Nrbelex

Ars has "the most comprehensive picture to date of the mobile phone surveillance technology that has been deployed in the US over the past decade." Seems like most of these machines can identify the location from which a phone call is being made, collect hundreds of IMSIs and ESMs, view texts, and listen in on calls. They're in the hands of the usual three letter agencies but also lots of local police departments. Apparently, "their use by law enforcement agencies is in a legal gray zone, particularly because interference with communications signals is supposed to be prohibited under the federal Communications Act." So what do you guys think? Is any of this surprising? Any technical insight? Ever notice any strange behavior on your device which makes you think you might have been surveilled by one?

Based on the categories it's filed under, I'm thinking it might be software...

I believe that might already be taken .

Sprint very recently filed a trademark application for "SPRINT WEGO" Can't find any references to that term anywhere. Any thoughts on what it is or will be?

Having a similar issue as well. Curiously, I'm also in MO (CWE in STL specifically). Don't think NV is happening on my tower yet. When I get a call from a person I know, someone random is on the line when I answer. The person who was actually calling me either gets silence or a random person on their end. Called Sprint tech support and they filed a CTMS ticket. Hoping they figure out what's going on. Did this get resolved for you?

Search fail; threads merged. See below.

Money grabber

Hi everyone - so here's something I never thought I'd be saying in 2013: recently I've been experiencing crossed telephone lines. Specifically, when I get a call from Person A (at this time I can't tell if it's just that one person who happens to be a VZ subscriber or anybody who calls me), I answer the phone only to find someone else is on the line. This has happened randomly roughly 4 or 5 times over the last month. I use Google Voice integration with Sprint and right now I'm thinking that's the problem, but I haven't tried turning it off or anything like that yet. Has anyone else experienced this? Thoughts? Thanks

Congrats and enjoy! You seem to have set this site in motion to an extent that can't be slowed even by your brief absence. It's an exciting time to be here, but I'm sure you'll be back before things get too crazy. Good luck!

FINAL COUNTDOWN

Also, presented without commentary, this is the default alarm:

The Verge and Gizmodo reviews are up. The Verge gives it an 8 overall, which is pretty high, but they hate the software. Gizmodo says the following, which is largely in line with Ars' review:

Looks like Republic Wireless, an MVNO running via Sprint, is now offering access to Sprint's LTE network. They're also offering the Moto X for $299 off contract. Here are their new plans: As you can see, their top plan is "unlimited talk text and data" although the language doesn't make clear whether the cellular data connection is unlimited - I suspect not. Republic Wireless also uses custom software to favor wi-fi for voice and data wherever possible. Nonetheless, $40 a month is a pretty good deal to get a connection to Sprint's LTE network. The Moto X is a single-band device, but it'll be interesting to see if they offer a tri-band device in the future. That could have some serious appeal. Thoughts?

Far Side

Does that mean there are different PRLs for corporate accounts?

So it sounds like LTE isn't gonna happen. Have recent Sprint PRLs for similar phones allowed for roaming on Verizon's EV-DO recently?

Cool. I'm off contract but I've been with Sprint for four years, so I would imagine they should let me and the other three lines on my account do a BYOD. So it sounds like they won't force me to change plans down the road no matter what - whether I remain off contract and do BYOD or renew and get a device through them. Pretty cool - it's the ideal situation to be in.

That would be great. I know other carriers haven't used the same policy. Is this also true if I want to remain off-contract for the long term and bring my own device?

Based on the bands in the device and the roaming agreements in place, is there any chance Sprint customers will be able to roam on other carriers' EV-DO or LTE connections?

Missed that. It's certainly good news!

Yea, I wasn't saying it wasn't impossible to do - via app, hidden settings, etc. - I'm just shocked it's a user-facing menu. Unless this is a screenshot from a hidden menu...

Wow, impressive.

Eh, I still largely trust Ars. In this case I think the author simply could not move past the LG skin, which from my perspective is totally understandable. It's his exact complaints which will keep me from getting this phone.

Haven't seen rumors on the screen technology specifically; hoping they carry over whatever they used in the G2 because its screen has been widely praised. The Nexus 4's screen was a shared component with the OG. In this case, the Nexus 5's screen is rumored to be 5" while the G2's is 5.2", so it can't be a shared component if the rumors are true. Doesn't mean the technology can't be the same.

No way this is making it into the final software... right? Simply cannot imagine carriers allowing this.