• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Network vision & LTE rollout

Ronny71 said:
Yeah me too...I might do it before that ...They'res goin to be sum nice phones cummin out soon...the Prime for one...(Verizon...) ...we'll see what Sprint will have to offer...I had the Photon which was great except for the constant freezin...So I took it back for the EVO 3d...then no reception at all in my House 0-1 bar...They sent me the Airave...That fixed that 6 bars...So I'm happy right now...But cum around Xmas time maybe I'll get myself a present...We'll have to see whats out by then...But you know its like every three months there's sumthin else thats better...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Nothing wrong with doing something nice for yourself for the holidays!

Hmmm, post hasn't been moved yet. Lol, glad I didn't bet a hun! ;)
 
CarrieK said:
Probably the same way I do...I have five lines and they are all on different contract schedules.

I should clarify that of course, the newest phone always goes to me! ;)
Click to expand...

Ohhh Ok gocha...yeah I do things similar to that.
I have my Evo 3D.
My mom has my old Evo 4g.
My sister has my old Hero (that my mom had before I gave her my Evo 4g).
My grandma's upgrade is sitting there waiting for me to use :p
 
Doomstang said:
Ohhh Ok gocha...yeah I do things similar to that.
I have my Evo 3D.
My mom has my old Evo 4g.
My sister has my old Hero (that my mom had before I gave her my Evo 4g).
My grandma's upgrade is sitting there waiting for me to use :p
Click to expand...

Yup. I have EVO 3D. Business line (just upgraded) NS4G. Hubby has EVO 4G. Son has Optimus S. My parents have a dumbphone (and do not want a new one, just something that "makes calls.").
 
I would seriously expect wimax to work till 2015 before it goes dark.

Unless Clear tries to raise sprint's rates in retaliation. That could force a sooner cut.

If the next iphone is LTE, that is what I will buy next summer.
 
Citizen Coyote said:
LTE devices won't be available until the middle of next year. I suspect HTC's next phone in the EVO line will be Sprint's first LTE handset, much like the OG EVO was the first WiMax phone. If you can wait that long, go for it. However, Sprint also said they will support WiMax through 2013, so if you buy a WiMax phone now it will still be supported until your next upgrade (when you can pick up an LTE phone)....
Click to expand...

This is my concern. What happens to all the people who buy a WIMAX device up through the middle of next year, only 6 months before they turn off WIMAX and go to LTE in 2013? They have a 2 year contract and can't "upgrade" to an LTE device until well after Sprint has turned off WIMAX and started using LTE.

Plus, what about people who just bought a WIMAX device now, come 2013 we'll be eligible for an upgrade but what if we're happy with our current devices (Evo3D, SGII, etc) that we just spend $200 on? Basically they're saying they are going to force everyone to "upgrade" and buy a new phone in advance of the 2013 launch of LTE, regardless of if you want to buy a new device or not.

Seems like poor business planning. There are people who are just buying an original Evo now and it will likely be fine for them still 2 yrs from now, not everyone will be willing or want to upgrade every couple years.

Is there any way current WIMAX devices can still work on the network once they turn off WIMAX and switch to LTE instead?
 
bobby2478 said:
What happens to all the people who buy a WIMAX device up through the middle of next year, only 6 months before they turn off WIMAX and go to LTE in 2013? They have a 2 year contract and can't "upgrade" to an LTE device until well after Sprint has turned off WIMAX and started using LTE.
Click to expand...

They won't turn WiMax off in 2013 if they're still planning on selling WiMax devices through 2012. Remember that their new tower equipment will support both. I suspect WiMax will hang around until 2015, but that's just a guess. They are probably assuming most people will upgrade to an LTE device by 2013 or 2014.
 
mamiamjo said:
Sure, they will still work, just without 4G connectivity. There a lot of people now with Wimax 4G phones that only use the 3G connection due to limited Wimax coverage.
Click to expand...

This is true. For example, at work, depending on which site I am on, I do not get 4G so I am on 3G, which lately has been pretty darned fast. Plus, like I said, a lot of times I am on wifi, so I'm good either way. I think I'll make it! ;)
 
Sprint announced today that it will start the switch over to LTE next year and will have a nationwide LTE network by the end of 2013.

Sprint will support and sell Wimax devides through 2012

Sprint Now Making All the Right Moves | PCWorld


Thoughts?

Sprint's really breaking the bank here with the guaranteed iphone orders and now completely switching network technology. These next few years are going to make or break the company IMO.

Also, I realize this isn't news that is only important for us root users, but being on LTE will make have 4G work on ported ROMS a lot easier.
 
I just hope that what ever they do give me a better signal here. Voice is awesome but the data really leaves a lot to desire. We don't have 4g and since i've rooted I have found out how little of 3g I can get in this area. Any way I know Sprint is making a lot of changes so as to help the business get back where it needs to be. I really don't mind so much that they are doing away with the Sprint Premier Plan as long as they don't charge me any more for data. I use quite a bit and would hate to have a cap.
 
Citizen Coyote said:
They won't turn WiMax off in 2013 if they're still planning on selling WiMax devices through 2012. Remember that their new tower equipment will support both. I suspect WiMax will hang around until 2015, but that's just a guess. They are probably assuming most people will upgrade to an LTE device by 2013 or 2014.
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering: How long they'll continue to support WIMAX. Realistically, lots of people will still be using WIMAX up to 2015 maybe if they are buying devices midway through 2012 and can't renew until 2014. Their statement just says they are going to LTE and will stop supporting WIMAX, but don't say anything about when they'll stop supporting WIMAX.
 
mamiamjo said:
Sure, they will still work, just without 4G connectivity. There a lot of people now with Wimax 4G phones that only use the 3G connection due to limited Wimax coverage.
Click to expand...

That is precisely the part that would be stupid. If there are people still using 4G WIMAX devices and get WIMAX 4G now, they bought the device for 4G and are paying $10 per month smartphone data surcharge. If Sprint then turns off WIMAX, then people wouldn't be able to use one of the key features they bought their phone for (4G), and to boot they'd be getting charged a data fee without having access to 4G when they used to.

They would need to minimum continue to support WIMAX in areas that already have it (not expand to new areas) until such time as there are no longer any WIMAX users on their network. Otherwise they are forcing people to buy a new device, even if they are satisfied with the one they have but Sprint is basically taking away one of the features they use currently.
 
If sprint still babies iDen after this many years, it's ridiculous to think sprint will dark wimax anytime soon.

I say it's wimax lights out in 2014 or early 2015. That's plenty of time to get your LTE upgrades in.

If you chose to be a holdout because of some romantic attachment to wimax, enjoy being 3g only.
 
viber said:
...I say it's wimax lights out in 2014 or early 2015. That's plenty of time to get your LTE upgrades in.

If you chose to be a holdout because of some romantic attachment to wimax, enjoy being 3g only.
Click to expand...

The point I was trying to make was not that there wouldn't be enough time to upgrade (if they supported WIMAX through 2015 or so), but if people were satisfied with their current device and service and didn't see the need to spend another $200 for an upgrade, then they would be getting the shaft. Not everyone goes out and buys the latest phone the second they are eligible for an upgrade if they like what they have today and don't feel the new devices are $200 worth of an upgrade over their current device.

For example, the Evo 4G would be considered an "old" phone in today's standards, however there are plenty of people still buying them brand new, or who have one and are eligible for an upgrade and decided the new devices available now simply aren't enough of an "upgrade" to fork over an extra $200 and are content with using the Evo 4G.

Another thing to consider is let's say you want to upgrade your device when you're eligible for an upgrade. Personally when I upgrade I sell my old device on eBay. If you're trying to sell your old WIMAX phone and Sprint no longer supports WIMAX, not many people will likely want to buy your old phone.

So if you're going to upgrade to an LTE device it would be wise to do so BEFORE they stop supporting WIMAX. That way anyone buying them will still be able to use the 4G features of the phone and you will get good $ still. Otherwise you might be stuck with an Evo3D, SGSII or other device that nobody wants due to lack of 4G service. Something to think about.
 
I have a hard time looking at the numbers.

Sprint, right now, will default on its debt in march of 2012. Not including the lte upgrades and the iphone subsidy.

LTE, by sprint admission, will cost 5 billion in 2012 and 5 billion in 2013, remember verizon is spending only 5 billion to build out it lte network and sprint already spent 10 billion to build out wimax. The iphone will cost sprint, 8 billion dollars in 2012.

Now including the 19.5 billion in debt compared to the 3 billion they take in annually. I just don't understand how sprint is going to make 16 billion dollars in 2012 to cover everything.

Bottom line, sprint is looking for a buy out. Unless someone can explain to me how a company that is 19.5 billion dollars in debt, has the ability to make up 16 billion dollars in 1 year.

It has a Ba3 junk rating. In fact, most of the investment firms state one thing about sprint "un-invest-able".

As for the wimax doom and gloom crowd. Wimax is going nowhere. It is being used to replace your wifi connections.
 
bobby2478 said:
That is precisely the part that would be stupid. If there are people still using 4G WIMAX devices and get WIMAX 4G now, they bought the device for 4G and are paying $10 per month smartphone data surcharge. If Sprint then turns off WIMAX, then people wouldn't be able to use one of the key features they bought their phone for (4G), and to boot they'd be getting charged a data fee without having access to 4G when they used to.

They would need to minimum continue to support WIMAX in areas that already have it (not expand to new areas) until such time as there are no longer any WIMAX users on their network. Otherwise they are forcing people to buy a new device, even if they are satisfied with the one they have but Sprint is basically taking away one of the features they use currently.
Click to expand...

All smart phones on sprint get charged the $10 data fee....whether they use 4G or not. So thats a non issue
 
cnote1287 said:
All smart phones on sprint get charged the $10 data fee....whether they use 4G or not. So thats a non issue
Click to expand...

Right! Lol, I don't know how many times this has been clarified but people still keep bringing it up. Not trying to be rude, but even the IPhone will only be on 3G and they will have to pay the smartphone fee.
 
At first the $10 fee was only on 4g phones till everyone complained that they did not have 4g so now we all pay.
By the time wimax shuts down everyone with wimax devices will be able to get their discount on a new LTE device and have 4g everyplace instead of one hot spot that it works in now.
 
Hmmm, bout time sprint pulls their head outta their a$$.
If they start a LTE network, and start selling said LTE devices, we can roam on other carrier LTE networks (Verizon). Will open up faster data connections.

Does this remind you of anything?
VHS and Beta?
hidef DVD and BlueRay?

Sprint lost. The good thing is they realized it before they drove off a cliff!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom