Sprint gives midyear timetable for LTE decision

[FreakyLocz14]

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/

You gave me a link to an unknow website that is unsure about whether or not they will enable it (evidenced by the the question mark). CDMA can't do simultaneous voice and data. Unless Verizon completely changed their network to GSM, it won't work.

 

[dan330]

You gave me a link to an unknow website that is unsure about whether or not they will enable it (evidenced by the the question mark). CDMA can't do simultaneous voice and data. Unless Verizon completely changed their network to GSM, it won't work.

Ok ..
You may Google more info if you wish ...

Or stay ignorrant of the facts ...

 

[eieio]

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

It appears it will


Simultaneous Voice and Data over 3G Confirmed for HTC Thunderbolt | Android Phone Fans

 

[FreakyLocz14]

It appears it will


Simultaneous Voice and Data over 3G Confirmed for HTC Thunderbolt | Android Phone Fans

More speculation site links? Just like speculation sites said the EPIC 4G would have seen it's official FroYo release on December 26th, thought the iPhone 4 would be 4G, though Verizon's iPhone would be 4G, and thought the Nexus S would have a dual-core processor.

The only way this could be possible is if Verizon now supports voice-over-LTE, which again would require you to be in a 4G area.

 

[viber]

I don't see the big deal with simultaneous voice and data.

Yeah, the Evo does it when you are in a 4G area, but this is hardly the end all feature for me

 

[Rigmaster]

I don't see the big deal with simultaneous voice and data.

Yeah, the Evo does it when you are in a 4G area, but this is hardly the end all feature for me

It's not a must-have, but it's a very convenient. I don't go out of my way to use it, but it comes in handy when I'm in NYC or other 4G area looking to keep data on when I'm expecting a call.

 

[Scooterman1]

I have a very reliable source that says Sprint has been testing, in one market, using WiMax AND LTE on the same towers. It works together. This source is a very knowledgeable tech that actually changes radiation direction and coverage on their towers in the field (Clearwire).

 

[Doomstang]

From what I've read, if Sprint were to switch their 4g network from Wimax to LTE, they can keep the exact same hardware towers, they merely need to change the software/firmware on it. The problem is that the phones would have to change hardware.
Wimax has worked soso for me. The speeds aren't really impressive, but will go up with time (as will LTE's). The coverage isn't very impressive either (in areas that have it). It seems to be pretty spotty and just driving down the road I can maintain full 3g bars but go from full 4g to nothing in no time flat. Finally, building penetration. When I'm inside of a building, I lose 4g almost automatically unless it is a really strong coverage area. From what I've heard, LTE has much better building penetration and wouldn't be as susceptible to this problem.

 

[Doomstang]

Just as I posted, it seems Engadget posted a story about this. Here is the link:

Sprint evaluating switch to LTE over the next four to six months -- Engadget

 

[Painkillaz]

Sprint evaluating switch to LTE over the next four to six months -- Engadget

what does this mean for us evo owners?

will a software patch allow us to be on LTE or will we need to buy a new phone?

 

[Slick1020]

Awesome question!

 

[Doomstang]

From what I understand, Sprint can switch their towers over to LTE (from WiMax) with a software upgrade. Our phones, however, are locked onto WiMax by hardware restrictions. I recently read that Sprint has tested WiMax and LTE running side by side on the same tower with success. If they were to switch, I could see them running LTE and WiMax simultaneously for a period allowing everyone ample time (and possible incentives) to switch over within a couple years.

If something I've said is completely incorrect, feel free to correct me as I don't want to mislead anyone.

 

[drexappeal]

Sprint evaluating switch to LTE over the next four to six months -- Engadget

what does this mean for us evo owners?

will a software patch allow us to be on LTE or will we need to buy a new phone?

Sounds like there would be a hardware and software update, based on the last lines of that article:

As we've heard previously, that switch would be a fairly straightforward one from a technical standpoint due to the carrier's recent upgrades to its network, which allow it to upgrade its gear to LTE simply by swapping in a new baseband card and issuing a software patch.

From some short google searching, here are some articles regarding WiMax and LTE baseband cards:

Promentum AMC WiMax Baseband Card

Chip Card | GAMING TIPS REVEALED

I don't know if this is something that in-store tech reps would be able to replace or if they'd be issued completely new internals to install into devices, but I can't imagine they don't have a way to make the transition for current EVO, EPIC, or EVO Shift owners.

That is, if they do decide to move to LTE (I hope they do because my house is in a LTE/4G covered area whereas Wimax/4G is not available).

 

[Slick1020]

I wish it was simple as a patch but I think you are right about the hardware the phone utilizes. Not unless there is some way Sprint can do a hardware swap on our phones, but I don't know if that is possible and if its expensive, might as well forget about it.

LTE works better than WiMax and I would buy an EVOII just for the purposes of LTE. WiMax blows at penetrating buildings due to running off a higher frequency than LTE.

Sprint has no other options especially since the other carriers plan to utilize LTE rather than WiMax. To be honest, if there was an upgrade kit for for my EVO and it was cheaper than buying another cell phone. I would buy the kit for Sprint to upgrade my EVO. Wonder if that's an option?

 

[Slick1020]

Someone posted this on engadget.com: I think people are failing to recognize and obvious point here. As far as your phone is concerned, it's software related. It's as easy as pushing out a small update to your phone. If you're familiar with LTE/WiMax, they are not as different as you might assume (I believe it's somewhere 85% identical,) and again, the main difference being software.

There won't be a need for dual technologies or new handsets. It will be as easy as a PRL update and your phone won't know the difference.

 

[drexappeal]

Someone posted this on engadget.com: I think people are failing to recognize and obvious point here. As far as your phone is concerned, it's software related. It's as easy as pushing out a small update to your phone. If you're familiar with LTE/WiMax, they are not as different as you might assume (I believe it's somewhere 85% identical,) and again, the main difference being software.

There won't be a need for dual technologies or new handsets. It will be as easy as a PRL update and your phone won't know the difference.

Thanks. I actually don't know much about the difference between the two, except the discussions that started early on last year, before the EVO was released.

I just posted the links above based on the information that was in the article. I do hope it will be as easy as a PRL update. Just today, I tried to connect to 4G outside of my work, but for whatever reason, it wasn't picking up a signal at all (which normally comes out at 2-3 bars). I updated my PRL and Profile, just to be sure and haven't gone back outside to check.

Main thing for me is reliability. I don't care which way they go, as long as the 4G connectivity is improved, I'll be fine either way.

 

[Painkillaz]

That is, if they do decide to move to LTE (I hope they do because my house is in a LTE/4G covered area whereas Wimax/4G is not available).

But if they do switch to LTE won't you still not be in a sprint "4g" area? Since there are no Sprint 4g towers in your area i mean of course if they put up new towers thats something else

 

[drexappeal]

But if they do switch to LTE won't you still not be in a sprint "4g" area? Since there are no Sprint 4g towers in your area i mean of course if they put up new towers thats something else

Doesn't Sprint roam off Verizon towers also though?

 

[novox77]

While WiMax does indeed suck in terms of penetration, it supports a much higher bandwidth than LTE due to its higher band (2.4ghz compared with 0.7ghz of LTE). So before we all get convinced LTE is the better technology, know that Sprint has promised that data usage via WiMax will never be capped, whereas it's a definite possibility on 3G and LTE 4G.

As I recall, Sprint's eventual strategy is to support both WiMax and LTE. If Sprint uses a hybrid WiMax + LTE for their 4G coverage, they will be unbeatable. WiMax is the better technology for densely populated areas (higher bandwidth to support the entire city, fewer towers needed to get everyone covered in the city), while LTE is great for getting 4G speeds to those people who live either in metro areas or more rural locations.

 

[Slick1020]

Doesn't Sprint roam off Verizon towers also though?

Yes sir we sure do roam off of Verizon towers. I'm glad Sprint/Verizon have a partnership. I can see the switch to LTE helping out Sprint customers since that is the route Verizon is headed down. Question is, will the next iphone be ready for LTE....LOL.

 

[novox77]

Doesn't Sprint roam off Verizon towers also though?

They do. Both Sprint and Verizon use CDMA technology, so Verizon users can roam off Sprint towers and vice versa. Both have towers, so it's a matter of which one you can get reception from in your current location.

4G roaming would not work today because Sprint is WiMax and Verizon is LTE. However, if Sprint starts using LTE, and our phones can speak LTE, then we can conceivably roam off Verizon's LTE towers. And I believe AT&T is about to roll out LTE service, so that means you could roam off an AT&T tower too.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Just as I posted, it seems Engadget posted a story about this. Here is the link:

Sprint evaluating switch to LTE over the next four to six months -- Engadget

If they offer me a free replacement, or an early upgrade, for my what would then be defunct WiMax device, then I'll have no problem.

 

[Slick1020]

Next question is will the iPhone5 be ready for LTE? And does LTE chew up as much battery power as WiMax?

 

[drexappeal]

They do. Both Sprint and Verizon use CDMA technology, so Verizon users can roam off Sprint towers and vice versa. Both have towers, so it's a matter of which one you can get reception from in your current location.

4G roaming would not work today because Sprint is WiMax and Verizon is LTE. However, if Sprint starts using LTE, and our phones can speak LTE, then we can conceivably roam off Verizon's LTE towers. And I believe AT&T is about to roll out LTE service, so that means you could roam off an AT&T tower too.

That's what I thought, which is why I prefer them switching to LTE. I already checked my address and it is in a LTE/4G covered area, according to Verizon's website.

 

[drexappeal]

this is not true, they are very similar but still require a radio to read it. LTE also requires a SIM card. our EVO's have no SIM card. this is like saying since ATT and T-mob both use HSPA you can use them both with the same phone, this is not true, the voice band yes, but the data band (which is HSPA) is the same exact technology but on different frequencies so you cannot switch even though they are 100% identical. frequencies mean everything, if the phone can receive or transmit the frequency then it will never use that technology, and to put it simply, LTE is a different frequency then WiMax. and again, LTE requires a SIM card, Evo's do not have this

LTE requires a sim card? I thought sim cards, for the most part, were only used by GSM network (e.g. ATT). Does that mean that Verizon's 4G phones are going to have SIM cards?