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Sprint's Any Mobile Anytime plan is a winner - now let's step up the marketing

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Yesterday Sprint Nextel announced a smart new calling plan aimed at stemming the carrier's customer losses. The plan, called Any Mobile, Anytime, offers unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling to any wireless number on any U.S. wireless carrier at any time, and will be added to Sprint's Everything Data plans, which start at $69.99 per month.

For consumers, this is a great deal and it definitely outshines competitive plans such as T-Mobile's MyFaves or Verizon's Friends and Family, which give customers unlimited calling to a handful of pre-determined numbers (both wireless and wireline). This offer also makes it easy for people to switch to Sprint, particularly if they have been reluctant to in the past because their family and friends use another carrier's service and they enjoy the free mobile-to-mobile calling. According to Roger Entner, senior vice president for research and insights in Nielsen's Telecom Practice, the No. 1 reason people decide to stay with a certain operator is because they get locked into family plans. In fact, that is more important than price, Entner says.

The Any Mobile, Anytime, plan makes sense, and consumers should consider switching to Sprint to take advantage of it. But can Sprint communicate that message to consumers? To introduce the plan, the company has brought back CEO Dan Hesse as its pitchman. The ad ran last night for the first time.

The message is straightforward and clear, but I don't think it's enough--particularly when competitors have such recognizable pitchers as Verizon Wireless' Test Man ("Can you hear me now?") or T-Mobile USA's Catherine Zeta-Jones. Perhaps Sprint needs to bring back its former pitchman--remember the Trenchcoat Guy? He was Sprint's pitchman for six years before Sprint merged with Nextel in 2005. Consumers loved the way Trenchcoat Guy solved pesky wireless problems. Perhaps Sprint can entice Trenchcoat Guy to come back. Consumers trusted him once, and maybe they will listen to him again. --Sue

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More stories about Dan Hesse   Any Mobile Anytime   advertising   Sprint  

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Spell check. "Can you hear me now?"

Too little too late for Sprint. Who wants to change to a carrier that has the poorest customer service, the poorest network footprint, is facing lawsuit after lawsuit (putting in doubt their long term viability as an organization) and in general is a poorly run company?

There is a reason (actually many) that they are hemorraging customers so badly, and creative price plans are simply not going to stop the bleeding.

Sell Nextel and become a real wireless carrier again and I might begin to believe. Trench Coat alone isn't going to make that happen.

how does selling Nextel make them a real wireless comapany. I must be missing something, Nextel had the highest ARPU and lowest CHURN of any wireless carrier before they were bent over by Sprint.

Do you live on a farm or out in the boonies somewhere? I've been with Sprint since 2002 and have had nothing, NOTHING but positive interaction with them. Rarely dropped calls, great 3G quality, and this plan simply kicks a lot of ass.

Was the preceding comment posted by a bitter T-Mobile employee?

Do you live on a farm or out in the boonies somewhere? I've been with Sprint since 2002 and have had nothing, NOTHING but positive interaction with them. Rarely dropped calls, great 3G quality, and this plan simply kicks a lot of ass.

Was the preceding comment posted by a bitter T-Mobile employee?

Sprint is already cheaper, and now they are stooping lower. For any company to stay in business that neeed to make a little something called PROFIT. Sprint has always had a hard time with that and it is about to get worse. People leave Sprint because the coverage is ok at best, and they always complain of customer service. When people want a good deal on a plan they go to Sprint. When they want to use their service with no hassle, they go somewhere else. Sprint is headed for the grave yard because they cannot make money selling high end plans and discount rates with pitiful serivce. People have already caught on and are leaving Sprint at record rate.

Sprint is a complete ZOMBIE of a company. The comedy of blunders continues to pour out of Overland Park, KS.

Another quarter, another million Sprint subs bolt for the competition.

The negative comments are obviously posted by people who have something to lose by this- the competition. Been with sprint for four and both the coverage and customer service has been wonderful. The best customer service I have experienced has been with sprint. I switched from at&t their plans, coverage, and customer service were horrible.

It is amazing how many anti-sprint people read articles about sprint. Hahaha! Get a life.

It is amazing how many anti-sprint people read articles about sprint. Hahaha! Get a life.

I switched to Sprint from Verizon in July to get the Palm Pre, and I'm 100% happy. It took me exactly one email to switch from my $90/month plan to the new $70 Any Mobile plan. Excellent savings.

I have been a long time loyal sprint customer...but just recently cancelled because after 4 years of being promised their high speed data...I was still surfing on my Blackberry at 15k What would have been a polite and cordial parting was made worde by rude and inept customer care reps. Great plans or not...It would be hard for me to go back.

I have been a long time loyal sprint customer...but just recently cancelled because after 4 years of being promised their high speed data...I was still surfing on my Blackberry at 15k What would have been a polite and cordial parting was made worde by rude and inept customer care reps. Great plans or not...It would be hard for me to go back.

Sprint just plain sucks at wireless.

Sprint only hires cheap Indian Labor and perpetuates anti-American labor practices.

Sprint you SUCK!!

I have been with spring for over 10years. I a extremely satisfied with the customer service as wellas the service. I am not going anywhere!

As a longtime Sprint employee, I assure you that Sprint has a great footprint, the best rate plans in the biz, and at least a couple of compelling handsets. So why are people leaving? Because Sprint is so badly managed. Look at just this week's news. It includes Sprint's changing the price of the Palm Pre down $100, then changing it back 2 days later claiming "a computer glitch". This wasn't a computer glitch, folks. It is the fact that nobody, and everybody, gets to make decisions at Sprint. Somebody approved it, and then someone overode that decision AFTER it was put in place. This kind of stuff happens every day at Sprint. If they could only get their management act together, maybe. But then I just read that Deutsch Telekom has hired Deutsch Bank to advise them on a takeover in the U.S. Bye Bye Sprint.

So you think Sprint should give you a 5oo hundred dollar phone for 100 hundred??? The next question is where do they get the 400 hundred to subsidize it??? Don't tell me from a portion of the rate you pay for simply everything plan. You guys keep saying Sprint is trying to get customers and generate revenue. From a business stand point - Does this make sense??? Never hear you guys complaining about those other two clean out your wallet companies - AT&T and Verizon. I know why - because they will do whether you like it or not. No loyalty programs with them either. No call any mobile carrier for free either. Why because with 80 and 90 million suscribers it will make a dent in their profit. It doesn't matter who buys Sprint. The other two carriers are almost a third bigger than Sprint. They have deep pockets and all the tricks up their sleaves to get customers. Let's not kid the general public. When the FCC allowed these two to get as big as they are with the blessings of the former Bush administration - this is partly why Sprint is having a tough time too. You can help Sprint by buying a service, Wimax service, a broadband card, a ringtone, an accessory or an upgrade in plan. I hear the same people ranting and raving about the same baloney - year after year!!!!I know you guys want to put the blame solely on Sprint but believe me you - they have been helped by other perpetrators......If Verizon and AT&T is so great - THEN LEAVE....GO TO THEM. LET THEM TAKE ALL YOUR MONEY....

WHO WOULD LEAVE A COMPANY THAT GIVES YOU EVERYTHING AND SAVES YOU MONEY IN YOUR POCKET AND GO TO ANOTHER CARRIER THAT GIVES YOU NOTHING AND CHARGES YOU MORE??? AND A 69 CENT A MINUTE ROAMING RATE. THAT'S JUST PLAIN "CRAZY"!!!

I HAVE BEEN WITH NEXTEL FOR 15 YEARS, WHEN SPRINT BOUGHT THEM THE COVERAGE BECAME HORRIBLE. SINCE THAT TIME THE SERVICE HAS IMPROVED GREATLY. THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE WITH SPRINT IS WITH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I HANDLE MOST OF MY SERVICES ONLINE. WITH THE GOOD COMES THE BAD. THATS LIFE. I WILL TAKE THE SAVINGS WITH A LIL EXTRA EFFORT ON MY PART ANYTIME. AFTER YOU GET THE PLAN TOGETHER YOU SIMPLY PAY THE BILL. THERE IS NO REAL NEED TO TALK TO THEM AT ALL UNLESS YOU CANT PAY YOUR BILL ON TIME.

I have had my business account and family plan with Sprint. I am very satisfied with the company. I get coverage anywhere I go. The any mobile and time plan is great since I have 5 phone with unlimited text and data for my wife and kids. I can now predict how much I will pay monthly since I have unlimited nights and weekends and 1500 anytime minutes. Sprint, you finally out did the competition. Way to go

danm that a good deal for me because im payin less then 50 with everything included

I switched to Sprint because it seemed to me they were running circles around my antiquated T-Mobile service. I had them for six years and just dealt with it. They always said "thank for being with us since 2003" at the end of each call but they didn't seem appreciative to me. I got more from Sprint in six weeks than I did with T-Mobile in six years. Plus I was paying out the ass for a 2G data plan on only ONE line and would have to add it to each line if they wanted it. Now I have unlimited 3G on ALL lines for a simple price. I tried hard to hang in there but they just now got 3G here and I'm not about to pay separate data plans for each line. Sprint sent me three decent phones and I switched with no deposit or hassle. And no, I'm not a Sprint employee, I actually work for "the network" but won't go there.

If you think Sprint is bad...switch to ATT, then you will go ANYWHERE for service, bad or none!!!

Last yr I moved from T mobile to sprint.I can honestly say I'm happy. I haven't had any customer service issue. They take care of me and actually would call back to survey the issue.
T Mobile would always say, " Thank you for being a loyal customer since 2002" but f**k off!!!

I am a former customer of 3 years and employee of one year. As a employee, people would call in yelling because they were being hung up on by bad employees. Then with my discount I get my 1st phone & understood why people were so upset- dropped calls! Not all areas are the same. What is great for you, is a mess in another city.

I am always on the lookout for better cell phone deals, but I don't think that this one is very good. I tend to think that the prepaid unlimited offers are the best even if they don't off the best phones. Data is for computers not cell phones so I think that the overall best off comes from Straight Talk with their unlimited talk, text and 30mb of data for $45 per month. Of course that's anytime and anywhere in America on Verizon's network nationwide; it really is great value for money.

Sprint is getting way better and has hands down the best data on any phone--AT&T and Sprint will be the top 2 in 2010...goodbye Verizon, you are getting too big for your britches, and Tmobile has terrible Data plans...

You clearly work for Sprint, but just so you know Verizon does have loyalty plans.

I came back to Sprint after spending the last 6 years with other carriers. Sprint has vastly improved since, and I like the cheap plans and phone..

Sprint has ...and this is a fact; become the best carrier out of all major carriers. Think about this for a second. The reason why people have terrible interaction with the customer service is because of something the consumer has done. The people on the floor that work with sprint are well trained pros. People have a problem with the call center sustomer service represenatives. It is a fact that the main reason why customer service comes into play is because of the rule that sprint has. Once you go over your minutes they cut your phone off. Silly humans isnt that the way its suppose to be? If you would stop going over your minutes and stop dropping your phone then maybe you wouldnt have to call customer service. With that out of the way...for $70.00 a month you are ensured to never go over your minutes. How many people do you know that have land lines?...i dont know any. And if they do have land lines its so that bill collectors can stop calling what they do pick up the mist in a cell phone. Slowly but surely Land lines will be no more just like they basically are already. so your 450 minutes that you get sit around for you to eat away at slowly for whatever reason you may call a land line. I bet everybody that has blogged on this page doesnt have a landline. Especially the doubters that sprint is a "GRAVE YARD" company. If you want to go even further that that for only a $100 you talk to every body any phone for no extra charges. Which beats out the pricing for att, verizon and tmobile. Sprint is the Now network and the future network and that is coming from somebody that doesnt even have sprint yet!

I've had verizon att and netel (before it was sprint) and now I have sprint and its the best! Great plans phone customer service u name it they take care of it. Att was charging me lots of money for # that were out of serice and I never called them! So if u have att check ur bill no joke! Love sprint and I have converted over 11 friends and fam to them too best advertising is word of mouth and they have me!

I don't understand what all of this talk is about poor customer service and "non american" service reps. I have been with verizon for 6 years, All-Tel about 6 years prior to that and I don't think I have called customer service at all....ever.

Who really cares about customer service reps? What the heck are you people calling all the time for? Everything you ever need is usually on the website.

I am switching to Sprint to save $$$$, thats it. I could give two rips about customer service

If you travel this plan will bite you also. It does not apply to roaming and any where off the superslab you are roaming with sprint. If you live in a big city and never go anywhere this new plan and spint limited service will work great for you.

I have had sprint for the last eight years. As a loyal customer I can get phone upgrades every year not every two. Thats rigth for being with them so long, you don't get that with at&t, I know that. You don't even have to mail in the rebate its automatic. Also, I switched to tmobile for awhile and let me tell you. I went crazy. I have no coverage at all in sebring, fl. They told me oh well, we have no towers and would not let me out of contract, also they charge for paying over the phone, what the hell is that all aboout. I have five lines and pay 189.99 before taxes and my 20% company discount and receive 1500 min. Thats a little under 50.00 a line. Customer service is just fine and the dropped calls over the years have definitely diminished if not ceased all together. I have looked at verizon, t mobile, and at&t and its just too much money and to confusing being nickeled and dimes for every extra feature.Sprint that 189.99 includes everything even gps.

I have had sprint for the last eight years. As a loyal customer I can get phone upgrades every year not every two. Thats rigth for being with them so long, you don't get that with at&t, I know that. You don't even have to mail in the rebate its automatic. Also, I switched to tmobile for awhile and let me tell you. I went crazy. I have no coverage at all in sebring, fl. They told me oh well, we have no towers and would not let me out of contract, also they charge for paying over the phone, what the hell is that all aboout. I have five lines and pay 189.99 before taxes and my 20% company discount and receive 1500 min. Thats a little under 50.00 a line. Customer service is just fine and the dropped calls over the years have definitely diminished if not ceased all together. I have looked at verizon, t mobile, and at&t and its just too much money and to confusing being nickeled and dimes for every extra feature.Sprint that 189.99 includes everything even gps.

I have had sprint for the last eight years. As a loyal customer I can get phone upgrades every year not every two. Thats rigth for being with them so long, you don't get that with at&t, I know that. You don't even have to mail in the rebate its automatic. Also, I switched to tmobile for awhile and let me tell you. I went crazy. I have no coverage at all in sebring, fl. They told me oh well, we have no towers and would not let me out of contract, also they charge for paying over the phone, what the hell is that all aboout. I have five lines and pay 189.99 before taxes and my 20% company discount and receive 1500 min. Thats a little under 50.00 a line. Customer service is just fine and the dropped calls over the years have definitely diminished if not ceased all together. I have looked at verizon, t mobile, and at&t and its just too much money and to confusing being nickeled and dimes for every extra feature.Sprint that 189.99 includes everything even gps.

Sprint "USED" to have poor customer service. I know it takes time for public perception to change, but if you look at third party companies who have recently studied Sprint and spoken to their customers, Sprint's customer service and network performance are now at "best ever" levels. Sprint is clearly the leader in wireless broadband. (yes even better than verizon) Despite the marketing hype you see on T.V. and despite Sprint's previous problems they have turned that ship around. I encourage you to not just take my word on it, but investigate online and speak to insiders who truly know and Sprint had definitly turned a corner and is a leader in several aspects of wireless.

Sprint has most definitely stepped up its game. Three years ago, I almost left them. I am glad I stayed aboard. Their CS has completely blown me away with awesome care. Anyone saying different has most likely spoken from hearsay of the past.

I agree, I switched to sprint because att sent me to a collections agency for 5.00 due to a late fee they should not have added!! Additionally I had an att supervisor mock and laugh at me...I reluctantly went to Sprint and have had nothing but a positive experience with customer service and coverage!

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