I'm excited to see that Sprint is at least announcing their plans rather than "IDEN is a great asset..." or "It makes financial sense to keep IDEN"... we all knew it had to end.
I wonder how many Airaves they are going to have to give out (or CDMA towers they plan on building) for businesses that are in areas that have great IDEN signal, but 0-1 bars on CDMA coming off the same tower.
I know one business in particular that has hung onto IDEN forever simply because "It worked where they told me it would--It doesn't have coverage everywhere, but it works great in all the places they said it would--Nextel was the only company that was honest about that when I signed"
It's going to go over just AWESOME when they say "You won't see any service changes--this will be BETTER" and they get their 5 new CDMA phones and find 0-1 bar of service at the shop, and the same when they are out at customer's houses that are just outside of the 1900 coverage. In fact when I am out there calling on them with my own job, I have had to step outside to get a PCS signal because inside there is *just enough* CDMA to hold onto an unusable signal.
I wonder how many of the IDEN folks are left because of this same reason? Maybe it's a leap, but with 5 million or so left, they are probably the hardcore users that have dealt with the low data speeds (these guys have I1's).
I haven't said anything because I'm curious how this will play out
They have asked me who my provider is, and I say Sprint--and it just doesn't click that there are two networks. *I* get the difference--and have the force roam app--and realize they are missing out on a lot of roaming coverage. But the "average user" doesn't get this--and if you have sold something based on being honest, and knowing the owner, Sprint is going to have one ticked off customer, unless they are prepared to explain such things--including the force roam app. Somehow I think they aren't prepared.
--Nat
Sprint Announces Plans to Shut Down its Legacy IDEN Network Next Year
Reply With QuoteOriginally Posted by lewton
It is June 2012 after all (except if they change their mind again).
but worked great my boss didn't adopt it at that time because of it's size and cost! Nextel then came out with a PPT unit that had the option to make cell calls but the PTT was still it's primary function and we used the instead of a trunked radio system that had limited range unless you paid for a repeater service and this cost was based on regions kind of like when we had to deal with roaming, the reason why we used Nextel was because it was secure and private keeping other tow company's with scanners from stealing our calls, the units with PTT and Cell abilities the PTT was the primary radio until they started marketing them to common consumers, also Nextel did have a higher data service for a while branded as WiDEN but they turned if off promising it was only temporary as they worked on updates WiDEN has not been active on the NEXTEL National Network since October 2005 this happened soon after Sprint acquired Nextel, the best move Sprint could make i to sell off the Nextel service and it revert back to PTT as it's primary function I know there is still a high demand for secure 2 way service even the military adopted because the frequencies used did not interfere with there equipment, I would rather loose the cell service and keep the PTT service! the only plus is most of the Nextel units have Direct Talk that I use very often for off network PTT when there is no service! I doubt Sprint or any other company will have this service since phones Like my I880 and I1x I believe have 3 separate radios 1. Cell 2. Network PTT 3. off network PTT since they have to reboot into the Direct Talk mode, but if they really do Iden service I will have a chance to buy a lot of cheap PTT phones for Direct Talk only ability's I wonder if Sprint had any idea the Iden networks primary function was PTT with added features when they purchased it? so if I have to live with Direct Talk only as I said I use a lot while hiking and such I will be limited to a 2-8 mile range but it is still secure they cant shut that off
also I can still use Bluetooth and the propitiatory ear pieces for private 2 way, the units with the old connector had (Covert Earphone Headsets that were used by PI's, Body guards, and Government these were the units with the plastic tube going to your ear a Mic clipped to your vest hidden from view and a PTT button run down your sleeve for discreet operation the same type of system was used for the secret service! I have no idea what they are going to use when the shut down unless the old rumors about the US Government taking control of the Iden network for there exclusive us is true?
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