2012 is going to be a very busy year for Sprint. Not only do they have a massive network rollout ongoing, they have already committed to releasing ~15 LTE devices before years-end. The completion of Sprint’s “Network Vision” program is scheduled to wrap up sometime near the end of 2013.

Source: Fierce Wireless | Via: MobileBurn

The two hardware options available at launch include a $49 4G USB modem and $99 NetZero 4G hotspot. As hardware sans contract, it’s already a deal data plan pricing withstanding. But when you factor in said data plans, the savings really start to show their face.

We’ll admit the $0 plan sounds nice at first, though (obviously) doesn’t offer much in way of actual data; it’s capped at 200 MB per month. On the other end of the spectrum, NetZero is offering 4 GB of WiMAX data for $49.95/month. All things considered, data caps under ~10 GB for “4G” networks are absurd and an affront to humanity. But we’ll take what we can get. And what we get with NetZero’s new plans are a decent deal.

Though, there are a few sticking points. The first is coverage area. While many of your larger, more popular cities are covered, there are vast sections of the country (and entire states) left out of the NetZero 4G fun fest. The second, is that users of the free 200 MB plan can only use said plan for 12 consecutive months. Also, downgrading to the free plan after using a single month of the paid plan is not allowed. Finally, all of this awesomeness revolves around Clearwire’s WiMAX network — a network based on a technology that lost. The world is moving towards LTE for next-gen networks, and Clearwire is no different. In short: users of NetZero’s plans above will need to upgrade to new hardware once made available.

If you’re the type that is looking for affordable, contract-free 4G service and live within Clearwire’s 4G service area, it’s probably worth a heavy consideration wouldn’t you say?

More: NetZero

Via: BGR

While we’re not yet certain if this Android 4.0.4 (yes, 0.4) build #IMM26 is the actual final to be released copy or not, it’s a lot better than the 2.x crap many Nexus S 4G users are currently making due with.

If you happen to venture over to XDA and download the ROM in question, be sure to let us know how it goes. We love that kind of stuff.

The Viper 4G is an Android 2.3 Gingerbread device that features respectable 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 4″ WVGA (480 x 800) display, and 5/VGA (rear/front) facing cameras. Where the initial specs may leave a bit to be desired, The Viper 4G does have one new addition that should appeal to feature hounds — NFC w/ Google Wallet support.

Moving onward, if the Viper 4G is a bit too plain for your tastes, we’re almost certain that Sprint’s own Galaxy Nexus variant will more than satisfy your palate. In the first time in many months — since the Nexus S at least — Sprint has a pure Android experience that rivals most other Android competitors. True to form, the Galaxy Nexus on Sprint will ship in a “pure” form meaning no skins, no fluff. Android and nothing else.

The third and final LTE Sprint news for today revolves around not a phone, but a wireless hotspot. The Sierra Wireless tri-network hotspot will reportedly be the first tri-network (3G/4G WiMAX/4G LTE) hotspot available on the market, and support up to 8 connected devices. Hand-offs between networks should be as smooth as butter once the device launches later this year.

If you don’t see the “GWK74″ verbiage on the “about phone” screen sit tight. The update is rolling out in batches. You could of course go the manual route and snag the update.zip from one of the countless sources growing by the minute.

Let us know how it goes!

Source: Sprint | Via: SprintFeed

The source of the rumor, an electrical contractor from Austin, Texas doesn’t say Apple is exclusively involved. But given the repeaters in question were put directly inside of the Apple Store at the location of choice when many other areas would have sufficed counts for something does it not?

So lets say the fall iPhone 5 launch includes AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. Who would you choose?

Source: BeatWeek | Via: Electronista

To many, the thought of having to transition an entire network of hardware and consumer-end devices from CDMA to GSM seems like a nightmare. And we have no doubt to believe that it is. But two Canadian carriers have already done it — Bell and Telus — so we know it can be done. And quite honesty, if Sprint wants any chance at being successful (and not just relevant) they need to do something drastic before it’s too late.

Stay tuned. Come Octboer 7th things are going to get mighty interesting.

Via: IntoMobile

An internal memo that ironically found its way onto the web tells Sprint employees to respond to requests for information about an iPhone 5 fall launch with “no comment” and to refrain from speculating on the aforementioned device. Hiding something, Sprint?

Source: SprintFeed | Via: 9to5Mac

From a business standpoint, it makes sense for Sprint given the raising prices of phones, tablets, etc. as it costs Sprint more money in losses when someone cancels their contract. On the flip-side, if ETFs were truly “just for recapturing device subsidization costs” as the carriers claim, the ETF should be $0 by the end of your contract. Unfortunately that’s not how it works. But the ways in which carriers screw customers over is best reserved for another day.

For the record: AT&T’s current ETF is $325 while Verizon’s is the same at $350.

Also interesting to note: Sprint requires a 2-year lock on already purchased phones that you either completely paid for with a previous 2-year plan or “unlocked” phones not sold by Sprint, yet the same $350 ETF will be required — for what?

Source: Sprint Users Forum | Via: PhoneArena

“The PlayBook just hasn’t caught on with business customers.”

Even more damning…

“There are so many tablets in the market, it creates confusion for the average customer.”

While views towards RIM’s tablet ambitions have grown cold, Sprint maintains that their plans to cancel PlayBook Tablet sales “has no impact on our relationship with RIM”

When individual customers take the same stance that Sprint is taking — abandonment — it’s bad. When carriers themselves are running the other way, it’s time to give up. With that said, we desperately hope RIM can get their sinking ship back in order as we genuinely love QNX. So far, however, RIM’s rollout of new features on the first QNX device has been slow at best.

We expect a follow-up head-in-the-sand response from RIM within the next few hours.

Stay tuned…

Update

RIM has published an official response to the above information. Oddly enough, they word their response on such a way that makes it sound like it was they, and not RIM, that made the absolute decision to cancel WiMAX PlayBooks. With that said, their response doesn’t account for WiFI-only PlayBooks on Sprint.

RIM has decided to prioritize and focus its 4G development resources on LTE. We remain excited and committed to delivering innovative and powerful 4G tablets to the US market together with our carrier partners. Testing of BlackBerry 4G PlayBook models is already underway and we plan to enter labs for network certifications in the US and other international markets this fall.

Source: WSJ
Via: CrackBerry

The rest of the hardware, as mentioned, is a tad less exciting: 2nd-gen 1 GHz Snapdragon processor, 3.5″ 320 x 480 display, WiFi b/g/n and 3.2-megapixel rear/1.3-megapixel front-facing cameras. Storage is provided by a 2 GB microSD card, though can be bumped up to 32 GB should you run out of space.

Not too bad for $99, eh?

But things over at Sprint look to be on the up and up with the company also announcing today a new deal with Lightsquared that would see the company building out a robust LTE network across Sprint’s own spectrum over an 11-year period. For the privilege, Lightsquared will pay Sprint $9 billion for the actual network build out and an additional $4.5 billion in network access once said network is up and running. In total, Sprint will get ~$20 billion out of the deal that is expected to last at least 15 years.

But don’t go jumping for joy at the thought of Sprint LTE devices just yet. Sprint has stated they are not “fully committed” to using Lightsquare’s LTE services for themselves (and in their own devices) just yet, though they will certainly consider the option in the future. But if you consider how incredibly slow Sprint’s WiMAX rollout has been (and it’s getting slower), it’s not too hard to imagine Sprint jumping on the LTE bandwagon with everyone else. While we like WiMAX technology, it’s a dead end. Seriously.

So what do you think: Happy Sprint shareholders?

Source: Sprint

Source: FCC
Via: Engadget

Introducing: The 2011 Sprint End of Life list. While most of the devices featured are mid- to low-range fodder, more prominent names getting the boot include the aforementioned EVO 4G and Epic 4G this October — the only Galaxy S phone that features a sliding QWERTY keyboard (for now) — as well as BlackBerry 9650 and Curve a month prior in September.

While many of you will stick by your trusty phones for a good deal longer, are any of you at least feeling the upgrade itch?

Source: SprintFeed
Via: Phandroid