Anyone else tired of Sprint 4G commercials?
by Shals on May 28th, 2010Especially considering they only provide it in 11 states and 48 cities (based on this). They’ve been running commercials about them being the first 4G network over and over again for well over a year (and the first time I checked after seeing the commercials they only covered 7 cities, not really worth bragging about is it?). Of the 100k+ population cities in the country, there are 273 (according to wikipedia from 2000 census), means Sprint only covers 17.5%. So why are they advertising their 4G network so much when it probably covers less than 3% of the country.
Wonder what will happen when Verizon rolls out their 4G network and puts them to shame. Last I heard they are on schedule to cover cover almost 100 million customers upon release (to lazy to look up that source) by end of this year. I’m not sure about AT&T, their struggling to upgrade their 3G network to make it more reliable… just ask any iPhone user not in a major city, or google it. Plenty of info out there about that.
Some recent news I’ve read mentioned AT&T dropping price of the iPhone 3GS to $97 with 2 year contract extension and AT&T also increasing ETF (early termination fee) by almost double the previous value for iPhone customers. Apple releases new iPhone products in June but other past articles I’ve read rumored the contract with AT&T expires this November. So maybe we’re looking at the last exclusive iPhone for AT&T, and June 2011 we could see a Verizon iPhone… hmm, one can only hope.
Tags: GeneralPosted in General
Honestly… the Android software is more flexible than the Iphone software anyhow. Apple needs to loosen up thier grip on the software, or they’re going to get crushed by google with the andriod the same way Microsoft crushed them with Windows.
I wouldn’t trade my Droid for an Iphone at this point. Does all the same stuff and more. The only Iphone advantage is the app store is larger, but that advantage is quickly disappearing.
I played around with my sister’s android phone (forget what model it was), and really wasn’t that impressed with it. I think the best thing about the iPhone is it’s solid build, nothing cheap feeling like almost every other phone out there. I’d never give mine up for anything
I’m just waiting to see what they release next month to decide if I want to extend my contract and get the 3GS for $90. I liked the new features, and hardware upgrades, of the phone but was hoping for a Verizon iPhone this year (doubt it’ll happen, maybe next year though) so I held out and glad I did.
Maybe I should of named it iPhone vs. Android but just wanted to get a dig in at Sprint. On a side note I don’t think Apple not opening up the software is going to kill them. Their still the #1 phone and if/when they make them for other carriers it’s just going to push them ahead even further. The upcoming OS4 is adding over 1500 new API’s, I don’t know how many that gives them total but that’s a lot of API’s so is there really a need to open up the OS?
I’m just waiting to see what they release next month to decide if I want to extend my contract and get the 3GS for $90. I liked the new features, and hardware upgrades, of the phone but was hoping for a Verizon iPhone this year (doubt it’ll happen, maybe next year though) so I held out and glad I did.
You can’t compare just any android phone to the iphone…there are some devices that aren’t running the newest android OS and the hardware sux too…when you pit the iphone up against the droid incredible, htc evo, or the samsung galaxy S, the iphone is a piece of shit…
Apple always tries to control it’s users way too much, that is why android will overtake them in no time…
I have a G1, which is the first generation Android, but the great thing about Android is that I am able to root my phone and am running the second to newest OS on mine that isn’t available by my provider…I can do pretty much whatever I want to my phone…it’s a techie dream…the iphone to me is for newbs that don’t get tech.
What can you do with your phone that I can’t do on my iphone?
I read an article awhile back, will have to find the link, whereas apple has a direct connection to the actual user. With any other phone, take google android, it is google to phone manufacturer to carrier to customer and the phone manufacture (maybe even the carrier too) chooses what parts of android is included in their phone. Apple raised the bar as far as I am concerned, you have one company manufacturing the phone, one company developing and distributing the OS, and one company providing the content (apps, songs, movies).
The article continued on about the developer nightmares they have to consider with each and every single version of android, whether or not the cell manufacturer decides to include the "full experience", etc. Google just has the OS, it’s the manufacturer and provider that decides the rest. How can you develop an application, within reasonable expenses, to be run on so many OS variations and hardware differences? It continued on about how many android phones are coming out with different android versions. I would never want to be a project manager for development of such a system.
I’m guessing that’s what Galithor means with an "open system". But, imo, apple nailed it.
That didn’t take long, here is the article.
Granted it is an Apple related blog, but still a good read nonetheless.
Apple does keep it simple, but that is limiting.
Something like Flash. Most folks want flash and like flash. Apple won’t allow it. Prefer you use thier stuff instead.
Problem is… thier stuff isn’t widely used or compatible. Flash is. This makes the android software better for working with my PC or pretty much anything else that isn’t apple based.
Now yeah… if you’re a Mac guy, you want an Iphone. It’ll work with all your stuff because it’s all contained in the apple world.
If you’re not a Mac guy though, there’s tons of reasons you’d wanna avoid the Iphone now that it’s competitors have caught it and started surpassing it. Apple is developing against multiple opponents now that are sharing the same google software. Unless apple thinks thier own techies can compete with the rest of the world combined, they better get with the sharing program. It wont pay forever to be restrictive in a freedom of information era.
As far as Sprint though, they’re boned. Their business sucks. AT&T is in trouble too when the Iphone goes multi-carrier. Verizon is whipping the hell out of both of them with thier business model. The acquisition of Alltel was a perfect move. Combined Verizon’s great infrastructure with Alltel’s huge subscriber base. AT&T isn’t sprint yet only because they got the Iphone when it was the only kid on the block that offered such a phone. Once they lose that advantage, they’re falling to a very distant second in the carrier war.
Here’s another good read from Steve Jobs regarding Flash: http://www.apple.com/hotnews/thoughts-on-flash/
That’s the pertinent paragraph. Basically, you screw us, we screw you back. Have a nice day.
Ultimately, we’ll see how it goes. I still firmly believe that Apple is painting themselves into a corner though.
I smell some holy OS war smoke here.
Funny how former victim can become villain.
Apple here seem to be acting as a bad guy.
As for the stuffs, I poked around with friend’s latest HTC model with android. Nice toy.
Still being skeptic I won’t spend extra money for a phone with a mediocre pc built in. Not at this point anyways. (I can reach a pc within few minutes at any point in my everyday living environment).
The tech is not there yet to lure me out of my wired cave (particularly the power storing tech to feed sufficiently powerful portable rig which I would deem useful)
Software wise I was not surprised to find linux kernel, webkit, nice X server and some other heart warming stuff inside. Pretty standard set.
One of my friends designs them for a _very big cell phone company_ so i know a thing or two about what’s going behind the scenes.
Ultimately, we’ll see how it goes. I still firmly believe that Apple is painting themselves into a corner though.
I don’t really think that’s their mentality but, even if it is, can’t say I don’t blame them. However they do have some good reasons and I think they are more than justified by not including Flash.
I don’t think Apple is going to have any issues. And I really don’t have any issues with Android. Back when I was looking at cutting expenses I was going to cancel my iPhone plan and keep my Verizon plan, getting a Droid, but then found out my EFT with Verizon wasn’t going to be as high as I had thought it was ($350 but was little under $90). My EFT was cheaper with AT&T but didn’t want to get arid of the iPhone even though the reception isn’t as good as Verizon.
You guys lay off Sprint for me okay? My Samsung Moment has been a great phone now for about 5 months.
Been a loyal customer of Sprint for almost 10 years now and I can’t say much bad about them. Was at the lake all weekend, my family was all bitching about how they don’t get service while I sat on the phone talking to my wife. When we started hearing thunder, checked a weather radar map to see if we were going to get hit with anything bad, all while at least 50 miles from any town with a population over 20k.
I had AT&T years ago, they screwed us and that was the end of that. Verizon is probably the worst in our area of the country.
And if you want to talk about deceptive marketing, Altell takes the cake in my book. Constantly spewing the garbage of having the largest nationwide network while not owning a single tower? "We borrow to provide a nationwide network" is more like it.
Alltel used Verizon’s network mostly. It’s what made it so easy for Verizon to buy them out.
Hey Lof, do you get 4G service where you’re at?
I am sure their service is fine and all, it just seems silly to me that they always advertise their 4G network with so little coverage. Only reason their doing it is to claim "first!", which would be fine if they had a lot more coverage than they currently do.
When I first looked at it several months ago they only covered like half a dozen cities. Wow…
Just a marketing strategy. Simple business. Infact AT&T beat the shit out of the iPhone commercials when it first came out if I remember right. You market the shit out of what the other guy doesn’t have yet. Once someone else puts out 4G you’ll see the commercials drop off.
I don’t have Sprint for 4G, and no I don’t have 4G coverage available to me. None of their phones support 4G that I see, so not sure what the hubbub is about. Yes they have one coming this summer, but its not available yet. As far as my service, here in the city if I want to use the internet, I just turn on my wifi and connect to a network. Far faster than the normal connection. I have wireless at home and work, and practically everybody has free wireless now.
Can’t really compare the AT&T iPhone commercials to Sprints 4G commercials though, since iPhones were readily available to everyone. But I was thinking that too, about Sprint slowing down their 4G commercials once another started advertising theirs.
I’ve never looked at their phone selections, but they don’t even have a 4G phone for sale?!? I just have to chuckle about that.
The 4G is for their wireless hubs. You know they advertise the people in the car all doing something different while connected to the thing. They’ve been around for quite some time now. I would bet within the next 30 days max you’ll see the new HTC 4G launch from Sprint (its the first thing you see on their website right now), so they will have a phone by then.
And I have to correct my statement on Verizon. They’re not who I was thinking of. T-Mobile sucks ass here in Oklahoma. Not sure about Verizon, I don’t know anyone that has them (which may or may not say something about service in Oklahoma).
Sorry, how about it launches Friday, June 4.
T-mobile. Lol. Now there’s a carrier that only exists in big cities and major interstates. Go 15 miles away from one of those and you’re screwed.
The company I use to work for switched to T-Mobile, what a joke that was. Remember those lame commercials when they first started up?