Is Sprint joining the ranks of AT&T and Verizon in re-defining “unlimited” mobile broadband (data card and phone as modem – PAM) downloads with a 5GB monthly transfer cap? If message threads making the rounds on Sprintusers, Buzzaboutwireless and Howardforums are true, Sprint has issued a memo on the updated policy and this data cap may go into force on July 13, 2008. In addition there may be stepped up enforcement of a 300 MB roaming rule, which is allegedly the maximum amount of data you can use while roaming before risking termination of your plan.

Sprint reserves the right to limit throughput speeds or amount of data transferred and to deny, terminate, modify, or suspend service if usage exceeds 5GB per month in total or 300MB/month while off-network roaming. Check your subscriber agreement rights on Sprint.com

This data cap is not out of line with other carriers, each of who have their own similar limitation. It’s possible the CAP could be rolled out in advance of the QChat introduction. Since QChat is the replacement for the older iDen Direct Connect and requires EVDO Rev A, Sprint may have a vested interested in cleaning up their network throughput. It will be interesting to observe what impact a data cap has on the widely anticipated WIMAX rollout.

Link: SprintUsers – Sprint is NOW LIMITING DATA USAGE – 5GB just like the rest..