Samsung Instinct

I don't think you can blame marketing for this. Also, I don't think you can blame Sprint for moving in the direction of having a all-you-can-eat plan(s). Sprint under Dan Hesse decided that streamlining their plans and services would significantly minimize complexity of operations within the company and thereby improve customer service. Bad customer service has been the reason so many customers have been defecting to other carriers, and while improved customer service has yet to be seen, it does make logical sense that fewer but better plans and phones would simplify operations and inevitably improve customer service. Draw an example with Chipotle (tex-mex restaurant) - smaller menu which is pricier than Taco Bell but better ingredients and better service - and still as fast in service as Taco Bell.

A couple of things here. First, no, you can not, nor could you beforeget PowerVison for $15.00 a month, that would just be Vision, there is a difference. Also, the SE plans have all that the other data plans had COMBINED. If you were to get a PDA/Smartphone from ANY CARRIER, you would pay for the features of that phone. The SE plan puts it all together into one plan at a LOWER price.

Myself, I currently have Verizon, and I pay $59.99 a month, for 450 minutes on the equivilant of the Talk/Message plan (which is $49.99 on Sprint), for just $10.00 more than what I pay now, I could be on a faster network, with GPS/Navigation, TV (over 50 channels), Music (150 stations),internet and email. I am seriously considering terminating my contract.

How is Sprint dumb for making everything in one package for a fraction of the price? If you were to get the phone on a different network and have to pay for each thing seperately at an inflated price, would that make you happy? This is just common sense.

None of the Power Vision plans had every feature of the SE plan (not talking about the anytime minutes, obviously that is what your voice plan would have been). Do a little research before you state that as fact. Also, asI mentioned all PDA/Smartphones require data. I don't care what carrier you are on this is true. If you didn't get data with the phone, what would be the point of purchasing it? So you can look like you can do cool things, but you can't? As far as nickle and diming you, I would say this is the complete opposite. You are getting more for less. Charging you for each individual feature would be nickle and diming you.

Just simple math, I used to have a 35.00 plan + 20.00 power vision + 15 texting wich gave me 70 per month, so I switched to the 69.99 and I am even saving a penny monthly. So there is no harm in changing plans.

ok, so you're obviously on an older plan. Yes, its a phone but if you don't plan on using the features it has then why would you even buy it? And Sprint isn't the only carrier that requires you to have a data plan when you buy a PDA/Smartphone. Everyone requires a data plan wheter it be Sprint, Verizon or ATT and Sprints plans just so happen to be the cheapest. That was the same thing that people would say when the iPhone came out but it makes sense. If you aren't gonna use its features than its obviously not the phone for you and you shouldn't complain. And honestly, people aren't gonna leave Sprint just because they have to change their plan. If they do, they would also see after going to other carriers that Sprint offers the cheapest data plan options with 99.99 for EVERYTHING. No other carrier offers everything unlimited at that price.

I am not talking about a discounted price you got for being a loyal customer, an employee discount or whatever else. If you are comparing prices at the retail price, yes SE is better priced for more.

As far as the shared plans go, I have helped plenty of customers save money by switching to the Talk/Message/Data share plan. Yes, there will be a minority that will have to change from a much cheaper plan, that they have been on for several years, but if they were to switch to any other PDA/Smartphone, they would have to do the same thing, and if they went to another carrier, they would be paying more. The majority of people changing from a family plan, have been VERY pleased with the new plans, at least those that I have helped.