To attract other gadgets like tablets to its data plans, Sprint Nextel has lowered the cost of its mobile data plans for these devices that utilize its network.
According to a report in Kansas City newspaper The Kansas City Star, the Overland Park-based carrier had previously charged $60 for 5 gigabytes (GB) of data a month. Now it’s charging slightly less for more data -- $50 a month for 6 GB. For 10 GB, the company had charged $90 for 10 gigabytes. Now it’s charging $80 for 12 GBf data. These changes do not affect charges for data plans on smartphones and cellular devices.
According to Sprint, for tablets, which can be signed up for smaller data packages, the service provider had been charging $20 a month for 1 GB. But that was only for 3G, or the carrier’s third generation (3G) network. The new plans all apply for access to both 3G and 4G networks, assuming that the consumers’ devices are compatible with both, and is available only for electronic tablets. One gigabyte still goes for $20 a month.
Lately, Sprint has also been offering a 3 GB a month plan for tablets and mobile hotspots, but not netbooks or plug-in devices for laptops for $35 a month. Previously, a comparable plan ran between $35 and $45 depending on whether a customer had a Sprint phone, reported the Kansas City Star.
The Kansas City Star report indicates that Sprint touted the new pricing as less expensive than its chief competitors, Verizon Wireless and AT&T. Sprint’s prices tend to run cheaper than its rivals, but picking out the least expensive option can lead consumers to different carriers depending on their usage.
Ashok Bindra is a veteran writer and editor with more than 25 years of editorial experience covering RF/wireless technologies, semiconductors and power electronics. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.Edited by
Tammy Wolf
