Virgin Mobile 4G WiMax?

[FreakyLocz14]

Since Virgin Mobile is owned by Sprint, would you switch over if they offered ones of the 4G phones.
? Even if they charged $10 extra for 4G like they do for Blackberry services, $35 for 300 minutes, unlilimted text, and unlimited 3G/4G data with no contract and no activation fee would entice me.

 

[ninja_reject]

Not sure what makes you think virgin mobile could handle 4g. They can't even keep our 3g on. I had to switch.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Not sure what makes you think virgin mobile could handle 4g. They can't even keep our 3g on. I had to switch.

The 4G network is managed and maintained by Clearwire. Virgin would just have to get permission from Sprint to access those towers that Sprint and Clear own.

 

[Investor22]

Sprint doesn't own any towers...they sold them all.

Sprint Sells Cell Towers For $670 Million

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Sprint doesn't own any towers...they sold them all.

Sprint Sells Cell Towers For $670 Million

It's 4G WiMax network use different towers than its CDMA network does. Sprint and Clearwire own those towers.

 

[pezzman77]

TO the person that is criticising the 3G integrity of VIrgin Mobile, be aware that when you have a phone direct from Sprint, you get to roam on all of Sprints CDMA partners (which include Verizon). If you have a phone from Virgin Mobile, there are no roaming capabilities. It will only work off of a Sprint tower.

For myself, I would switch if Virgin Mobile began offering WiMax. I live in one of the strongest WiMax areas, and on top of that I don't travel outside the region very often so when not at home I get the strongest Sprint 3G signal. I definitely would be at a huge cost advantage if it were available. Virgin Mobile wasn't offering the Optimus yet when I made the switch to Sprint last year, otherwise I would have went with them. That being because in addition to the monthly savings on service, with Virgin Mobile I would have been able to utilize the mobile hotspot feature in the Optimus withoug having to pay the additional $29 Sprint (and all the other carriers) charge you.

I do a lot of research everytime my contract expires with my mobile service, and I can tell you, if you live in a strong signal area for Sprint and you don't travel much, Virgin Mobile is the cheapest way to go.

 

[TampaShooters]

Hell, I am paying $10/mo extra right now for my Evo, and I still don't have coverage, even though they say I am in a covered area..

I am in the process of switching from Sprint to VM, and saving $60/mo...

The Optimus that I am using is getting a great 3G signal, as good as my Evo, and same speeds.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Hell, I am paying $10/mo extra right now for my Evo, and I still don't have coverage, even though they say I am in a covered area..

I am in the process of switching from Sprint to VM, and saving $60/mo...

The Optimus that I am using is getting a great 3G signal, as good as my Evo, and same speeds.

You're paying $10 extra because you have a smartphone. It has nothing to do with 4G access.

 

[TampaShooters]

You're paying $10 extra because you have a smartphone. It has nothing to do with 4G access.

Yes, I am aware of this... But, originally it was because of 4G, and was only charged on 4G smartphones... Implemented when the Evo was introduced, it was later added to ALL smartphones... So, technically it is a 4G fee.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Yes, I am aware of this... But, originally it was because of 4G, and was only charged on 4G smartphones... Implemented when the Evo was introduced, it was later added to ALL smartphones... So, technically it is a 4G fee.

It was never a 4G fee. The fee was because the devices had the capacity to suck a lot more data than other phones. The device also in uncapped in terms of Unlimited data usage and speeds. It was never a 4G fee, but even if it was, it's not anymore. So, technically it's not a 4G fee.

 

[TampaShooters]

It was never a 4G fee. The fee was because the devices had the capacity to suck a lot more data than other phones. The device also in uncapped in terms of Unlimited data usage and speeds. It was never a 4G fee, but even if it was, it's not anymore. So, technically it's not a 4G fee.

Chill bro.... Everything will be OK...

 

[rshimizu12]

Virgin Mobile will eventually become 4g, but chances are Sprint will throttle the speed with QoS. This the reason why Sprint is offering so few Android phones. Sprint needs to differentiate the brands.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Virgin Mobile will eventually become 4g, but chances are Sprint will throttle the speed with QoS. This the reason why Sprint is offering so few Android phones. Sprint needs to differentiate the brands.

They should at least get the first EVO and Galaxy S once they become last year's technology.

 

[MotoTriu]

4g?Wiimax?Evo 3d?
Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile tipped to begin offering WiMAX-capable devices in June | PhoneDog

 

[marc12868]

WiMAX is what Sprint uses right now right? So that means that even if VM and Boost Mobile get WiMAX the amount of people who would even be affected by it and have improved 4g speeds would be slim. Although it is good for people that live in an area that gets WiMAX coverage, but there are just so many places that don't have it that it really isn't all that big of a thing to get excited over.

 

[thebryceee]

WiMAX is what Sprint uses right now right? So that means that even if VM and Boost Mobile get WiMAX the amount of people who would even be affected by it and have improved 4g speeds would be slim. Although it is good for people that live in an area that gets WiMAX coverage, but there are just so many places that don't have it that it really isn't all that big of a thing to get excited over.

Good thing I live in Vegas

I just read this on phonedog.com, I,shoulda known someone would already post this.

 

[thebryceee]

Woot.

Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile tipped to begin offering WiMAX-capable devices in June | PhoneDog

 

[zachavm]

I just hope they don't pull the same crap that they pulled with sprint and require a $10 fee regardless of if you have 4g coverage. I live in OKC and we don't have any coverage in wimax. I'd pay $10 extra a month to have the evo v, but not if they also made me ditch my old plan. However, I'm thinking they might not change the prices/plans for two reasons. One, they just raised the prices less than a year ago. Two, the reason they would be adding 4G is to compete with T-Mobile who is taking a lot Virgin's customers. If they raise the prices with the 4G upgrade they won't win any new customers because people will just stick with T-Mobile. However, I can see them saying the new 4G plans "aren't compatible" with the old ones and requiring people to ditch their old cheaper plans.

 

[eas014]

Virgin and Boost to go 4G, makes Sprint's WiMAX feel wanted -- Engadget

If this is true than virgin mobile hopefully will be getting the evo 3d. But would we get fast speeds and will there be a price difference?

 

[thebryceee]

This has been covered http://androidforums.com/virgin-mobile/299188-virgin-mobile-4g-wimax.html

This will probably get moved to the Virgin Mobile section

 

[gueydejalisco]

i honostly hope that if VM does get the htc evo 3d they dont dumb it down with lower specs and keep the 3d element (wich i wouldnt be surprised if they all together got rid if the 3d) but still knock on wood VM does get 4g and better phones or im going to verizon

 

[lou61166]

i honostly hope that if VM does get the htc evo 3d they dont dumb it down with lower specs and keep the 3d element (wich i wouldnt be surprised if they all together got rid if the 3d) but still knock on wood VM does get 4g and better phones or im going to verizon

Already switched to Verizon no regrets,got the HTC Rezound,what a pleasure having superior speeds and coverage everywhere i go,sending multimedia message image audio with no issues,also having an android phone that works flawless out of the box not having to root,and switch Roms,to get VM's outdated phones to work half way good,the V is not all that bad but is just to outdated.

 

[septembersrain]

Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile will be on WiMAX.
Their speeds will be slightly increased though as Sprint is upgrading to LTE.
Their postpaid customers will be likely upgrading to the new LTE which in turn will lessen the load on WiMAX eventually. This will help to prevent overload.
IF they had not adopted LTE, We'd likely never be seeing 4G in our prepaid sectors at all...

That's just my view on it.

 

[yamaharacer]

been researching virgin mobile lately and realized the HTC evo V phone they have (only 4g phone they offer) only works on wimax which sprint is doing away with very soon. (within a year).
so don't waste your time getting it it will not work very soon.

advise I keep getting from people that had sprint is to not waste your time with them. terrible coverage from what I hear. and their current 4g is only select areas. it's not nation wide like att, verizon, tmobile etc.
besides, the current 4g LTE is only considered to be 3.5G by industry experts I've read. it's not as capable as a true 4g can be.

 

[septembersrain]

been researching virgin mobile lately and realized the HTC evo V phone they have (only 4g phone they offer) only works on wimax which sprint is doing away with very soon. (within a year).
so don't waste your time getting it it will not work very soon.

advise I keep getting from people that had sprint is to not waste your time with them. terrible coverage from what I hear. and their current 4g is only select areas. it's not nation wide like att, verizon, tmobile etc.
besides, the current 4g LTE is only considered to be 3.5G by industry experts I've read. it's not as capable as a true 4g can be.

The contract is technically not up until 2015. Though it's likely that they'll begin phasing it out beginning next year at some point.

Though next year around May-September we'll likely be getting LTE.
That's not a fact, just hearsay from the grapevine.

As for being "True 4G", None of the companies truly give what critics consider 4G speeds. They are laxed with what they can label each speed, the requirements are quite non-astringent.

Personally, I'm thinking in a year, Sprint will have fixed and improved their LTE.
I'm looking forward to the SGIII...

I bet that's going to Boost Mobile.
I wonder what Virgin Mobile will get?