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Sprint and Clearwire Fight Over Smartphone Finances

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Whats up with that?

land of the free phone

Nov 11, 2010, 9:07 AM
Why does Clearwire think they can milk Sprint for revenue on 4G phones they don't provide coverage for? I know they are desperate for money right now, but to go after your majority share holder who has already given billions to you is not a smart thing to do.
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Eric M. Zeman

Nov 11, 2010, 9:29 AM
Sprint charges customers an extra $10 monthly fee for the right to access and use WiMax -- even if those customers don't live in a WiMax coverage area.

Seems that $10 monthly fee was specifically earmarked for Clearwire, if you ask me.
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 10:13 AM
Eric M. Zeman said:
Sprint charges customers an extra $10 monthly fee for the right to access and use WiMax -- even if those customers don't live in a WiMax coverage area.

Seems that $10 monthly fee was specifically earmarked for Clearwire, if you ask me.



You are wrong... as explained in the other post. Sprint does not charge for the use of 4G. It is a "Premium Data" charge to offset the cost of 10x average data use on these devices even in 3g only areas. Sprint has 4G connection cards and modems that do not have the extra charge. Video Calling and similar features are huge data hogs. That's what the charge is for.
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TDBearCT

Nov 11, 2010, 11:16 AM
So...

Other than video calling, what data intensive application runs on the Epic and Evo that does not run on any other Android, Windows Mobile or other smartphone platform?

If Sprint is charging $10/month for video calling only, I should really drop the phone right now. Having only one service option (Qik) that only talks to other mobile users on the same service is not worth $10 in my book.

Again, let's be fair. If Premium Data is for services that could be deployed on any other smartphone, then all smartphones should be charged for the service regardless of whether they are 3G or 4G. If Premium Data is really for 4G devices only (and, again, it is only required or even offered for 4G devices), then it should go towards the buildo...
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 11:25 AM
Ok... let's get rid of Video calling...

Please compare the price of unlimited data on Sprints network vs Unlimited Data on other networks.

VZW costs more... They have data caps.
ATT costs more... They have data caps.


So you are griping because you have to pay less for a better service with unlimited use?
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tmorep03

Nov 11, 2010, 11:29 AM
so are you gettin paid extra for tryin to sell sprint on phonescoop
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 11:33 AM
tmorep03 said:
so are you gettin paid extra for tryin to sell sprint on phonescoop



Are you getting paid extra to bash them with misinformation?
Do I get paid extra? No I get paid very well when Sprint does well 🙂
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TDBearCT

Nov 11, 2010, 11:45 AM
So, the truth comes out (grin).

If "Premium Data" was truly unlimited 3G and 4G data, sure I'd pay the $10/month for it.

But the truth is that my plan (and everyone else's) is advertised as having unlimited 3G data BEFORE the $10 premium data add-on, which I again state is only required or even offered for the Evo 4G and Epic 4G.

And, by the way, I have unlimited data on two devices with another carrier. And several other people have noted that T-Mobile still offers unlimited data plans that allow tethering at no additional cost (something Sprint charges $30/month for).
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 11:56 AM
TDBearCT said:
So, the truth comes out (grin).

If "Premium Data" was truly unlimited 3G and 4G data, sure I'd pay the $10/month for it.

But the truth is that my plan (and everyone else's) is advertised as having unlimited 3G data BEFORE the $10 premium data add-on, which I again state is only required or even offered for the Evo 4G and Epic 4G.

And, by the way, I have unlimited data on two devices with another carrier. And several other people have noted that T-Mobile still offers unlimited data plans that allow tethering at no additional cost (something Sprint charges $30/month for).



And you have the right to choose them if a smaller network fits your needs... or if you like your company misle...
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DiamondPro

Nov 13, 2010, 3:18 PM
You dont have unlimited data you have a 5gb cap and tmobile charges 14.99 for tethering

http://www.pcworld.com/article/207818/tmobile_lowers ... »

http://www.androidguys.com/2010/10/26/tmobile-set-of ... »

You may need to research the company you have service with more before you speak or comment. We already have enough misleading and wrong information going around. 😉

The truth comes out! 😎
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DiamondPro

Nov 13, 2010, 2:58 PM
The pot calling the kettle black. 🤣 We should be asking u the same question! Your only here to promote teen-mobile 🤣
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TDBearCT

Nov 11, 2010, 11:54 AM
Actually, I am not griping at all. I really like Sprint-- I think they have very reasonable plans and reasonably good service, far better than they had a few years ago.

What we disagree on is the definition of Premium Data.

By your definition, every smartphone user should be charged for Premium Data because they could run applications that use large quantities of data.

What most people were told by their Sprint representatives is that the $10 Premium Data charge was for access to the 4G network, and that it was required for all 4G devices even if they were sold in an area without 4G service. Call it the WiMax tax if you will. And we're all OK with it, but if it really is for 4G data then at least some of it should go to Clearwire f...
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 11:57 AM
TDBearCT said:
Actually, I am not griping at all. I really like Sprint-- I think they have very reasonable plans and reasonably good service, far better than they had a few years ago.

What we disagree on is the definition of Premium Data.

By your definition, every smartphone user should be charged for Premium Data because they could run applications that use large quantities of data.

What most people were told by their Sprint representatives is that the $10 Premium Data charge was for access to the 4G network, and that it was required for all 4G devices even if they were sold in an area without 4G service. Call it the WiMax tax if you will. And we're all OK with it, but if it really is for 4G data then at least
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CellStudent

Nov 11, 2010, 11:59 AM
CamelTowing said:


You are wrong... as explained in the other post. Sprint does not charge for the use of 4G. It is a "Premium Data" charge to offset the cost of 10x average data use on these devices even in 3g only areas.


If Sprint were really interested in charging higher rates ONLY to people actually using more data, they would introduce tiered data pricing to address the issue.

News flash: They're not! That's not their business model- which is fine. Just stop calling it something it isn't.

It's a milk fee for WiMAX phone users in non-WiMAX coverage areas. Nothing more, nothing less.
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 12:15 PM
CellStudent said:


If Sprint were really interested in charging higher rates ONLY to people actually using more data, they would introduce tiered data pricing to address the issue.

News flash: They're not! That's not their business model- which is fine. Just stop calling it something it isn't.

It's a milk fee for WiMAX phone users in non-WiMAX coverage areas. Nothing more, nothing less.


They offer non-unlimited data plans already. The most popular plans have unlimited data.
The only people who are calling it something it is not are people like yourself who have a gripe against Sprint.
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CellStudent

Nov 11, 2010, 1:43 PM
CamelTowing said:
They offer non-unlimited data plans already.


Really? What are Sprint's tiered data plan rates for smartphones? I'd like to see those.

I'm not a Sprint basher. I'm a tiered data proponent. I believe unlimited plans need to die so that low-data users like myself aren't forced to subsidize heavy data consumers.
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Azeron

Nov 12, 2010, 10:37 AM
Tiered data proponent? So sad...
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DiamondPro

Nov 13, 2010, 3:19 PM
Agreed!
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CamelTowing

Nov 15, 2010, 2:57 PM
Azeron said:
Tiered data proponent? So sad...



"Tiered Data proponent" = stuck with ATT

🤣
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TDBearCT

Nov 11, 2010, 12:16 PM
Milk fee is a little harsh...

I call it the WiMax tax (grin).

Jim
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 12:23 PM
TDBearCT said:
Milk fee is a little harsh...

I call it the WiMax tax (grin).

Jim



You guys probably call HSPA+ a 4G network too...
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TDBearCT

Nov 11, 2010, 12:38 PM
Guess what... WiMax isn't either...
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TDBearCT

Nov 11, 2010, 12:39 PM
From the Wikipedia article on 4G:

Sprint Nextel has begun using Mobile WiMAX, as of September 29, 2008 branded as a "4G" network even though current version does not fulfill the IMT Advanced requirements on 4G systems.[8]
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 2:15 PM
TDBearCT said:
From the Wikipedia article on 4G:

Sprint Nextel has begun using Mobile WiMAX, as of September 29, 2008 branded as a "4G" network even though current version does not fulfill the IMT Advanced requirements on 4G systems.[8]




Notice how it says "current version"...

If you put a governor on a Bugatti... it's still a supersport.
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crammy1

Nov 12, 2010, 9:22 PM
do you know that wiki aint a valid source? just throwing it out there ... cause my prof in college would kill me if i put anything wiki on my papers sources...
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CellStudent

Nov 11, 2010, 2:01 PM
HSPA+ == WiMAX == LTE

For 90% of consumers in the marketplace today, all three of these technologies are completely adequate and it doesn't matter what the "xG" branding is.

WiMAX: 3 - 6 Mbps (advertised), usually more like 5 - 10 Mbps

http://now.sprint.com/nownetwork/4G/?id16=4g%20speed »

HSPA+: 5 - 8 Mbps (advertised), usually performs at 5 - 10 Mbps

http://press.t-mobile.com/articles/americas-largest- ... »

VZW LTE (first stage): 5 - 12 Mbps (advertised), no real-world data available yet

http://news.vzw.com/news/2010/03/pr2010-03-02b.html »

Any technology that can reliably deliver 5 Mbps connections is (for all intents and purposes) just as good as some other tech delivering 5 Mbps connections.

Don't get your p...
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thecleaner62

Nov 11, 2010, 2:06 PM
well said, ive admired your reasoning while browsing the forums, and this is what ive been thinking, this whole competition is so cold war esqe in whos getting to "4g" the fastest
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 2:18 PM
CellStudent said:
HSPA+ == WiMAX == LTE

For 90% of consumers in the marketplace today, all three of these technologies are completely adequate and it doesn't matter what the "xG" branding is.

WiMAX: 3 - 6 Mbps (advertised), usually more like 5 - 10 Mbps

http://now.sprint.com/nownetwork/4G/?id16=4g%20speed »

HSPA+: 5 - 8 Mbps (advertised), usually performs at 5 - 10 Mbps

http://press.t-mobile.com/articles/americas-largest- ... »

VZW LTE (first stage): 5 - 12 Mbps (advertised), no real-world data available yet

http://news.vzw.com/news/2010/03/pr2010-03-02b.html »

Any technology that can reliably deliver 5 Mbps connections is (for all intents and purposes) just as good as some other tech delivering 5
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TDBearCT

Nov 11, 2010, 4:33 PM
And by that definition, neithe LTE or WiMax are 4G.

And please stop yelling.
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CellStudent

Nov 11, 2010, 4:55 PM
CamelTowing said:

Did you happen to see the LATENCY differences?
LATENCY and SPEED define 4G not just speed alone. I said it before... You can't play PS3 or XBox 360 games online using HSPA+... You can with LTE and WIMAX.
It's not HYPE it's SCIENCE!

It's HYPE. If you cared anything for the science you would admit that all three technologies fail to meet minimum 4G specifications. Of course, you're not interested in facts, are you?

As for latency, LTE is the clear winner and HSPA+ is the clear loser. WiMAX falls in the middle, but is comparable to LTE in real-world scenarios.

Again, 95%+ of cellular internet traffic is download-only activity in which latency is a total non-factor. No one c...
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CamelTowing

Nov 11, 2010, 6:40 PM
CellStudent said:


It's HYPE. If you cared anything for the science you would admit that all three technologies fail to meet minimum 4G specifications. Of course, you're not interested in facts, are you?

As for latency, LTE is the clear winner and HSPA+ is the clear loser. WiMAX falls in the middle, but is comparable to LTE in real-world scenarios.

Again, 95%+ of cellular internet traffic is download-only activity in which latency is a total non-factor. No one cares if it takes and extra 1/10th of a second to buffer the youtube clips.

Latency is almost (but not quite) a non-issue. If the latency is good enough to allow live video streaming both directions, it's good enough for widespread consumer de
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CellStudent

Nov 11, 2010, 9:03 PM
CamelTowing said:
"No one hauls their Xbox around". That is hugely incorrect. I know many people who do just that. Gamers haul their Xbox, PS3, Laptops, and even their full tower gaming pc's to lan parties all over.

Everywhere a LAN party congregates, there's a fixed-line internet solution available for much much less expense then a "4G" wireless connection. Cellular internet connections are only needed for devices that run off batteries. Everything else is better served by a Wi-Fi router connected to a cable in the ground.

I'm not opposed to people paying for whatever they want to buy, but I'm not ignorant of reality, either. Trying to offload intensive, low-latency, high ping-rate data onto a ...
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CamelTowing

Nov 15, 2010, 3:11 PM
CellStudent said:


Everywhere a LAN party congregates, there's a fixed-line internet solution available for much much less expense then a "4G" wireless connection. Cellular internet connections are only needed for devices that run off batteries. Everything else is better served by a Wi-Fi router connected to a cable in the ground.

I'm not opposed to people paying for whatever they want to buy, but I'm not ignorant of reality, either. Trying to offload intensive, low-latency, high ping-rate data onto a scarce, shared resource cellular network is just asking for trouble.

They are not 4G until they meet ALL the requirements of the standard, just like a 3rd-year medical school student is not a doctor. You h
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slow-sho_93

Nov 11, 2010, 12:27 PM
it only fair sprint is charging me for 4g i cant evan use yet so why cant clearwire charge sprint for us none 4g users we wil have some day right
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bigboii300

Nov 11, 2010, 2:20 PM
slow-sho_93 said:
it only fair sprint is charging me for 4g i cant evan use yet so why cant clearwire charge sprint for us none 4g users we wil have some day right




You must have missed the explaination of that in the earlier posts.
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