GoBigRed79

I like my current situation with Sprint.  My two lines are in a full Framily.  I have the 3GB upgrade on my line, my wife is fine with 1 GB.  We don't need a huge bucket of data.  My problem with the new plans was that for people with only a couple of lines and no need for a huge bucket of data, there is not a lot of savings.  If you need a big bucket of data, they are great.  

 

But I see that there are more announcements to come later in the week so I will reserve final judgement until then.  The biggest issue with framily is your price goes up if you lose somebody.  I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon, but it could.  I would just like to see some good plans for single, 2 line customers who don't need a lot of data. $35-$40 a month for unlimited talk/text with 2-3GB data would be a good offering.  

 

And I understand Sprint can't give away the farm to existing subs, but I think a nod to the customers that have stuck with them through the NV upgrade issues should get something.  Maybe an early upgrade or $100 to a new device.  Just something to say thanks would be a good gesture.  

Speaking of these plans, no where was it mentioned anything about Unlimited, folks are starting to say that Unlimited is gone if thy go for these plans. Regardless of unlimited, I really do not see how these plans are suppose to be so easy to understand when there are so many caveats and foot notes to them.

 

That is what I was trying to say about the different between the price new subs pay and what existing subs pay.  Simple and clear plans are ones that don't require a page of FAQ's and footnotes to explain.  Current subs are going to see these new plans promoted on TV, go into the store, and told they are only for new subs.  Just like Framily it is going to cause confusion a negative experience.  

Additional revenue....

 

Unless you lose more subs then you bring in.

Legere just went crazy on twitter. Calling out Sprint for not taking care of existing customers. Worth a retweet from me!

With what they have put their subs through the past couple of years, this was a big mistake. What good is bringing in a bunch of new subs and spending a lot to do it at the cost of giving current subs the finger?

 

Just comes across as continued tone deaf management.

another thing to consider with these new plans, it does not appear to include the EASY PAY costs.

 

So these are the costs, then another 20 to 30 for easy pay (or pay $40 month to get subsidized phone).

For the lower data tiers it costs $25 per device unsubsidized and $40 per device subsidized. That would make the subsidized device a better deal unless contracts bother you. At least for flagship level devices.

They said we couldn't join a framily either...... Just saying I am sure there is a way.

Then they are not being clear and simple like we were promised.

after re-reading the link… not great at all.  

 

they are treating themselves like ATT or VZW, which is great BUT they don’t have the network for it, not even close! (at least in the states that I travel) 

 

Yeah.  If the new management thinks this is disruptive pricing they are no better then the old management. Johnny is going to have a field day with this

Current customers pay 160 http://support.sprint.com/support/article/FAQs_about_Sprint_Family_Share_Pack/85ba5891-1b6a-4ebf-9f2c-e16eec3ce55f

 

sent from an underwater dust storm with my Sprint S5

Wow.  So the customers that stuck things out get hosed.  This is a total fail.

Ehhh.  Not really that disruptive.  Where are the deals for single or 2 line plans?

The least we can ask for is a thank you for your patience reward.. 6 months to a year of discount on our account? Or even an early upgrade opportunity for customers nearing the end of a 2 year contract.

 

If they do any new promos I hope that are not all geared at new subs. They have to throw a bone to the folks that have stuck things out.  I am thinking early upgrades and possible hardware discounts to get people to updated phones that can take advantage of the new network.  Maybe a buyback bonus or a new phone rebate.

Code red

Pretty fair write up in the WSJ:

Sprint Move Puts Pressure on T-Mobile

 

Nice to see a major media outlet recognize that things are not all rosey at T-Mobile.  Bottom line is if they can't find a partner with deep pockets, they are going to get left behind long term.  And their pricing structure, while great in the short-term, will not work long-term for a carrier that is going to need spectrum and a lot of cash to get it.

 

 

I think the 7 day trial run...no strings attached idea for the iPhone was brilliant by Tmobile.  It not only gave exposure to the iPhone but people can do a true test comparing the Tmobile network to their current provider. Sprint should implement something like that. Maybe another thing could do is extend the trial period from 14 days to 30 days back to what it was before so that it gives customers more time to evaluate the service. I still think the Framily idea is too expensive for the first few lines and to need 7 folks to get down to $25/line is ridiculous.  The first few Framily lines need the price to be lower by another $5 or $10.   I think at this point getting a higher ARPU is not the main priority when you are bleeding customers.  Sprint could also bring back the loyalty premier program for 10+ year customers so that there is a sense of pride to be a Sprint customers and offer some sort of perks for remaining loyal to Sprint through the growing pains of Network Vision.  Certainly Sprint has a HUGE image problem regardless of how much progress it has made with Network Vision and there is plenty for Marcelo to start on once he gets his feet wet with the current Sprint operations.

 

This is something that could be Sprint's "uncarrier' move.  While they do need new subs, the also need to hold on to the ones they have.  Maybe a tiered discount based on uninterrupted years as a customer.  Maybe a phone discount program for loyal customers. Whatever stuff they come up with I think they need to keep their long time customers in mind and not just focus their efforts on new subs.

Sprint trading is near 150 million in volume today.  Amazing day.

 

Bought 500 S @ 5.86 today.  I decided to take a chance, I just don't see softbank not turning this thing around.

Not necessarily. You can still achieve efficiency without the need to layoff staff. I would imagine, for instance, that there are a lot of redundant processes between SoftBank and Sprint that could be consolidated without the need to lay off any employees.

 

But, yeah. Probably some layoffs. But probably not a giant axe.

 

Yup.  The company I work for just went through some cost cutting and we did it with very few layoffs.  Most of it is waste reduction.  It blows your mind how much waste there is in large corporations.  For example we were paying some software company a huge sum of money on a support contract.  Turns out we were not even using the application anymore but nobody bothered to cancel the support contract.  That is one example but there is that kind of stuff in most large companies.

Seems a lot of trolls in every article today about the new ceo, and the tmobile and sprint merger stuff. The funny thing is these individuals don't use sprint, and they keep the bashing to continue.

 

Bashing Sprint is the easy and lazy thing for the bloggers to do.  Don't get me wrong, Sprint has it's issues, but the way some of these articles are written you would think Sprint is circling the drain and T-Mobile will be right up with ATT and Verizon soon.  The fact that few of these writers point out that T-Mobile has their own issues right now speeks volumes.  But remember most of these writers are based in NY or SF where T-Mobile is strong with their urban core focus.  The bloggers could care less about the fact that if you leave a city you are likely on Edge with T-Mobile if you have coverage at all. 

 

Also keep in mind a lot of comments are coming from people who probably have not used sprint in some time or are old Nextel customers still bitter they lost their walkie talkies.

 

My favorate comment from the article linked above:

 

Nothing about this article gives me high hopes in regard to Sprint. Sprint just sucks. The one time i was fascinated with Sprint/Nextel was the Push-to-Talk feature they had on their phones. Can you imagine an iPhone or Galaxy such-and-such w/ a push-to-talk walkie-talkie feature and how beneficial that would be in case of a disaster post 9/11, Katrina, etc. or some new social interaction that's all the rage? To me, something like THAT should have been Sprint's new "killer" feature. The only thing that will help Sprint now is a visionary at the helm, not this turd. At least T-mobile's CEO is grabbing headlines with straight talk. This guy is Sprint's Stephen Elop. He's in there just long enough to clean up Sprint's books to get it prettier enough to sell and get a golden parachute. Maybe Apple or Same-sung will buy Sprint and change the game again? I'm old, what do i know?

 

 

Damm, if Steve Jobs had just given Sprint an iDen PTT iPhone, all would be well now.

 After spending the better chunk of this year advocating why a merger was absolutely necessary to take on the duopoly, they need to come out and demonstrate that they have a plan B (and they do).

 

I wish the blogs and media would understand this.  Masa and Claure are very successful businessmen.  Dropping the T-Mobile bid and canning Hesse was not a snap decision. My feeling is this has been calculated for some time.  They have known for a while the regulatory climate was leaning against the merger.  My guess the ruling on joint bidding the auction was the last straw that set the plan in motion.  I think they do have a new plan ready to go and we will hear something about it sooner rather then later.

I'm probably going to stick to the Swappa thing.  Heard too many people selling Sprint phones and the idiots request the phone serial and activate on their account holding it ransom. I'm hoping you don't have to post the number with Swappa.

 

Nope.  You give them the ESN as part of the listing and they check it before approving the listing.  They do not publish the ESN in the listing and only provide to the buyer after the sale.

I've never heard of Swappa before this thread. The prices seem to be a little better than eBay average -- would you say that the transactions were fairly straightforward? eBay makes things so easy from the seller's perspective, so I'm just a little curious...

 

I love swappa.  Very Straightforward.  I have sold a couple of phones on there and if you price them right they usually sell within a day or two on average.  Cheaper then eBay also.  Normal listing is free.  You just pay the PayPal fees.

Swappa is great.  I have bought/sold several phones on there with no issues.  I don't use Ebay anymore since swappa came along because it is cheaper and just seems safer.  Use PayPal and you do have some seller protection, but I would not 100% count on it.  Just be sure to follow the rules like only send to the verified address and get tracking info.  Take good pictures and honestly disclose any defects or other issues.  But selling online is always going to come with the risk of a chargeback, but I think it is pretty rare.  Just use your instincts.  I have personally refused to complete a couple of deals because things just did not feel right.  Mainly had to do with being asked to ship to an address other than what was in PayPal or real slow communications. 

 

Craigslist is also not bad for local deals.  Just meet the person at a carrier store or inside a starbucks and you should have no problems.  With that you get cash and no worries of chargebacks. 

Not good news for Sprint. 

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-01/fcc-intends-to-bar-joint-bidding-in-airwaves-auction.html

 

 

Sprint shares have taken a beating today.

Dow down over 300 and Nasdaq down 89.  S was not the only one taking a beating today.  Obviously the news did not help either.  

Oui, monsieur.

 

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/report-frances-iliad-makes-bid-purchase-t-mobile-us/2014-07-31

 

This.  No way T-Mobile shareholders would approve a lower price then Sprint is offering unless it was totally clear a T-mobile/Sprint deal could not happen.  And Softbank could outbid them easily if they wanted.  This is not a big threat, IMHO.  

 

For the record, I would rather see a deal with DISH.

Whelp, I was right.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/31/5954969/t-mobile-q2-earnings-profit

I hate it when I'm right.

Yeah..pretty fair write up though.  Did not really trash sprint and even pointed out that most of the profit was from the licensing deal with VZW and not from new subscribers.  

 

 

It's worth noting this quarter's strong financial performance was driven largely by licensing deals with Verizon, which paid T-Mobile $731 million to acquire spectrum. Subscriber growth added to revenue, but not profit. In part that may be because the Uncarrier program, which offers to pay customers early termination fees, incurs a heavy expense up front, with the hopes of holding onto those customers for the long haul.

 

 

All four major US wireless carriers had strong second quarters. Sprint also reported a small profit and said that it had trimmed its losses, with only 181,000 customers leaving over the last quarter. Verizon and AT&T both reported subscriber gains and healthy profits, par for the course among the market leaders.

 

BGR is pretty much nothing but a tabloid tech blog anymore.