HTC EVO Premium Services - A conversation with Sprint

[joseamirandavelez]

I just finished a chat with "Adolfo" from Sprint... I had a question about my eligibility to upgrade my phone. I asked him about why do we need to pay the extra 10 bucks. He told me it was for the "premium services"... I asked him what premium services would I get... He could not name them...

Here's the chat...

Spoiler

5:05:25 PM : Connected to sprint.ehosts.net

5:05:25 PM : Session ID: 894701

5:05:25 PM : MIRANDA: Initial Question/Comment: Phone upgrade

5:05:30 PM : You are next in queue...

5:05:35 PM : Please wait and the next available account specialist will be with you shortly.

5:05:56 PM : If you are chatting today for Technical Support, please call 1-888-211-4727.

5:06:16 PM : If you are a corporate business customer and need assistance with your account, please call 1-888-927-2199.

5:06:36 PM : Did you know Sprint 4G is now available in over 50 markets and growing? Visit sprint.com/4G to learn more. Thanks for your patience. We look forward to chatting with you.

5:06:41 PM : Adolfo T has joined this session!

5:06:41 PM : Connected with Adolfo T. Your Reference Number for this chat session is 894701.

5:06:41 PM : Thank you for contacting Sprint. My name is Adolfo T.

5:07:00 PM : MIRANDA: Hi Adolfo. By any chance, do you speak spanish?

5:07:21 PM : Adolfo T: No.

5:07:21 PM : MIRANDA: if not its OK.

5:07:26 PM : MIRANDA: ok

5:07:45 PM : MIRANDA: I just want to know when can I upgrade my phone?

5:08:16 PM : Adolfo T: Sure.

5:08:26 PM : Adolfo T: Allow me a few moments to check this for you.

5:08:30 PM : MIRANDA: ok

5:11:33 PM : MIRANDA: r u there?

5:12:11 PM : Adolfo T: I am sorry for the delay.

5:12:24 PM : MIRANDA: dont worry.

5:13:22 PM : Adolfo T: You will be eligible for $150.00 rebate with two year agreement on 01/10/2010 .

5:13:42 PM : Adolfo T: You can purchase the phone at the online price.

5:14:03 PM : MIRANDA: thats 9 months ago... are you sure?

5:14:47 PM : Adolfo T: I am sorry, on October 2010.

5:15:35 PM : MIRANDA: OK. That is with the new account price right?

5:15:50 PM : Adolfo T: Yes.

5:16:05 PM : MIRANDA: if I want the evo I would need to pay 200 right? plus taxes and stuff...

5:16:32 PM : Adolfo T: Yes, you are right.

5:16:57 PM : MIRANDA: is there any way I can upgrade before 10/01?

5:18:23 PM : Adolfo T: I am sorry for the inconvenience, we can not upgrade the phone before that date.

5:18:31 PM : MIRANDA: ok. another question.

5:18:36 PM : MIRANDA: I live in Puerto Rico

5:19:01 PM : MIRANDA: there is no 4G service here. Do I still need to pay the 10 bucks though I can receive the service?

5:19:18 PM : MIRANDA: it should say "I cant receive the service"

5:20:53 PM : Adolfo T: This $10.00 lets you enjoy all the features that drew you to want the EVO AND you get to enjoy them at incredible
speeds.

5:21:13 PM : Adolfo T: EVO provides a richer data experience for our customers. The combination of features and services on the EVO
provides capabilities that were never previously available on a wireless device so now you will have the best
combination of both - speed and features.

5:21:35 PM : Adolfo T: You will see an increase in speed all around with this fantastic device simply due to the hardware/ software onboard.
It doesn

 

[superlinkx]

I just finished a chat with "Adolfo" from Sprint... I had a question about my eligibility to upgrade my phone. I asked him about why do we need to pay the extra 10 bucks. He told me it was for the "premium services"... I asked him what premium services would I get... He could not name them...

Here's the chat...

Spoiler

5:05:25 PM : Connected to sprint.ehosts.net

5:05:25 PM : Session ID: 894701

5:05:25 PM : MIRANDA: Initial Question/Comment: Phone upgrade

5:05:30 PM : You are next in queue...

5:05:35 PM : Please wait and the next available account specialist will be with you shortly.

5:05:56 PM : If you are chatting today for Technical Support, please call 1-888-211-4727.

5:06:16 PM : If you are a corporate business customer and need assistance with your account, please call 1-888-927-2199.

5:06:36 PM : Did you know Sprint 4G is now available in over 50 markets and growing? Visit sprint.com/4G to learn more. Thanks for your patience. We look forward to chatting with you.

5:06:41 PM : Adolfo T has joined this session!

5:06:41 PM : Connected with Adolfo T. Your Reference Number for this chat session is 894701.

5:06:41 PM : Thank you for contacting Sprint. My name is Adolfo T.

5:07:00 PM : MIRANDA: Hi Adolfo. By any chance, do you speak spanish?

5:07:21 PM : Adolfo T: No.

5:07:21 PM : MIRANDA: if not its OK.

5:07:26 PM : MIRANDA: ok

5:07:45 PM : MIRANDA: I just want to know when can I upgrade my phone?

5:08:16 PM : Adolfo T: Sure.

5:08:26 PM : Adolfo T: Allow me a few moments to check this for you.

5:08:30 PM : MIRANDA: ok

5:11:33 PM : MIRANDA: r u there?

5:12:11 PM : Adolfo T: I am sorry for the delay.

5:12:24 PM : MIRANDA: dont worry.

5:13:22 PM : Adolfo T: You will be eligible for $150.00 rebate with two year agreement on 01/10/2010 .

5:13:42 PM : Adolfo T: You can purchase the phone at the online price.

5:14:03 PM : MIRANDA: thats 9 months ago... are you sure?

5:14:47 PM : Adolfo T: I am sorry, on October 2010.

5:15:35 PM : MIRANDA: OK. That is with the new account price right?

5:15:50 PM : Adolfo T: Yes.

5:16:05 PM : MIRANDA: if I want the evo I would need to pay 200 right? plus taxes and stuff...

5:16:32 PM : Adolfo T: Yes, you are right.

5:16:57 PM : MIRANDA: is there any way I can upgrade before 10/01?

5:18:23 PM : Adolfo T: I am sorry for the inconvenience, we can not upgrade the phone before that date.

5:18:31 PM : MIRANDA: ok. another question.

5:18:36 PM : MIRANDA: I live in Puerto Rico

5:19:01 PM : MIRANDA: there is no 4G service here. Do I still need to pay the 10 bucks though I can receive the service?

5:19:18 PM : MIRANDA: it should say "I cant receive the service"

5:20:53 PM : Adolfo T: This $10.00 lets you enjoy all the features that drew you to want the EVO AND you get to enjoy them at incredible
speeds.

5:21:13 PM : Adolfo T: EVO provides a richer data experience for our customers. The combination of features and services on the EVO
provides capabilities that were never previously available on a wireless device so now you will have the best
combination of both - speed and features.

5:21:35 PM : Adolfo T: You will see an increase in speed all around with this fantastic device simply due to the hardware/ software onboard.
It doesn

 

[AH1z]

If you want the best phone on the market ya gotta pay for it... Like superlinkx said. The evo is kind of a data hog. On the other side of the coin you can upload, and download all day like a mad man and not worry about overages...

 

[Naterz]

Here's the thing. The Evo potentially is a data hog. It has a much larger display than other phones and is very quick and snappy at web functions. Because of this, Sprint rightfully expects data usage to be higher than other phones that they carry. So the $10 gives you true unlimited data (their normal data plans have a "soft cap" of 5GB, go over that and you could be throttled. With the Evo, they no longer have any sort of cap, and of course you also get 4G service. That's what you get for premium services. It might not sound like much, but its fairly significant, and still keeps Sprint's cost lower than other providers. If you don't like the fee and don't want to pay it, your best option is to get a different phone or go to a different carrier.

You're wrong about the soft cap.

THAT softcap only exists for Computer Modems (3g/4G USB/PCMCIA/etc. cards) and when using your Evo to Tether to your computer (which also costs something like ~20-30 a month). For 3g/4g data, using the device, Sprint is unlimited. The $10 premium Data Fee DOES eliminate the Tethering cap for 3g/4g, but you're paying quite a bit just to tether, Lol...

Also, with that $10 Premium Data charge, Sprint is hardly cheaper than AT&T for anyone with similar minutes, unlimited Text, and a grandfathered-in Unlimited Data Plan.

It's imply a nice excuse for raising the prices (and/or funding WiMax deployment) since they got a couple of decent phones - finally. Lord knows they must have been depressed being stuck with OLD Palm hardware (No Pre/Pixi Plus for Sprint, though it's on AT&T/Verizon) and no other really decent phones to speak of. Even T-Mobile has a better all-around [smart]phone repetoire than Sprint.

 

[Naterz]

If you want the best phone on the market ya gotta pay for it... Like superlinkx said. The evo is kind of a data hog. On the other side of the coin you can upload, and download all day like a mad man and not worry about overages...

The Evo isn't much better, if even better, than a Galaxy S phone. Sprint is the only carrier charging $10 extra to use these phones on their 3G network.

It's a sad excuse, especially give that they aren't even the largest network and aren't suffering from congestion issues i.e. AT&T.

So, unless you can convice a majority of users how an Evo is more data-intensive than a Fascinate, Vibrant, Captivate, Droid X, Droid Incredible, etc. (most of which have similar hardware and screen sizes), then that excuse is laughable - at best.

 

[broadwayblue]

You're wrong about the soft cap.

THAT softcap only exists for Computer Modems (3g/4G USB/PCMCIA/etc. cards) and when using your Evo to Tether to your computer (which also costs something like ~20-30 a month). For 3g/4g data, using the device, Sprint is unlimited. The $10 premium Data Fee DOES eliminate the Tethering cap for 3g/4g, but you're paying quite a bit just to tether, Lol...

Also, with that $10 Premium Data charge, Sprint is hardly cheaper than AT&T for anyone with similar minutes, unlimited Text, and a grandfathered-in Unlimited Data Plan.

It's imply a nice excuse for raising the prices (and/or funding WiMax deployment) since they got a couple of decent phones - finally. Lord knows they must have been depressed being stuck with OLD Palm hardware (No Pre/Pixi Plus for Sprint, though it's on AT&T/Verizon) and no other really decent phones to speak of. Even T-Mobile has a better all-around [smart]phone repetoire than Sprint.

The "Tether" option is grayed out in my EVO. How do you use that feature?

Regarding your claim that the $10 data charge makes Sprint as costly as AT&T I would have to disagree. After being with AT&T for 10 years, and even with a $20 media works unlimited plan I was still paying nearly $200 for 4 lines on a family plan (2 with no text or data features at all.) Now I'll be paying a couple dollars less for a 4 line family plan on Sprint...where all 4 lines have basically unlimited everything. The reality is that even with the $10 surcharge Sprint is still a better value than Verizon or AT&T.

 

[avacomputers]

Come On. Are we still dwelling on the $10 Fee?

 

[Thefoodman52]

I still dwell on It because Sprint continues to lie about why they charge it in the first place... its like if you went to buy gas and It was an extra $20 to the total because Shell was advertising it as "combustible". Aren't you kind of expecting that, and can get the exact same stuff everywhere else?

 

[dekebro]

I still dwell on It because Sprint continues to lie about why they charge it in the first place... its like if you went to buy gas and It was an extra $20 to the total because Shell was advertising it as "combustible". Aren't you kind of expecting that, and can get the exact same stuff everywhere else?

Oh for crying out loud people. When are some of you going to get over this $10 premium data charge. If you don't like it then get a different phone or go get ripped off by Verizon or AT&T. I thought we'd passed this point already. The comparison to gasoline is completely ridiculous. If you think Verizon and AT&T aren't padding their prices to compensate for high data usage then there's no hope for any of you who are still talking about this $10. Verizon and AT&T just don't want you to know what they're charging you and why and even if it's necessary. If the extra $10 is that much of problem, you do have other options and alternatives. That's one of the advantages of capitalism.

 

[baldandtopless]

bottom line its their business and they can charge whatever they like. You don't like it walk away and get something else. You do it all the time. Like buying premium gas over regular... Your car will run either way but they charge extra for it. You guys need some cheese with that whine? Its 10 bucks a month for petes sake... That's 3 coffees at starbucks or 1 and a half big mac meals. Chill out. If you can't afford 10 more a month you shouldn't have a smartphone period
I bet you complain about 99 cent apps on the market too huh.

 

[RoboMonkey]

Get an iPhone4 "It has the Wifi's" and the "bigger GB's".
It also has a more expensive data plan and is capped, but who cares about that.

The truth is there is no such thing as Premium Data. Sprint is probably just breaking even on every EVO they sell and the $10 is how they start to recoup that cost. They are lying about all the other features of the $10 Premium Data.

So now what, are you gonna ditch the phone or have it flashed to Verizon? News flash the $10 thing has been done and we're all so over it. Keep the EVO or ditch it, but for the love of Might no more of these post.

 

[pgus13]

Can't even but 2 packs of cigarettes for $10!!

 

[The Dorian]

You make good points, and are right about everything you said. I think it's a bit douchey to be all over the customer service rep's ass about it though. He's not charging you $10/month...

But even with the "Premium Data" fee, you're still paying less than AT&T and Verizon, so that's a little stupid that you're "threatening" to switch carriers...you'll still be paying more.

 

[stevent76]

Last week I spent an hour working on a customers server using VPN and RDP on my phone. That is something I never could have done with my old Iphone or Palm Pre. I find I use enough extra data to justify the extra $10.

As far as tethering goes, even Sprint said they won't block apps such as PDANet to prevent you from tethering. They only make you pay to use it as a hotspot.

 

[ceabbott2]

When were on t mobile we started to see an upgrade fee every time we upgraded. I think it' s about ten dollars. My parents were furious because they had been with t-mobile for ten years with no discounts. I still wish they would just include the extra fees into the phone plan s. But if not for that fee we wouldn't be with Sprint today. Heck with four Evo s and another non Evo phone we are still paying 50 less and with tmobile only three phones had a data package. FWIW.

 

[WarDamnEagle09]

Yes the $10 fee is to recover the implementation of their 4G network probably, you will eventually have 4G access if you don't now. I have the minimum with unlimited data, same as I had at AT&T with my 3GS, my bill is about $12 cheaper a month still. I win, Sprint can have $10 designated as a tech fee. Oh and if I was telling you this on the phone and not a msg board you wouldn't have to say "What?" because you can hear me clearly.

 

[atypical1]

I still dwell on It because Sprint continues to lie about why they charge it in the first place... its like if you went to buy gas and It was an extra $20 to the total because Shell was advertising it as "combustible". Aren't you kind of expecting that, and can get the exact same stuff everywhere else?

Then why did you buy an Evo? You knew about this before you got the phone didn't you? If it truly bothered you then you simply would have not gotten the phone and you wouldn't have to complain about it.

james

 

[AsItLies]

Yes the $10 fee is to recover the implementation of their 4G network probably, you will eventually have 4G access if you don't now. I have the minimum with unlimited data, same as I had at AT&T with my 3GS, my bill is about $12 cheaper a month still. I win, Sprint can have $10 designated as a tech fee. Oh and if I was telling you this on the phone and not a msg board you wouldn't have to say "What?" because you can hear me clearly.

This is pretty much the way I see it too. I'm connected right now using pda.net. I'm in a 4g area and don't even see data usage adding up. It seems to be only keeping track of 3g data usage.

Seriously considering dropping time warner... that would be a 50 buck savings, minus the 10 for sprint, still 40 ahead. luvin my evo

 

[edlex]

I love turtles...

 

[MonkeyBoy2000]

Over the life of the contract, that extra $ 10 adds up.

$ 240

That's a lot of money - especially for those that can't even get 4G, or get crappy signal despite living right next to a 4G tower ( like me ).

 

[MonkeyBoy2000]

I love turtles...

I love seahorses. I love 'em. Sea horses and sea shells.
Who put this chair here ? Not me not neva.

 

[broadwayblue]

Over the life of the contract, that extra $ 10 adds up.

$ 240

That's a lot of money - especially for those that can't even get 4G, or get crappy signal despite living right next to a 4G tower ( like me ).

I would just factor the $10 in to your monthly contract price and compare that to what the competitors offer. I can pretty much assure you that Sprint still comes out cheaper (and with more features) than Verizon/AT&T.

 

[Drew5150]

don't forget with at&t you have to add navigation fee's too.

10$ PER line!

 

[salpiche]

I love seahorses. I love 'em. Sea horses and sea shells.
Who put this chair here ? Not me not neva.

Ditto the Sea Horses!

 

[SporkLover]

Also, with that $10 Premium Data charge, Sprint is hardly cheaper than AT&T for anyone with similar minutes, unlimited Text, and a grandfathered-in Unlimited Data Plan.

That comparison isn't really on even grounds, since unlimited isn't an option anymore. That would be like trying to compare the old SERO pricing to all of the other competitors.

But you guys hit the nail on the head, Android phones are designed to "cloud' compute, they use a lot of data. The premium service fee let's sprints heaviest data users subsidize a lower price for others as well as fund future network growth. I'm ok with it because I would hate to be in the biggest metro area in the US with the baddest phone and not be able to use it to its fullest potential because of network congestion (ny and iPhone)