[synthe]

Originally Posted by jivey

I was just looking at my brochure again, it is $.02 a KB if you don't have a phone as a modem plan.

"Unless Phone-as-Modem Data Pricing is selected, customers using a Spring PCS phone as a modem will be charged 2 cents per kilobyte for data usage."

Also right above this it states "Additional data usage $0.001 per KB" with the plan

One other thing I still don't quite get. I was told at first that I had to have a PV plan and a Phone as Modem Plan (if I wanted to use the phone as a modem). Then when I called a CS they said no that I didn't. You get the PV Access Pack when you purchase the Phone as a Modem Plan. I also asked about the 40 MB (this amount was only quoted to me in the store and in a brochure, you can't find it online) and she said that it only was counted when the phone was used as a modem. If this isn't the case, it sounds as if we are being 'punished' for actually purchasing the phone as a modem plan, since we can't get unlimited vision on our phones like everyone else.

like i posted, the phone as modem plan for $25 includes vision usage, and picturemail and sprint tv, so a vision pack is not needed, and should not be added on along with it. it is unlimited, but only after your overage hits $70 ($25 + overage). but even that is cheaper than the unlimited plan for aircards. so you are getting the same usage, for cheaper. I don't call that being punished.

[jivey]

I would say punished since the 40 MB includes both phone and phone as a modem useage, not just phone as a modem useage. When other people who just have a PV plan can use it as much as they want. I think it is a rip off, but I do agree it is cheaper than the aircard plans. However it should be, since then you are just racking up MBs from you computer useage with an aircard.

[Dark[]Templar]

Just to chime in on this POST, I recently bought the Samsung A920 and I got the $15 Power Vision plan. I asked the lady what that includes, but in the the store and on the phone, and both reps said that it was unlimited data use, and as of right now, sprint is not paying attentino to how much I download. I haven't actually used the phone as a modem, as I have cable internet at my house and do not own a laptop, but I'm not too worried about the whole cap thing. In fact, up until I've read this POST, i've never heard of any 40MB cap. The information I have is current as of this past saturday. I haven't tried teh phone as a modem, but I do download a lot of ringers, and sprint hasn't said anything as of yet. (I'm not talking about the crap qcp ringers either, these are 128Kbps mp4s)

The only thing I'm not liking about the power vision is my granfathered vision got jacked up and now i have to pay an extra $15 dollars a month for my internet, and an extra $10 a month for my unlimited text messaging, whereas my previous plan had it all included. I also lost picture mail, but that's a whole other can of worms that has nothing to do with this post, so I won't go into all that.

[fl00d_pr0z]

Yes it's unlimited data, but unlimited only for what is viewable or playable ON your phone itself, that does NOT include teathering.

[Dark[]Templar]

Ah, thanks, I'm sure they have to say it like that so the can milk you for all the money they can once you unknowingly plug your phone into your computer.

[stevenmh]

Originally Posted by synthe

like i posted, the phone as modem plan for $25 includes vision usage, and picturemail and sprint tv, so a vision pack is not needed, and should not be added on along with it. it is unlimited, but only after your overage hits $70 ($25 + overage). but even that is cheaper than the unlimited plan for aircards. so you are getting the same usage, for cheaper. I don't call that being punished.

IMO, it would be severe and profound punishment. You can't compare the Phone As Modem plan directly to an Aircard. Tethered usage is no different than an aircard, but accessing Vision apps via handset IS different.

Say Dude #1 watches TV non-stop, all day every day. He gets to do this for $20/mo.

Now Dude #2 is just as bad, except he stops twice a day for a few minutes to check his email via his phone as a modem. He gets to do this for $70/mo.

I think we can all agree that at the end of 30 days, the difference is bandwidth used is far more dependent on TV, to the point where modem usage is negligible. I'd say the extra $50/mo. for Dude #2 is pretty hearty punishment for trying to play by the rules.

Now let's say 40MB only applies to modem usage. Dude #2 can watch TV as much as he wants, same as Dude #1. He pays $5 extra per month for the ability to tether a little. If he tethers a little more, he pays a little more. If he tethers a lot, he maxes out at $70/mo. Sounds fair and reasonable to me.

You could argue that Dude #3 has both a phone w/ Vision and a laptop with aircard. He's paying $80 + $20 and so he's getting hosed. Well, my response would be that he's using two pieces of equipment, requiring two separate phone numbers. He can watch TV or take a phone call *while* he's surfing the web, whereas Dudes #1 and #2 miss all their calls while they're surfing or watching TV. Finally, there's nothing stopping him from selling his aircard and getting on board the phone as modem plan, so any perceived disadvantage is self-inflicted.

IMO, the aircard is geared towards hard core internet usage, i.e. for those where landline broadband is not available. It's not suitable via phone because you'd miss all your calls while surfing the web. Phone as a modem is for people who surf on a landline connection and only use the mobile connection on occassion.

Putting the philosophy aside and moving on to facts: l ran across the info laurisfer posted the other day. By that I mean I ran across it on Sprint's website, not here in this thread. While somewhat fuzzy, I took it to mean that the 40MB is shared between modem useage and handset useage. I thought that was pretty stupid based on the reasoning above. But then when I was signing up in the store last night, I came across the option in a brochure. It refers to the DATA pricing as being 40MB with an overage cap of $70. It states unambiguously that the plan includes the Ultimate Vision Pack. The Ultimate Vision Pack advertises, in the same brochure, unlimited useage of specific handset-based apps. Therefore, by the commutative property, this brochure states unequivocally that the 40MB cap does not apply to handset-based app useage. I can scan this brochure in later for anyone who wants to see it. This may not be what Sprint meant to say. It may not be how they end up billing it. But it is, in fact, what has been stated at this time and is enforceable by contract. Sprint retains the right to change the literature and billing at any time, but with this brochure in my possession, I have a Get-Out-Of-ETF-Free card that I can play at any time during the next 2 years if my bill is not to my liking.

Next fact: I got off the phone not too long ago with Sprint CS. Since the local store could not get their computer to show a Phone as Modem option, I had to go with the Ultimate Pack and then call in to change it. I discussed this at length with the person with whom I spoke. I asked about 4 times, in 4 different ways, if the 40MB plan applied only to modem useage. She consistently answered 'yes' no matter how I asked. For instance, I asked if the 40MB only applied to modem useage. She said "yes." Then I asked if handset useage would count against the 40MB.. She said "no." Then I asked if watching Sprint TV would go against my 40MB... she said "no." Then I reiterated that I didn't want to get a massive bill and could she confirm that the 40MB would only apply to my casual modem useage. She said "yes." Finally, I explained that there was a lot of confusion on the internet forums due to their website info not matching the brochure info and different Sprint reps saying different things. She explained that this is a very new feature and that is why there is a lack of info and misinfo.

So, IMO, when you combine the philosophy and the facts, the only logical conclusion is that there's no way the 40MB could apply to handset useage. It defies the purpose of the handset-based apps as well as common sense. If they tried to enforce this, it would only lead to two things: (1) people willing to risk casual tethering without the modem plan in place in order to retain unlimited use of handset apps, and (2) people not willing to risk getting caught in a tethering-against-TOS situation who decide simply to use the phone as nothing more than a phone and a modem and totally ignore all the other available apps and features. Neither of these situations helps Sprint. I'm going to pay $25/mo regardless because tethering to my PPC and laptop via BT is an important feature to me. I'm certainly not going to consider paying $10/mo. additional for live TV if I know I can't use it without risking going over my data cap. In fact, I think the best way for me to insure that Sprint sees things my way is to sign up for any extra paid features that may be useful to me. If I get hit with a cap on handset useage, I'll keep the contract argument in my back pocket for later, and start by directing them to the extra media features for which I'm paying, and telling them I need to cancel all of them because I can't use them due to the data cap.

I don't think it will come to this, though. The fact that Sprint is bothering to institute a plan is an indication that they are trying to make this work to our mutual advantage. Otherwise, they'd just do like the other CDMA carriers in my area and cripple all the phones and state that tethering is flat out not allowed under any and all circumstances, no matter how casual, and even if the customer is willing to pay for it, and we don't care what any of our customers think about it.

[cdomig]

Perhaps someone can find a solution for me. I only need tethering 2-3 times per year. I have been upgraded into a mm-8300 by sprint salesman through loyalty upgrade from 4900. Customer service rep says to get a data plan free phone for $40 per month. Is there any other alternatives known to the forum?

[cdomig]

Sorry $25 per month

[jivey]

I spent an hour on the phone with a CS rep last night. She was really nice, but I knew more about the phone as a modem plan than she did. She finally I think just gave up and transfered me to an EVDO rep. He told that the 40 MB came out of phone and modem useage. However, he told me that I had 36 MB left! That seems like an awful lot. I am still wondering which is right, since I have tethered with it for 4 days when out of town to check email. I have used Vision on my phone quite a bit though (downloading music, surfing, and watching TV). I was told the same thing about have PV Ultimate Pack when you purchase the Phone as a Modem plan, which technically you could argue comes with unlimited web/data useage. He told me that the 40 MB came out of ANY Vision useage (modem or standard phone).

[jivey]

Originally Posted by cdomig

Perhaps someone can find a solution for me. I only need tethering 2-3 times per year. I have been upgraded into a mm-8300 by sprint salesman through loyalty upgrade from 4900. Customer service rep says to get a data plan free phone for $40 per month. Is there any other alternatives known to the forum?

My understanding from having the 8300 myself is tethering is disabled on this phone. That's why I got the A900. I was going to get an aircard but, this was a good excuse to get a new phone. Also, it ends up being cheaper per month. I don't use tethering alot, only when I am out to town. It was $25 a month versus $40 plus a vision plan for your phone. This seemed like a waste since they may be months I don't tether at all.

[fl00d_pr0z]

40MBs isn't a lot at all. Just browsing SU on a 13 hour drive up north I used over that. Plus add any Sirius music time into that and it goes up fast.

[jivey]

Originally Posted by fl00d_pr0z

40MBs isn't a lot at all. Just browsing SU on a 13 hour drive up north I used over that. Plus add any Sirius music time into that and it goes up fast.

Did you call to find out how much you have used or is there an easier way?

[stevenmh]

Originally Posted by jivey

I spent an hour on the phone with a CS rep last night. She was really nice, but I knew more about the phone as a modem plan than she did. She finally I think just gave up and transfered me to an EVDO rep. He told that the 40 MB came out of phone and modem useage. However, he told me that I had 36 MB left! That seems like an awful lot. I am still wondering which is right, since I have tethered with it for 4 days when out of town to check email. I have used Vision on my phone quite a bit though (downloading music, surfing, and watching TV). I was told the same thing about have PV Ultimate Pack when you purchase the Phone as a Modem plan, which technically you could argue comes with unlimited web/data useage. He told me that the 40 MB came out of ANY Vision useage (modem or standard phone).

I believe your rep was wrong. The bottom line is that any CS rep can say anything they want, but what matters is the bill. If your 4 days of tethering only included email with no attachments, then I could see how that wouldn't chew into your 40MB too much. But if you were using the handset for music and TV, and still had 36MB left, then it seems obvious that your handset useage was not counting towards your 40MB limit. I just pulled up my phone system info and have used 4MB so far. I've had it 48 hrs. I've barely used the phone as I'm still carrying my Verizon phone until I've had a chance to get this one completely set up. I've made a couple test calls on it, 10 sec each. I've paired it with my Pocket PC briefly to get BT DUN working, maybe 3 min tops of tethered surfing. I watched the Sprint TV preview for about 30 seconds. I've not done any music. I've set up my On Demand but not done anything with it. I've not downloaded any extra apps at all, not even on a trial basis. If this few minutes of exploratory use consumed 4MB already, then there's no way you only used 4MB after heavy music and TV useage.

[ebrentc]

Please advise. I use my pocket pc with Windows Mobile 2003 to connect wirelessly at hot spots and send/receive e-mail throughout the day. I would like to tether (with bluetooth) to a phone (looking at the Samsung A920) and actually experimented with this in the store on a demo. My HP5555 connected to the phone, no problem. But I got lost on the "Dial up connection" part. I didn't understand what my PPC wanted me to input and could not make it work. On a scale of 1 to 4 on internet/wireless connectivity issues understanding, I figure I am about a 3.8 and have had to explain some things to "tech support", but this is one that throws me. I see "Dial-up" and think of the old days of a phone line with a local access number to my ISP. This can't be what they mean. Anyone using their PPC like this? What are the steps to connect so when I go back in to the store and try it I can make it work?

[stevenmh]

You're on the right track. For the number use #777. Then use the username and password that you've been assigned by Sprint. I got mine by logging in at the Sprint website. It had assigned me a username@sprintpcs.com address and a password. I left the username the way it was, changed the password to what I wanted it to be, then entered that in the dial-up settings on my Pocket PC.

Regarding the 40MB cap, I fired up some music just to see what kind of bandwidth we're talking about for Vision apps. I listened maybe 3-4 minutes, data usage went from 4MB to 6MB. A 40MB cap would make the handset 100% useless as a media device unless you have so much money pouring out of some orifice(s) that you don't mind spending an extra $45/mo. to play with some silly apps on your handset. Personally, if I were going to spend $45/mo. for media, I'd buy some DVDs and watch them on my 50" HDTV before I'd download content to watch on a 2" 15 FPS screen.

So again, if Sprint tries to bill me for handset usage above 40MB, I'll simply appeal to their greed. They can keep the cap on Vision in place and I'll spend $25/mo. only, because I'm not paying more than that to do media stuff and I'll never need to do more than 40MB worth of tethering each month. Or they make the cap apply to tethering only, and I'll spend $25/mo. plus some other monthly charges for some of the apps. Either way I win, but only one way is a winner for Sprint.