Consumers are the winners as wireless plans get cheaper

Sprint Nextel and Verizon are rolling out new, more consumer-friendly calling plans, reflecting the hyper-competitive state of wireless. Starting Monday, Sprint will begin offering a new "share" plan that offers 3,000 voice minutes and a bounty of add-ons for $169.99 a month for two lines. Additional lines cost $19.99 each. In addition to the 50 hours of calling time, subscribers will receive: unlimited messaging and e-mail, unlimited access to the mobile Web, 50 streaming music channels, 25-plus live TV channels, on-demand TV — clips as well as full-length TV shows — and unlimited GPS navigation. For sports fans, there's also unlimited access to NFL Mobile and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile. BlackBerry users also qualify for this plan. Cheaper plans with fewer services start at $69.99 a month. Depending on the plan, lines can be added for as little as $9.99 a month. For a family of three, the $169.99 plan represents a $45 savings off Sprint's prior plans, says Walter Piecyk, a telecom analyst at Pali Research. The savings is $60 compared with Verizon and $45 compared with AT&T wireless. The latter don't offer GPS navigation or BlackBerry options, he notes. With prices for gas, food and other necessities rising, Piecyk says Sprint's approach is pitch-perfect.
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