the same hardware features, am I not paying you $10 a month for hardware of a device that I already own?”

1

To conclude:

It’s simple. Anyway that you look at this, there is no “clear and concise” answer. It’s all been smoke and mirrors and they're still dancing around the answer. My goal is to no longer have them “explain the fee”, but now explain their explanations. Nothing is making sense and I’m not sure if any Sprint employee is ever going to be able to provide an answer to my questions that makes logical sense. I’ve been told by each representative that they cannot comment any further on my questions since they are only able to comment on what they’ve been told. The last few points that I brought up are some obvious features that can be used when you're not in the Sprint data network.

If you take your phone to an underground bunker in the middle of Nevada where there are no Sprint cell towers for miles and take out your phone, you'll notice that you have no connection to the Sprint network. If you try to use the "Premium features" (the software and hardware of the phone), it's going to work. You're still going to be able to record a video with your camera. You'll be able to stream it via HDMI out or use the Samsung AllShare with a TV. The processor is going to run your apps smoothly, but you're still NOT going to be in any Sprint Data network. If you're NOT in the Sprint Data network and the features that they are charging you $10 a month for still function, then I think you can clearly see that we have an issue that isn't being addressed.

I recorded another conversation with another representative and then his supervisor, and then her supervisor. I was eventually told that they would have their manager call me back within 48 hours and then I was hung up on. My conversation was based on the hypothetical situation of a potential customer asking questions before they signed up for a contact with Sprint. I’ll be posting this conversation in its entirety on the site in the next few days.

If you call Sprint and get a different definition of "Premium Data", please E-mail me your results and let me know.

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Ba15

The problem I have is that this was is a price increase plain and simple; and they are tried everything to spin it otherwise and convince you that you would be getting something you weren't prior to the fee. There is nothing more reliable, enriching, or better about the service I have now with my Palm Pre then when I got it in mid 2009. For the 4G sure I understand, but largely we are paying more for the same thing.
Erzer

Loved the write up and it is a very good approach as I've been scratching my head as to why I need the EPIC given the overall price of it and additional fee. As to those who want to dismiss the $10 as a minimal fee, tell me what you are getting for the extra money? How about looking at it this way.

Let's say you have a car that requires basic/low grade fuel. Would you be willing to pay an extra $.40 per gallon of gas for premium even though your car isn't going to get better or very negligible gas mileage (maybe a mile) each tank? If your fill up is say 10 gallons each time on average, that's $4.00 each fill up; but remember you may have gotten an extra mile out of your tank. Just how much did you gain if your car gets 28 or even 35 mpg and just how long did it take for you to achieve that if you are limited by the roadways and traffic in your area?

Another comparison for those that want to believe you are pre-paying for advances (more 4G) down the line. Are you willing to pay the utility companies more more simply because they tell you they will use it to build another power plant or wind farm? Do you not realize that once they do build it, they will not reduce the fees and may actually charge you more? The same thing with Sprint, once they get to the end point, whatever that may be, they are not going to reduce the fee and you're still going to be paying for what? Oh wait, your 4G phone will be obsolete by then; and then we'll be discussing what 10G?

Again I'm looking at the EPIC, so I'm not one of these anti-technology guys. But seriously people, the reason you end up paying more than you should for anything is because of your willingness to just accept what you are given even if it only a nickle and dime practice.

So back to my original question, just what are you getting for your additional $10 a month?
Craig

This $10 fee is not for 4G? Right...
http://www.fiercewireless.com/...
OutrageousJon

I had the epic for a month. It was a good phone, but not so great that I should pay an extra $10/month. This is especially true when you consider that you can get the equivalent phone on any other network without extra fees (compared to their other offerings). So after nearly 10 years of maintaining a business account with Sprint, paying for multiple lines of service, I dropped them like a hot rock and moved over to T-Mobile. I bought a few Vibrants on craigslist/ebay for about $250 each (less than the epic after tax + 2 year contract). I am not bound by any contract, and I pay less monthly than I was paying Sprint. My signal is stronger, the customer service is WAY BETTER, the price is lower, my phone can be unlocked and used internationally, and I'm not getting screwed over by my carrier just because they can. Basically I like everything better about the new service. Get ready for more losses Sprint. I won't be the last one to figure you out and move on to something better.
tjleeland

Sorry, I double posted

:P
tjleeland

ALL of this is moot. You are not ENTITLED to an EVO. You are not entitled to one for free, you are not entitled to one for the price of an HTC Desire, and you're not entitled to one for $10 a moth more than an HTC Desire. You simply are not ENTITLED to an EVO.

Because you're not ENTITLED to an EVO, you don't get to decide what features are more valuable than others; Sprint does. You don't get to decide what the impact on the network will be; Sprint does. You don't get to decide the price plans; again, Sprint does. Not only that, but you don't get to decide how to itemize the bill associated with an EVO. What you DO get to decide is if you WANT an HTC EVO on Sprint's network. That's it.

No one is forcing you to get an EVO. Not having an EVO isn't going to hold you back in life; it's not going to keep you from getting that dream job or into that dream school. Getting an EVO is not in the US constitution. You have no right to an EVO and not having one is not an actionable offence.

If you don't like something about the EVO, you shouldn't get an EVO. This includes the fees associated with it. That is your right. Sprint cannot take that right away from you. Your rights, however, don't include deciding how Sprint prices their products.

My business professor told me that you never want to be the low-price leader. The problem is that you end up with a lot of customers who only care about price. He told me that they're harass you non-stop about every fee and complain about every increase. It becomes about price, price, price. He also said they're the least loyal; quickly jumping ship every time they find a lower price. Brand means nothing to them, and they'll forget every nice thing you've done, every deadline you've beat, and every penny you've saved them in the past over a $1 increase. They are your worst customers and the only way you can keep them is by charging the least, even with the over-all value is twice as high as your closest competitor.

This teacher said you might need them when you're starting off, but you look forward to the day you can tell them to go elsewhere. They become more trouble than they're worth as you replace them with loyal customers who actually like your company for more than the price.

All I can say is: I had no idea he was this right. Boy, do you bunch prove his point better than anything I can imagine. AT&T customers, who already hate AT&T, didn't complain this much. WOW! This should be taught to every single business student.
Brad Richards

The problem with your statement is that Sprint isn't giving me more value. Not even close. Poor signal strength while traveling, phones that lag behind the competition and bogus fees that they can neither justify or explain. Loyalty? Are you kidding me? Your professor should also explain reality in the business world to you as well. If you think Sprint cares about, you're crazy or naive. They want your money. When your money isn't enough, they will charge you more money without the slightest thought as to whether you can make your house note or your car note or your child's daycare bills. There is no such thing as "loyalty" in the business world anymore on EITHER side. The days of going to Floyd the barber because he's always cut your hair even though he doesn't do the best job are long, LONG gone. Here's the deal: I want a fast and efficient phone. I want it to be able to do all the things that you say it can do. I want it all at a fair price. If you can deliver then I am your customer and will be for as long as that deal is maintained. If you can't, then I'm gone. Period.
Airen Edebiri

You're missing the point completely here. The price is not the issue, it's the principle of what you're paying for. The point is that Sprint seems to be charging an extra $10 for their 4G services, while vehemently denying it's for 4G. The $10 doesn't break most people, but it just seems strange to pay for a service you're not receiving. If Sprint said that the fee was for 4G and adjusted their billing accordingly, 90% of people would have no complaint at all, myself included. But to say that I'm paying an extra $10 a month for "a better experience" or "increased data usage" when I've already paid to have unlimited data seems like making me pay twice for the same thing.

It gets even worse then the store employees say it's for 4G, or tell people that their area is getting 4G soon (and then you wait forever and still no 4G in your area) and you have 2 conflicting sides of the same already very questionable story. No one is deciding how Sprint "should" price their products. We're trying to figure out WHAT EXACTLY we're paying for with this extra add-on.
MordyT

Comon guys...

1) 5GB Cap. Regardless if they admit this, the fact is that I can no longer receive a letter stating that I am abusing the Sprint network by downloading 20GB of stuff and that they are terminating my service.

2) No Tiered data plans. Must I say more. Sprint is the last of the major providers, lets keep it that way.

3) 4G. They do provide it in certain areas and are rolling it out in others. It is not free, and they do have some of the cheapest plans for a nationwide provider, so they need to make money somehow.

4) Didn't Verizon publish a study saying Android phones do use more data? Yes, why just their 4G phones are subject is a good question.

5) Price. As Sprint advertises so much, even with the $10 add-on, they are still cheaper then most, if not all nationwide CDMA provider.

6) And you and I both know that people have been hacking Wifi/Wired Tethering in their phones for the past 7-10 years, and even more are doing it nowadays. And most of the people grabbing EvO's are enthusiasts that will almost certainly do it.

7) Phone price: Add it up, the 10 a month comes out to 240 a year. And the EvO is a incredible piece of hardware. That only costs $199 on contract. The Touch Pro2 = $350. that is right, $150 more on contract. So you would have paid most of this anyways outright with the TP2. The TP2 uses much older tech too.

8) Sero. The money loser. And finally they allowed these phones on it. So if you have, and are now paying $40 a month, they are stilling losing money on you, just not as much.

Add all that up and maybe you can see why they are so anal about the fee. Yes, I would love to see the fee gone. And I am happy that someone is working towards getting down to the real reason. But at this point, I will just live with it. (And no 4G in my area.)
Brad Richards

Gotta say that this is asinine logic. Here's a better choice - raise all plans by $10 /mo. and do away with the bogus "Premium Data Experience" bullshit. I wouldn't have a problem with them saying that they need to re-coup the 4G expenses by raising the plans. I DO, however, have a problem with being deceived and lied to. Personally, I am leaving Sprint due to their anemic phone lineup and the fact that my only option for a decent phone is to pay a $10/mo extortion fee that they will not explain. Of course, there's the fact that 4G has a minimal availability, not to mention that unless you are within a major highway or major city you can forget about 3G as well. Sprint is a dinosaur holding onto last place and fading fast. CDMA is going to die. Verizon is making the switch and the other two bust out new phones every other week. I thought that I had found a new home with Sprint, but it looks like I'll be pulling up stakes and moving on again.
Airen Edebiri

1. The 5GB cap only exists for data cards. There is NO DATA CAP ON PHONES!!! I saw a Facebook post the other day where a guy was bragging about how he used 6GB of data on his Hero (246 MB of which was roaming) and didn't pay anything extra for it. I've seen posts from others saying they used upwards of 8GB of data on their Palm Pre's. No extra fee. Why would I think now that I should have to pay extra to remove a non-existent cap on an already unlimited data plan?

2. Verizon still has their unlimited data too, so Sprint is not the last. However, if you think long and hard, you'll realize that the Premium Data fee IS a tiered data plan. Tier 1 (Everything Plan) = non-4G phones (coincidence?). Tier 2 (Everything Plan + Premium Data)= 4G phones = expected increase in data usage (according to Sprint), even in 3G only areas. Tiered data exists everywhere. The thing most people care about is the availability of an unlimited option.

3. So then is this fee for 4G? Sprint swears up and down that it's not...and regardless, people should only pay for service they ARE receiving, not service they MIGHT POSSIBLY receive depending on where they live. Some people say the fee helps build the 4G network faster. That's true to some small extent, but we are not investors hoping to get a return one day, we're paying customers. Even worse there's no guarantee that you'll ever get 4G in your area, regardless of how many Premium Data fees you pay on your account. There are people who still don't even have 3G in their areas, but they're supposedly already paying for 4G? Or are they paying because they might increase their data usage, even though they're on 1xRTT and not likely to get anything done on such a slow connection?

4. Data usage depends on the user, not the phone - how much data a phone uses depends on what apps you're using and how you're using it. Regardless of that though, that goes back to point number 2 - if we're saying that there's an increase in data usage, then we're creating a tier system. At what point is the increase in data usage significant enough to warrant an extra fee? What if data usage remains the same or even decreases?

5. Cheaper is not necessarily always better, especially when the price difference shrinks from $15-$20 to $5-$10 (AT&T and Verizon respectively). Although I think Sprint is a better value overall, some people don't care about that lol. A lot of the people that like the EVO/Epic just need the basic functions, and if there are similar options on other carriers (G2, Droid X, Droid 2, iPhone 4, other Galaxy S phones, etc. etc.), the incentive to stay with or come to Sprint isn't as big.

6. I don't see why we should assume most people with the EVO or Epic are enthusiasts - I'd actually say it's quite the opposite. Sprint finally has some phones with extreme mass appeal (EVO/Epic) and I doubt the majority are hacking their phones to bits. Really only a small population of customers are tethering their phones frequently enough to impact the network, but those few (relatively speaking) that do can make a big difference.

7. Forget about the Touch Pro 2, no one is buying those anymore lol. Phone price is a moot point IMO - most other carriers price their comparable phones (Droid X, Droid 2, iPhone 4, etc) at $200, just like Sprint did. Keep in mind Sprint also charged an extra $50 for the Epic, while all the other Galaxy S phones were $200. With the $10 fee added, you're no longer getting your phone subsidized if you keep it for the 2 years, you're just on a very long and slow payment plan lol. EVO after 2 years = $440 ($200 + $10/month), which is only $10 shy of the MSRP. Even worse, if you buy your phone outright, you're still paying the extra $10 a month, which further increases the cost of ownership.

8. I find it interesting that Sprint has options for SERO customers to get Iconic and Premium Data devices, while people on older, non-Everything plans have no option but to switch to an Everything plan. You'd think they'd offer something similar for those on older plans that they're actually losing less money on, but I guess they'd rather try to force people to switch to an Everything Plan.

I have 4G in my area, and I'm not impressed at the availability. It's very spotty for me, to the point where I don't use it because I usually end up wasting time turning it on, then turning it right back off. It would be nice if I could opt out of the Premium Data add-on and not receive 4G - I'm already not getting it as it is smh. I don't expect them to remove the fee unless some governmental regulatory body gets involved (not likely at all), but I wish they'd be more honest and realistic about what it's for, and adjust properly the groups of people that should and shouldn't be paying it.
MordyT

1) The cap exists on phones as well. It is a softcap, and be "broken", but do it enough and you would receive the letter where they terminate you. It is real, and has happened.

2) So Verizon does at this point. So does ATT if you have been grandfathered in. They both will do away with it at some point - mark my words.

3) What sprint says and what sprint means are two different things. I honestly believe above all else that it is for 4G. Rather then f around with "This customer wants his 4G off today and that customer wants it on only for today", maybe they decided "Everyone has it, end of story". It is a lot more simple...

4) Truth is, Android is a LOT more connected to the web then most platforms. There are tons of apps that background sync every minute, etc. I know, usage depends on customer, but Verizon's findings on this matter seem to indicate that I have a point.

5) Pick any other carrier and any other smartphone, and you will see you get less features for your money. Cheaper is a language that many speak, even if it is $5-10 a year. You know how I know that? Look at the $10 fee that sprint added on and people are complaining about. If $5 a month is nothing, then please deposit $60 a year into my account. Thanks!

6) I have yet to meet one person at work (or anywhere else I see them/converse with them) who has an EvO who has not, in some way, done something that sprint does not want done, i.e. root it to start with. Maybe enthusiast was the wrong word. Unrevoked makes it about a 5 minute process to add wifi tether, a huge appeal to people today, to your phone.

7) Seeing as how TP2 reined king until the EvO came along, I think it is a excellent phone to compare it to. And the Galaxy S that sprint has has a keyboard, something which may have cost them more. This is not a point I care to argue, as it is not a reason to make a fee or keep it, it is just another thing to think about.
Airen Edebiri

1. I maintain that there is no cap at all. There is a guy named Lonnie Ward on the Sprint Facebook page who posts about how use uses between 9 GB and 13 GB of data EVERY MONTH (with no tethering!) on his phone and has yet to receive any kind of warning or penalty for it. Maybe this might have happened in the past, but I know right now, there is no cap of any sort for data usage. Another guy canceled his home internet service and tethered his EVO - used 17GB of data and did not pay extra for it. It's not about the frequency, it's just that there is no cap at all.

2. I agree with this too - unlimited data on current 3G networks will not last forever. However, we're now in a new generation of smartphones where some people might be concerned about data usage limits and having unlimited data now is still an important feature for those who need it. Even those who still use <2GB a month (like myself) appreciate the idea of an unlimited data plan, just because it means I never have to worry about going over.

3. I agree that the fee is for 4G also, but I don't think it would have been too difficult to implement a monthly option for 4G service. They already do it with their Phone-as-modem option - you call in/go online and add it as needed. If you try to use Sprint official tethering software right now, you'll get an Error 67 because you don't have PAM on your plan. If you add it at any any point before the beginning of the billing cycle, I believe it pro-rates the PAM fee. Why couldn't they do the same with 4G? They could even just make it a flat $10 for any access at all, whether it's for a few days or for the whole month. Even that would be better than charging everyone every month, even when they're not using it.

4. This is true, but once again, the major difference between the data using capabilities (as far as the phone itself, not how the user uses it) the EVO/Epic and previous Android devices is that the EVO/Epic has 4G. The Transform, Zio, Hero, and Moment all run the same data-using Android that the EVO/Epic do. Given a similar software configuration and similar usage patterns, there's no reason to think that the EVO/Epic would use more data than any of those other phones mentioned.

5. This is very true - Sprint is a great bargain in my opinion. At the same time, the availability of certain features varies in importance per person. For example, my girlfriend loves Sprint Navigation. I consider it bloatware lol. Anyways, some people know that you get what you pay for - when I'm at work, my Epic's battery drains faster because I have lower signal. My co-workers (1 with a Captivate and the other with a Fascinate) both have better signal and data speeds than I do, and they might only be paying a few dollars more than I am. Now if Sprint's signal was just okay in an area but and people are saving $20 a month, some might stick with the $20 savings. But if the savings is only $10 or $5, some might skip the savings and go for the better network. It just depends on who you talk to. There are also several other factors like customer service, phone availability, etc etc.

Some people definitely go for cheaper, but at the same time, that's not what everyone wants or needs. And I'd say that Sprint's smartphones have different features, not necessarily better ones. For example, My Epic and my boss's Fascinate both have camera flashes...but they don't have the 16GB of built in storage that the Captivate has, nor do they have the TV output. But once again, those things vary in importance depending on who you ask.

6. This is true, but if you look at the general population of smartphone owners, you'll see that the majority aren't into rooting, hacking, and tethering. I was at work and this 56 year old lady was telling me how she barely knew how to use her EVO and that she had a 1 hour appointment at the Sprint store where they would show her how to use her phone. You think she's going to root anytime soon? Lol. There are a lot more general users that own these smartphones than we think. Most just like the fact that they're cool phones, not for all the extra stuff they can really do once they're hacked to pieces.

7. The TP2 was king amongst us smartphone nerds who like all the functionality of the TP2. But realistically, a lot of the people who have moved or want to move to EVO's or Epics are not necessarily the kind of the people who like the TP2. At my old job, these 2 girls would always hate on my Touch Pro 2 because they found it ugly, difficult to use, boring and any other thing you could think of that would lower a smartphone's self esteem (lol). One of them got the EVO and they both LOVE the Evo. The other one got the iPhone 4. I don't think the Touch Pro 2 is a proper phone to compare it to in terms of price - at anything more than $125 the Touch Pro 2 is not a great bargain compared to an EVO or Epic (or other comparable phone) at $200/$250.
Jason S

Man, you are like a pitbull on a bone. You just don't give up.

It's just a shame more people aren't questioning it and then just blindly handing over $10 a month to have the cool new phone. It's also a shame that the marketing staff at Sprint thought this would sound like a great deal to their customers.
explainthefee

Haha, nope I'm not giving up! I'm trying to bring more attention to this, as I feel it's a valid issue that a lot of people are just giving in and paying the $10. Hopefully one day we'll get a better answer.. sooner than later!
Ss

Thank you for continuing to research this "phantom" fee. Sprint insists on lying to us, and I appreciate your work to expose the truth.
G

Just live with it.
Flyingwolf

Really? Just live with it?
Ok G, I need you to pay me 400 dollars per month please, oh the reason, um an enhanced life experience, with such amazing abilities as being able to breath and piss.
rockethot

There's a huge difference between $400 and $10. It's only $10, suck it up. If you don't want to pay the extra $10 then don't get an Epic of an Evo.