Treo 700p Price Wars: Verizon vs. Sprint
Posted by Yardena Arar | Tuesday, May 16, 2006 4:52 PM PT
Last night,
Sprint announced its
pricing plans for the
Treo 700p, the first Palm OS-based Treo with support for fast EvDO data networks; this afternoon,
Verizon Wireless countered with its plans for the new cell phone-PDA hybrid. Bottom line: Verizon appears to be offering a slightly better deal on the handset--if you're willing to make a two-year commitment--but the service plans are close.
Verizon says it will sell the 700p "within the next few weeks" for $400 with the purchase of any voice/data plan. Sprint (which says the 700p will be in its stores by the end of the month) is asking $550 with the purchase of a one-year plan, $500 if you commit to a two-year contract.
Sprint will sweeten the deal for those who sign up for two years with a $100 service credit, but you only get the credit when you activate the phone, and you still have to pony up the $500 up front. However Verizon does not appear to offer a one-year option; its voice-data bundles require a two-year commitment.
Verizon's cheapest voice and data plan cost $80 a month for 450 minutes of voice calls (with unlimited calls to other Verizon Wireless phones) and unlimited data. Alternatively, you can forgo voice call service and pay $45 a month to use the Treo 700p for unlimited data only.
To use the 700p as a wireless modem (connected to a PC by either USB cable or Bluetooth), you must add an additional $15 a month if you've got a voice and data plan, $30 a month if you only have the $45 data-only plan. Those fees would bring your monthly tab to $95 for voice, data, and wireless modem services on Verizon Wireless, or $75 if you don't want any voice service
Sprint can beat Verizon on monthly charges if you get Sprint's cheapest voice plan ($30 a month for 200 minutes of talk time), its cheapest Power Vision pack ($15 for unlimited data and a little bit of TV service) and the current promotional offer of unlimited Phone-as-Modem service for $40 a month. That comes to $85 a month.
But remember, the Sprint plan only gives you 200 minutes of talk time, compared to 450 minutes on Verizon Wireless. Like I said, it's close.
In other Treo 700p news, we got our review unit today and PC World Editor in Chief Harry McCracken is checking it out even as I type! Look for more on the device in the next couple of days.
According to what I read, the $40 phone as modem option for Sprint includes unlimited data for the phone. So, the total with Sprint would be $70 instead of $85.
The phone-as-modem plan only includes 40MB of data per month, according to their in-store brochures.
Their intro offer gives you unlimted for the $40. I'm not sure how long it will last.
The $40 unlimited is until May 21 but Sprint will likely extend it. It will be $50/month after that. Verizon is $60/month to tether.
Sprint's big advantage is $15/month for in-phone data while Verizon is $45 for in-phone data.
Then consider that Sprint has EVDO in far more markets than Verizon.
Sprint marketing indicates they are in more markets, Verizon marketing indicates they have more coverage. It is a close call.
i have t mobil, interested in treo... i have plan 3000 minutes with text and get emails on blackberry can you beat that?
What's the plan cost for teh 3000 minutes and data plan for the Blackberry?
What's the plan cost for the 3000 minutes and data plan for the Blackberry?
I am confused with all these numbers so can someone just say which is the best plan for coverage for internet as a wireless modem. the phone coverage doesnt matter to me.
Hi - I'm a newbie on this issue so I still have some questions that might seem elementary. I currently have a Treo 650; my carrier is TMobile and my contract is up. I pay $30 for 300 minutes (i use at most 150 minutes a month)and $20 for unlimited internet.
I really want to upgrade to the Treo 700p and the sprint plan would seem to be the best cost-wise. $30 for 200 minutes and $15 for unlimited access. My questions are:
1. Are my assumptions about cost correct?
2. Does the Sprint $15 plan give me the same capabilities as my $20 Tmobile plan; and
3. Aside from using my phone as modem (which I have little use for) what does this Sprint feature give me (faster surfing speed/more content etc.
I just want to know opinions that if I trade in my Tmobilie plan for the Sprint plan will I be getting the same as before as well as saving $5 ($45 v $50.)
Don't hurry to buy the 700p if you want to use it as a modem. Just spent the last 4 hours back and forth with Sprint Tech who are unaware of the "use as a modem" with the 700p. They do not have the software available and nobody I talked to knows when it will be available. "Keep checking the site" was their worthless advice. I'd like to take the phone back as at least I could use my old phone as a modem although only at slow speeds!
yeeah sprint has more evdo connections. however for where i live in the NY metro area Sprint phone service has not been as reliable as it is for my Verizon. win something lose something