Explain The Fee: "Premium Data"

[Robbie317]

I find it humerous that you try and justify that a private organization act like the government. I have no choice in the taxes I pay with the exception of the lottery, alcohol and tobacco. I have a choice in where I get my cell phone service from.

We all know how well our government is run... 15 TRILLION in debt....

I find it down right hilarious that your here biotching about $10 a month $120 a year or $240 over a two year contract.

Unlike the government and your tax dollars you can go else where. So why don't you do that instead of complaining about it.

Like I said... Test drive the EVO for 30 days.. If your not happy and don't feel your getting $79.99 or $109.99 a month worth of service return the sucker and you will be out NOTHING... ZERO.... NOT ONE RED CENT....

You like a lot of other people are complaining with out first test driving and seeing for yourself if your getting what you expected out of it... If your a Sprint customer all ready get a Hero or a Samsung Moment or Blackberry.. Since according to you, your getting the same experience with those phones you would get with an EVO...

Matter of fact get a Hero or Moment.. Use it for two weeks and then get an EVO and see if your willing to pay $10 less a month and go back to the Hero or Moment..... Let me know how that works out for you....

 

[VKitty]

The core issue here is having cell phones tied to certain carriers. I want the EVO, but I don't want to pay Sprint's ridiculous fees. There is simply no justification for it.

There is justification for it.. It's call busness, you want what someone has, you accept there terms, or you dont get it!.

It really is that simple

 

[Robbie317]

I'm here because someone started a thread on a topic that I feel strongly about. I want the EVO, I just don't want to pay for services that I cannot receive. You are correct that plenty of people don't mind the fee which means Sprint's marketing department was correct in their assumption that this phone was good enough to trick enough people into thinking they are paying extra each month for extra service when this simply isn't true. Thats my main point. If you are a current Evo subscriber in a non 4g area you are paying $10/month for nothing. 6 months from now the EVO will be surpassed in capabilities and another phone will be able to provide an even richer "data experience", but you will still be paying that $10 a month for an inferior phone with inferior features.

Hey I loved the idea of picking your phone and then picking your network.. I wished the Nexus One was on every network as planned.. I honestly would rather have a N1 on Sprint vs the EVO but with the choice of N1 on T-Mobile or EVO on Sprint.. Sprint hands down...

Like I said downgrade to a lesser phone and see if the $10 per month is worth saving.... There is a MAJOR difference between the Hero and the EVO even though both operate on Android 2.1.... Your not going to get the same experience with the Hero vs the EVO... Is that fair? that is up for debate.. I am saving $45+ per month with an EVO vs an iPhone on AT&T and I am getting better coverage....

You go ahead and tell them your returning the EVO and going with an iPhone... They have 50 people in your area waiting for an EVO so I seriously doubt they are going to let any one get away with not paying the $10 fee. When I got my customer service call about my service I mildly protested the $10 and said I was happy with the device but not so happy with the upcharge.. I hinted at returning it and he just said he would be sad to hear that and would wish me luck..... I just wanted to see what they would say.. LOL....

 

[Robbie317]

The core issue here is having cell phones tied to certain carriers. I want the EVO, but I don't want to pay Sprint's ridiculous fees. There is simply no justification for it.

Earlier you popped off at me about how all the carriers have subsidized phones for years.

Well same thing goes with phones on certain networks... For as long as I can remember carriers have had exclusive deals on phones.... That too is RIDICULOUS.... Try and get an iPhone 4 on Sprint or T-Mobile because you don't like AT&T's pricing and coverage.....

 

[Gigity]

This is another weak argument.... By the time they say "hey the EVO is not going to get the latest Android update 3.7 (or what ever it is by then) the EVO will be old news and their will be 100 newer and better devices on the market. The original iPhone can't upgrade to the latest version iPhone software and not all iOS 4 features will work on the 3GS but most will...

Only if you have a Nexus One are you going to get the latest and greatest Android software right out the gate. Every one else is going to have to wait a month or 6 to get it....

Bad analogy. If I own an iPhone 4 and they release upgrades to the OS, I get them immediately. Not true with HTC phones. They need to address that, and it sounds like Google knows it as they've stated their going to stop updating so often.

 

[dekcufi]

All I see is spam about being an issue that is easy to fix
Don't buy it and problem solved

 

[Robbie317]

Bad analogy. If I own an iPhone 4 and they release upgrades to the OS, I get them immediately. Not true with HTC phones. They need to address that, and it sounds like Google knows it as they've stated their going to stop updating so often.

Android updates several times per year and you can get OTA updates. The only reason it takes more time on an HTC handset is you have to make sure Sense plays nice with the latest version of Android. it takes a few months for that to happen.

With Apple you HAVE to hook your phone up to iTunes if you want the latest update...

That is where the customizing comes in.... It's easier for Apple to update instantly because all their phones are clones of each other. Which is nothing wrong with that. I enjoyed my time with the iPhone... Great device, more refined OS.... I left the iPhone family based almost entirely on the fact that in MY AREA... AT&T is limited and I have truly enjoyed the freedom to do what you want with Android and install applications even if they are not approved by Google or HTC.... I can do what I want to do with an Android phone where as your limited (unless you jail break and void your warranty) to what you can do with the iPhone OS.... It shouldn't be up to Apple and Steve jobs if I want to use Flash.....

 

[Gigity]

All I see is spam about being an issue that is easy to fix
Don't buy it and problem solved

And you can avoid contributing to topics you don't enjoy by simply not clicking on those threads. Bye bye run along.

 

[Beezzy]

If Sprint didn't tell you bout the extra fee than you're full of it. Every store I went to asking bout the phone's plan told me bout the $10 fee and then when i went to sign up the reminded me bout the fee and asked me if I was sure.

 

[VKitty]

If I own an iPhone 4 and they release upgrades to the OS, I get them immediately. Not true with HTC phones.

Same with Palm Pre[Plus] & Pixi's You get updates immediately


Android phone can 6 months to a year+ to get their updates.

 

[VKitty]

Earlier you popped off at me about how all the carriers have subsidized phones for years.

Well same thing goes with phones on certain networks... For as long as I can remember carriers have had exclusive deals on phones.... That too is RIDICULOUS.... Try and get an iPhone 4 on Sprint or T-Mobile because you don't like AT&T's pricing and coverage.....

Its not Ridiculous.. it's BUSINESS

If they didnt do that, then we could just pick the best phone, with the best network.

Thats great for us, but not for companies. AT&T would not have made as much money as it has if the iPhone was not exclusive to AT&T.

Exclusiveness most of the time allow companies to charge more than they normally would have.

Apple went to Verizon first for an Exclusive deal, Verizon wanted to much control so apple "TURNED DOWN Verizon TERMS" They then went to AT&T and AT&T accepted.


AT&T got exclusive rights, and made alot of money..

 

[Robbie317]

Its not Ridiculous.. it's BUSINESS

If they didnt do that, then we could just pick the best phone, with the best network.

Thats great for us, but not for companies. AT&T would not have made as much money as it has if the iPhone was not exclusive to AT&T.

Exclusiveness most of the time allow companies to charge more than they normally would have.

Apple went to Verizon first for an Exclusive deal, Verizon wanted to much control so apple "TURNED DOWN Verizon TERMS" They then went to AT&T and AT&T accepted.


AT&T got exclusive rights, and made alot of money.

Oh Kitty I fully agree... That is business... I work in a business that has a bunch of exclusive deals where I am the only game in town... If carriers didn't get exclusive deals eventually you would have one major player and a bunch of others fighting for scraps....

I have no problem with that at all.......... if you want an iPhone your at the Mercy of AT&T..... If you want an EVO your at the mercy of Sprint.... Want a Droid........................... Verizon....

I was just replying to the fact he said it was ridiculous that he was at the mercy of Sprint with the EVO....

I went with AT&T because they had the iPhone and then I wasn't happy with AT&T over the 2 years... Sprint works better and I love the EVO.

Like I told Brett.. use the EVO for 30 days if you TRULY don't think your getting a deal on what your getting..... Go get an iPhone 4 and I hope that works out for him...

 

[ohseedee]

What the $10 is for is very simple. We are paying more because in theory customers with this phone will be using Sprint's data network much more than any other phone. We see this with AT&T and the iPhone. The iPhone makes up a small percentage of the phones on the network, but uses most of the network. I'm ok with paying more for using more, however I don't think they are communicating this well. The way they describe this fee makes no sense. Just say what it is.

 

[Robbie317]

What the $10 is for is very simple. We are paying more because in theory customers with this phone will be using Sprint's data network much more than any other phone. We see this with AT&T and the iPhone. The iPhone makes up a small percentage of the phones on the network, but uses most of the network. I'm ok with paying more for using more, however I don't think they are communicating this well. The way they describe this fee makes no sense. Just say what it is.

EXACTLY..... AT&T got owned when they took on the iPhone and gave unlimited data... I think iPhones are only 10% (or less) of their network but eat up 90% of the data used....

 

[meyerweb#CB]

We're paying more because it's a highly popular phone and Sprint can get away with charging more. Period. If the Pre-Release reviews had sucked, and Sprint thought demand would have been low, they probably wouldn't have added the fee. Even with the fee, they sold out the first weekend, so it's hard to believe the extra $10 a month is hurting sales.


BUT, whatever the reason, however you feel about it, the fee exists, and you have two choices: buy the phone and pay the fee, or don't buy the phone. All the bitching and whining in the world isn't going to change it.

Time to shut this topic down, if you ask me.

 

[VKitty]

We're paying more because it's a highly popular phone and Sprint can get away with charging more. Period. If the Pre-Release reviews had sucked, and Sprint thought demand would have been low, they probably wouldn't have added the fee. Even with the fee, they sold out the first weekend, so it's hard to believe the extra $10 a month is hurting sales.

Yup, the old SUPPLY & DEMAND!


Charge more for something that is highly popular!

 

[maddmatt02]

You like a lot of other people are complaining with out first test driving and seeing for yourself if your getting what you expected out of it... If your a Sprint customer all ready get a Hero or a Samsung Moment or Blackberry.. Since according to you, your getting the same experience with those phones you would get with an EVO...

Matter of fact get a Hero or Moment.. Use it for two weeks and then get an EVO and see if your willing to pay $10 less a month and go back to the Hero or Moment..... Let me know how that works out for you....

right now you can get a hero dirt cheap, evo is 200. so of course the evo should be a better phone than the hero. so if you had a hero from launch, the evo isnt much more, 20 bucks more I think is all. but if you were coming to sprint now, the evo is 170 bucks more, and that is the $$$ that should be getting you the better phone, not a monthly fee on top of it.

 

[maddmatt02]

If Sprint didn't tell you bout the extra fee than you're full of it. Every store I went to asking bout the phone's plan told me bout the $10 fee and then when i went to sign up the reminded me bout the fee and asked me if I was sure.

best buy doesnt, when I went in to preorder, they didnt say a thing about it. I couldnt make it there so I set the appointment up for my fiance to pick it up, when I finally got my hands on it I asked her if they mentioned the 10 dollar fee and she told me they didnt say anything to her either.

 

[Phoenix Rev]

best buy doesnt, when I went in to preorder, they didnt say a thing about it. I couldnt make it there so I set the appointment up for my fiance to pick it up, when I finally got my hands on it I asked her if they mentioned the 10 dollar fee and she told me they didnt say anything to her either.

I am not sure you can blame Sprint for that. Sprint has no control over whether or not BB employees are going to tell customers about the $10 fee.

In the two Sprint stores near my home, both clearly disclose the fee and the Sprint website has the $10 fee disclosure right at the top of the pop up window that lists all of the available plans.

 

[Robbie317]

best buy doesnt, when I went in to preorder, they didnt say a thing about it. I couldnt make it there so I set the appointment up for my fiance to pick it up, when I finally got my hands on it I asked her if they mentioned the 10 dollar fee and she told me they didnt say anything to her either.

Best Buy told me of the fee the day I signed up for preorder and then they called me the Monday before Launch and set up my appointment, they told me again during that call of the $10 premium data plan and then they called me AGAIN the Thursday before launch and AGAIN told me of the $10 data add on.

Sprint can't control Best Buy, and I am sure each Best Buy has different employees they put in charge of calling.... at the same time I am almost certain they were told "MAKE SURE YOU TELL THEM OF THE $10 DATA PREMIUM"

I for one feel I am getting a great deal at $79.99 a month on my EVO plus only paying $200 for the device......