Sprint gives midyear timetable for LTE decision

[twospirits]

Recently Sprint CEO Dan Hesse mentioned in an interview the following statement in reference on whether the company would disclose its plans regarding LTE versus its WiMAX commitment.
"Either midyear or possibly even earlier in terms of telling you what we might do," "Not midyear in terms of implementation but in terms of describing more to the investment community what our plans are with respect to 4G. It's likely we'll tell you something before the middle of the year."

Personally, I'm on the fence on this. On one hand moving to LTE would enable more choices in phones. On the other, it would probably leave current CDMA Wimax users in a problem. (Although at the rate we upgrade our phones, maybe not so much of a problem.)

But I wonder what impact moving to a LTE system would have on the type of phones on Sprint. What frequency would be used? etc Would it be compatible with the Verizon, AT&T, MetroPCS, T-Mobile LTE phones?

Any opinions?

TS out

 

[rambo47]

LTE is the future. It's not about the merits of WiMax vs LTE. Its about adoption. WiMax is the Beta of this industry. Beta was better than VHS is every way, except the one that really mattered: adoption. Sony couldn't stand alone against everyone else who chose the other format.

LTE should be cross-compatible among all systems: GSM and CDMA alike. 4G roaming will be possible across all carriers. If LTE pushes into Europe and Asia we could see the beginning of true world phones.

 

[RiverOfIce]

LTE is the future. It's not about the merits of WiMax vs LTE. Its about adoption. WiMax is the Beta of this industry. Beta was better than VHS is every way, except the one that really mattered: adoption. Sony couldn't stand alone against everyone else who chose the other format.

LTE should be cross-compatible among all systems: GSM and CDMA alike. 4G roaming will be possible across all carriers. If LTE pushes into Europe and Asia we could see the beginning of true world phones.

Just like cdma was the beta of gsm? I mean it is just like it.

To be honest, if they went with lte, it would be more phones, but less choice. Just like the current issues with verizon and sprint phones. You would not just transfer the phone over. One device would be lock to one carrier, less they do some serous changes.

Wimax is going no where, it will be used for wireless broadband. But lte is made for phones. If sprint wants to change to lte the current phones could be hardware changed to match.

There would be some serous issues with the fcc. They demand, as part of the spectrum settlement, two different technologies.

 

[tqlla]

Just like cdma was the beta of gsm? I mean it is just like it.

To be honest, if they went with lte, it would be more phones, but less choice. Just like the current issues with verizon and sprint phones. You would not just transfer the phone over. One device would be lock to one carrier, less they do some serous changes.

Wimax is going no where, it will be used for wireless broadband. But lte is made for phones. If sprint wants to change to lte the current phones could be hardware changed to match.

There would be some serous issues with the fcc. They demand, as part of the spectrum settlement, two different technologies.

He means, without support WiMax will fail or not grow much. I would NEVER had switched to Sprint if it didnt roam to Verizon. It would be different if ATT or Verizon were going to LTE. Unfortunately BOTH are going to LTE.

Thats 200 million users vs 48 million. The only good news I see is that our 4G areas would be less crowded, if we were in a 4G area. (Which I am not)

 

[Rigmaster]

Sprint has a lot of spectrum. ATT & VZW do not. If they had Sprint's spectrum position, they'd likely have tried to strike out on their own. LTE is a compromise because neither ATT or VZW could address 4G alone, especially given the cost of development and deployment and because neither had the spectrum.

Wimax will be around for a while. It has enough infrastructure and users now even though the Sprint users aren't huge compared to the other carriers. I also think Wimax will be deployed in places where LTE won't.

So what's Sprint going to do?

I think joining the LTE party comes with as much risk as staying separate. Why? If you're going to be on LTE, what does Sprint offer that the others don't? Right now, it's plan savings. But to join the LTE party, Sprint will have to pretty much mirror what ATT & VZW do. That would create an immense incentive for Sprint loyalists to leave because Sprint will never have the device maker support, variety, and volume of ATT & VZW because Sprint's too small.

None of this discussion would be significant if Sprint had a better cash position and hadn't allowed the churn to run so high for so long. I also think Sprint should have bit the bullet and addressed Nextel differences a while ago.

Sprint's best call would be to "participate" in LTE by pushing dual Wimax + LTE chipsets in phones and getting the other makers to agree to 4G roaming. The single fastest way for all the carriers to offer 4G will be through roaming agreements that allow 4G via Wimax and LTE chips on devices. If Sprint can't get it from both ATT and VZW at the same time, they should go after it with ATT first. ATT will be desperate to make up ground that it's losing to VZW every minute.

Oh, David Blaine won't be at the announcement. The fish/water tank company must be owned by disappointed Sprint subscribers who thought they were going to see something special this week.

 

[dan330]

i personally .. dont want lte..
because of all the carrier controls that they have with lte.


I hope they can make WiMax better.. invest in better performance.. and in Marketing.. of why wimax is good for users.. and not be pushed around with your internet rights to surf freely.
that would.. imo... make public buy in.. and movement to sprint.

 

[Rigmaster]

Not saying I want LTE, but Sprint's going to have to do some type of play-in just to keep roaming in tact. VZW + Sprint has been good for roaming and will stay in tact because of 3G's ongoing life.

 

[dan330]

roaming ...

3G = verizon
4G = clear

if Clear and Sprint stay with wimax.. and invest more in coverage and performance.. it should be fine..

then educate the public ..why why why..

 

[Rigmaster]

Clear is not everywhere and certainly won't have the footprint of VZW though.

I want blanket Wimax too. If it's not going to happen though, I'll take a roaming agreement and my next phone will be Wimax + LTE.

 

[catpowrd]

I think it has something to do with if they shut down iden, then they could use that spectrum for other things like LTE. I wonder if they would still keep Wimax for the cities and use LTE in rural areas?

 

[IOWA]

Wimax ftw

 

[dan330]

^^^ thought you are going to verizon with google voice.????

 

[IOWA]

^^^ thought you are going to verizon with google voice.????

I simply stated that it was an option. However, with proxy compression and aggressive throttling of the users who helped fuel a smartphone revolution thus making the carriers boat loads of cashthat is a big slap in the face and they do not deserve my hard earned money

 

[BenChase7]

...and they do not deserve my hard earned money

+1

 

[dan330]

I simply stated that it was an option. However, with proxy compression and aggressive throttling of the users who helped fuel a smartphone revolution thus making the carriers boat loads of cashthat is a big slap in the face and they do not deserve my hard earned money

are you saying...

"wimax ftw"

 

[IOWA]

are you saying...

"wimax ftw"

Yep, pretty much.

Although if Sprint does go LTE, AND they pull that throttle/user control/compression BS, I'll just take my evo and flash the shit to cricket.

 

[BenChase7]

Yep, pretty much.

Although if Sprint does go LTE, AND they pull that throttle/user control/compression BS, I'll just take my evo and flash the shit to cricket.

Agreed... untill then (and IF that happens)... the future for us on wimax looks pretty great.

 

[BenChase7]

I know I will be with Sprint until their prices come within 20 bucks a month of VZW... and even within that range, I would have a hard time switching. This doesn't mean that I think that the monthly cost means everything, but even if it did, you are likely to get more on Sprint even if the cost ended up being the same, since VZW charges extra for what Sprint includes for "free." You have to look at the big picture to really appreciate Sprints pricing on plans. Once you can do that, you'll see that they offer much more than the competition.. and often at a lessor cost.

 

[dan330]

glad we all agree ..

 

[viber]

I'd rather Sprint focus on Wimax for several very good technical reasons, but there is zero chance for 4G roaming without LTE.

Though, I don't believe LTE is the future either. Technology changes too fast and will take awhile before the dust settles.

 

[eieio]

I'd rather Sprint focus on Wimax for several very good technical reasons, but there is zero chance for 4G roaming without LTE.

Though, I don't believe LTE is the future either. Technology changes too fast and will take awhile before the dust settles.

Actually that is not true.. There are a ton of small wimax companies that are rolling out regional networks.. I would home clear would partner with them for roaming similarly to what Verizon is doing with LTE..

The bulk of the original Broadband stimulus funding went to small wimax providers..

 

[FreakyLocz14]

4G technologies take up a lot of battery life. I like how on my phone I can choose whether I want to use 3G or 4G (WiMax). I really only need 4G when downloading large files, tethering, watching HD video, and to use the web while I'm on a call. For most of my web usage on my phone my a little over 1 Mbps down 3G connection is more than sufficient, so why always be on 4G when available like T-Mobile phones are and suck up battery life? Even though I use 3G most of the time, I think of having 4G as a Wi-Fi wherever I go service to use when I need it (WiMax is related to Wi-Fi anyway, so that's pretty much true).

I know metroPCS already has LTE phones out, and I've heard that they can't do simultaneous voice and data. Metro has CDMA voice and LTE data just like Verizon, so things look grim for simultaneous voice and data on Verizon. WiMax lets me use CDMA voice and WiMax data at the same time.

 

[dan330]

i have read.. the new Thunderbolt on Verizon..
can do both talk & data... on 3G and LTE!

 

[FreakyLocz14]

i have read.. the new Thunderbolt on Verizon..
can do both talk & data... on 3G and LTE!

It cannot do it over 3G, if anything, it will only be over LTE.

 

[dan330]

nope you are wrong... do a little google dance and see for yourself.


found it on first line of first search:
http://www.gottabemobile.com/2011/0...ice-and-data-over-3g-cdma-on-htc-thunderbolt/