Can One Get Two Years Of Sprint Free Service

A little over a yr ago, Sprint unveiled something pretty radical: I full twelvemonth of free unlimited service when you bring your ain phone.

It was, of course, intended to be a express-time offer. But guess what? Information technology'due south still bachelor. Update: As of April four, 2019, this offer is no longer available.

This is not to exist confused with Sprint's other recent headline-making programme -- unlimited service for $15 per calendar month -- which was discontinued back in June. It was available for anyone, non just folks switching from some other carrier.

Simply let'southward talk most that gratuitous program, because surely there must be some strings, catches, hooks, gotchas and whatnot.

Not actually. The plan remains startlingly generous: You can keep your current telephone (provided information technology's uniform, natch -- pregnant it needs to be unlocked and support Sprint's CDMA bands) and your current phone number.

In fact, the latter is a key requirement: You can't fix a new line of service; you must port a number from AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon. (If your phone doesn't currently have active service elsewhere, yous may be able to piece of work effectually that. See below.) Tin can you port in from a smaller carrier? If it's not a Sprint MVNO (similar, say, Boost Mobile), the answer is: Probably. I'm on Cricket Wireless (an AT&T MVNO), and when I plugged in my IMEI number, Dart said I was eligible.

Now playing: Spotter this: Dart's free unlimited information offer has some limits

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How complimentary is free?

So what's actually included in this free program, and what will it really cost? The plan affords one total yr of Sprint Unlimited, which nets you unlimited calls, texts and 4G LTE data, including DVD video streaming. The offer previously covered 1080p video streaming, but that appears to accept gone away now that Dart'south $threescore per month Unlimited Basic plan sticks to the lower resolution. But dissimilar Unlimited Basic or Dart's more than expensive plans, this complimentary programme won't include a subscription to Hulu either.

The costless plan no longer includes the Mobile Hotspot feature, which is disappointing since the original free year included 10GB of that feature. Sprint's Unlimited Bones plan includes but 500MB of that by comparison.

As for costs, you'll pay $2.99 for a SIM card and $x for overnight shipping. Yous'll also have to pay that $30 activation fee, merely you'll get information technology back after two months. Beyond that, Sprint charges a "standard $1.99 admin fee and $0.twoscore regulatory fee," and "other taxes and fees apply" as well.

In other words, plan on spending around $three to $4 per month to proceed this "free" line active.

After your outset year, you'll exist moved to the Unlimited Basic plan at regular rates: $60 per month, with cost breaks per line if yous take additional ones. (For instance, $40 for the second line, $20 for the third through fifth lines.)

How to get the Dart deal if y'all don't take an existing number

As noted to a higher place, this offer is proficient only if you're porting in an active number from another (non-Sprint) carrier. But what if you have a phone that doesn't currently accept service (and, therefore, a number)?

There may be a workaround. When I was trying to take advantage of a similar deal from Virgin Mobile (a Sprint MVNO), I was able to port in a Google Vox number. Here's how yous may be able to do likewise:

Footstep i: If yous don't already have i, get a Google Vocalisation number. It's free.

Step 2: Unlock the number and then it tin can exist ported to Virgin Mobile. You lot can practice this past visiting world wide web.google.com/vocalism/unlock and following the steps at that place. There'due south a $3 unlocking fee. Once y'all receive the confirmation message, accept a screenshot. You probably won't need it, only it'southward a good thing to have simply in case.

Step 3: Call Sprint (866-782-8777) and enquire to sign up for the free Unlimited plan. (Alas, you still can't sign up online, as the Google Vocalisation number isn't technically registered to your phone'southward IMEI number.) When the representative asks for your phone number and carrier, say it's Google Voice.

Again, I can't promise this will piece of work, but it did for Virgin Mobile. (Share your success or failure stories in the comments.)

Originally published on June xiii, 2017.
Update, April 23: To reflect that the gratuitous year offer is no longer available.