Boost customers suffer text message delays
It looks like Boost Mobile's new $50 unlimited calling plan has become a victim of its own success.
Customers using the prepaid wireless service, which is owned by Sprint Nextel, say that they've experienced delays in receiving text messages. The problem was first reported by the Associated Press. A Boost representative acknowledged that since March, some customers have experienced text delays that have lasted anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
"We've already diagnosed and isolated the problem," said John Votava, Boost's spokesman. "And we've been working day and night since late March to fix the problem. Our technical team has been upgrading the network, and they've told us that the work will be completed by May 7."
Boost began offering its unlimited monthly service January 22. The $50 service, which doesn't require a contract, and costs only $50 for unlimited voice, SMS, and MMS messaging, and Web browsing, has proven to be very successful, the company has said. Exactly how successful, won't be known until Monday when Boost's parent company Sprint Nextel reports first quarter 2009 results. But analysts are expecting the subsidiary to report that it's gained about 500,000 new subscribers in the first quarter. As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2008, Boost had 3.6 million subscribers.
"To be honest, we were overwhelmed by the number of people signing up for the unlimited service," Votava said. "People have really been taking advantage of the unlimited texting, as they should, and it has caused us some growing pains."
Votava said delays have occurred most often during peak hours, which are from 2 p.m. EDT to about 10 p.m. EDT.
Boost uses the Nextel portion of Sprint's network for its service. Nextel uses a technology called iDEN, which differs from Sprint's PCS network, which uses CDMA. Over the years, Nextel users have complained occasionally of delayed text messages, the AP reported. But Votava said that Boost, which has used the Nextel network for its service since it launched in 2002, has not had any problems over the past seven years with delayed text messages. He said the problems only started occurring after the $50 offer went nationwide.
The AP reported that several customers are upset and frustrated with the service, but many say they won't drop the service because it's so affordable.
At $50 a month, the service is indeed a bargain. But Boost will need to fix this problem if it expects to compete with other low-cost providers, such as MetroPCS Communications and Leap Wireless International. These regional operators have long offered unlimited calling for roughly $50 per month in some areas. And now they are expanding their services into bigger cities in the Northeast. Boost also faces competition from Virgin Mobile, which followed Boost with its own $50 all-you-can-eat prepaid plan. T-Mobile USA is also offering a similar service to its existing customers in an effort to keep those customers.
Marguerite Reardon has been a CNET News reporter since 2004, covering cell phone services, broadband, citywide Wi-Fi, the Net neutrality debate, as well as the ongoing consolidation of the phone companies. E-mail Maggie. 
It's sucks that I have to spend $20 more every month to know that messages I send will be received and in the order I sent them. It's also worth it to know that I will be receiving all the messages sent to me.
Sprint actually is one of the cheapest carriers, they are signifcantly cheaper than at&t and verizon.
at&t charges $50 just for web and msg if you have a smartphone or blackberry. So my plan under at&t with 450 min @ 39.99 + $50 for web/msg = $90.
Sprint's Everything data 450 is 69.99 that included unlim msg, tv, web, msg, Direct connect, Navigation for 69.99. With my at&t plan i don't have tv or navigation, i have to pay extra for that stuff.
Sorry to sound like an ad for them, but your comment is inaccurate. The reason why some people are leaving sprint is the simple fact they don't understand their bill and they refuse to change their plan. Most of there customers are "Account Spending Limit" aka Poor credit = Bottom of the barrel non-paying customers who constantly have overage and still fail to switch to a plan that would be cheaper than paying a $200 phone bill every month. Any cell carrier can tell ya the number 1 reason why people leave, The customer has overage, causing excessive charges making their bill high. These people don't check their usage, don't look at their bill. They just keep paying, and don't even bother to know why their bills are so high. "I don't go over on my minutes, that's impossible, i hardly use my phone" blah blah blah, tell it to the next company.
I used to work for a cell company so i heard every excuse and every story in the book. I heard it all the time, If i am over on my minutes again i am canceling. *** your an idiot, so your canceling because your using your cell phone and going over on your minutes? The majority of the public are retards.
THEY HAVE STILL YET TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.
BOOST STINKS.
- by xMuffins420x August 21, 2009 4:52 AM PDT
- I still have huge texting delays daily
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