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May 13, 2010

Sprint Nextel has released some launch details for its new HTC Evo 4G smartphone that was unveiled at the recent CTIA event in Las Vegas in March.

The wireless carrier said the new device will be available through all of its retail channels beginning June 4 for just $200 after the usual factory rebates.

However, customers picking up the new phone, which is compatible with the carrier's CDMA-based 3G network and WiMAX-based 4G service will have to pay an additional $10 per month on top of the currently available Everything Data plans that begin at $70 a month for unlimited data access to both networks.

Translated in plain English, the starting per-month charges for single lines will begin at $80 a month.

Wireless customers looking to take advantage of the device's newly embedded mobile hot spot feature that allows up to 8 devices to connect through the Evo 4G's cellular connection will pay an additional $30 per month, which Sprint tries to explain is half the usual $60 per month it charges for its Mobile Broadband plan.

Confused? We don't blame you... others are as well.

The final retail price and utilization charges for the new device are similar to the price AT&T Mobility is asking for Apple's iPhone 3GS, while the monthly charges seem to still undercut price plans offering similar features offered by larger rival Verizon Wireless.

We've been saying this for many months now, and there's no doubt that the pricing war in the mobile segment is reaching its peak (or so we are hoping that it is). What's next? Well let's wait and see...

Last week, Sprint revealed additional details about its newly proposed plans to attract more prepaid wireless customers onto its Virgin Mobile USA brand.

The new enticements include a $25 a month Virgin Mobile package aimed at the text messaging youth market.

The wireless carrier also has expanded its Assurance brand and offered a few more details about a 4th brand that will soon offer pay-as-you-go by the minute pricing.

Sprint wouldn't offer any pricing information as of yet, however. The wireless carrier is betting heavily on the prepaid market. The company said it expects over 68 percent of net new additions in 2010 to be customers who choose to go without contracts. As such, Sprint paid $483 million in 2009 to acquire all of Virgin Mobile USA.

Dan Schulman, president of Sprint's prepaid group said “this is the year that prepaid moves to the forefront of the mobile communications industry. In the first quarter of this year, about 53 percent of the mobile gross additions in the U.S. selected prepaid, and we predict that about 71 percent of the net additions in 2010 will choose plans without a contract.”

On Monday, Sprint announced enhancements to its Boost Mobile plans, offering unlimited 411 calls, e-mail and instant messaging to its $50 per month, unlimited rate plan. For those customers on the company's BlackBerry plan, the new offering simply adds unlimited 411 calls for the same $60 a month as if the e-mail and IM options were already part of the package.

Virgin Mobile USA is also introducing three new pricing plans next Wednesday called Beyond Talk that include unlimited messaging, e-mail data and Internet.

Virgin introduced 4 new devices to accompany its Beyond Talk Plans. Customers can buy a BlackBerry Curve 8530 for $300, an LG Rumor Touch for $150, an LG Rumor 2 Qwerty for $90 and a Kyocera Loft Qwerty handset for just $70.

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Source: Sprint Nextel.