Android phones soon to be allowed on SERO?

[dot_null]

If this is true, it will be a very interesting development. Rumor is that come October 1st, any SERO plan can have any of the exclusive phones by adding the $10 Premium Data buy-up.

Originally, this rumor started on SprintUsers, but has made its way over to HoFo. PhoneNews posted a news story that cited the speculation in the HoFo thread that I originally didn't put much weight in, but more and more users are posting that CS reps are confirming, to some extent, that this development is true.

If this turns out to be true, I'll go cancel my new line, eat the ETF and go back to my out of contract SERO line.

[Kelita]

All expletives in the world won't be enough for me if this is true!!!!!!!!!!!

[dot_null]

Originally Posted by Kelita

All expletives in the world won't be enough for me if this is true!!!!!!!!!!!

I know!

I still have my doubts about this actually happening though. Sprint CS reps aren't exactly best known for their consistent accuracy.

[Kelita]

Yeah but if the BB could be on there with the $10 buy up, why not android? OMG I'm going to kick myself if this actually happens but I'm sure I could buy someone's old SERO plan, just like I sold mine. I wonder if all the other stuff would be included too though? Like the free navigation, sprint TV, free mobile-to-mobile, etc???

[Xpimp]

I know you guys would be happy if this is true, but from a business perspective Sprint would be foolish to allow this. Especially since they just posted their best quarter in over 3 years. SERO accounts are not beneficial to them at all. That's just my opinion as a whole

[dot_null]

I'm actually starting to believe this rumor. Russ McGuire, VP of strategy for Sprint, posted this on his blog a couple of days ago:

source

Russ Says:
July 28th, 2010 at 2:33 pm

Elliot,

I’ve heard that existing SERO customers will be able to upgrade to a premium plan that will allow upgrading to iconic devices. I haven’t heard the same for F&F, so doubt that one’s true. More info should be coming at sprint.com/everythingplus soon.

Note - this will only be for existing SERO customers.

Russ

[Matt314159]

how much for this "upgrade to a premium plan" ...wouldn't that be hilarious if they were like, "Ta-Da!!!!" and your upgrade option was the existing EPRP plan?

See, I had heard on ppcgeeks, other reps debunking this and saying the only reason certain reps thought this was true was because they didn't read their papers thoroughly enough. THey said that there's another sero, something abut separated employee referral offer, I think it was called? Basically a plan they change you to over when you quite/get fired from sprint...and THAT's the one that will be opened up in october.

Wish I could find the thread now, but it looks like maybe they'll throw us a bone of some kind? I'd pay like $10 more to get an android device, but not much more, I'm honestly perfectly happy with my touch pro 2

To Xpimp's concern, I've heard arguments on the other side of the fence. That now, the SERO-ites are so few in number, and considering that you can't get the plan anymore, AND, that most of the people who were going to switch to a different sprint plan to get the latest and greatest device have already probably done so by now, that they might finally be willing to play ball...plenty of SERO people have the mindset of "**** it, if I cant get a new phone on my SERO plan, when this one breaks, I'm switching to T-MObile, or Virgin, or whatever, because now I have no reason to stick with sprint"...sprint might be concerned with keeping these members happy just to keep their subscriber numbers up...they'd rather keep making $30 a month from them than make $0 per month from them.

[dot_null]

It's looking good, Russ just responded in the affirmative to this happening. So, looks like it'll either be $40 or $50 total. It might be a $10 "iconic device" fee plus the $10 EVO tax.

Either way, if this comes to fruition, I'll cancel my current EVO line in a heartbeat and activate it on the old SERO plan. I'll just look at the ETF as an "out of contract upgrade" fee.

Originally Posted by blog comment

# mdb Says:
August 1st, 2010 at 3:54 pm

Hi Russ,

Thank you for being so gracious to answer all of our questions. Your responses have been very helpful to us all, and there is some debate as to exactly what the conversation between you and user Elliott on July 28th means for SERO users.

Specifically, does the opportunity for SERO users to switch plans on October 1 provide SERO users the opportunity to upgrade to a plan that would;
Cost $10 more ($40/month for users of the $30 F&F SERO 500 users)
Include Any Mobile Anytime
Include Text Messaging
Include Navigation
Allow the addition of iconic devices (including the HTC EVO and Epic) for the $10 “iconic device” usage fee.

Whether you’re able to divulge this information, I am not sure, but it will save internet posters and your call centers time and trouble through speculation.

I appreciate your time and trouble, and would definitely enjoy hearing any specific information you can provide.

Thank you.
# Russ Says:
August 1st, 2010 at 7:01 pm

@mdb, I just passed along your question and the answer back was “yes on all counts”. (I think there’s another $10 charge for the EVO on top of the premium charge, but I could be wrong.) Good news?

[Matt314159]

dang, dude, that will make the evo mighty tempting, though I still probably would be hard pressed to shake together the money to buy an evo off-contract. I'll only be 1 year into my latest renewal

[dot_null]

Hopefully they'll come down in price sometime soon. The crappy thing is that I'll be paying the full price of the EVO before it's over with, one way or another.

Then again, the SERO line will still be out of contract (has been for over a year now) and I'll still have an upgrade credit intact. That's some consolation, I suppose.