LTE UPGRADE questions from Wimax device to LTE device

[814 htc evo]

I'm going to email sprint and ask them if they will be offering any kind of credit for Wimax phone users because since you can officially order the EVO LTE may 7th I want that Damn phone but im locked in until April 2014 so will there be a credit if we trade our Wimax device for the EVO LTE !?!? They did a credit for old EVO 4gs when the 3d EVO came out so hopefully this will be the same kinda thing!!! And if not how much will it be for me to upgrade to this phone since I'm not eligible for a 1year upgrade anymore since that changed shortly before I got the 3d EVO but i fought for my 1year to get the 3d EVO and i did at New contract price!! But 1year upgrade is April 2013 but I want the new LTE EVO so how much will it be given my current contract situation and will there be a credit for Wimax devices on a trade in basis for a LTE device!?!?

 

[Joshbear]

I hope Sprint does something for WiMax users looking to upgrade. I'm not due for an upgrade until early next year, but I'm seriously considering dropping down the money for this new Evo off contract, so if I could get some sort of discount, it would be awesome.

 

[falconey]

I'm going to email sprint and ask them if they will be offering any kind of credit for Wimax phone users because since you can officially order the EVO LTE may 7th I want that Damn phone but im locked in until April 2014 so will there be a credit if we trade our Wimax device for the EVO LTE !?!? They did a credit for old EVO 4gs when the 3d EVO came out so hopefully this will be the same kinda thing!!! And if not how much will it be for me to upgrade to this phone since I'm not eligible for a 1year upgrade anymore since that changed shortly before I got the 3d EVO but i fought for my 1year to get the 3d EVO and i did at New contract price!! But 1year upgrade is April 2013 but I want the new LTE EVO so how much will it be given my current contract situation and will there be a credit for Wimax devices on a trade in basis for a LTE device!?!?

Sprint has a buyback program that is in effect at all times. Currently they are only giving about $110 for the 3D.

 

[NYCHitman1]

Sprint has a buyback program that is in effect at all times. Currently they are only giving about $110 for the 3D.

What a rip off.

 

[Citizen Coyote]

I'm going to email sprint and ask them if they will be offering any kind of credit for Wimax phone users because since you can officially order the EVO LTE may 7th I want that Damn phone but im locked in until April 2014 so will there be a credit if we trade our Wimax device for the EVO LTE !?!? They did a credit for old EVO 4gs when the 3d EVO came out so hopefully this will be the same kinda thing!!! And if not how much will it be for me to upgrade to this phone since I'm not eligible for a 1year upgrade anymore since that changed shortly before I got the 3d EVO but i fought for my 1year to get the 3d EVO and i did at New contract price!! But 1year upgrade is April 2013 but I want the new LTE EVO so how much will it be given my current contract situation and will there be a credit for Wimax devices on a trade in basis for a LTE device!?!?

As far as I know Sprint has not announced the off-contract price for the EVO LTE yet, so no one knows how much you'll have to pay to upgrade early. They might offer an updated buy-back program for the 3vo, but I honestly would not count on it. The OG EVO got a great buyback deal last year because it was still a very popular phone.

Short answer: you'll just have to wait and see.

 

[sikclown]

Yeah I kind of doubt they will offer any kind of discount or anything for those of us with a WiMax handset seeing as WiMax will be supported through at least the end of life on the current models. But who knows maybe they will do something....

 

[Adar]

Yeah I kind of doubt they will offer any kind of discount or anything for those of us with a WiMax handset seeing as WiMax will be supported through at least the end of life on the current models. But who knows maybe they will do something....

Also depends on your situation. Retention may be able to do something if you are in a situation like me. I bought the Evo3D, and have never gotten 4G anywhere within 3 how's drive from my home. Now that Wimax is dead (as far as new towers go) there is no possibility of me ever getting 4G without a new phone. I have one line that I can get my 150 upgrade discount on, but my wife's line won't be for another year even though we got both phones at the same time. I plan to use this argument to upgrade her line as well. Retentions usually does a good job helping longtime customers, especially if you are logical, polite, and not asking for the world.

 

[Tommydaniel]

Considering Wimax will be supported until at least 2015, I doubt they will.

 

[IOWA]

Considering Wimax will be supported until at least 2015, I doubt they will.

I'd hardly call it supported. I live in the Chicagoland area, supposedly "well blanketed" and it's barely usable at times. Indoors forget about it. Bouncing back and forth from 3G/4G so it's useless.

 

[Joshbear]

I'd hardly call it supported. I live in the Chicagoland area, supposedly "well blanketed" and it's barely usable at times. Indoors forget about it. Bouncing back and forth from 3G/4G so it's useless.

Agreed. I'm in a supposed 4G area, but it's nearly useless in most areas.

 

[NYCHitman1]

I doubt that they will also. Mostly because they seem to be genuinely concerned about turning profit now (with exception to unlimited data). I guess that explains why they cut a lot of their previous programs.

 

[dan330]

yeah.. they aint going to give wimax phones any special treatment.. even-though we got kind of screwed.


only thing you can do... like others have said above..
sell you phone.. on craigslist or ebay.. use that to help off set the off contract price for this phone.

selling to sprint.. is a rip off... but is the easiest thing to do.

 

[814 htc evo]

Yeah I Haveto drive 2hours to buffalo ny or 3 hours to Pittsburgh pa just to experience 4g but i had my hopes that maybe one day we would get 4g here but this whole Wimax ending LTE beginning while us Wimax users are 50% in contract for another year or two and were getting screwed is bull !!!!

 

[814 htc evo]

This is my email response from Sprint about 4g LTE EVO and trade in price at launch of EVO LTE and she completely ignored my question about how much will the EVO LTE will be off contract since I'm screwed until April 2013 1year upgrade that is...

Dear Bradley,

Thank you for contacting Sprint regarding the LTE network.

Currently there is no credit for Wimax phone users but you can return your phone for a credit under Sprint Buyback Program. Sprint offers buyback program. This program is a part of Sprint’s Wireless Recycling initiative. Under this program, you can return your eligible used Sprint or Nextel wireless phones for an account credit of up to $200.00. HTC EVO 3D is currently eligible for a credit of $99.00 under Sprint Buyback Program.

For program details and to check your phone’s eligibility for this plan, please click on the following hyperlink:

https://secure.sprintbuyback.com/rbb/overview.php

WiMAX devices will operate on the CDMA network and get the benefits of Network Vision associated with Sprint’s 3G service, but they will not operate on Sprint’s LTE network. Sprint remains committed to our WiMAX customers. WiMAX customers are expected to get the great 4G speeds and customer experience they have been enjoying since Sprint launched the country’s first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in 2008. So, your phone will not become obsolete.

Our records indicate that you will be eligible for the Sprint upgrade program on April 01, 2013. At that time, you can receive a rebate of $150.00 to apply toward the purchase of any new phone by signing a two-year service agreement. If you choose to upgrade your device early, regular pricing before discounts and rebates apply.

I am sorry that it will not be possible to exchange your phone with 4G LTE phone. But you can return your phone under Sprint Buyback Program to get the credit and can buy a new 4G LTE phone once Sprint introduces the LTE phones.

We value your business and appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions. Please reply to this email or visit sprint.com if we can be of assistance.

Sincerely, Karlita G. Sprint

Get the best value for your money & exercise your

 

[catpowrd]

I don't think the WiMax phone owners are all that screwed. It was announced many months ago that there would be no more WiMax deployment and they would switch to LTE. For the next several months there will still be more WiMax than LTE sites and by the time LTE gets fully deployed most will be nearing the end of there WiMax contracts. I can drive an hour and find a place to get a WiMax signal but no LTE for at least 6 to 9 months within a two hour drive, I know WiMax is so weak if you move a 100 feet it is gone.

 

[sexyington]

Sprint already has begun using LTE technology in some Places such as Baltimore and Kansas City. Is this Sprints way of finally weeding out the very popular evo 4g? Since evo uses wiMAX technology it might be just a nice paper weight in a few months. How will this affect the coverage and how long will it take for sprint to chance everything over to LTE? My contract is up Nov. and now sprint has twisted the playing field once again. If anyone knows more on this topic feel free to add. Also drop a line on the next phone I should look at since wiMax will be resting will the dinosaurs and Bata video players. I love the EVO (even though is a love, hate relationship)

 

[Rxpert83]

Sprint isnt rolling out its LTE until the summer.
And they've already stated that WIMAX will also be staying in place at least for another year.
Even if the EVO didn't get 4g anymore, that doesn't make it a paperweight... theres plenty of people who have never had 4g in their area


Just get the new EVO 4g LTE

 

[lltalentzll]

The Evo's 4g wimax connection will still work where ever it is now. Wimax will stay at all locations where it is at now but will no longer ba expanded. Most of Sprints's LTE network will be up and running by the end of 2013. They have invested alot of money in making the tech switch quickly after realizing that the wimax network would end up being sub-par. With the switch to LTE all phones will also be making the switch back to sim cards. As for phones there will be an HTC Evo 4G LTE. It is already posted to there site. Atm that is the best phone that will be on sprint.

 

[NYCHitman1]

The Evo's 4g wimax connection will still work where ever it is now. Wimax will stay at all locations where it is at now but will no longer ba expanded. Most of Sprints's LTE network will be up and running by the end of 2013. They have invested alot of money in making the tech switch quickly after realizing that the wimax network would end up being sub-par. With the switch to LTE all phones will also be making the switch back to sim cards. As for phones there will be an HTC Evo 4G LTE. It is already posted to there site. Atm that is the best phone that will be on sprint.

That SIM card isn't for the phone in general though. It's just to connect to the LTE network. It's not like you can randomly connect to a GSM network. The standard hasn't changed. Just something is being added.

 

[sikclown]

I honestly don't feel like we were screwed anymore than Sprint was screwed by jumping on the WiMax train. Often being first means being wrong but they had to pull the trigger to gain subscribers anyway they could and unfortunately that also meant doing it cheaper and getting in bed with a terrible partner (Clear I am talking about you). Living in the New Orleans area we never got Official 4g and in fact it is only usable in a very small area of downtown but I loved my EVO OG and currently love my EVO 3D even without the use of 4g. Yes Yes I know the 10.00 increase in the plan (not going to get in a debate here about that one) makes these phones more expensive but without any 4g use I still managed to use 8 gigs of data with zero repercussions because of unlimited so I happily pay that extra 10.00. The nature of technology is that the next latest and greatest is now just a few months to a few weeks around the corner and businesses can't really go around giving deals on phones to everyone. When you buy I phone and sign a 2 year contract you are making the decision that "Hey I am going to live with this for 2 years and then move on". Of all the cellular providers I think Sprint would be the most likely to cut it's loyal subscribers deals however so I guess we will just wait and see.