In another example of a wireless telecom experimenting beyond the standard payment models in the category, Sprint on Friday introduced a contract-less, data-less plan for $45 a month.
Called Sprint Prepaid, the plan works with a Sprint Spark-enabled Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini ($349 without a contract), a 4G-capable Samsung Galaxy S3 ($299) and a 3G Moto G ($99).
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Another option is a pre-owned iPhone 4S ($199). Voice calling and texting are unlimited on the plan, but there is no cellular data plan. Instead, the phones can only get data access via Wi-Fi. A plan called Smart Plus offers 2.5 GB data a month, after which speeds are throttled. As GigaOm points out, the plan appears to put restrictions on video use on 4G and may use 3G for such media.
The introduction comes as Sprint resellers are already undercutting the new plan. On Thursday, Republic Wireless, which resells Sprint's cellular service as part of a Wi-Fi/cellular hybrid plan starting at $25 a month, announced it was also offering the Moto G for $149. Scratch, meanwhile, is offering plans that start at $15 for 250 minutes of voice calls via Sprint's network or 250MB of data. Sprint's own prepaid sub-brands Virgin Mobile and Boost Wireless also offer unlimited cellular-based data plans starting at $35 and $50, respectively.