ericdabbs

The reason Motorola did not go with the Tegra 2 for the Bionic eventually was that it had problems working with LTE which generated too much heat with the baseband radio chips and definitely battery life. It had nothing to do with not meeting a supply date because around that time in March/April 2011, Motorola was building the Photon 4G for Sprint and they were using the Tegra 2 so Nvidia must have met supply demand and it wouldn't have been hard to meet the Bionic's supply demand. Motorola tried to go with the Tegra 2 but just later decided to go with what was the next best chip which was the OMAP 4 so it could provide LTE support which was their number 1 priority. I know phone manufacturers are always looking ahead and I am sure they even get some early samples of their next chip from each chip maker. However the problem is not that the chip itself but when will they mass produce that chip and meet that customer's supply demand that you mentioned. The Tegra 4 won't come out until Q1 2013 and the OMAP 5 won't come until Q3 2012 and that information has been leaked already. Any phones that plan to be released by summer won't meet that deadline. First thing first is that the number one thing Nvidia must get right is provide LTE support on their Tegra series especially the Tegra 3 if they want any manufacturer to use it in 2012. Until they can do that, I don't care if they have 8 cores on the chip and a lower die size that has great battery life. Obviously there is a reason why HTC and Motorola has chosen to go with the S4 and not the Tegra 3. My point earlier was that if Sprint is expecting to get the Photon 4G LTE phone out by July/Aug 2012 time frame, they must have chosen all their hardware chips by now and a working prototype because we know that they would have had to do preliminary lab tests on the hardware chips and talk with Sprint on the specs and features of the phone. By now a Tegra 3 without LTE support on the Photon 4G LTE phone is not acceptable. This is also the reason why the US version of the HTC One X for both AT&T and Sprint are using the S4 instead of the Tegra 3 because of the LTE support. The international version of the HTC One X uses Tegra 3 since it did not need LTE support. Hopefully what Robert posted about a phone hitting the Sprint labs on 5/7 is the Photon 4G LTE phone.

Since you are a sponsor, go to the Interactive S4GRU Maps forum and click on the NV sites complete thread. From there you can see the maps of active NV towers up with a legend on the bottom of whether they have 3G or 4G up.

I don't disagree with you. Of course there will always be up and coming chips that will try to be better than the other competitor which is why competition is great. The question is whether these better chips are available now in mass production so that it can be used in phones. At some point if you are Moto, LG, Samsung, HTC you have to just choose the best chip that is out there currently to start building that phone model or else you'll always be running the rat race and will never build the phone. Moto, LG, Samsung, HTC can are always building new phone models and they can choose the best chip available for them at that time. Since the Photon 4G LTE version should be due sometime in July or Aug, the S4 is still currently the best chip that is out there until TI or Nvidia steps up their game and starts releasing better chips right now in mass production. For the time being, I am giving the S4 the top dog award and the chip I want to see in the Photon 4G LTE until it can be proven wrong. If TI released their OMAP 5 chips right now then I would say Moto should explore that option. Lets not forget that the reason the Droid Bionic (which was the phone I was about to leave Sprint for) was delayed for several months last year was because it had problems with the Tegra 2 chip working with LTE. Ultimately Moto decided to create the Droid Bionic with the TI OMAP 4 chip to be compatible with LTE.

If you don't do much to your phone, then you don't really need the insurance. Even as much as hacking as I do on Android, I haven't bricked a phone yet. To be honest, if the deductibles are also increasing as well to $150 - $200 then I mind as well find a used phone on craigslist for cheaper. I only plan to use the phone for 2 years anyways because new ones will be far superior than my current phone.

we'll have to see because currently the Tegra 3 doesn't have LTE capability on their chips. Nvidia says they will have Tegra 3+ chips with LTE capability available in Q3 2012 but that remains to be seen. If a Photon 4G sequel were to come out, I would think Sprint would launch it in August like it did last year. Also Motorola has been saying that they are stepping away from Nvidia Tegra and even TI OMAP in favor of the Qualcomm Snapdragon chips just because its gotten great reviews. Rumors of an Atrix 3 on ATT will be based on the Snadragon S4 chip. To be honest the Tegra 3 and OMAP 4 series is getting long in the tooth. ARM Cortex A9 chips and 40 nm die size on the OMAP 4 and Tegra 3 does not compare to the Snapdragon S4 ARM Cortex A15 and 28 nm die size. http://www.gottabemo...rtphone-lineup/ http://www.slashgear...ragon-16223149/

It looks like the TEP insurance is going to raise prices again from $8 to $11/month and the phone deductible will be raised from $50 or $100 to $150 or $200 depending on the phone starting June 16. Personally I think it is ridiculous that insurance will cost over $10/month. Every other major carrier still maintains its phone insurance at $7/month. I cancelled my insurance about 6 months ago after having it for about 1.5 years. I ended up using my insurance only once because I couldn't receive calls and got it mainly because the HTC Touch Pro was an unreliable phone. I can see a lot of cancellations on the phone insurance if its $11/month. http://www.androidcentral.com/sprint-tep-going-11-lte-devices-come-june-16-could-be-day-lte-goes-live

There are some articles running about this rumor. I personally do not want to see the Tegra 3 on the Motorola Photon 4G sequel. I would much rather have the faster S4 dual core chip. I don't really trust the Tegra series chips currently. Hopefully we will hear more information from Sprint in late June about this and hopefully an August time frame for release. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-57419515-251/sprint-could-have-motorola-photon-4g-successor/ http://pocketnow.com/android/motorola-photon-4g-sequel-tipped-for-sprint

U guys are right. DOH!!!! For some reason I was thinking of something else. *runs in shame*

Here is the article that Robert was talking about. http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/entry-124-sprints-new-tri-network-hotspot-from-sierra-wireless-targeted-for-may-18th-launch/

The EVO 4G LTE phone hasn't even hit the FCC yet so how can it be launched in May anyways. I trust Robert in his findings that we will see the EVO 4G LTE around June 10 or later. Besides I think Sprint wants to give the Galaxy Nexus and LG Viper more time for sales.

If you mean by permanent until 2015 then I would agree with you that VM and BM will stay with Wimax. However if you mean that sprint will keep Wimax for VM and BM past 2015, then I disagree. Eventually everyone will migrate to LTE but for VM and BM, I hope Sprint is not planning to move them to LTE until 2015. Even Clearwire at some point probably in 2015 will tear down the Wimax network and refarm that spectrum to add additional LTE carriers. To be honest, VM and BM customers should not be complaining since even AT&T and verizon don't offer 4G service to its prepaid customers and should be happy with getting 4G Wimax service or a decent Wimax footprint. The majority of the big markets are covered in the Wimax network. Tmobile offers its HSPA+ network and other prepaid carriers like MetroPCS and Cricket are offering LTE service for its customers but their LTE networks are negligible. MetroPCS has only about 16 LTE markets and I believe Leap only has 1 or 2 LTE markets.

Wow I was not aware of this fact on the legacy towers. I am curious what the fix will be because even band aid fixes are better than nothing until Network Vision hits that market. I wonder how long have they known about this problem.

Agreed. A short term of growing pains in handoff issues is much better than waiting until 2013 to receive NV upgrades. My only concern is whether the Sprint reps are explaining to the customers the reasons why calls are dropping. Last thing Sprint wants customers to think is that the network is getting unreliable for even voice calls. I am sure Sprint is already aware about its bad rep for the 3G data speeds. I don't know what other OEM makes the legacy equipment but lets hope that the issues are only limited to just Samsung and Motorola.

I think the only people that still really use pagers are doctors since they have to be on call.

I would think the phones would have to be discounted to the 300 dollar range instead of the $550 retail price points. Even MetroPCS 4G LTE phones are between 199 and 299.

Agreed. If they installed all the radios, cabinets, antennas, etc for 3G, why not just complete the entire tower site with 4G as well. Also there are places that Robert has mentioned that only 4G has been installed but not 3G. I don't get why it works vice versa as well. Just complete towers with both 3G and 4G like the Waco region.

Clearwire already has great microwave backhaul on its towers. Although I don't know what the backhaul capacity is of whether its 1 Gbps or greater. Also keep in mind that while Virgin and Boost customers will be coming onto the Clearwire 4G Wimax network there will also be a ton of the original HTC EVO 4G and Samsung Epic 4G customers that will be exiting the gates for the LTE phones this summer thus balancing out the additional Virgin and Boost customers. At the end, I believe the Wimax speeds will stay the same as they are currently. I know I plan to get a LTE phone next fall when my contract ends to replace my Photon 4G phone which I currently love.

Imagine if they offered the Samsung Epic Touch 4G on VM and BM for prepaid. I think its a great idea to rebrand existing Wimax phones to VM and BM to clear out its inventory and provide prepaid customers a 4G Wimax alternative to compete with MetroPCS, Cricket and Tmobile. I would be curious if Sprint will implement the $10 surcharge to cover the Clearwire costs or else it would eat into the VM and BM profits on their already low prices.

The Technobuffalo article did mention that it read rumors from Pocketnow.com about how Sprint was rebranding Wimax phones onto the Virgin Mobile line. Below is a link to the EVO 3D being rebranded to Virgin Mobile as the Evo V 4G. This helps put some credence as to Sprint's 4G plans for prepaid carriers Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile. http://pocketnow.com...r-virgin-mobile http://www.gottabemo...le-as-evo-v-4g/

What makes you think that Sprint won't increase prices to account for 4G Wimax. They could easily implement the premium data surcharge onto prepaid for 4G Wimax service. Keep in mind the 4G service they would be getting is 4G Wimax NOT 4G LTE which will be nationwide. Us postpaid customers will eventually move onto LTE anyways. Anything that can help shift customers off of the 3G network is more than welcomed. Its about time that Clearwire's spectrum is put into good use.

I get that there is still backlash on Mark's article about the alleged LTE markets which spread like wildfire to other tech blogs reporting the false news. I thought that the idea of prepaid customers getting 4G but of the Wimax flavor to help offload the 3G network and found the article interesting. We should all really hope that it does come to fruition because that would seriously help Sprint offload more customers data off of Sprint's 3G network onto Clearwire's 4G network for those that live in the Wimax footprint.

According to Technobuffalo, Virgin and Boost prepaid may be getting some 4G love but of the Wimax flavor as soon as June. At first glance I thought, why would Sprint give 4G capability to prepaid since their plans are so cheap already until it hit me. I think its a very good idea that Sprint is doing this. Not only would it bring the Virgin and Boost customers to increase their data speeds with the introduction of 4G Wimax but I think Sprint is making this move primarily to help relieve capacity on its 3G network. This benefits not only Sprint but Clearwire as well for the following reasons: 1) Helps Sprint offload 3G data to 4G WiMax in markets that have Clearwire service that will help relieve tower capacity for the 3G network for not only postpaid but also prepaid customers as well. Since Sprint and Clearwire have a contract until 2015 to provide Wimax capability why not take advantage of it. 2) Helps Clearwire maintain a steady stream of revenue from Sprint prepaid customers to replace the hopefully huge exodus of the postpaid EVO and current out of contract customers fleeing to LTE phones. 3) Possible increase ARPU on Sprint's prepaid customers by increasing prices to help subsidize the Clearwire network. Not sure if they will charge the full $10 extra for the 4G service but I think Sprint should. http://www.technobuffalo.com/mobile-devices/phones/virgin-mobile-and-boost-making-the-move-to-4g-via-sprints-wimax-as-soon-as-june/ What do you guys think?

Interesting articles commenting on the proposed Verizon 700 MHz A&B block spectrum sale. I learned a few things about the 700 MHz A&B spectrum that Verizon holds. For one thing, Verizon has mandated buildout requirements for the 700 MHz A&B blocks by mid 2013 to at least 35% of the licensed geographical regions. There are also rumors that the A block may have interference problems with TV broadcasters on channel 51 which complicate the chance of it being used for LTE service. Also since the 700 MHz C block that Verizon has nationwide is so unique in that the downlink and uplink frequencies are flipped, it would be very costly for Verizon to implement additional antennas and filters on its handsets to account for the 700 MHz A, B and C blocks for LTE. Verizon would have add a new chip to use the A&B blocks of which Verizon was not going to front the money up for it. It seems like Verizon had zero intention of ever deploying 700 MHz in the A&B blocks which further confirms what the RCA has been saying that Verizon has been warehousing or hoarding "beachfront spectrum" from the competition. In addition the RCA believes that the sale of the 700 MHz A&B is NOT sufficient enough to approve the cable deal which leads me to believe that further divestitures are required or a denial by the FCC. In addition the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) also confirms what they have been accusing Verizon of warehousing "beachfront" spectrum and even question if there is truly a spectrum crisis. Bottom line is that Verizon's antics are up to no good and more of the reason why this deal should not be approved. I posted quotes from each article below that were relevant to confirm what I have learned. Fiercewireless: "Another issue that may complicate any sale is one that has bedeviled the A Block since the 2008 700 MHz auction: There remains concerns about interference from nearby TV broadcast stations. Further, as analysts at Stifel Nicolaus pointed out in a research note, Verizon's Lower A and B Block licenses have buildout requirements that mandate coverage to 35 percent of the licensed geographic areas by mid-2013, which could be one reason why Verizon has chosen to sell it now. However, those requirements also put pressure on any carrier that bids for the spectrum. Farrar said Verizon had no intention of deploying its Lower A and B Block spectrum, and with the buildout deadlines approaching, "they're using this to their advantage." http://www.fiercewir...trum/2012-04-18 CNET: " Who will want Verizon's 700MHz spectrum? Still, a closer look at the spectrum Verizon is proposing to sell reveals that the A and B block spectrum isn't likely to be of much use to many other carriers either. Kevin Smithen, an analyst at Macquarie Capital, said in a research note that due to potential interference issues in the neighboring broadcast TV channel 51, the A block in the 700MHz band will likely only receive "minimal interest from bidders with immediate LTE spectrum needs." http://news.cnet.com...able-after-all/ ComputerWorld "Verizon billed the proposed sale as an effort to "rationalize" its spectrum holdings, but representatives of television broadcasters and small carriers were quick to accuse the nation's largest carrier of hoarding spectrum while at the same time lobbying federal authorities to make more of the airwaves available under the pretense of scarcity. "Today's proposal by Verizon to sell reallocated broadcast TV spectrum involves airwaves in the largest urban markets in America that it purchased more than four years ago," Dennis Wharton, executive vice president of communications for the National Association of Broadcasters, said in a statement. "The fact that it has warehoused this 'beachfront property' raises the fundamental question of whether a spectrum shortage actually exists." The Rural Cellular Association, a trade group, also weighed in with concerns about Verizon's proposed sell-off, echoing both the broadcasters' accusation of spectrum hoarding and the advocacy groups' warning about the anti-competitive implications of the cable deal. "This announcement confirms what RCA has said: Verizon has developed a spectrum warehouse exceeding its needs," RCA President and CEO Steven Berry said in a statement." "Selling its Lower 700 MHz A and B block licenses is not sufficient to resolve competitive concerns in the industry," Berry added. "Further, Verizon's announcement increases RCA's concerns with the pending cable transactions, including access to usable, LTE-ready spectrum and access to commercially reasonable roaming and backhaul arrangements. These deals require strict scrutiny, enforceable conditions helping to restore the competitive marketplace, and divestiture in markets where the transfers are not in the public interest." http://news.idg.no/c...3A5D715A0715F99

I hope the Photon 2 will be based off of the Snapdragon S4 chip. It seems like Motorola is stepping away from the Tegra and OMAP series for now which I think is a good move. I would love to have HD voice in the Photon 2. TI is taking too long with the OMAP 5 and should have released it already and they need to get into gear on that. Nvidia is taking too long with providing built in LTE support from the start. I really hope the Tegra 4 has built in LTE capability.

Completely disagree with your statement. There are huge barriers for entry in the wireless carrier space of which your statement does not apply which is why the government and the FCC needs to become involved. I don't care if someone came up with a new invention in wireless to be more spectrally efficient because at the end of the day they will still need spectrum. Without spectrum this new invention is going to be mean diddly squat because it would be all gobbled up by Verizon and AT&T. This crap happened before with the Ma Bell situation and had to be broken up. Without checks and balances, Verizon and AT&T could easily form a duopoly which is bad for the consumer. I always laugh when I hear people do not want competition like its a good thing. In the grocery market sector, I am glad I see Walmart and Target offering produce and deli (in Walmart at least) to compete with the supermarket chains like Safeway, Albertsons, Vons, Ralphs, Stater Bros. I always felt that the supermarkets chains were usually a rip off and I find myself buying a lot of stuff from Walmart and Target just because I have choice. Choice is always good for the consumer just like it is in the wireless space.