ericdabbs

I like the suggestion except if Sprint were to acquire Cricket, I wouldn't sell the AWS spectrum ASAP. I would keep it and see if I could do AWS for PCS spectrum licenses swap in specific locations especially in big markets like SF and Chicago (20 MHz) or smaller markets that have less than 30 MHz. Sprint needs to acquire as much PCS spectrum as it can nationwide so it can deploy larger LTE channels in the future. The problem with just getting cash is that the areas that you need more spectrum help in are not guaranteed in an spectrum auction vs. spectrum swap which the other party owns those specific spectrum licenses. I know Tmobile and Cricket did a spectrum licenses swap earlier this year as well as other deals in the past that could make it work. The FCC should be factoring in which carriers could make best use of the spectrum and in Sprint's case the FCC should allow any PCS spectrum transfer.

Well I don't think anyone really thought that a purchase of MetroPCS, Leap or even both by Sprint would equate to the same amount of subscribers as Verizon or AT&T. The point is to be able to compete with Verizon and AT&T spectrum wise so that they can offer similar speeds as Verizon and AT&T. I think of the wireless industry as a zero sum game so if Sprint and Tmobile both posed a threat to Verizon and AT&T with speed and price, I could see customers fleeing Verizon and AT&T for Sprint and Tmobile thus increasing the customer base. To be honest, I think if Verizon and AT&T both lost 20 million customers each and defected to Sprint and Tmobile, it wouldn't be so bad network wise. It would definitely help Sprint and Tmobile to get more revenue but it would tremendously relieve Verizon and AT&T's crowding LTE networks.

What do you guys think? Should Tmobile form the merger with MetroPCS and benefit both companies as well as the wireless industry OR should they remain separate? I have to think that the main motivation for Tmobile to merge with MetroPCS is for the AWS spectrum and a bump in customers since Tmobile has been bleeding badly. Just not sure how quickly Tmobile can move the MetroPCS customers off of CDMA and onto HSPA/LTE. Tmobile is in the process of doing their own Network Vision so it could get dicey.

As much as I like the idea of a 5th national competitor, I can't see that happening. Which company would come out as the parent company? MetroPCS? Also there are enough problems with bringing enough spectrum into the market and that a 5th carrier would make things worse. The FCC would have to ban Verizon and AT&T from participating in the next few spectrum auctions in order for Sprint, Tmobile and the Metro,Leap and USCC merger to catch up and obtain enough spectrum to be on par with Verizon and AT&T. I would like to see Tmobile and Sprint gobble up these smaller carriers to boost up their customer base and obtain some spectrum.

I figured when you meant by MetroPCS has 2 good 5x5 chunks in the Western US, I was assuming you mean the 2 chunks in AWS Block D and E. So I figured lets not forget to mention about NYC and at least a 5x5 chunk in Boston and Philly.

click on AWS Block C and D for MetroPCS and scroll the map. AWS Block C and D are each a 5x5 block and combined would be a 10x10. Maybe it might be better to say they have two 5x5 chunks in NYC.

But Tmobile would just transfer them to Tmobile prepaid without any contract. Its not like Tmobile has to create a whole new prepaid division to accommodate MetroPCS. I am not sure what they would do but if Tmobile wanted to use the spectrum ASAP is offer MetroPCS customers a cheap price to switch over to the Tmobile phones and be on their network.. This is what Sprint is doing with their Nextel customers by offering a cheap price to switch over to the SDC phones.

According to that map, MetroPCS also have a 10x10 chunk in NYC and a 5x5 chunk in the northeast area in Philladelphia and Boston.

It appears that Deutsche Telekom parent of Tmobile is in talks with MetroPCS about a potential merger which involves a stock swap transaction that gives Deutsche Telekom majority control which would make Tmobile go public. Very interesting turn of events. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-09/deutsche-telekom-said-to-talk-to-metropcs-on-t-mobile-usa-merger

So I guess the Sierra wireless tri-fi hotspot is going to be released on May 18th for $99.99 which is also the same day as the HTC EVO 4G LTE release. Robert's internal documents did state that May 18th was the predicted release date and I am glad it did stick with that same date. Once again S4GRU.com is the best source for Network Vision and handset news. http://newsroom.sprint.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=2270

Probably when pigs fly!!!

On May 31st, Virgin will begin to sell the Evo V 4G phone and Boost will begin to sell the Evo Design 4G phone both for $299 off contract. What is interesting about these 2 phones is even though they are rebadged Sprint Wimax phones, both of these phones will come preloaded with Android 4.0 ICS software. The current Sprint versions of the EVO 3D and Evo Design 4G still do not have the ICS upgrade. There doesn't seem to be the $10 premium data fee attached on the Virgin and Boost service and plans. http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/08/virgin-mobile-usa-and-boost-take-wimax-live/ I think this is a great option for Virgin and Boost prepaid customers to be able to get 4G Wimax service at a very low price. Hopefully this will encourage those that are currently on 3G only phones to switch over to the Wimax phones especially since they will be paying the same price and for those that are in Wimax markets to use Wimax heavily to alleviate the 3G network.

I am very curious what the 5/7 device is that hit the labs today. I hope its either the GS3 or the Photon 4G LTE phones. Sprint should wait until Apollo comes out to release a Windows Phone since it will have better specs. There is no point for Sprint to make windows phone devices currently which are so cookie cutter since the Mango software is so limited still. It doesn't support multicore processors, any other processors besides Snapdragon, no resolution other than 800x480, etc.

What do you guys think about the latest rumors that try to confirm the May 18th launch date. Do you guys think it looks legit? http://www.gottabemo...ottaBeMobile%29 http://insidesprintn...launches-51812/ EVO 4G LTE User Guide available https://insidesprint..._user_guide.pdf I really wished that Sprint used the "4GLTE" icon instead of just "4G" to indicated LTE connection status.

I am sorry but the FCC needs to be give tough love to AT&T and Verizon for not trying their hardest to use their existing spectrum before trying to ask for more. Has Verizon and AT&T even tried deploying small cells and femtocells to relieve capacity? Verizon and AT&T both need to show evidence of a best effort to deal with supplying enough capacity. I don't buy it for a second that AT&T and Verizon are completely out of spectrum. Sorry but AT&T needs to force all customers still using 2G EDGE to migrate to at least 3G phones. If you compare that with what Sprint and Tmobile are trying to do with Sprint and the Network Vision project which does include small cell and femtocell deployment and Tmobile upgrading its network with LTE and integrated radios in antennas. I get that both AT&T and Verizon have double the amount of customers that Sprint and Tmobile have but lets not forget that only 5% of Verizon's and AT&T's customers are on LTE. With only 5% of customers on LTE using 20 MHz of spectrum and crying to the FCC that they are near capacity is unbelievable to me. There has to be some major spectrum inefficiencies or some skew facts to support that argument. At this rate, there is no way the FCC can supply enough spectrum to each carrier to keep up with this demand.

That totally makes sense to me. If Clearwire can take advantage of using the wifi antenna that would be awesome since the phones have limited space. You can't run wifi and 4G anyways so it makes sense you that you use one or the other.

Robert mentioned about a phone hitting the labs on 5/7. If Samsung is saying the SGSIII will hit the US carriers sometime in the June, I wonder if the phone hitting the labs is the SGSIII instead of the Photon Q 4G LTE. I am hoping one of the phones hitting the labs on 5/7 is the SGSIII or the Photon Q 4G LTE. I just don't know how mature the talks are between Sprint and Motorola about bringing a Photon sequel.

Im reading engadget and I see all these posts that people are saying that they are not impressed with the SGSIII device and will instead opt to get the One X. I personally don't see a problem with the phone and I think it looks nice. Should be a nice competitor to the One X.

Why do these particular cell sites not have RRU's installed? I hope they still get 1xAdvanced installed on these towers and LTE.

Yes go with a LTE phone. No point of getting a Wimax phone with its limited Wimax footprint. I don't advise anyone to get a Wimax phone even if they aren't going to get LTE for another year. Keep in mind that when we sign on the dotted line, we are locked into a 2 year contract and not to mention that all the Wimax phones are from 2011 specs which have horrible battery life. Get a LTE phone like the EVO 4G LTE, Galaxy Nexus, upcoming SGSIII, or the upcoming Photon 4G LTE phone to be future proof.

Wow thanks man. So I take it that the green dots mean that those towers will pretty much be get LTE and the red dots won't get any LTE love? Or does the red dots mean Clearwire plans to add LTE to them if costs permit? I am not too keen on what the green, red and yellow zones mean.

Wow really????? Good news to hear. Thanks for the update. I look forward to seeing the zoomed in images.

My goodness...you are still rocking the HTC Hero. You need to pick up one of those new LTE phones. The HTC Hero is way outdated. The EVO 4G LTE should be a nice phone to pick up.

Why don't you give AT&T a try for a 1.5 weeks to see if you like it more. It sounds like your main motivation to switch carriers is for the data speeds but I should strongly suggest you test heavily on call quality as well. I think sometimes we all get wrapped up on watching Netflix 30 secs faster that we neglect the fact that the main reason we carry a cell phone is to make calls. Anyone who follows this site actively knows that its going to be awhile before we see Sprint LTE. Heck even Robert has to wait until 2014 to see LTE. But he has a Verizon phone so I don't feel too bad for him.

Lets calm down here for a sec. I am sure Clearwire does not plan to launch more than two or three 20 MHz carriers at this time. There is no need to deploy all your spectrum when Clearwire does not have enough wholesale customers to support it.