Sprint wants to get in on the prepaid wireless action -- more than it already is. On Friday, the company announced a new prepaid plan, including some lower prices, and some other cool new features.

As we previously predicted in late 2013, this is the year for prepaid wireless and unlocked devices, and just after AT&T's acquisition of Leap Wireless was approved, Sprint has announced Sprint Prepaid, a new brand of contract-free wireless that it's adding to Virgin Mobile USA and Boost Mobile -- two other prepaid brands in the Sprint family.

"Our goal is to respond to customers' shifting demands by featuring a variety of wireless plans that meet different needs," said Jeff Hallock, Sprint chief marketing officer in the announcement. "This new Sprint Prepaid offer allows us to play more competitively in the monthly prepaid space. Prepaid plans are a viable solution for many consumers, and we're now making these available to people who have an affinity for the Sprint brand, are looking for savings, and desire no-contract options without compromise."

Basically, Sprint Prepaid is for those who aren't familiar with Virgin or Boost, but know the Sprint name and want a plan with no credit checks or contracts. The new prepaid option will be available at Sprint's brick and mortar stores, as well as online.

Plans

Sprint is offering two basic plans under Sprint Prepaid. One, called "Smart," has unlimited talk and text, but no cellular data (you can still use WiFi connections) for $45 and the other, "Smart Plus," offers unlimited text, talk, and data for a month for $60.

There are caveats, of course; never trust the word "unlimited" from businesses that depend on scarcity. The "unlimited data" on the Smart Plus plan is limited to 2.5GB of high-speed data, after which it slows down to 3G speeds, and the company says video streaming at any time "may be limited to 3G speeds" as well.

Features

The plans are better priced than Sprint's "As You Go" plans from last year, which according to CNET, required $70 for unlimited text, talk, and 3G data and a basic plan that cost $5 more than the current one.

But the most important improvement that comes with Sprint Prepaid is 4G LTE network access, including (if you get the right smartphone) Sprint's next-generation, faster Spark LTE.

The phones Sprint is offering for Sprint Prepaid include the (3G only) Moto G, the 4G-capable Samsung Galaxy S3, and the Spark-enabled Samsung Galaxy S4 mini. Pre-owned iPhone 4S's are available too, but it's only available for the Smart Plus plan. Basic prepaid plans for feature phones are coming next month. 

The prepaid plans can be reloaded online or in Sprint stores with cash or credit card, and Sprint is throwing in a basic financial banking service, much like T-Mobile recently did. "Sprint Money Express" allows users to send money, load checks, and pay bills, which comes with a reloadable Visa debit card.