kolosus

Sprint CEO Confirms WiMax Coming to Sprint Prepaid - PhoneNews.com | PhoneNews.com

Sprint CEO Confirms WiMax Coming to Sprint Prepaid
By Humberto Saabedra on April 25, 2012

After a few days of rumors and plausible speculation, the news has been confirmed by Sprint CEO Dan Hesse himself: Sprint Prepaid will be offering WiMax as of this Summer with the forthcoming availability of the EVO Design 4G on Boost Mobile and the recently discontinued HTC EVO 3D to be released on Virgin Mobile.

To add to the good news, the monthly rates for each respective service will remain as they are with the current throttling rates for smartphones being kept in place. This comes as the carrier reported 1st quarter earnings earlier this morning, with an increase in postpaid subscribers thanks to the iPhone along with the increase in unit sales for the storied device, but still recorded an overall loss of $255 million. As reported previously, the release of both the Design 4G and EVO 3D on each respective brand will enable Sprint to compete with other prepaid brands, as no prepaid MVNO currently offers access to 4G service, all being currently limited to some form of HSPA+ or EV-DO Rev. A access.

What has yet to be confirmed however, is pricing for the handsets themselves, as both the Design 4G and EVO 3D carried deep post agreement subsidies in order for Sprint to drive customers to 4G service. As the most expensive phones in the current Boost and Virgin Mobile lineups top out at $279.99, will either brand raise handset prices to compensate for the added expense of the devices, or will they continue to fix the high-end pricing at current levels? For Sprint to even extend 4G access to its Prepaid Group is a big step in itself, but more needs to be done in such a price sensitive part of the market in order to keep the competitive advantage that prepaid 4G service represents.

With Verizon and AT&T loathe to even think about expanding LTE access to MVNOs, Sprint is also in the unique position of offering both versions of 4G access to different markets, as it’s actively moving away from 4G WiMax for postpaid and moving to LTE, while realizing that moving WiMax downmarket opens up more opportunities for growing its prepaid offerings, which happen to be its most profitable business sector at this time.

It’s only a matter of time before WiMax handsets are also offered to its wholesale MVNO partners as well, potentially tripling its installed base for WiMax, ironically at the point where it’s being replaced by the new defacto standard for 4G in LTE. More specific information about handsets and availability is expected in the future.

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septembersrain

I'm totally stoked at this change. Excited, Really really excited.
I feel like it's going to really be a huge boost (Pun intended) to our sales.
I work for Boost Mobile (Virgin Mobile as well) and with 4G and Shrinkage this company definitely has good days ahead of it.

Though the rumor is Virgin Mobile will be getting 4G first as it needs to be re-energized and reinvented in a more hip, up to date kind of way.
It would explain why VM has not been releasing a lot of top notch handsets as of late.
They are about to be making a huge move.

I'm all for it. I love working for these companies, having their service and most importantly... Seeing just how happy people are going to be with their introduction to 4G! =D

I feel a little bad about Nextel being basically weeded out because they need the tower space for LTE.
I've never been too fond of this function myself but, I can sympathize with those who've come to depend on it.

Well.. In with the new and out with the old. Right?

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Topken

If they arent expanding their wimax 4g area then this is pretty much useless around here and in most areas. One 1 city in the whole state of michigan has wimax 4g and not a single city in indiana has it. The city in michigan is grand rapids which happens to be about a 2 hour car ride from me. So these 4g plans are useless to me. and the speeds boost mobile has is even worse then sprints crappy speeds.

septembersrain

Sprint has plans for expansion as well. In certain areas Sprint doesn't have 100% coverage because of space between towers. Boost Mobile may be slightly slower than Sprint in speed simply because we are the prepaid division. If we were the exact same speed as Sprint, Why would anyone bother with a contract? They have to offer the lucrative perks to the postpaid region first and foremost.

That is why they are migrating the WiMAX to the prepaid sector. They will the begin to migrate new and old Sprint customers from WiMAX to LTE. This will free up any overload on their WiMAX network. It will also give the Sprint contract customers a real good perk... LTE speeds on the network. That'll be a great addition to the iPhone they just started carrying. Good things are on the way.

kolosus

Just wondering. Will the Design released for Boost have the world phone capabilities or are they going pull out that module for cost savings? Anyone got a "sneak peek"?

tube517

That would suck. That's one of the cool features of that phone.

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septembersrain

I can definitely see them pulling that feature. Though that'll depends on how much work would be involved with removing it.



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Topken

I know sprint is expanding their LTE network but will they be expanding their Wimax 4g network as well? Because as I said Wimax is nonexistent around here and in indiana where I normally spend time. I know that Wimax isnt around in to many places so it doesnt cover their whole customer base. I would say not even a sixth of their base is covered by wimax unless I am mistaken and I would like some numbers on that if at all possible. I know of at least 1 state that has zero coverage for wimax

kolosus

Pulling the feature? I guess I didn't think of it that way. If they're going to rebrand the devices that they didn't sell on Sprint maybe they'll sell it the way it was made, with dual antennas. If they're ordering new devices from HTC then they probably wont pay HTC the extra sum to make it a "world phone".

As for wimax coverage. Sprint went years selling 4g handsets to people who were never going to see 4g coverage within their contract period. What makes you think Boost is going to be any different? If anything Boost owes us even less. We buy the handset outright and we put it on their network. They do not owe us any coverage expansion.

True that Sprint and Clearwire have "merged" their towers but even together the coverage is not all that.

4g is a technology on its way out. That's the only reason Sprint's MVNOs got 4g. Sprint has invested good amounts of cash into their 4g infrastructure. Offering it to the MVNOs is a way to recover some of that cost. Are they going to expand their 4g? Not likely. There's probably some 4g towers/additions in the works. The operative word here is PROBABLY. Too far gone to pull back without significant loss. Those will come online but beyond that, any new towers? Very unlikely seeing as 4g didn't even get to reach breakeven when 4g LTE took over and trumped it.

They are going to offer 4g handsets at the same service price. Or atleast that's the rumor. Will I upgrade? Maybe. I mean it is a price hike of $5 and that's the bottom line. Will I get better service? Unlikely.

MrCuteButton

I'm not phone savvy, but what's the point of "world phone capabilities" if you're on a non-roaming carrier?

septembersrain

It's not that far fetched to consider expansion. Though It's more likely that the expansion will be done on the 3G network. This is likely only to cover the "Black out" areas. There are parts of the United States that are still not covered by Sprint. If they expand there, Then Boost mobile will also be able to cover those areas. Problem is most phones go from 4G to 1x (The equivalent of AT&T going from 4G to EDGE), Would be more useful if they'd go from 4G to 3G.

In all honestly the only major things I find to be flawed with Boost is their lack of roaming and no plans that include cell phone calls. I'm in an area where there are a majority of people who have family in Mexico. Since we are losing the Walkie Talkie (iDen), We need to find a way for cell phone users to be able to converse with their families.

Also, I've done some research. Apparently a signal booster that is meant for Sprint, Will also help out Boost and Virgin Mobile. Though it still bothers me that Virgin Mobile gets way less bandwidth than Boost Mobile. I'm guessing that's why a lot of my higher ups are banking on Virgin Mobile getting the 4G first. Some people speculate that it's the radios built into the phones that cause them to get less signal but I've compared almost every single model of Virgin Mobile phone to a cheap Boost Mobile factor and LG Marquee and none ever have the same amount of bars. Only time was when there was the "Increased broadband upload and download speeds" areas like highways. Then both my Marquee and Triumph would have the same bars (Most of the time).


Either way once WiMAX goes only to the prepaid division it will be much faster as the network won't be as congested. Most people who are in contract will be offered something lucrative to be lured into LTE.. And of course into paying more for it too I bet.

Most of these phones we have from Sprint have been slightly modified. It's just about talking to the manufacturer and having the next "Batch" of phones modified to be cost savvy. As the previous poster said, I don't see a reason for a "World phone" when we aren't even in talks about adding roaming... Yet.

kolosus

I don't really see any advantage of offering a world phone out of Boost. Actually it's probably a bad move considering that they can be unlocked and moved to Straight Talk or AT&T or TMobile without too much fuss.

The reason I was thinking of world phone capabilities is because the Design was marketed that way and it had that capability.

If it does that does put me at an advantage. I can use it over here and my native country. I used to be under a AT&T contract... but it was costing me too much. So I gave it all up for a Boost phone. I mean what's the point of having a GSM phone if I only go there sporadically. I just have a GSM handset that's unlocked and that's good enough for me. But if I can use it this side of the Atlantic with Boost and when I'm on that side use the same handset's world phone functions that would be awesome and worth the price.

To me. YMMV.

Snake X

My concern is yeah pretty much coverage. To be honest I am fine with my speeds from boost mobile most of the time because pages load in 10 seconds which I can tolerate. What I would like to see however is better phones for prepaid (One series anybody?) because I actually use my phone more for gaming than calling or texting now. I doubt we would ever get 4g coverage where I live in the next 10 years if we're lucky (lex, KY). Sorry for being a bit off topic but speaking of new phones, any pricing for that rumored EVO v 4g for virgin?

septembersrain

I'm hearing it'll be around $299-$349. That's not official but considering the price the triumph started out as, It's not unreasonable.

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Snake X

O.O ok that's way too much for me lol.. I can probably sell my phone for $150 but other than that I'm saving for either the transformer prime or infinity for college

septembersrain

Either way if you wait, The price always drops.
They may have a lower introductory price though to entice people.
Not sure though.

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kolosus

Unlikely. From past records, they only drop the price before they release a new handset.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2.

septembersrain

Considering how we've got a small line up of new phones, Some retailers may be doing a special promotion.

My store had a temporary price drop when we introduced the Marquee on Boost.

This change to 4G, It'll likely be costly for consumers. I'm still waiting on price plan confirmation surcharge wise.

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ptmarzullo

According to sprint's 4g coverage map they do not offer much. I am only about 20 miles from Tampa, Fl. And according to the sprint store we have 0 4g coverage. So this is no big news to me.

Madroxide

I work for Boost also and just got off the phone with a Sprint agent and they confirmed that we will not be getting any 4G towers here until next year. I live and work in Huntsville, Al and we have a lot of technology here. Why can they not get it here faster, or better question is why is it not here already. I have many customers asking about 4G but they can go to T-mobile prepaid and get 4G service now. Who knows.

septembersrain

That is very disheartening. Only some regions will see 4G this year I suppose. Though they may push it back if there are any set backs inn the LTE transition.

I'm wondering what the time frame is for all the regions to offer 4G.

Apparently the only reason we will start to carry 4G at all is because Sprint is moving off of WiMAX. If they weren't we'd never even be close to having 4G.

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Last edited by septembersrain; May 2nd, 2012 at 03:45 PM.

kolosus

4g for everyone is a pipe dream, no matter how long we wait. 4g has already been trumped by 4g LTE. Feel free to convince me otherwise.

thebryceee

Good thing I live in Vegas. The coverage map pretty much has the whole valley covered

phw8558

4g in michigan is still as good as nonexistant

ZingBot

Wasn't Las Vegas one of the first (if not the first) cities that Boost ever served in US? I've heard current Boost service in LV, including 4G wimax, is very good overall.

As for my state, only area with Boost 4G service in Tennessee is in Nashville.

phw8558

wish kzoo was

ZingBot

Will Boost ever increase 4G wimax coverage? I understand Sprint is moving to LTE and all that but have never found a definitive answer on exactly what they will do with wimax.

kevincott

I remember reading that Sprint does not own all of their WiMax coverage; they contract or 'rent' a lot of it. I believe Sprint's contract run thru 2013.

Combined with the slower technology of WiMax this would suggest a resounding NO.

kolosus

Wimax is dead. Nothing much is going to come out of this. LTE has trumped (and Verizon with it). Until that time when LTE becomes open every one is going to be giving Verizon a chunk of their money... but hey, Verizon paid a lot of money up front for this...

The few phones we're going to see on Boost/Virgin 4g are the last of their kind. Wimax could not do what LTE does on its best day.

ZingBot

I wonder what the future holds for Boost.

kolosus

The future? The future is bleak. Sprint's contract with Clear ends sometime next year. They might renew it, they might not. Then again they might just buy Clear along with its customer base and commitments. They'll get a few more customers and they'll be able to continue offering 4g to its Boost subscribers. As time passes be ready for them to phase out 4g as they did iDen. Just at a faster pace.

Boost already has unlimited data removed from their TOS. They haven't started enforcing it yet but expect them to start sometime in the future. Expect Boost to continue offering better and better handsets and continue improving the image of prepaid. Prepaid is going to be the new standard. Contracts are for chumps and big corporations with deep pockets.

Boost is going to do everything in its power to get the folks on shrinkage to get out of that slot. Eventually everything is going to go to 4gLTE and then everything (voice, text and data) are all going to get piped through the data network. To subsidize costs Boost (along with all the other carriers [the larger contract carriers do it already]) will sell all your information to the feds. This includes your conversations, texts and data usage stats. This info will also include information about your GPS coordinates and a host of other information. By the time the carriers are done selling your information you'll have to get a voicebox and eye transplant just to get some sort of anonymity which would be short lived since they'll start tracking you again.

But the world is going to end in December 2012... so... Dont Panic!

ZingBot

Ah man...I thought we might get the S3 next year...guess we'll never know