JustinRP37

Network management can help, but they cannot throttle. Like the terms say, they can limit video to 1080P HD, music streams to 1.5Mbps, and gaming to 8Mbps. They cannot depriortize your data until you use 23GB of data in a month. Meaning if there are a lot of people in one are streaming video, the network will still become congested without enough spectrum.

Definitely can. So can multiple people in a mall sitting down at a Starbucks watching a TV show, sharing large files, etc. The good thing about speed tests is they tend to be quick. Video streams are active for much more time.

Only harm it does is people constantly running speed tests, but then again the average user is probably not running speed tests constantly. Speeds tests tend to be used when a user thinks his/her connection is super slow as a diagnostic tool or when it is super fast for e-peen contests.

Or as they say, fear is a great motivator. The sentiments that were on display here and on the internet in general over the past few weeks since VZ made the announcement were heard in Overland Park. I'm sure much of the improvements have been in development for years, but I am fairly confident that all the press since the unlimited announcement has been a great motivator to get the news out there. Remember, I believe it was Marcelo that said there is a chart updated in the offices that shows the port in and port outs, and that they need to constantly be improving. I think there will be great moves for the consumer over the next year or so in the wireless world and that is a great thing.

This may still be an issue in 2 years if Sprint doesn't increase rural coverage. I have not roamed on V in years along any major highways or really any town with more the 10,000 people. But in rural areas, some ski areas, etc, I would roam on V quite a bit. In a way it always feels nice to get away from data connections sometimes and just enjoy life.

You also have to acknowledge that Apple has been great with including as many bands as possible into each of their phone variants over the last few cycles. The "SIM" free option is typically one of the most open phones you can buy. Also HPUE, from what I have read, is being deployed in many Asian markets and Apple is really trying to gain traction in China. It took Apple awhile to add LTE to the iPhone, but IMO they have been doing an excellent job of making the phones as universal as possible (which also does cut down on manufacturing costs and component costs at scale).

Verizon has plenty of users on old grandfathered unlimited plans with no deprioritization with many adding the new unlimited plan. Yet their average network speed as of March 3rd is 24 Mbps for download and 7.2 Mbps for upload. Compared with Sprint's average network speed of 14Mbps down and 3.6Mbps up. Despite all the spectrum claims Sprint is still the slowest while having the least amount of subscribers. Most markets are not suffering from spectrum crunch yet, and Verizon would not make this move if it would tarnish their brand image, just like Sprint would not be showing off HPUE on a global scale if the results were not fantastic. The speed averages really do mean something along with the LTE footprint. There is a tremendous difference in the LTE footprint among the carriers.

Spectrum really does not matter to the consumer, data speeds are what matter. Right now Verizon leads in speed, while T-Mobile is close. That may definitely change over time, but until then consumers will typically look at the RootScores. We also have to see how the auction turns out this spring.

Sprint has been mismanaged for years, but they have been well on their way to recovery until Verizon dropped a bombshell of unlimited for a decent price on a family plan. Sprint just managed to post its first annual profit in nearly a decade last yer (http://phandroid.com/2016/05/03/sprint-2015-financial-results/). Report after report has shown that their network is dead last in data, and by quite a wide margin. There is no longer any reason why Sprint with B41 cannot win many more markets in data speed. Sprint realizes this and I think that is why we are now seeing explosive growth in the mini-cells and the very public announcement of HPUE. Yes Sprint is number 2 in phone call reliability, but the difference between the four carriers in that metric are not much different when compared to the difference in data. What you just described, the "give me what I want or else" is capitalism at its best! It is what forces competition and ends up helping the consumer out. I think you are just seeing people frustrated and personally attacking Sprint, which is uncalled for. However, loyal customers do feel left out of the new offers. People will churn and people will join. That is what capitalism is all about. And for me with four lines of Sprint Framily on unlimited for $45 a month per line, why would I not join the number one network in America for the same price? Especially if Verizon is willing to give be an even bigger discount because I have FiOS. We are finally seeing competition in American wireless. This is a good thing. Unfortunately right now it is a bit rough for Sprint (this Verizon announcement was unexpected by all carriers), but I think they will rebound quite well once we see HPUE and network densification with the minicells.

This especially!!! It is frustrating to even hear about Tidal because there are many areas of the network where you cannot reliable stream Tidal lossless. And the Pokemon Go thing is just ridiculous. It cheapens the appearance of the store. If you are in business to provide telecommunications to consumers and businesses then there is no need for your store to be 'gym' for people to catch Pokemon. Also, the few remaining RadioShacks I have seen really look like a shack filled with crap. Appearances mean everything and right now if I were in charge of Sprint, the retail and web operations team would be given an overhaul.

Actually the auction system is part of typical business competition, it is just not usually run by the government. Companies are always participating in an "auction" of some type. It is usually called supply-chain management. Companies evaluate and bid against other competitors for access to supplies all the time. As for your view on spectrum being too high priced, 'spectrum' is what these companies are using to generate their revenue. Since the top three carriers have been making great profits (and some have been making great profits) that would tell the government that maybe the spectrum was undervalued. When you say you want the carriers to all be equal with regards to spectrum, that removes most forms of competition. One of the biggest expenses to the companies is the spectrum. Remove that and they can build the network and or just co-locate all sites with the existing competition. There would be a stagnation in innovation. As an example of this just look at the set-top box market for cable TV. I am sure 95% have those god awful Motorola silver boxes, yet all cable companies charge about the same price for them per month. Just what would be the point of picking company A over company B if they have the same spectrum, speeds, etc. What would come next, the government making sure each carrier had relatively equal customers to make sure that the spectrum per user remains equally divided? Further, if you think the average consumer is looking at spectrum for their wireless provider, then you are giving them way too much credit. Here is how it works for most consumers: "Root Metrics shows this company is number one nationwide, I'll pick them." Or they say "wait, they are way over my budget, let me see oh this company offers unlimited at half the cost, I can afford that and coverage is okay for my needs".

Not to take this thread off topic, but I have literally never heard anyone call any area of the USA the mideast or Middle East. If you said that in conversation people would think you are talking about Iraq, Syria, Israel, etc, not Georgia. You cannot go further south and east in the continental USA than Georgia and Florida, so they are definitely southeast. Further for those saying the divisions are baseless, that is not true. The US Census Bureau defines the regions of the USA, each with divisions: 1) Northeast: New England and Mid-Atlantic, 2) Mid-west: East north-central and west north-central, 3) South: south Atlantic, east south-central, west south-central, and 4) West: Mountain and Pacific. https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_census_divreg.html

Except the second thing you mention (merger-friendly) is typically NOT consumer friendly. Just keep that in mind. However, I do think the market is speaking and it cannot fully support 4 national carriers. Almost a full decade of losses with just a few quarters of positive revenue for one of the companies.

I think the bigger issue here is that many people are really starting to slow down with upgrades. It was in the Wall Street Journal last year (https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-keep-their-cellphones-longer-1461007321) and I think the trend will continue. Besides the number of us "technophiles", people are beginning to keep their phones as long as it does what they need it to do. For the most part that is email, music, web browsing, streaming, and some light gaming. I firmly believe that if you can afford to own your device, you should definitely do so. It super easy now to "shop" around to get the best prices, coverage, etc. If you can hang onto a device for 3 years with great coverage, you are definitely saving money now when compared to the old contract based pricing. Unfortunately, a lot of people are not as literate with technology and end up being burned. I just read on Reddit about a guy who bought an iPhone 6s from Apple through their installment program and he was using it on Verizon. He switched to Sprint and claimed Sprint gave him a 'free' iPhone 7 when he cancelled Verizon (he has to turn in the old iPhone). Long story short, the phone was not from Verizon, but Apple, so it is ineligible for the refund. He simply should have just inserted the Sprint SIM into the unlocked iPhone 6s and boom Sprint service. This stuff bothers me because people blame the carriers, when in actuality it is their fault.

"Though HPUE requires more powerful amplifiers, Sprint claims that it should have minimal impact on battery life because mobile devices will not need to be switching LTE bands as often." It sounds really cool and like it will work well in the areas with a good distribution of B41.

So I am wondering what effect this could have on battery life.

Funny because when I went into a Sprint store today in NY to pay off a lease the manager asked if I had issues with coverage in NY since my area code in CT. I told him where I had issues in the Bronx and he claimed that it was because my phone would be trying to connect to towers in Connecticut because of my area code. I was flabbergasted. But I am shocked with your bigger battery claim. Oh boy.

I understand now all in the user end. So nothing needs to be done on Sprint's end. Sorry for the confusion, going through a week of back pain from an injury. Hopefully the next iPhone will also support it and hopefully it really helps with B25/26 congestion.

Wait so no need for new radios to go up? I thought tower visits were going to be necessary for this switch. I understand the user devices are on the way, but I thought each tower would need a visit.

I'll be honest, I do not know if it will be "Sprint" rolling this out once the auction ends (most likely a combined company will), and who knows what a merged company will want to do. Sprint has unfortunately made me very skeptical about their network over the years. Literally, Sprint is the only cell phone company I have ever had since I got my first cell phone. I was upset about WiMAX, but understood why they went to LTE. Then tri-band LTE with B41, the speeds are great when connected to B41, but when you are traveling you often do not hang onto B41 for long. Son is really not seemingly optimistic about Sprint unless it is merged: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/business/dealbook/masayoshi-son-sprint-and-a-bet-on-the-trump-economy.html?_r=1. The HPUE demonstration at MWC may have been a showcase to potential suitors the power the spectrum. I would not be surprised if Comcast or another cable provider gains interest.

It is all well and good, but I would much rather have a consistent 10-25Mbps speed block to block, area to area, rather than insane speed tests on one block and 0.53Mbps on the next block. I do like seeing progress being made though.

Okay so I called back today to buyout my four leases (I was hung up on last night twice), and today I was told they cannot do this over the phone. I have to visit a Sprint store. Is this true? I thought people were able to pay it off over the phone!

Yes, I understand that, but to the average consumer they will not see this benefit for awhile unfortunately. I am not correct in understanding that HPUE headsets are just expected to hit the market this year?

Unfortunately, I have had this issue in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx and around the Fordham University area consistently. I have called about it as well. It is just strange. some days it works moderately well, other times it is just doesn't work. That being said, there are areas where it is great. The problem is the reliability in the Bronx is not great.

I just do not know if this will cut it versus the competition. It will involve another upgrade cycle for real-world users to experience the HPUE benefits, when they can already experience the benefits of better data networks with other carriers. Sprint's main issues continue to be in areas where suburban sprawl has exceeded the network and is not dense enough for B41.