Johnner1999

It will require nothing at the tower.

 

HPUE is just a higher powered radio in a phone so it will require a new phone that supports HPUE.

I knew it required new handsets -- just assumed it needed tower enhancements too.

So this should help anywhere with b41 correct.

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Yes HPUE will help but once again the customer needs to upgrade devices to get a better and more consistent experience. I would rather see Sprint add 2.5 to every macro site, not only would HPUE benefit but customers with older tri-band devices experience more consistent data speeds.

Admittedly I'm being lazy here...

Will hpue require hardware upgrades on the towers? Or hopefully pure software updates?

And the G6 has it built in ?

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Personally, I see all these promos as a big mess! I'm glad for the help I've been getting from T-Mobile, but their MyTMobile account page is a mess of information between add-ons, setting features turn on/off ads and HD, this and that, etc., along with that they messed up on the line I wanted the International Plus with 4G LTE hotpot on, which I changed online, but now it says it doesn't take effect until the end of the month in the new billing cycle. My mother is going to cal them, which I'm confident it'll get resolved, but its frustrating in the first place its such a mess, and I blame it on have so many promos and options. Also, the account shows our old devices, not the Lumia 950xl, so I'm sure not getting VoLTE on it unless it shows, according to someone at T-Mobile my mother spoke with said VoLTE ought to work on the Lumia 950xl after all. However, I'm sure it won't if the device isn't listed in the account as connected to that line.

 

This is why I say so often here on S4GRU there ought to be a flat per line rate for all customers, to keep everything fair and simple. Sprint use to do this years ago, when things were even a bigger plan mess with the other carriers, at least at that time, Sprint did things right. I think all carriers ought to just take a break from promos and come up with a price they think is best for all lines, and then make it official. As usual, my figure is on $45 monthly w/o tax, but since I like the idea of tax included, something that does make things simpler for customers, I'll raise that figure to $55 monthly per line with autopay or $60 monthly per line without autopay, taxes included, but no international calling and hotspot. Those are the only two options not included, but can be added on. 3G hotspot with international calling for $15 monthly per line. 4G LTE hotspot with international calling for $30 monthly per line.

Auto pay saves money and brings in less late payments.

People like a deal and some people like to negotiate a better price even more.

For those that like a set price they should look towards an MVNO- which if memory serves you don't particularly like.

Activation or SIM card fees aren't going anywhere- they are a quick way to create cash.

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I think it makes more sense to have an activation fee rather than charging more for the sim starter kit, as T-Mobile is doing. They obviously think differently though.

Activation fees can be marked down or credited back to a zero cost.

Whereas a sim card is bought as a tangible good, which it is.

As such some people don't feel it's "nothing" and complain less about buying one.

Just my 2cents

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I'd be curious if the complaints for the 3mbps plan are from phone sluts like us, or everyday average customers.

Called the deathstar today and oddly they said for the prices listed on the two new plans - directv was required. Which I either missed or they aren't fully trained yet.

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I think that plan will as well. My friend said she's going to sign up for the $60 plan as soon as it's available. The average person who isn't doing Speedtests all day don't care. As long as their videos, music and social media are loading at decent times that's all they care about. For them to see unlimited at $60/$65 AND with a carrier that is not Sprint or T-Mobile is icing on the cake. This move was a smart play by AT&T.

 

The way my friend found out about it was through a email that AT&T sent her.

 

 

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I'd actually be shocked if Vzw doesn't follow up with a similar one.

And the majority will never use a hotspot feature.

Heck I don't need 100mbps on my phone. I just want to know I can stream music, podcasts, YouTube and surf the web. With it just working.

I know some do care and that's fine as there are options for that.

If my Sprint phones had a constant 3mbps connection I'd kindly give up the occasional 50-100+ Mbps bursts I get.

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It sure doesn't seem they do. After all, while 3mbps is a useable speed for most things, $60 monthly for it is a ripoff! Especially with Cricket only costing $5 more per month with autopay or $10 more per month without autopay yet Cricket provides a much more useful 8mbps. Not to forget the video streaming speedcap at 1.5mbps exclusive to the AT&T speedcap customers that doesn't affect Cricket customers who get to stream video at the full 8mbps, just the same as for website browsing on Cricket.

 

AT&T might as well merge Cricket in with AT&T and have what I think would be a much better plan scenario, unlimited data plans of the following speedcaps (all usage speedcaps) : 3mbps for $45 monthly 1st line, $30 monthly every additional line. 6mbps for $60 monthly 1st line, $45 monthly every additional line. 9mbps for $75 monthly 1st line, $60 monthly every additional line. On those three plans, unlimited 4G LTE hotspot at those listed throttled speeds, no deprioritizing. Then offer an "ultimate unlimited data plan", limited to five lines per account, no speed throttle, at $90 monthly 1st line, $75 monthly 2nd line, $60 monthly 3rd line, $45 monthly 4th line, $30 monthly 5th line. 30gb per line deprioritization limit, unlimited 3G hotspot with the option for Unlimited 4G hotspot at $15 monthly per line.

 

I think those plans would be much more reasonable than what AT&T has now, with these plans showing some variety for consumer choice.

Why would ATT kill off their own MVNO Cricket?

Cricket allows ATT to be very nimble without compromising their own brand nor network QoS. All while leaching small numbers from other mvnos and even T-Mobile. Oh not to mention no real risk as all the money is upfront.

Cricket can have higher speeds than the new low cost ATT plan as again it's a tool that helps defend their ATT network yet being faster than what most subscribers get on TMO and Sprint when away from city centers.

The new 3mbps plan on ATT is slow yes. But it's pricing is decent especially if you currently have sprint or TMO in a non upgraded area. Yet you still have a carrier that will finance your new $900 iPhone or Galaxy with zero interest.

Is the plan perfect- hardly. The structure you listed above is great, but not for shareholders. As companies aren't in business to make friends, their goal is to offer a product that sells and makes a profit. I suspect that 3mbps plan will attract many customers.

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It is very likely to get approved by the FCC. Have you seen the new FCC chair? He is as free-market as they come, shit I think an ATT/T-mobile merger would get approved at this point.

 

 

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Lol - so true.

I bet a ATT and VZW buyout would get through.

Now I'm not suggesting that to occur.

That said I do think a tmo and att makes the most sense. But under the current debt load on att's books I don't see it.

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And to add insult to injury, AT&T is going to throttle Cricket users after 22gb now

 

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Which plan do their existing customers get pushed onto?

I believe they are not pushing any one

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I agree with respect to their CDMA voice. I don't know that I have experienced VOLTE yet.

To be more clear -- on volte their voice sounds good. But still not great. Wifi calling though is great.

Sprint has had great voice sound quality for many years.

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Sprint's voice quality definitely is a great feature of Sprint service as I've written about here in the past. Also makes me concerned about joining Verizon now to think of it, as Verizon was really bad in vq back in the 2000s, and certainly not much better when I talked with someone on Verizon a few years ago. Hopefully thats been improved by now.

From my use VZW voice is beyond over modulated or compressed. Even on VoLte imho.

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But if your calls dropped frequently and your texts failed to go through, I'm willing to bet you'd be pretty mad. Overall they're in third place because they scored well in call, text, and reliability. RootMetrics said "If Sprint can expand its LTE footprint beyond metropolitan areas across the US, Sprint could close the gap with the other networks in multiple categories in our national testing."

Correct. But a national carrier in 2017 should have reliable voice and text. AND data.

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is that why the iphone usually has better battery life

Apple typically gets much better battery life for many reasons

Biggest

- the OS is made for the CPU

- CPU is more efficient and OS can work better with less threads

- the GPU has less pixels to draw

Lesser

- more efficient task switching (newer Dozer features in Android handle this very closely)

- better SDK for developing the apps.

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So LTE-U interesting.

Seems again TMO is talking less and doing more.

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Well guys I crossed over to he dark side. I really didn't want to leave Sprint but I had no choice due to my data issues for the past 5 months. Even though I'm with Verizon, I am still going to stay active on this site because I'm still rooting for Sprint and it's progress I hope they will make this year. You never know I may end up back with them down the road.

 

 

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I ported from VZW about 6 weeks ago -- just talked to their Winback team -- not including device payments just data/voice etc ... VZW is 60 more per month. The coverage is far better with V but speeds are all over the map between the two. And I assume next march the difference is about 35 bucks.

I don't really know what to do.

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DT will most definitely give Sprint to T-MOBILE to run.

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Maybe. I can imagine a lot of things. But I worry that Sprint is betting everything on the line on a merger. But a deal takes 2 to tango. If by some twist of fate the other side doesn't want to play ball then god help them.

 

 

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I'm thinking SoftBank already has a buyer. No merger. Sorry -- just my hunch.

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Its great that Sprint finally decided to match Tmobile's and Verizon's offer of the 10 GB of high speed hotspot tether and HD video streaming by default.

 

http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-launches-best-unlimited-hd-plan-ever.htm

 

However there are still 2 issues which still do not solve Sprint's problem.

1) Are the folks who signed up for the 5 lines/$90 promo before Fri, 2/17 going to get an automatic upgrades to the HD video streaming and increased high speed hotspot tether from 5 GB --> 10 GB?

Its not clear from the press release if this is true. Hopefully Sprint is smart enough to automatically upgrade all Freedom Unlimited customers since the introduction of this plan to the HD video streaming and 10 GB hotspot tether beginning Fri, 2/17.

 

2) The 5 lines/$90 promo is NOT available to current customers. I still see a ton of Sprint customers porting out to other carriers simply because of no offers being given to loyal customers. Need to make this offer available to all customers so they can simplify their billing system and give them a reason to want to sign up for the Freedom Unlimited plan. Hell Sprint can even make it a limited offer starting Friday, 2/17 where for a limited time current customers can take advantage of this same offer as new customers to just stop the initial port out bleeding.

I ported in from Vzw on Jan 20th

Just called to ask about the free HD and 10gb and if I added a 3rd line would it be "free". They said no since I'm now an existing account. She was willing to submit a request to back office team to waive the 3rd line fee - but that was all.

Not to get folks mad at me here for posting again. But it's tempting to go back to vzw or even ATT -- to me sprint's only draw was unlimited data.

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So no real change other than 10gb and HD. Not bad

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Ready for Sprint Marcelo tweet

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That won't fly unless Verizon divests all their wireline including FIOS.

I was the impression VZW would love to sell it all to Frontier...   

I wonder why Marcelo didn't just announce the perks for Sprint subs who sign up for Tidal when he announced the 33% purchase? It would have packed more of a punch had he announced it. With him saying more details coming soon(Sprints famous line) kills it and people won't care as much. I honestly thought more info would have followed the same day but it's since been two days. I guess we won't hear nothing else until the earnings call.

 

 

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I'd say by leaving it off of the press release it:

-- lets them see how much analysts and or competitors talk it up and speculate a price

-- lets them have the need for another press release and more news outlets talking it up   - free press

FYI, I randomly selected five 16 bit 44.1 kHz FLAC files from my library of 50,000. No cherry picking, just going where the cursor landed.

 

The compression percentages for the five FLAC files were (in order from least compression to greatest compression) 36, 40, 44, 64, and 67 percent. Those calculated to average bit rates of 0.90, 0.85, 0.79, 0.51, and 0.47 Mbps, respectively.

 

AJ

Wait I've been gone for a couple months -- and we are still "discussing" audio compression issues with the stock unlimited plan.

I genuinely feel sorry for you W...

That's all don't worry

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Cricket does not serve your point because, as you note, Cricket offers only one speed tier, capped at 8 Mbps, meaning 0-8 Mbps. There is no hypothetical Cricket Plus, capped at 20 Mbps for $15 extra. And that is smart thinking from AT&T. Here is why.

 

AT&T cannot deliver 8-20 Mbps that reliably. Higher tier speeds still would fall below the 8 Mbps threshold many times in many places. People would figure that out. Some would come to the realization that they actually never need 8-20 Mbps, that 0-8 Mbps is perfectly adequate for their usage. Others still would want the higher tier 8-20 Mbps speeds, but if AT&T frequently could not provide those speeds, why should they pay extra for Cricket Plus?

 

So, among both groups, many would opt to cut the $15 extra and drop back to the lower speed tier. Revenue would suffer. Yet, part of revenue generation in wireless service is selling people things that they think they need but do not really need or do not really use.

 

AJ

Simplicity at times is golden.

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