unlimited

Sprint to offer Windows Phone 8 devices with unlimited 4G LTE

Looking for a smartphone with no data caps? Sprint has a couple of new candidates lined up.

The HTC 8XT and Samsung Ativ S Neo, both Windows Phone 8 handsets, will be available sometime this summer through Sprint's self-dubbed Truly Unlimited plan. Offered in select markets, the plan promises unlimited 4G LTE data use with no overage charges. The cost rings in at $79.99 per month for an individual user and 179.98 per month for a three-line family plan.

Sporting a 4.3-inch WVGA display, the HTC 8XT is powered by a 1.4GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon … Read more

Get one year of unlimited Pogoplug cloud storage for $39

Just last month I shared a deal on one year of Bitcasa unlimited cloud storage for $69.

This is less.

Through this weekend, as part of a Cheapskate exclusive deal (woo!), you can get a year of Pogoplug unlimited cloud storage for $39. No file size restrictions, no limits on uploading or downloading, just an endless supply of virtual-hard-drive goodness.

Granted, Bitcasa and Pogoplug are, to a degree, apples and oranges. The former works more like Dropbox on steroids, syncing selected folders and even letting you migrate data off your hard drive and onto your cloud drive.

Pogoplug doesn't … Read more

Sprint CEO: No changes in smartphone pricing expected

Sprint Nextel won't be abandoning its unlimited data plan or current pricing structure any time soon.

The company isn't considering any changes to its current offering, CEO Dan Hesse said during a conference call with investors today.

"We always reserve the right to make changes, but we are not anticipating any," Hesse said.

Over the past few years, Sprint has stuck to the unlimited smartphone data plan even as larger rivals such as AT&T and Verizon Wireless moved to plans with limits and family-style data bundles. Hesse considers the unlimited offering to be Sprint'… Read more

Sony boosts Music Unlimited to 320Kbps

In a bid to compete with rival Spotify, Sony has announced it is increasing the quality of its Unlimited Music streaming catalog to 320Kbps.

Spotify has offered 320Kbps streams since 2009 in "high bit rate" mode, while Sony has reportedly offered only a lower 48Kbps stream until now.

Announced at CES 2013, users will be able to utilize the new "high-quality" option on Windows and Mac OS, Android, Sony Android Walkman, and PlayStation 3.

Sony says its catalog of 18 million songs is in the process of being updated to the higher 320Kbps quality.

"It … Read more

Unlimited Verizon data customers beware: Make sure your next phone is 4G

Some Verizon Wireless subscribers will do almost anything to keep their unlimited data plans. And that includes buying a new device at full price instead of signing a two-year contract and taking a sweet subsidy on that new phone.

But what happens when a Verizon subscriber who bought a 3G iPhone realizes she may still see her unlimited data service slowed? In this edition of Ask Maggie, I explain the finer points of Verizon's unlimited data policy and why 3G device users need to be careful. I also help another reader decide if the Verizon Share Plan could work … Read more

MetroPCS debuts new 4G LTE plans starting at $40

Prepaid carrier MetroPCS is rolling out a new line of wireless plans that it's dubbing "simpler" 4G LTE plans. All three plans offer unlimited data and are available on several of the smartphones MetroPCS offers.

The cheapest plan is $40 per month and includes unlimited data with the first 500MB of data running at 4G LTE speeds. The next unlimited data plan is $50 per month and the first 2.5GB of data runs on 4G LTE. And the final $60 per month plan offers complete unlimited data at 4G LTE speeds. All three plans include unlimited … Read more

Sony chats up future of Music Unlimited, PlayStation Store

LAS VEGAS--Nearly three years after the formation of Sony Network Entertainment, the company still struggles to capture consumer attention with its Music Unlimited media-streaming service, but things look better than ever for the PlayStation Store.

Sony Network Entertainment COO Shawn Layden remains upbeat despite his company living in the shadow of Pandora, Xbox Live, and other competitors. In a conversation with CNET, Layden relayed the primary goals for Sony's entertainment services: bring content to more regions, expand the number of compatible devices, and design a common user interface across device categories.… Read more

Bobsled Calling failed to impress

Bobsled Calling - Unlimited Free Calling is one of many "unlimited free calling" apps that have sprung up, and like so many others that we've tested, it failed to work as promised.

Bobsled first requires access to your Contacts, which is typical for this type of social app. You'll have to create an account to sign in, or you can use your Facebook information. We opted to create an account by entering our e-mail address and a password. We were then told that a confirmation e-mail would be sent to the e-mail address we provided, and … Read more

T-Mobile rips up contract on unlimited data plan

LAS VEGAS--Take that, Sprint.

With T-Mobile USA and Sprint Nextel jockeying for customers with their respective unlimited data plans, T-Mobile today upped the ante by offering its plan without a contract.

For $70 a month, T-Mobile customers can get unlimited data, text messages, and phone calls.

The no-contract option represents T-Mobile's desire to further expand into the prepaid business -- a move that will be accelerated by its pending merger with regional prepaid carrier MetroPCS. The company has been aggressive as it works to re-spark customer growth.

In August, T-Mobile opted to follow Sprint's lead and offer an unlimited data plan without any strings. … Read more

Could Verizon nix unlimited data for everyone?

Verizon Wireless isn't making it easy for loyal, longtime smartphone customers to keep their existing unlimited data plans. And now some subscribers, who are willing to pony up the full price for a new smartphone, worry that Verizon may change its policy again and get rid of the plan for everyone.

Truth be told, few people actually need unlimited data. But for those who do, it's a good deal. In fact, it's such a good deal, these customers worry about losing it. And if you're a Verizon customer who wouldn't worry?

The carrier got rid … Read more