Sprint Network Strategy Update- What does this mean for Virgin Mobile?

[Helgaiden]

http://live.thisismynext.com/Event/S...date_live_blog

So theres the liveblog link for you guys to read through. I was praying for mention of EVDO Rev. B or evDO-Advanced...but there was no mention of it. 1x advanced got mentioned, so maybe the software upgrades packaged with that will include Rev. B upgrades (which is primarily a software thing). They do talk about backhaul upgrades, multimode towers, etc. etc....


so what does this mean for us? Post about what you guys might think. I hope for VM it means faster 3g, even if only by better capacity management as opposed to improved network standards (rev B, DO-Advanced) but being part of SPG i think its hard to tell how this will be handled on the prepaid side of things.

[digi7al ph0enix]

For now its probably safe to assume that any network improvements we do see will be promptly crushed by the mass influx of iPhone users.

[fonezfonz]

I can see the unlimited data disappearing very fast as soon as they start signing up their proposed 30 million iphone users. Lol. Throttle, overages and caps, here we come!

[andyhrn]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en) Presto/2.9.168 Version/11.51)

I can see the unlimited data disappearing very fast as soon as they start signing up their proposed 30 million iphone users. Lol. Throttle, overages and caps, here we come!

Add to this ST and Net10 customers for a full picture. Sprint network doesn't has capacity to handle even current prepaid services. What would happens if the most of the data traffic will be eaten by Iphone users?

[billm261]

From a voice stand point using the 800mhz frequency will enable to signal to travel further and penetrate buildings better.

Rev B would only benefit those devices that had the chipset to do so. It would have only been (I think) the Triumph right now that would have benefited and only if Sprint allowed it.

Backhaul is one of the most critical elements of the data network.

Sprint has the spectrum to accommodate the demand, it's the backhaul that's been a problem with only a single T1 lines in many locations. Improvement to the back end with fiber, microwave, software etc will be a blessing. How it will benefit prepaid is yet to be seen but it certainly can't hurt.

With Clearwire desperate for customers I was surprised to not see some type of Wi-Max phone for Virgin. Even with a 10.00 add on fee they could have been the first prepaid company to truly offer it but now with Metro and Cricket already having it in limited areas I guess not.

Those thinking that the iPhone will strain the network I think are mistaken. This device is not going to bring in customers like before. Maybe a few will come over from other carriers but this device will not do much more than keep current customers happy. Sprint has loads of smartphone users already and Androids are actually hungrier than iOS.

Sprint routs data for prepaid and MVNO's through proxy servers and they can regulate just how much they provide.

Once LTE is completely up and running it will then be interesting to see what happens.

[andyhrn]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en) Presto/2.9.168 Version/11.51)

Can we somehow to reroute our phones to the Sprint proxy? This will be awesome.

[billm261]

Wirelessly posted (Opera/9.80 (Windows NT 5.1; U; en) Presto/2.9.168 Version/11.51)

Can we somehow to reroute our phones to the Sprint proxy? This will be awesome.

I had read on the H2o forum that people were trying to do that to circumvent the throttle but it didn't appear to work.
I think your phones ESN number dictates where it's routed like the SIM card on a GSM phone.

[El Schisne]

There's one aspect that will be huge for VMUSA customers but that I haven't heard anyone mention: the fact that many VMUSA phones, particularly payLo phones, have support for only the 1900 MHz band. That means they don't support the 800 MHz band, which is where Sprint will be offloading voice calls. As a rule (with a couple exceptions), the phones that can use the 800 MHz spectrum are those that were taken directly from Sprint. According to manufacturers' webpages, the phones that do have 800 MHz support are as follows:

• Kyocera Loft/S2300 (the S2300 being an exception to the "payLo-phones-aren't-compatible" rule I just made up)
• LG Rumor Touch
• Samsung Intercept
• LG Optimus V
• Kyocera S2100 (again, a notable payLo exception)
• BlackBerry Curve 8530? (Its webpage is silent on the matter.)

And phones that do not support the 800 MHz spectrum:

• Most interestingly of all, the Motorola Triumph. (Two different places list "CDMA 1900 MHz, EVDO Rev. a," with no mention of 800 MHz.)
• LG Rumor 2
• Samsung Restore (Beyond Talk) and Samsung m340 (payLo)? (Their webpages don't say, unlike the Intercept's, which seems suspicious to me.)
• Probably every pre-Sprint-acquisition VMUSA phone, with the possible exception of the Audiovox/UTStarcomm Shuttle (which is the only pre-acquisition phone with EvDO, and whose manufacturer has no webpage for it).

I can't find a manufacturer's webpage for the LG 101 or LG 200.

Obviously, this is all on the assumption that the manufacturers' webpages portray accurate information. Those are the best sources we have.

Finally, with regard to EvDO Rev. B, the only Sprint phone with hardware that could ever possibly use it is the HTC EVO 3D, whose webpage lists only Rev. A anyway. I doubt that we'll ever see Rev. B technology on Sprint's network.

[billm261]

That's a good point about the phones not being 800 MHz friendly.

They must have something figured out for that as well as switching over IDEN users.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using HowardForums

[vmobi]

There's one aspect that will be huge for VMUSA customers but that I haven't heard anyone mention: the fact that many VMUSA phones, particularly payLo phones, have support for only the 1900 MHz band. That means they don't support the 800 MHz band, which is where Sprint will be offloading voice calls. As a rule (with a couple exceptions), the phones that can use the 800 MHz spectrum are those that were taken directly from Sprint. According to manufacturers' webpages, the phones that do have 800 MHz support are as follows:

• Kyocera Loft/S2300 (the S2300 being an exception on payLo)
• LG Rumor Touch
• Samsung Intercept
• LG Optimus V
• Kyocera S2100 (again, a notable payLo exception)
• BlackBerry Curve 8530? (Its webpage is silent on the matter.)

And phones that do not support the 800 MHz spectrum:

• Most interestingly of all, the Motorola Triumph. (Two different places list "CDMA 1900 MHz, EVDO Rev. a," with no mention of 800 MHz.)
• LG Rumor 2
• Samsung Restore (Beyond Talk) and Samsung m340 (payLo)? (Their webpages don't say, unlike the Intercept's, which seems suspicious to me.)
• Probably every pre-Sprint-acquisition VMUSA phone, with the possible exception of the Audiovox/UTStarcomm Shuttle (which is the only pre-acquisition phone with EvDO, and whose manufacturer has no webpage for it).

I can't find a manufacturer's webpage for the LG 101 or LG 200.

Obviously, this is all on the assumption that the manufacturers' webpages portray accurate information. Those are the best sources we have.

Finally, with regard to EvDO Rev. B, the only Sprint phone with hardware that could ever possibly use it is the HTC EVO 3D, whose webpage lists only Rev. A anyway. I doubt that we'll ever see Rev. B technology on Sprint's network.

Rev.B is out of the question. Sprint will dedicate it's resources to LTE. As for VM's 1900 Mhz devices, subscribers will need to upgrade to 800 Mhz devices. Sprint/VM - Boost will simply eliminate current non-compatible devices from their line-ups and begin to offer compatible devices going forward. Not a problem but an opportunity to generate new sales revenue. Most subscribers would welcome the enhanced service benefits of the new 800 Mhz devices (a response similar to iDen subscribers migrating to cdma on Boost Mobile). Do not underestimate the power of network improvements.

[El Schisne]

Right. I just find it very interesting and odd that the Triumph is 1900 MHz-only. It won't be so triumphant anymore once it can no longer make phone calls, unfortunately. :/

I just think of people like my aunt, who has been a VMUSA customer for probably six years now, still grandfathered on the $.18/min plan with no texting. She still has and uses a Nokia Shorty (this little guy). In all that time, she's seen no reason to buy a new phone, and she won't appreciate being told that she needs to upgrade because Sprint is changing the network.

But you're right--for the majority of customers, it's an excuse to get a new device, and many of us have network-upgrade-proof devices anyway. Pushing voice over to 800 MHz will also improve building penetration and likely go a long way towards removing the "Sprint service sucks" stereotype. Sprint seems to be making this about as smooth of a transition as it can, which is quite praiseworthy.

[billm261]

Right. I just find it very interesting and odd that the Triumph is 1900 MHz-only. It won't be so triumphant anymore once it can no longer make phone calls, unfortunately. ;

That Triumph will be an antique at the end of 2013. That's over 2 years from now assuming they get it done on time. I guess a benefit to postpaid is it can be done with a simple PRL update.

The bigger question will be what is allocated to prepaid for data when all is said and done.

They can still keep 1900 going for voice also.

Sent from my EVO4G

[poison7fl]

30 million? Hahahahaha, that'll never happen. Maybe in a few years when they have several versions of the iPhone out. But, the 4s ain't gonna do it...

[primetechv2]

How many iPhone versions can Apple possibly release though? They have already built a cult on the idea that there is only one perfect phone (and they have the formula).

I recently had my eyes opened to how untrue that stereotype is, but I can hardly see them stooping down to the level of having enough phones to offer actual variety -- heck, look at their laptops. They go from modestly priced and lacking In features, to amazingly overpriced with slightly superior specs to themselves, but still lacking in features.

I always thought their iPhone was supposed to be the bottom of their game, that they were going to improve over a badly designed glass screen and lousy antenna. Making their product worse on purpose is simply out of character.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

[billm261]

How many iPhone versions can Apple possibly release though?

As many as the market will allow and it seems infinite.

How any Android versions have we had now?

Only difference is we have more choices where to host our Android platform. Pretty slick on Apples part, the 2G, 3G and 3GS were pretty much in the same housing much like the 4 and 4S.

There is no need to tinker with that success and Wall Street agrees.


Sent from my EVO4G