Sprint is finally beginning to phase out its less attractive half, Nextel, as the company enters the first stage of transitioning customers off its iDEN cell towers. The Now Network put up a site that maps out where and when towers are being shut down. So for instance, if you live in my area of Hartford, CT, reduction is planned in late May of this year. This is something we’ve known since late 2011, and it’s an important part to Sprint’s “Network Vision.”
The third largest wireless provider plans to shut down push-to-talk service on its iDEN network, in an attempt to move customers to advanced PTT services on its CDMA network. And with the extra 800 MHz iDEN spectrum, the company will use it for advanced voice services as well as for LTE, a process that should be completed in the year 2017. We don’t know exactly when the final transition will occur, but we at least know when the first stage of shutdowns will be taking place.
This is a necessary move Sprint has to take in order to get itself into the 4G market, as the company is not only behind Verizon but AT&T as well. As a customer, I hope this first stage of its “Network Vision” pans out so I don’t have to jump ship.
[via FierceWireless]