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FEMA Picks AT&T and Verizon as Go-To Carriers

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Poor Sprint....

trey1475

Feb 26, 2009, 1:45 PM
Wasn't Sprint the main carrier begging the Government/Fema to go into a contract with them to provide services incase of an emergency?? Why would they choose such an unstable network like Sprint to use during an emergency.... Sorry Sprint but no stimulus package/bailout for you!! Let the flames begin!!! 🤣 🤣 🤣

Source:
https://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=3830 »
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HawkeyeOC

Feb 26, 2009, 2:04 PM
No surprise here. With millions each year leaving Sprint, why shouldn't the government take a hint and abandon them too 🤣

Sorry Sprint, your days are numbered 👀
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JeffdaBeat

Feb 26, 2009, 2:16 PM
FEMA was soliciting bids from the carriers...Verizon and AT&T have more money. Also, with Sprint actually paying off debt...why would they spend money trying to get these contracts? What if Sprint and T-Mobile simply not bid?
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wrightN

Feb 26, 2009, 2:31 PM
if they didn't bid then they arent american!

haha jk.

its ironic how sprint/nextel was supposed to be this backbone communications go-to carrier in an emergency.

but i think at&t/verizon were chosen simply due to the fact they are the two largest.

good idea how this works out and the teamwork how two of the biggest company rivals in the world can work together for a safer country in the even of a disaster.

Personally: i think its a great idea they left sprint out. Verizon being the largest carrier (and best coverage) is a good idea, so i dont see why they even chose at&t. Unless its the GSM/SIM card that would make at&t very versatile. Like if a FEMA rep breaks their phone they just grab someone elses at&t phone and put in th...
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JeffdaBeat

Feb 26, 2009, 3:03 PM
Actually, Alltel had the best coverage before Verizon purchased them...

And again, you have to realize that it wasn't FEMA just sitting around and thinking who they were going to pick. Those carriers put up money to be chosen. Right now, Sprint's focus is paying off debt and trying to get squared away. So if Sprint simply didn't make a bid or didn't have the money to doesn't really say much about who is more reliable...
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HawkeyeOC

Feb 26, 2009, 6:14 PM
JeffdaBeat said:
Actually, Alltel had the best coverage before Verizon purchased them...

And again, you have to realize that it wasn't FEMA just sitting around and thinking who they were going to pick. Those carriers put up money to be chosen. Right now, Sprint's focus is paying off debt and trying to get squared away. So if Sprint simply didn't make a bid or didn't have the money to doesn't really say much about who is more reliable...


But it does show what shape Sprint is in if this is the case.
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JeffdaBeat

Feb 27, 2009, 12:16 AM
I don't know...I think Sprint is playing it safe. Instead of continuing to spend, they are paying off debt. Aren't we watching GM struggle because they can't pay their debtors?
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Jayshmay

Feb 27, 2009, 12:40 AM
Be careful with that "Alltel had the best network before Verizon bought them" talk because there's a lot of Verizon fanbois on Phone Scoop that are Verizon crackheads that are all doped up on Verizon. And in my opinion don't have a sense of reality!

Obviously a network can't be that bad if I've been with AT&T for over 7yrs, and I'm sure there are people who have been with Tmo for 5+yrs.

So if someone has been with a carrier for 5 or more yrs then that perticular carriers network can't be that bad.
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jrfdsf

Feb 26, 2009, 6:00 PM
wrightN said:
if they didn't bid then they arent american!

haha jk.

its ironic how sprint/nextel was supposed to be this backbone communications go-to carrier in an emergency.

but i think at&t/verizon were chosen simply due to the fact they are the two largest.

good idea how this works out and the teamwork how two of the biggest company rivals in the world can work together for a safer country in the even of a disaster.

Personally: i think its a great idea they left sprint out. Verizon being the largest carrier (and best coverage) is a good idea, so i dont see why they even chose at&t. Unless its the GSM/SIM card that would make at&t very versatile. Like if a FEMA rep breaks their phone they just grab some
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Jayshmay

Feb 27, 2009, 12:47 AM
Ha! I like your comment! Your HONEST! Not a Verizon crackhead!

I've been with AT&T for just over 7yrs, and I have NO problem with they're network.

I just think a lot of people are brainwashed by those Verizon advertisements.
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jrfdsf

Feb 27, 2009, 1:27 PM
Jayshmay said:
Ha! I like your comment! Your HONEST! Not a Verizon crackhead!

I've been with AT&T for just over 7yrs, and I have NO problem with they're network.

I just think a lot of people are brainwashed by those Verizon advertisements.

Thanks! I really don't have anything against Verizon, it just ticks me off the brainwashing factor. Even before the Alltel merger and a few smaller rural acquistions, they were actually in LAST PLACE in terms of native coverage and only maybe second place in terms of overall coverage (+roaming). Yet, almost everyone in that forum boasted of having the BEST coverage of any carrier. Yeah, maybe back in 2003.

Another amusing thing is the "My Circle" feature Ve
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Evali

Feb 27, 2009, 7:08 PM
You do realize that 1 Sprint and Verizon have the same Foot print. 2 FEMA is a small government organization 3 Sprint/Nextel has all the EOC and Federal Government contracts. Not to mention just as many people are leaving other carriers the only reason people dont notice is because Verizons spends there way to the top buying any one who sells a CDMA phone. If it werent for companies like Sprint Metro PCS and Cricket Mobile saying no to Verizon they would be the only game in town. Sprint is working on settling old debts so it can launch Xohm worry free. Please voice your opinions bu dont try to state facts until you have done actual research. Also the reason they went with AT&T and Verizon is because of networks If CDMA fails they hope GSM...
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Cinner

Feb 26, 2009, 2:31 PM
So why at&t for everyday use and VZW for emergencies? Is one better at one thing than the other or was this just to even things out between the big two?
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KYvan

Feb 26, 2009, 3:41 PM
Ah!ah! Poor Sprint...
isn't it amazing that some of you writing here could barely afford lunch or dinner in a nice restaurant one day a week or still leave with your parents... And here you are feeling sorry for Sprint. You are only happy when others are miserable. You should feel sorry for self, get a life.
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netboy

Feb 26, 2009, 4:12 PM
why ATT for daily use?
cus ATT uses GSM/simcard, GSM got more sexy/hot phones like Sony Xperia X1, and lots of fruit phones! no, not the iphone! the berry phones! haha
what sexy phones do verizon got? haha
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asLeepLessman

Feb 26, 2009, 4:27 PM
(I know this isnt how it would go down but) Can you imagine yourself in a time of need....

I need to make a call, quick, pass me the phone its a emergency....SHIP! the battery is dead....quick, pass me that other one.....

[Hello, VZw, yes, can you switch me over to this new phone I got....thanks]

....ring, .....ring....Hun, the house is on fire.....Has been for 20+ mins. I couldnt get to you sooner cause I had to swap out me IMEI.
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Cellphonejocky

Feb 26, 2009, 4:55 PM
umm.. no

it takes 30 seconds now to switch phones now.

get the new phone, dial *228 send option 3 and enter your phone number and security code.

There ya go!

That's all ya do!
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KYvan

Feb 26, 2009, 5:33 PM
no comment
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HawkeyeOC

Feb 26, 2009, 6:17 PM
Cellphonejocky said:
umm.. no

it takes 30 seconds now to switch phones now.

get the new phone, dial *228 send option 3 and enter your phone number and security code.

There ya go!

That's all ya do!


Can also be done from the web in the about the same amount of time 😁
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scorpio

Feb 27, 2009, 11:44 AM
I couldn't have said it better myself, your comment is spot on! 😉
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cheech004

Feb 26, 2009, 2:31 PM
gotta love those fanboys.
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Azeron

Feb 26, 2009, 2:59 PM
No you don't. I hope Sprint turns this thing around. Sprint is needed as an alternative to AT&T and VZW. Perhaps a buyout by someone with a strong brand would help. The network is strong but the reputation is killing them. Maybe someone will buy all the divested Alltel markets merge it with Sprint and keep the Alltel name. Something needs to be done to save Sprint.
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asLeepLessman

Feb 26, 2009, 3:46 PM
I agree completely with you Azeron. Im not a sprint user but I am with you in hoping they pull it together. They have been on the back burner since the Nextel Merger and cant seem to get out of the runt. They make some really good moves that could get them back in the game but then they follow up with these fooish moves that sets them back again.

I for one though, agree that it should stay between AT&T and VZW (im with Tmo). The reason why being a very simplistic one. These 2 are the oldest of all the Cellphone providers. With a track record dating back to Telegrams and underground telephone wires, combined they have more customers then any other 2 combined.

I would go ahead and go with the old school and reliable. Payphones still wor...
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Cellphonejocky

Feb 26, 2009, 4:51 PM
I think AT&T would fail before Verizon.

AT&T seems to always be having problems with there network.

Like in Texas, East texas was out in most places all day yesterday.

They never had problems like this with Cingular.
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willv

Feb 26, 2009, 4:00 PM
that they will use att for normal use, but in emergencies (which shows who is more reliable) they chose big red.
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netboy

Feb 26, 2009, 4:17 PM
this shows GSM got more sexy/hot phones like SE xperia X1 and fruit phones! no, not the iphone, the berry phones! haha.
that is good enought for daily use, u only use a UGLY verizon phones for emergencies only! haha
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Cellphonejocky

Feb 26, 2009, 4:47 PM
This means more than likely a lot of Nextel users will leave Nextel for Verizon PTT.. Police, Fire, ect. Because if Verizon is the main source for Emergency back up, then they will be relied on the most.

Verizon does have a very strong network.

And they do have very few dead zones.

And i think a big reason that Verizon was choosen for this is because they were the only network which worked the best threw the past years Emergencies.. (Hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, fires in CA, and ect.)
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SoCalVDub

Feb 26, 2009, 4:56 PM
Funny ... durring 9/11 and the "NY black out" i specifically remember that only Nextel "chirps" worked durring those emergencies due to network congestion.

Regardless having this "opportunity" will truely prove how "strong" these networks implement their "emergency" services in times of crisis.

Network priority will mean nothing to the average Joe customer. This would apply to these specific accounts only.

Should be interesting ... would be some serious bad cred if things went amuck.
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asLeepLessman

Feb 26, 2009, 5:12 PM
SoCalVDub said:
Funny ... durring 9/11 and the "NY black out" i specifically remember that only Nextel "chirps" worked durring those emergencies due to network congestion.
I was in NY at both of these times. Nextel's didnt work anymore then the other providers. On 9/11 there was Nextel, Sprint, Tmo and a Tmo prepaid with me. Only person who got a call in was the prepaid Tmo. It was 1 call only. every call after that was a failure.

On the BlackOut I didnt have as many around me but AT&T, TMO and Nextel all worked fine. Actually, in the Blackout, we only lost coverage for about the 1st 1-2hrs of that night. By 9-10pm that night we as back in business talking to people on our phones about the blackout.

I ne...
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jrfdsf

Feb 26, 2009, 5:41 PM
asLeepLessman said:


I was in NY at both of these times. Nextel's didnt work anymore then the other providers. On 9/11 there was Nextel, Sprint, Tmo and a Tmo prepaid with me. Only person who got a call in was the prepaid Tmo. It was 1 call only. every call after that was a failure.

On the BlackOut I didnt have as many around me but AT&T, TMO and Nextel all worked fine. Actually, in the Blackout, we only lost coverage for about the 1st 1-2hrs of that night. By 9-10pm that night we as back in business talking to people on our phones about the blackout.

I never had Vzw around me during a "Emergency" to give or take any credit from them.

Really? You were in NY during this time? And you are...who? ...
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asLeepLessman

Feb 26, 2009, 6:09 PM
There was so many different things I typed and then deleted just now. 1st I was about to be on the defensive and protect my claims. Deleted that and went on the offensive attacking you for basicly calling me a liar. Deleted that. Typed a few words in the form of a neutral response and deleted that as well.

How about....You just chose not to believe me. Which, you pretty much did. So, lets move on.

As far as Guiliani goes....I would only believe and listen to what he had to say if it involved him coming out of the closet. Other then that....I wouldnt know...I tend to ignore him for the most part. Cheers...
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asLeepLessman

Feb 26, 2009, 6:47 PM
jrfdsf said:Really?
Yes

jrfdsf said:You were in NY during this time?
Yes

jrfdsf said:And you are...who?
a sLeepLess man, but for the most part my friends call me sLeepLess.
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SoCalVDub

Feb 26, 2009, 7:29 PM
Thanks jrfdsf ... when i worked for Nextel back then my phone didnt work but my PTT sure did. My Big Red phone that was my "emergency" or "non bizz" phone nothing. Again like i said time will ultimitely tell.

Some people on here are really quite humerous at times though ... keeps me coming back for more 🤣
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Overmann

Feb 27, 2009, 11:04 AM
Reason NEXTEL PTT still worked is because these PTT phones have a special off-network mode they can fall back on and communicate Peer-to-Peer within a short (up to 6 miles) range. Even when the mains were jammed or down, PTT can still do something.
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jrfdsf

Feb 26, 2009, 5:31 PM
trey1475 said:
Wasn't Sprint the main carrier begging the Government/Fema to go into a contract with them to provide services incase of an emergency?? Why would they choose such an unstable network like Sprint to use during an emergency.... Sorry Sprint but no stimulus package/bailout for you!! Let the flames begin!!! 🤣 🤣 🤣
Source:
https://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=3830 »


Yeah, really great choice on our government's part- using networks that utterly failed on 911 and during Katrina. 🙄

Oh well, there's always ham radios when it happens yet again.
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HawkeyeOC

Feb 26, 2009, 6:19 PM
jrfdsf said:


Yeah, really great choice on our government's part- using networks that utterly failed on 911 and during Katrina. 🙄

Oh well, there's always ham radios when it happens yet again.


You forgot to mention when this happens again, Sprint may not exist anyway 😁
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cheech004

Feb 26, 2009, 7:07 PM
if i am not mistaken doesn't Nextel's IDEN run on the 800 band frequency? and verizon's cdma above that? why would it make more sense to use a higher frequency band for emergencies?
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MarkCohen

Feb 26, 2009, 10:55 PM
So, since Sprint expressed interest in this government contract, AT&T and VZW fanboys called shenanigans, stating that Sprint only wanted their own unofficial bailout. But now that the two of them got the contract, suddenly there's nothing wrong with that?

THEN, when it's mentioned that Sprint is simply focusing on paying off debts, that's a stupid move? Do you reread what you type?

The fact is, Sprint isn't going anywhere soon. AT&T and VZW fanboys simply spout out this garbage in fear of what may happen. Should the economy go to complete crap, the average consumer is going to need to save more money. And on average, Sprint and T Mo do that. And those who need the fastest data for business, but also need to save money will go to Sprin...
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HawkeyeOC

Feb 27, 2009, 1:29 AM
Go back and read both threads carefully.

This story starts out saying "After soliciting bids from the wireless industry"

Sprint wasn't interested in a bidding situation. They were writing letters to get front money presumably because they know they no longer are competitive.

I did however enjoy your tales of fanboys and haters and your attempts to stir that hatred up again 🤣
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Ghosthendrikson

Feb 27, 2009, 12:35 PM
MarkCohen said:
I just look forward to Quarter 4, so I can come here and laugh at all the dropped jaws of the haters.


Yeah I will meet you back here, so I can point out my big "I told you so" sign to you.
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HawkeyeOC

Feb 27, 2009, 1:33 PM
Ghosthendrikson said:


Yeah I will meet you back here, so I can point out my big "I told you so" sign to you.

🤣
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