Arysyn

Here's the Twice the Price Store video

 

 

Hmm... It looks alot different than in the other ads posted here a few days ago that looked like a fairly decent sized store with lots of migraine headache-inducing fluorescent lighting.

 

Is the Verizon third-party authorized retailer next door to Twice the Price an actual authorized retailer? Not to be negative about this, but I think Sprint ought to have located this store next to a Verizon corporate retail store instead of next to a third-party authorized retailer. Not that I'm much of a supporter of third-party authorized retailers in general, but some of these stores are owned by people who are not extremely wealthy and are just trying their best to have a decent business.

 

I'm unsure how this might hurt this place next door, which is why perhaps Sprint could have tried finding a location next to a corporate Verizon retail store. Hopefully there is a good reason behind this, which I figure there likely is, just that I'm curious about the details.

I don't have anything nice to say about this but I'll post it anyway. It could be beneficial though.

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3280627-report-softbanks-son-mulls-massive-stake-uber?uprof=60&dr=1#/email_link

 

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If only my Grandmother knew my dislike of Softbank, she'd tell me, "If you don't have anything nice to say about Softbank, don't talk about Softbank". Then I'd tell her how I try managing avoiding doing that by periodically looking at John Legere's Twitter account.

The funny thing is that when I went inside the store the guy was dressed in your typical Verizon outfit/uniform and this was the convo between us as I was taking pics inside the store...

 

TTP guy "Can I help you with anything?"

Me: "Oh, no thanks, I'm just checking the place. Great marketing btw".

TTP guy: "What do you mean" (at this point i caught that he was staying in character) lol

me: "I like the look. How long are you going to be open till." (knowing its only for a day)

TTP guy: "For as long as the customers keep coming in. Hopefully I can pass the business down to my kids"

me: I start laughing like crazy

TTP guy: Are you okay.

me: "Yeah" barely audible since I'm still laughing.

 

then outside, one of the Sprint folks/marketer took my pic and asked me to sign the form that said I may show up in future advertising as a background. I should have held up a sign saying "S4GRU WAS HERE" when he took my pic lol

 

I guess Guenther got there after I had left the place. I would have love to met him.

 

TS out

Too bad S4GRU doesn't have any shirts and hats available for merchandising, otherwise you could have worn those to the store for the advertising. Imagine that appearing on national television. Guy with a shirt saying S4GRU on it. That would be a time for a big following of people to this site wondering what S4GRU means, like some sort of secret code. ????

I was thinking about getting the Sony A1E for my bedroom, after seeing it at the CES show this year. I still have a old Panasonic Plasma 1080p tv. That my wife says is perfectly fine, and shoots me down every time I mention getting a new tv. I keep praying for the tv to fall of the wall, but it never does.

 

On a side note I saw a few 8k tv's at the show too. They were playing 1080, 4k, and 8k native content, all I can say is wow, the picture was phenomenal, couldn't believe how much sharper, and more detail there was. I was all for a getting a 4k tv, though now, in the back of my head I'm wondering if 8k tv's will be coming out soon enough for the masses.

 

Also looks like Sharp will start producing oled tv panels next year, giving competition to LG. Hopefully, some new innovations come out, and cause a nice price drop on oled tvs.

 

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The 8k televisions not being too far out from release is one reason I decided it was better for me to get a less expensive OLED from last year that still has 3D. In my opinion, the 2017 OLEDs while they are very good tvs, are sort of in a middle stage right now between the reportedly near-perfect stage OLEDs will be in next year supposedly finally resolving the few issues they've had in the past several years that gradually have got better, but next year is suppose to be the major showcase of the technology.

 

Then there are reports of Samsung's emissive form of QLED that some believe may reveal next year. My opinion is there will be one very expensive model of it to compete against OLED, while becoming more standard high-end in 2019, then mainstream in 2020. I think also in 2020 is when the high-end 8k tvs will come out. The may be one in or two in 2019, but I think it will mainly be 2020 and beyond. 2018 will be the year 4K OLEDS are going to be huge, while emissive QLED becomes major competition in 2019.

 

2021 and 2022 will likely be the years 8K gets developed between OLED and emissive QLED, and then sometime around then MLED will be released, though I think that is going to start off in mobile devices first from what I've read about it online. MLED sounds as it will become the ideal mainstream standard that fully replaces LCDs.

And apparently Sprint has more former T-Mobile customers than T-Mobile.

That too!

 

It would be great if Sprint commented on this. However, there seems to be an avoidance between Sprint and T-Mobile in mentioning each other lately, which may be due to merger possibilities.

Yes I understand where you're coming from but also at the same time that would be much more expensive to then people would leave Verizon and got too expensive.

 

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For customers who use alot of data, it might be more expensive, but it would provide a better network experience. If Verizon's speeds keep decreasing, its a sign that with the increased usage on the network, then deprioritization becomes more of an issue, in which everyone who uses over 22gb of data will run into the risk of eventually.

 

For instance, 22gb of data, is just 7gb more than the 15gb inclusion I'm proposing. at $1 per gb, if a customer uses autopay, that is only $52 monthly per line. Also, I think it would be a good idea for Verizon to include taxes. Another figure here, I'll bring it up to the same 32gb deprioritization limit of T-Mobile. That would make the cost at $62 monthly per line with autopay for 32gb of full-speed data, HD video included.

 

With T-Mobile, the only way its cheaper than that, is with multiple lines. Yet, if Verizon were able to spare its network by implementing this, and the quality went back up, then it would become a value proposition on how much data a customer uses to network quality in delivering content with that data.

 

One way or the other, it'll be interesting whatever happens here. Verizon needs more spectrum and if they don't change plans to better suit the network, they've got to seek out more spectrum. This is a major reason why I believe if Sprint goes with Charter and Comcast, it'll eventually end up with Verizon too, giving Verizon a bunch of extra, very important spectrum.

It'll be interesting to see what happens when the unlimited data plan Verizon offers starts straining capacity on the network I'm starting to see that a little bit in my area.

 

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It may be one of the few things John Legere is telling the truth about. There are so many customers Verizon has on a carrier that doesn't have much more spectrum than T-Mobile, and has the least spectrum per customer of all carriers.

 

I realize why Verizon felt they needed to offer unlimited data again, but I believe they really should have done something else at the time instead. Its going to be more difficult for them to change things now, without risking losing more customers.

 

I've mentioned an idea here on S4GRU lately, which I believe to be a great alternative to unlimited data, and may also help ease the load on the network. This idea being the hybrid plan. Now, I've been suggesting it at 30gb monthly non-expiry carryover data, but that is more towards what T-Mobile and Sprint could do with their non-burdened networks.

 

AT&T and Verizon might be better off trying a hybrid plan at 15gb full-speed data monthly per line for $45 monthly per line with autopay/$50 monthly per line without autopay, then offer the option of $1 per gb full-speed data overage, while including free unlimited slower speed overage data at 3mbps.

 

That is the best way I can think of at the moment for them to relieve the congestion on their network by offering a better price deal for less of the more network-intensive data, getting customers to use less bandwidth or else pay more for the faster data many customers don't actually need. This being a better solution than deprioritization.

I posted this link in the Verizon thread, but I also want to post it here, for a good reason. On the link, there is a graph showing current Sprint customers who use to be Verizon customers. Of all the carriers listed in the graph, based from the graph itself, it appears Sprint has more former Verizon customers than any other carrier.

 

So while John Legere likes to target Verizon and make various questionable claims about Verizon in favor of trying to make T-Mobile appear better than them, really if any carrier is beating Verizon, its Sprint, not T-Mobile.

 

http://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/verizon-top-donator-customers-to-competitors-q2-cowen

Figuring this has become the Verizon thread here on S4GRU, I'll write here and improvise based off this thread's title. My post being "Verizon's customers give Verizon the Boot". A title highly appropriate considering this news article, here :

 

http://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/verizon-top-donator-customers-to-competitors-q2-cowen

How are debt laden companies going to cut her reduce their revenue streams and manage to stay in business? More specifically how is sprint, a company that hasnt posted a profit in over 10 years?

 

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There needs to be better pricing plans, in general. At the moment, none of the carriers have very good plans and pricing on them, especially considering the focus on large families with multiple lines. It really doesn't help for the individual who is paying more in a way to subsidize these cheaper additional lines given to big multi-line accounts.

 

This particularly doesn't necessarily affect large corporate accounts, but rather small business with individual lines to employees where their business isn't large enough to qualify for large corporate multi-line deals. That is what makes having business and membership affiliated discounts s important to the account holder in these situations and why bringing back these discounts would be helpful to them.

 

As I've recently written here on S4GRU, I'd really like to see an Unlimited/Per GB Data hybrid plan with 30gb full-speed (non-expiry carryover) inclusive per line, where there is a flat fee per line of $60 monthly without autopay/$55 monthly with autopay. Perhaps the business and membership discount rate could be a $10 monthly deduction per line. I like the hybrid option better than deprioritization, where customers could add carryover data for $1 per gb of full-speed data, or choose to have their overage data use speed capped at 3mbps, which still is more usable than deprioritized speeds I've heard reported on.

t-mobile trolling of Verizon

 

https://www.phonearena.com/news/Best-US-carrier-This-Verizon-vs-AT-T-vs-T-Mobile-vs-Sprint-coverage-maps-GIF-tells-all_id96168

I've got to say that between more gbps fiber services rolling out and cable DOCSIS 3.1 offering gbps over cable, none of the wireless carrier average/top speeds seem all that impressive anymore.

 

This is partly why I agree with many here on S4GRU who rightfully put aside the importance of average/top speeds, while focusing rather on overall usability and consistent speed as more important factors in wireless. Again, I agree with this, and wireless carriers really would be better off focusing on these other aspects too, rather than fastest average/top speeds.

I'll say this. The first carrier to cave and offer employee discounts will be the winner. I do feel it's coming back.

 

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Hopefully you are right about this and it happens soon. It isn't fair of carriers to eliminate corporate and membership discounts just because these carriers have switched to offering Unlimited Data plans. Having unlimited data really doesn't change anything to the core service in its usability that would justify removing these discounts. Yet, its disappointing these carriers seem to think it does.

I wouldn't say it's desperation since people are still flocking to them. The same could be said about Sprint giving away free service. Now that's as low as you can go. At least Sprint didn't go public with the offering.

 

 

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I know I'd much rather have free service or a service discount than a free towel.

 

Although to be fair, T-Mobile also is offering some sort of deal with a hotel discount source, along with discounts on Papa Johns pizza and some Samsung accessories. However, normally I don't bother posting about T-Mobile Tuesdays offers here on S4GRU, because the offers aren't all that relevant nor important to mention on a primarily Sprint-focused site such as S4GRU, regardless of this T-Mobile thread being here.

 

Yet, I figured this free towel deal is pretty huge. I mean, its a T-Mobile Tuesdays towel after all. So, the next time John Legere says something really outrageously in poor taste and it causes people to vomit a little, this towel could be useful.

T-Mobile is giving away free T-Mobile Tuesdays towels next Tuesday :

 

http://www.tmonews.com/2017/07/t-mobile-tuesdays-free-t-mo-towel-mega-samsung-prize-bundle/

Surely, not from Sprint... I hope it'll be a good quarter. Don't think revenue growth will be there but with free service subs should be positive.

I've got to say that its really neat now knowing that at least some of Sprint's executives may very well be reading this site on somewhat of a regular basis. Guenther's reference to S4GRU in his Tweet yesterday is evidence this may be the case, and its a huge accomplishment for this site.

 

I know I don't always agree with the staff here, and I also know they don't always agree with me, but putting that aside, I think this is a tremendous occassion that all the staff who've worked very diligently on this site over the years deserves much credit for creating this site which now finally has been given public recognition by Sprint.

 

So in whatever the figures are in the result reports, its great knowing that perhaps in whatever positives there are in them, perhaps Sprint executives are at least thinking some consideration of S4GRU for having been online these past several years promoting Sprint and helping their business in some way.

Earnings Call: http://investors.sprint.com/news-and-events/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/Sprint-Corporation-Schedules-Fiscal-2017-First-Quarter-Results-Announcement/default.aspx

 

8/1/2017

 

Get ready!

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet! ????

RedSpark posted this in the Marcelo thread, but I figure it ought to be posted here too :

 

https://twitter.com/guengott68/status/887380940208656385

 

BTW, Guenther, if you are reading this, I think you are a great Sprint employee representing the company and it was awesome of you to publicly recognize S4GRU on your Twitter account.

 

Also as I mentioned in my post there in the Marcelo thread, Guenther, you'd make a great wireless carrier C.E.O. one day, and I hope you will be!

Gunther gives a shoutout to S4GRU on lilotimz's Magic Box Blog Post: https://twitter.com/guengott68/status/887380940208656385

Finally someone at Sprint publicly giving positive recognition of S4GRU!

 

And yet, here is another reason why Guenther Ottendorfer is a great Sprint employee and public representative spokesperson for Sprint.

 

Also, Guenther if you're reading this, I'm rooting for you to be a wireless carrier C.E.O. one day!

I think really that Softbank should just create a fund that will provide Sprint a guaranteed fund for CAPEX. Or do like a dollar for dollar match. Put fourth a plan to get Sprint CAPEX higher towards some goal.

 

Put forth CAPEX, an improved network will attract customers. Both together a long with improved financials will increase those stock prices! That is where the return is!

That at least would be something. Its very good we are seeing some great ideas being put into place by Sprint's management as I mentioned earlier, such as the new store concept, the new leasing programs, and others. Yet while they are doing what they can, Softbank ought to do their share too and not just be reported on every week that goes by of yet another way they are trying to sell off Sprint or parts of Sprint.

Quite naive to conclude sprint leadership is a "mess" because there are inconsistent stories floating the news.

 

 

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I never said that Sprint's leadership is a mess, that is if you're referring to Sprint management. In my past several posts here, I've praised Sprint's management for what it has been doing lately. The 'mess' I'm referring to, and have directly connected in my past few posts, is Softbank. I've been very specific in distinguishing the difference between Sprint management and Softbank management.

 

There are plenty of reasons to dislike Softbank and call it out for its errors in its ownership over Sprint than just stories online. Yet, Softbank has been consistently throughout the past few years been reported on how it has had so much trouble trying to sell Sprint, rather than what they are doing to try fixing Sprint.

 

In fact, many of us here on S4GRU who actually care about Sprint have written up ideas on here how Sprint could be repaired, ideas which Softbank could easily do with the money they have. The mystery though is why they would buy Sprint when it was in trouble, if they were going to be blocked by banks from investing in fixing Sprint.

Dish tried really hard in the merger battle against Softbank for control of Sprint. I admit that at the time, I wanted Softbank to win this, because of all the power and size talk of Softbank that was being discussed online at the time. I did alot of reading on this back then, and didn't see anything mention about Softbank being kept from spending any further money investing in Sprint.

 

Something about that just sounds very odd. I mean, I agree with people here who've complained about Sprint spending on Tidal and Jay-Z, along with whatever costs there were involved in promoting Pokemon. However, those costs pale in comparison to what Softbank has spent buying other companies since they bought into Sprint. Yet, the banks somehow are keeping Softbank from spending any money helping Sprint, while here we are hearing rumors that Masa is trying to get Warren Buffett to invest in Sprint.

 

I see that Sprint itself is trying to improve, and I've been impressed by some of the things they've been doing lately, such as the new store concept, the new leasing program, some of the offers, amongst others. So, my gripes, concerns, etc. isn't against Sprint in any way, but rather against Softbank, and I'm left to wonder what if things were different and hoping that some company other than Softbank will get a hold of Sprint and let the company shine as it should be doing.

 

Again, I think Sprint is doing some great things, and I'm a fan of some of its management, but I just really do not like Softbank being involved. I suppose this is why I've been so interested in the possible merger outcomes for both reasons to get Softbank out of Sprint and get some real investment into Sprint. Yes, Sprint has excellent spectrum, they just need the cash inflow for deployment and densification.

I really don't understand this sudden Warren Buffett talk rumors. Prior to this, it was about Comcast and Charter, then of course before that for the longest time it was about merging Sprint with T-Mobile.

 

I have nothing against Sprint and not bashing Sprint themselves, but it seems Softbank's control of Sprint is a complete mess, including the terms of the deal involved when Softbank bought into Sprint in the first place. Having banks tell Softbank that the company isn't allowed to invest any money into Sprint? Wow! A completely wrecked system, in my opinion.

 

At this point, I much rather Dish had bought Sprint instead and kept Dan Hesse onboard. They would at least have deployed enough spectrum to get Sprint strong enough to make a solid purchase of T-Mobile eventually, which between the three of them especially, we'd be seeing Sprint in first place dominating the other carriers.

 

Again, this isn't a Sprint problem, but a Softbank one. Hopefully Masa unloads Sprint to someone who will properly take care of Sprint the way it should be. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the next rumors involve AT&T, Verizon, or possibly Bill Gates.

Sprint arguably has the best voice experience of any carrier, something we've seen borne out again and again through myriad industry tests. CDMA is aging, yes, but is still an excellent technology.

Initially I didn't understand the urgency many people made out of the issue in getting Sprint to deploy VoLTE, when considering the voice quality on Sprint being fine as it is. That is until I took into consideration the desire for using both data and voice at the same time, which is understandable. The question though remains, is it important enough of a feature to have Sprint use its resources getting VoLTE up quicker or having Sprint first focus on preparing its network to be better for it first before rushing to get it implemented quickly on an unfinished network.

 

Everyone has their own opinions of this, including that of how to deploy the network. Of course my belief is to first build the network in the most important areas while also getting spectrum resources prepared nationwide for when Sprint can get to network expansion after first building up their important markets. VoLTE can be comfortably released in between finishing important markets with LTE and expansion to other areas.

I for see cdma being around for a very long time....

 

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Plus, Sprint's CDMA voice quality is excellent. Definitely much better than the gsm voice quality on T-Mobile.

The new Sprint leasing plans are brilliant. A small down payment and $15 monthly for a smartphone is a great deal! Very good of Sprint to add this as an alternative.