Sprint Announcing New EVO Data Plans Tomorrow?
I think it’s safe to say that the HTC EVO 4G for Sprint is part of a huge mobile rEVOlution whereby regular consumers are adopting smartphones, using the mobile web and data intensive apps, and inherently sucking up carrier bandwidth. We’ve heard warnings before that the mobile data fee structure would be overhauled similar to how the Airline industry moved towards a “pay for your luggage” model. Could Sprint be leading the way, announcing new data plans starting tomorrow?
I think its very possible, but I have very little to support that theory. In fact, all we have are some internal documents suggsting a March 31st meeting is taking place that will cover “April Marketing Updates”. We have yet to hear about the EVO 4G pricing, release date and other details, so its possible this is a quick catch-me-up on all those important items. But with a smoking-fast new 4G network, now would be the time for Sprint to set precedent on how data fees should and will be incurred.
You may remember when the G1 was announced there was a huge hoopla about T-Mobile offering “Unlimited Data” although the data was technically capped at 5GB. What kind of unlimited plan has a limit? We haven’t heard any horror stories of the limit being broken and customers being screwed or dropped, but its certainly possible. But with 4G and the upcoming launch of more multimedia form factors such as tablets and netbooks, breaking that 5GB barrier might not be so hard afterall.
A movie here, an album download there, some video chat here, multiplied by the hundreds of thousands sure to have an EVO 4G and what do you have? Massive data usage. The question is, if Sprint DOES restructure data plans, what approach will they take? Tiered? Pay-As-You-Go by the GB? What do YOU think is the best and/or most logical solution?
Or maybe I’m TOTALLY off base and if you think that – let us know that too!
[Via MobileCrunch]