Best Buy Connect: Rebranded Sprint 3G/4G?
Best Buy has leaked plans to sell mobile broadband under the BB umbrella. Best Buy Connect will offer 3G and 4G mobile connectivity in a variety of tiered service plans ranging from 250 MB to 5 GB limits per month. Since the service is said to cover 4G networks, it is a reasonable assumption that Sprint is the network provider for Best Buy Connect. The service will apparently only be offered to customers purchasing a notebook or network with GOBI connectivity integrated. GOBI works on both EVDO and GSM networks so it’s not clear how 4G fits in the picture.
The retailer is claiming that the new service will be available in all but 75 of Best Buy’s retail outlets. There are both contract and contract free levels of service, but strangely the monthly fees appearing in Best Buy internal information is the same whether a contract is signed or not. Sprint 4G service plans generally have no data cap, so it’s not clear why Best Buy customers would be willing to pony up $60/month for a plan with a 5 GB data cap when Sprint’s unlimited costs the same. Best Buy will roll out the Best Buy Connect plans on July 11.
Neither Sprint nor Best Buy were willing to comment on this new service.
Image credit: Engadget
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James, an interesting spin on this article you may not have filed away in your brain… The Seattle Clear/Sprint WiMAX network was originally built out and operated by Speakeasy. Speakeasy was bought by Best Buy.
If the 5GB plan costs less than sprint’s unlimited 4G it may be an option for some. On the other hand, it should not be limited to just hardware with GOBI built-in, since BB also sells USB modems along with the MiFi in stores as well.
Could be an indication that Sprint is dropping unlimited data plans. Stay tuned…
It could be rebranded clearwire service (which is what sprint and comcast are using for 4G service)