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Do we smell a wireless pricing war in the air?

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How much would you pay for unlimited wireless minutes?

If you're smart, you'll wait for that answer. As you might already know, Verizon Wireless just announced that it's offering a flat-rate calling plan for unlimited wireless minutes. For $99, you get unlimited minutes, no domestic roaming or long distance charges and mobile Web 2.0. (This doesn't include surcharges, taxes and fees, or activation fees)

 
Then AT&T countered by announcing that it would offer it's own unlimited minutes calling plan starting Friday.

Those moves could likely force Sprint to offer a competitive plan to fight against the two bigger giants, the wire story says.

 
What's that mean for you, the consumer?

The move toward unlimited minutes will likely help do away with those ridiculously confusing pricing plans and you could find yourself a really good deal if you're a big cellular phone user.

According to the wire story, "The flat-rate plans may force Sprint, which lost 1.2 million customers with wireless contracts in 2007, to offer a similar subscription at a lower price, perhaps $70 to $80 a month, said analyst Christopher King of Stifel Nicolaus & Co. in Baltimore." Sprint also tested a plan in Philly, Minneapolis, Tampa and parts of California and western Nevada where $119.99 a month got you unlimited wireless phone use, unlimited Web use, e-mail and messaging, which Verizon and AT&T's plans do not include.

That's music to our ears. Here at Consuming Interests, we love pricing wars.  

(Photo from stock.xchng) 

Comments

I don't care if Sprint does offer an unlimited plan for a lower price than Verizon and the others, you'd have to be a fool to go to Sprint. Their customer service is beyond atrocious. I was with them for about a year, and it was a terrible experience to say the least. I made the mistake of trying to order a new phone online, and things snowballed into them turning off my service when they claimed I had a past due bill of $239.(the cost of the new phone that I had already paid for via credit card, AND never received) I happily paid the $150 early termination fee to switch to Verizon. Sprint could offer unlimited service for the same $39 I am paying Verizon and I still wouldn't switch back to them.

I am right there with you. I do not like Sprint. I was with Nextel for 6 years and didn't have a problem until Sprint bought them. I am now with Verizon. Sprint is beyond ridiculous! Do you know that they have been sending me a bill for $9.98 for over 7 years now. Way back when, before Nextel, I was a Sprint subscriber and decided to leave them. Well I paid by check with for my last bill, but they forgot to add the "pay by check fee"; therefore, they have been sending me the same bill for years!

DD: Cookie, have you checked to make sure they don't send your bill to collections? I'd double check with them just to make sure. That could be a huge headache.

I have been a contiuous Sprint wireless customer for 12, yes, 12 years. In the last 6 months they have become a nightmare. I have multiple business phones and just today they were unwilling to help me with getting a decent deal not to mention my 9 year old could give better tech support. If your thinking of Sprint DON"T!!!!

What people have to remember is customer service from any company have folks that maybe shouldn't be in customer service. I have had problems with Sprints customer service but those problems usually delt with that single person. There were other times either by phone or in store that I had execellent service. The biggest problem with cell phone providers is the lack of loyalty to customers that have been with them for more than two years. Sprint, Verizion, Nextel, At&t all of them. Nextel service stinks to high heaven. Can't count the number of dropped calls, lost voicemail and text messages from Nextel.

Do not utilize Sprint. They are absolutely the worse. Tons of dropped calls, billing issues which are always a headache and always seem to be in their favor (or they tell you they will disconnect you if you dont pay). I hope Sprint goes out of business for taking advantage of the consumer. They lost 1.7Million subscribers in 2007, does that tell any one anything? Your better off not having a cell phone service if your with sprint!

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About the blogger
A native of Vietnam, Dan Thanh Dang has lived in Maryland most of her life and has been a Baltimore Sun reporter since 1990. She's written about everything from mayoral elections and murder to energy prices and online dating. These days, she writes about a topic she's all too familiar with, spending money -- how to save more of it, blow all of it, use it wisely and avoid getting ripped off in the process.
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