Sprint, which has lost 864,000 retail subscribers in Q2 2014 and reported dip in corporate and wireless service revenue, has lowered rate of its data plans as compared with rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless.
This is the first major announcement from Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure.
Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure said: “We are so certain that this is the best value on wireless today that for any customer who wants to switch to our new Sprint Family Share Pack, we will reimburse them for the cost to end their contract with another carrier.”
Sprint vs AT&T vs Verizon
The announcement will also put an end to the dominance of Sprint rivals AT&T and Verizon Wireless in the wireless data market.
Sprint Family Share Pack offers double the high-speed data at a lower price.
For $20, Sprint now offers 600 MB data against 300 MB from AT&T. Verizon Wireless does not have any plan for $20.
For $25, Sprint offers 2 GB data against 1 GB from AT&T.
For $40, Sprint will offer 4 GB data against 2 GB from AT&T and 1 GB from Verizon.
For $70, Sprint will provide 8 GB data against 4 GB from AT&T and Verizon.
For $80, Sprint will offer 12 GB data as compared with 6 GB from AT&T and Verizon.
For $100, Sprint offers 20 GB data in comparison with 10 GB from AT&T and Verizon.
For $130, 32 GB will be offered by Sprint against 15 GB from AT&T and 16 GB from Verizon.
For $150, Sprint offers 40 GB data against 20 GB from AT&T and Verizon.
In majority of these data packs, both AT&T and Verizon Wireless are offering similar volume of data indicating a cartelization.
The offer will be on from August 22.
Sprint customers can get four lines and 20GB of data for $160 compared to 10GB of data for the same price from AT&T or Verizon.
As per the Sprint Family Share Pack, a family with up to 10 lines can get 20GB of shared data and unlimited talk & text for $100 a month through 2015. They will also get will get an additional 2GB per line for up to 10 lines.
Family of four, savings will be $60 per month as compared with AT&T and Verizon pricing through 2015. The plan offers double the data of Verizon; and more than double the high-speed data of AT&T and T-Mobile.
In addition, for a limited time, for customers who bring their number and activate on the Sprint Family Share Pack, Sprint will buy out their families’ contracts with a Visa Prepaid Card worth up to $350. This switching offer will be available at Sprint stores and Sprint Telesales.
Sprint is waiving the data access charge for handsets, tablets and mobile broadband devices on 20GB or higher data allowances for up to 10 lines.
Can Sprint gain?
Sprint will rely on enhanced network services to attract new subscribers. Sprint Spark is available in 27 markets and will expand to additional cities through H2 2014. HD Voice is now available across Sprint’s entire footprint, and 16 million subscribers have HD Voice capable devices.
“These services will enhance Sprint’s customers network experience, yet do not significantly differentiate Sprint from the other Tier 1 competition, who are also launching faster LTE networks and VoLTE services in H2,” said Eric Costa, analyst – Networking & Mobility Practice, Technology Business Research.
Baburajan K
editor@telecomlead.com
