The Flaw in Sprint's Wireless Data Scheme;Insanely complex pricing could hobble its Vision network, an otherwise fine pr

[Dukedog]

The Flaw in Sprint's Wireless Data Scheme;
Insanely complex pricing could hobble its Vision network, an otherwise fine product, especially when used with the new Treo 300 handset

BYLINE: Stephen H. Wildstrom

BODY:
Wireless data networks in the U.S. are finally getting serious. With the recent rollout of the Sprint PCS Vision service and AT&T Wireless Mobile Internet, every national carrier except Nextel (where such an upgrade is in the works) now offers some sort of always-on wireless data service at speeds comparable to a wired modem, at least in the more densely populated parts of their service areas.
Sprint, which began pushing wireless data long before it had a network really suitable for the task, is making a heavy commitment to Vision. Using a technology called CDMA 1X, also used by Verizon Wireless on its Express Network announced earlier this year, Sprint offers data speeds around 50 kilobits per second, fast enough for good e-mail and satisfactory for Web browsing. Unfortunately, complex and potentially very expensive pricing may discourage subscribers.



Sprint's network can be accessed in a variety of ways, including phones used as wireless modems or a via a PC Card that fits in a slot on a laptop. But perhaps the most intriguing use of the new service is with the Treo 300 from Handspring. Except for a silver color and the Sprint brand, the color-display 300 is virtually identical to the Treo 270 that I reviewed using the T-Mobile USA network (see BW, 8/26/02, "Wireless E-Mail: A Work-in-Progress").
EARLIER SLOWPOKES. The Vision network, however, makes a big difference. The Treo 270 (and the monochrome 180 model) works on GSM networks such as those operated by T-Mobile (formerly VoiceStream Wireless) and Cingular. Although GSM carriers are now offering a data service called GPRS with speeds roughly comparable to Sprint's, software that will allow the Treos to use the new GPRS network isn't ready yet.

To exchange data, the GSM Treos must actually make a voice call. The voice network limits data transmissions to a pokey 9.6 kilobits per second, compared to 64 kilobits for GPRS. The real difference is in the need to set up a call every time the device needs to fetch or send data.

The new Treo 300 ($499 with activation; combined voice and data plans starting at $44.99 a month) establishes a network connection and maintains it. This allows information, such as new mail messages or calendar changes, to be "pushed" to a wireless handheld as soon as the data arrives at the server. The GSM Treos get data when they call the network at prescheduled intervals.

RELIABLE CONNECTIONS. More significant, I've fairly frequently experienced occasions when a GSM Treo was unable to connect to the network to exchange mail. As long as you stay within the Sprint PCS Vision system's 1X data-coverage area, connections seem far more reliable on the 300.

Sprint supplies the Treo 300 with its Business Connection e-mail software. The service, Sprint's version of software from SEVEN (www.seven.com), costs $5 per months for the personal edition after a three-month free trial. Business Connection runs a small program on your desktop computer that securely forwards mail from your Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Domino account to the Treo.

Mail, as well as your up-to-date contact list and calendar, is also available from any PC at a private Web site. In addition, Sprint offers a version of Business Connection that runs on a corporate server and doesn't require that your desktop machine be up and running to forward mail.

WHERE IT GETS WEIRD. Business Connection is very similar to Handspring's $99-a-year Treo Mail service, and if you prefer, you can run Treo Mail on the 300 instead of Business Connection. I have a slight preference for Teo Mail, mainly because I find it a bit easier to use. But both do a very good job of delivering your corporate e-mail wirelessly.

In addition to the mail-service fee for whichever version you pick, you'll have to pay for data. Here Sprint makes things a little weird with insanely complex pricing plans and per-megabyte data charges that bounce around without any seeming reason.

Combined voice and data plans range from $44.95 a month (for 500 anytime voice minutes, 4,000 night and weekend minutes, and 2 megabytes of data) to $119.99 (for 2,000 anytime minutes and 20 MB of data). In the cheaper plan, an introductory offer that's supposed to run through October, the data service essentially comes free compared to a voice-only plan, while in the $120 package, data costs $2 a megabyte.

In either case, you'd better watch your data usage carefully because each megabyte over your monthly allotment will cost a staggering $20.48.

SCREAMING SUBSCRIBERS? By contrast, T-Mobile's pricing for GPRS data service is a model of clarity. The basic plans are an add-on to monthly voice service ranging from $19.99 for 5 megabytes to $59.99 for 20. Each additional megabyte is $5 for the cheapest plan and $4 for the others.

The Treo 300 and the Sprint PCS Vision network are potentially big steps forward in mobile data. Unfortunately, the pricing -- which is made worse since you have no easy way to keep track of your data usage on the Treo -- is likely to scare off subscribers or send unhappy customers screaming to Sprint offices when they get their first bills. It's a good device and a promising network. It deserves more sensible pricing.

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

I dont think the pricing is that complicated.

vision plans come with three things. Anytime minutes. N&W minutes. and DATA in MB

regular phone plans come with 2mb data. you can add 6 more MB for $10 or 18 more MB for $30

PDA phones come with a recommended plan which includes 8mb data.

aircards come with data only plans that are clearly listed by price for an X amount of MB or an unlimited for $99.

what is so insanely complex about that?

all you need to understand is a simple concept.....voice calls will be deducted from your voice minutes, and any kind of data transfer will come out of your MB. in fact the pricing brochures give some helpful tables that tell you what 2MB will get you...and 8mb and 20mb.....so a user can gauge his/her needs by that. it is quite easy.

[ILUVSOCAL]

Is Vision really selling though? I see lots of hype, but few people running out to get it.

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

slowly but surely. as well the content of Vision is lacking right now the features are being added weekly. the phones are selling like hotcakes however and IMO once the phones are out people will start using the data features more and more. i'd call it a rolling launch.

[ILUVSOCAL]

I think the price will have to come down before people start using it, or any 3G network, in large amounts. Look at Europe, they have spent all that money on 3G, and are having to scale their plans way back, people just aren't using it, and can't justify the extra cost. I think it is the future, but we aren't there yet [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

well in europe what happened is a bit different. they all spent all their money on the spectrum to launch wcdma..........they havent even built the physical network of 3g there yet. what made them broke was just the auctions for the airwaves that and nothing more. and now they are all scaling back plans for wcdma until the kinks get worked out in it. the governments REQUIRED that the carriers use WCDMA in the spectrum, not cdma2000; in order to protect european companies that developed wcdma to circumvent qualcomm. quite a not so intricated dance eh

the only country that has a 'working' version of wcdma is NTT doCoMo in japan and they are a mess over there............so far the only succesful 3g networks are in korea and japan, both of which are cdma2000 based. KDDI in korea is already at the 384kbs + speeds and is wildly succesful......

sprints vision has bugs that need to be ironed out......and people are right when they say it has a ways to go; however the problems are not bad compared to NTT doCoMo's issus so far. as well sprint, KDDI, verizon, and the other cdma2000 carriers comparitively have spent very little money in upgrading to cdma20001x.....using existing spectrum and the physical upgrade itself was not a complete overhaul like the other migration paths are.

[IdiOTeQnoLogY]

here is an article from yahoo in which the guy calls the pricing of vision plans for his aircard confusing.

here


now after you read it i dont get it. he says the plans are confusing...then he lists the three data plans for aircards; one for 20mb one for 70mb and one unlimited data. now how the hell is that confusing. and this moron is writing a review for yahoo? what do they pay these people and are they hiring?

i mean if you are buying an aircard and installing it on your laptop you should be bright enough that 3 different usage plans are not that hard to comprehend.......especially considering one of them is $99 for unlimited usage. i dunno. maybe it is harder than i thought.

[Airb330]

I don't see how it is hard to understand either, it is the basically the same deal as T-Mobile. But, yet he says TM's pricing plan is easy to understand....they are basically the same! What a simpleton!