Sprint and Clearwire Fight Over Smartphone Finances
Nov 11, 2010, 8:02 AM by Eric M. Zeman
Sprint has filed legal paperwork against its WiMax network partner Clearwire in an attempt to resolve differences in how the companies believe one another should be billed. Clearwire says that about 810,000 EVO 4G and Epic 4G smartphone customers use their devices outside of Clearwire's WiMax coverage areas. Clearwire believes that, despite those devices' inability to access and use WiMax, Sprint still needs to pay Clearwire a monthly access fee. Sprint disagrees. In its most recent quarterly report, Clearwire states, "We have been engaged in ongoing negotiations with Sprint to resolve issues related to wholesale pricing for Sprint 4G smartphone usage under our commercial agreements with Sprint. On October 29, 2010, we received a notice from Sprint initiating an arbitration process to resolve these issues. If we are unable to reach a satisfactory resolution of these issues, we end up agreeing to an amount less than what we expected, or the arbitration process is not resolved in our favor, we could end up receiving substantially less in future wholesale revenues than we expect or for which we have planned. Such an outcome could require us to revise our current business plans and projections and could also adversely affect our results of operations."
Comments
Well let's just see...
450 minutes
m2m
5000 messages plus unlimited m2m messages
"Unlimited" Data
89.98 per month
Source... vzw.com
ATT Plan
450 Minutes
m2m
Unlimited Messaging
2G of data
84.99 per month
Source ATT.com
Sprint Plan
450 Minutes
Any Mobile Any Time
Unlimited Messaging
Unlimited Data
Unlimited Premium Data
79.99 per month
Sprint.com
The Sprint network is just as big and reliable as VZW... They have the top 2 rated devices. They have a TRUE 4G network. They charge customers LESS than the competition and OFFER THEM MORE.
Still trying to figure out why you guys are complaining.
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1. None of us are complaining about Sprint, their service or even the fact that they charge $10 for Premium Data. Many of us are in fact Sprint customers, and pleased (if not ecstatic) with their service and customer support.
Ou...
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I don't understand why you are comparing plans here.
Whats up with that?
Seems that $10 monthly fee was specifically earmarked for Clearwire, if you ask me.
So you think you know about data usage...
Is the $10 charge about 4G? Sorta, kinda, but not really?
The average 3G user (ie iPhone, Blackberry, and other smart phone)uses way less than even 2g of data per month. The average 4G user? 7g of data.... and that's the AVERAGE!!! Sprint's attitude has been to let customers run wild on the WIMAX network with no caps and no boundaries. Their 3G/4G modems do not have a 4G limit or a charge for Premium Data. They do however have a 3G limit.
Hmmm.
The Evo and the Epic are 4G devices that easily hit that 7g average. But guess what? As many Sprint detractors have pointed out many times, Sprint's 4G network isn't by any means vast. So what does that mean? Well, it...
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Now that's the power of 4g!
That said, two points:
- Given your reasoning above, all smartphones should be allowed to add $10 Premium Data, so that they can also have unlimited 3...
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dequardo said:
Sprint LIED about the reason for the $10 up charge.
No, you're just a hater. No one lied to you or anyone else.
It should work both ways...
Fair is fair.
TDBearCT said:...
... if Sprint does not want to pay Clearwire a service fee for the 4G phones it sells, then Sprint should not charge people the 4G access fee if they do not access the 4G network with their phones.
Fair is fair.
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Clear wins the court case. Sprint is guilty. No contest. [thoroughly broken down]
It's painfully obvious the reason Sprint is tagging on an extra $10.00 a month for "premium data" is because of the 4G tag on the two devices in question.
I mean, it's even listed in their bullet-point!
This phone can do it all and then some. Because we've boosted your data experience with this phone's amazing services and features, you'll need this add-on. Enjoy:...
-A wicked fast processor to make your apps run smoother and faster on our Sprint 3G and 4G network
-Top quality media experience with oversized screen, high resolution video and HD recording
-High-
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🤤
Many that complain about this fee, maybe they shouldn't.
Let's say I go to Ve...
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Explanation...
Because the phone has a faster processor, a huge 4.3 inch screen and an 8 megapixel camcorder/camera, we expect you will be using a lot more data than you would with our other devices. These features will give you capabilities that have previously never been available on a wireless device
and we think they provide a premium experience. (Remember, this is the world’s first 3G/4G Android phone.)"
"This phone can do it all and then some. Because we've boosted your data experience with this phone's amazing services and features, you...
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The Child Thinks He Has Grown Up.
It appears this is a family feud between child and parent.
No one in this forum knows exactly what is drawn in the rules and regiments under this household. So we can all speculate with inefficient evidence(including myself).
However, My take is this:
Sprint and other investors, spent cash on sending Clearwire off to college. Sprint as the parent, has invested the most. They have essentially given the shirt off it's back to their child by surrendering the network and large cash to the child so he can hopefully prosper in learning the fundamentals. Now the college student comes home from school and is in financial bind. He needs cash and he doesn't care how he gets it.
He can do one ...
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Turnabout Is Fair Play For Sprint
Sprint refuses to refund, reduce, or discount this fee to ANYONE, even those who can not and never will have access for the 4G service.
Clearwire comes along and wants their payment, and now Sprint doesnt want to pay, saying that the phones cant access the 4G so they shouldnt have to pay?
How the hell does it feel Sprint? To cheat ...
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rwalford79 said:...
So.. Sprint charges a $10 Premium Data Add-On that to use the EVO or Epic.. The so-called add-on isnt an add-on as it is REQUIRED of all EVO or Epic phones regardless if they use 4G networks or not. Sprint is makin
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Sprint is most likely feeling complaints from their subscribers about the extra charge. Sprint does not want to pay for something not valid just as their customers.
On a note about this charge...
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It is Amazing
To all the misinformed(and misinformERS)
If you don't like the charges, you can choose another carrier that offers data caps and overage charges for plans that already cost more than the Sprint plan that includes unlimited with no data cap. VZW will offer data caps or a VERY expensive unlimited plan. ATT offers 3G plans with DATA CAPS for more more money. PC world and Engadget both say that Sprint has the best device lineup of any company...
So quit griping about a $10 charge that STILL ends up costing you less than the competition on a device that the competiton WISHES they had to offer you.
And isn't the $10 Premium Data charge on top of the $70 Simply Everything plan that is already advertised as having unlimited data? An...
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Time to dump Clearwire
Domestic Squabble
flip mode said:
King Solomon would have cut the EVO 4G in half and settled this feud with Sprint & Clear in seconds. 😎
nice!
The Mistake Continues