Sprint remains on its marketing toes, rolling out a new entry-level shared data package that doubles – or more – what is offered by larger rivals.
The new offering provides one gigabyte of shared data for $20 per month that can be accessed by up to 10 lines of service through Sprint’s Family Share Pack. Each smartphone accessing that data bucket is charged $25 per month, with tablets charged $10 per month and mobile broadband devices $20 per month. Each line also receives unlimited domestic voice calling and text messaging from Sprint’s network.
AT&T Mobility’s entry-level, shared data plan offers up 300 megabytes of data for $20 per month with 1 GB priced at $25, while Verizon Wireless’ plans begin at 500 MB for $20 with 1 GB priced at $40. T-Mobile US’ family plans are a bit different in that each line gets its own data bucket that then reduces network speeds once the allotment is reached. Those plans begin at $50 per month for the first line that includes unlimited voice calling, messaging and 1 GB of data, with the second line priced at $30 per month and subsequent lines priced at $10 per month.
Sprint changed up its family plan offering following a management change that saw long-time CEO Dan Hesse replaced with Marcelo Claure. The plan change replaced the carrier’s un-loved “Framily” plan with a more conventional family shared plan. More recently, Sprint offered up a promotion that provided a significant increase in the amount of shared data available following a similar move by AT&T Mobility.
Sprint is set to announce second fiscal quarter results on Nov. 3, which could show another challenging quarter for the carrier. Larger rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility this week posted robust customer growth results, with smaller rival T-Mobile US expected to post its own strong results early next week.
Sprint also announced it will allow customers subscribed to its “iPhone for Life” promotion to upgrade to a new iPhone every year instead of the program’s initial terms of every two years. To take advantage of the yearly update, customers will have to pay a $10 premium per month over the two-year deal.
The initial offer launched last month connected with Apple’s unveiling of its iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models. The program provides consumers with a new iPhone linked to unlimited domestic voice calling, messaging and data services for $70 per month, with no money down on the device.
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