greg4android
Android Enthusiast
Virgin Mobile shot us the SAME OLE CRAP when the Virgin Mobile MC760 Broadband2Go "unlimited" plan hit. So many people bought the device the network was so overloaded, webpages would fail, downloads were <256kbps. Eventually we ended up routing thru native SPRINT, thru a server in Kansas. (instead of Virgin Mobile, our domain said Sprint PCS).
Virgin Mobile doesn't plan new device rollouts very well.
The OPTIMUS V has been a very popular device. No telling how many new accounts have been created, this creating a heavier demand on towers that are already oversaturated. they obviously didn't plan very well here. I've had the same data drop issues, Its irritating as hell.
Virgin Mobile never admitted the earlier issues with the tremendous rollout of the mobile broadband device. At that time, they used what was called virtualization. You actually entered the tower to which you were connecting at on a SPRINT PCS network, but then, you were re-routed on an internal network to a server in Walnut creek, CA. This caused major issues and bottlenecks. You'd literally request a page, and wait 1-2 minutes for it to fetch, by that time, you're browser timed out. Next time you might get lucky and it would come in quickly. Many other times 3G would go to 1xrtt suddenly, and hang. you'd have to reboot the device to get it back working. Eventually after tons of complaints, they stopped this internal routing, and although VM traffic was routed to another server, it obviously had the capacity to handle the traffic. Shortly after that, they began throttling, and eventually they removed the "unlimited" data... then cut it to 5gb, and I believe broadband data is now capped at 2.5GB(this is on the broadband2go device)
Appears that the same issues with the Optimus V, since its a full 3G device itself, the same appears to be happening with the influx of new users on the Optimus (heck they're sold out everywhere, so you can see how many people are flocking to VM). And it is possible that this DATA DROP is some fluke in the Android system, and the fact that SPRINT hasn't got a fix in their towers/servers to deal with these devices.....
With the history of VM and their "unlimited" plans (whether it be broadband mobile or cell phones (with data), I eventually believe the same thing will happen with the Optimus. While calling minutes will probably remain the same, I see data being severely crippled, just as they did the MC760 internet device.......ESPECIALLY, now that people have discovered how to tether their device....
The MC760 people really got shafted when they ditched "unlimited" for 2.gb. I was on the plan, but got HSI cable before they changed. Thankfully, I sold my modem online before the transition.
$129 isn't a bad deal for a phone even for talking for $25 for 300 minutes.
Its the DATA issue that SPRINT needs to address (and not cripple in the near future).
Eventually Virgin Mobile will kill off the "unlimited data" on this phone. They've already killed tethering on the OPTIMUS S (sprint directly).
And like I said earlier with the VM mobile USB going from unlimited to 2.5gb a month.
Virgin Mobile likes to think up new plans and devices and all the hype that goes along with them, and sell the heck out of a new phone and plan, yet never plans beforehand the issues and impact this will have on an already saturated 3G network.
Maybe a fix soon? who knows? in the mean time, you just gotta live with it, and toggle the "mobile data" on and off.
I'll keep mine (I had 2, I took one back). I cancelled my AT&T phone. $25 is cheap enough for me for phone calls. Everyone's needs are different.
In closing, if you dont like the phone and its issues, take it back and stop complaining about it.
Virgin Mobile devices are at the bottom of the service queue on the SPRINT network.
Virgin Mobile doesn't plan new device rollouts very well.
The OPTIMUS V has been a very popular device. No telling how many new accounts have been created, this creating a heavier demand on towers that are already oversaturated. they obviously didn't plan very well here. I've had the same data drop issues, Its irritating as hell.
Virgin Mobile never admitted the earlier issues with the tremendous rollout of the mobile broadband device. At that time, they used what was called virtualization. You actually entered the tower to which you were connecting at on a SPRINT PCS network, but then, you were re-routed on an internal network to a server in Walnut creek, CA. This caused major issues and bottlenecks. You'd literally request a page, and wait 1-2 minutes for it to fetch, by that time, you're browser timed out. Next time you might get lucky and it would come in quickly. Many other times 3G would go to 1xrtt suddenly, and hang. you'd have to reboot the device to get it back working. Eventually after tons of complaints, they stopped this internal routing, and although VM traffic was routed to another server, it obviously had the capacity to handle the traffic. Shortly after that, they began throttling, and eventually they removed the "unlimited" data... then cut it to 5gb, and I believe broadband data is now capped at 2.5GB(this is on the broadband2go device)
Appears that the same issues with the Optimus V, since its a full 3G device itself, the same appears to be happening with the influx of new users on the Optimus (heck they're sold out everywhere, so you can see how many people are flocking to VM). And it is possible that this DATA DROP is some fluke in the Android system, and the fact that SPRINT hasn't got a fix in their towers/servers to deal with these devices.....
With the history of VM and their "unlimited" plans (whether it be broadband mobile or cell phones (with data), I eventually believe the same thing will happen with the Optimus. While calling minutes will probably remain the same, I see data being severely crippled, just as they did the MC760 internet device.......ESPECIALLY, now that people have discovered how to tether their device....
The MC760 people really got shafted when they ditched "unlimited" for 2.gb. I was on the plan, but got HSI cable before they changed. Thankfully, I sold my modem online before the transition.
$129 isn't a bad deal for a phone even for talking for $25 for 300 minutes.
Its the DATA issue that SPRINT needs to address (and not cripple in the near future).
Eventually Virgin Mobile will kill off the "unlimited data" on this phone. They've already killed tethering on the OPTIMUS S (sprint directly).
And like I said earlier with the VM mobile USB going from unlimited to 2.5gb a month.
Virgin Mobile likes to think up new plans and devices and all the hype that goes along with them, and sell the heck out of a new phone and plan, yet never plans beforehand the issues and impact this will have on an already saturated 3G network.
Maybe a fix soon? who knows? in the mean time, you just gotta live with it, and toggle the "mobile data" on and off.
I'll keep mine (I had 2, I took one back). I cancelled my AT&T phone. $25 is cheap enough for me for phone calls. Everyone's needs are different.
In closing, if you dont like the phone and its issues, take it back and stop complaining about it.
Virgin Mobile devices are at the bottom of the service queue on the SPRINT network.
