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| Are you going to cancel Sprint EVDO because of 5GB cap? |
| Yes, absolutely |
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69% |
[ 99 ] |
| No, I am not likely to be affected |
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30% |
[ 43 ] |
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| Total Votes : 142 |
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Peterfield EVDO User
Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 91
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Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| Llama wrote: | | MasterMason wrote: | I have a life and go outside and not a brain dead zombie who for hours a day play xbox live, ps3 live, streaming dvd, music, networking 15 computers on one modem, watching immoral videos on the internet.
So the 5gb will not effect me. | What *do* you do online that compels you to pay for EVDO when dialup might be a cheaper and more appropriate solution for an occasional user from the BBS era of online communications? |
Having migrated from Wildblue, this is deja vu all over again. From a profit standpoint, Spirnt could care less if anyone leaves. I believe they have studied their stats and see that less than 1% of their users go over the 5 GB cap with any regularity and would rather keep their speeds up to serve the silent majority of users and avoid expensive infrastructure upgrades rather than cater to a small minority (0.5%) of their customers. Not saying it's fair but from a pure business perspective, it makes sense.
I am guessing that at least half of the users saying they will go back to dialup will not. Since the penalty for overusage is being throttled back to speeds that are still above dialup, why would one switch? For those saying they are leaving, where are you going? Even Alltel will eventually invoke a CAP so if there are other acsual user providers without a heavy user TOS clause, I haven't heard of any.
I live in a rural area and recently a new startup WISP became available. They have several plans, from Casual User to Heavy User. They control upload/download speeds based on how much of the bandwidth you pay for. I can get 250dn/125up for 40.00, 500/250 for 50.00, 1.0G/500 for 70.00 or 1.5/750 for 80.00. There is no CAP to speak of, although there is a TOS clause addressing abuse of the service and the likely results of that abuse, from throttling down to termination of accounts. A multi-tier system seems fairer to me and addresses the casual user (large majority) and the business user and everything inbetween. |
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MichiganTim EVDO Heavy User
Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Posts: 107
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Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 10:32 am Post subject: |
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Yeah you are probably right peter, But on the other hand changing a contract from unlimted to limited, is a pretty big change. And that just might be enough to piss someone of even if they don't use it alot. Changing the contract like that is just wrong. i thought it was wrong when verizon was doing, comcast, and now sprint. I was proud that sprint turned there heads when the others were doing it, i figuredd that they were not going to do it since everyone else was doing it. To be diffrent and to scoop up market share. Sprint just gave the shaft to there loyal customers. Now I think we should all band togeather and give sprint the shaft.
If they don't have customers, they will not generate revenue, and there s no point to have evdo towers/wimax. SPRINT YOU ARE WRONG! LIEING,CHEATING BxTARDS _________________ Vista64,EX720 |
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waynefoutz EVDO Junkie
Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 189
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Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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| MichiganTim wrote: | Yeah you are probably right peter, But on the other hand changing a contract from unlimted to limited, is a pretty big change. And that just might be enough to piss someone of even if they don't use it alot. Changing the contract like that is just wrong. i thought it was wrong when verizon was doing, comcast, and now sprint. I was proud that sprint turned there heads when the others were doing it, i figuredd that they were not going to do it since everyone else was doing it. To be diffrent and to scoop up market share. Sprint just gave the shaft to there loyal customers. Now I think we should all band togeather and give sprint the shaft.
If they don't have customers, they will not generate revenue, and there s no point to have evdo towers/wimax. SPRINT YOU ARE WRONG! LIEING,CHEATING BxTARDS |
I agree, Ive lived with these limits before, over at ATandT . Over there I was told anything other than static web pages and email was against their TOS. My question is, then why all the speed upgrades? Why call it broadband? I mean is it that much of a convenience to have your stupid google search results display in one second as opposed to 3-5 seconds on a 2g connection? I've seen this pattern before. Over at AT&T the 5 gig cap was imposed a few weeks before the rollout of the iPhone. Sprint is advertising their "unlimted everything" plans with SprintTV. I guess handheld phones are their cash cow. |
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MichiganTim EVDO Heavy User
Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Posts: 107
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 5:30 am Post subject: |
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Seems to me that the BroadBand customers have payed for the technology and infrastructure to roll out there sprint tv. If sprint can give users to stream tv over there cell phones. It seems to me that the Broadband users should have the same right with out a Bandwidth Cap. Sprint very nice of you to give the Shaft to your broadband customers in favor of Sprint TV. Kinda funny how the cap is in place right before they are luanching there new Sprint TV. I hope sprint Falls flate on there face and files Bankruptcy! Kinda funny I was actually entertaining the thought of buying stock in sprint because of there Wimax. _________________ Vista64,EX720 |
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Kane3162 EVDO User
Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 64
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: |
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* 10-25GB
* primary
* fixed location
* Cable/DSL or other 'mainstream' internet access is NOT available
* min 1/max 8
* games/news/pictures/streaming video from family in Iraq
* 16hours
* KR1 |
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ShinLupinSan EVDO User
Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Posts: 29
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Well I don't exactly have a choice. I used 32GB last month. My connection is used for online gaming, and downloading content through Xbox Live, I-tunes, etc....so all it will take is a few nights of gaming, a couple of new game trailers, demos, XBL Arcade games on the Marketplace, and a few tv show downloads (which I can only get online since cable is unavailable in my area) and I'll be in violation of the 5GB limit...even though it will all be legally downloaded content! It's really nice to know that Sprint suddenly doesn't value me as a consumer anymore.... |
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Droford EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 20
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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 6:31 am Post subject: |
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* My last 3 months have averaged about 8 GB according to the data available on their website when viewing previous bills
* Primary and only
* Fixed 99.9% of the time. Ive had it 10 months and aside from taking my laptop to NY last week I havent used the EVDO anywhere else other than home
* No other broadband available, its this or 19.2 kbps dialup
* I run ICS on a 2 computers and a laptop plus my Wii is hooked up.
* Mostly message boards, news, some youtube and some wii gaming/downloading
* I leave it on 24/7 but I probably only use it like 5 or 6 hours
* The 595u doesnt work with a router |
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Fox McCloud EVDO Junkie
Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Posts: 605
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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I'm yet another "not yet"; I won't cancel, as this is the only thing I have, therefore, I'll stick it out until I get terminated....
Either way:
| Quote: | 1. your estimate of average monthly data usage
2. whether EVDO is your primary or secondary internet connection.
3. whether you use EVDO from a fixed location, or while traveling
4. Whether or not Cable/DSL or other 'mainstream' internet access is availabe to you
5. how many people typically use the connection at any one time.
6. what kinds of activities you routinely use the connection for.
7. how many hours a day you think your connection is 'active'.
8. whether or not you use an EVDO router with your device. |
1. My average usage is around 8-12GB per month, though, there's been a couple of times (mainly after reformatting my computer and downloading massive amounts of updates) that I've hit 20GB in a month...overall, though, 8-12GB is my average.
2. EVDO is my primary and only Internet connection.
3. I used EVDO at a fixed location; once in a while I'll take it with me when I travel into town or to Columbus, but 99% of the time, it's at the same, exact location.
4. Sadly, not cable or DSL is in my area; this is one reason I got EVDO; the bandwidth and latency were way better than satellite, and the price was better...plus, it didn't have any caps like satellite did.
5. At most, 2, but 90% of the time, I'd say only 1.
6. I surf, e-mail, use message boards, and watch YouTube and online videos, use IM, and browse for pictures mostly, and I do a little online gaming on the side.
7. how many hours a day? Hard to say; I have a number of PCs hooked up to the net, and a gaming console, and all download updates at various times...that said, most of my Internet usage is after 7PM, and often I will use it past 12AM (midnight).
8. Yes, I use an the Sprint commissioned Linksys WRT54G3G-ST router for sharing my EVDO with 3 computers, one gaming console, and (on very rare occasions) 1 handheld gaming device.
Overall, I'm very disappointed with this cap; I realize why they're instituting it (as I heard some people were running 24/7 servers with them), but why should the rest be punished because of these people? Running servers is already against the current TOS; couldn't these people just be found and terminated?
If the cap must remain, I'd highly recommend putting in a "exception clause" for people who use EVDO because cable or DSL are not available at the location; I know a great number of people who use EVDO for this exclusive purpose. Proof that cable or DSL isn't in this area could be proved by using the customer's address and (if he has one) landline phone number; if the customer does not have a landline phone number, a neighbor's could be used who is in the vicinity (who also does not have access to DSL or cable).
So yeah, I'm very VERY disappointed with you, Sprint; I once praised you for being different, breaking the mold, and being innovative, but now, with this policy, you've taken a huge step in the wrong direction--you've decided to become more like your competitors...now, you have no competitive edge over Verizon, Alltel, or AT&T, except for coverage.
I will most definitely not be canceling my contract, but 5GB is very easy to break, and it's likely that I'll be terminated within a couple of months of this being institute, and I'll probably be back to using, sadly, dial-up. |
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Kane3162 EVDO User
Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 64
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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i honestly cannot believe this hasn't received more post's/votes... and OP can you modify the poll to include "Not At the Moment" or something to that effect...
and i know what you mean... i live out in southern san antonio with no DSL/Broadband...
huge mistake... Sprint... HUGE |
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RVTraveler EVDO Newbie
Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Across the US
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Are you going to cancel Sprint EVDO because of 5GB cap? |
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Definitely canceling. Will decide between Verizon for better national coverage, or Alltel for no limits.
I am a fulltime RVer traveling around the country.
My average usage is 3-5 gig per month. However, I may be in roaming areas for weeks at a time, and I would quickly exhaust the new 300 mb per month roaming limit. I do not want to have to worry and monitor all the time.
EVDO is my primary internet connection.
I use it while traveling. My retirement lifestyle is continuous travel.
The only other internet access available to me is that some campgrounds have WiFi. It is often slow, intermittent and frustrating.
Only one person uses the connection.
Uses: Web surfing, email, business and bill pay, some internet streaming radio, internet data backup using Mozy (a competitor to Carbonite.com)
Connection is active 12-16 hours a day. Actively used 3-6 hours a day.
No router is used. |
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manganos EVDO User
Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Dinwiddie, VA
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Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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| I already called and cancelled. I don't know how many gig I used but I'm not going to even worry about giving sprint another chance. |
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tech721 EVDO User
Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 30
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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| i use over 55 gigs using phone as modem romaing evdo and 1x i download everyday and pretty much i wont be affected about the cap so im good lol |
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yonnie EVDO Fledgling
Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 14
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:28 am Post subject: ditto |
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You posters honestly believe you won't be affected? Who was that Nazi propaganda minister that was quoted for saying if you tell a lie often enough it will be believed as truth? Well that is what the 1% user is, it's a lie. If they are using old data bases, then it could be slightly true, because the old air-cards at 12kbs couldn't download crap if you left them on all year, and that's still what many users have. But that's not true with the evdo revA, which under good conditions can do 3mbs.
At 165mb limit per day (so you won't go over the 5gb/mo) have any of you really thought about how insignificant that is? A typical software patch will eat that in minutes, you'll have to turn off automatic updates and put up with security alerts and put your computer security at risk.
This also means you won't be able to share engineering plans, download schematics or update machines you may have to service, which is usually the point for having an evdo modem in the first place. And the reason you flew 3,000 miles to fix.
If your into movies, sorry pal, hope you can ration at one per mo., cause one movie is going to eat your monthly cap. (1 dvd is 4.7gb)
for the little old ladies sharing photos of the grandkids, well that's a lot of photos, big family? That's about all the 5gb cap is good for, small photos and emails. Business use, for rural soho, forget it! LOL
To stay under the 5gb cap means you will have to consciously work at it. You're going to have to write down everything you do and add it up....which is nuts! Most apps don't even give you this data easily, and many users wouldn't even know where to look to find it.
No, this 5gb cap is totally about money! They do this crap all the time, always changing the rates and the times they charge you for your minutes and whatever else they can nickel/dime us for. Right now they're colluding with each other so they can slam us for overages and make a fortune off us. Oh you don't believe me? Well who wanted to believe about Enron back in '01? When people were yelling about them manipulating the energy market, but government kept saying they weren't? $4/gal of gas? Who would have believed that a year ago? Of course not, they're our friends, they're here to help us! You got that right, they're here solely to help our money out of our pockets and into theirs and congress too. After that goes on for awhile, then the government might step in and tell them they're naughty boys and slap them with a minor fine and ask for their cut. It's just racketeering, get used to it. After all, has Exxon paid for the Valdez yet? Oh, what's that got to do with the phone bill and the 5gb cap? It's what congress and our government will do about the problem, NOTHING! |
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waynefoutz EVDO Junkie
Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 189
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:03 am Post subject: going to take a wait and see approach |
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I'm a trucker, constantly moving. Sprint is the 3rd carrier I've been with, the 5 gig cap follows me wherever I go. Starting July 13th, I'll start limiting my internet usage, because I can't afford to be without it. I'm pretty optimistic that this is a soft cap like AT&T imposed, with little enforcement. I'll keep an eye on the forums, I figure around September or mid October we'll start seeing how Sprint is dealing with the rulebreakers. At most, I'm using 20 gigs a month, because I'm a hulu.com junkie (streaming tv shows.) I just purchased a program called Replay Media Catcher, which snags streaming video off of websites like hulu.com and saves the flv files to your hard drive. I'll just log on to a hotspot once a week and save about 10 hours of hulu videos to my hard drive, until we see if this is going to blow over or not.
When I was at AT&T, they imposed a 5 gig cap, we got the same song and dance, and wildly varying statements from AT&T costumer service reps, and in the end, we learned there was little or no enforcement. I really think and hope that's what's going on here. We'll see. In the meantime, I'll keep it toned down, because If I leave, I need it to be on my own terms. I only get home to get my mail once a month, and I can't afford an interruption of services. Otherwise, I'd happily be the canary in the coal mine. But as it stands I'll let someone else be the guinea pig. If I log on in late September and I see posts saying "Sprint cancelled my account," then I know it's time to order either an alltel or an AT&T broadband card, so it's waiting for me when I get home, and set up about 20 bittorrent seeds so I can get my cancellation notice too. |
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Peterfield EVDO User
Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 91
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:28 am Post subject: |
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There's no great conspiracy. Equating this to $4 gas is funny. Truth is we are now paying for generations of no new refineries or drilling in the US due to environmental lobbying. Now we are getting what we asked for, being totally dependent on exports for oil and gas. The difference now is other countries are developing and compete for oil, hence new supply and demand scenarios. With EVDO, the reason only a few have posted here about it is because the vast majority will never see 5 GB per month of use. The company's view of normal use is 180 degrees opposite of the super users running servers, downloading movies, streaming 24/7, etc. The difference is they own the company so their view of "normal" will prevail. If a very small percentage of users take up "abnormal" bandwidth, in their view, it makes total economic sense to throttle that use and make room for their "normal" users, thereby saving themselves extensive upgrade costs to keep up with demand. Pure supply and demand economics, which is how successful companies run their businesses.
Last edited by Peterfield on Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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