Sprint PCS $35 for 1500 min/month with LD, 1 yr agreement

[BONES[MCK]]

Here's a response I sent to someone who e-mailed me some questions regarding the web on Sprint PCS phones:

As a Retail Account Executive in LA, it's part of my job to know those things! Surfing the web on one of our phones isn't too difficult. It's all text-based, HDML - Hand held Device Markup Language, and it's pretty quick for information that you can customize to your interests. The AOL Instant Messenger is the newest addition to the content we provide and I was surprised at how well the transfer from the desktop to the wireless phone was when I tried it. I actually trained my staff on this feature and we use it often. The only real limitation to this form of surfing is 1) no pics or graphics just yet 2) 14.4 data transfer rate - slated to get a huge speed increase in the next few months (DSL in 2002 if what they tell us is correct) and 3) only text-based sites are accessible as HTML is not supported just yet. Naturally hooking one of the phones to a desktop PC or notebook via the connectivity kit, be it serial connection or a socketed PCMCIA card, is cool for truly surfing the web though the current data transfer rate only makes it worthwhile for quickly checking e-mail or visiting sites that don't use a lot of multimedia plug-ins. That will change over time. $10 on top of any service plan converts your minutes to be used for either voice or data i.e. making calls, surfing the web on the phone, or using it as a modem with the connectivity kit. Signing up for the 12-month Advantage Agreement waives this cost if that option is selected depending on the plan. Right now the web option is free for the next 6 months on any plan starting at $29.99. It's the whole Christmas thing! Hope this helps. Be well.

 

[beatinitup]

Hey bones anyway to get us fellow anandtechers a hotter deal? =P
or do you know of any better promotions that are coming up?
Also if you do have a one year contract with sprint, can you always
upgrade to the newest deals without hassles?

 

[TheAndyPandy]

Voicestream is the best.....

 

[zuffy]

Been a Sprint PCS customer for over 3 years and just sign up for this $34.99 plan. I live in NYC (don't know about LA) and the service is excellent compare to AT&T, Verizon, and Nextel (never used VoiceStream and don't have enough experience with MCI)

 

[|mpeg|]

I called yesturday when i was looking at the sprint page ordered the samsung 8500 I'm supposed to have it in my hands today but I can doubt that.....Wow I can't wait I live in L.A. (the valley) and I heard there is outstandingly good service out here. Anyway I can get tracking # from a sprint rep? I was kinda pissed when they said they can only send the phone to the billing address cause the fuc|<ing ups guy hardly shows up and I have to re-direct it to my parents office.

 

[Bunn Kwio]

Sounds like a great deal...Out of all my friends phones, I've been recommended to use Sprint....so I will probably take up this deal...

The only question I have is that on their website, I'm only seeing $100 rebate, and that's not per phone...The original post stated $200 for two phones... What am I missing here???

Thanks for the tip!! Finally time for me and the wife to get cellular!!!

 

[BigCert]

Hey Wlj, the coverge is pretty good in the Murder Capital but my calls get dropped a lot. It will say signal dropped, then one second later you have a full signal bar. The Customer Service does suck but the rates are good. I guess you take the good with the bad huh.

<< Cert................Fly ID..................2000 >>

 

[shopbruin]

but cell one/at&amp;t blows in so many other things such as things they offer with the phone. i am constantly annoyed that my mom doesn't get free voice mail in the sf bay area.

 

[HotDealFinder.com]

Why do all the phones suck? Is there any way to take advantage of this deal and get the phone separately? I'm dying for the little chrome Nokia. I think it's down to about $450 now.

 

[BONES[MCK]]

You can always upgrade or downgrade your plan if you sign up for Sprint's Advantage Agreement. Unlike a true contract, changing your plan doesn't reset the 12-month agreement. Sprint just wants to see your account stay active for 1 year. You can still go month-to-month, but the minutes aren't as good. Here's a breakdown of the current plans, which are all offered to existing customers with the exception of the first one.

29.99/500 - New Activation Only
250 peak
250 offpeak
Both with Long Distance
1-Year Advantage Agreement Required

34.99/1500
250 peak
1250 offpeak
Both with Long Distance
1-Year Advantage Agreement Required

49.99/2000
500 peak
1500 offpeak
Both with Long Distance
1-Year Advantage Agreement Required

74.99/3000
1000 peak
2000 offpeak
Both with Long Distance
1-Year Advantage Agreement Required

All of the plans listed above are eligible for 1000 minutes of additional offpeak time, which is spread out over 4 months - 250 min of extra offpeak time a month for 4 months on top of the regular offpeak min listed above for the various plan, as a free bonus. This is an LA promotion ONLY as it is to celebrate the Commerce store location's grand opening in Commerce, CA. Hope this is helpful. Anyone in the LA/Pasadena area can visit our store location in Old Town Pasadena to speak with me if you want. Just ask for Ian K.

 

[BONES[MCK]]

Current Rebates in store: $30 off 1 phone. $100 off 2! It doesn't matter which phones you get.

 

[|mpeg|]

$30 off covers the hidden $30 activation fee :/

 

[Xzaver]

When I think of Sprint PCS why does the term &quot;Blood Suckers&quot; Come to my mind ?

They have way to many Hidden ligalities., Don't deal with Sharks unless your bigger than they are.

or know a good contract lawyer.

Regards,
-Xzaver-

 

[mckrico]

Sprint blows... &quot;and that's the bottom line&quot;. Take it from me, your far better off with a Pacbell Wireless plan in the LA area.

 

[feb]

Bones,

Is the LA promotion availabkle over the phone if we call the regular toll-free cust serv number?

Or, it's only avaiable on the Commerce store?

When will this extra 1000 min/4-month promotion expires? Do they include Long distance?

Thanks for the info.

 

[emaij]

Bones,

I have stuck with Sprint even though I think it is not good service (I'm in LA). Part of the reason is that a lot of people have that number.

I may cancel my service soon because of one major problem that I have been having recently: When people call me they sometimes get a message that says something like &quot;this line is not in service&quot; or &quot;not available&quot; instead of getting me or my voicemail. This has happened to me on a number of occasions when I have called to check my voicemail. Just imagine what that means for me when a new business contact gets that message... I lose the contact.

My other major gripe is &quot;Free and Clear&quot; PCS. I have used digital and analog service and my experience with Sprint digtal is in no way better than cellular that I have used.

Please also note that I recently received notice of a successful class action suit against Sprint for their faulty service claims. I really don't know how that has been kept so quiet. You must have a great PR firm.

 

[BONES[MCK]]

Guys-

The extra 1000 min offpeak for 4 months should be able to be added over the phone. One issue you might come across is if your call is connected to a call center out of state, the CSR may not know about a promo in a specific region, as they should because it's common sense to up on these things. I deal with stuff like that on occasion. All those minutes do is increase your offpeak for the next 4 months. If your plan has long distance, you'll have the much more time for that. Consider it a boost to whatever plan it is that you select.

I understand the frustration with the &quot;non valid account&quot; message or issues with voicemail. Believe me when I tell you that we are aware of these issues and it is a priority/concern. CDMA digital, our base technology produced/developed by Qualcomm, enables a much broader capacity to accomadate a lot of users than conventional analog. Those messages that you sometimes get are usually a direct result of capacity coming from the switch where your prefix is located. The prefix to my phone happens to be 806 in the 626 area code, which comes out of Gardena, CA, and I had a recent issue such as this where other people I know with a different prefix for the same area code did not. As we continue to build out the west coast, this should hopefully diminish. Hope this helps. 90% of my job is education so please feel free to drop me a line.

 

[mckrico]

lies... lies.... lies.... hahah j/k

 

[cisco]

well we all have our opinions and experiences, lets try not to insult mr bones by bashing sprint.
I appreciate his helpful attitude so lets show some respect. hey, I work for philips and I'm sure half of anandtech's members either have great working Tvs or think
my company stinks because of a bad experience with either the product or service (not likely though) I think Philips is the best company dollar for dollar. This sprint deal sounds Hot compared to 1 the coverage I don't have and 2 the price difference.

I think its amazing that I can even talk on a little phone while driving, so if it cuts off when I pass a tree or building I (being a tech) understand things are just in the way sometimes (blocking the signal).and the computers handling my voice mail are not perfect (so what).
lets just be grateful! ten years ago you had to pay $1000.00 for a huge clunky analog phone.
and it didn't have all the features you get now. Every cell phone company has bugs to work out
as they grow, so lighten up guys.

Now about the WAP web service I did some reading and correct me if I'm wrong but, technology
isn't to the point where we can just web surf on a cell phone yet. I couldn't find a connectivity
kit on sprints website and couldn't find a phone # either so I guess its the PCS BM for all the answers. thanks Mr bones for the info...

 

[emaij]

Vq Zpvst Cisco!

Bones is AOK in my book but it is perfectly legitimate to criticize the company he works for. It's nothing personal. In fact if everyone at Sprint was as well informed and communicative as Bones, I'd be happy with my service.

But that is fantasy and I contend, as per my previous messages, that Sprint is merde.

 

[csc2]

Addding my 2 cents...

Sprint PCS has EXCELLENT service all over the New York/New Jersey area. Much better coverage than my Nextel and AT&amp;T phones from the office. Only Verizon has better coverage in NYC but they cost way more per minute. I've had Sprint PCS for over 2 years and I have no complaints whatsoever.

Plus I don't know if this promotion is still going on but I get the $5.95 monthly fee waived on my home long distance service because I am a Sprint PCS customer. Anyone who has Sprint PCS and Sprint LD may want to call and see if they can get the monthly fee waived. This was perfect for me because I almost never call Long Distance unless it's from my cell phone anyway so it really blew getting charged that 'mandatory' monthly fee that all LD carriers seem to impose now.

Flagg

 

[GremlinLFE]

Works in the Houston/Ft. Worth/ Austin areas. no problems here, except in elevators

 

[Linh]

My SprintPCS works like a charm in NYC, Boston, Washington DC, Austin, Dallas, and Houston.

 

[TKE96]

Ok-
I talked with a CSR yesterday. The plans are great deals, but if you are an existing customer you may lose one feature. Sprint no longer offers the 1st incoming minute free. If you have a plan now that has it, and you switch, that feature will disappear. I am not really affected by it, and also, I can get 2000 minutes for $34.99(500 anytime, 1500 nights/weekends)?! I am currently paying $74.99 for 1000 minutes (anytime minutes. This to me is a HOT Deal! Coverage in Rochester NY rocks, and it makes things easy. Wireless web for first 6 months free, after that a $10 charge will allow you to use any of your minutes for web surfing.

 

[TKE96]

Oh-one thing I forgot to say...
The one year agreement says you will stay with Sprint for 1 year, breaking this will give you a $150 cancellation fee. It doesn't lock you into this plan, you can still switch plans over the year.