Why Is Sprint So Much Cheaper?

[Fingolfin269]

If you have extra cash, go for VZW... the network is better. If you're on a budget so Sprint. Sprint still has good coverage, but VZW has better rural area coverage.

I guess it depends on your needs. Sprint roams on Verizon for free so it's not like you are going to be in any more dead spots than you would be with VZW.

 

[tatteredpotato]

I guess it depends on your needs. Sprint roams on Verizon for free so it's not like you are going to be in any more dead spots than you would be with VZW.

The advantage is, for example, where I live. I have a very weak Sprint signal and a strong VZW signal. My phone loves to cling onto that shitty signal before roaming. Makes it almost impossible to talk on it at home due to cut outs and dropped calls. I'm only around here for a couple months so I don't worry about it... if it was that bad I'd just try to get a free microcell off of Sprint (which would connect over VZW 3G ironically enough).

 

[AstroManLuca]

Verizon would be nice for the phone selection and slightly better coverage, but I'm very happy with Sprint. They have really great deals on plans, and I've never had occasion to call customer service.

 

[notposting]

The advantage is, for example, where I live. I have a very weak Sprint signal and a strong VZW signal. My phone loves to cling onto that shitty signal before roaming. Makes it almost impossible to talk on it at home due to cut outs and dropped calls. I'm only around here for a couple months so I don't worry about it... if it was that bad I'd just try to get a free microcell off of Sprint (which would connect over VZW 3G ironically enough).

Pretty sure theirs works the same way as the others: it uses your broadband connection, it's not a wireless repeater.

Haven't heard anything bad about Sprint lately either, been very close to switching a couple times. Not very good phone selection though...and you can mix and match the EPRP family plan (for example data only on my line, not the wifes). That said you do get more for your money feature list wise. Thankfully haven't had any bad CS experiences with anyone.

<--on VZW for 5+ years...

 

[tatteredpotato]

Pretty sure theirs works the same way as the others: it uses your broadband connection, it's not a wireless repeater.

Haven't heard anything bad about Sprint lately either, been very close to switching a couple times. Not very good phone selection though...and you can mix and match the EPRP family plan (for example data only on my line, not the wifes). That said you do get more for your money feature list wise. Thankfully haven't had any bad CS experiences with anyone.

<--on VZW for 5+ years...

The broadband connection in have at home is a VZW aircard.

 

[olds]

So, if there isn't a Sprint signal, Sprint customers can roam for free on Verizon?

 

[tatteredpotato]

So, if there isn't a Sprint signal, Sprint customers can roam for free on Verizon?

Yes. Data I think you only get 1X speeds.

 

[Wellcky]

Any thoughts re: Boostmobile? I'm looking to switch.

 

[secretanchitman]

If you have extra cash, go for VZW... the network is better. If you're on a budget so Sprint. Sprint still has good coverage, but VZW has better rural area coverage.

bingo. although i used sprint for so many years and have never had a problem. go $30 sprint sero with unlimited roaming on verizon! best of both worlds

 

[AstroManLuca]

Any thoughts re: Boostmobile? I'm looking to switch.

It's $50/mo for unlimited everything, but you can't put a smartphone on it. If you're a heavy user of talk time or text messages, it might be a great deal. That unlimited data isn't worth much, though, when the only phones on it will have a hard time making much use of the data connection.

 

[Zebo]

You think Sprint is cheap? Get a CDMA on Boost. It's on Sprint network for $50 Boost prices - everything unlimited. So $100 vs $50. My two oldest run this way. Phone selection is not an issue because most Sprint phones you can bring in such as TP2. No you won't get an Android, yet, or without doing something that will get me banned, but phone selection is still very wide.

Search for "Boost CDMA FAQ" to really save

 

[olds]

... No you won't get an Android, yet, or without doing something that will get me banned, but phone selection is still very wide.

....

Do tell, it's just between you and I.

 

[Zebo]

Everytime you go to the store and see nuts don't you wish they had caramel pistachios?

Not legal. A federal felony.

 

[tatteredpotato]

You can get Android on Sprint for either $10 more (Hero) or $20 more (EVO and probably Epic) a month. You lose the unlimited talk, but I have trouble using the anytime minutes on Sprint anyways.

 

[tatteredpotato]

Everytime you go to the store and see nuts don't you wish they had caramel pistachios?

I see what you did there

 

[AstroManLuca]

Everytime you go to the store and see nuts don't you wish they had caramel pistachios?

Not legal. A federal felony.

ESN swapping is totally legal and you can do it with any CDMA carrier. In fact, they offer it as a service. You're referring to... ahem...

Every single night, Cynthia leaves the overhead fan on. Every night!

 

[Zebo]

LOL still warmer than a jail cell. Watch out.

 

[zerocool84]

They do have an Android phone on Boost, the Motorola i1. It's a cheap one though and the internet speeds are on the slow iDen Nextel network which is very very slow compared to what we're all used to.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2364687,00.asp

Also don't forget with Sprint they have their Any Mobile Any Time so you can talk to any mobile phone in the country and not use any minutes so you can get the $70 plan and not use any minutes. I had T-mobile for 10yrs and Sprint's coverage is insanely better and second only to Verizon. My brother has iPhone and of course AT&T coverage still sucks for how much you spend.

 

[Zebo]

i1 is not on sprints network, as you note it's not CDMA therefore it's on Nextels old network IDEN which means speeds of 28kbps, which means unusable, which means effectivy there are no Androids on Boost.

Edit: not to mention os 1.5 which excludes 95&#37; of Android applications.

I did not want to torture my man Olds with that so I never mentioned it.

 

[zerocool84]

i1 is not on sprints network, as you note it's not CDMA therefore it's on Nextels old network IDEN which means speeds of 28kbps, which means unusable, which means effectivy there are no Androids on Boost.

What really sucks is that you can only search the market while on Wifi. I hope people research that phone before buying it.

 

[AstroManLuca]

What really sucks is that you can only search the market while on Wifi. I hope people research that phone before buying it.

Although when you think about it, it will still appeal to a lot of people. I know several people who'd love to have a smartphone without a data plan, intending to only use data while on WiFi. That might be a good option for them - as long as they're aware that non-WiFi data is basically unusable (even for things like sending MMS).

 

[zerocool84]

Although when you think about it, it will still appeal to a lot of people. I know several people who'd love to have a smartphone without a data plan, intending to only use data while on WiFi. That might be a good option for them - as long as they're aware that non-WiFi data is basically unusable (even for things like sending MMS).

Yea you're right.

 

[Zebo]

Although when you think about it, it will still appeal to a lot of people. I know several people who'd love to have a smartphone without a data plan, intending to only use data while on WiFi. That might be a good option for them - as long as they're aware that non-WiFi data is basically unusable (even for things like sending MMS).

It's one of those deals you don't know what you're missing. If you move from a dumb phone to i1 it will seem pretty hot - if you have an iPhone/Evo or something and think you're gonna save some cash moving to i1 you will be miserable. One good thing about iDen is it get awesome reception in buildings relative. For years I had a i580, water proof, bomb proof nextel phone and could talk clearly inside lowes and othet buildings. With TP2 on sprint and iPhone on T, not so much.

 

[fskimospy]

Sprint's network works just fine for me and my phone bill is $30 a month cheaper than a corresponding Verizon plan. It doesn't have the same rural/nationwide coverage as Verizon does, so if you drive out of the city a lot you might want to check into it more carefully. Otherwise, why pay $360 more per year for... basically nothing?

AT&T is the worst of all possible worlds, the high prices of Verizon without the great service. In San Diego AT&T's service is so bad that in several circumstances you get no AT&T signal while standing directly under an AT&T wireless advertisement flag or billboard.

 

[olds]

So what would 2 Evo's, both with unlimited data plans and 1500 minutes shared, run on Sprint? $69 X 2 or is there a family plan?
Looks like the phones are $200 each but they are sold out online. I'll have to find a store.