Sprint’s challenge can be a big deal

Sprint is throwing down the gauntlet to all other wireless carriers with a limitedtime promotion for a free year of unlimited service if you switch right now.

Customers who switch from AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon will get unlimited talk, text and data on up to five lines. But you must bring your own handsets and SIM cards.

To get the deal, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops and accept some conditions:

■Autopay is required

■Hotspot data limited to 10 GB a month per line

■Rebate will be applied after two monthly invoices

■Streams video at up to HD 1080p, music at up to 1.5mbps, gaming at up to 8mbps

■MHS, P2P and VPN reduced to 2G speeds after 10GB a month

■You may experience data deprioritization during congestion

To sweeten the pot, Sprint is also waiving the activation fee. The nation’s fourth-largest mobile network operator is making this no-contract deal available through Friday, so act fast!

The savings range from just under $1,000 a year to over $2,100 a year depending on how many lines you’re switching. Visit Sprint.com/en/shop/offers/free-unlimited.html for full details.

If you make the switch, you’ll be eligible for a new Sprint phone after Oct. 1. But if you upgrade before that date, you’ll lose the free service plan. After the one year of free unlimited expires, you’ll pay $60 a month for the first line, $40 a month for the second line and $30 a month for lines three, four and five.

FierceWireless.com reports Sprint won’t be aggressively marketing this campaign — they hope news about it will go online and spread by word of mouth.