RE: "We need to get more people on our network to keep it up and running so we don't lose our service."

It's kind of nice having so few users on Nextel, because the network is running so well now, but I hear what you're saying about possibly losing it.

However, that's going to be difficult, given that Sprint has completely stopped advertising Nextel, even to the point of removing all of the signs & posters from the Sprint corporate and affiliate retail stores. The stores were given the word a few months ago to remove anything from the windows and the permanent signs with the word "Nextel" on it. The local Sprint affiliate store even yanked down the small sign in their front window that identified them as a Nextel repair center (now, that's just plain ridiculous, and stupid). With no advertising, no chance of growth.

Only thing I can think that might help is if they came out with a handset that was iDEN for PTT & voice, WiMax for data (and also WiMax for back-up voice if iDEN not available - if that's even possible). But they'd still have to start advertising Nextel again, hopefully the same way the original Nextel did their advertising (before Sprint got hold of them).

Sprint's executives clearly have it in for Nextel, the sooner it dries up and blows away, the happier they will be. At this point, it's a real uphill battle to stop the slide, reverse the trend, and be able to re-grow Nextel (unless Sprint would sell it to a good home ;-)