Contract up, plan suggestions?

Hello All,

Been reading some postings similar to the situation I'm in. Using Sprint
since '99.

Current plan:
Free & Clear
2000 ATM
3000 Off Peak Option
unlimited PCS to PCS
Nights start at 8pm
Shared by 3 phones $20 for one of the extra phones, one is on for free
Wireless Web
No Vision

For $85.00 a month
2nd Phone $20
Monthly $110.00

From looking at all of the data on a flyer and via the web, none of the new
plans "especially" the Fair & Flexible America... it doesn't look as good as
what I have. What are your opinions?

Secondly, this Vision thing. While my son has a Vision capable phone, I
didn't sign up for it. I'll probably get a new phone, Sanyo 4920 which is
Vision capable. I understand when you buy a Vision phone, you have to get
Vision. They have Vision for free for the first two months (or something to
that effect), can you then drop Vision without getting dinged? Because $15
more a month is too much for something I won't be using. And is that $15 for
every Vision phone?

Thanks for any help or opinions,
Steve Banks




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› See More: Contract up, plan suggestions?

"Steve Banks" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello All,
>
> Been reading some postings similar to the situation I'm in. Using Sprint
> since '99.
>
> Current plan:
> Free & Clear
> 2000 ATM
> 3000 Off Peak Option
> unlimited PCS to PCS
> Nights start at 8pm
> Shared by 3 phones $20 for one of the extra phones, one is on for free
> Wireless Web
> No Vision
>
> For $85.00 a month
> 2nd Phone $20
> Monthly $110.00
>
> From looking at all of the data on a flyer and via the web, none of the
new
> plans "especially" the Fair & Flexible America... it doesn't look as good
as
> what I have. What are your opinions?

Steve, F & F was not designed for a high minute plan user, but those folks
who use between 300 to 600 minutes a month. SPCS still offers F & C plans.

>
> Secondly, this Vision thing. While my son has a Vision capable phone, I
> didn't sign up for it. I'll probably get a new phone, Sanyo 4920 which is
> Vision capable. I understand when you buy a Vision phone, you have to get
> Vision.

Don't know where you got that impression. You do not have to add Vision,
when getting a Vision capable phone. There is one situation where you would
need to, and that's if you are going to use their mail in rebate. You can
check and see whether you qualify @ http://pcshandsetupgrade.sprint.com/ .
If you do decide to use their upgrade mail in rebate, be advised that if you
request the $150 rebate, your AA (annual agreement) will extend out for 2
more years. If you decide to go with the $100 rebate, your AA on the phone
will be extended 1 year.

> They have Vision for free for the first two months (or something to
> that effect), can you then drop Vision without getting dinged? Because $15
> more a month is too much for something I won't be using. And is that $15
for
> every Vision phone?

Yes, you can cancel the Vision option on the account, before the two months
are up. As for the cost of Vision, it all depends on what options you are
going to need, i.e.: a picture vault, video mail, text messaging, Ready
Link, multimedia, surfing the web, etc. Depending on the options, you could
be spending much more than $15/mo. on the primary phone on the account. It
would cost less for each sub phone on the account.

Considering the plan you are on now, it looks like you are off the AA, and
on a mo. to mo. plan now. Here's what I'd suggest for your account. Take a
look at your actual usage on your three phones via your bills for the past
three months. Note how many of the 2000 AT minutes are used and N & W
minutes used. Also check the number of minutes used for Wireless Web. If you
are using WW a lot, which uses minutes off your plan, Vision might actually
save you some money.

Once you've determined your average monthly usage, then look at what the
competition is offering in your neck of the woods. I'm guessing you are in
the Sea-Tac area from your IP.

Once you have all this info, and if you want to stay with SPCS, give SPCS a
call on *2. Speaking with CS, and tell the voice prompt, "Cancel", which
will send you to the retention dept. Tell the representative that you've
been happy with SPCS, but are looking at other cell providers and ask
whether SPCS would be able to match some of their pricing.

I took that approach last year, and was able to swing a deal for my three
phones, got onto a 1200 AT minute plan, unlimited N & W, PCS2PCS, F & CA,
for $65/mo. I do use Vision and have that on my primary phone and one other
phone for an additional $20 ($15+$5). I also have a 5% credit applied to the
total of $85, and with taxes & surcharges, my monthly bill is under $93/mo.

Bob

"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
> "Steve Banks" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> Hello All,
>>
>> Been reading some postings similar to the situation I'm in. Using Sprint
>> since '99.
>>
>> Current plan:
>> Free & Clear
>> 2000 ATM
>> 3000 Off Peak Option
>> unlimited PCS to PCS
>> Nights start at 8pm
>> Shared by 3 phones $20 for one of the extra phones, one is on for free
>> Wireless Web
>> No Vision
>>
>> For $85.00 a month
>> 2nd Phone $20
>> Monthly $110.00
>>
>> From looking at all of the data on a flyer and via the web, none of the
> new
>> plans "especially" the Fair & Flexible America... it doesn't look as good
> as
>> what I have. What are your opinions?
>
> Steve, F & F was not designed for a high minute plan user, but those folks
> who use between 300 to 600 minutes a month. SPCS still offers F & C plans.

OK, just checking. It didn't look terribly kind... compared to what I have.

>> Secondly, this Vision thing. While my son has a Vision capable phone, I
>> didn't sign up for it. I'll probably get a new phone, Sanyo 4920 which is
>> Vision capable. I understand when you buy a Vision phone, you have to get
>> Vision.
>
> Don't know where you got that impression. You do not have to add Vision,
> when getting a Vision capable phone. There is one situation where you
> would
> need to, and that's if you are going to use their mail in rebate. You can
> check and see whether you qualify @ http://pcshandsetupgrade.sprint.com/ .
> If you do decide to use their upgrade mail in rebate, be advised that if
> you
> request the $150 rebate, your AA (annual agreement) will extend out for 2
> more years. If you decide to go with the $100 rebate, your AA on the phone
> will be extended 1 year.

Bob, you're correct... it was the two year info I was reading for the $150
mail in rebate. So after going to the rebate center this is what it reads
for my phone:
******
To receive rebate customer must:
Sign up and remain on a $35 or higher monthly Sprint PCS Service Plan
Renew a one or two year Sprint PCS Advantage Agreement
Sprint PCS Phone must remain active for a minimum of 30 days
If purchasing a Vision Handset you must sign up for a Vision Service Plan.
Have an account in good standing

The Sprint PCS Phone activated with this Sprint PCS Phone number meets the
18 month age requirement. Yes
******

So you can see where this would be confusing for someone. Before entering
information on this web page it reads, $150 rebate yada... yada... sign a
ONE or TWO year aggreement. There is no mention anywhere I see for the $100
rebate.

>> They have Vision for free for the first two months (or something to
>> that effect), can you then drop Vision without getting dinged? Because
>> $15
>> more a month is too much for something I won't be using. And is that $15
> for
>> every Vision phone?
>
> Yes, you can cancel the Vision option on the account, before the two
> months
> are up. As for the cost of Vision, it all depends on what options you are
> going to need, i.e.: a picture vault, video mail, text messaging, Ready
> Link, multimedia, surfing the web, etc. Depending on the options, you
> could
> be spending much more than $15/mo. on the primary phone on the account. It
> would cost less for each sub phone on the account.

I used to use the web quite a bit on my old Sanyos. But that has tapered off
a great deal over the last year or so. My son's phone has a camera, no Ready
Link, the phone I want Sanyo 4920 I would probably use a little more for web
because of the more enhanced features??? And maybe the Business Solutions
might be more appealing.

So the Vision for my lan would be $15 for my phone and $5 for my son, $20 a
month.

> Considering the plan you are on now, it looks like you are off the AA, and
> on a mo. to mo. plan now. Here's what I'd suggest for your account. Take a
> look at your actual usage on your three phones via your bills for the past
> three months. Note how many of the 2000 AT minutes are used and N & W
> minutes used. Also check the number of minutes used for Wireless Web. If
> you
> are using WW a lot, which uses minutes off your plan, Vision might
> actually
> save you some money.

My plan is up Nov. 17th.

> Once you've determined your average monthly usage, then look at what the
> competition is offering in your neck of the woods. I'm guessing you are in
> the Sea-Tac area from your IP.
>
> Once you have all this info, and if you want to stay with SPCS, give SPCS
> a
> call on *2. Speaking with CS, and tell the voice prompt, "Cancel", which
> will send you to the retention dept. Tell the representative that you've
> been happy with SPCS, but are looking at other cell providers and ask
> whether SPCS would be able to match some of their pricing.
>
> I took that approach last year, and was able to swing a deal for my three
> phones, got onto a 1200 AT minute plan, unlimited N & W, PCS2PCS, F & CA,
> for $65/mo. I do use Vision and have that on my primary phone and one
> other
> phone for an additional $20 ($15+$5). I also have a 5% credit applied to
> the
> total of $85, and with taxes & surcharges, my monthly bill is under
> $93/mo.

Bob, what can anyone say... except you are THE Patron Saint of Sprint! You
have been here helping people like me out for (ever since I remember),
which would be for about 5 years. It is appreciated!

Steve Banks


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Steve Banks wrote:

> Been reading some postings similar to the situation I'm in. Using Sprint
> since '99.
>
> Current plan:
> Free & Clear
> 2000 ATM
> 3000 Off Peak Option
> unlimited PCS to PCS
> Nights start at 8pm
> Shared by 3 phones $20 for one of the extra phones, one is on for free
> Wireless Web
> No Vision
>
> For $85.00 a month
> 2nd Phone $20
> Monthly $110.00
>
> From looking at all of the data on a flyer and via the web, none of the new
> plans "especially" the Fair & Flexible America... it doesn't look as good as
> what I have. What are your opinions?

Definitely not. I would keep the plan you have.

> Secondly, this Vision thing. While my son has a Vision capable phone, I
> didn't sign up for it. I'll probably get a new phone, Sanyo 4920 which is
> Vision capable. I understand when you buy a Vision phone, you have to get
> Vision.

You might have to get the phone provisioned for Vision, but that doesn't
mean you have to get the plan, AFAIK. your phone in that case will be
set up for "casual use" which means .02 cents per kilobyte of usage.

This used to be the case, but I would double check with a rep to be certain.


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E-mail fudged to thwart spammers.
Transpose the c's and a's in my e-mail address to reply.

"Isaiah Beard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Steve Banks wrote:
>
>> Been reading some postings similar to the situation I'm in. Using Sprint
>> since '99.
>>
>> Current plan:
>> Free & Clear
>> 2000 ATM
>> 3000 Off Peak Option
>> unlimited PCS to PCS
>> Nights start at 8pm
>> Shared by 3 phones $20 for one of the extra phones, one is on for free
>> Wireless Web
>> No Vision
>>
>> For $85.00 a month
>> 2nd Phone $20
>> Monthly $110.00
>>
>> From looking at all of the data on a flyer and via the web, none of the
>> new plans "especially" the Fair & Flexible America... it doesn't look as
>> good as what I have. What are your opinions?
>
> Definitely not. I would keep the plan you have.
>
>> Secondly, this Vision thing. While my son has a Vision capable phone, I
>> didn't sign up for it. I'll probably get a new phone, Sanyo 4920 which is
>> Vision capable. I understand when you buy a Vision phone, you have to get
>> Vision.
>
> You might have to get the phone provisioned for Vision, but that doesn't
> mean you have to get the plan, AFAIK. your phone in that case will be set
> up for "casual use" which means .02 cents per kilobyte of usage.
>
> This used to be the case, but I would double check with a rep to be
> certain.


Thank you Isaiah, your input is welcome,

Steve Banks


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