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Sprint customers who buy a 40GB monthly shared data plan for $100 a month can now get a free year of Amazon Prime service through a newly created Amazon Better Choice XXL plan.
The mobile phone plan, which also includes unlimited talk and text and is open to new or existing Sprint customers, was announced on May 13. The $100 data fee is in addition to a monthly $20 per line access fee, bringing the cost of 40GB of data on one line to $120, or for four lines to $180, plus taxes and fees. The cost of phones is also additional.
The Amazon Better Choice XXL plan has no overage charges and moves customers to 2G data speeds if they hit their 40GB monthly high-speed data limits, according to Sprint. Customers can also opt for and configure their accounts for automatic data additions at $15 per GB, if desired. The Better Choice XXL plan also includes Sprint Global Roaming, free unlimited international texting from the United States to more than 180 countries and mobile hotspot capabilities.
Amazon’s Prime accounts, which normally are $99 per year if purchased for one year in one transaction, provide customers with free unlimited two-day shipping on millions of Amazon Prime-eligible products, free music and movie streaming, secure photo storage and more benefits.
“The Amazon Better Choice XXL Plan gives customers sharable data to maximize the benefits of Amazon Prime’s full entertainment package,” Roger Sole, chief marketing officer of Sprint, said in a statement. “Combining America’s fastest LTE network with Amazon Prime’s array of quality entertainment, is an amazing benefit for our customers.”
Sprint customers can sign up for the new plans at www.sprint.com/plans, by calling 1-(800)-SPRINT1 or by visiting a Sprint store. Upon signing up for the plan, customers will receive a text message with an activation link to complete their Amazon Prime registration. Customers can use their Prime accounts immediately, according to Sprint. Customers can also access preloaded or downloaded Amazon apps for easy access to Prime content on compatible smartphones.
In March, Sprint began offering monthly Amazon Prime account access at $10.99 a month to its customers through a deal with Amazon, according to an earlier eWEEK story. The Sprint deal included Amazon Prime video and music streaming, two-day Prime package shipping and other Prime services for new and existing Sprint customers. The monthly payment option allows customers to use the service without paying the normal $99 annual membership up front.
It’s not the first time Sprint has offered a year of free Amazon Prime with its mobile offerings. In November 2015, Sprint gave new or existing customers a free year of Amazon Prime when they activated one of Samsung’s then-latest smartphones on the Sprint network and leased or purchased the handset. The offer was good on Samsung Galaxy S6, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ or Samsung Note 5 smartphones. The offer was good through Nov. 30, 2015.
In March, Sprint began offering a 30-day satisfaction guarantee for new customers who want to try Sprint’s mobile services and network without the risk of having to waste a lot of money to switch carriers. If the new customer isn’t satisfied with Sprint’s offerings, the company will refund the cost of the Sprint device and service charges paid by the customer. The new service guarantee was available for a limited time to new or existing customers and eligible small-business customers who activated a new line of service with Sprint.