dro1984

so another partially baked plan by Sprint that's not fully deployed then they decide to change it. I hope this isn't the case. They can't afford to keep doing this.

I'm not a fan of the whole Magic box thing. I always just considered it a band aid on a poorly spaced network with too few of towers and horrible low band availability. Some areas don't even have 800. I had a magic box, got annoyed and sent it back. If the merger goes through, I don't think there will be a real need for MB anymore. New T-Mobile with have 600 mHz, 700, 800, 1700, 1900, 2100 and B41 (2500 mHz).

Jeff.... having similar issues here on the east side of Michigan. All I can get is a very crowded B25 (1900). B41 is sometimes available, but data is not very good. Speeds are way down.

A rep asked at Mobile World Congress, asked the fate of Sprint's Magic Box if the merger goes through... Sprint would not answer question.Sprint Magic Box Uncertain future if Merger green lighted... Sprint didn't answer

L'Anse Creuse is a bit of a distance for me. I probably will not be out that way for a while. Sorry to say.

Service in the eastern end of Oakland county (read Rochester Hills by Oakland U) hasn't done well either. Just came back to Sprint from Consumers Cellular (uses AT&T and T-Mobile Network). I bought a new Samsung 9+, a HPUE device, and notice now I can't pick up B41 in my house or yard at all now. It's there if I'm outside but shows as 131 db's... Not usable, so I'm always on B25 115-110 db, not stellar, and which seems very crowded now. My first words out of my mouth were "what the hell happened!?" Used to be able to get B41 in the winter all the time indoors and sometimes in the summer early morning. Now, not even outside is it available. I'll keep plugging My Sprint for slow data until they do something.

This may not bode well for the merger... giving those that are against, more food for feeding. (Reduces the MVNO's and cheap plans) I have to say, I don't think Sprint knew what to do with Virgin. The brand went silent more than a year ago.. no commercials, or advertising. It was once a bigger contributor to Sprint's bottom line. The I-Phone only thing probably was the final death nail. Hope Sprint knows what they are doing, but I doubt it.

Hey Snake... I know they got Clearwire, but wasn't Clearwire formed/expanded from the Sprint Nextel merger and that spectrum was "sold" to Clearwire to run and manage (ie... WiMax). Sprint still had a percentage ownership of Clear, Sprint wanted to instruct on how and when which lead to the huge dispute with Craig McCaw... and eventual buyout. One further question... what happened to all the investment from Google, Comcast, Time Warner.... all that money blown?... Shame... The whole thing was a money pit. If only Sprint would have just gone the LTE route like Verizon, AT&T.... From Wiki: "In November 2008, Clearwire completed a landmark transaction with Sprint combining their next-generation wireless broadband businesses into a new wireless communications company, which retained the name Clearwire.[9] With the closing, Sprint contributed all of its 2.5 GHz spectrum and its WiMAX-related assets, including its XOHM business, to Clearwire. In addition, Clearwire received a $3.2 billion cash investment from Comcast, Intel, Time Warner Cable, Google and Bright House Networks. The new company trades on the NASDAQ as CLWR. As part of the announcement, then Clearwire Chairman Craig McCaw said, "The power of the mobile Internet, which offers speed and mobility, home and away, on any device or screen, will fundamentally transform the communications landscape in our country. We believe that the new Clearwire will operate one of the fastest and most capable broadband wireless networks ever conceived, giving us the opportunity to return the U.S. to a leadership position in the global wireless industry."

T-Mobile already has the plan set. It was told in one of the news conferences by Neville Ray. They are ready.

I agree. As my memory recalls, they were very anxious to get the 2.5G bands. Then they fudged it up with the infamous WIMAX decision. I even bought a Wimax phone, EVO 4G in mid 2010 and got to pay a $10 premium for high end data because I had a smart phone that was "4G". Never ever did get Wimax and wasted a bunch of money on a useless device that only got 3G. The argument from Sprint on the $10 premium data was that it would allow them moneys to deploy the 4G network. What got me back then was not even a few months later, (mid 2008) after Sprint announced they were going to Wimax, Verizon said they were going to go to LTE. All the neigh sayers said it wouldn't be ready until years after Wimax... as it turned out, a little over a year later, Verizon was beginning LTE install. All we got were "Wimax protection sites". in 2010,Verizon had LTE up and running. Sprint promised Wimax... but it never happened. Sprint's track record is not the best. Many mistakes and bad choices and tons of wasted money spent. A full 8 years later, we are all still waiting for Sprint to complete the "4G" roll out! Laughable! Meanwhile, Verizon is planing on shutting down their CDMA all together. My hope is now for the merger. Let someone else get control of the spectrum and deploy it they was it should have been. I firmly believe T-Mobile will.

Dan, without Nextel, they would have only 1900mHz. No 800 and no 2500mHz. So, they did get something out of that. Without Nextel, it still doesn't mean they would have done things much different. They've had 12 years or more to figure this out. It is what it is...

I wonder when they will begin the ability to Roam? I just rejoined Sprint after a 3 months with a lower tier carrier.... bought a new Samsung S9+. First time I experienced HD Voice on Sprint and also turned on VoLTE (it's on the phone settings, and says "Beta"). It works in my area and actually is pretty good! Sorry to say even with a HPUE device, I can no longer pick up B41 at home in Summer. (Tree foliage?)

Don't forget VoLTE. That was promised and continually delayed also.

Sprint and T-Mobile go be congressional committee next Wednesday (June 27th) I believe. This is their chance to "sell" the merger to congress. I hope it's successful because I want to come back once the merger is complete.

DOJ doesn't appear to have major objections to Sprint/T-Mobile merger

Used car salesman tactics... very distasteful! My old unlimited plan would have been affected,(terminated) because they had no limits on Video quality (1080p now) and no limits on streaming music etc at certain bandwidth maximums.... They have what everyone else has now... put limits on everything. I think all the "Unlimited" data plans all have caps for all that now.

Still way better in my experiences than you-know-who. Both at home and work. (Work at a large Auto Company and across the street form a national tourist attraction). Wrote many letters and emails to those involved at the former provider. They didn't care. Then you compound the issue with very little low band and bingo.

Dan, they have holes where I live and when they don't, the upload speed is extremely slow even on LTE Band 41... Like 1x speeds... The only hope is that TMob will "fix" this when and if the day comes. After 20 years, I dropped Sprint and ported my number Monday. Service and speeds are so much better and way more stable where I am now. No regrets.

Agreed...but just a possibility.. maybe a 50/50 chance... Don't really know. With the current administration, nothing can be taken for grated. Nobody is completely on or not on board with the merger as to the DOJ or FCC. Anything can happen which is why Sprint and T-Mobile are and will be at both agencies frequently for the time being. Official paper work for the merger will be filed by months end with the government parties (FCC and DOJ).

Dan, how do you know this? I'm having trouble with you being so sure "Well I know the government will definitely make them divest some of their Spectrum." Really? Nobody knows anything yet!

Arysyn: It wasn't intended to be a complete biography. It explained where he went to school, his early life and the companies he worked for (New England Bell, AT&T...) and how T-Mobile wanted him. I feel the whole intent was to show he is not the typical portrait of a traditional CEO and that's what it was meant to provide.

An interesting view of John Legere. He is different and not what we typically think of as a CEO but his style is effective. John Legere... Who he is... do you think you know him?

Really? Fantastic... Now I know what my next phone will be! Do I have to buy directly from Samsung or can I buy unlocked somewhere else? Thanks Paynefanbro!

Isn't the very 800mhz you speak of, the same spectrum band that has taken Sprint about 12 years to fix via rebanding/radio switches? (Hello IBEZ) OMG! All that waiting by us IBEZ areas and the money spent by Sprint only to give it all back... uuuummmmm... wow, that would make me crazy angry with Sprint and all the money spent. The only benefit from all that was didn't the FCC give Sprint some other 1900 spectrum in exchange for some of the 800 and 900mhz Sprint gave up. I too, like many of you hope Sprint and T-Mobile will not have to divest in any of their spectrum, but what a stew it might be.... 600, 700, 800, 1700, 1900, 2000/2100, 2400 mhz... Hahaha! Very nice!

I have a feeling Sprint and T-Mobile will have to give up some spectrum (if it's approved) or at the very least will be subject to extensive build out conditions (which I have no problem with)...DOJ or FCC might even say, you have to remain a value driven carrier and offer rurual areas plans for under $--.00 . They will be in-between AT&T and Verizon for size... so they will be a new "Major Player".