Sprint

Sprint officially launches its LTE network

Great news Sprint customers, your carrier has just officially joined the LTE party. As expected, the company flipped the switch on its next-generation network in 5 markets this weekend.

Believe it or not, this is actually Sprint's second attempt at launching a 4G network. Back in 2008, the carrier took a gamble on WiMAX technology. But obviously, that didn't quite work out...

Free wireless internet provider FreedomPop to go LTE

Back in May of this year, we told you about FreedomPop. The up-and-coming wireless broadband provider plans to disrupt the traditional carrier model with a combination of free 4G service, and iPhone products.

The idea sounded great on paper: offer iPhone users free service in exchange for buying these $99 cases with built-in FreedomPop modems. But sadly, the company seemed intent on using WiMAX technology...

Sprint intervenes, opposes Galaxy Nexus ban

The iPhone-friendly carrier Sprint, the nation's third-largest telco, today filed amicus brief (a legal opinion) with the Federal Circuit concerning a sales injunction against Samsung's Galaxy Nexus smartphone sought by Apple. Sprint is arguing that no party, Apple included, should be allowed to leverage a sales ban as "a staple of the smartphone wars".

The carrier paints itself as an "unwitting victim" of the large-scale Apple-Samsung legal wrangling, saying it just wants the issue to be fully resolved without an immediate ban...

Prepaid iPhone lands on Virgin Mobile, also available via Best Buy and RadioShack

Confirming earlier reports, prepaid iPhones are now available at Virgin Mobile, a Sprint-owned carrier in the United States. The 16GB/32GB iPhone 4S will set you back $649 ($549 for the 8GB iPhone 4) with one of Virgin's no-commit plans priced between $30-$50.

The plans offer unlimited data and messaging and you can also get a $5 discount if you sign up for automatic monthly payments. The devices is available at Virgin's ten brand spanking new retail stores (their first retail outlets in the U.S.), but also over at Best Buy, RadioShack and select local retailers...

Sprint to launch LTE network on July 15th in five cities

Even though Sprint finally became an iPhone partner last fall, the carrier was snubbed this year when Apple unveiled its LTE iPad for Verizon and AT&T. The move made sense though, considering Sprint doesn't have an LTE network.

But the company is looking to change that in the near future. Earlier today, Sprint announced that it is finally prepared to flip the switch on its 4G LTE network, starting with five cities, on July 15th...

Sprint iPhone sells better at carrier-agnostic retailers than Apple Stores

Apple's iPhone sales in the United States have traditionally been strong at Apple Stores, likely due to the superior buying experience.

A new research has revealed a little known fact, that customers pick up a Sprint version of the device at carrier-agnostic retailers more often than at Apple's retail outlets.

It's got lots to do with high retention rates for rivals AT&T and Verizon resulting in little switching and Sprint just not having enough existing customers to walk through the door...

Sprint to launch prepaid iPhones on Virgin Mobile by July 1

MarketWatch reports (via MacRumors) that Sprint will launch own prepaid iPhone offering through its Virgin Mobile arm.

The move follows last week's unconfirmed news that Boost Mobile, another Sprint property, will be getting prepaid iPhones on June 22.

As you know, Cricket became the first carrier in the United States to announce plans to begin offering the iPhone on a prepaid basis in early September...

Sprint axes 5GB/$30 mobile hotspot plan, replaces it with 2GB/6GB tiers

Sprint Nextel, the nation’s third-largest wireless operator, announced this morning that it’s doing away with its 5GB $30 a month mobile hotspot add-on for smartphones and tablets.

Instead, beginning May 18, customers can choose between 2GB or 6GB data plans priced at $20 or $50 a month, respectively. As always, the deal involves some fine print you should be aware of…

Best Buy offering the iPhone 4 for $50

It's pretty obvious that we love our iPhones here at iDB. But we understand the handset can be a bit pricey. So we do our best to try and pass along any deals we find regarding the device.

The latest sale we've come across belongs to Best Buy. The international retail chain is currently offering the iPhone 4, on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, for just $49.99 with a contract...

Sprint won’t make money on the iPhone until at least 2015

Sprint Nextel, the third-largest wireless operator in the United States, won't turn a profit on Apple's iPhone until at least 2015, CEO Dan Hesse asserted during the company’s annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday.

So why did Sprint cough up a whopping $15.5 billion to get the iPhone in the first place?

Well, being in it for the long haul, Sprint is prepared to go the distance in order to slow subscriber turnover and create a new segment of higher-value subscribers. Plus, iPhone customers use less data and are more profitable, if Hesse is to be believed.

From Sprint's standpoint, betting the farm on the iPhone and making huge investments in 4G LTE infrastructure will be worth it, even with the legitimate risk of bankruptcy...

Verizon to end grandfathered unlimited data plans in LTE switch

Bad news for folks with unlimited data plans on Verizon looking to buy Apple's new [purported] LTE-flavored iPhone later this year. It appears that the carrier won't be honoring grandfathered unlimited plans in the switch to LTE.

Fierce Wireless is reporting that customers on the Big Red network will be forced to choose from a data-share plan when moving from a 3G handset to an LTE one. The news comes straight from Verizon's CFO Fran Shammo...

Sprint’s 4G LTE will be slower than AT&T’s or Verizon’s

As Sprint, the nation's third-largest carrier, begins its long-overdue nationwide 4G LTE rollout, those keeping their fingers crossed for some crazy fast download speeds on a next-generation 4G LTE iPhone will be in for an unpleasant surprise.

While the carrier will keep unlimited data, whether or not the next iPhone has LTE (and we know the Now Network will be eligible for a 4G LTE iPhone), the handset will theoretically achieve much greater downloads speeds on rival AT&T's and Verizon's networks.

Here's why...