Sprint Nextel to focuses on families, ditches free incoming with new plans

Sprint Nextel Corp. is set to roll out new rate plans beginning June 15 that the carrier said simplify the selection process for customers and provide a cheaper alternative on family plans compared with its larger rivals. The new plans also appear to do away with legacy offerings that the carrier incorporated when it acquired Nextel Communications Inc.
The biggest changes are set for its family plan offerings. Sprint Nextel will keep only its current offering of $70 per month for two lines to share 700 anytime calling minutes. This plan will also be the only family plan offering for customers looking to only include voice services in their plan.
The new plans begin with the inclusion of unlimited messaging and range from $100 per month for two lines to share 1,500 minutes to $150 per month for two lines to share 3,000 anytime minutes. Customers can also add unlimited data services including the carrier’s e-mail, mobile Web, Blackberry Internet Service, GPS Navigation, Sprint TV Premier, Sprint Music Premier, NFL Mobile and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile for the two lines to share for an additional $30 per month.
Additional lines for the voice-only and the unlimited messaging plans will cost $10 per month, while the unlimited data share plans will cost $20 per month for each additional line.
For individual plans the changes are modest. Sprint Nextel ditched its previous $80 per month Power Pack plan that offered 1,350 anytime calling minutes. (In fact, Sprint Nextel has done away with all reference to its previous Power Pack plans.) The carrier’s remaining individual plans will stay the same.
The carrier will also do away with its Free Incoming plans that the carrier inherited from Nextel.
Sprint Nextel said the new, full-featured family plans are between $40 and $50 per month cheaper than similar plans from AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless. The carrier said the plans also offer benefits including free night and weekend calling beginning at 7 p.m. rather than 9 p.m., additional lines at $10 less per month, Blackberry Internet service, and access to some exclusive content.
Interestingly, Sprint Nextel left T-Mobile USA Inc. out of the comparison as the carrier recently launched a family plan that includes unlimited calling and messaging for $150 per month for two lines, with additional lines priced at $50 per month. Sprint Nextel offers its all-inclusive Simply Everything plan, which includes unlimited data and navigation services, for $195 per month for two lines. Both AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless offer unlimited calling plans without messaging for $100 per month and do not provide discounts for multiple lines.