Sprint (NYSE: S) is the latest operator to offer Dell’s netbook – Inspiron Mini 10. The carrier is asking $199.99 for the computer on a Mobile Broadband plan and a two-year service agreement, after a $100 mail-in rebate. Of course, the netbook comes with built-in EV-DO Rev. A modem which should provide average upload speeds of 350-500 kbps and download speeds of between 600 kbps and 1.4 mbps.
As you probably know, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 comes with a 10.1-inch screen, WiFi, 160 GB hard drive, 1.3-megapixel camera, Windows XP Home, Intel Atom CPU, card reader and Bluetooth…
Yeesh, Verizon (NYSE: VZ)’s been busy: the Motorola droid, the HTC Eris, and now a new BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM). A simple CDMA version of the touchpad-toting Curve currently available on T-Mobile won’t exactly steal the thunder from Verizon’s other announcements, but based on our review of the 8520, the new Curve is a stable, if pared-down, BlackBerry with a few new stylistics twists. Sprint (NYSE: S)’s picking up the 8530 as well, and yes, both have Wi-Fi, a 2 megapixel camera without flash, optical trackpad, and 320 x 240 display like the original, but has the added bonus of 3G over EV-DO. Sometimes I wish BlackBerrys kept their cool codenames, like Aries in this particular case, especially now when there are three distinct families of Curves. In any case, you can sign up for notifications of Sprint’s version, or hold out for Verizon’s which will run $99.99 on contract after rebates, and be available November 20.
Existing and potential Sprint (NYSE: S) customers, this one’s for you. The CDMA/WiMAX carrier has started selling two new devices – Samsung Moment and Sanyo (OTCPK: SANYY) SCP-3810.
The first of the two we’ve already covered before – it’s an Android-powered, full QWERTY keyboard-equipped smartphone that prides itself with a 3.2-inch HVGA AMOLED touchscreen, GPS, 3.5mm headset jack, 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera with flash, and 800MHz CPU. Sprint is asking $179.99 for the Moment, with a contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.
As for the other device, Sanyo SCP-3810, it’s a low-end clamshell with specs that include 2.4-inch QVGA screen, 1.3-megapixel camera, GPS, Bluetooth, web browser. The price is $0, with a contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate. The phone is available in two colors – Regal Red and Black Onyx.
Provider of mobile wallet scanning platforms bCODE is teaming up cinema innovator Screenvision and Sprint (NYSE: S) to create the world’s largest mobile coupon redemption network. Under the deal, bCODE will provide its SMS-based secure scanning mobile wallet platform, and Sprint will market the service to its customers who will be able to receive special concession stand savings via mobile couponing in 500 participating movie theaters in Screenvision’s nationwide network.
The service is already available in more than 50 DMAs across the country — including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Houston and Dallas. In early 2010, more than 900 theaters will have bCODE service available.
As for how it works, here’s an excerpt from the press release:
The bCODE service consists of mobile coupon delivery and an interactive touch-screen mobile marketing device. A bCODE is a secure and encrypted text message (SMS) that can be scanned easily. The bCODE message is the result of a proprietary algorithm transmitted across technology that’s standard in more than 99.7 percent of the world’s mobile phones. Consumers receive bCODE text message incentives and offers on their mobile phone that they can then redeem at a MediaPlane. The MediaPlane is a sleek, interactive touch-screen mobile marketing device that reads the bCODE and provides digital content, offers and entertainment. The MediaPlane reliably scans bCODEs from mobile phones, redeems the coupon and prints their point-of-sale redemption ticket. The MediaPlane is available in a counter top version and a wall-mounted flat screen version, with a thin form factor and low-impact footprint.
Finally, if you like watching movies and you’re on Sprint, to sign-up for the service simply text the word “Sprint” to “22633″ (bCODE), and take it from there.
Of the nation’s three largest wireless networks, Sprint (NYSE: S) is the underdog. The third-largest US wireless carrier has been losing customers consistently over the past several quarters, despite compelling hardware offerings like the Android-powered HTC Hero and Palm Pre. But, things are looking better for Sprint. The carrier’s Q3 2009 financial results highlight the lowest customer defection rate in a long time, and customer service performance has been steadily improving.
The most recent quarter had Sprint losing 801,000 of its most valuable post-paid subscribers to other carriers. That’s a definite improvement, but still left Sprint with losses of $478 million in the quarter, compared to a $326 million loss in the year-ago quarter. Revenues slipped to $8.04 billion, missing Wall Street’s projection of $8.09 billion.
Sprint has been making changes to its customer service policies as part of a company-wide effort to improve the carrier’s image and service quality – issues that Sprint believes has been hurting how customers perceive Sprint as a wireless carrier. But, the change has been slow to catch on with consumers.
No one knows what’s going on with Sprint. But, it’s clear that Sprint’s big-money bet on WiMAX as the mobile broadband technology of choice for the foreseeable future has yet to transform the company into America’s premier data-centric wireless provider. Sprint seemingly can’t keep up with AT&T (NYSE: T) or Verizon (NYSE: VZ) in the wireless voice game, but the mobile broadband market has yet to take on a clear leader. Perhaps choosing LTE would have been a better idea?
Those of you who were getting comfortable with the breadth of Sprint (NYSE: S)’s Simply Everything plan and partaking in the odd smartphone tethering will be in for a rude interruption. Some heated discussion on the Sprint forums has revealed that phone as modem service is no longer available for Simply Everything customers, although a Sprint employee vehemently defends the decision, saying that PAM has always been an add-on, and anyone tethering up until now was doing so outside the purview of their contract. Sprint VP David Owens has confirmed the change and that there won’t be a PAM add-on available for Simply Everything any time soon. There are always workarounds, like My Tether for the Pre, and TetherBerry for BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM), but that’s more work than a lot of users would like to put in; clearly Sprint is more interested in hawking their mobile broadband access through WiMAX routers. It’s disappointing news for many customers, but it’s hard to blame Sprint for pushing 4G.
Well folks the Pixi promo clips are ready. We have two videos to show you. The first one is from Palm (NSDQ: PALM), whereas the second (dull) one comes from Sprint (NYSE: S). Nothing too spectacular – but good enough for bargain-hunting webOS fans. Enjoy!
The Novatel MiFi 2200 is, without a doubt, one of the most important weapons in a mobile road warrior’s fight against dis-connectivity. By combining a WiFi router with a 3G EVDO Rev. A data connection from Sprint (NYSE: S) or Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless, the MiFi 2200 creates a portable WiFi hotspot that serves data to up to five WiFi devices at the same time. And, thanks to its on-board user-upgradeable operating system, the MiFi 2200 has just been blessed with its first firmware update. The update allows the MiFi 2200 to enter “always on” mode when its plugged into a power source.
One of the gripes we had with the MiFi was its battery-saving strategy to go into hibernation after a period of inactivity. Sure, it saves battery life, but there’s no need for it when the MiFi is drawing on external power. This new update makes sure your MiFi will always be ready to answer your need for wireless data when it’s plugged into the wall.
Here’s a list of new features included in the update:
Nintendo DS and BlackBerry (NSDQ: RIMM) Curve supported
Always-on mode when plugged into a power source
International roaming has been perfected
New Admin page enhancements
Roaming indicator fixed
Sprint Only mode added
DHCP IP class A, B and C now supported
WiFi channel now defaults to “Auto”
If you have a MiFi 2200 (the CDMA variant used by Sprint and Verizon), you’ll do well to upgrade. The upgrade is available through the Sprint MiFi’s web-based admin page. The Verizon MiFi requires that you download the latest version of the Windows Verizon Access Manager from vzam.net (Mac version not yet available) and run the update utility. More detailed upgrade instructions can be found here.
The Palm (NSDQ: PALM) Pixi, which was announced during the beginning of September, but without information regarding pricing or availability, is now a little closer to Sprint (NYSE: S) customers grubby little hands. Quick recall of the specification sheet:
It’s coming to Sprint on November 15th for, and I’m going to quote this so I get it right: “It will cost just $99.99 with a two-year service agreement, after a $50 instant rebate and $100 mail-in rebate”. Why can’t they just let you have it for $99.99 out the door is beyond me. The cheapest plan that will get you this device will cost you $69.99/month; Sprint will not give you this thing without unlimited data.
While we wait to get out review unit, check out this ~ 8 minute video done by Phone Scoop to get a run down of what the Pixi is all about:
What do you do when you’re one of the biggest US wireless carrier (by subscriber count) and one of your network partners files suit against you for violating exclusivity agreements? Well, if you’re Sprint (NYSE: S), and you’re desperately trying to get your WiMAX network off the ground, you get enough money together to straight up buy the smaller carrier partner. At least that’s what Sprint has done with the iPCS. Sprint has apparently bought out iPCS for $426 million, in addition to a $405 million debt assumption.
iPCS had been making noise over Sprint’s long-ago acquisition deal that brought Nextel into the fold. Sprint’s Nextel acquisition, said iPCS, violated an exclusivity deal that gave iPCS sole rights to use the Sprint brand in certain regions. Then, following Sprint’s deal to buy a 51% controlling stake in WiMAX carrier Clearwire, iPCS filed suit over their rights to the Sprint brand.
So, today, Sprint has announced that it will be buying iPCS outright. Part of the deal states that both parties will end any and all ongoing litigation between the two companies. The deal also allows Sprint to continue operations throughout the US without divesting any iDEN holdings in iPCS’s markets.
Yeesh, Verizon (
Of the nation’s three largest wireless networks, Sprint (
Those of you who were getting comfortable with the breadth of Sprint (
What do you do when you’re one of the biggest US wireless carrier (by subscriber count) and one of your network partners files suit against you for violating exclusivity agreements? Well, if you’re Sprint (
