Archive for: Nextel
The time we’ve been waiting for, the death of Nextel/iDen, is getting closer. A new announcement on nextelnetwork.sprint.com foretells of changes being made to Nextel’s network infrastructure in 2012. Most importantly, Sprint is beginning the process of evaluating the number of and dismantling iDen-specific towers across the country. The reason given by Sprint is simple “cost savings”, though we’d certainly think the late-2013 EOL time frame given by CEO Dan Hesse himself might have something to do with it too.
According to the chart on Sprint’s website, iDen towers that aren’t being removed (yet) will be “optimized” as to keep coverage in affected areas as close to normal as possible. Though, Sprint does lament that indoor network quality may drop.
What was once a decent and useful network is now nothing more than an aging, spectrum hogging dinosaur that Sprint desperately needs to repurpose for newer cellular tech/service. As the year progresses, we’ll keep you informed on any and all big changes happening with Nextel as we’re sure quite a few of you out there are still forced to use it by some corporate entity day in and day out.
Head over to the link above and put in your city/zip code to see how much your area will be affected (if at all).
If Sprint announcing the end of the road for Nextel and it’s archaic iDen network weren’t clear enough, perhaps the latest figures announced by the carrier itself will get the point across. For all intents and purposes, iDen is dying. How else would you describe a nearly 10% drop in post-paid subscribers in one quarter.
For example: Sprint reported that they had 5,617,000 post-paid (Nextel) iDEN subscribers at the end of Q1 2011 (-424,000). On the BoostMobile side of things, Sprint cited 3,200,000 customers at the end of the first quarter of 2011 (-560,000). In total, nearly 1,000,000 previous iDen customers jumped ship to either Sprint’s CDMA network or other carriers altogether.
Most of the remaining subscriber base sticks with iDen mainly because of the walkie-talkie/push-to-talk feature and ruggedized cellphones. But now that Sprint has officially put the kibosh on iDen, customers don’t really have a choice one way or another. Time to move on it seems…
- December 21, 2010 6:14 pm
Unless you’re a hardcore construction worker or other type of hard, manual laborer, you probably feel the same way about Nextel as we do, and look down on the carrier and accompanying hardware as outdated, clunky, and ugly. Over the last year, parent company, Sprint, has been putting as much company resources into building out their 4G WiMax network as possible, leaving little for innovative Nextel/iDen features. Combine that with various statements made by Sprint CEO Dan Hesse and rumors of the iDen network’s closing begin to circulate. Though as much as we may want Nextel and iDen to fade form existence, a fresh contract between Sprint and Motorola ensures the little carrier that can’t lives on for at least another three years.
By the time this new contract ends, we’ll be sitting squarely at the end of 2013. At that point Sprint should hopefully have a suitable CDMA or WiMax-based replacement for Nextel’s one useful feature — walkie-talkie/two-way services. If not, we may be talking about another contract extension again. How long can they go?
To those in the tech world, one of the worst acquisitions ever to occur was that of Sprint and Nextel. Nextel was just so…old. The iDen network is a joke. The only reason it’s still here is because of it’s walkie-talkie feature. And even that isn’t unique to just iDen phones anymore. Virtually every major carrier now has their own push-to-talk solution. Further watering down iDen’s usefulness is the simple fact that it pales in comparison to even 3G technologies such as HSDPA/HSUPA and HSPA+, let alone 4G services. So it isn’t that surprising to hear Sprint CEO, Dan Hesse start shouting that the end is near for iDen/Nextel.
In regards to the Nextel iDen network, Hesse stated:
Over time, we’ll have fewer and fewer customers on the iDEN network. That allows us to use some of that capacity on the network that is freed up and use it for CMDA. It’s a gradual process. There will be an end date for all 2G, just like there was an end date for 1G.
Don’t worry yet, iDen users. Sprint can’t just go shutting off a network used by millions at the drop of a hat. But take heed, the end is near. In the following weeks and months, we’ll keep a close eye on this as something as simple as a start date for an iDen shutdown would be mighty helpful.
On the flipside, the spectrum gained from the shuttering of iDen services will open it up to more useful things such as 4G. For Sprint, that means more WiMax availability. Down with iDen I say!
I would never advocate switching to Nextel. As a gadget junkie, their lineup is abysmal. Though in the corporate world, they’re all the rage these days, especially with little nuggets such as PTT (push to talk). Beyond Nextel though, there really hasn’t been much draw towards PTT in general, save for Verizon’s dabbling in that area here and there, mixed in with a few oddball carriers getting creative from time to time.
But the whole idea behind walkie-talkie/PTT is quick and concise audio messages — pretty much an audible text message if you will. Talking on the phone I hate. Text-based communications however are a completely different story. Blend the two and you get PTT which somehow is kind of fun.
After all that I said above, I’ll conclude that the “fun factor” of PTT is no where near enough to turn me into a Nextel user. In regards to Verizon, I wouldn’t pay extra for walkie-talkie features either. Kind up that creek everyone’s heard about and somehow manages to traverse without a paddle, huh?
That may have slightly bothered me in the past, but now it doesn’t have to. Thanks to TiKL (Touch to Talk — beta) for Android, all the glorious one-liners and impromptu conversations can now be made for FREE! The app is free. And the data…well, you already pay for the data. But that’s the good part — no minutes are used. So yak it up.
It’s rather small and insignificant. But given that TiKL has actually made me enjoy voice-based communication in the 20 minutes I’ve had it has to mean something, right?
- February 10, 2010 11:44 am
Sprint hasn’t been having the best of times the last several…years, but that isn’t stopping the company from putting out the occasionally optimistic and charismatic commercial telling us that everything is just fine and dandy. Well, it isn’t just fine and dandy as they’re still losing customers — albeit at a much slower pace.
During the last 3 months of 2009, a total of 148,000 Sprint customers decided to defect and take their business elsewhere. It sounds like a high number with six digits and all but in reality is much, much better news than quarters past. For example, previously in the third quarter, more than 3x that number (545,000) of customers called it quits with Sprint. So you see, a roughly 150k subscriber loss is a good thing.
As far as money is concerned, Sprint managed to only lose $980 million during the same last 3 months of ’09 as mentioned above which again, is in stark contrast to the monumental and heart stopping $1.62 billion loss a year prior.
Is Sprint heading towards a profit? Not quite yet. It’s worth noting that most of the good news for Sprint has stemmed from their prepaid accounts and subscribers. Those accounts on average only score Sprint ~$31/month while the more highly valued contract subscribers average ~$50+. Also, a big chunk of the losses come from Sprint’s Nextel brand which frankly, was a poor purchase in the first place. Personal opinions aside, the aging Nextel network and rather drab assortment of phones means consumers are unlikely to return in mass numbers. Clearly, they’re not out of the woods yet.
In the spirit of competition and a better overall experience for end users, I hope Sprint can right their sinking ship soon.
AlleyInsider
- December 21, 2009 12:37 pm
Android is quickly becoming “the” OS to have. While the software itself is constantly changing, the hardware too is going for a wild ride. If you don’t like the current crop of Android handsets, give it a few weeks as the market is changing that fast. For most, GSM is the way to go for Android goodness. But don’t discount CDMA too quickly as there are a few gems there as well — hello Moto Droid and Droid Eris. But many will be quick to point out that in the states at least, GSM and CDMA are not the only games in town. There is another, albeit less popular player in the mix — iDen/Nextel.
For those craving the most bleeding edge devices and fastest mobile speeds, Nextel isn’t even a thought in their minds. No matter how you slice it, the iDen network that powers Nextel is simply too old and antiquated to get steal any other carriers’ users. For those who don’t have a choice because of either corporate or coverage restraints, Nextel is the way to go. So whether by choice or by force, Nextel users now have an Android device to call their own.
The Motorola Opus One continues Motorola’s weird fascination with the iDen scene by releasing a rather ho-hum (to most, super duper to the standard Nextel affair) device. Don’t let my words and thoughts permeate your thought making process. Have a look at the spec’s for yourselves…
- 3.1? HVGA 320×480 capacitative touchscreen display
- Bluetooth — Wi-Fi 802.11b/g — A-GPS
- 512MB Flash / 256MB of RAM
- 64k and 128k iDEN SIM card support
- Accelerometer/Proximity Sensor
- Home, Menu, Back, Speaker buttons are capacitive buttons with haptic feedback
The standard yet tired 528MHz workhorse processor found in pretty much every other Android phone is also present earning the “mid-range” moniker for this device. Rather meager specs aside, I’m sure Nextel users are doing a jump for joy in their corporate paid for seats this very moment, knowing that some Android love is in deed coming their way. Anyone looking to pick a few of these up — possibly even switching in the process?
BGR
- December 6, 2009 10:58 am
With the rest of the civilized world embracing Android at increasing paces, it only makes sense for Nextel to get in on the game at some point. With a network that isn’t exactly known for it’s speed and a handset lineup that always leaves most wanting more, hearing of a legitimate Android offering on Nextel is exciting. Exciting only for those who whether by choice or by corporate decree are enslaved to the aging network. Being on Nextel could only mean that the most likely (and actual) manufacturer is Motorola. They seem to be good at making nearly indestructible bricks. Beauty and lust factor not so much. Though the Droid is a step in the right direction.
Looking at the images above shows us that Motorola has left the stock Android interface largely unchanged. Of course this could change between now and whenever the Opus One launches. But that date as well as any specs are stubbornly hiding behind a shroud of secrecy for the time being. If it’s like any other standard Nextel smartphone, I’m sad to say that the specs probably won’t be worth much in the way of sleepless nights, eagerly awaiting the release day and preparing tents for the lines that won’t ensue. Still, Nextel faithful should at least be a little excited no?
BGR
If you’re a contractor, dispatcher, or some other typical “business user”, chances are you use or at least have seen Nextel/Sprint Nextel push-to-talk phones out and about your neck of the woods, Whether the phones were powered by Nextel’s iDen or Sprint’s “QChat” doesn’t matter as they were essentially the same technology. Now some may have had a hard time deciphering between the two networks and technologies not wanting to pick the inferior network. Such pondering will no longer be required as Sprint is removing one of those choices. After only one year on the market, Sprint is axing their supposed iDen replacement. Old phones with the feature will still be supported. Old phones however will leave the factory void of any QChat feature or support form here on out.
To this day, Sprint has neglected to reveal any actual iDen and/or QChat subscriber numbers so it’s hard to say exactly how many people will be affected. It’s worth noting however that Sprint does mention that Nextel iDen customers are the largest chunk of their push-to-talk user base. Draw your own conclusions.
In a way this is good for Sprint. They’re still stuck in a deep, black hole of suck and quarterly results show that. These days it’s all about the consumer in the mobile sphere with higher end feature phones and smartphones taking the cake. Such phones simply aren’t available anywhere on Nextel though Sprint does have a few gems. Ultimately, consolidating and getting rid of excess baggage is the best thing Sprint can do in their trek for black ink. So long QChat, we barely knew you.
Cellular-News > AP
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