Sprint Confirms Unlimited Data Plans Starting at $69.99

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With Apple’s launch of the iPhone 4S, rumors surfaced that Sprint will get an exclusive iPhone 5. But while that turned out to be false, Sprint users will be happy to learn that the company has confirmed unlimited data plans for smartphones.

With the popularity of smartphones, carriers have begin to restructure their data pricing schemes. Carriers are switching from unlimited plans to tiered pricing schemes or bucket pricing. Thus, AT&T and Verizon are now putting a bandwidth cap on their data plans, letting users pay extra for any excess usage.

Here’s where Sprint shines. The company has offered unlimited data plans, but they were reportedly planning to axe the unlimited pricing schemes in favor of tiered pricing. In an interview with AllThingsD, though, a Sprint spokesperson confirms that Sprint will retain unlimited plans for data.

We will be offering the benefit of our unlimited plans that start at just $69.99.

The Sprint rep says they’re confident that the network can handle the traffic, even with unlimited data.

We have every confidence in the ability of our 3G network to handle the influx of devices we expect to get. It certainly hasn’t been an issue to date.

Unlimited plans will include unlimited data, plus 450 minutes of voice calls. This also includes unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling (within the Sprint network). Users who want unlimited calls to other networks as well will have to shell out $99.99 per month.

This will include a $10 surcharge for smartphones, though, which means unlimited data is actually priced at $79.99, while unlimited data and voice calls will be $109.99. The earlier rumors of a $80 unlimited data plan are true, although the “iPhone 5″ part is not.

Will unlimited pricing be Sprint’s competitive advantage over other carriers like Verizon and AT&T?