Jeff68005

I see threads for individual cell phone models, but what features on a new model cell phone would push your buttons to run and get a new phone?

Good call quality and a good receiver that will maximize reception rate are at the top of the list.  Hopefully better transmission rates and no dropped calls would be the benefit..

Same for dependable GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with good refresh rates.

A comfortable screen and cell phone size.  If they get much bigger, they will be more like tablets.  Too bulky to carry around as we do today.

I also want:

Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system. Preferably native, but upgradable before I leave the store will do..

Preferably fewer built-in apps that I have absolutely no use for - my big hang-up is Android 4.x will not allow me to delete certain apps and keeps them running with no valid way to turn them off and keep them turned off.  They eat the battery life and CPU resources. 

Tri-Band Spark capable.

Wi-Fi (all bands versions including at least ac dual band.  I have one cell phone no longer in use that works on 5 GHz instead of 2.4 GHz.

Long life battery

Ability to change the battery externally - A spare battery has saved my bacon more than once.

Removable Super Class 10 Mini-SD card capable. up to 64 Gig or more would be nice.

Rechargeable - latest technology

Email and SMS text.

A good camera that has a fast shutter rate or better yet a controllable shutter rate.  I am tired of cell phones that make blurry photos because the shutter rate is too slow.  I want an autofocus that works dependably .Personally I am not so interested in making videos.  My sister on the other hand likes to video sports events.  We both want a decent zoom ability.

I guarantee you I have forgotten something.  I always figure that out after I leave the store with the new cell phone when I try to do something that I was able to do on the old cell phone that I just replaced.

What would pull our your wallet to get in terms of features and capabilities?

I have had mixed results on E-bay.. Previously, I purchased a couple of Sprint version of the Sanyo Katana SCP-6600 phones successfully. I am still using one of them after more than a year.  I have also purchased extended life batteries for them with mixed results.

This past spring, I was not as successful.  I purchased two phones that I had to return.  A couple of others started out okay but did not hold up for long.  I purchased a couple of portable Wi-Fi units. One had the wrong interface and the unit seller refused to make it right.  He did work with me to make it functional, but the MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) service refused to activate it. When they did, they screwed up the account. 

I purchased a different portable WiFi unit before I found out the BYOD behavior of the third party service and that deal worked out ok.

I purchased a third Wi-Fi unit that was very functional.  Sprint would gladly accept it, but I ruled the price of the plan to be excessive for my needs and sold it for a profit on E-bay.

At this point, I an trying to figure out what I want for my next phone.  Sprint's current offerings fall short in one way or another.

I am a "new kid on the block".  When I did a small PayPal donation, I failed to find a place to comment my email address registered here.  PayPal defaulted to my Ebay dedicated aol email address when it sent you the donation.

If you have clearer instructions WHERE or HOW to so indicate, it would make it easier on you.

Anyway ... it may not get me a sponsor tag but thank you for this website and the info in it.

I failed to see the SG4GU forum info on the new to me Netgear 4G LTE Router Gateway with Spark capability per Sprint.  It will be some time before Sprint lets the MVNOs have them.

SG4RU forum posting where I stumbled upon the information,  Netgear 4G LTE Router Gateway:

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/5554-netgear-4g-lte-router-gatewaynew-plans/?hl=%2Bnetgear+%2B4g+%2Blte+%2Brouter+%2Bgateway

There is a link to the Sprint Corp press release that I found to be interesting

http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprints-first-router-to-bring-sprint-spark-to-business-customers-netgear-lte-gateway-6100d.htm?previousArticle=11318&nextArticle=2513&gotoArt=%2Fnews-releases%2Fsprints-first-router-to-bring-sprint-spark-to-business-customers-netgear-lte-gateway-6100d.htm

.

I may be watching this item myself.

Edited to add in weblinks

I understand it is less than desirable, but find a friend with a Sprint mobile Wi-Fi device. Test reception in your home at the higher levels of the home.  My mobile Wi-Fi has both 4G Wi-Max and fallback to 3G.  Yes the rates for service are INSANE, but you would have something for your higher priority needs.

Do you have any idea what your true monthly usage is when measured in MB or GB?

There are third party services called Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) that use Sprint towers for its backbone.  I use Freedom Pop (MVNO) as my backup Wi-Fi when traveling or the home Internet fails.  Their Hub Burst is the same receiver you now have so do not let the name fool you.  It is 4G Wi-Max only as you know.

We still see some Wi-Max but mostly my device falls back to 3G and I still get the speeds you like or better.  There are plans that you can game the plan to get more for your money. It may even be possible for each family member to have their own portable Wi-Fi unit if the signal is strong enough to reach them.  When doing so, each family member can "Friend" each other for bonus Wi-Fi allocations.  Doing so, I have gained a factor of 4X my monthly allocation for what I pay for each month. When I fail to use my allocation, for a small additional fee, I can bank my unused allocation into the next period.

Hopefully somebody will come up with a better solution by November 2015 or some other Internet provider will find your block.  The nice thing - most MVNOs have a monthly service plan without a contract unlike Sprint itself.

I find these comments very interesting.  My Sprint supplied phones all show Target as the WiFi name.  In any Target Store WiFi offering in metro Omaha, Nebraska. useless would be an upgrade.

My normal Sprint 3G is what I end up using in the Target stores..  Outside 4G LTE is spotty at best in this area despite claims the 4G LTE conversion is supposed to be complete in this area.

As advertised by Sprint 4G WiMax is mostly toast, but a few towers were forgotten.  No I will not publish where I can find it.  My mobile WiFi uses only 4G WiMax or falls back to 3G.