Sprint - Charges for USB Connected Notebook?

[Dialemup]

My Sprint plan includes unlimited "Vision". Do they charge me minutes or bandwidth
for using my notebook connected to a n400 with the USB cable? Or, is this considdered Vision as well?

Thanks

Curtis

[Ramon]

I'm a bit concerned about this myself...I just switched from an older WW plan and my billing period began 11/19. I have only made three short voice calls and the rest of the time has been spent using Vision either through the handset or using Connection Manager with USB cable. To date the SprintPCS webpage shows that I have used 80 of my allotted 300 minutes. I haven't called Customer Service yet but something is obviously amiss here. Even if they don't like my using a laptop to connect, I would think that I would be billed for data transmission rather than minutes spent connected. This should be interesting...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

[Dialemup]

I looked up on the Sprint Vision pages and they do not mention the usb option. They do have laptop connection options starting at $40 for 20mb. The note on these plans says "These plans are for customers who purchase PSC Connection Cards". This implies that they are talking about adding an Aircard to your notebook. Plugging into the phone is something else because the aircard option would allow you to use the phone and notebook at the same time.

The exact description of "Vision" says "Use the web to get access to the information that's important to you - exactly when and how you want it". http://www.pcsvision.com/web.html

Sprint list the pc connection kit with the available accessories and nowhere mentions that it is an option or additional cost to the user.

[Ramon]

That still doesn't really address the issue as to why they would be charging any type of unlimited vision use against the allotment of minutes. I'm in Mexico right now so don't want to call *2 until I cross over to the US. I have a sneaking suspicion that since I was a previous Wireless Web customer (the use of which went against the monthly minutes), something might have gone wrong in converting my account over to the new Vison plan.

[Dialemup]

The question starting the thread concerned Sprints charges for notebooks connected to Sprint phones. The plan details and phone accessory list give the buyer the impression that this would be part of the free unlimited vision that is included with some plans. Any specific knowledge of this policy would be helpful.

The problem mentioned above appears to be a Sprint customer service glitch.

[Soaknfused]

I have a few answers for everyone here, something is wrong with the automated billing system sprint uses. If I log on to Sprintpcs.com and check my minutes, or check them from my phone I show that I have used almost all my plan minutes up already (not possible) also, it now shows that I have unlimited anytime minutes, I figure they must have implemented this short term untill they can fix the other problem. As for the data connection, I purchased a data connection kit at my local sprint store a little over a month ago, I have used it tons... never been billed for anything else. I spoke to the customer service people when I first got it, they told me that it was all part of the vision service, the ability to connect to a computer was one of the features, and also unlimited, I bet I have used it for 20 hours in the last month (or more) and wasn't billed a dime over what I was supposed to be.. hope this answers some of your questions.

[Dialemup]

Bonus if they errored in your favor and gave unlimited anytime!

Thanks for the good news on the notebook/unlimited vision question. The online view of my plan is messed up too - showing unlimited nights and weekends that are not in the deal.

[mrq]

Here's the real answer to your question.. you just got lucky if you didn't get minutes charged if you used vision for your laptop or pc. Sure its unlimited vision only if you use it on your phone.. no minutes wasted. But if you use your vision to connect to internet via PC or laptop with connection cable. You will get unlimited vision (same as if you were using in your phone) but to get connection on your PC or laptop, the connection software need to use your phone to get dial tone and dial it up(which uses your minutes now) but vision is still unlimited.

[n400ToTheMax]

Here's the real answer to your question.. you just got lucky if you didn't get minutes charged if you used vision for your laptop or pc. Sure its unlimited vision only if you use it on your phone.. no minutes wasted. But if you use your vision to connect to internet via PC or laptop with connection cable. You will get unlimited vision (same as if you were using in your phone) but to get connection on your PC or laptop, the connection software need to use your phone to get dial tone and dial it up(which uses your minutes now) but vision is still unlimited.

This is not true. I have not had any minutes or charges for using Vision Service thru the USB Data Cable to my N400. I have close ties to Sprint, since I work for a company that sells them these wireless equipment. I have asked many of my friends/contacts there about this, and they all say that the USB Data cable is unlimited data usage and does not use your minutes (it is billed by data packet use -- which is unlimited). They also tell me that this will not last forever, it's mainly a "experiemental" sales plan that : 1) allows people to see how much data they use per month 2) allows Sprint to determine how much to bill people per megabyte later 3) Sprint has lots of bandwidth now because Sprint loss many customers (okay.. I added this last one).

If you check www.a500hacking.com, you will find many Sprint Representatives answer these questions.

[Biff]

Unlimited Vision applies means unlimited download. You are still charged for connection time within your normal plan. IE. if you connect during your anytime minutes, then you will be charged for those minutes, but not the data transfer. If you connect on your unlimited time, nights and weekends for example, then there is no charge for either.

Read your agreement however. Technically your are not allowed to use your data transfer when connected to a PC or a PDA, doing so can get you kicked off of the PCS service. If that will happen or not is another thing, but the fact is that when you signed up for the agreement it was in your terms of use. The following is from the terms and conditions of the unlimited Vision offer (check their site):

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.

[n400ToTheMax]

Unlimited Vision applies means unlimited download. You are still charged for connection time within your normal plan. IE. if you connect during your anytime minutes, then you will be charged for those minutes, but not the data transfer. If you connect on your unlimited time, nights and weekends for example, then there is no charge for either.

If you are implying that using Vision under the Unlimited Vision Plan during your anytime minutes subtracts your anytime minutes, you are incorrect. Without getting technical, Anything data (that means vision) is billed by packet data -- unlike voice which is charged by time. You are charged for how much data you download/upload. That means that if you leave your wireless webbrowser running all day and don't surf around, you will not be charged anything. Of course, I think the wireless web browser might send some packets every now and then (timeouts or something). VISION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR MINUTES. This is unlike the old 2g wireless web which did charge by the minute. Vision is NOT 2g.

This is taken from SPRINT PCS WEBSITE:

How am I charged for voice and PCS VisionSMservices?

Unlike voice calls, which are charged by the minute, data usage is charged by the size of the file sent or received on your Vision-capable PCS Phone. If you have a PCS Free & Clear Plan with unlimited PCS Vision, your usage of PCS Vision is unlimited and you will not be charged any data fees. If you do not have unlimited PCS Vision, you will be charged for PCS Vision service on a per-kilobyte (KB) basis any time you transmit or receive information using your Vision-capable PCS Phone


What are usage fees/charges?

If your current PCS Service Plan does not include unlimited PCS Vision, usage fees--or charges--are per-kilobyte (KB) data fees that you incur any time you transmit or receive information using your Vision-capable PCS Phone.


I'm not sure how much data I will use with my Vision-capable PCS Phone. How do I determine the best choice for me?

Your best value is to get a PCS Service Plan with unlimited PCS Vision.


What happens if I lose my signal while I am downloading an item? Am I still charged for it?

If you do not have a PCS Service Plan with unlimited PCS Vision, you will be charged for all data that you transmit from or receive by your Vision-capable PCS Phone, regardless of whether the download was interrupted or otherwise unsuccessful. The best way to avoid this in the future is to sign up for a PCS Service Plan that includes unlimited PCS Vision.


Do I have to have a data plan to use PCS Vision?

No. With a Vision-capable PCS Phone, you can still use PCS Vision applications, even if you do not have a plan that includes PCS Vision. You will be charged a per-kilobyte rate for such usage. Depending on your activity, there may be additional premium services charges, such as a fee for downloading games and ringers.

[Dialemup]

All of the current plan offerings have an option to add unlimited vision for $5/month. It's included with the 2000 minute plans and up.