marioc21

Here's my list since I first joined up with Sprint back in 2000 or so:

Basic Phones

Nokia 6185

Sanyo SCP-4500

Samsung SPN-n200

Samsung SPH-a740

Smartphones

Motorola Q

Palm Pre

Samsung Epic 4g

Samsung Epic 4g Touch

LG G2

That tower is right there, I knew something was different when I had service in the hospital

 

 

Not LTE but decent 3G

Took a walk around grounds and the block.  Never got it to hook up to LTE.  My phone would see the LTE and try to get on only to be rejected. 3g was operating much better though.  

Galaxy mega as well.

Mega already had it.  Mega and s4 mini were first out of the gate. 

Add the Galaxy Note 3 to this list.

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/04/02/sprint-brings-wi-fi-calling-to-the-galaxy-note-3-via-ota-update-version-n900pvpucnc5/

Will have to go out at lunch and walk around the General Assembly grounds and see if I can pick up that LTE tower that was reported yesterday. 

With KK you can now say "Ok Google" and google now pops up.  Of course you can do that with your Nexus 7 since it has been on KK for awhile now.  You just got used to it on your Nexus 7 but didn't realize that it was a KK feature.  It doesn't work on JB for the "Ok google" phrase.

Does yours work from your home screen? Mine only works when I have google search open on the phone. 

Gah why did you people say that worked for you!? Now I'm doing it every 10 minutes lol.

Don't have to wait that long.  Just try it one after another.  Took me about 4 or 5 tries before it finally popped up with the update. Downloading now.

Also, I guess Sprint did have a typo on their support page since the file being downloaded clearly says ZVC?

Happy Birthday, Robert!!

Or maybe not.  Could be that ZVC is a later update. But, we'll all find out soon enough.

It's coming.

http://support.sprint.com/support/article/Find_and_update_the_software_version_on_your_LG_G2/WServiceAdvisory_542_GKB55011?INTNAV=SU:DP:OV:UG:LgG2:FindAndUpdateTheSoftwareVersionOnYourLgG2&question_box=software%20lg%20g2&id16=software%20lg%20g2

Data is completely down in western chesterfield. Has been since yesterday. I hope it's a sign that LTE is coming soon.  

The thing is... would Sprint also have access to the spectrum that other CCA members have? If so, Sprint can deploy another LTE 800 carrier using CL850 as CL 850 is part of Band 26. 

The whole point of the hub is that it's a reciprocal deal. If you enter you agree to both roaming both ways. Somebody else will have to comment on the frequencies.  So far the only Sprint has announced is that they are going to support band 12 in some of their future devices.  Although if you look at a screen cap I posted of one of the slides shown during the presentation you'll see that Sprint and the CCA may are planning to support many bands in the future.  

Here you go:  http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/5684-sprint-to-join-rural-operators-roaming-hub/?p=299532

That's why the CCA is attractive.  You'll be pretty much all in or all out.  And since Sprint is allowing CCA members to strike deals to get access to Sprint spectrum and even capex funding, there is a lot of benefit for local wireless providers to jump in with this and stay.

 

I just watched the whole video, and I'm impressed.  It's too bad Sprint couldn't have done this two years ago.  But listening to Masa breeds confidence.  You know this will be done right.  It actually may be better to have it done now, and be done right.  I like listening to Masa speak.  It makes me want to get off my duff and do something.

 

Robert

I think an obvious point about Masa is that he relishes these battles.  I think he enjoys being the little guy and taking on the big boys in the market.  

And two tweets ago he tweeted this:

 

 

 

 

So really...which way is he going with this? LOL

I think DT has basically told him to cool it with Sprint since they want a merger to happen.  But, sometimes the guy just can't help himself.  

Seems appropriate to add this here.  Not much a story, but it's all I've found so far.  Sprint's Chairman says Sprint and Dish and are in talk about a fixed wireless broadband alliance.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/softbank-dish-talks-regarding-wireless-141910776.html

If I find something more detailed I'll add it. 

The last paragraph of this story covers it.  Nothing really there to this story.  Just that they're talking.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/softbanks-son-cca-carriers-we-need-fight-back/2014-03-27

Masa is a busy man today. Haven't found a full report on this yet.  Will probably post in separate thread when I do.

Son says Softbank and Dish in talks for a fixed wireless broadband alliance.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/softbank-dish-talks-regarding-wireless-141910776.html

Question for all:  Do you think when all of this gets setup that Sprint will drop the Verizon roaming agreement?  I feel like that may be there next step in this to save some extra money. 

 

In my area at least, they certainly could.  Whenever I roam, it is on US Cellular currently.  I would love to be able to get LTE in the boonies too!  It truly sucks being on the edge of Sprint's native service.  This would resolve everything for me... 

 

Now I need to not get all excited until we hear the details and get a timeline.

If i'm not mistaken, currently the only roaming between Sprint and Verizon is for 1x voice and data. There is no LTE roaming between the two. I don't see why Sprint would ever back out of the deal.  I could see them prioritize voice and data onto new partners so that they have to pay verizon less and less over time.  

Here is a screen cap of that slide I saw.

Son only talked about band 12 during speech but this has to mean something for future though, right?

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

If anyone is interested here is Masayoshi Son's keynote at the CCA Expo this morning. 

Big takeaway from it is that Son is promising big Sprint commitment to make partnership happen.  Promising Sprint will offer financial support for Companies that join to build out infrastructure they need. 

Look at the slide at about the 15 min mark of the presentation. S4GRU may get his wish about band 4. 

Some more info for this new venture. Sprint will add band 12 to some it's devices next year. Additionally, it will license it's 800 and 1900 mhz spectrum to rural carriers in places it doesn't have network coverage.

Edit: slight correction. The spectrum licensing is part of another program called NetAmerica Alliance.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprint-add-700-mhz-band-12-capabilities-some-new-devices-starting-next-year/2014-03-26

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

It's possible it will be treated as native.  But it kept repeating "roaming" ad nauseum.  Also, it's quite possible that these roaming partners will have their customers on Sprint's network more often than Sprint customers on their networks, it could actually cost Sprint very little or nothing out of pocket for this.  It could be a revenue generator for Sprint.  So they may be very generous with LTE roaming allotments if not treated native.

 

Robert

This is great way for Sprint to expand the map against Verizon. I'm sure they would love to neutralize those Verizon adds about their coverage maps.  Sprint might be willing to forgo the revenue from this just for the marketing benefits.  

Also, from doing a little research I've realized that the hub is not really new.  It was started last year by the CCA.  The fact that Sprint and TMobile are joining it is the big news. 

Yeah, I get that.  I'm just hoping that very reasonable roaming rates will equate into larger roaming allowances by Sprint.  My way and Framily plans are only currently limited to 100MB of roaming.  100MB of LTE roaming is almost useless.  But I'd take it over nothing, I suppose.

 

Robert

True, it's not explained in the article whether roaming onto hub partners would be treated as roaming or as as native coverage.  I would like to think the latter, but who knows. Lots of details still needed. 

I like the idea.  What really will matter is if a useful LTE roaming data allotment is provided.  100 or 300MB is not useful for LTE.  Might as well just continue with 1X.  If it were 1GB, that would be useful.

 

Robert

Not sure if you posted your reply before or after I updated my OP.  Sounds like that is up to each individual carrier and how much they want to charge for/pay for.  My hope is rates will probably be fairly low since the point is to expand the reach of every carrier without having to built out additional infrastructure. 

So Sprint is joining up with small rural operators to start a roaming hub.  

Sprint is teaming up with rural carriers to create a virtual 4G LTE wireless network in a move that will help them compete more aggressively against AT&T and Verizon. And T-Mobile is considering a similar move.

 

On Thursday, the Competitive Carrier Association will announce at its conference in San Antonio, Texas the launch of a new Data Access Hub, which creates a one-stop shop for voice and data roaming among carriers that will allow operators large and small to create a virtual nationwide network to compete directly against AT&T and Verizon. Sprint, along with a handful of rural and regional wireless operators, are expected to be among the hub's first participating mobile carriers. And T-Mobile said it's also exploring whether to participate.

"US Cellular and Sprint have already tested the hub," said CCA president Steve Berry. "And it's working. We have other carriers signing up to participate as well. Both Sprint and T-Mobile are on the steering committee."

The announcement of the hub and the fact that national operator Sprint has agreed to participate and the fact that T-Mobile is also considering membership is important because it could change the dynamic of the wireless industry. In short, the hub will give Sprint and T-Mobile, if it joins, as well as dozens of rural operators, access to a nationwide 4G LTE wireless footprint via a patchwork of networks. For Sprint and T-Mobile, which are primarily confined to metro markets, it gives them access to true nationwide coverage, even in rural and suburban markets where they typically don't have coverage. And for rural operators, it finally gives them easy access to 4G LTE roaming partners in big cities.

 

The key parts about how this will work:

The way the hub works is that wireless operators are able to sign a single agreement and connect to every carrier signed up to the hub. Rates can be negotiated separately, but the business relationships are done through the hub. It allows Sprint or T-Mobile to instantly connect to hundreds of smaller wireless carriers across the US, and it allows these smaller carriers to connect to Sprint and T-Mobile as well as to each other.

 

The hub can connect all generations of wireless networks from 2G and 3G networks to 4G LTE networks. Berry said the true promise of the hub is in the next generation 4G LTE networks that are being built. Companies like Qualcomm are already designing chipsets that allow every LTE frequency band deployed in the US to operate on a single device, Berry said. This breakthrough coupled with the emergence of voice over LTE technology, will eventually allow true roaming from any LTE network in the US to another. This will also pave the way to a more robust device ecosystem that will allow many smaller carriers to get access to the same devices as larger carriers.

 

http://www.cnet.com/news/sprint-to-join-rural-operators-in-nationwide-roaming-hub/

Looks like Sprint sold off 6,500 or so towers back in 2005 when it was trying to acquire Nextel. That sale was for $1.2 billion.  Sprint sold off a second batch of towers in 2008. I presume those were Nextel towers they acquired as part of the merger.  They sold those 3000 towers to American Tower Co. for $670 million. At this point they only towers they may own directly might be former clearwire towers.  I imagine there can't be too many of those. 

2005 sale:

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB110782747596448508

2008 sale

http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-nextel-completes-tower-sale-to-towerco-for-approximately-670-million-in-cash.htm

Funny reading that 2005 WSJ piece and seeing the references.  Sprint was trying to leap frog the bigger cell companies even back then.