What is excluded from an Everything Data Family Plan?

[whovous]

I am contemplating buying a Pre, and trying to calculate the total cost of doing so. Right now, I pay a base of $210/mo for five lines with 2500 minutes under the Fair and Flexible Family Plan. In total I'd guess I give Sprint somewhere between $3000 and $3500 per year, including taxes, occasional new phones, international calls, and unplanned overages.

It looks like the Everything Data Family 3000 plan will cost $169 + $60, or $229 for the same five lines. What else might I expect to pay for? Taxes, replacement phones and international calls are gonna be the same as before, right?

Is there any other way my kids can run up the bill that I have not anticipated? All three text like mofos, and one gets very heavy internet usage out of her Rumor phone as well. These look to be unlimited in the EDFP 3000.

What else should I look out for, other than topping 3000/min month?

[astraith]

I am contemplating buying a Pre, and trying to calculate the total cost of doing so. Right now, I pay a base of $210/mo for five lines with 2500 minutes under the Fair and Flexible Family Plan. In total I'd guess I give Sprint somewhere between $3000 and $3500 per year, including taxes, occasional new phones, international calls, and unplanned overages.

It looks like the Everything Data Family 3000 plan will cost $169 + $60, or $229 for the same five lines. What else might I expect to pay for? Taxes, replacement phones and international calls are gonna be the same as before, right?

Is there any other way my kids can run up the bill that I have not anticipated? All three text like mofos, and one gets very heavy internet usage out of her Rumor phone as well. These look to be unlimited in the EDFP 3000.

What else should I look out for, other than topping 3000/min month?

The Sprint Everything Data is EVERYTHING. Not sure if it costs extra for a Blackberry or not, but I do know that it includes everything -- unlimited data, unlimited text, unlimited gps. Ask Sprint for more information -- thats your best bet -- but it seems pretty solid.

[ImNoPrince]

I have 5 lines on mine . I use about 5g of data a month and the Kid hits the 35,000 text a month mark most months. the others are just casual users.

Since I went with the EDFP I have not had one billing issue and have not been charged for anything but 411 calls from one of my lines that I'm sure he is using instead of just searching on his own. We have been on it for just a bit over a year now and we always something that needed to be adjusted coming from the Nextel plans.

[fr4nk1yn]

Yeah, 411 is a big one.
"Kids" can also sign up for "premium services" or movies channel subscriptions.

Wish I could get a family plan but they'd demolish minutes in a couple weeks ):

[whovous]

Everything means everything? Heck, where is the challenge in that?

Bit serially, thanks for the replies. It looks this will be my new plan,... if I can ever find a Pre.

[lorcha]

I can't think of anything that would be included in your F&F plan that wouldn't be included in Everything Data, but ask a Sprint rep to be sure.

Another thing: Set a reminder to yourself to check your usage before your cycle end date. If you're over, or are going to go over, call Sprint for emergency overage minutes. You'll be glad you did.

[astraith]

Everything means everything? Heck, where is the challenge in that?

Bit serially, thanks for the replies. It looks this will be my new plan,... if I can ever find a Pre.

One thin that wont be in that plan, however, is "Fair and Flexible" minutes. It's 40 cents per minute you go over. So if you're family usually used more then 3000 minutes, then you might want to consider getting the unlimited everything plan (which really is everything -- even minutes).

But that is WAY expensive. WAY expensive. Good luck though!

[whovous]

Yeah, "Simply Everything" is simply, but prohibitively, expensive. Instead of $169 + 60, it looks like $189 + 90, or $70 per month more. That is $840/yr.

We usually top 1500 minutes, but rarely go over 2500 in our F&F Plan. If we pay the big bucks one or two months per year for overage charges, we will still be better off with Everything rather than with Simply Everything. Also, the extra minute charge is $0.40 on the Everything 1500 Plan, but it is $0.25 for the Everything 3000 version. The kids do most of their heavy lifting at night, so I should not top 3K. At $0.25/min, I'd need a full 56 hours of extra prime time usage to make the extra $840/yr in charges worthwhile.

[astraith]

Yeah, "Simply Everything" is simply, but prohibitively, expensive. Instead of $169 + 60, it looks like $189 + 90, or $70 per month more. That is $840/yr.

We usually top 1500 minutes, but rarely go over 2500 in our F&F Plan. If we pay the big bucks one or two months per year for overage charges, we will still be better off with Everything rather than with Simply Everything. Also, the extra minute charge is $0.40 on the Everything 1500 Plan, but it is $0.25 for the Everything 3000 version. The kids do most of their heavy lifting at night, so I should not top 3K. At $0.25/min, I'd need a full 56 hours of extra prime time usage to make the extra $840/yr in charges worthwhile.

Well, good that you guys don't go over 2500! Then the 3000 minutes should be good enough. I just didn't know how many minutes your kids use. I am about to get the 1500 Everything Data plan, but we never use more then 700 minutes -- so yea. :-) Good luck again! And hope you enjoy ur Pre.

[whovous]

Enjoy my Pre? I hope to, but first I gotta find one! I've never tried to buy the hot phone of the moment before, and it looks like it might be a tougher buy than I expected.