Just moments after T-Mobile announced the revival of unlimited data plans with its T-Mobile One offering, Sprint fired back by unveiling an unlimited data plan of its own.
The offerings of both companies will provide subscribers with unlimited calls, text messages and data. However, the unlimited data included in the offerings come with certain limitations.
For T-Mobile One, all video playback will be reduced to 480p resolution, which can be bypassed to stream high-definition video by an additional fee of $25 per month. Users will also be throttled once they exceed a monthly data allocation of 26 GB, which is a lot of data considering that T-Mobile is not counting video and music streaming against user data caps under its Binge On and Music Freedom features.
In comparison, for Sprint Unlimited Freedom, video playback carries the same 480p resolution limitation, along with reducing music streams to a workable 500 kbps and a slow 2 Mbps for gaming. Sprint, however, does not seem to be offering an option to bypass the reduced quality of streams unlike T-Mobile.
For tethering purposes, T-Mobile One is only offering tethering at 2G speeds, which could be useful to make a quick check on the email inbox but not really usable for most internet functions, and to get 5 GB of LTE data for tethering, users will have to pay an extra $15 per month. Sprint Unlimited Freedom, on the other hand, is offering 5 GB of LTE tethering for free along with the plan, with the speed throttled to 2G after using up that allocation.
T-Mobile One's price starts at $70 for the first line, an additional $50 for the second line and $20 every line beyond that for up to eight lines. Sprint Unlimited Freedom comes at a cheaper starting price of $60 for the first line, an additional $40 for the second line and $30 for every line beyond that for up to five lines. Sprint's offering is cheaper for one to three lines, with the price of the two unlimited data plans equal for four users and then T-Mobile's offering gaining the advantage beginning with five users.
In general, it would seem that Sprint Unlimited Freedom is a better deal compared with T-Mobile One. However, that would only hold for users who can get a stable Sprint service for where they live and work, as the carrier struggles in locations with less dense populations.
T-Mobile One will be available starting Sept. 6, when the Uncarrier will be phasing out certain Simple Choice plans with the apparent goal of T-Mobile One eventually becoming its only wireless postpaid plan.
Sprint Unlimited Freedom, however, will be available on Aug. 19, with Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure stating that it is also the carrier's plan to eventually have Sprint Unlimited Freedom as its only offering. The company will not end its cheaper plans right away though, as the transition will be gradual.
Sprint has the most unused spectrum among all carriers, which will allow it to more easily accommodate the increased usage that would come from new subscribers signing up for unlimited data plans.
"You have to play your assets to your advantage," said Claure. "Our number one asset is our spectrum."
