page deux

4/29/2011 6:30:38 PM

i don't know that this warrants a new thread...sprint's offering cash bonuses to people who transfer carriers (the ads target t-mobile, but it works for everyone)

http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/12/technology/sprint_tmobile/

Quote :

"NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Sprint is offering up to $175 to customers who switch from other wireless carriers. The credit is meant to "give customers a chance to try Sprint without having to worry about fees or charges for terminating their contracts with their current carriers," Sprint spokesman Lloyd Karnes said in an e-mail. The offer is $175 for business customers who switch and buy any Sprint phone; $125 for individual customers who buy a smartphone; or $75 for individuals who buy a low-end "feature phone." To get the credit, all accounts must be ported from existing contracts, and they must remain active for 61 days. A two-year contract is required."

my contract with verizon goes through november, unfortunately, or i'd consider this...i'd rather pocket the $125 than pay it out to big red

5/13/2011 9:50:55 AM

Like most things with Sprint...its an excellent promo, they will not adequately promote it enough for it to be effective.

Also if you do not want to wait out end of your contract just activate a couple of prepaid phones and go in and have the port processed. You can port in your real numbers later.

5/13/2011 10:07:13 AM

^ i read something about that on the SD forum, but it looks like you can't get but $50 for a prepaid port

i suppose that's actually an easy way to make a couple of bucks (i don't know what the cheapest prepaid deal is these days)

5/13/2011 10:13:43 AM

T-Mobile just launched 42Mbps HSPA+ in Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh-Cary, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem...too bad they don't have any phones for it.

7/13/2011 7:57:42 AM

i would assume that, too, eats a phone's battery for breakfast

7/13/2011 10:05:15 AM

Quote :

"but it looks like you can't get but $50 for a prepaid port"

I have Verizon prepaid handsets for $20 at my work (including activation and initial airtime), I would bet money when the Sprint computer processes the port they will not flag it as a "prepaid" port...they cant see Verizons billing system...only that Verizon is in possession of that phone number, it will probably be classified as a postpaid port.

7/13/2011 10:12:06 AM

deal blocked

http://www.wral.com/

8/31/2011 11:01:14 AM

for the lazy among us

http://www.wral.com/business/story/10068782/

Quote :

"Justice Department blocks AT&T-T-Mobile merger WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is blocking AT&T's $39 billion deal to buy T-Mobile USA, saying the acquisition of the No. 4 wireless carrier in the country by No. 2 AT&T would reduce competition and raise prices. The deal has faced tough opposition from consumer groups and No. 3 carrier Sprint since it was announced in March. AT&T could challenge the Justice Department's action in court. A failure of the deal puts T-Mobile in a difficult position. It's struggling to compete with the larger carriers, and owner Deutsche Telekom AG has said it's not willing to invest more in the venture. However, AT&T has promised T-Mobile $3 billion in cash if the deal doesn't go through, plus spectrum rights and agreements that could be worth billions more."

8/31/2011 11:02:49 AM

^didn't have a story when i posted. it was just an alert at the top of the page

[Edited on August 31, 2011 at 11:06 AM. Reason : .]

8/31/2011 11:06:28 AM

and the monopoly starts again, they already broke up back in ~04 to cingulair and tmobile, then they bought cingulair and now they are buying t mobile

8/31/2011 11:23:04 AM

^If only there was a department that could block this deal to prevent such a thing?

8/31/2011 11:25:09 AM

If there were, I'd call it the Justice Department.

8/31/2011 11:44:03 AM

http://www.droid-life.com/2011/08/31/u-s-files-complaint-to-block-atts-acquisition-of-t-mobile/

Quote :

"Update: AT&T has released a statement, and boy do they not sound pleased: We are surprised and disappointed by today’s action, particularly since we have met repeatedly with the Department of Justice and there was no indication from the DOJ that this action was being contemplated. We plan to ask for an expedited hearing so the enormous benefits of this merger can be fully reviewed. The DOJ has the burden of proving alleged anti-competitive affects and we intend to vigorously contest this matter in court. At the end of the day, we believe facts will guide any final decision and the facts are clear. This merger will: * Help solve our nation’s spectrum exhaust situation and improve wireless service for millions. * Allow AT&T to expand 4G LTE mobile broadband to another 55 million Americans, or 97% of the population; * Result in billions of additional investment and tens of thousands of jobs, at a time when our nation needs them most. We remain confident that this merger is in the best interest of consumers and our country, and the facts will prevail in court."

8/31/2011 12:03:55 PM

Quote :

"We remain confident that this merger is in the best interest of consumers and our country"

utter bullshit

competition is best for the customer and AT&T couldn't a fig for patriotism

8/31/2011 12:09:17 PM

Mommy! Daddy won't let me have another cookie.

8/31/2011 12:10:07 PM

What's most annoying about this country is talking with friends from England. Incoming calls: free. Text much cheaper. Data considerably cheaper. Plans much much much cheaper. I hate ATT, Verizon, et al. They make it far more like a utility than a service.

8/31/2011 6:20:14 PM

There is no such thing as mandatory 2 year contracts every time you buy a new phone or add a line in the UK/EU either.

[Edited on August 31, 2011 at 6:23 PM. Reason : :]

8/31/2011 6:22:50 PM

If I only had to provide service and expand my network to 1 of the lower 48 I bet I could offer reduced rates too.

8/31/2011 6:39:04 PM

Quote :

"What's most annoying about this country is talking with friends from England. Incoming calls: free. Text much cheaper. Data considerably cheaper. Plans much much much cheaper. I hate ATT, Verizon, et al. They make it far more like a utility than a service."

i'm sure there are plenty of reasons for this but I'd guess that their network costs are a lot lower. higher population density = fewer number of towers to provide coverage

9/2/2011 11:45:35 AM

IS250tim, eh, flooding the American midlands with cell towers is expensive. Also, zoning regulations are far more restrictive here in the states, making it more expensive to deploy towers.

That said, Virgin Mobile ! $25/month for 2GB data and unlimited texting and no contract! Cheaper than anything offered in UK (remember the exchange rate is almost 2/1).

[Edited on September 7, 2011 at 9:25 AM. Reason : .,.]

9/7/2011 9:24:26 AM

Quote :

"There is no such thing as mandatory 2 year contracts every time you buy a new phone or add a line in the UK/EU either."

these don't exist in the US either. you can buy any phone without a contract, people just don't think they should have to pay what the hardware in their phone actually costs. you can't have a subsidized phone cost and then not expect the subsidizer to not make their money back and then some on the contract side. you want cheap service, use virgin

9/7/2011 9:34:28 AM

i'm looking to get a cell phone here in austria and i was shocked at how cheap it was -- less than 20€/month for 1000min/1000sms/unlimited data

i was paying $75/month for verizon in the us

9/7/2011 11:07:51 AM

http://www.theverge.com/2011/12/19/2647291/at-t-kills-t-mobile-merger-plans

Sucks for AT&T I guess. Lost $4 Billion in the attempt.

Interesting that quite possibly the only good thing for the customers that would have came from the merger will still happen.

Quote :

"the two carriers will agree to a roaming deal which will allow devices for each network to work on the other"

12/19/2011 5:16:56 PM

^ that is the one thing that is good for consumers.

So now you get T-mobile, pay less, roam on ATT when you are out of tmobiles tiny ass footprint. WIN

12/22/2011 1:00:38 AM