RedSpark

Because of his refusal to cooperate, the device is probably a jammer.

 

AJ

 

Sorry for the basic question: What would he be using it for on 1900 MHz?

Due process.  The FCC notifies the offender.  If the offender does not comply, then the FCC, which is part of the Executive Branch, executes laws and applies punitive action.

 

AJ

 

What sort of device do you think this is, based on the description?

Well, Arena and sport sponsorships really don't help you if during the game your service sucks because it lacks capacity.  They should do those things if during the game they can still manage ~10Mb down and solid text/call ability.  For all those in the stadium that will be great advertising.  Otherwise it means nothing and people will just say they suck which just smears them even more.

 

Case in point.  I went to a Rockies game a few weeks back (No Rockies jokes.  I had free tickets, otherwise I don't follow them.) and even those I showed B26 (was B41 before the start of the game) I could not even manage better than .5Mb down.  I switched my phone to 3G and that was worse.  It was obvious the tower was horribly overloaded.  Doesn't really show well for Sprint, does it?

 

Did you report the speed issue you were experiencing in the Sprint Zone App? You still do it manually, even without the GPS auto-location.

 

Sprint launched a Triband DAS at Kauffman Stadium earlier this year, which I'm sure improved speed/coverage substantially.

 

ICYMI: some interesting news about Kansas State's Football Stadium getting a new DAS and Public Wi-Fi Network.

 

There are a lot of politics involved in getting a DAS installed. It takes time, and some factors are beyond Sprint's control. While improving the Macro network is more within Sprint's control (there are still politics/permits, etc), you can help by providing issue reports.

Yes, you would.  See the EARFCN logging thread and its included links for instructions.

 

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/5454-network-vision-and-spark-earfcn-logging-thread/

 

AJ

 

Cool. Thanks!

Full PCS A/B block 30 MHz (15 MHz FDD) markets have sufficient spectrum for a 5 MHz FDD band 25 second carrier in the near future, if not already (e.g. Phoenix).

 

AJ

 

Would I be able to tell in Field Test Mode on my iPhone 6 if a second carrier for Band 25 has launched here? What would I look for?

Yes, densify, probably.

 

Baltimore, for example, is not getting a band 25 second carrier anytime soon -- because it is a PCS A block 20 MHz (10 MHz FDD) market.  Washington still has the full PCS A block 30 MHz (15 MHz FDD) license.  What Baltimore does have going for it is that it was the Sprint XOHM test market -- before the WiMAX initiative got consolidated with and transferred over to Clearwire.  So, Baltimore should have decent density of Clearwire sites.

 

AJ

 

Appreciate the info. What does Washington having the full PCS A block 30 MHz (15 MHz FDD) license mean in particular for Sprint here?

 

I know that the LTE build in DC was lagging for a long time. Not sure of the reason... Permits perhaps? But Spark is live here and it's a definite improvement!

Yes, but the spectrum and sites acquired from USCC in Chicago have at least partly enabled Sprint's aggressive approach there.  That is a big reason why Chicago is one of Sprint's leading markets.  Sprint has no such luxury in the Washington-Baltimore metro.

 

AJ

 

Good point. What would Sprint have to do to have a similar program in the DC/MD/VA area? How would it play out if it did? Small cells, etc?

Sprint still has there campus in Reston, Va serving the Government IT sector, so as for major metropolitan areas, Sprint is in one.

 

Sprint has made Chicago one of its leading markets, having launched the "Sprint for Chicago" initiative there. This included being the first launch city for LTE-A, adding hundreds of new tower sites and opening 115 new stores by the end of 2015. Source and Source.

 

Sprint should launch a similar initiative in the Washington, Maryland and Virginia Area to improve its profile among Government IT.

I wonder if it'll be a broad program where anyone with any Android phone can switch to another Android phone or if it's only for specific lines (S6 to S7, Note 5 to Note 6, etc)

 

Marcelo can definitely make the economics of this work by leveraging his experience with BrightStar... not to mention the fact that BrightStar is also owned by SoftBank.

 

No carrier can match this business unit integration.

Also: https://twitter.com/marceloclaure/status/633839695449878532

 

Marcelo responded that a "Forever" program would be coming for Android as well.

I'm guessing all the people that bought into t-mobile's hype is starting to realize that T Mobile isn't as great as their advertisement make it seem.

Sent from my Nexus 6

Should have spent the money on the network instead of TV ads...

Where would Sprint be if they had 10x10 and 20x20 FDD?

Further ahead! :-)

And, that is the best thing about Sprint. All their changes are improvements. Sprint's network has just been steadily getting better for the last 3 or 4 years; yet, they still have so much capacity to grow.

And as you pointed out, T-Mo seems to have peaked a while ago and is now declining.

 

Network Vision gives Sprint a very solid (and hopefully future proof) foundation to build a network on.

 

"Pardon our dust" has become "Pardon our wake". ; -)

Marcelo just tweeted this! Is Marcelo trying to beat John at his own game?

 

Marcelo dropped the mic on this one... Yikes! I mean, where else do you go from here? Oh I know, the 2H 2015 results and 1H 2016 results. :-)

Sprint to End Two-Year Contracts

 

http://www.wsj.com/articles/sprint-to-abandon-two-year-contracts-1439837235

 

Wow... So what does this mean for people on Legacy Plans: Everything Data/Unlimited My Way ?

 

Those plans literally subsist on 2 year contracts or a Leasing with a Loyalty Service Credit.

So tmonews (yes I know) posted the article of sprints iPhone forever option. People posted that sprint needs to get its own ideals and I seen some comments that sprint started the leasing of phones and some people just won't admit that there beloved T-Mobile took a ideal from sprint.

Last time I checked from the horses mouth this article came out. http://www.cnet.com/news/t-mobile-ceo-says-hes-considering-a-leasing-program-for-devices/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My eyes hurt from reading the comments.

 

They're bad... "lol photoshop" bad.

Is that available for the Note 5 and GS6e+?

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Not that I'm aware. It was specifically for the S6. The iPhone is uniquely suited for these kinds of programs because it retains a high resale value. Combine that with BrightStar's ability (now as part of SoftBank) to take in and repurpose phones at cost, and you have a great recipe.

Anything like this coming down the pike for Android phones? I am not complaining about the iPhone program here, just saying that it would be nice to expand it a little.

 

There was the Unlimited Plus Plan for the Samsung Galaxy S6 which allowed for annual upgrades.

 

$80/month including the device. Anyone here hop on that?

I would agree.  This is a great start. Most likely still pushing iphones from the 2011 deal.

Probably so! That was a $15.5 Billion commitment over 4 years, starting in 2011. [see: http://allthingsd.com/20120807/sprints-chief-iphone-was-worth-the-billions/]

 

Of course, Marcelo could have renegotiated the terms when he met with Tim Cook in Cupertino on his first day as Sprint CEO last August.

This just dropped....

 

--------

 

Sprint Launches iPhone Forever

 

Join the iPhone Forever Revolution. Upgrade your iPhone ANYTIME, it’s included in your monthly rate. Get your iPhone for just $22/mo. Anytime you don't have the latest, you are eligible to upgrade! For a limited time, get this special offer for $15/mo!

 

Limited Time Offer: Bring us any smartphone to trade-in and your regular monthly rate is reduced to just $15 until your next upgrade. But HURRY, if you get your iPhone 6 and upgrade before December 31 that upgrade doesn't stop your discount – it continues all the way until your next upgrade!

 

How it Works:

• Get your iPhone 6 before 9/10.
• Send us your working smartphone within 30 days. (we'll provide the postage).
• Trade in your iPhone 6 for the latest iPhone no later than 12/31.

-------

 

The Newsroom Release has a great price chart which compares it with offers from the other carriers.

 

The $15/month pricing is for an iPhone 6 (16 GB) on a 22 month lease with a trade-in of a smartphone. (Sprint also offers a 21 month lease on this program at different pricing)

 

The 24 month lease is not part of this program.

Also, looks like the T-mobile merger may happen after the 2016 election. Wonder what would the name be.

Sprintmobile.... :-)

 

I'm sure if it came to that some consultant will get paid big bucks to come up with something. This never made sense to me. Is it just due diligence to pay tons of money for other people to give you potential names?

 

As for changing the name, I don't think it makes sense to change it or spend a single penny changing it.

Frankly, depending on what the spectrum costs, and the need to densify for capacity anyhow, it may make more sense to just densify the network rather than buying more and more spectrum. I get the impression that Sprint will only bid if the prices are right. They, unlike T-Mobile, have < 1Ghz spectrum in pretty much all markets.

 

Sprint could use the capacity/propagation associated with 600MHz spectrum, and IMHO, it will bid. Marcelo and Masa are being quiet about it because they want to ensure that the FCC is fair on the Spectrum Reserve, and other conditions, but 600MHz is a one-time opportunity for prime wireless spectrum that I find hard to believe they'd pass up.

 

Sprint has a 5x5 channel of 800MHz, and not everywhere IIRC. I'd imagine build costs for a nationwide densified 2.5GHz buildout are higher compared to using 600MHz. The economics of deploying 600MHz may outweigh the costs associated with acquiring it, especially compared to a 2.5GHz build....

 

T-Mobile has Band 12 (700MHz) in a number of markets.

 

I'm just speculating of course on what Sprint will do... But I hope they get that 600MHz and combine it with 2.5GHz for a network that will roar big time.

Funny I have not hear a word of Sprint moving to the #4 spot from John or anyone else. It may go to show that either no one noticed or no one cares.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

IMHO, it's because it doesn't matter anymore and it doesn't affect Sprint's next steps. From what Marcelo said on the call, Sprint is working on getting the fundamentals right: Network, Leadership Team, Cost Reduction, Value Proposition, Funding Plan

 

The customers will come back in time. I do hope Sprint would consider matching T-Mobile's North American LTE Roaming and International Roaming offerings...

 

Of course, domestic LTE roaming through CCA and other partners should happen first.

Lmao Masa was like I'm eh proud eh of eh Sprint eh and Marcelo ehhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

At least we know he isn't planning to sell the company... 

 

I especially liked Masa's comments on the four carrier networks in the USA... 

With Sprint not expecting to raise additional capital through the public markets in the foreseeable future, Softbank is likely providing capital for 600MHz.

 

That, or they're going to sit out the auction altogether, which I hope is not the case!