Sprint makes pricing move
Sprint is set to re-vamp its “Framily” rate plans in an attempt to generate consumer excitement around the nation’s No. 3 carrier. The move is the first from the company following its recent management shakeup that saw long-time CEO Dan Hesse ousted in favor of Marcello Claure.
The new plans, which ditch the “Framily” moniker for the easier to say Family Share Pack name, allow consumers to combine 10 lines of service with unlimited voice calling and messaging, along with various shared data buckets ranging from 600 megabytes ($20) up to 60 gigabytes ($225). Customers then pay $25 per month, per line for non-subsidized phones tied to data plans of 16 GB or less; $15 per month, per line for non-subsidized phones tied to data plans between 20 GB and 60 GB; or $40 per month, per line for subsidized phones across all data plans. Non-subsidized tablets can be added for $10 per month to any data package, while non-subsidized mobile broadband devices will run $20 per month. The non-subsidized devices are tied to monthly installment payments through Sprint’s Easy Pay offering, while the subsidized devices are tied to a two-year contract.
The plans will be available beginning Aug. 22.
To further confuse the matter, Sprint is offering a limited-time promotional package for customers that port their number from a rival that for $100 per month allows up to 10 lines of service to share 20 GB of data and unlimited voice calling and messaging. Customers will also receive an additional 2 GB of data per line as part of the promotion. The per-line access fee is waived through the end of 2015, at which point customers will have to pay a monthly fee per line.
The promotional package also includes the carrier’s previously announced early-termination fee buyout that offers up a Visa prepaid card valued up to $350 per line that is switched to Sprint. The promotion is being offered through Sept. 30.
Sprint launched its “Framily” plans earlier this year to tepid response from consumers as the carrier continued to fight network quality issues.
Sprint reportedly hinted last week that it planned to alter rate plans in order to reverse its recent performance. Sprint said it plans to update individual rate plans later this week.
–Speaking of individual plans, Verizon Wireless recently launched a promotional offer that prices a single line of service with unlimited voice calling, text messaging and 2 GB of data for $60 per month for subsidized devices or $50 per month for customers that select its Edge installment plan. Customers can add more data priced at $15 per gigabyte.
The offering is only open to customers with smartphones.
Verizon Wireless earlier this year adjusted its More Everything shared plans to match those being offered by rival AT&T Mobility.
Additional carrier news can be found on the RCR Wireless News “Carriers” page.
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