Coverage Map

[GSMinCT]

I'd be surprised as well if they allow roaming on Verizon it would seriously make me consider switching over from VM

I have a hard time believing it's possible though because the service is only $19 a month and roaming isn't cheap if roaming is allowed it's likely it will either be severely limited or end up like metro pcs roaming were you have to buy roaming minutes in order to use roaming

Yeah, but Metro's plan has free texting on Verizon, and for $20/mo, having the option to roam on Verizon for $.20/minute is a lot better than not having the option...

[djjim]

I saw a pic on the Republic Wireless Facebook page of an employee provisioning an Optimus. I was surprised to see a Sprint logo on the phone. To my knowledge no other Sprint Mvno sports the Sprint logo on their handsets. Maybe they will allow roaming. Time will tell.

Sent from my SCH-I400 using HowardForums

[AndroidFoneFan]

I'd be surprised as well if they allow roaming on Verizon it would seriously make me consider switching over from VM

I have a hard time believing it's possible though because the service is only $19 a month and roaming isn't cheap if roaming is allowed it's likely it will either be severely limited or end up like metro pcs roaming were you have to buy roaming minutes in order to use roaming

Fortunately for me, regular service with Sprint native towers does everything I need. I have service everywhere I go without need of roaming.

[AndroidFoneFan]

I saw a pic on the Republic Wireless Facebook page of an employee provisioning an Optimus. I was surprised to see a Sprint logo on the phone. To my knowledge no other Sprint Mvno sports the Sprint logo on their handsets. Maybe they will allow roaming. Time will tell.

Sent from my SCH-I400 using HowardForums

Since RW has not shipped any phones yet we don't know what is on their phones, but I doubt the phones will have Sprints name on them. If this experiment called Republic Wireless flops Sprint is not going to want their name stamped squarely on these phones.

[djjim]

Since RW has not shipped any phones yet we don't know what is on their phones, but I doubt the phones will have Sprints name on them. If this experiment called Republic Wireless flops Sprint is not going to want their name stamped squarely on these phones.

But, they do have Sprint's logo. That is what I am saying. This photo is directly from their Facebook sight of them programming a phone for shipment.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...44844974_n.jpg

This photo explains why it is taking so long to get the phones out the door. Manually programming each by hand with a laptop. Ughh. Time consuming.

[GSMinCT]

Since RW has not shipped any phones yet we don't know what is on their phones, but I doubt the phones will have Sprints name on them. If this experiment called Republic Wireless flops Sprint is not going to want their name stamped squarely on these phones.

Hopefully Republic doesn't go the way Sprint's been going lately!!!

[AndroidFoneFan]

But, they do have Sprint's logo. That is what I am saying. This photo is directly from their Facebook sight of them programming a phone for shipment.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...44844974_n.jpg

This photo explains why it is taking so long to get the phones out the door. Manually programming each by hand with a laptop. Ughh. Time consuming.

Yes, and what I'm saying is these may be old pictures from development stages, not production stages.
The phones come from sprint because the off wifi coverage is handled by them, but the production phones may not have the sprint logo on them.

Look at Cricket, some of their android phones are covered and supplied by Sprint. Straight Talk and Net10 androids are covered and supplied by Sprint, Boost and Virgin Mobile androids are covered and supplied by Sprint but not one of them has Sprints logo on them, they are all branded to the MVNO that sells them.
I would think that despite what this picture shows that these phones will be Republic Wireless branded.
It does RW no good to have Sprints name on their phones when brand based advertisement will be crucial to RWs growth.

This photo explains why it is taking so long to get the phones out the door. Manually programming each by hand with a laptop. Ughh. Time consuming.

However, since this is all in beta stage it may be possible that all the phones used during the beta period will be modified stock Sprint phones, mas production of these probably won't happen until they have all the quirks worked out through trial and error, that is what the beta testers are here to do.
Help RW fine tune the software so that everything works.
Once they know software is going to make this whole boat float they will put together a factory installable ROM and that is when the show will really start.

I posted this on the blog over at RW and I will say it here as well. This is a beta period. RW has said it repeatedly, do not expect these phones to work perfectly right out the door, they might, but they might not. RW also said that the beta tester will be sent new ROMS OTA to install on the phones throughout the testing period to try as they fine tune the software. These phones should not be expected to replace your current cell phones any time soon.
They may have them running like fine tuned model T's in no time, but do not plan on it happening.

[ilvla2]

I am signed up and have my place in the next wave, but do their phones roam on other carriers when not on WiFi? The reason I ask is they say they use Sprint, but Sprint doesn't have service up here in Mendocino County in Northwestern California, we have U.S. Cellular, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Metro PCS.

[ben7337]

Yes, they get sprint's roaming partners, including verizon, so you should be fine when on the go, and covered by wifi indoors.

[ilvla2]

Yes, they get sprint's roaming partners, including verizon, so you should be fine when on the go, and covered by wifi indoors.

Cool, thanks! Do they have a roaming limit though?

[Endeavor]

Both Republic Wireless and Ting both allow voice roaming on all of Sprint's roaming partners. Data services are limited to Sprint's native network (i.e., Virgin Mobile coverage). This has nothing to do with what Sprint will "allow." Sprint has no power to allow or disallow roaming. The controlling factor is what the MVNO chooses to pay for it. RW and Ting choose to pay a higher price for roaming in order to have a larger coverage area, but only for voice calling and text messages, and not for data.

Also, Prepayd Wireless does the same thing.

[MobileBoost]

I was under the impression that talk, text, and data was native Sprint coverage only.

Text and Talk is now on Verizon roaming partners? If so this will make it an even better deal. Let the waves come!

[Wireless Junkie]

Hopefully Republic doesn't go the way Sprint's been going lately!!!

Prospering and fixing their issues?

- Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note on AT&T 4G