ericdabbs

Sprint already has a 4G LTE logo. I just don't know why they don't use it. I would much rather see the logo below for "4GLTE" than just "4G" at the top which IMO is pretty lame.

Well I guess the fact that Verizon is using AWS spectrum to bolster their LTE network means that PCS could be less meaningful. However since VoLTE is no where near deployable due to the ongoing issues, Verizon is still relying on PCS 1900 MHz until they can move people to VoLTE. Until Verizon can move their entire CDMA/EVDO network onto 850 MHz, they will need to keep their 1900 MHz. As far as I know AT&T and Tmobile both need to keep their 1900 MHz spectrum so if Verizon is the only company that can part with their PCS 1900 MHz at least 10 MHz and in some cases and 20 MHz in most cases for each of the markets they would swap with Sprint then Sprint should do a spectrum swap with them.

That is what I am hoping for. I still wonder what Sprint would do with the AWS spectrum? I would hope Sprint would keep it for either deploying yet another LTE band in the distant future OR Sprint could keep it until AWS spectrum becomes more valuable and then sell it. I don't see how Sprint could swap with other carriers for more PCS spectrum since every other carrier is PCS spectrum strapped.

I love Hesse and I love the $10 additional charge for Nextel customers. If clients are willing to hang on to the iDEN network until the bitter end, then why not charge them more and increase the ARPU. Its not like there are that many other choices out there. He is bullying the Nextel customers to switch over to CDMA PTT faster or just kick them off of the iDEN network. Ideally I think Sprint would like to get rid of all Nextel customers by May so it gives them 1-2 months head start to rip apart all iDEN equipment and decommissioning all iDEN sites as well as preparing to get ready for 800 MHz CDMA/LTE launch hopefully by end of 2013 Q3 launch. I just hope most of the Nextel customers will finally convert in Q1 2013 to Sprint CDMA so that it will help Sprint's network overall.

Looks like Sprint is looking to make a counter-bid for MetroPCS within the next month or so due to the depressed price of MetroPCS since the announced acquisition. If Sprint makes a counter-bid for Metro at $13/share, this would mean that if Tmobile were to pay that price in the joint company, they would have to give up 43 to 47 percent ownership of the new company to MetroPCS shareholders instead of the proposed 26 percent ownership to MetroPCS shareholders like Tmobile is claiming. If Sprint is able to snatch up MetroPCS, their PCS holdings especially in Florida markets where they are all 20 MHz will be vastly improved as well as a bunch other major cities that only have 20 MHz. I hope this counter-bid for MetroPCS happens. http://www.bloomberg...or-company.html http://www.fiercewir...mors/2012-11-30

White Castle??? I would like to request a permit from White Castle for some sliders, fries and some sodas. I think you mean Crown Castle Tower company.

The Freedompop hotspot offers some free 500 MB Wimax data and you can pay a small amount for different data buckets too. If I were to upgrade to a device now and wanted Wimax coverage, I would get the LTE phone and the Freedompop hotspot and take the free 500 MB of Wimax data and use the Wimax only when I need to. The Wimax coverage in Salt Lake City is pretty good up here. I am glad I can still use my Wimax phone. But the improvement in 3G speeds is desperately needed in Salt Lake City so I hope NV comes here soon.

Apparently the FCC agrees with Sprint and plans to impose that Dish shift up their spectrum holdings to 2005-2025 MHz on the uplink to ensure that there is no interference between Dish's spectrum and the PCS 'H' block. Also it sounds like the FCC is planning on a 'H' block spectrum offering in 2013. "Separately, the FCC also said it will propose auctioning the H Block of PCS spectrum in 2013, which Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) has said it wants for its LTE network. "Chairman Julius Genachowski today shared proposals with his colleagues that will unleash up to 50 MHz of spectrum for mobile broadband, including LTE," said an FCC spokesperson. "Specifically, the chairman proposes final action to enable terrestrial use for AWS-4 spectrum, and moves forward with implementation of Congressional direction to auction the H Block, slated for 2013." http://www.fiercewir...trum/2012-11-20

Anaheim has a 4G core too that should serve the OC area which is also part of Southern California and should serve San Diego as well.

I can't see NYC being launched this year. Until they can play catch up due to Hurricane Sandy like 100 sites being launched they are still way too far behind to consider it market ready. Smaller cities you can get away with this but cities like NYC and LA this is a huge no no especially if certain areas do not have any LTE coverage at all. To have areas dense with LTE is one thing which is not an expectation but it is another thing when areas that should be covered under that market do not have any LTE sites within a 10 mile radius.

Went to the Sprint store to check out the LG Optimus G. Not a bad phone at all. It just sucks that it was preloaded with ICS instead of JB. No LTE yet around Hacienda Heights/Rowland Heights area. I checked and all the LTE phones were set to LTE/CDMA mode so it should pick up LTE if any towers were upgraded to LTE.

Kinda surprised that Network Vision hasn't appeared at all in the Pasedena, Alhambra, Rosemead, Temple City, Arcadia, El Monte areas which is still a huge part of LA. Also the edges of Hacienda Heights, Rowland Heights, West Covina, Whittier have not been shown any Network Vision love. Hopefully Sprint gets to these areas soon since this is a huge part of LA that is not covered which need to be if Sprint wants to declare LA Metro launch ready. Even a few sites in each of those areas would suffice just for now since the expectation is not all Sprint sites will be NV ready at market launch.

I totally agree with you. People who keep saying that Sprint should just buy out Leap or MetroPCS and then keep the PCS spectrum and sell/swap the AWS spectrum for more PCS spectrum are dreaming. You are right in that the 2 major players who are interested in AWS spectrum are Verizon and Tmobile. No idea what AT&T is going to do with their AWS spectrum. When people say just swap AWS spectrum for PCS spectrum they just assume that Verizon and Tmobile has spare PCS spectrum not being used. Lets see Verizon uses PCS spectrum for its CDMA and EVDO which they can't offload onto LTE until VoLTE and their LTE footprint are nationwide. Looks like Verizon doesn't have PCS spectrum to spare. Scratch Verizon off the list. Lets see Tmobile uses PCS spectrum for 1900 MHz HSPA+ to align itself with AT&T for data and still has GSM on 1900 MHz. Looks like Tmobile doesn't have PCS spectrum to spare. Scratch Tmobile off the list. This is why Sprint only has 2 options: 1. Either stay put and not buy any of the smaller carriers and not deal with having to divest/sell AWS spectrum 2. If Sprint were to buy a smaller carrier like Cricket then keep the AWS spectrum until the value of its spectrum increases or save it for future LTE deployment. We know that the US Govt wants to expand the AWS and not the PCS band so there are chances for Sprint to get more AWS spectrum. I still would rather have Sprint stick to just 3 bands but having AWS spectrum is not the end of the world. Remember that with the Softbank cash infusion, Sprint doesn't need to be in a rush to sell any spectrum it acquires...AWS or not since it is not in a cash crunch where any potential proceeds can help pay down debt. Spectrum will only get more valuable in the future so unless there is a strict build out requirement within that next year, Sprint should hold onto it.

Leap does have some nice PCS spectrum especially in the C and F blocks holdings. I wish they could do a similar deal to US Cellular where they just buy the PCS spectrum off of Leap.

With the injection of funds by Softbank, Sprint should have no excuse to not be aggressive with a PCS H block spectrum auction. Sprint needs to nab as much H block spectrum as it can while it doesn't own Clearwire outright. Once Sprint buys out Clearwire, Sprint will have too much spectrum among the carriers. It is smart for Sprint to only have controlling interest in Clearwire while this Softbank transaction and US Cellular deals close.

I agree. After looking at WiWavelength's spreadsheet for the PCS spectrum for markets, Chicago was spectrum constrained at only 20 MHz and Fort Wayne only had 10 MHz. With this deal they add much needed spectrum for both Chicago and Fort Wayne.

Indianapolis uses Samsung equipment. But I mistook Indianapolis for Cleveland. I knew the other markets besides Chicago that has issues with Samsung equipment were around that area.

I remember Robert or somebody mentioned awhile ago that there were markets out there that had Motorola legacy equipment for CDMA/3G that was having trouble working with the Samsung's NV CDMA/3G/4G infrastructure in terms of voice handoff so Sprint is trying to work hard to complete those markets to avoid massive service disruptions. From my recollection I remember hearing Chicago and Indianapolis as 2 cities. Are there any other markets that have Motorola legacy equipment? I assume these markets will be high priority on Sprint's list since they don't work well with the new NV infrastructure and want to avoid any massive service disruptions.

Map of the affected USCC markets. I am glad Chicago is included since they only have on average 20 MHz of PCS spectrum so this deal will help them dearly. Too bad its gotta wait until mid 2013 to close this transaction. Source: http://www.uscellularinfo.com/

Any activity in Hacienda and Rowland Heights?

Really???? I thought when Sprint announced that it was sending the Wimax devices to Virgin Mobile that I saw a screenshot with the Evo 3D rebranded as Virgin Mobile on some tech websites. Anyways regardless if they rebadge the devices to Virgin Mobile (which to me is a waste of time) or not, the point is that Sprint will continue to sell Wimax devices through the end of 2012 which is what the OP was wondering about.

OMG Im so jelly!!! I wish I can afford to have a "first world problem" of so many devices.

Sprint said last year at their Oct 7th Network Vision update conference that they plan to continue selling WiMax devices throughout 2012. So from that bit, I presume that come January 1st, 2013, all WiMax phones (SGSII and Conquer) will be yanked from Sprint stores and sent to Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile for rebadging and add to their Wimax device list.

You are probably right since the Galaxy Note II was released today and the LG Optimus G will be the next major smartphone coming out in November. I just don't want to see a long delay in the Nexus series phones after release since those are good phones. The Sprint Galaxy Nexus was obviously released way too late but granted Sprint didn't want to release it too early given that they weren't going to have LTE until this past July.

I would really love to see a Nexus phone added to the 2012 lineup when Google announces it next monday.