Sprint Returns Fire, Ups Its Unlimited Plan

Style Magazine Newswire | 2/17/2017, 3:15 p.m.
On Thursday, the nation's No. 4 carrier announced a fresh deal to draw in new customers, upping its previous offer …

When it comes to wireless, the one-upmanship never seems to stop. Today's player: Sprint.

On Thursday, the nation's No. 4 carrier announced a fresh deal to draw in new customers, upping its previous offer of five lines with unlimited data, for $90. The new offer will now include high-definition video streaming and 10GB of mobile hotspot data.

The aggressive push for cell-phone customers went into overdrive Sunday when Verizon, the last big carrier with no unlimited data plan, unveiled an $80 per month unlimited plan ($180 for four lines) during the Grammy's.

Since then, T-Mobile has improved its $70/month unlimited plan ($160 for four lines) with HD video and up to 10GB of "hotspot" data. Analysts say something akin to a price war is in the works — great news for cell phone users, less so for investors.

Sprint's deal, which is available starting Friday, also includes a free iPhone 7 for the next 18 months with a trade-in of certain older phones. After one year, customers will be able to trade in the phone for a new model, or they can wait the full term and then either return the device or pay off the remainder owed on the phone.

Sprint will automatically upgrade customers who recently signed up for last week's $90 offer to this latest deal, giving them HD video and mobile hotspot though they won't be getting the free iPhone 7.

The $90 pricing requires you sign up for Sprint's automatic payment system (or AutoPay) and is only temporary, going from now until March 31, 2018. After that date, the price will jump to $60 for one line, $100 for two lines, $160 for four lines and $190 for five lines, though given the competition, it’s likely there will be newer plans when that date comes.

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