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I'm one of the Sprint leavers. Here's what happened in my case:

The Phoenix area is horribly neglected by Sprint. The quality of service continues to drop, and they've been promising Phoenix customers that 4g is just a few months away for the last few years. Their 3g service barely comes in at dialup speeds, and when your phone needs to do something as simple as say update an app, the phone has to burn through its battery for about a half hour for even the smaller apps just to struggle to get data. This happens with pretty much every phone model out there because the data services are so horrible. In spite of these horribly bad data rates, just the mere fact that you own a smart phone they label the service as "premium data" and charge an extra $10 per month per phone. Their excuse is that because you own a smartphone, you'll use more data, ignoring the fact that their data is so horribly slow and wasteful on battery that you always end up relying on wifi anyways.

I got out of my Sprint contract by doing the roaming trick, and so have a lot of Sprint customers:

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=229968

T-mobile service is by far superior, by the way. Not only is it a third the price (T-mobile costs me $115 after taxes for 5 lines unlimited everything, sprint was $300 for 1500 shared minutes,) but the data services are reliable and fast as hell compared to Sprint. Sure it's not unlimited 4g, but if I pay that extra $10 Sprint was charging anyways it becomes unlimited 4g. However I find that I don't ever go above my limit anyways, so it doesn't matter, and even if I did there's never any data overage, it just goes to Edge speeds which are still MUCH faster than Sprint's 3g. T-mobile also has two (free) options you can add to your lines to completely block third party billing (from text services, 900 numbers, etc) as well as all international text/calls. Every month I had to call Sprint to fix some overage they did in error or sometimes getting signed up for a text spam service, whereas with T-Mobile I've never had to do that. Not once.

Another nice thing about t-mobile is it supports the HD Voice feature of my Nexus 4, and in addition to that when somebody calls me it actually rings immediately, whereas with Sprint the other person can hear up to four rings before my phone finally rang, often causing me to miss their call to voicemail. That and Sprint dropped calls like crazy, and when I confronted them about it they told me that their systems measured my quality of service to be 100% - and get this, when I was on the phone with the CSR, my call was dropped, and she actually called me back and then played stupid like it wasn't their problem.

I honestly have no idea how the hell Sprint intends to last long term. I'm rather shocked that they are a more popular carrier than t-mobile as their service is so much worse and by far more expensive. Plus it seems that T-Mobile has already reached 160m pop with their LTE coverage, whereas Sprint just reached 200m and they've been at it longer.

If you read between the lines of Sprint's SEC filings, their current plan is to keep revenues up by increasing the fees that each subscriber pays. They noted that in a previous filing by saying that over the last year their customers pay an average of $2 per month more than they did a year earlier, which was their way of sustaining themselves in the face of heavy subscriber losses. They do this in various ways, one way is by scaling back subscriber discounts, notice how they got rid of their premier program and they reworked their billing system so that discounts only apply to a single line instead of the whole account like every other carrier does, and lately they've been cutting people off of their discounts entirely (you now have to go through a periodic renewal process every so often.)

The SprintUsers site had an interesting commentary regarding a recent WSJ article on Hesse:

http://www.sprintusers.com/could-hesse-lose-his-job

Today’s Wall Street Journal has a rare, insider-rich piece targeting Hesse. A betting man would say his own board of directors had a lot to do with the story. No, no one on the board is quoted directly. But the picture the WSJ paints is certainly a flattering one of an engaged, hands-on board. They are served well by this story.

You don’t see this sort of knifing when an exec is secure in his job. It usually means board members are trying to distance themselves from a CEO’s plans gone wrong so they don’t get personally sued by shareholders. Or they’re getting ready to fire him.

Just last month, Sprint made an abortive attempt at a merger with MetroPCS, which was championed by Hesse but ultimately shot-down by the board. I have a feeling the company is going to experience a coup d'etat any day now. Well, whatever -- as long as my legacy SERO plan keeps working.

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2585760&postcount=13

we shoulda bought Moto stock then...

posted 8/8/11:

Quote:
Originally Posted by monkeyboy
I didn't see anyone say yet, but Moto *is* well endowed with patents for wireless technology, so it may be that in the end, Moto could gain an upper hand in this battle (relative to other Android makers).
Quote:
Originally Posted by sfhub
MMI has about $6b market cap. Google was willing to pay $6b for Groupon which is just a glorified coupon company. What if Google just bought MMI and its patents for the benefit of all Android manufacturers?

Xoom is a "Google experience device"[**]. It ships stock Google software, not modified by manufacturer.

Ah. I finally understand your complaint now. You are pissed because Google didn't give Motorola any Honeycomb source code, they only gave Motorola binaries. I would be pissed too. If that is the case then it is a bloody miracle the Xoom works at all and it is completely explains the sub-optimal user experience.

Boy oh boy Motorola must be really ticked off at Google over this. If what you say is true then I would be very surprised if Motorola every uses Google software again in any device. This must be a huge coup for Apple and Microsoft. With this completely bone-headed maneuver, Google just ruined all the hard work they've done on Android.

I will gladly join forces with you and demand that Google give Motorola the source code they need in order to tune Honeycomb to work with the Xoom.

** BTW: a Google Experience Device has nothing to do with source code, it has everything to do with what apps are installed and whether to UI conforms to certain standards. It would probably be impossible for anyone to make a Google Experience Device without access to the source code that you wildly speculate was withheld.

The Scion theme not only changes colors and wallpaper, but also has different icons. User-created themes could potentially extend their changes to a very different UI experience. This could complicate customer support for Apple 'geniuses' and phone support, as customers can no longer be walked through a consistent menu chain.

The other explanation is that nothing goes on an iPhone without Apple getting a cut of the profits. This would challenge the business model of a future iTunes theme store (remember, Apple is the company that would sell music you already purchased back to you as a ring tone)

Well if you read the article, you probably were smart enough to read the source of said article, which can be found at http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t= 136518. Where the people getting the shaft are being told anytime Sprint asks for your username/password (cause they do) that counts as a separate call.

When using a USB cable, you just plug the phone in and for the modem kind choose "Sprint PCS". The dial-up number is #777 and that's all there is to it. Works fine. The 8200 was very fast (ISDN speeds) where the LG is dial-up speeds (same area, same everything else). Things really do vary by phone.

With Bluetooth on the 325, it is just like above only no cable. You just have to enable DUN on the phone each time, and turn the phone on and off in-between dial-up uses.

It works ok. The 8200 worked quite a bit better. As for syncing phone data (contacts, etc) you are basically up the creek without a paddle. Neither phone does that (they also don't charge when you use the cable). I don't know of any that do (except perhaps the Palm/PocketPC ones) on Sprint. I've heard much better things about the kinds of phones one can get from Cingular on that point.

Where is the iPhone when I need it?

As for other help, the people on the Sprint Users forum are nice and can answer almost anything.

Good luck.

As stated above, there are plenty of uploaders out there that will allow you to upload your own programs. http://rumkin.com/tools/sprint/ is an uploader that will allow you to upload your own code (works with the A900...I've got one too). http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/ is the forum mentioned above that have a lot of Sprint phone user geeks...I'm sure a lot of people on there could help answer your questions. Here's a link to their page for alternate uploaders too: http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t= 83030

Additionally, http://www.howardforums.com/ has a lot of good information too. Here's an actual http://sprintdevelopers.com/ Sprint-centric development site too.

Although, most of this may be useless, because I see in this post http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t= 52772&page=1&pp=15 what you are talking about regarding the Verisign cert. You can run your own code, but to access the GPS stuff you are restricted. Hopefully someone in the above forums can help you out to bypass it. I'll keep an eye out, because that sounds like some pretty cool hacking to do.

As stated above, there are plenty of uploaders out there that will allow you to upload your own programs. http://rumkin.com/tools/sprint/ is an uploader that will allow you to upload your own code (works with the A900...I've got one too). http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/ is the forum mentioned above that have a lot of Sprint phone user geeks...I'm sure a lot of people on there could help answer your questions. Here's a link to their page for alternate uploaders too: http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t= 83030

Additionally, http://www.howardforums.com/ has a lot of good information too. Here's an actual http://sprintdevelopers.com/ Sprint-centric development site too.

Although, most of this may be useless, because I see in this post http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t= 52772&page=1&pp=15 what you are talking about regarding the Verisign cert. You can run your own code, but to access the GPS stuff you are restricted. Hopefully someone in the above forums can help you out to bypass it. I'll keep an eye out, because that sounds like some pretty cool hacking to do.

As stated above, there are plenty of uploaders out there that will allow you to upload your own programs. http://rumkin.com/tools/sprint/ is an uploader that will allow you to upload your own code (works with the A900...I've got one too). http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/ is the forum mentioned above that have a lot of Sprint phone user geeks...I'm sure a lot of people on there could help answer your questions. Here's a link to their page for alternate uploaders too: http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t= 83030

Additionally, http://www.howardforums.com/ has a lot of good information too. Here's an actual http://sprintdevelopers.com/ Sprint-centric development site too.

Although, most of this may be useless, because I see in this post http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t= 52772&page=1&pp=15 what you are talking about regarding the Verisign cert. You can run your own code, but to access the GPS stuff you are restricted. Hopefully someone in the above forums can help you out to bypass it. I'll keep an eye out, because that sounds like some pretty cool hacking to do.

I've been using this for a whole week..(it was given to sprint users for Vision Phones from a link they provided on 1/13)

http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t= 87456&highlight=opera+mini

O-Mini seems to pass all comm through thier servers in real time. It slices most full window pages into 30 slices. It does the same on large, wider-then-tall images.

Actually I love it so far.. I just hope they keep it free...

Also check out Google Maps for mobile:
http://www.google.com/glm/index.html

And Orb (stream MUCHO from home computer):
http://www.orb.com/what_is_orb/

yes... but that is not high-speed. For $5/month you can get unlimited data transfer over Sprint phones. Get vision service and have dial-up-networking dial #777. More Info At Sprintusers.com

if the phone has web service, you just use any of the freely available upload services out there to send .mid or .qcp files to your phone.

- Peter

I have a Sprint RL-4920 phone, and I use Sprint Users to upload my ringers. Midi needs no conversion, but the software I use to convert non-midi files to the Qualcomm PureVoice format using the Purevoice Converter. I have not had to pay a single penny for ringers, Applets, or Screen Savers. Like what the original post said, I can put what I want on there, not what is "popular" and it's free instead of paying at least $1 for 20 to 30 seconds of audio.

I had written a 900 word response all about the T608, just for you. And then my computer rebooted right before I finished it. Thanks, Microsoft!
Anyway, I am going to suggest you go to the Sprintusers.com Forum where we will be able to answer all of your T608 questions. I myself have owned four, and activation should be easy. But as for it's qualities as a phone...well, I myself have owned four. Bluetooth is awesome and better than any other Sprint BT phone, though.

It's my understanding that this setup will work under Linux. The 8200 is effectively the same as an 8100 for data access purposes.

Note that this plan is not really "unlimited". If you use too much bandwidth they will come down on you. Also, using it with a computer is "not allowed", they want you to buy a real data plan for that. However, it works anyway!

This setup has worked well for my needs (mostly voice service with occasional Internet access both from the phone and on a laptop). YMMV.

www.sprintusers.com are very active user forums where issues like this are discussed.

It's very easy to turn sample files into ringtones for free. For Sprint PCS users, the Xingtone software just creates a GCD file (more info) and hosts is on a website for your phone to download. It converts the WAV file to Qualcomm PureVoice (.QCP) format (which you can do using Qualcomm's free converter for Windows and Linux). There's more info here.

I was off-contract with T-Mobile, and had experienced many bandwith problems with them. I'm near an interstate interchange-- traveling calls fill the entire tower. I noticed an amazing deal on a treo 600 on amazon, and decided to get it, knowing that I could port it to SprintPCS, where I have another cell phone, and much better service.

I initiated the transfer on Wed, 11/26. I had heard rumblings of portability problems with the wrong information being entered into the system, so I made sure "customer care" specialist repeated all of the information back to me. They gave me an original "due date" of Saturday, 11/30 at Noon.

Saturday rolled around and no transfer. I called back, and it turns out Sprint submitted the wrong address to the WLNP system. If the addresses don't match, it won't port. Nobody had called me in 3 days. To make matters worse, the address they submitted was my old address- 4 years and 3 addresses ago! It was my original address with Sprint, not even my current one they had on file!!

To cut a long story short, I've called Sprint 5 times since then, still no port 7 days later, and each time I call, they give me the wrong address issue, even though I've corrected it 6 times.

This most recent time, I waited 2 hours (on a landline) to speak to someone in the Sprint WLNP dept. They eventually got T-mobile on the line. Finally, they both agreed that it was the FCC-contracted third party that was the holdup, but that their system was in the middle of an "update" and was unaccessable for 2 hours. (In the middle of a business day?!!?)

This system is not working. If these companies had spent the time and effort making this work instead of fighting it, and maybe tested it at least once, it would work better.

But because there are so many parties involved, they figured they didn't have to, because there are 2 other people they can point the finger at.

I've yet to hear from a single AT&T person online who's successfully ported.

If you've having problems such as me, make sure to REPORT IT.

Other resources I've been using, mostly to comisserate:

Howard Forums
Sprintusers.com
Number portability forum

Wait until they get the kinks out-- the system should take but a few hours, not more than a week!

Enjoy your service while it lasts, eventually you'll get a phonecall from Sprint saying 'Mr. So and So, you have three options, we can cancel your vision outright, you can purchase a monthly service plan (20MB for $$, 40MB for $$$, etc) for business connections, or you can pay a per kilobyte charge on your data.

reference 1 reference 2

The phones they offer are very good with many gadgets and gizmos and are not expensive to replace.

The Vision plan offers unlimited and unmetered internet access (+$15/month or free with 2000 minute plan). The phones work with many portals including /. (I specifically recommend www.sprintusers.com portal)

Your phones email account is web based accessible from the phone, any web browser, or your favorite email client via POP3 or IMAP. Your email address is selectable and changeable. You get 10digitnumber@sprintpcs.com and pick-one@sprintpcs.com

The Free and Clear America Plan (FCA) (+$10/month) gives you free roaming when off the PCS network. Basically, if you get a signal, the phone will work. If you use more then 50% of your minutes roaming they reserve the right to remove that option to prevent "abuse".

There is no smaller "home" concept area like some of the Cingular plans have.

The phone to phone option (free with 2yr contract or $5month) is unlimited, some carriers charge for this.

The add-a-phone plans (Family Plan) are $20 for each extra phone (the 2000 minute plan offers the second phone free) and it carries the same options as the main plan (Vision + FCA + phone to phone etc..) at no extra cost.

Unlimited N&W, pretty standard but some providers still have limits on the minutes.

Not sure if Sprint specific but there are portals that allow you to download games, pictures, ringers, and upload your own content to the phone with no charge. You can get stuff from Sprint directly but they charge.

Cons:

Although you recieve unlimited messaging and unlimited download, you can not send SMS messages directly from the phone without going "online" first. Basically you have to be on the web to send SMS messages.

Customer service - Touchy issue and really only messured by your own experience. I have had billing issues since day one, the CSR's are friendly and helpful but not very knowledgeable of the billing system. Luck of the draw I guess.

Niether:

Signal quailty - Really depends on the buildout of your area. In Northern VA and Western PA, I have not had issues. I took the coverage maps into consideration with the FCA option when I chose Sprint and dropped Cingular. For me, the overall plans and prices outweighed the potential coverage pitfalls.

YMMV depending on what you plan on doing with the phones.

You don't have to get the expensive unlimited plan to use the Sprint PCS Vision data service. I use it all the time with my laptop and don't pay anything extra (other than the cost of unlimited wireless web).

I use a cable that I bought on Ebay. Sprint does not sell these cables anymore and want you to use a PC Card with the unlimited plan.

The speed varies depending on reception. Sometimes it will drop to 14.4k speeds but it can be about 1.5x as fast as 56k. On average I will get speeds comparable to 33.6k.

I've been using it for about 6 months not and it has been completely trouble free and very reliable (for wireless). Check out SprintUsers.com.

SprintUsers.com and Usenet have had the prices posted for days.
The best possible rate is the $119.99 plan for data-only... it is 120MB/Month.
$1/MB. Overage rate is the same.