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Sprint ‘Tax’ a Sign of Things To Come?

By: , 5/13/2010 1:51 pm | 16 comments

Reader Blake tips us to some news surrounding Sprint’s upcoming EVO 4G.  The upshot of the article is that Sprint is going to be charging a $10 per month premium for owners of the EVO 4G even if those users will be in 3G-only markets.  Most Sprint customers will remember they were required to upgrade to a new unlimited plan when they picked up the Pre or Pixi, even if they were already on a plan with unlimited data.

Sprint’s John Taylor says:

If you buy the Sprint 4G EVO, you have to pay this $10 charge each month. This is specific to the device. It’s not related to whether you are using 3G or 4G. It is required if you have the phone.

Because the phone has a faster processor, a huge 4.3 inch screen and an 8 megapixel camcorder/camera, we expect you will be using a lot more data than you would with our other devices. These features will give you capabilities that have previously never been available on a wireless device and we think they provide a premium experience. (Remember, this is the world’s first 3G/4G Android phone.)

Now, you may be asking:  why does this affect me, loyal Palm fan that I am?  The answer:  The next generation Palm device will certainly boast many of the same features as the EVO.  In fact, most all smartphones in the future will, too.  Sprint’s always been known for their cost effective plans and this seems like they might be testing the waters for higher rate plans.

What do you think?  Would an extra $120 per year dissuade you from upgrading to the next generation Palm phone?  Sound off in the comments below.

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About Roy Sutton

Roy has been active in the Palm developer community since just after the Palm Pre was released. He has been a mobile developer for far longer than the term 'mobile computing' has been around. During the day, he develops software and systems for barcode and RFID data collection. He has published two apps for webOS and has several more in the pipeline. He was formerly editor at Pre 101.
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  • http://twitter.com/joshua613 Joshua Lee

    it's still cheaper than Verizon or AT&T with unlimited text and data, so perhaps I'd go along with the premium rate if it got me 4G data and better hardware. Only then though.

  • acarback

    So long as the money go towards improving and maintaining the Sprint network to handle the new high-data phones, then I'm absolutely fine with this. Especially since they are making it a separate line item on the bill in stead of mysteriously charging more money.

  • Jason

    I heard that the Evo will have TRUE unlimited data when you are paying the extra $10.

  • http://www.facebook.com/the.dave.smith Dave Smith

    I'd pay it

  • http://www.facebook.com/MaddcatJazzboi Charles Simpson

    no I; waiting on the next Palm device. I already have a 4G aircard so the EVO is of not much use. I don't mind the tendollars extra.

  • Mhunterjr

    I was a little upset at first, but when you look at the competitions prices and factor in the fact that EVO users will probably be using more data than the average user 3g or not, the price seems justified.

    the pictures and video we upload will be huge. not to mention front facing camera for video conferencing… and if you aren't a huge data person, why are you considering the EVO in the first place?

    For less than $100 a month, i can get unlimited mobile to mobile, unlimited texts, unlimited 3g and 4g data, simultaneous data/voice (in 4g areas), and 8 device mobile hot-spot. As ATT would say “does your carrier and your phone let you do that?”

    At the end of the day no other phone on any other carrier is offering all that for so little.

  • http://www.twitter.com/bshedwick Brad

    I'd pay it as well. As long its a 4G Palm webOS phone, i'll pay

  • Klownicle

    According to sprint reps already, your data plan has always been “unlimited”. Sprint is the only one that truely does not limit. So to charge extra is outragous in my books. I was actually tempted to switch to a evo due to the voice/google nav/visual voicemail?/mobile hotspot. But it seems that they will have reuined that.

    Who wants to pay 29.99$ for a “mobile hotspot app”, when you could just pay that for a MiFi even if you wanted it, then you can use it on ANY device regardless.

    And a 10$ premuim is stupid, yes if your not in a 3G market you could travel to a 4G area, but they will screwed the pooch with that. They could have come out in a brand new market as the leaders. Instead they decide to charge people unclaimed fees to use a next gen phone.

    Don't be too suprised if you see your 4G becoming non-exclusive anymore, then sprint drops it for the next 4G phone once everyone else has 4G. Bad Sprint!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Andrew-Yeager-Buckley/506066788 Andrew Yeager-Buckley

    As long as the data plan remains unlimited I would pay an additional $5-10 per month for 4G on the next generation Palm Pre.

  • http://twitter.com/bigpapawes Wes

    Problem I have with this is I live in a town with only 2G (1x) data from sprint. So i would be paying an extra 10 bucks for 2x slower data speeds. If anything I think this should be optional. The closest 3G market for me is 2 hr away and 4g market is 3 hrs away so not like i would be getting my 10 bucks worth from them.

  • donrhummy

    Other than better price, really what does Sprint offer beyond everyone else? Charging $10/month for non-4G, why would anyone choose Sprint? Even with 4G, Verizon's getting close on LTE and once they have it, how's Sprint figuring on competing? I think this is a big mistake and greedy. Goodbye Sprint.

  • http://anotherguy.us/ Tim Stiffler-Dean

    Simple answer from me – Yes, yes I would stay with Sprint.

  • C4

    I have 4 lines on my account its not like Sprint's going to charge each line an additional $10 per line. They're only going to charge per EVO's line. You can't be too greedy, Sprint aint no non profit organization.

    I would not pay the extra $10 for the EVO though. If Palm gets off their ass and treat us at Sprint better and come out with the next gen device (C40) with the WebOs then i would gladly fork over the extra $10 with a big fat smile on my face :D <– like that. But until Palm gets off their high horse, i'm fine with my Palm Pre.. Sprint take notice: Pre, not Pre Plus!!

  • thatguyrightthere

    I live in a 4G (Las Vegas) market and am a heavy data user, so the extra 10 dollars a month is worth it for me. With Los Angeles (another place I travel a lot to) launching later this year/early next for Clear/Sprint, it will be an even better value.

  • Aiusbc

    Go to Facebook and become a friend with “Upset Atsprint”..Let the numbers speak!

  • Aiusbc

    Go to Facebook and become a friend with “Upset Atsprint”..Let the numbers speak!