Sprint to Purchase the iPCS Wireless Network

The powerful Sprint wireless network is planning to gobble up another minor carrier. The major US wireless service provider is in the process of assimilating Virgin Mobile and just announced plans to buy its affiliate, iPCS.

iPCS wireless is a company that has acquired exclusive right to sell wireless mobility communications network products and services under the Sprint brand in 81 markets including markets in Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and Tennessee. This regional wireless network serves an estimated 710,200 subscribers.

Sprint and iPCS has been a fixture of the wireless network news lately as the regional network has sued the larger network over a number of reasons, including breach of contract. However, as part of the merge all of the litigation concerning both companies will cease.

The Sprint acquisition of iPCS is ertimated to involve $831 million. The deal also involves assumption of $405 million of net debt. The deal is expected to be completed by late 2009 or early 2010.

Sprint and Clearwire Launches WiMAX Wireless Network in Las Vegas

The WiMAX wireless network and its services will soon open in Las Vegas has officially launched the . Sprint and ClearwireWiMAX wireless network in Sin City and services will begin in the metropolitan area on August 1.

The folks in Las Vegas can avail of the WiMAX wireless network with average speeds ranging between 3 and 6 services for as low as 20/month. Sprint boasts that WiMAX can offers peak downlink speeds of more than 10MbpsMbps.

Sprint and Clearwire also announced that the WiMAX wireless network will be launched in more market's by the end of the year. This high speed network will also go live this year in:

• Atlanta
• Portland
• Charlotte
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Ft. Worth
• Honolulu
• Philadelphia
• Seattle

Samsung also announced a WiMAX-enabled mobile Internet device that well be available starting on August 1. the Samsung Mondi is reportedly the the most advanced Mobile WiMAX-enabled handheld device in the U.S.

This device offers WiFi, GPS, 3 megapixel camera, a QWERTY keypad, a 4.3-inch touchscreen, Opera 9.5 and a customizable set of widgets on top of Windows Mobile. It is expected to be be available in Vegas-area Best Buy and Clearwire outlets starting August 1st.

That's it for this update on the WiMAX wireless network. The Samsung Mondi sure looks sweet. Clearwire and Sprint seems to be gaining momentum with this venture. I hope that they can launch this 4G technology in other markets as well.

Tune in to this blog for more news and updates on Wireless networks.

US Wireless Network Operators May Recieve Tax Credits

It seems that wireless network operators will get some help during the current economic crisis. According to a Reuters article, a Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks is being discussed in Congress. Let's go into the details of this story on Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks.

Apparently, the US government is discussing plans to bolster the U.S. economy. The Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks is part of these economic recovery solutions. Lawmakers are trying to decide if providing tax breaks to telecommunication companies that provide broadband through the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks will help to revitalize the flagging economy.

The original form of the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks was limited only to wired broadband providers. However, the present form of the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks now includes mobile service carriers such as AT&T Mobility, Sprint, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA.

The Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks aims to provide a 10% tax credit to companies that high-speed Internet. Wireless network providers that build high-speed web access in rural and under-served areas are also included in the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks.

However, the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks also suggests that an additional 10% tax break to companies that build faster Internet services. It seems that the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks could really provide significant aid to US carriers. I think that the 20% potential tax break offered by the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks represent a lot of money because these companies are worth billions of dollars.

Sen. John Rockefeller, a senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee and Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe are spearheading the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks. Since debates and discussions on the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks are still going on, the exact details of this stimulus package have not been finalized.

Of course, the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks have its share of supporters and opponents. Some lawmakers feel that the is simply a give away and would only be used to fund projects that would have been built anyway. Some also say that the tax break plan will help to spur investment not already planned.

I think that it will be exciting to observe the progress of Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks. If the approval of the Tax Credits proposal for US wireless networks will help to build faster broadband around the country then I'm for it. Keep on visiting this blog to know more about news and updates on major wireless network operators.

Will Obama Approve the $2 Billion Emergency Wireless Network Plan?

Here's an interesting wireless network story involving President-elect Barack Obama and the proposed $2 billion emergency wireless network.

According to a Reuters article, Sprint sent a request to President-elect Barack Obama and his incoming administration involving funds for a nationwide $2 billion emergency wireless network. The plan spans five years and aims to provide immediate relief in times of emergencies.

Sprint seems to be the best wireless network operator to propose the $2 billion emergency wireless network because the company is already a supplier of wireless network technology, service and handsets in use by many of the US emergency services and agencies .

Sprint's proposal for a nationwide $2 billion emergency wireless network involved more 100 satellite-based light trucks that would be able to respond to any emergencies. This $2 billion emergency wireless network also mentioned more then 100,000 or more mobile handsets and equipment at up to 40 pre-selected sites around the nation.

According to Sprint's proposal for a nationwide $2 billion emergency wireless network that was sent to President-elect Barack Obama and his incoming administration, the 40 pre-selected sites will quickly send the necessary gear to disaster sites anywhere in the continental U.S.

According to Sprint, their iDEN wireless network is ideal for the $2 billion emergency wireless network (of course). The company is hoping that Obama will approve this $2 billion emergency wireless network proposal and attach it to the economic stimulus plan currently moving through congress.

It will be interesting to see if President-elect Barack Obama will approve this $2 billion emergency wireless network proposal. This $2 billion emergency wireless network will be a valuable tool in the wake of emergencies and disasters like Katrina and 911. However, this plan might take a back seat to the current US economic crisis .

That's it for this post on Sprint's $2 billion emergency wireless network plan. Tune in to this blog for more wireless network news and updates.

Sprint and the Samsung Instinct Ready to Take on the 3G iPhone

A few months ago, Sprint and Samsung made an announcement that they will challenge the Apple iPhone with their own touchscreen device, the Samsung Instinct. Now both devices will soon be in stores. Will the Instinct be able to gain the upper hand against the 3G iPhone?

Sprint announced that they will embark a marketing campaign to ensure that the Instinct will topple the iPhone. The wireless network operator has been aggressive with its marketing campaign. For example, Sprint has released a series of video that demonstrates the Samsung Instinct's superiority over Apple's device. The videos showed that the Instinct is better than the iPhone when it comes to downloading music, shooting videos, GPS navigation, live TV and web browsing speed.

However, Apple's announcement of the 3G iPhone has really captured the attention of the mobile phone industry. Months before the official announcement, numerous rumors and informations leaks surfaced about the device. Rumors on the raw materials, features, price and specs have spread like wild fire up to the days leading to the launch.

It's not surprising why there is so much buzz around the 3G iPhone. After all, the original iPhone was a very successful device. It's probably the most famous mobile phone in the world. Everyone has heard about the iPhone. And a next generation device that offers improvement will surely get the attention the whole mobile phone industry.

Apple has also done a masterful job of marketing this device. They have made improvements to the iPhone and developers will soon create new applications for the device. They have also made deals with mobile phone operators throughout the world to launch the 3G iPhone. This means that the device will be available in other countries who were not able to get the original device. The attractive price is also going to pull in a lot of customers. At only $199 with a contract and rebates, the iPhone has become more affordable.

Not to be outdone, Sprint has decided to drop the price of the Samsung Instinct to just $129 dollars with a mail in rebate and a two year contract. However, the Sprint iPhone killer has to be activated with a plan that includes unlimited data, which can cost a monthly minimum of $70 when paired with a voice plan. It was previously suggested that the device will be sold at $199 to compete with the 3G iPhone. It seems that the wireless network operator realized that that prize was not good enough to attract buyers so they decided to drop the price of the Samsung Instinct.

Will the Instinct be able to match the 3G iPhone? Well, we just have to wait. Sprint's device will be launched first but I'm not sure if that's an advantage. We'll see if all that marketing has convinced people to get the Instinct before the iPhone. Tune in to this blog for more wireless network news and info.

Sprint's XOHM WiMax Wireless Network Ready for Commercial Launch!

Here's some excellent wireless network news for Sprint subscribers. Sprint and Samsung Electronics Corporation Ltd. has announced that the XOHM wireless network is ready for it's commercial release.

Check out this statement from Barry West, the top man at XOHM:

"This is a major step towards launch readiness and Sprint is extremely pleased with the performance of the mobile WiMAX network and access devices from Samsung. The collaboration with Samsung and our other partners has created a WiMAX ecosystem that has now proven that it can deliver this new technology to the marketplace well ahead of any feasible alternative."

Sprint's XOHM business unit is devoted solely on developing the WiMAX ecosystem and standards to bring the latest broadband wireless technology. Sprint is utilizing the significant spectrum holdings at 2.5 GHz that were combined in the Sprint Nextel merger to deploy mobile WiMAX technology.

The new broadband wireless network from Sprint that offers the speed and mobility of WiMAX has met the demands of rigorous testing. The tests were designed to see if the network can achieve commercial acceptance criteria that includes overall performance, handoff performance and handoff delay.

The extensive evaluation of this high speed wireless network was conducted in the XOHM(TM) lab environment and with the commercial service network being built in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. Sprint decided to hold the launching commercial WiMAX service in those cities later this year after the vital technical milestone was achieved in the tests.

The wireless network has introduced several WiMAX-enabled devices in preparation for the launching of XOHM. The Express Card (E100 PC Card) and WiMAX embedded UMPC (Q1 Ultra Premium Mobile PC) are already in place for the WiMAX systems being deployed for Sprint in Baltimore and Washington D.C.

AT&T and Sprint May Get LG Voyager

I have picked up this interesting wireless network rumor while surfing the web. This enticing scoop involves LG's iPhone response or killer. It seems every mobile phone maker is trying to come up with an answer to Apple's gem. Nokia has the "Tube", Samsung recently announced the "Instinct" and LG has the Voyager.

Well, I can't blame cell phone manufacturers and wireless networks with trying to launch the true iPhone slayer. After all, it's probably the hottest mobile phone on the market. The number of fake iPhones in the world market should be a good proof of this Apple handset's dominance. But enough with the introduction. Let's get on to the meat of this juicy wireless network rumor.

Currently, Verizon has the exclusive rights to the LG Voyager or VX10000. However, some rumors have surfaced that Sprint and AT&T may also be able to add the device to their mobile phone line ups. The LG Voyager has performed well since it was launched so it will certainly draw some consumers.

As basis for this rumor, the Electronic Times quoted an LG official making this statement,

"We plan to expand the supply of Voyager to AT&T and Sprint within this year. That will lay the strong foundation for LG in the North American market."

Well, that statement is indeed tantalizing. It's very probable that LG is trying to expand the success of their handset by offering it on other wireless networks. However, there are also a few puzzling facets to this rumor.

Spring Nextel is trying to recover from various problems and the LG Voyager can help them retain their fickle subscribers. However, Sprint has been working with Samsung to launch another iPhone response in the Instinct. The wireless network was reportedly willing to spend a hundred million to market the Samsung Instinct. Launching the Voyager and the Instinct may cause some conflict. Then again, having two high-end and highly touted mobile phones may be the part of solution to Sprint's problems.

AT&T is already the sole distributer of the iPhone so it is puzzling why they would offer an "iPhone killer". Maybe they want to offer new alternatives to their customers. It would be interesting to see what happens if AT&T offers both of these handsets.

In the end, this is just a juicy rumor. We just have to wait and see if these will be fulfilled. I'll be waiting for related press releases, info leaks and more rumors that are related to this topic. I hope that this post have intrigued and stimulated your mobile phone taste buds.

Thousands of Sprint Employees may be Laid Off

Early this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Sprint Nextel may lay off several thousands of its 60,000 workforce. Sprint Nextel's representatives have refused to make a comment on this report.

Wall Street Journal's report cited informants that revealed that the the job cuts will number in the thousands although the scale of the lay off was not made clear. Last year, the company made an announcement about plans to reduce its full-time head count by about 5,000 people. This move left Sprint with just under 60,000 workers after the layoffs were completed.

Sprint Nextel is one of the top wireless service providers in the US. The wireless network offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users.

Some experts believe that the plans may be a drastic to revive the company as it has lost ground to rivals in the industry. Sprint has also has struggled with network and customer service problems which have compounded the company's concerns.

Other plans have also been drafted to slow the company's decline. The new chief executive of Sprint Nextel is also considering consolidating Sprint's headquarters in Kansas.

However, some experts say that the wireless network should be careful where it cuts even though job cuts may help profit margins. Sprint should also improve its operations to minimize the loss of customer to rival mobile phone carriers.

Read more about this news story at Yahoo! news.

Sanyo S1 Mobile Phone at Sprint

Sprint Nextel has released it's first mobile phone for this year. The S1 from Sanyo.

Here is the picture preview and basic specifications of this nice cell phone.

Dimensions: 4.4” x 1.8” x 0.4”
Weight: 2.5 ounces
Display: 1.0” x 1.3” 65K color TFT LCD (128x160)
Standard rechargeable Lithium (LiIon) battery: up to 3.5 hours continuous talk time


The S1 by SANYO has a sleek look and feel that many mobile phone enthusiasts crave. This wireless device offers the essential features that consumers rely on to stay connected when it matters most.

Since it operates on Sprint's Vision® network, customers can avail of easy access to advanced services including web access and email with the help of this device. This phone also offers Wireless Backup. In the event that the phone is lost, stolen or damaged, this feaure will help you to easily manage your phone's contacts list.

Here are the features and tools of the S1 from Sanyo


Downloadable screen savers, ring tones, applications and games
Customizable favorites menu
Sprint Vision® enabled
Integrated Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
High-quality speakerphone
Text and SMS Voice Messaging
Voice-activated dialing
T9 Text Input
Phone as Modem capable
Wireless Backup
Parental Controls restrict calls and limit access to Vision services
Calendar, scheduler, to-do list, world clock, calculator, stopwatch and alarm clock
Internal phone book


You can also check out this review video from PhoneScoop.com t oget more info on this phone.



I hope the info and video review I posted can help you decide if you want to get this mobile device from Sprint.

The Continuing Struggle to Please Customers

Compared to retailers and credit-card companies, wireless carriers provide a less useful and enjoyable customer experience. This was the information gathered from a study done by Forrester research. Perhaps this information also moved some carriers to promise better programs to increase consumer satisfaction next year.

It certainly seem logical for wireless service providers to pay attention to giving better service because the study ranked them fifth among nine industries. Retailers, investment firms, insurance companies and credit-card providers were all rated as giving better service than wireless networks.

Of course, wireless providers have also scored some points with their customers because they consider Internet service providers, TV service providers and medical insurance providers inferior to wireless carriers in terms of customer satisfaction. However, considering that the wireless phone industry is probably the fastest growing and most lucrative industry in this age, increasing the level of customer satisfaction should be made a priority. After all, a
happy and satisfied customer will be willing to spend more.

Sprint and Nextel brands, Alltel Corp., Virgin Mobile USA and prepaid provider Tracfone Wireless Inc. were included in the Forrester survey. The results showed that Virgin Mobile USA Inc. received the top ranking while the Sprint and Nextel brands received the lowest marks. Alltel ranked second followed by T-Mobile USA Inc. Verizon Wireless came in at No. 4, followed by Tracfone, and AT&T Mobility.

Virgin Mobile USA received “excellent” rating for ease of use. it also garnered the highest rank for its usefulness and whether or not their experience with the company was enjoyable. This is interesting since Mobile USA’s service runs on Sprint Nextel Corp.’s CDMA network.

It seems that Sprint Nextel is consistently earning thumbs-down from various consumer surveys. For instance, Consumer Reports’ said that it would not recommend service from Sprint unless a customer specifically wanted push-to-talk service. The company has also ranked near the bottom of customer satisfaction surveys by J.D. Power and Associates.

Fortunately, Sprint has responded to this ratings by hiring several thousand more customer care representatives to improve the customer experience. The company is also planning to increase its focus on retaining subscribers rather than trying to bring in new ones and launch loyalty-based incentive programs. Hopefully, the company will be able to increase it's stature in terms of providing customer care.

Sprint Names New President and CEO

Daniel R. Hesse a veteran of the wireless industry an the former chairman, president and CEO of Embarq Corporation has been named as president and chief executive officer of Sprint. The Sprint Nextel Board of Directors has voted to place him in charge of the company effective immediately.

Let's become more familiar with Mr. Hesse and his stellar career. Daniel served as CEO of Sprint's Local Telecommunications Division for one year before he headed Embarq. He has also served as the president and CEO of AT&T Wireless Services which was then the United States' largest wireless operator. He was also a member of Sprint Nextel's board of directors.

Board member Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr., who chaired the board's CEO search committee said, "Dan Hesse is the right person to lead our company. He is a proven leader with deep wireless experience as a chief executive and an established track record of generating strong operating performance. He has the board's full support to take decisive actions necessary to improve our performance."

You can read more about Hockaday's comments on this important announcement at Sprint's Newsroom .

Another major announcement made by by Sprint Nextel's board concerns the election of JamesH. Hance to continue in his role as non-executive chairman. He is a senior adviser to the Carlyle Group and retired vice chairman and board member of Bank of America. He has been a Sprint board member since February 2005. When Gary Forsee, who had been chairman, president and CEO, stepped down in October, Hance was named non-executive chairman.

I guess it's safe to assume that Hesse will bring a lot of experience as the new head of Sprint. He will be able to provide direction to Sprint and will hopefully bring the company to greater heights.

View Live NFL Games on Sprint Mobile Phones

Football Fans who subscribe to Sprint Nextel's wireless phone services will now be able to see their favorite teams duke it out on the turf with the help of their cellphones. The National Football League (NFL) and the wireless company are working together to provide live videos of NFL game coverage on the mobile phones of Sprint.

NFL Network will be responsible for providing the coverage. They will produce a three-hour studio-based show that will be streamed live on NFL.com and via wireless exclusively to Sprint subscribers. If you love football then you should really consider switching to Sprint. If you are already a subscriber then get this mobile video service before the football season ends. This service will give you another option when you want to watch a video of your favorite NFAl games. You can now watch games on HD TV, online videos and your mobile phone.

The coverage highlights involves the critical moments in a game such as when a team enters the red zone, during scheduled time slots at the :15 and :45 marks. Replays, in-game highlights and analysis from that night's action, and the halftime show will also be featured in the coverage.

Sprint subscribers will have round the clock access of the NFL Network live telecast via NFL Mobile and Sprint TV. If they choose to they can have unlimited access to NFL Mobile with any Sprint Power Vision pack at no additional cost. They simply need to text "NFL" to 7777 to gain access to the telecast.

As of this month, NFL Mobile has been downloaded by at least a million Sprint customers and NFL Network continues to be the most popular channel on Sprint TV. Stats,scores, official play-by-play, video highlights and customizable text alerts from NFL Mobile can be delivered faster than any other carrier with information updated every 10 seconds on game days.

This is definitely a sweet deal for football fans. They can now get access to their favorite NFL team's games and see the highlights and updates of the league games. The current season is exciting led by the undefeated New England Patriots and no fan will want to miss an undefeated season or their first loss. With the help of Sprint and the NFL, they can be sure that they won't miss a single moment.

Wireless Network News

Lucrative Wireless Network Deal Scrapped

Gary Forsee, the Chief Executive Officer of Sprint was recently evicted resulting in the scrapping of Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. plans to build a high-speed wireless network together. Cleawire is a network company founded by mobile-phone pioneer Craig McCaw. The ouster also resulted in a decline of as much as 28 percent to the value of Clearwire shares .

Sprint announced the deal and the plan was supposed to be completed in two months. However, the talks slowed while Forsee faced pressure from investors to curb spending after losing customers. Ultimately, the decrease in customers caused Forsse's dismissal.

It is clear that the deal's collapse will be damaging for Clearwire Corp. For the last three years, the corporation's losses have swelled amid efforts to build a national network. In fact, it sold shares to the public in March to help fund construction. However, it seems to be futile as it's third-quarter sales totaled $41.3 million, less than 100th of Sprint's. Visit this site to learn more about this wireless deals collapse.

Read the rest of Bloomberg's article on this update.

Verizon Expansion to Help Beverly, Massachusetts Residents

Verizon Wireless, considered by many as the nation's most reliable wireless network is in the process of expending its network with the construction of a new cell site. This initiative is designed to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Essex County. Those residing along along Route 127 in eastern Beverly and the surrounding area will enjoy the new coverage and capacity offered by the new site.

For half a year, Verizon Wireless has invested $145 million to enhance wireless capacity and coverage throughout the six states of New England. This brings the cumulative network investment in the region to more than $2 billion. The growing demand for Verizon Wireless voice and data services has urged the company to invest more than $1 billion every 90 days. The company offers picture messaging, text messaging, BroadbandAccess high-speed Internet and the exclusive V CAST service to the public. Over the past seven years, the company's ongoing national network investment now totals more than $40 billion.

You can read more about this wireless news on CNN's money articles.

Huge Wireless Network on Silicon Valley Stalling

A recent column in the San Jose Mercury News revealed that the ambitious plan to blanket 1,500 square miles of California’s Silicon Valley with a wireless network may be on the edge of stalling. Experts observed that for even two one-square-mile test sites the project has still unable to raise funds.

The region which covers most of the peninsula south of San Francisco and is one of the wealthiest regions in the United States. However, The two test sites, has been unwilling to cough up the $500,000 needed to complete the project.

More of this story on Networkworld.com