irev210

Good job on their part! I wonder how Sprint did though.

Sounds like it wasn't that great for Sprint.

 The company said it logged porting ratios of 1.4 versus Verizon , 1.8 versus AT&T and 2.2 versus Sprintin the fourth quarter.

I can't believe how many subscribers T-Mobile has gained - they've done a great job.  I am glad to see the increased competition - good for us Sprint users as well as we've seen Sprint up their game significantly as of late.

Absolutely, the network operators do "develop" handsets with their contracted OEMs.

 

If you want a Sprint example, if Sprint were otherwise not involved in device procurement, no handset would ever include the amalgam of band class 10 CDMA2000, band 26 LTE, and band 41 TD-LTE.

 

Let us not play dumb about this, okay?

 

AJ

I mean, once we go VoLTE and cast CDMA away - can't any handset manufacturer just include the bands of the carriers they want to cover/support?  In the rest of the world, it seems like it is very common for devices to be unlocked and just work on carriers.

Tell AT&T and T-Mobile to develop all of their handsets to be compatible with VZW and Sprint.  That is two way, fair play.  But they would use a similar excuse -- "no technological process."  Oh, it would be "extremely easy."  But "they refuse to implement one."

 

AJ

I didn't know AT&T and T-Mobile developed handsets.

You mean that T-Mobile and AT&T need to develop an unlocked handset with a manufacturer?  I thought that if say, Sony wanted to sell a phone an unlocked phone with LTE Band 4/5/12/17/13/25/26/41 - it could just do it.  I could buy it, take a T-Mobile sim, and just rock and roll.

I guess carriers could block the IMEIs... *shrug*

Now if Sprint would just unlock iPhone's customers bought from them that are paid in full.

It says VERY clearly on the Sprint Unlock Website:

Specifically, devices manufactured with a SIM slot within the past three years (including, but not limited to, all Apple iPhone devices), cannot be unlocked to accept a different domestic carrier's SIM for use on another domestic carrier's network. Sprint has no technological process available to do this. In accordance with Sprint's voluntary commitment contained within CTIA's Consumer Code for Wireless Service ("Unlocking Commitment"), Sprint is working to ensure that all devices developed and launched on or after February 11, 2015, are capable of being unlocked domestically.

Sprint has no technological process available to do this.  It would be EXTREMELY easy to have a process to unlock phones but they refuse to implement one.

It still cracks me up every time I read this.  Hackers who sell unlocks on eBay can do it, yet Sprint Corp. cannot.  It just makes Sprint look like a bunch of arrogant idiots.

Apple now is selling the Sprint Variant of the iPhone 6/6+ unlocked at the Apple Store.  Their disclaimer states it will work with Sprint. 

This is great news.  It's awesome that Apple is just selling the Sprint iPhone unlocked to any customer for use on any major network in the USA.

I hope that Apple moves towards selling a single model that works across all carriers in the US - they are very close.

Very refreshing.  Nexus 6 and iPhone 6, the first phones to break down the 1 device/1 carrier rule.  Now, customers will be able to buy 1 device and use it on any carrier they would like.  It's game changing.  Unhappy with your service?  Just switch to a new carrier while not having to deal with contracts, ETFs, and other BS.

That was before Legere said that they were going to do native footprint rollout to 300 million POPs using 700MHz, PCS, and AWS (which Braxton Carter has explicitly said that it involves geographic expansion at an investor conference, and Legere has reiterated that new towers are going to be constructed for the expansion in the Uncarrier 8.0 event even though he kind of waved it away in favor of talking about low-band spectrum). And keep in mind, this is also part and parcel for meeting those pesky buildout obligations for AWS and 700MHz licenses that they've not yet built out.

Thanks for the update - I didn't know that.

300 million pops native is very aggressive.  T-Mobile has a history of announcing what us sprint guys view as impossible, yet they always seem able to pull it off.

Hopefully this new announcement will really kick Sprint into high gear.

Though I start to wonder if pop coverage even matters with AT&T and Verizon's push into mega-expansion of DAS.

How is T-Mobile going to cover 300  million people with 700 mhz, when it's not even available in 30+ states, and in the states it is there are restrictions or its not statewide?

 

I can't understand how they expect to reach those numbers. Can Sprint even hit 300 million with LTE 800?

 

Edit: 30+ states might be an overstatement. I'm not entirely sure on the numbers, I just went through and counted the states from the spectrum map from a while back. 

A big part of it will be their roaming partners.

fiercewireless had an article on it a few months back.

My Charter Triple Play Bundle is starting its annual price hike, and our home telephone service is seeing the biggest jump - about $5/month.

My wife and I were looking at Ooma, but I'm curious if anyone has alternate suggestions/experiences they could share. The new price - $25/mo for "unlimited" home phone - is absurd, but we do need a local number for some things. Hence, the dilemma.

(This also gives me an excuse to upgrade our Router & buy a new gigabit switch! )

Google Voice with hangouts.

Free!

 

Verizon is also protected, to an extent. VoLTE isn't designed to be fully authenticated and configured from the ISIM application on the UICC, so you wouldn't be able to use voice service over LTE on unbranded 3GPP-only device. I hope this changes soon, but there's no indication that anyone wants to fix it.

While true - I've seen people get their AT&T/T-Mobile branded iPhones to support VoLTE on Verizon (some struggle, others report no issue).

This is a bummer to hear.  I had hoped that Sprint would continue to be more aggressive on the pricing front.

I guess the recent downgrade by Moody's and the stock slump isn't helping.

Indeed, and I've been a member over there for over 10 of those years. However, his incessant T-Mobile cheerleading has frankly become rather unconscionable IMHO.

He has done a nice job showcasing AT&T's "Fiber to the press release" roll out.

I think more competition in this area would be great.

Seems legit.

Until the world of Bitcoin settles down, has very little risk, and goes a little more mainstream, we will not be able to dedicate resources or accept the risk associated with Bitcoin.

Just as an FYI, Microsoft is now accepting bitcoin:

The rest of the world is 3GPP fantasyland.

 

AJ

And in the rest of the USA.

Go to the apple store, buy a full price AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile iPhone, and stick any sim in, and you are up and running on every carrier except sprint.

Verizon won't activate a new sim on a non-verizon phone but an activated verizon sim will work fine on unlocked devices.

You can't ignore the additional processing power required to push more pixels through.  That affects CPU/GPU power consumption.

Process shrinks, stopping gate leaks, better software to improve battery life, etc seem to offset the increased power.

The power required to light more pixels is the issue - see above

So far current rumor is....

• 5.2" screen
• 1080p
• 2840 MAh battery
• Snapdragon 810
• 20.7 MP camera

 

More rumors will come out soon but so far this thing looks like a beast.  Hope it's RF performance is good. I also prefer them stay with a 1080p display for performance and battery compensation.

Interesting that they are going to a 20.7 MP shooter.

Why can't they just go to a large sensor 8 MP?  If apple can do it, HTC should do it BIGGER.

I hope they also release a play store edition....

Different handsets, multiple variables.  That is not a truly scientific test.

 

AJ

Everything I've read shows that smaller pixels require a brighter backlight to carry the same level of brightness, thus requiring more power.

There are 4 times as many pixels in the display that need to be kept powered. Also 4 times as much memory and processing power is needed for the images. In addition, the light transmission of the LCD decreases as the pixel density increases, so a brighter Backlight is necessary. In fact, the number of Backlight LEDs has roughly doubled (from 36 to an estimated 72 to 82), so the Backlight power has approximately doubled. Since the display normally consumes about 50-60 percent of the total Tablet power, the new iPad needs at least a 50 percent larger battery. In fact, the battery increased from 25 to 42.5 watt hours, a 70 percent increase. Our measured Backlight power for the new iPad is 2.5 times the iPad 2 for the same screen brightness.

http://www.displaymate.com/iPad_ShootOut_1.htm

It's pretty clear that when the iPad went retina, power consumption on the actual display more than doubled from 2.7 watts to 7 watts.

Do you think that Sprint should just throw the doors wide open, putting the responsibility upon the end users by allowing any and all bring your own devices -- even those that may be greatly compromised in Sprint centric CDMA2000 band class or LTE band capabilities?

 

AJ

Like the rest of the world? Absolutely!

At this point, major handset manufacturers should just be selling one North American device anyhow.

There is no reason why Apple makes a Sprint/International iphone and a AT&T/VZN/T-Mobile iPhone but it is fair to guess that Sprint wanted to make sure that AT&T/VZN/T-Mobile customers couldn't bring their handsets to Sprint (which is ridiculous).

Sure, there is some education involved, but people should know when they buy a phone what carrier it works with.  Like Apple now selling iPads with universal sims - it's already happening.

There have been some limited recent successful attempts at getting devices whitelisted.  We are going to try many avenues to see if any route is successful.

I would also be curious if unlocked international iphones would work on Sprint

http://www.amazon.com/Apple-iPhone-Plus-Space-Unlocked/dp/B00NQGOODE/

maybe contest part 2

Better step up? You're threatening Sprint? Just leave.

 

If you MUST have high speed LTE in a public venue point loaded with tens of thousands of customers, you should go find another provider. Sprint really isn't even working on stadiums yet. Just their macro network. Most NFL stadiums have fantastic WiFi.

Agreed.  While the Macro network is obviously the first priority, I am surprised Claure isn't jumping onto new projects that the bulk of the engineering work could be handled concurrently with VZN/ATT DAS roll outs.  At this stage in the game, it will be VERY difficult to compete with AT&T/VZN once projects like these are completed. 

I saw an interesting job posting yesterday - a project coordinator for Harvard University.

https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGWEbHost/jobdetails.aspx?jobId=1115120&partnerid=25240&siteid=5341&type=search&JobReqLang=1&codes=IND

Project Coordinator 

Harvard University - Cambridge, MA

This is a fully benefited, full-time Harvard University position that has been funded for two years. There is the possibility of renewal, contingent on funding, university priorities and satisfactory job performance. 

 

Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) is seeking a Project Coordinator for the multiyear University Distributed Antenna System (DAS) Program implementation. This position will be responsible for independently managing critical pre and post installation in-building signal testing (~375 buildings) and the DAS site construction portions (~20 cell sites) of this large-scale project. Selected manager will supervise all installation subcontractors while managing relationships with involved School and HRES building facility managers. Position will report to the DAS Program Project Manager lead. 

 

The key responsibilities for this position include the following: 

 

Manage all phases of the effort to successfully design, build and test up to 20 individual outside Distributed Antenna (oDAS) host building sites; Work with ATT and Verizon engineers on oDAS host building specifications and selection criteria; Schedule and manage all proposed oDAS host site engineering surveys; Oversee creation of construction drawing sets (CD’s) and photo SIMS for each location as an aid to state, municipal and school approval processes. 

 

Manage all on-campus macro cellular signal benchmark testing (approximately 375 buildings) including scheduling all building walk-throughs and arranging access to secure areas with building managers; Escort all vendors performing testing; Arrange safe access to oDAS host roofs to install temporary test transmitters; Schedule building walk-throughs to test simulated oDAS cell signal levels; Oversee ATT’s documentation of all target building signal levels; Identify priority in-building areas that will require additional signal remediation to obtain a quality level of enhanced cellular service. 

 

Supervise the General Contractor’s management of the per building oDAS host equipment installation including Remote Radio Units, Antennas, power and fiber communications cabling; Ensure that all activities comply with Harvard’s safety and mitigation standards; Develop project phase plans, work breakdown structures and timelines and report regularly on project subtask progress status to the Project Manager; Provide reports to HUIT sponsors and School stakeholders as directed. 

 

Establish and maintain relationships with School and HRES building managers to support communication of the oDAS program to their local community of interest; Schedule oDAS information outreach sessions with tenants; Liaise with ATT provided RF experts as well as assigned Health Physicist support from Harvard EH&S; Manage responses to all presented Radiation Frequency (RF) questions or concerns. 

Collaborate with the DAS Product Manager to ensure that all project activities are conducted according to the terms and conditions of the University DAS Master Agreement: Manage payment by ATT of all invoices generated by Harvard entities in support of the oDAS installation program; Manage the metering of power consumption at all DAS sites; Work with the HUIT Financial Partner to issue invoices in an accurate and timely fashion. 

This is my concern as well.

 

The backend systems can barely handle the plans they have going on now. Things are really going to get messed up if everyone is getting a custom quoted price plan.

 

Plus, this brings a really weird "haggling" to the lineup too. If it becomes clear that the reps can just select a rate plan arbritarily, people are going to start pushing for the lowest one. Folks are going to feel cheated (because at some level, they are getting cheated.)

 

In fact, I bet the reps will do the haggling for them for the commissions -- similar to how most corporate Sprint stores just gave anyone who walked in off the street a $25/month rate plan on a random strangers Framily plan).

 

- - - - -

 

I'm 100% on board with the basic idea. Give subscribers a great deal, to get them on board. It's a good move. Marcelo has the right idea.

 

But this particular implementation of that idea feels --- really sketchy and not well planned. They probably should have just come out with a simple rate plan, like the plans they trialed in the midwest. ($40/3GB. $50/Unlimited).

Much agreed - just like the corporate discounts.  I know someone that walked into a Sprint store and just said they were with blah blah blah employer and got the highest 27% discount.  The associate wanted the commission and just pushed it through.

My experience at sprint stores leaves much to be desired.  The way employees are compensated definitely invites the potential for a lot of scamming.

I look forward to seeing how Sprint actually plans to roll this out.

I also read a lot of other comments in major news articles were current sprint customers felt like they needed to switch to AT&T or Verizon, then switch back.

Well, 

they do have the $200 fee if you don't return your phone (a Brightstar/Marcelo idea for sure) to make it less attractive to people signing up for a bit at AT&T and then dumping the contract by taking Sprint's ETF and selling the phones. It is sure open for abuse but most of these ETF payout plans are exploitable in some way or another. I like the waived fees with full device purchase. Puts them ahead of the game after the ETF payout, smart.

 

Also, this does NOT include additional employer discounts if I read the FAQ correctly:

Will the discount include my NVP?

• The Cut Your Bill in Half Event is calculated off of your net total competitor talk, text and data charges which will include your NVP discount.
• Additional NVP discounts through Sprint will not be awarded.
• The Sprint Half Price plans are only eligible for Consumer accounts

 

Anyways, I think this is pretty clever myself and provided people can't stack employer discounts it should mostly amount to reasonable rates in comparison to what current new customers like myself can get. I pay $77 before taxes for 20GB +2GB per line for 2 lines under Sprint Family Shared so if someone comes in and pays $60-70 then why would I care? They have to buy brand new phones so their bill would be more than mine anyways.

 

FWIW in regard to credit scores etc.. Sprint will be going after higher credit score customers with this promotion. AT&T and Verizon have the best overall customer portfolios in the industry and this also makes sense why T-Mobile was NOT included!

I am just confused how this is actually going to be implemented.  Does an employee just get a drop down box of data and price?

So a sprint employee sees a $100 verizon bill, then just selects 2 lines, 2GB data, $50/month from three separate drop down boxes?

I guess I am just more interested on the back-end implementation.  It just seems like a nightmare.  I know that T-Mobile just went through a very focused effort to get over 90% of its subscribers on simple choice.  This new promotion seems like a disaster for back office and plan management.

I'd really love if any people who work at a sprint store could talk about how they are going to do this.

Are they going to create rate plans in $5 increments?

This seems like it is ripe for fraud, abuse, confusion, and a bunch of other things - anyone that can help clarify how this "half price" promotion will work - it would be awesome.

I like the new plan idea, it's innovative but seems like a back-end nightmare.

Haha yeah.  I just miss Android too much.  The whole 6" screen thing kinda threw me off at first, but the more I look at it, the more I am sure I will grow to love it.  I don't install a ton of custom ROMs, but I miss being able to if I want to.  I miss all the widgets - SignalCheck...  everything about Android ha. 

 

The 32 GB version doesn't bug me - on the 64 GB iPhone I still have 49 GB free and I have installed a TON of apps (in my mind at least).  I use SiriusXM for music, so I don't tend to keep any songs actually on my phone, and I offload pictures every couple of weeks to my computer.

 

I am going to attempt to scoop this up after work, but if it isn't in stock I might talk myself out of it during the weekend.  Who knows.  Either way I think I am going to sell the iPhone 6.  I will either be using a Nexus 6 or my old Nexus 5 by Monday.

I am in the same boat.

Lots to love about both phones but for some reason, I find myself missing nexus.

Has anyone noticed a very loud buzz with the iPhone 6 Plus Vibrate motor?