koiulpoi

They still sell the optimus s? The only thing that phone is good for is crime deterrent

Heh, I like that ad. My favorite part is that it implies through saying "on the Sprint Power Vision network", while off-network or roaming, your phone loses the "crime deterrent" functions like the rest... making it somehow incapable of being thrown.

 

And, yes, the Optimus S was on sale up until a couple months ago. There's probably a few retail stores that still have stock, giving it away for free on a new/up.

Most Android users may not know what version of Android they're on, but they usually know the difference. "Why can't I download this app?" "Why does my phone run so much slower than new phone X?" Or, my favorite, the LG Optimus S had a bad update to 2.3, so Sprint rolled them all back to 2.2... leading to complaints from people about wanting the "new technology" back.

 

Which, for security reasons alone, I think device manufacturers need to get on the ball. Said Optimus S will never be updated past 2.3.4, and there are occasionally people who start new Sprint contracts or upgrade to it. Twenty months on buggy, insecure Gingerbread? Ew.

Keep in mind those "$800 devices" sold for $200 are really more like $300 devices propped up to be "$800 devices." But the carriers and especially the device manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank with the current contract-subsidy model. If it were to go away, then devices would be sold at retail with much smaller profit margins.

 

AJ

Oh yes. The devices would be cheaper overall, but would tend to scare away consumers (in my opinion).

 

One of my favorite moments goes like this:

Sprint gets the Galaxy Nexus. MSRP is $549.99.

Sprint and Asurion raise TEP prices on all new phones with MSRP $549.99 and up to $11/month from $8, insurance claim deductible to $150 from $100.

I ask one of my supervisors, "How come the Galaxy Nexus is $549.99 on Sprint, along with raised insurance prices... yet I can go to the Play Store and buy an Unlocked GSM one for $399.99 right now? Surely making it CDMA doesn't cost $150."

She replied, "That... is... a very interesting question. I'll have to ask the Asurion reps and get back to you."

She never got back to me.

If you are in an NV market, then probably yes. If you are not, then no.

West Michigan, so second round market. So no.

 

Sprint is doing maintenance upgrades in non NV markets adding backhaul. In places where they cannot get additional T1 lines timely, they are switching to AAV backhaul. When this occurs, you may get speeds over 2Mbps even in advance of Network Vision deployment.

 

This has occurred it about 10 sites around the ABQ area in the past six months or so. Its nice where you can get it.

 

Robert via CM9 Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

What's AAV backhaul? I've actually noticed improved speeds all over West Michigan (Grand Rapids/Kentwood specifically) for 3G, getting 2+ Mbps in areas that were previously overloaded.

I hit 2.52Mbps on a completed NV site in Waco. Otherwise the fastest I have hit in NM is 2.2Mbps. None of the sites in my immediate area exceed 1.4Mbps because they are all on T1's.

 

Robert via CM9 Kindle Fire using Forum Runner

So, does that mean if I've seen 2.1-2.2 Mbps, backhaul has already been upgraded to NV-quality? Our local towers got some bandaid fixes a while back, and I knew that was part of it (because we were hitting 0.5 off peak times before)

The only way Wifi offload would work is if Sprint offers incentives (e.g. discounts) to off-loaders, or forces it (via handset software or threatening to terminate service), or institutes data caps.

They're certainly trying.

 

The HTC EVO 4G and the Samsung Epic 4G (and maybe others) now prompt the user to connect to 4G WiMAX and WiFi when they are available, with the end goal being taking stress off of Sprint's often overcrowded 3G network. WiMAX may be a bit overloaded in some areas, but 2 Mbps is still much, much better than 100 Kbps (or less) in areas over capacity. And as has been said in this thread, 2 Mbps is more than enough for the vast majority of Smartphone usage.

 

For a more recent example, the Motorola Photon Q prompts users to connect to open WiFi networks, even if WiFi is shut off.

Boy, are they gonna be surprised next Summer.

 

Robert via ICS Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

Nah, there are actually very few holdouts on iDEN around here, if what I've heard is correct. Many have transitioned to smartphones, but the most vocal are those who have moved to the Dura line (thanks to Sprint offering additional subsidies on them), and have been disappointed with Sprint's in-building coverage (vs Nextel). I have a feeling any amount of Network Vision will solve their problems (and 800 ESMR will wipe them out), but some people will never be happy. Because they have to use a DuraMax for 2 years.

 

But there are a few who refuse to let go. I know a fellow rather well who has told multiple people that he will NOT upgrade to a CDMA Sprint phone, and if Nextel is ever shut down, he's going to buy a walkie-talkie and lose his phone number.

and iPCS dragged its heels on EV-DO overlay in many of its markets, including larger markets Grand Rapids, etc.

 

AJ

Wait, you mean to say that a large part of the West Michigan market was previously run by an affiliate who were slow at upgrading hardware, and hated Sprint proper?

 

This explains so much. From the odd service in some places for one... to Nextel subscribers not initially believing that iDEN was actually being shut down. "Nahhh they've tried to shut down Nextel like five times now, it's never gonna happen!" is what I heard at least once a week for a while.

While internet forums are a great place to start, Sprint needs to really start this conversation at the store with every associate that signs up a new customer, in the box of every phone it sells, on the customers bill, etc. Get the customer educated.

They have. Sprint.com has messages about how WiFi can save you up to 50% battery life, every Sprint paper bill has a section on it about how awesome WiFi is, and store reps are starting to tell people. It's definitely already there, just Sprint doesn't quite have the marketing down. 50% extra battery life is pretty good, though...

Just for confirmation: Photon Q's instructions are the same as the LG Viper.