Sprint has announced that none of its customers with tablets, USB connection cards, or mobile hotspots will have unlimited 4G access anymore. Instead, the 3G and 4G data use will be combined and capped, with extra charges for overages. The restriction does not currently extend to mobile phones that are not used for tethering, and goes into effect next month.
Sprint has been beating its chest in ads about its unlimited data services, but that bragging point is quickly crumbling. Last month, a leaked document stated the company would start capping data via mobile phone hotspot at 5GB per month, with overage charges for both new and current customers.
That cap is now official: both new and old customers are getting their plans capped. Tablet, netbook, notebook, USB card, connection card users who used to have a limited amount of 3G data and unlimited 4G data have a combined limit for both kinds, in tiers of 3GB, 5GB, and 10GB. For every additional megabyte customers use after that, they will be charged 5¢. Customers who use their phones as mobile hotspots will have that service capped at 5GB, with the same overage charge.
Sprint notes on the official announcement page that some customers may have already received a notification that their service would change. The company states that for every customer with affected devices, the change will be “effective beginning with your next bill following notification,” sometime in November.
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