RedSpark

I've heard that in terms of RF that it performs very similarly to the iPhone 8/8 Plus.

Keeping an eye out for those November Coverage Map enhancements!

Band 41 TD-LTE is supported on both models. Model A1901 lacks support for CDMA. https://www.apple.com/iphone-x/specs/ Model A1865* FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66) TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41) TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A) CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900, 2100 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) Model A1901* Model A1901 does not support CDMA networks, such as those used by Verizon and Sprint. FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66) TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41) UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

I believe the AT&T/T-Mobile version of the iPhone X has the Intel Modem. The Sprint/Verizon/Unlocked version has the Qualcomm Modem. What this means is that you can't bring your T-Mobile iPhone X over to a CDMA carrier like Sprint/Verizon.

I recall hearing through the grapevine that Apple was sending/loaning engineers to Intel in order to help them improve their Modem Technology for use in Apple devices.

This article is from a couple years ago: http://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/sprint-to-bring-carrier-aggregation-to-all-its-lte-bands-bid-to-boost-performance Not sure if this is still the case.... "Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure said implementing carrier aggregation across all Sprint spectrum bands means Sprint eventually will be able to deploy 1900 MHz FDD-LTE for uplink and 2.5 GHz TD-LTE for downlink, and ultimately improve the coverage of 2.5 GHz LTE to levels that its 1900 MHz spectrum currently achieves. Carrier aggregation, which is the most well-known and widely used technique of the LTE Advanced standard, bonds together disparate bands of spectrum to create wider channels and produce more capacity and faster speeds."

It isn't over until it doesn't happen... I have a feeling this merger story still has legs.

It's not just the speed of the modem. People on other carriers have reported that the Intel Modems in Apple devices doesn't acquire or hold onto LTE as well as the Qualcomm Modems. In order to keep the Qualcomm X16 Modem from outperforming the Intel 7480 Modem in the iPhone 8, 8+, and X, Apple intentionally crippled the X16 feature set. The same was true for the Qualcomm X12 Modem and the Intel 7360 Modem in the iPhone 7, 7 Plus.

https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/31/apple-qualcomm-iphone-chips/ “They add that Qualcomm has been withholding software for testing in prototypes of Apple's flagship devices, which will likely further dent relations between the two firms” and “For its part, Qualcomm said that its modem for the next-gen iPhone has "already been fully tested and released to Apple." It added that it's "committed to supporting Apple's new devices."” _____________ I think they’re referring to the Intel XMM 7560 Modem. It’s the first Intel Modem to have support for CDMA. Otherwise, I believe the next iPhone will have the Qualcomm Snapdragon X20 Modem.

It's dead, Jim: https://www.wsj.com/articles/softbank-to-drop-effort-to-merge-sprint-with-t-mobile-1509386656

SoftBank is in a real bind here: It can't give Sprint more money: SoftBank's covenants with Japanese banks prevent sinking more cash into Sprint. It has to stay below 85% ownership of Sprint: The New Sprint certificate of incorporation as in effect at the effective time of the SoftBank Merger will provide that, in the event that the combined voting interest of SoftBank and its controlled affiliates in New Sprint exceeds 85% of the outstanding voting securities of New Sprint, then SoftBank or a controlled affiliate will make an offer to acquire all the remaining shares of New Sprint common stock at a price not less than the volume-weighted average closing price of New Sprint common stock for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding such offer. Perhaps it also may not be able to buy all of Sprint because of U.S Government contract regulations that limit or prevent dealings with wholly owned foreign corporations.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/30/sprint-shares-drop-more-than-5-percent-on-report-that-softbank-is-calling-off-talks-with-t-mobile.html https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Deals/SoftBank-calling-off-talks-to-merge-Sprint-T-Mobile So there's this now....

That App Update Note....

What a mess. Sprint needs to switch out its web team people and the management in charge of it. Of course it’s hard and complex work, but they’re not getting the job done. This is simply inexcusable at this point.

Have you seen these screen repair prices for the iPhone X?: https://www.macrumors.com/2017/10/27/iphone-x-screen-repair-out-of-warranty-fees/ In the United States, Apple will charge flat rates of $279 for iPhone X screen repairs and $549 for any other damage to the device, unless it is a manufacturing defect covered by Apple's standard one-year limited warranty.

There has to be a better way of doing this. If only you could “pre-pre-order” the device ahead of the actual “pre-order”. Sprint would then batch and process the orders on the back end as a script at 12:01AM.

Sprint doesn't have to do this merger to be a successful brand. As long as Sprint can keep making its debt payments going forward to reduce the load, continue with CapEx, and keep reducing cost/waste/bloat in the business it will ultimately be fine without a merger. It's true that T-Mobile is firing on all cylinders. They have a charismatic executive team and an amazing marketing team behind them. It's also true that Sprint has had to crawl out of a deep dark hole. And it finally has... but it's competing against others who've had a running start. Sprint will continue to improve its actual product, and that will happen in time. However, I think the bigger issue here is a messaging problem. Sprint needs to replace its marketing team and its website team, both of whom I believe have failed to provide a coherent customer proposition. "1% difference" is not an effective approach to win people over. Sprint also needs to announce "coverage partnerships" with big box retail stores and national brands by deploying series of Magic Boxes or Airaves or a DAS in select areas. If Sprint announced improved coverage at Marriott, Hyatt or Hilton Hotels nationwide, that would improve customer perception that the brand could work well for them when they frequent those locations. This would certainly apply for business travelers and non-business travelers as well. I think we'd see better numbers with initiatives like this. Sprint doesn't have enough "clout" to make its own news. It needs partnerships with established brands that can amplify its message. Partnerships with brands like Marriott, Hyatt or Hilton could do this.

Apple has responded and called the completely false: https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/25/apple-calls-claim-that-it-reduced-accuracy-of-face-id-to-meet-demand-is-completely-false/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-25/inside-apple-s-struggle-to-get-the-iphone-x-to-market-on-time FUD about Face ID? The article also said that Apple gave its suppliers a 2 year lead time.

http://investors.sprint.com/financials/default.aspx The fixed income tab section breaks down Sprint’s debt. Total debt: $38,378 Billion

Earnings Announcement/Materials are now up at http://investors.sprint.com/Home/default.aspx Sprint had a good quarter.

“For obvious reasons, given the noise in the media and in the market about potential strategic opportunities for Sprint, we are taking a non-traditional approach to sharing our results with you this quarter.”

I hope Sprint switches to Google Maps too. I was looking at some support articles on the website this morning and it looks like Sprint has added the ability for users to submit network issue reports through the website. Under the Support Tab there’s a link which says “Report a Network Issue”. Looks like Google Maps is used for this feature. Perhaps it will also come to the actual Coverage Map as you said.

Get ready for Sprint's earning's announcement tomorrow morning.... and a "message from management". http://investors.sprint.com/news-and-events/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/Sprint-Corporation-Schedules-Fiscal-2017-Second-Quarter-Results-Announcement/default.aspx ~8:00 AM ET No conference call will be held.

True. I wonder how the 600 MHz deployment would affect this.