Travel Technology - Trade Sprint mobile broadband card for phone?

I have a Sprint Pantech mobile broadband card for my laptop. Works great. However, I'm wondering if I might be better served by moving from this plan (unlimited usage for $60/month) to a smart phone that I can tether to my laptop for internet access. When I need it for my laptop I can tether. If I just need it for quicky web searches I can just use the phone.

I'm a little less than one year into my two-year contract. If this is possible, how likely is Sprint going to let me do this (meaning, are they going to consider this like I'm breaking my contract)?

Thanks.

(I wasn't sure what to search on so apologize if this has been discussed)

I'd just call them and say you want to move to a voice plan that includes Power Vision (don't mention tethering!!!!!).

If you are one year into it, you should be eligable for an equipment discount, but they'll probably stick another 2 years onto your contract.

In the end, you might be cheaper off ending the contract, selling your broadband card and getting a new contract (the Sprint SERO deal would be the best option). Depending on how much you plan to talk, you could be up and running for as little as $30 a month, including data and unlimited messages.

You'll of course still need a phone...

Or just wait a few weeks.

Rumor has it that Sprint is going to modify the "unlimited" contract on data cards in the near future and make it 5 GB/month (as Verizon and AT&T have done). *Assuming* that they make that change to your existing contract, you will be able to cancel the contract without penalty. You might have to fight for it, but the contract language gives you the right to cancel if Sprint changes the contract in a way that's adverse to you.

Check out Howard Forums and see if the rumor is still active & see if there is a date noted....

Happened yesterday according to this:
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/19/sprint-falls-in-line-caps-unlimited-data-at-5gb/

Or just wait a few weeks.

Rumor has it that Sprint is going to modify the "unlimited" contract on data cards in the near future and make it 5 GB/month (as Verizon and AT&T have done). *Assuming* that they make that change to your existing contract, you will be able to cancel the contract without penalty. You might have to fight for it, but the contract language gives you the right to cancel if Sprint changes the contract in a way that's adverse to you.

Check out Howard Forums and see if the rumor is still active & see if there is a date noted....

Happened yesterday according to this:
http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/05/19/sprint-falls-in-line-caps-unlimited-data-at-5gb/

That isn't what the article says:

Sprint "reserves the right to limit throughput speeds or amount of data transferred and to deny, terminate, modify, or suspend service" if that soft cap is violated (or you exceed 300MB of data while roaming) once their Terms of Service are modified on July 13. TOS modifications are famously ripe opportunities for escaping out of contracts, so if this leaves a bad taste in your mouth, feel free to try to get out in a couple months -- not to say there's hardly any carrier out there that's friendlier to heavy data users at this point.

I'm going to watch this with interest. I stopped by a Sprint store yesterday to check prices. $40 voice plan +$15 unlimited browsing is just a $5 savings over my wireless card. But the flexibility is why I'm considering the change.

Any of the Sprint phones better for what I'm trying to do? (I like the Samsung BlackJack/Ace...but the MOTO Q is darn cheap right now)

Avoid the Q. It is a piece of trash like none other.

The main limitation of tethering versus a dedicated card is that you cannot both talk and tether at the same time. For me that was a deal-breaker when I used to work while on the road. The chances that I could get work done without also needing to be available on the phone were pretty low.