OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint PCS is expected to finally launch its highly anticipated cdma2000 1x-based network services Aug. 8.
Raymond James & Associates Inc. analyst Ric Prentiss said in a report that based on a national retailer’s ad scheduled for August 11 the network service will be called PCS Vision and will emphasize applications that can be both seen and heard. Bolstering the seeing part of the service, Prentiss noted three color screen handsets are featured in the advertisement, including a Sanyo model priced at $180 and two Samsung Corp. models priced at $200 and $300.
The service plans featured in the ad include 500 anytime and 4,500 night and weekend voice minutes plus 2 megabytes of data transmission for $60 per month. Current Sprint PCS Free and Clear customers will get three months of PCS Vision free with a 1-year contract.
With Sprint PCS currently offering 5,000 total minutes for $50 per month the data surcharge appears to be $5 per megabyte, which is in line with data offerings from competing carriers.
