sorry guys but i have to move this to the sprint section.
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Network vision & LTE rollout
- Thread starter kingtheproducer
- Start date
simcha
Android Enthusiast
Ok, so either Sprint made one heck of a smart business decision that will re-energize their ailing and sickly bottom line or they've injected themselves with a poison that will kill Sprint once and for all by the end of 2012.
I'd hate to see Sprint fail. I've been with Sprint since 1999. As a former Premier Gold member I'll have an upgrade available to me in September 2012. If Sprint fails by then it will be because the iPhone won't attract enough new customers to Sprint to justify the giant price tag they're paying and because now they have told all customers that their highest end phones are featuring a dying technology and that they will never be able to use the new upcoming technology.
By the end of 2012 Sprint stores will still be selling high end phones that won't be able to ever use LTE as LTE is getting launched. If I were Vzn or ATT I'd be running non-stop commercials showcasing that Sprint customers are being left behind while my customers will continue to seamlessly capitalize on my continuing network improvements.
This is going to get very ugly before Sprint will see any benefit.
Oh well. It'll be an interesting ride.
I'd hate to see Sprint fail. I've been with Sprint since 1999. As a former Premier Gold member I'll have an upgrade available to me in September 2012. If Sprint fails by then it will be because the iPhone won't attract enough new customers to Sprint to justify the giant price tag they're paying and because now they have told all customers that their highest end phones are featuring a dying technology and that they will never be able to use the new upcoming technology.
By the end of 2012 Sprint stores will still be selling high end phones that won't be able to ever use LTE as LTE is getting launched. If I were Vzn or ATT I'd be running non-stop commercials showcasing that Sprint customers are being left behind while my customers will continue to seamlessly capitalize on my continuing network improvements.
This is going to get very ugly before Sprint will see any benefit.
Oh well. It'll be an interesting ride.
If you ran those commercials you'd look foolish considering between ATT and Verizon, in the past 10 months, they have alienated hundreds of millions of customers with their LTE launches.
That's a lot of people unable to get a faster service because ATT and Verizon dared to upgrade their network...That is no different than what Sprint is doing.
Considering Clear is nearly dead and Sprint is going LTE, Wimax is a sneeze from being betamax'ed.
There are no other firms committing to Wimax in a big way.
This round is over and LTE won.
This is a fact lost on many people. Corrective action is always better sooner than later.
Sprint seems to have their head screwed on straight now and is getting back to basics.
No more Nextel, Wimax, or Clear distractions
The return of doing things in-house
Competitive phone line up with android and iPhone
Solid 3G performance
Competitive pricing
ArmageddonX
Android Expert
I bought a new WiMax phone in July & I get no WiMax where I live in Phoenix... I guess I'm gonna have to wait 2 more years to experience "4G"... ::sigh::
I think you are generally right.
I live in an area well blanketed in Wimax. Wimax, as it is implemented by Sprint and Clear requires a person to be outdoors, and stationary for the best customer user experience. Under these conditions, Wimax works very well
The downside is this is the complete opposite experience a person with a cell phone needs or wants.
Cell phones are travel companions and require 24/7 functionality, irrespective of location, or if one is commuting. As a result, Wimax is a complete failure as a mobile phone technology.
This is why you hear many Sprint customers with 4G say far too often that they just leave their 4G off and prefer to use 3G.
Sprint is smart to break from from Clear and Wimax as quickly as possible. Given what Wimax currently is, and how it has been implemented, I cant see why anyone would resist this change Sprint has planned.
No you will not be able to roam. This was already stated. Verizon LTE: no roaming, even if you want to -- Engadget
Intel, google, comcast, and a few dozen other companies. Just a few. Just wait until about feb, google or dish will buy sprint.
Citizen Coyote
Android Enthusiast
No, it does not mean that so no worries. Sprint will stop selling WiMax devices (phones and hotspots) at the end of next year, but most of these will be sold with two year contracts. Unless they enact a fire sale without contracts, you can bet they'll support WiMax through 2014 to honor those contracts. If they don't, they'll either a) switch you over to comparable LTE device, or b) have a hoard of angry customers. I'm willing to bet they'll go with Option A.
At any rate, those of us who bought WiMax phones this year should have nothing to worry about before we can upgrade again, no matter what upgrade schedule you're on.
At any rate, those of us who bought WiMax phones this year should have nothing to worry about before we can upgrade again, no matter what upgrade schedule you're on.
This is from a Sprint Premiere rep. this should ease concerns for most.
Look, I'm WELL AWARE the charge is for all smartphones, 3G or 4G. Some people apparently keep missing the point, and its rapidly turning into beating the proverbial dead horse so I'll say it one last time since I seem to be the only person who cares. For people who upgrade every single year or 2 then this whole thing is a non issue cuz they'll be getting new phones regardless of what happens with WIMAX.
The simple point I was trying to make that apparently isn't getting through is that NO ONE today buying a $200 smartphone on Sprint is buying something that doesn't support 4G, all top phones are 4G phones. And for people who live in an area where Sprint offers 4G service, such as myself, we realize the 4G speeds today our device is capable of and that we paid for.
Fast forward to the time when they stop supporting 4G WIMAX. Anyone on those devices, regardless of whether they've had that phone for 1 year and aren't eligble for an upgrade, or 4 years and just haven't chosen to upgrade, will suddenly no longer be able to realize the 4G speeds they were used to getting and paying for. In fact, many people chose that device in their area along with switching to Sprint SOLELY because Sprint offered 4G before anyone else (Evo 4G) and all top phones now are 4G phones.
Not everyone upgrades every year or 2 to the latest and greatest phone if their current phone is working well for them. Prime example is EVO 4G, many ppl feel the EVO 3D isn't a worthy upgrade from what they have so they're sticking with the EVO 4G. Whether it be one bought today brand new, or one bought last year when it was initially released.
So some people may not want to spend $200 every year or 2 upgrading to the latest and greatest phone if they are happy with what they already have and spent $200 on in the first place. If they suddenly lose 4G speeds they are used to getting, and their only options are to simply stick around with Sprint and spend another $200 on upgrading, or taking their business elsewhere since they feel their being forced into a new product, then Sprint would be losing business.
Notice how many people threatened to leave just because of their recent Sprint Premier changes. What if people suddenly lose 4G even though they're used to getting it the past few years and Sprint says the only way to get it back is to go out and buy a new phone that they don't need.
If people complained that bad about the Premier change, the noise will get REALLY loud after the move to no longer support WIMAX, and Sprint needs to keep (not continue to bleed) customers and revenue.
If on the other hand they plan it out accordingly, where they support WIMAX until several years after they stop selling WIMAX devices to give people ample time to upgrade, then this is mitigated to a large extent. Also they don't need to continue to expand WIMAX for the next few years, just keep those towers "turned on" in areas that already experience service.
ArmageddonX
Android Expert
Sprint needs to expand WiMax coverage & support it until the last WiMax phone reaches it's End Of Life. This whole idea that they are not going to expand WiMax while they keep selling WiMax phones is reprehensible, in my opinion.
If those people don't want to upgrade when WiMax is no longer supported, than they don't really have anything to complain about. It's their choice not to upgrade, nobody is making them. Sure, it would kinda suck to have a 4G phone that no longer gets 4G, but if they don't want to upgrade because of some sentimental attachment to their phone, then they can't really complain.
I believe it has already been said that Sprint will keep up WiMax for a few years after they stop making WiMax phones. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong though.
It has nothing to do with a sentimental attachment to their current phone. It is all about the extra $200 they'd have to shell out just to have the "priviledge" of signing another 2 year agreement and buying the latest phone. Yes everyone has the option of simply spending $200 and signing up for another 2 year agreement just for the priviledge of getting their 4G speeds back and upgrading to the latest device. Not everyone is OK with spending $200 on new phones every year or 2 just to always get the latest and greatest device.
By still selling WIMAX phones and clearly stating they plan to no longer support WIMAX at some point in the future, they are basically saying if you want to keep the same level of service you get today you'll have to upgrade to LTE and sign another 2 year agreement. That would be the equivalent of Qwest or Comcast downgrading your internet speed and telling you if you want it back to what it was before, you'll have to shell out $200 and sign another 2 year contract.
Sure some people have no problem signing a new contract and shelling out $200 every couple years, so this isn't an issue for them. This isn't the case for everyone however.
yea.. i see both points, I really do. However tech (especially wireless gadgets) are improving and advancing at an exponential rate as of late. The evolution of technology.. you can accept it, or reject it... but either way its going to happen. Personally, I'm excited and looking forward to the Network Vision upgrades, and welcome it! Besides, your WiMax will most likely work for at least 2 more years. This is like bitching cuz nobody will activate my analog Moto StarTac I got burried in the desk drawer.
2strokenut
Well-Known Member
Why are you acting like this something just sprint is doing? Both ATT and Tmobile are marketing their HSPA+ as "4g" when soon they will axing that for LTE, so why aren't all the ATTMobile customers bitching? Technology changes guys and you have to deal with it.
WiMax isn't going anywhere so don't worry about it.
Not true. Sprint got 9 billion from lightsquared to build out the network. They will be sharing the network with sprint and will be using 3g to roam. It also saves lightsquared 13 billion by not having to put up their own towers. So there you go, sprint is spending 10 billion to build out the network and they got 9 of that from lightsquared. Getting iphone on the network is only going to help them out. The neat part is lightsquared lte will run on a different band then sprints and it will be switched on when lightsquared has solved all the outstanding issues with the gps problems.
CarrieK
Android Expert
Ooooh, you'd better believe it! I am feeling pretty optimistic. Even though there are supposedly no further improvements on 4G I am getting better signals (even in the house
) and 3G is a lot faster than it was too. And now LTE! It's gonna be a good day, 'Tater! 