Sprint Phone-As-Modem Not Avail. with Voice Plans

thx1138 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 28 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

--INDIANA 9-28-2008
While the Sprint web site currently provides PAM control software for at least 20 late-model phones and PDAs, and many customer have been using their Sprint devices as modems as well as voice phones, there is a new restriction currently in effect on phone-as-modem use.

The previous Sprint $49.99 Unlimited Phone-As-Modem plan is no longer available. In its place, there is a $49.99 Data-Only plan, and a $15 Phone-As-Modem option.

The Data-Only plan provides no allowance for voice minutes or SMS, and usage is billed per minute and per message for those. The $15 Phone-As-Modem option may be added to the $49.99 Data-Only plan, for a total tariff of $64.99 per month, to enable computer access. Note that this is slightly more expensive than the $59.99 tariff for dongle modems and card modems. Whether you use a phone, dongle, or card, there is a 5GB data allowance per month.

NO voice plan of any kind may be combined with the $49.99 data-only plan, and NO phone-as-modem option may be combined with any voice or text plan. If your Sprint device is independently capable of text messaging or phone calls, and if you use those features with the data-only plan, then you will be billed per minute and per message at the non-plan rates. The $64.99 combo is now the only way to provision Phone-As-Modem on the Sprint network.

So, in effect, it is still possible to adapt a phone to use in place of a dongle or card, but there is no longer a good-value option for occcasional data usage via a phone vs. heavy data usage with a dongle or card. And using the phone as a modem now has the disadvantage of rendering the phone rather useless as a phone. Since most people probably want at least one phone to use as a phone, the Sprint phone-as modem option is now only a good value for people who talk or text very very little, or if the device has some alternate useable feature such as a WiFi PDA.

The staff at two different Sprint corporate stores and at *2 helped me to find out the foregoing currently true information which had not yet been fully described in any announcement by Sprint. The staff learned of the new restriction only after repeatedly attempting to configure various models of phones and plans using their management software, in order to find out what was really possible. I posted this information to help other customers avoid wasting a very large amount of time researching options which are in fact not allowed in combination. The only type of phone which we did not experiment with was the Blackberry. It may be worth someone's time to find out if voice and data plans may still be combined on a Sprint Blackberry. All the foregoing information is original research and at this time it is 100% true to my knowledge. It has been a blessing to have Sprint's great technology all these years, and I want to continue the relationship if possible. This posting is not intended to malign the company in any way.

About the author of this post:
I'm a Sprint customer with the company since their service began my town 7 years ago. I've been trying for a week now to identify a new phone to buy which supports phone-as-modem (PAM) like my old phone. I need occasional data access for my computer. I use it mostly to pay bills using the web if I am out-of-town (including my Sprint bill), and to download E-mail into Thunderbird on my computer so it doesn't build up on the server. Unfortunately, it is not possible to rely solely on a phone or PDA for E-mail or web, and I must occasionally have an internet connection for my computer at times when I am away from home. This month so far, I have used less than 1MB of data via Sprint. I have DSL at home, and I don't abuse Sprint's bandwidth. Without PAM, I will have to sign up for various WiFi cards and look for hotspots like everyone else. Without PAM, Sprint loses their advantage to me over other carriers; I may switch to a phone company offering cheaper voice and text services. I wish I could justify the $60 dongle-modem data service, but it's too expensive for occasional use, and too GB limited to actually replace DSL and justify its cost that way. I think it would be great if someone offered a mobile ISP in which the user is billed $20 per 2 GB used. Then ocasional usage would cost $20, while 8 GB would actually cost $80. I don't think there should be an unlimited option for data like there is for voice.

Regards.

liquidspry · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 1:49 am Post subject:

phone as a modem is available when you have a raw voice plan and any of the 30.00 data attachment and the 15 dollar phone as a modem option... this does work since i have done many.

thx1138 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 28 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Yes, that combination did work in the past. As I recall, we found it impossible to attach any of the raw voice plans to any of the 20 recent phone models, except the Sanyo Pro-200 and Pro-700. But with one of these phones and one of the two new talk-only plans they offer, the old $30 data pack option could not be added. Unfortunately, the old plans and data packs don't seem to be available for new subscriptions. But, I would be glad to discover if I am mistaken. Please investigate if you have the time. Thanks.

Jim_in_VA · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

If you have a PDA/Smartphone you have two other options that do not require a Phone As Modem (PAM) plan. http://www.wmwifirouter.com/ and http://walkinghotspot.com/. As long as you have Sprint PowerVision on your voice plan this is a very easy way to get data into any wifi capable device, without purchasing a separate data-only plan. Just be reasonable using them.
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dima · EVDO User Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 98

I've been told by several CSRs as well as the Sprint chat-bot on the website that the $15 PAM option IS available with the SE plans, as well as the $30 data pro pack addon to a voice plan, and the $49.99 data only plan as mentioned in the OP.

I'm thinking of picking up a Treo 800w with either the 450 everything plan for $69.95 or 200 min @29.95 + $30 pro and adding $15 PAM to it. By golly i'd BETTER be able to get this or else i'll either use PDANet or not bother to switch from VZW.

liquidspry · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject:

the 15.00 add on does not work with any SE plan

Maureen · Site Admin Joined: 03 Sep 2008 Posts: 125

Hi all,

A few notes about Sprint's PAM option:

1) If you have the "Simply Everything" plan, you cannot add the PAM feature Sad

2) With that exception, as long as you have a data plan on your phone - such as with the "Everything" plan or with the Power Vision pack added to a voice plan - you can add the tethering plan for $15/month on any compatible phone or PDA

3) The 5G limit DOES apply

4) Using a phone as a modem instead of a dedicated EVDO device like a USB dongle is generally only recommended for people who only want to use the EVDO service occasionally, since it DOES leave you essentially without a phone while you're using it (although people can leave messages, of course). It's a great option for people that want to have a backup internet access option or have internet access for a short trip, though.

5) If you know you're going to want to use your phone as a modem, you should get one of the Rev-A phones. There are only a few available right now, but more should be debuting soon! The Palm Treo 800w and HTC Mogul are both Rev-A and support tethering.