What exactly is Sprint doing?

Is it just me, or is Sprint really trying to confuse the heck out of everyone? When the carrier merged with Nextel almost two years ago, everyone in the cell phone world thought it was the oddest of odd couples, and it was. Not only did the two companies operate incompatible networks (Nextel had its signature iDEN service while Sprint used CDMA), but also they attracted different consumer segments. Though at the time Sprint promised that it would be a "merger of equals," Nextel fans weren't so sure. How would the combined company integrate the two carriers without alienating either customer group? Nextel loyalists, which are some of the most fiercely loyal customers around, had the worst doomsday scenarios. Would Sprint eliminate Nextel's popular Direct Connect push-to-talk services and force them onto Sprint's inferior (as they saw it) CDMA service? They were all good questions, and at first Sprint didn't reveal much right away.

The Motorola i530, now that's a Nextel phone

(Credit: CNET Networks)

But before long some Nextel customers began to smell trouble. Sprint announced that it would continue to operate the iDEN network through at least 2010, but eventually it hoped to migrate all Nextel users over to the CDMA network for voice calls. Sprint already operated its own PTT network called Ready Link, which Nextel customers could use, and it promised that its new 3G EV-DO network would be a unifier between the two technologies.

The Motorola i355 could take a licking

(Credit: CNET Networks)

As for phones, Sprint also tried address concerns that it would abandon Nextel's line of rugged, durable Motorola phones that Nextel customers loved. It highlighted some Sanyo handsets that, while not built like a tank like some Nextel models, were built to last. But the biggest change would come later in 2006 when Sprint introduced new dual-mode handsets. Though they used the iDEN network for PTT calls, Voice calls ran on CDMA. The first such model, the Motorola ic502, was a bit of a dud, but the ic902 which came in July 2007 was a solid device. On the outside the two handsets looked like Nextel phones, except for the Sprint logo, but it when it came down to it, they're weren't Nextel devices. At the same time, a trickle of iDEN-only phones continued to appear, such as the high-quality i580.

The Motorola ic902, change was on the way

(Credit: CNET Networks)

In some surprising developments since November of last year, after all the promises of ending voice calls on the iDEN network, Sprint introduced two new handsets that are pure Nextel phones. The Motorola i335 and Motorola i570 use only iDEN for voice and PTT calls, and they look and feel like the Nextel phones of the pre-merger era. Both are tough as nails with simple, functional feature sets and reliable call quality. Compared with the Motorola i880, which brought a much-needed high-resolution display and multimedia features to Nextel, the i335 and i570 almost resemble antiques.

So what exactly is Sprint doing? Is it quietly admitting that a move to bury iDEN isn't working? Some analysts seem to think so. Interestingly, Sprint spokeswoman Amy Schiska-Lombard told RCR Wireless News that Sprint "has no plans to shutter its iDEN network." While that's always been the case essentially, the company did express a desire to end voice iDEN calls. No, that's not the same thing, but it almost is. What's more, Sprint has sent Ready Link to the graveyard in favor of Direct Connect, which was always better anyway.

The Motorola i570, back to basics

(Credit: CNET Networks)

It's no secret that Sprint is having a tough time lately. Just in the last year it lost 1.2 million customers. Sprint has admitted that many were former iDEN customers. It's no secret that the merger (like so many before it) presented Sprint with some significant hurdles.

It certainly looks as if Sprint is trying to remedy its situation by breathing new life into the Nextel brand. In the process, Sprint seems to be going back on its original plans. The renewed emphasis on iDEN and the introduction of two very Nextel phones within a couple months of each other are a testament to that. Though they're not pretty to look at, and they're almost a step backwards in cell phone design evolution, the i335 and i570 are good performers. They offer all the phone features that Nextel fans clamor for. The very fact that they exist at this point in time seems to be a sign that someone wants them.

[chiromike1]

I know what they're doing!

They're offering cheap phones with long-term contracts that you can't get out of. Seriously...why get locked into a 2-year contract when the phones only last 1 year? So you'll get screwed when you have to upgrade...and get tricked into another 2 years. The phones are terrible compared to other US companies...which all suck when compared to Europe/Asia.

[rich966]

Push To Talk

Whenever I hear that stupid beep and somebody yelling their conversation into their phone, I want to punch them in the face. Why does push to talk exist? Why should a cell phone behave like a walkie talkie?

[saboken]

I agree it can be anoying yet for instant access to workers in certain fields its a no brainer,there is prepaid(Nextel)service that atracts some that just like to show off I hope this fad wears off soon I will never give up my I880

[lithos51]

push to talk

Push to talk is more for business use than for individual consumers. You can set up group routings so that a supervisor can contact an entire team all at once. Also you can have group conversations.

[guido_ponz]

Definitely shady

I agree they sell you an inferior phone and then try and get you in a never ending contract cycle. And that is not to mention a service that in my area became less and less reliable. Then when you cancel you have to pay hundreds of dollars in fees even though they provided an inferior product and service. They ruined Nextel and lost loyal long term customers.

[awilensky]

Nextel Dominates in Independent Service

Nextel has a lock, almost a 90% penetration, in independent trades, and a also has a solid data applications platform.

[i_am_still_wade]

Sprint wants to go 3G, but they can't even do 1G!

Their tagline should be "Spring introduces a revolutionary idea, the calls that won't go through. Our phone service is as frustrating as our customer service."

Seriously, ever since the merger, Nextel has gone into the toilet. I don't have Nextel. I did, but canceled and told them it was because Sprint was buying them out. I now have AT&T which is bad in many places but great where I live and work in Eastern NC and I have a great rate plan I share with my mom, my brother, and his wife who both live in Florida, where AT&T is bad. Getting back to Nextel, I've noticed a marked degradation in quality from the people who do have Nextels. Nextel WAS a good company.

Sprint has been trying to go 3G. But they should focus on 1G first. If the foundation is lousy, the upper floors will be too.

Everyone should also go GSM. Be like the rest of the world and end these dead spots, lousy service, and lousy prices.

[stocklirider]

Go Nextel!

Im one to believe if Sprint focused on maintaining Nextel in its pre-merger state (i.e. reliable, high quality service with solid customer care) they would see a growing subscriber base again. Sprint CDMA itself is lackluster compared to Verizon. Sprint needs an edge to get customers revived and interested... that edge is Nextel. Push to talk service that is second to none, dependable long lasting phones and professional level customer care (like i said, pre merger nextel...). They may not have a superior data network but thats not what you get Nextel for anyway.

[saboken]

Chirp

[Not_happy_with_SPRINT]

20, 2008 3:34 PM

Well Well Well, it's nice to see others are having the same problems I'm having, ALMOST!! First off I was a NEXTEL customer for 6 years before SPRINT so called merged, I was well satisfied with my service, I was using a NEXTEL Air Card for internet access and was satisfied until about 6 months after the merger when SPRINT had NEXTEL lower the speed to get people to buy SPRINT air cards which I fell for. I bought a SPRINT air card which went out 32 days after I bought it after downloading Sprint's updates (remember this for later) I got with the NEXTEL/SPRINT store where I bought the Sprint Air Card and they called customer service (I had already heard from friends who were SPRINT customers that told me not to use SPRINT because customer service is really bad, I also heard this on National TV, well kick my ass for not listening) The owner of the store was on the phone with Sprint customer service and could not get these people to send the replacement Air Card to her store due to the fact that I was living on a boat because my home and area was at the time under water due to Hurricane Katrina, SPRINT sent the replacement Aircard to my home address which was undeliverable and returned, The owner of the NEXTEL/SPRINT store called a week later and they already had the returned Aircard to try to get customer service to send the darn replacement to her store again, Nooooo SPRINT customer service sent it to my home address again!!! There was no home there, nobody could live there because everything was under water again from hurricane Rita!!! the Aircard was returned again!! the NEXTEL/SPRINT store owner again called customer service......ok you know the story 3 times customer service sent the Aircard to my home address after being told all 3 times that I was living on a boat near her store and my home was on National TV and was destroyed and no one was allowed to return due to the damage in the area. Finally after the 3rd Aircard was returned the sent the Aircard to her store which I was able to pickup. I had to pay all my bills online without seeing a bill due to the hurricane situation. When I finally was able to catch up with my mail (I give praise to the USPS for their determination thru the hurricane crisis) I opened my bill and SPRINT was charging for 2 aircard services!!! I HAD ONLY ONE AIRCARD!!!! now I could only get reimbursed for 2 month service after I had been paying for 5 months for 2 Aircards. I canceled the service. Next I get a bill for early termination of 2 Aircards!!! $400.00!!! I called customer service, I agreed I should be charged for early termination for one aircard but not 2, well this became another nightmare, I was talking to what seemed like people who could not understand what I was telling them due to they were probably still getting over the 40oz malt liquor they had the night before, my calls were being dropped. I finally called back the 4th time and got a young girl who I had to explain, hun, If you bought a car which in 32 days after you drove it off the lot the motor broke, the interior fell apart and the paint peeled off and they replaced the car, should you pay for 2 cars? WALLA!! She understood my story now. I only paid for 1 early termination and was reimbursed 2 months of the 5 months I paid. NOW kick my ass again, 1 year later I got another Aircard which after I downloaded SPRINTS updates my USB ports on my computer will not work, I called Customer Service and the nightmare has begun again, I canceled my service again and paid the early termination fee and canceled my NEXTEL phone which I've had for 8 years. I checked on SPRINTS stock it was $.74 a share, I purchased 53,265 shares because I know someone will take them over and my stock will be worth quite a bit more later. SPRINT service was very good but their customer service is like trying to deal with Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. (you people who had the Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac loans know exactly what I'm talking about) I'm using Verizon Wireless services now and am happy, I had AT&T but they can't compare with SPRINT and VERIZON on Mobile internet services.