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Why Apple's iPad Has Been Good For Sprint
itwbennett writes "Today, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said in an interview with Om Malik that the iPad has been good to his company because many people are opting for the Wi-Fi only iPad and pairing it with Sprint's 3G/4G Overdrive MiFi device (which the company sells with a special Overdrive case for the iPad) rather than choosing an iPad 3G that is limited to AT&T's network."
Now, of course, Sprint's WiMAX network is *not* 4G; the ITU said so, last month, in an announcement covered here.
But whatever it is, it's good to know people like it better than AT&T's... cause I'm getting an EVO in a couple weeks.
Anyone using Sprint "4G" in Tampa yet?
Indeed! Now all that needs to happen is for Sprint to sell a VoIP kit with an iPad/iPod Touch, MiFi, and Skype/Google Voice. Whoa nelly!
I find this rather odd. The battery life must be terrible and having to tow around two devices annoying.
It seems to me that the iPad should have just come with either
a) A real USB port that a 3G Data dongle (or in this case Sprint/Verizon fake-4G) can plug into and not break the device
b) An option port, where the iPad already supplies most of the hardware, and this option port is simply the appropriate radio (CDMA, GSM, UMTS, WiMAX, 802.11bgn+) like how laptops do it. The ipad is reasonably large enough to accommodate this.
Too bad for so many customers, Sprint is the slowest network in their area. I know it is in the Wichita, KS metro. AT&T is HSPA+. T-Mobile is HSPA+. Verizon is EVDO Rev. A. Sprint is congested and spotty Rev. A (and the worst throughput you can get).
For what percentage of the American public is Sprint the fastest network? 5%?
It seems to me that the iPad should have just come with either
Rather than your two overly technical options which sound just as annoying and don't give you WiFi for other devices, you could also just buy the 3G iPad which requires no contract and lets you go month to month buying service if you like.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
There are external GPS hacks on iOS devices like:
But these are awkward to use, and in my experience, a lot of GPS software does not work with these hacks, as they do with Apple's built-in GPS receivers.
and your phones are locked. And yet in Namibia a third world country it is illegal to sell locked phones.
That's funny, GPS on my base model iPad works great.
And won't work in the boonies.
The iPad wifi "GPS" is based on wifi points, and can work somewhat in the city, just like the original iPhone did.
There is no dedicated GPS chip in either.
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You mean, YOU can. I have a 3G/GPS iPad, and the 3G feature is useless, because ATT doesn't serve this area. Verizon does, but I have to tell you, at the rates they're charging for so little data with their widget (which I'd have no trouble slapping into our car), I'll stick to wifi anyway. Heck, even our McDonald's has free wifi, I just drive into the parking lot and I'm on, and with their blessings. Likewise a bunch of other places, and in front of my house where my network is locked down, but of course I can use it.
The phone companies are milking this 3G thing for far more than I value it, and as long as that goes on, it won't cost me a penny. What amazes me is that it seems like a lot of phone customers are putting up with it.
I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
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Contrary to the summary and many comments here, the iPad is unlocked. It will take any micro-SIM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPad#Storage_and_SIM
Help I'm a rock.
Acronyms are so passe nowadays. So it should probably be called the VOIPADIFYPOOGLE package...
No more excuses for AT&T please.
I read the headline like "Why Apple's iPad Has Been Good For Spirit"
Never mind AT&T's data network. Normal telephone calls drop in their garbage network. I guess it surprised them that people actually wanted to make phone calls too. Their network has been horrible forever. When I lived in L.A. and had AT&T service. I complained to their customer service about the constant call drops and was told .. "but hey! We have the best coverage of any carrier in Barstow!". Nice to know that both families that live in Barstow can call each other, because user's who live in America's biggest cities cannot.
Is this just a troll summary to generate page views, an ad for Sprint, or are the submitter & editor really that brain damaged?
Other than the outrageous upcharge, iPad 3G models have the same Wifi abilities of the non-3G iPads and are just as able to use cellular data portable hotspots as Wifi-only models.
I'm sure "Why would you?" is the obvious retort, and while *I* wouldn't, I can imagine that some people end up with 3G iPads because they didn't pay for them, they bought them used or they want to use them in an area with no/poor AT&T 3G coverage.
Let me jump in and say that my company makes a nice short curved blade knife and many people are buying apples and paring them with our knives. It's been so good for our business.
The 3G version has wifi too...I bought it for the GPS. I have AT&T data service on my iPhone. I have a problem with having to pay double to get it on the iPad. It's not like I'm going to be surfing on two devices at the same time. Why can't I punch my account into the other device. And it wouldn't be too difficult to look at the packets for the device serial number and only allow one of them to work at any given time.
Sprint paying /. for this?
...but if you were to root your Evo, and install the wireless tether app...4G Ipad...problem solved.
There are 2 groups of people you can make fun of on the Internet without fear of attack. The illiterate, and the Amish.