Sprint "Open World" plan (replaces International Value Roaming)

[lilotimz]

From the reddits...

 

 

Starting this coming Friday, August 7th... Sprint will be introducing the Open World plan. As a $0/month add-on, the Open World plan gives customers FREE unlimited talk/text and 1GB of FREE high speed data while traveling in Canada, Mexico and the following Latin American countries:

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Chile
• Columbia
• Costa Rica
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Panama
• Paraguay
• ... and more to come soon.

This plan also includes unlimited FREE calling to Canada and Mexico FROM the US. For the Latin American countries listed, rates range from 5 to 20 cents per minute.

Curious about overages for data while in Canada, Mexico or the listed Latin American countries? For additional high speed data beyond the free 1GB, each additional GB is $30, billed at $0.00002861/KB.

How about if you're in places other than Canada, Mexico or the listed Latin American countries? The same data rate applies of $30/GB for high speed data, texting is free and calls are 20 cents per minute.

Also, as of this coming Friday the current International Value Roaming add-on will be renamed to Sprint Global Roaming.

For more info, starting Friday you can go to sprint.com/openworld[1] (not up yet as of this post)

[WiWavelength]

No Bolivia!  Where is Bolivia?  Marcelo demands Bolivia!  Club Bolívar!

 

 

AJ

[techfranz]

From the reddits...

Free?? Really? Wonder if they limit you to major cities or how they can afford to do this...?

 

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

[nexgencpu]

From the reddits...

This is AWESOME!!!! 

[techfranz]

Yes, it is a pleasant surprise.

No more worries about incurring all kinds of charges.

T-Mobile appears to have be doing likewise since 2014.Free International roaming data is throttled to 128kbs. T-Mobile has a high speed add-on.

See article below:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2113440/on-the-road-with-tmobiles-free-international-roaming.html

 

It would be nice if Sprint wouldn't throttle the data....

 

Still don't understand, but maybe the agreement is reciprocal, like Telecel can roam in the USA for free or something.

 

Maybe they hope the average person doesn't use it.

 

Anyway, great move Sprint!

 

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

Edited August 6, 2015 by techfranz

[Yuhfhrh]

I'm confused, will "Sprint Global Roaming" (formally "International Value Roaming") stack with the "Open World Plan"?

[EvanA]

I'm confused, will "Sprint Global Roaming" (formally "International Value Roaming") stack with the "Open World Plan"?

I would be very surprised if it doesn't.  Open world is just another $0 add-on with high speed data instead of throttled in certain countries.

[Yuhfhrh]

I would be very surprised if it doesn't.  Open world is just another $0 add-on with high speed data instead of throttled in certain countries.

 

Why not include everything in one add on then, instead of creating possible confusion? I don't see why they've separated these into two separate options. They could have just thrown in a gig of high speed data for the supported countries without making new add ons.

[Vince]

This is cool. My brother is getting married in the Dominican Republic in April. Although the resort has wifi, a little bit of data will be nice if we venture out.

 

Also, if I'm reading this right, is this similar to t-mobile's North American roaming thing? We can call/text Canada/Mexico, and use our phones with unlimited talk/text and 1gb while in Canada/Mexico?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone 6

[shaferz]

Why not include everything in one add on then, instead of creating possible confusion? I don't see why they've separated these into two separate options. They could have just thrown in a gig of high speed data for the supported countries without making new add ons.

 

Completely agree.  Its not hard to confuse me - but color me confused here.  A single add-on would have made sense.  Unless there is something else that I'm missing?

[techfranz]

Yes, it is a pleasant surprise.

No more worries about incurring all kinds of charges.

T-Mobile appears to have be doing likewise since 2014.Free International roaming data is throttled to 128kbs. T-Mobile has a high speed add-on.

See article below:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2113440/on-the-road-with-tmobiles-free-international-roaming.html

 

It would be nice if Sprint wouldn't throttle the data....

 

Still don't understand, but maybe the agreement is reciprocal, like Telecel can roam in the USA for free or something.

 

Maybe they hope the average person doesn't use it.

 

Anyway, great move Sprint!

 

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

By Telecel I meant Tigo...

[banananuts87]

So if I enroll in Open World, they charge me $30 for another GB, instead of throttling me? No more unlimited 2G? I'll stick with International Value Roaming.

 

No Bueno

Edited August 6, 2015 by banananuts87

[clbowens]

From the reddits...

This sounds awesome.  I will be adding it just b/c it's free!

 

But, if they can give a 1GB international roaming allowance, they should have the same 1GB allowance on domestic roaming, instead of this 300MB.

[Ascertion]

So if I enroll in Open World, they charge me $30 for another GB, instead of throttling me? No more unlimited 2G? I'll stick with International Value Roaming.

 

No Bueno

+1 for me, too.  They should auto throttle once you hit the limit.  $30/GB overages is extreme.

[DanielB]

Still no Bermuda or VI. Mer.

[grapkoski]

Still no Bermuda or VI. Mer.

 

Or large chunks of the Caribbean. It wouldn't surprise me if Digicel/'Insert Random Island' Carrier is trying to get extra sweet rates much like the dying monopoly in the Bahamas.

[S4GRU]

+1 for me, too. They should auto throttle once you hit the limit. $30/GB overages is extreme.

But it illustrates the cost per GB for them. To Sprint, whether you use an additional 1GB throttled or 1GB at full speed, they pay the host the same amount. If they are charging you instead of throttling you, they are saying the cost is too prohibitive for them to allow you to use more than a gigabyte. So you need to pay it if you want it.

 

I'd prefer it be throttled too. But this is not just an artificial cap they put on that they decided arbitrarily. This all has to do with finances.

 

Also, $30 per GB is way cheaper than roaming data was per GB just a year ago. $9,000/GB was extreme. This is reasonable. Just more than you may want to pay.

 

Using Nexus 6 on Tapatalk

[payturr]

Also, $30 per GB is way cheaper than roaming data was per GB just a year ago. $9,000/GB was extreme. This is reasonable. Just more than you may want to pay.

 

I agree with Robert, $30/GB is a fair deal, especially if the country you're visiting has native LTE coverage. Besides, when you're on vacation you're namely focusing on vacationing, not so much playing on your phone. 1GB full speed for one week abroad sounds like a sweet deal for the occasional glancing at my phone!

[nexgencpu]

Sprint device on Claro Dominican republic, looking forward to this...

 

[GoBigRed79]

I agree with Robert, $30/GB is a fair deal, especially if the country you're visiting has native LTE coverage. Besides, when you're on vacation you're namely focusing on vacationing, not so much playing on your phone. 1GB full speed for one week abroad sounds like a sweet deal for the occasional glancing at my phone!

 

And considering some resorts/hotels charge upwards of $15-$20 a day for Wi-Fi access, this is really not a bad deal at all.  And like you when on vacation I am not on my phone much anyway.  Just nice to have to be able to text, check email, and use google maps when needed.

[greenbastard]

This sounds awesome. I will be adding it just b/c it's free!

 

But, if they can give a 1GB international roaming allowance, they should have the same 1GB allowance on domestic roaming, instead of this 300MB.

Because International stays aren't meant to be used for long term stays.

 

Domestic roaming would be ridiculous at 1 GB since people live/commute/travel to areas with no native Sprint service every day. The roaming costs would add up faster for someone uploading a photo everyday on Verizon than it would for someone who uploads it 3-4 times out of the year on Movistar/Rogers.

[Ascertion]

The more I think about it, the more I think I'm in agreement of it.  I like the free calling/texting in Mexico/Canada (and other Latin countries.)  Does anyone know what LTE/WCDMA/CDMA bands our phones connect to in Canada/Mexico?

[greenbastard]

So if I enroll in Open World, they charge me $30 for another GB, instead of throttling me? No more unlimited 2G? I'll stick with International Value Roaming.

 

No Bueno

Well, Open World gives you free calling, while IVR (or whatever they will call it now) doesn't.

 

Also, It doesn't seem like they are going to charge you another GB automatically, just per KB. So 0.1 GB of overage usage would equal to roughly a $3 dollar charge

 

The rate is insanely low for international roaming. If this plan is true, Sprint has outdone itself again. I cant imagine offering this was easy since Sprint was CDMA carrier looking for roaming deals in a GSM world. Good job Marcello!

Edited August 6, 2015 by greenbastard

[Terrell352]

The more I think about it, the more I think I'm in agreement of it.  I like the free calling/texting in Mexico/Canada (and other Latin countries.)  Does anyone know what LTE/WCDMA/CDMA bands our phones connect to in Canada/Mexico?

I know band 4 and 2 are present in both countries.

[Ascertion]

I know band 4 and 2 are present in both countries.

So only the RRPP/CCA capable devices will be able to connect to LTE in these countries.  Hmm.