Sprint has begun prorating early termination fees, as of Nov. 2. The new plan reduces the carrier's $200 fee by $10 a month, beginning in the sixth month of the contract. So, if you live out 15 months of the contract, the cost to cancel is down to $100. Sprint calls that an industry-low. I call it $100 too high, but at least it's a start.
The carrier's a year or more behind its competitors in changing the policy, spurred by an ongoing lawsuit in California that so far has not gone as the company's would like, to put it mildly. Verizon Wireless began prorating the fees in November 2006. AT&T Mobility wised up in October 2007, and T-Mobile USA joined them in November of last year.
I've reported on this issue on TreoCentral, and there's official information from Sprint's website here.
