Sprint to Block High End Smartphones from Sprint MVNOs

[Volaris]

Sprint is going to start preventing "iconic" / high end smartphones from being activated on its MVNOs after November 15.

If you want the privilege of experiencing Sprint network quality, you're gonna have to start paying Sprint prices, plus taxes and fees.

Source:
http://www.prepaidphonenews.com/2013...block-its.html

Perhaps that's why Straight Talk's latest Galaxy S4 didn't use Sprint?

Kinda odd when AT&T and T-Mobile are allowing anything.

[Acrs]

Yes, you are correct , this is from PrepaYd Wireless:

Sprint Blacklist Changes as of November 15th

We regret to inform you that neither we nor any other Sprint MVNO can activate the Samsung Galaxy S4, HTC One, or any of the newer iconic Sprint Devices with Sprint’s Bring Your Own Device Program as of November 15, 2013. Many of these Devices have been activating since February 2013 due to an error by Sprint on blacklisting new models and since the program is new, there has not been a well-documented list of non-approved models provided to PrepaYd. Since thousands of these devices have been approved and activated, we assumed they were eligible for BYOD by Sprint. As these models are less than one year old, Sprint’s opinion is they should all be under contract with Sprint still which is why Sprint is blacklisting them from PrepaYd Wireless and all other Sprint MVNO for Activations.

We recommend you activate these models on Page Plus, Next G or any other CDMA Carrier until we have approval to activate these Devices on PrepaYd Wireless. We appreciate your loyalty and hope to have a more competitive BYOD offering for you in the near future.

Doing this the only loser will be Sprint Network, Customers will be flash over Pageplus or any other Big Red MVNO..

[jamel_gay]

another reason why gsm is better than cdma..

[mch]

So does Sprint really want to drive people to their competition? I am sure AT&T and T-Mobile will be happy to pick up the customers, either directly or indirectly, that want higher end phones on prepaid.

How does this make sense in a climate where the Sprint network isn't performing well in many places and the company is bleeding customers? Sprint should be trying to keep customers, whether they are direct or indirect. This kind of move might indeed make sense a couple of years from now if Sprint manages to turn itself around.

I really want Sprint to do well, but it just feels like I am watching an accident happen in slow motion. Frustrating.

[roncomatic]

I'd love to see Sprint do well also. I read online that it was only recently (maybe last quarter?) that Sprint made its FIRST quarterly profit in 6 years. 6 years. That's a long, long time without a profitable quarter. I hope blocking the best smartphones from their mvno's doesn't come back to hurt Sprint.

[vmobi]

Wirelessly posted (NO CONtract: Opera/9.80 (Android; Opera Mini/7.5.33361/32.1151; U; en) Presto/2.8.119 Version/11.10)

Maybe they plan to offer some of these iconic devices exclusively through their in-house brands Boost and Virgin Mobile before the mvno's.

[strive53]

Smh on this one! Thought it was looking up for high end devices being activated on sprint mvnos...I mean some money is better than none right? Sprint if ur listening wen the next "iconic" phone comes out I'll b giving ur money to someone else. Beauty of prepaid...

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

[beckettfitz]

Guess no ringplus for me...

[cellmt]

Ringplus blocked my HTC One from activating last week already...I guess no Ringplus for me...

[rcentros]

I'd love to see Sprint do well also. I read online that it was only recently (maybe last quarter?) that Sprint made its FIRST quarterly profit in 6 years. 6 years. That's a long, long time without a profitable quarter. I hope blocking the best smartphones from their mvno's doesn't come back to hurt Sprint.

Verizon won't allow any 4G phones on their MVNO's networks -- and it doesn't seem to be killing them -- though the natives are getting restless. I wonder if Sprint will allow the new Motorola Moto G on their prepaid network and MVNOs? I guess I should first wonder if there is even going to be a Sprint version of the Moto G.

[mch]

Verizon won't allow any 4G phones on their MVNO's networks -- and it doesn't seem to be killing them -- though the natives are getting restless. I wonder if Sprint will allow the new Motorola Moto G on their prepaid network and MVNOs? I guess I should first wonder if there is even going to be a Sprint version of the Moto G.

Yes, but Verizon isn't struggling to keep customers.

[Acrs]

Verizon won't allow any 4G phones on their MVNO's networks -- and it doesn't seem to be killing them -- though the natives are getting restless. I wonder if Sprint will allow the new Motorola Moto G on their prepaid network and MVNOs? I guess I should first wonder if there is even going to be a Sprint version of the Moto G.

Attached is so far all blocked devices:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]100958[/ATTACH
Sent with the HoFo App

[comintel]

......
Kinda odd when AT&T and T-Mobile are allowing anything.

I think AT&T and T-Mobile may have to because they are members of the GSM Alliance which requires member carriers to pledge to allow other carriers' GSM phones on any member carrier's network.

[rcentros]

Yes, but Verizon isn't struggling to keep customers.

But, if Sprint gives up too much, they'll be losing customers to their MVNOs. It's a fine line. The fact that you can use a Galaxy 3 or a Note 2 on Sprint's MVNOs (for examples), means they're not exactly cutting their MVNOs off at the knees.

[rcentros]

I think AT&T and T-Mobile may have to because they are members of the GSM Alliance which requires member carriers to pledge to allow other carriers' GSM phones on any member carrier's network.

Also the number follows the SIM. The SIM is what you activate. I guess they could do MEID checks and disable your account, however.