re: PCS 1xRTT data rates
<< A correction if I may. Sprint PCS is offering "all you can eat" data for a flat rate of $10/month with (I believe) the first three months free. >>
Jim, they are in fact doing that. However the intention of that promotional plan which runs through the end of the year is to acclimate users to the use of PCS WAP 2.0 based Vision services.
Promotions, Options And Other Provisions: Unlimited PCS Vision. Sprint may deny or terminate service without notice where use is in connection with server devices or host computer applications, other systems that drive continuous heavy traffic or data sessions, or as substitutes for private lines or frame relay connections. Unlimited PCS Vision offer for PCS Free & Clear Plans with Vision is: (a) only available with a Vision capable PCS Phone or PCS smart phone device; and (b) not available with Connection Cards, Aircards, or any other device used in connection with a computer or PDA - including phones, smart phones or other devices used with connection kits or similar phone-to-computer/PDA accessories. Sprint reserves the right to deny or to terminate service without notice for misuse.
Exactly how PCS will enforce this if the phone is used as a modem with a connection manager or whether they will extend the promotion is unclear.
The intended use of this "all you can eat" plan is not particularly well suited to extended data sessions (HTML and graphical web browsing, server replication, large file downloads, e-mail with attachments, etc.) due to limitations of the device employed (processing speed, lack of data storage, display size, lack of keyboard IO, etc.) so the intended use makes it not directly a WLAN competitor, where the computing device of choice in a portable environment is generally a subnotebook or notebook, or at bare minimum a full blown PDA.
The $10/mo "all you can eat" data plan can be contrasted to PCS's Vision data plans for laptop or PDA which are really more indicative of what portable computing device rather than mobile handset charges actually are:
Per Month $40 $60 $80 $100
PCS Vision 20 MB 40 MB 70 MB Unlimited
Best,
- Eric - |
