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Virgin Mobile 4G WiMax?
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.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
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.
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.
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.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TampaShooters
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.
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.
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.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
They should at least get the first EVO and Galaxy S once they become last year's technology.
Last edited by FreakyLocz14; May 10th, 2011 at 01:45 AM.
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.
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.
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.
Last edited by zachavm; April 21st, 2012 at 09:36 PM.
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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
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.
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...
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.
Last edited by yamaharacer; October 14th, 2012 at 09:52 AM.
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?
...only works on wimax which sprint is doing away with very soon. (within a year).
Building on what septembersrain points out, the contract with Clearwire runs through the end of 2015 - that's more than 3 years from now. That's not "soon". Any Wi-Max phone bought today will continue to work just fine for a long time to come.
Quote:
Originally Posted by yamaharacer
it's not nation wide like att, verizon, tmobile etc.
Nobody, not Verizon, not AT&T, has a "nationwide" LTE network. None of the major U.S. network operators have completed their initial LTE build out. Verizon and AT&T have more cities than Sprint now, but the build out is ongoing and the gap will close. (T-Mobile is barely getting started on building out LTE and is dead last in the LTE build-out race. I'm not sure why you included them.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by yamaharacer
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 definition of "true 4G" is changed by the ITU every five minutes due to pressure from member nations who are pressured by their big network operators. It's not worth worrying about whether something is 3.5G or 4G or "real 4G" since the ITU keeps bending to pressure and changing the definition.
I don't care if it's "9G", I just care about being able to consistently achieve great download and upload speeds. The underlying technology and nomenclature is just a distraction and often times nothing more than baloney from the Marketing dept.
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Personally, I'm thinking in a year, Sprint will have fixed and improved their LTE.
What's wrong with it now? I realize Sprint has LTE available in fewer cities compared to Verizon or AT&T, but in those cities where Sprint has LTE up and running, what about Sprint LTE needs to be fixed?
What's wrong with it now? I realize Sprint has LTE available in fewer cities compared to Verizon or AT&T, but in those cities where Sprint has LTE up and running, what about Sprint LTE needs to be fixed?
They just need to expand and stabilize. There are quite a few issues with their 4G dropping signal.
They are decommissioning the Nextel towers right?
I'm thinking those will be converted to LTE towers or repeaters for it.
WiMax has be awesome in NYC. Consistently getting 15Mbps in my apartment. Often get at least 3Mbps on the road. Lately the 4G speed has been deteriorating for me. The ONLY place I can't get good 4G is in Flushing, NY now. I went there twice the past two weeks, I could only get 100kbps down, but 1Mbps up.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tcomotcom
Building on what septembersrain points out, the contract with Clearwire runs through the end of 2015 - that's more than 3 years from now. That's not "soon". Any Wi-Max phone bought today will continue to work just fine for a long time to come.
Agreed, WiMax will run at least 3 more years and, in addition, it appears part of the deal with Softbank buying Sprint is to completely buyout WiMax -- meaning Sprint can keep WiMax even longer. Though, my understanding, the long range plan is to convert Clearwire over to LTE -- using the excess Clearwire bandwidth to improve Sprint's LTE service.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcomotcom
Nobody, not Verizon, not AT&T, has a "nationwide" LTE network. None of the major U.S. network operators have completed their initial LTE build out. Verizon and AT&T have more cities than Sprint now, but the build out is ongoing and the gap will close. (T-Mobile is barely getting started on building out LTE and is dead last in the LTE build-out race. I'm not sure why you included them.)
I think the main point is he said "4G" and not LTE -- and by that standard T-Mobile does have the largest "4G Network". As you point out, what is considered "4G" at this point is a moving target. Both AT&T and T-Mobile have used HSPA+ to mean 4G and, in many cities, HSPA+ speeds are similar to the LTE speeds you get from AT&T or Verizon (based on fastest mobile networks study done by PC Mag).
I do agree, even counting WiMax and HSPA+ as 4G, no network has nationwide 4G. And, counting only LTE, Verizon has by far the largest LTE network. Hopefully Sprint and T-Mobile, especially after T-Mobile's plans to merge with MetroPCS, will be able to start implementing their LTE networks quickly. Or, at least, I feel that way as I feel we need strong competition in the mobile phone market.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tcomotcom
The definition of "true 4G" is changed by the ITU every five minutes due to pressure from member nations who are pressured by their big network operators. It's not worth worrying about whether something is 3.5G or 4G or "real 4G" since the ITU keeps bending to pressure and changing the definition.
I don't care if it's "9G", I just care about being able to consistently achieve great download and upload speeds. The underlying technology and nomenclature is just a distraction and often times nothing more than baloney from the Marketing dept.
And I think this is the point for most people. I had an Evo V for about 3 weeks, then returned it to switch to a Galaxy Nexus on T-Mobile. I've had no serious regrets (though there have been, as is typical, minor issues that I've preferred on VM). I like not having to turn "4G" on and off, to conserve battery life, but pretty much always (in the areas I live and use my phone) being able to get similar speeds to what I got from WiMax. I also don't miss being occasionally dropped to "dialup speeds" in some areas (particularly in buildings) where I could not get a WiMax signal, as VM 3G speeds tended to be slow where I live.
To me, the trick is being able to find a mobile plan you are happy with, at a price point you are willing to pay, and getting speeds you find acceptable. Unfortunately, with mobile networks, it seems hard to really find what will work best for you -- especially with how widely coverage and connection speeds can vary between carriers.
Virgin Mobile 4G WiMax?
Um . . .
I would switch
