Why Is Sprint So Much Cheaper?

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randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
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linh.wordpress.com
Fingolfin269 said:
I must be blind... can't find that option anywhere!
Click to expand...
Do you have a Pre? If so, open the phone dialer, and go to preferences. Under network, you can select automatic(roaming enabled) or sprint only. that is for voice. data roaming is underneath it.

no idea if one is dependent on the other though, haven't tested it.

If you're willing ot homebrew, I believe there is a patch to enable roaming voice only... specifically for the times when the weak sprint signal just won't let you jump to the stronger verizon signal. I haven't done it yet or kept up with it, so YMMV.
 
J

jersiq

Senior member
May 18, 2005
887
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oldsmoboat said:
It's been about 8 years since I worked in Haz Mat but here is/was the deal.
In the event of a national emergency, they would shut down cell service to all but emergency responders. We had to be registered for the service. I had to send an email from my employers email. Then when they shut out private citizens, we could still use cell.
Click to expand...

You are talking about WPS:

http://wps.ncs.gov/

WPS cards are administered and tracked and as such if ANY abuse is noticed, there is a shitstorm to pay. They don't shut down all other callers, just give you priority over other callers.
 
Svnla

Svnla

Lifer
Nov 10, 2003
17,986
1,388
126
I used to have BellSouth mobile, then ATT mobile and now I am with Sprint for the last 2 years. SERO for $30/month with 500 minutes plus unlimited on text/internet/etc. FTW.

Base on my own experience, Sprint is as good as ATT. In the last 2 years, I never have any problems with Sprint.

I never have Verizon so I can't comment on them.
 
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RedChief

Senior member
Dec 20, 2004
533
0
81
We were on ATT for years but finally dropped them for sprint last year. Havnt had an issue yet aside from my house being in a hole (so I got a free airwave from them).
 
Fingolfin269

Fingolfin269

Lifer
Feb 28, 2003
17,948
34
91
randomlinh said:
Do you have a Pre? If so, open the phone dialer, and go to preferences. Under network, you can select automatic(roaming enabled) or sprint only. that is for voice. data roaming is underneath it.

no idea if one is dependent on the other though, haven't tested it.

If you're willing ot homebrew, I believe there is a patch to enable roaming voice only... specifically for the times when the weak sprint signal just won't let you jump to the stronger verizon signal. I haven't done it yet or kept up with it, so YMMV.
Click to expand...

Got it set up. Funny that I've rooted this phone and never even noticed that preference! Any I use that roaming patch all the time when in our home office as the Sprint signal blows but they have Verizon repeaters set up everywhere.
 
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randomlinh

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,846
2
0
linh.wordpress.com
Fingolfin269 said:
Got it set up. Funny that I've rooted this phone and never even noticed that preference! Any I use that roaming patch all the time when in our home office as the Sprint signal blows but they have Verizon repeaters set up everywhere.
Click to expand...

it's not part of rooting though, it's a setting there by default, just... in the oddest of places. Well, not that odd, but not intuitive given all the other settings have their own dedicated app.
 
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tatteredpotato

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2006
3,934
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76
I wish I could force-roam... I have just enough Sprint signal to make my EVO try (and fail) to maintain a call on the Sprint network. I have a strong VZW signal though.
 
Rottie

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
2
81
oldsmoboat said:
And do they suck?
Also, is there an independent body that shows coverage maps for the different carriers?
Click to expand...

in the past Sprint sucks big time when iphone came out by ATT
now Sprint got new tough CEO to take over customers started to afraid of him
CEO pleads old and new customers back away from Apple iPhone by new dirty cheap plans
that is all I can say. :)
 
AstroManLuca

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
Rottie said:
in the past Sprint sucks big time when iphone came out by ATT
now Sprint got new tough CEO to take over customers started to afraid of him
CEO pleads old and new customers back away from Apple iPhone by new dirty cheap plans
that is all I can say. :)
Click to expand...

whatthefuckamireading.png
 
F

Falloutboy

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2003
5,916
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AstroManLuca said:
I wouldn't get the Intercept. It's just the Moment except worse in almost every way:

- Screen is smaller and lower res
- 3G radio is slower
- Camera has no flash
- Cost is exactly the same

There's just no reason to get it unless the slightly improved keyboard layout is really that important to you.
Click to expand...

moment has a bad radio that locks up all the time, which is why they changed it on the intercept to a slower one. Hero is the way to go for cheaper android phones on sprint, I just finally switched myself after missing one too many calls do to the radio locking up on my moment.

On topic though I love sprint, had them since college when I sold them at Rat shack. keep them mainly for price, but also even though they had bad customer service (it is way better now fyi) I knew there system very well to manipulate it for great deals. Had SERO with a bunch of extra perks for a while, then decided that I didn't want a Touch Pro 2 (300 bucks for a windows phone pfff) and got them to get me 2 smartphones for free back in November (pre and moment, both of which I've swapped on craigslist for heros) and then they gave me 20 bucks a month for getting rid of SERO and going with the 1500 family plan. then I tacked on a 27% corporate discount so I only pay 89 a month with taxes for both phones. not to shabby of a deal. plus coverage is only marginally worse than Verizon. My house is a black hole, but they sent me a airave tower to plug in at home to fix that problem (free of course)
 
jonnyGURU

jonnyGURU

Moderator <BR> Power Supplies
Moderator
Oct 30, 1999
11,815
104
106
Falloutboy said:
moment has a bad radio that locks up all the time, which is why they changed it on the intercept to a slower one. Hero is the way to go for cheaper android phones on sprint, I just finally switched myself after missing one too many calls do to the radio locking up on my moment.
Click to expand...

The HTC Hero is definitely a nice phone, but it's $50 more and I just use the full QWERTY keyboard on the Samsung way too much.
 
AstroManLuca

AstroManLuca

Lifer
Jun 24, 2004
15,628
5
81
I'd definitely consider begging Sprint to replace my Moment with a Hero. I rarely use the keyboard (love Swype myself).

On the other hand, it's just sort of a hassle and I also don't want to have to relearn how to hack it. I've heard some Moment users say they have to replace their phones three times before Sprint will do an exchange, even though every time it's for the same issue (radio lockup).

Interesting related note - the radio lockup issues disappeared for me completely last week when I just left my WiFi off. I knew the issue was somehow related to WiFi and I heard another person say leaving WiFi off fixed it, so I tried it out and it worked! So far at least. I'm now only turning on WiFi when I really need it and immediately turning it off when I don't. It's a dumb workaround but it's better than having my data lock up.

Heh. In light of all that, maybe the Intercept isn't so bad after all :p
 
AMDZen

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
MJinZ said:
Sprint is better than Verizon.

But their phones still suck.
Click to expand...

Its all relative to where you live and your experience with said carriers.

Verizon > AT&T > Sprint > T-Mobile

Thats how it is in my experience. The gap between Verizon and AT&T is very small, where as the gap between AT&T and Sprint is much wider, the last gap being small again.

Again - just my experience.
 
A

axia55

Platinum Member
May 22, 2001
2,912
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So I think I am sticking with Sprint. Of course my wife decided she "needs" an White EVO instead of a standard 3G phone (which admittedly suck on Sprint). Anyone know when the White EVO is coming to Sprint? I know I can get it at BB, but sinced I signed up for the EPRP plan online, BB can't do the exchange and said I would have to cancel the line and start a new one.
 
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tatteredpotato

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2006
3,934
0
76
axia55 said:
So I think I am sticking with Sprint. Of course my wife decided she "needs" an White EVO instead of a standard 3G phone (which admittedly suck on Sprint). Anyone know when the White EVO is coming to Sprint? I know I can get it at BB, but sinced I signed up for the EPRP plan online, BB can't do the exchange and said I would have to cancel the line and start a new one.
Click to expand...

BB markets it as "exclusive" so it might be a little while.
 
olds

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
Well, I think I'll go with Sprint/Evo if I can find a phone.
I entered my work address to what what discount I could get and they took me to a page where I could order the service/phone. The page said 2-3 day shipping but I am guessing that the page hasn't been updated. No one else has the phone till 8/30.

Am I right that I get 30 days to try the service/phone out and can cancel if I want?

Our Verizon contract expires in December so if Sprint works out, I'll move my wife over to Sprint too.
 
K

Ksyder

Golden Member
Feb 14, 2006
1,829
1
81
oldsmoboat said:
Am I right that I get 30 days to try the service/phone out and can cancel if I want?
Click to expand...

Unless they changed it since last year, then yes, they give you 30 days, so that you can be sure you have coverage in the places that you need it most, and are happy with the phone, etc.
 
boomhower

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
Pliablemoose said:
Yep, in CA, you have 30 days to change your mind.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing, but I'll be bringing a family plan to Sprint, am waiting for the Samsung Epic 4G to come out this month http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/29/samsung-epic-4g-preview/ It looks as though it's due on the 20th or so.
Click to expand...

It's that way everywhere. Sprint's new policy is you get all your money back, even the fee for service if you return and cancel in 30 days.
 
olds

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,124
779
126
Pliablemoose said:
Yep, in CA, you have 30 days to change your mind.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing, but I'll be bringing a family plan to Sprint, am waiting for the Samsung Epic 4G to come out this month http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/29/samsung-epic-4g-preview/ It looks as though it's due on the 20th or so.
Click to expand...
I looked at the Epic but the Samsung name worried me. Also, I purposely don't want a keyboard. Hopefully, I won't regret that. I figure my old ass can learn swype.
 
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