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Sprint Gives WiMax Customers - And Itself - An Out

Jun 14, 2013, 11:35 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Sprint altered its terms of service last month in such a way that it will be easier for Sprint's customers and Sprint to transition from WiMax service to LTE service. The altered language gives Sprint the right to migrate its customers from WiMax to LTE with proper advance notice. Those customers will be able to retain their existing 3G service minus access to WiMax, end their contracts without incurring an early termination fee, or transition to LTE gear and service. WiMax customers who switch to LTE will be given a free LTE-compatible device under certain circumstances. Sprint has not, however, made public any plans to shutter its WiMax service. "Sprint has not set any dates regarding discontinuing the WiMax network," said Sprint spokeswoman Jennifer Walsh to FierceWireless. "The change in contract language that took effect May 22 anticipates the possibility that we may be ready to begin decommissioning the WiMax network before the end of some contracts for customers with WiMax devices. The new language provides Sprint with the flexibility to give customers LTE devices so that their service is not interrupted." Sprint is planning to decommission its iDEN network, which resides in Sprint's 800MHz spectrum, on June 30. Sprint will then use its 800MHz spectrum to bolster its LTE network, which currently only operates in Sprint's 1900MHz spectrum. Sprint and Clearwire's WiMax network operates in the 2.5GHz band, which will also eventually be used for LTE. Sprint no longer sells new WiMax gear.

Fierce Wireless »

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Jonathanlc2005

Jun 14, 2013, 4:04 PM

just called sprint

this is what they said to me...

first they were unaware of this... until i referred them to T&C... they told me

-people will be notified in stages
-there will be a select phone either chosen or sent to you (more then likely a ZTE or other chinese phone)
-you wont be able to get it done at the sprint store without upgrading and paying for a phone
- your address must be in a Wimax market but i think they were reading too much into things... (example, my billing is shentel but im located in S. FL)

Suciobeats

I work for Sprint, most of us were told about the change but have not been told the specifics of it.

These changes won't go into effect for a while since we are support WiMax for a couple more years.

A free LTE phone is pretty good, regar...
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JJinNYC

Jun 14, 2013, 2:23 PM

What a mess this company is

First the Nextel fiasco and now this. Sprint just keeps making one bad business decision after another. Glad I'm not one of their customers. Why do they have so many other companies reselling their service under other names too? Verizon and AT&T don't do that

bobc74

Actually Verizon and at&t do the exact same thing, they don't publicize it as much though.

phonetekmek

So offering customers the chance to get a free upgrade from a wimax device to lte or get out of their agreement is a mess how? From the time wimax was deployed it was understood that the company would eventually transistion to lte. The spectrum had to...
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glinc

Yes, Sprint is a heck of a mess. VZW main MVNO's are Page Plus, Net10 and ATT does have a good amount also. Here is the list http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_S tates_mobile_virtual_network_operators

KOL4420

They do that actually and also the service isnt bad with Sprint at all. As for this whole situation it has only been complicated because of Dish it was a good plan A to begin with but LTE is the standard so the company needs to adjust the 2.5ghz frequ...
(continues)

paulhstratton

Jun 16, 2013, 11:02 PM

The article said they no longer sell new wiimax equipment

Sprint still sells the Epic 4g Touch (Galaxy S2) which is a 3G/WiiMax device...

Mektah

I think they meant new as in devices not already in stores.

temxn4b

Jun 14, 2013, 4:52 PM
edited

It's Softbank and Dish fight

Clear board members choose Dish yesterday.
That's why Sprint/Softbank back out WiMax due to the facts that most Clear customers are Sprint WiMax customers.

To me, 2.6GHz band Clear holds is junk, I am 0.3 mi away and can see this tower by the windows on 2nd floor, the low penetration and noise is so high till I installed a outdoor antenna to make it 4G speed. Same to 1900 band LTE sucks, Softbank need to get money for better airwave to run whatever better 4G technology.

Just drop Clear, it's big chuck of junkie airwaves who ever holds it, get more complains only. Good decision!

Get some good airwaves instead wasting money with old WiMax infrastructures. Sprint will need to buy new LTE stuff anyway, with or without Clear.

TheNexxuvas

Wow you have zero clue and zero input here, leave it to a PhonePoop member NOT to understand wireless, as usual, nor to actually bother reading what the "junkie airwaves" from Clear were actually going to be used for once refarmed for LTE.

Do us al...
(continues)

Versed

Jun 14, 2013, 2:15 PM

Be a great Soap Opera

Reading and hearing the trials and tribulations of Sprint is worse than a soap opera on the Fox TV Network.

Jonathanlc2005

since when does fox show soap?

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