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Premium Data charge for Shift?
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- htc evo shift 4g
Yes, but Sprint has always claimed that the extra $10 has nothing to do with 4G - it's for "premium data" whatever that is. Since most of us are not yet in a 4G coverage area, that's Sprint's talk around. Since the Shift isnt quite the Evo or Epic, could one argue it shouldn't be subject to as large a "premium data" charge as it's big brother?
The $10 charge lifts your 5GB ceiling, as I recall, even with 3G.
Ah - OK, I'll recheck that. I'm kinda parroting what I thought I took away from the MANY other discussions on this one.
By law, they do promise _something_ besides 4G for that price, tho. Whether real or apparent, a check will reveal.
By law, they do promise _something_ besides 4G for that price, tho. Whether real or apparent, a check will reveal.
the promised extra..
is for better data speeds.. more consumption ability .. hahaah lol
1. by better phone power.. it can use more data. (silly but true)
2. your 4G devices get higher priority on the network than non-4G. so when you ask for your data.. your request get pushed through before others. Data speeds are not caped. You should see faster data on 3g next to a Hero for example. but if the network is busy.. you are still have to share.
is for better data speeds.. more consumption ability .. hahaah lol
1. by better phone power.. it can use more data. (silly but true)
2. your 4G devices get higher priority on the network than non-4G. so when you ask for your data.. your request get pushed through before others. Data speeds are not caped. You should see faster data on 3g next to a Hero for example. but if the network is busy.. you are still have to share.
lafester
Android Enthusiast
well they for sure don't promise 4g. they go out of their way NOT to promise it. If you can nail it down for us that would be great
lordofthereef
Android Expert
In all honesty, I am sure we will see the same thing rolling out on all networks. I remember when I go the iPhone 3G and had to pay $10 more a month, and they literally did say that was for the 3G coverage. It took nearly 2 years for my area to get 3G. That was $240 of my money that I spent on a service that I didn't actually receive. At the end of the day the best thing to do, IMO, is accept it as a "next gen device tax" at the very least, or just don't get the device at all. They do make it CRYSTAL clear which devices have this fee associated with them. If you don't have the $10 a month for the Lamborghini, you can always go with the Toyota. Both will get you were you need to go! 
Yeah, at the end of the day you either pay up or you don't get a device with a WiMax radio.
But regardless of what Sprint says the fee is for, they have to pay Clearwire for network usage. They pay that and make some profit also. Sprint and Clearwire are in arbitration about the fee, and if they rule in favor of Clear we could very possibly see a $5 hike.
But regardless of what Sprint says the fee is for, they have to pay Clearwire for network usage. They pay that and make some profit also. Sprint and Clearwire are in arbitration about the fee, and if they rule in favor of Clear we could very possibly see a $5 hike.
I'd like to get a new android phone for my daughter. She wants a keyboard - which kinda limits the device choices. Since the Transform and the Intercept get such horrible reviews, there aren't really a lot of choices. I thougth the Shift might be viable, but then I gotta pay an extra $10 per month for service she doesnt really need (and no 4G here). I only paid $149 for my Epic, so at that rate I might as well get her one of those (but again, don't want to spend the extra $10 per month).
It would be nice to see a better 3G phone but I'm guessing that isn't likely.
It would be nice to see a better 3G phone but I'm guessing that isn't likely.
lafester
Android Enthusiast
Sprint is NOT paying clearwire for devices that are not in a 4g area.
That is what the dispute is about.
Kind of funny that Sprint feels that they can charge everyone a 4g fee but then not pay clearwire for every device. Seems to me like clear should get 100% of the $10 fee for every device until the network is complete.
lafester
Android Enthusiast
Best bet will be wp7 at least at launch (no 4g on first release) unless you want a mid to low end phone. the windows phone looks pretty nice and should be a good fit for a teen but no idea when it will be released. Right now you really only have one choice in the LG optimus being a decent 3g only android but with no keyboard. Or you can get the aging tp2 which is a very nice (but slow) wm6.5 phone.
Yeah, Evo, Epic or Shift, the $10 is inescapable.
Sprint owns 51% of Clear, so they can technically do anything they want since 51% gives them controlling interest.
The fee isn't for 4G, it isn't for a "richer data experience" either. Its a way around Sprint raising rates altogether and allowing people to break their contract. Everything else they say about it is marketing. I'd say the Optimus S is probably the best phone you'll be able to get without the fee, and probably the last decent phone Sprint will offer without it.
uniquenameEVO
Android Enthusiast
I got my daughter an optimus and she is adjusting quite well to a full touch screen. Great little phone btw. My GF has the transform. It is far better than the reviews I have read.
lordofthereef
Android Expert
So what exactly is the benefit for the fee? Some say data priority? I have noticed my EVO having better newtowrk speeds than my friends hero, but not enough that I would choose that $10 fee (I would say I get around 1.5 MBPS while he gets 800KBPS-1MBPS right next to me). I guess what I am saying is, maybe it IS better data. So why not give us the choice? This is what I think most people argue about. Seems to me like the average person (including myself) just figures their bill is still far cheaper than it would be with any other carrier given the amount of services that are offered at that rate. So, we end up simply accepting the fact that this is the cheapest option, but it doesn't make us feel like we are being treated more fairly.
My personal theory - Sprint was pushing lower prices / higher data and had some way good phones.
Now, they have better phones and people flocking to that higher use - I think the top three phones are finally capable of driving people here from Big Red over plan prices.
This is their way to split the difference in rates, while still advertising the lower rates, and their first 4G, and throwing some bones (on throughput) so they're within the law.
I've yet to see anyone bragging they can pay extra and get more service - I think it's almost a safe bet to say that all Evo and Epic owners just accepted it as the tax.
End of the day, with the $10 add-on, we get great CDMA service and it's cheaper than Verizon.
Anyway, just an opinion.
Now, they have better phones and people flocking to that higher use - I think the top three phones are finally capable of driving people here from Big Red over plan prices.
This is their way to split the difference in rates, while still advertising the lower rates, and their first 4G, and throwing some bones (on throughput) so they're within the law.
I've yet to see anyone bragging they can pay extra and get more service - I think it's almost a safe bet to say that all Evo and Epic owners just accepted it as the tax.
End of the day, with the $10 add-on, we get great CDMA service and it's cheaper than Verizon.
Anyway, just an opinion.
Convince her not to get a phsyical keyboard by showing her Swype and then get a free LG Optimus S
Other 3G devices have a 5 GB soft cap. This is different from a complete cap in that Sprint can not charge you overages for going over it. Sprint can; however, throttle you to 1X data speeds. The unlimited data they promised you does not mean unlimited 3G data specifically. It also doesn't always happen when you go over. Sprint throttles users at their discretion.