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Today Sprint released the details of its new ETF structure. The structure will work as follows:
“The current ETF of $200 will decrease by $10 increments per month beginning in month six of a wireless customer’s contract. Nine months later (the 15th month of the contract), Sprint customers have the lowest pro-rated ETF fee in the industry of $100. What’s more, the ETF could drop as low as $50 before a customer’s contract term expires.”
The only catch is this applies to Sprint customers with a new contract starting November 2, 2008. So if you renewed your contract recently then you’re out of luck.
The lowered ETF fees are a step in the right direction. I think that consumers are more interested in the phone rather than the service provider. It’s all about choices and consumers want to spend their money wherever they want and they don’t want to have to choose between a limited selection that their carrier provides.
Posted in News |
October 31, 2008 | |
I wouldn’t call the Slate the most feature rich cell phone on the market, but again it’s the worlds slimmest cell phone with a full qwerty keyboard so it has that going for it. The phone only has 20MB of memory built in and no external memory card so you have to wonder how much music you can listen to and how many pictures you can take. You can see all the photos and features for the Pantech Slate now.
Posted in News |
October 31, 2008 | |
When I drive home each day I see a large billboard for Boost Mobile. The board says the classic phrase, “where you at”. My question is, where is Boost Mobile at? I must say that I don’t know many people that use Boost Mobile. However it looks like Boost Mobile, owned by Sprint, is making an effort to get the Boost Mobile name out there. In a press release this week Sprint acknowledged their commitment to push Boost Mobile in these hard economic times. We’ll see how much traction they get. Here are a few highlights from the press release:
“In addition, Boost Mobile, Sprint’s prepaid business, is being refocused to compete aggressively for customers impacted by the current economic environment with a lower per-minute rate and other attractive pricing options. Boost Mobile offers phones and pre-paid services with no long-term contracts, credit checks or activation fees, primarily on the Nextel National Network.In early 2009, Boost Mobile plans to introduce Boost Unlimited on the iDEN network, offering a nationwide home calling area for one monthly fee – an excellent value in today’s economic times.”
Posted in News |
October 31, 2008 | |
Sprint said in a press release this week that they are committed to continuing the growth of their Nextel Network (push-to-talk). The desire for push-to-talk phone has declined recently in the consumer market. Push-to-talk is used more in business settings, construction and field workers more than anywhere else. The main manufacturer of Nextel phones has been Motorola. To help Sprint reiterate their commitment they have signed a long term deal with Motorola. You might recall some of the latest Nextel phones that were announced in recent months; Motorola i576, BlackBerry Curve 8350i, LG LX400, Samsung Z400, Sanyo Pro 200, Sanyo Pro 700 and Motorola Renegade(TM) V950.
“The iDEN network is a key differentiator for Sprint, as it allows us to offer products and services no other carrier in the industry can match. We continue to build on our support for our industry-leading push-to-talk Nextel Direct Connect franchise through our aggressive marketing efforts which exploit the unique features and functionality of the iDEN network,” said Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint. “In 2008, we expanded our product portfolio with a new line of Sprint phones, which combine industry-leading push-to-talk with the ultra-fast speed of Sprint Mobile Broadband (EV-DO Rev. A) and Sprint’s largest voice coverage, offering greater choice and flexibility to our customers. We are focusing on plans to continue our push-to-talk leadership and bring more innovation to our customers going forward.”
“Motorola has had a long and successful strategic relationship with Sprint, and we look forward to further strengthening this partnership,” said Sanjay Jha, co-chief executive officer and CEO of Mobile Devices, Motorola. “With its unique experience and functionality, iDEN has a loyal customer base and will continue to be an important part of Motorola’s portfolio. We actively support Sprint’s initiative and share its commitment and enthusiasm for the iDEN network.”
I don’t think that Sprint Nextel will try to target everyday consumers, but will continue to go after businesses that have a need for push-to-talk phones.
Posted in News |
October 31, 2008 | |
That’s right, starting today Wal-Mart will be selling the T-Mobile G1. Not only is Wal-Mart selling the G1, but they are selling it at a far cheaper price then T-Mobile offers it for. You can purchase the G1 with a two-year agreement for $148.88. That’s over $30 cheaper than you can buy it for online at tmobile.com or any of their retail stores. The G1 will not be sold in all Wal-Mart stores. It will only be sold where T-Mobile has 3G coverage.
Posted in News |
October 29, 2008 | |
With the holidays right around the corner one of the biggest questions is, “how can I convince my parents to buy me a cell phone.” This is a question that thousands if not millions of kids are asking their parents this year. Cell phones are a hot ticket item and kids want them. The biggest hurtle they run into is MOM and DAD. For as many reasons for why a child should receive a cell phone there are just as many reasons why they shouldn’t. This post is about why they should receive a cell phone. If you’re under the age of 18 then listen up. Here is a long list of reasons you can use to convince your parents that you should get a cell phone (in no particular order).
1. “I need one in case of an emergency” (using the “emergency” word usually will get your parents attention)
2. “You can easily find me at any time.”
3. Tell them that you can take a picture of the place where you’re suppose to be and you can send it to them so they know you haven’t gone somewhere else.
4. Write a list of rules about things that you won’t do and as a punishment they can take your cell phone away.
5. This goes without saying but do research on the cell phone(s) (give them some options) that you want along with the plans so they see that you’re doing your part. Don’t just go up to your parents and say “i want a cell phone”. That is a sure formula for failure.
6. Tell your parents if they get you the phone you’ll either pay for the service each month or you’ll do choirs around the house to pay for the monthly service.
6b. Tell them you will pay for the phone.
7. Tell them that they can get you a prepaid service. This means that they can set the limit of how many minutes and text you get without worrying about you running up the bill.
8. A don’t: don’t tell them that all your friends have one. Your parents could care less.
9. Tell your parents that now instead of waiting for you after events (practices that go too long, school dances, etc.) you can call them when you’re ready to be picked up. In todays busy world parents don’t want to wait in the car for a hour waiting for you to finish an event that has run over.
10. Unless you have great negotiating skills don’t ask your parents to buy you a top of the line phone for your first phone. First things first, get a phone. Ask them for a cheaper phone and once they are comfortable with you having the phone you can hit them up for the latest and greatest cell phone on the market.
11. Responsible, responsible, responsible. At your age your parents are worried that you aren’t responsible enough to have a cell phone. You’ve gotta convince them that you’re responsible enough to have one.
12. A don’t: don’t beg them for one. That will get you as far as telling them that everyone else has one.
If anyone else has any suggestions feel free to add to the list. Hopefully one or a combination of the points above will help you get your first cell phone!
Posted in Rants |
October 28, 2008 | |
Medical students at the University of Louisville now will be able to use wireless technology to enhance their education and improve the clinical care of patients, thanks to an innovative new agreement with Sprint. A first with medical schools, existing and incoming students will have the option of purchasing a discounted Sprint Windows Mobile smartphone, such as the Palm Treo 800w or the HTC Touch Diamond. The devices will include medical applications, such as ePocrates and medical and drug reference databases and can be used to access the university’s email program and address book.
With wireless technology’s increasing acceptance in the medical setting, the School of Medicine made the selection of the right wireless provider and devices a priority. The school’s academic technology task force, made up of administrators, educators and students, was tasked with selecting a technology partner. In choosing Sprint, the group conducted focus groups and online surveys to ensure they understood the needs of technology users.
“Sprint’s wireless technology will allow our students to access a virtual library of textbooks and medical references,” said Edward Halperin, dean of the School of Medicine. “We believe it is worth investigating whether or not giving medical students these tools and technology will enhance their knowledge and sharpen their decision making. Ultimately, our graduates will require these skills as outstanding physicians. It is important to assess the role of technology in the acquisition of clinical skills.”
This innovative and heavily discounted smartphone initiative will teach medical students how to use a wireless device to improve patient care and will ensure that students have the technology skills needed as practicing physicians. Key benefits of this program include:
* A single device, which can replace the need to carry multiple devices, including a separate phone, PDA and pager.
* Fast and easy access to medical information and other drug reference guides through applications such as ePocrates.
* A virtual library of textbooks and medical references at their fingertips.
* The ability to do research on medical topics anytime and anywhere, without being bound to a PC with Internet access.
* The ability to customize a phone to include information on a student’s current rotations or areas of study.
* The ability to sync with the university’s email program and address book, keeping students in touch with their classmates and professors.
* A contract that allows for technology upgrades throughout a student’s medical school career.
“Wireless adoption in the medical field is rapidly growing, and this program will prepare medical students on how to use wireless technology in their future lives,” said Stephanie Atkinson, managing partner & principal analyst at Compass Intelligence. “Hospitals across the country are using smartphones and wireless applications to write prescriptions, facilitate communications between physicians and nurses and give them the power to access critical patient information on their wireless device.”
Stephanie Ferguson, general manager of the Mobile Communications Business, Microsoft Corp., said, “The wireless industry is experiencing an incredible increase in smartphone adoption within specialized fields such as medicine. Students at the University of Louisville can get the most out of their medical education and professional careers through the use of our familiar, customizable Windows Mobile smartphones.”
“Smartphones and wireless technology are quickly becoming important learning tools in higher education,” said Ed Davalos, national director of education sales for Sprint. “In the past year, we have seen a widespread growth rate among universities in the adoption of smartphones, increasing Sprint’s educational subscriber base by 7 percent, with more than 750,000 users nationwide. We are pleased to be working with the University of Louisville School of Medicine and offering innovative wireless devices and technology that meet its educational needs and enables a 24/7 learning environment.”
Tell us, does your school offer discounts on an cell phones for educational purposes?
Posted in News |
October 27, 2008 | |
At a Smartphone show earlier this week in London Samsung introduced the I7110. The I7110 is a quad-band GSM phone that will run on the Symbian 9.3 Operating System. The phone is feature packed.
As a mobile navigator, the I7110 boasts advanced GPS navigation with geo-tagging, pedestrian navigation and driving navigation. The I7110’s AMOLED LCD screen provides sharp and vivid image even in daylight for perfect pedestrian navigation in the palm of your hand. Through its FM transmitter, the I7110 enables its users to receive the voice guides on the move by transmitting to an in car radio.
With Samsung I7110, users will be able to enjoy a 5 Megapixel camera with Auto focus and LED flash. It also comes with the latest digital camera features including smile shot and blink shot functions. The I7110 also provides advanced video recording and play features, supporting multi-codec files to enable its users to easily transfer without the hassle of converting files. It features 50MB of internal memory with micro SD slot, allowing users to store and enjoy various contents on the device up to 16GB.
To offer seamless connectivity, the I7110 comes with HSDPA connectivity and Wi-Fi connectivity. For easier web browsing, the phone also provides an 8-way optical mouse. The I7110 supports a 1200mAh battery that delivers 11 hours of talk time, meaning this slim and stylish smartphone offers long lasting multimedia experience.
There is no date as to when the I7110 will be released or for which countries.
See more photos, specs and features
Posted in Phones |
October 25, 2008 | |
We told you about the HTC Touch Pro coming to Sprint and now it’s official. Next week you can purchase the Touch Pro online and at Sprint retail stores.
“Bringing a beautiful new angle to mobile business productivity, the HTC Touch Pro uses styling and functionality similar to the recently launched HTC Touch Diamond™ and introduces a variety of business-focused enhancements that make getting work done on-the-go quick and easy.
The HTC Touch Pro is priced at $299.99 with a two-year subscriber agreement, after a $100 mail-in-rebate and a $25-or-higher data add-on or Everything plan with data. Customers will be able to purchase the device in select national retailers beginning the week of Oct. 26 and in all Sprint sales channels, including online at www.sprint.com, 1-800-SPRINT1 and Sprint Stores, on Nov. 2.
“People have already shown a tremendous initial response to the HTC Touch Diamond for Sprint, and we are pleased to also offer the HTC Touch Pro as another choice to customers,” said Jason Mackenzie, vice president for HTC America. “The HTC Touch Pro is the perfect device for those who demand the ease of use of TouchFLO 3D and the styling of the HTC Touch Diamond but also crave a more powerful mobile business experience.”
The HTC Touch Pro is a professional workhorse that allows people to balance their professional and personal lives in ways that matter most to them. Building on the strong feature set found on the HTC Touch Diamond, the HTC Touch Pro adds a five-row, slide-out QWERTY keyboard for easy data entry, expandable storage capabilities with a microSD card slot (1 GB card included) and a business card scanner application to automatically capture and convert business card information to the contact list using the built-in 3.2 MP camera/camcorder. Additionally, with Windows Mobile 6.1, users have access to security and device management capabilities demanded by many business customers. “The HTC Touch Pro marks the addition of yet another robust Windows Mobile device for our portfolio and demonstrates our commitment to delivering the best wireless technology today,” said Kevin Packingham, Sprint senior vice president of Product and Technology Development. “Combined with worry-free pricing and exclusive Sprint content, the HTC Touch Pro delivers an unparalleled user experience – all on Sprint’s Now Network.”
Sprint customers will have direct animated access to arrange their favorite contacts, photos, weather and music by using HTC’s intuitive TouchFLO 3D interface. By combining a rich, dynamic presentation with integrated multi-media features, people have the ability to graphically personalize their device with 3D animated transitions.
Lightning Fast Connectivity
The HTC Touch Pro for Sprint provides a mobile Internet experience that uses the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network. With EV-DO Rev. A technology access, the HTC Touch Pro provides customers with blazing fast speeds that reach more than 253 million people, 16,986 cities and 1,625 airports and brings customers instant gratification so they stay connected to life and work fast and on-the-go. With EV-DO Rev. A, peak download data rates increase to 3.1 Mbps and peak upload data rates increase to 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds improve to 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps and average uplink speeds increase to 350 Kbps to 500 Kbps.
Beyond this lightning-fast connectivity, customers can also interact with their device in new ways. With the new HTC Touch Pro for Sprint, users can zoom and pan Web sites and automatically view optimized content that has been specially created to fit the display. Using gravity-sensor technology, turning the device sideways automatically rotates the Web page view from a portrait to landscape view.
In addition to game-changing Web browsing, the HTC Touch Pro offers direct access to exclusive Sprint content, including live and on-demand programming from Sprint TV® as well as over-the-air song downloads from the Sprint Music StoreSM and even a custom YouTube application for watching a variety of user-generated video content.
Unmatched Style With Complete Productivity
Like the HTC Touch Diamond, the HTC Touch Pro is crafted with precision to fit comfortably in a user’s hand and brings together elegant touch screen response with the direct precision of HTC’s distinctive sliding keyboard design. A new five-row QWERTY keyboard layout makes typing-intensive tasks like composing email or working on Microsoft Office® documents quick and easy. Built-in TV-out functionality means users can deliver the perfect PowerPoint® presentation from the Touch Pro.
Bursting with Innovation
The Touch Pro delivers an unrivalled combination of features and functionality. The 2.8 inch display provides near-print quality viewing that enables beautiful Web browsing and viewing of photographs. The built-in camera includes an optical auto-focus lens that ensures the photos you take will be clear and consistent. Advanced wireless and auto sensor screen pivoting are just a few of the features that make the Touch Pro experience stand out.
Unmatched Customer Experience
Customers purchasing devices at Sprint retail locations can get the most out of their phone by having it personalized just for them before they leave the store. With Ready Now, Sprint retail associates work with new or existing customers to explain, set up and demonstrate the features and applications of their new phone.
Sprint’s Ready Now program is a first in the industry – no other wireless company offers a similar customer experience. The service is available whenever the customer wants it during business hours; however, only existing Sprint customers have the option to schedule an appointment online by visiting www.sprint.com/readynow.
To take advantage of all the great features on these new phones without having to worry about additional monthly charges, Sprint customers can sign up for the $99.99 Simply EverythingSM plan, which includes unlimited domestic calling, messaging, email, Web surfing, GPS navigation, Sprint Music Premier, Sprint TV® Premier, NFL Mobile Live, NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile, Direct Connect and Group Connect on compatible phones. The Simply Everything plan is available to current customers without renewing their contract. New lines of service require a two-year agreement.”
Posted in News |
October 24, 2008 | |
Today Nokia revealed its smallest Bluetooth headset to date, the Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804. This new Bluetooth headset combines cutting-edge technology with genuine aluminum case, slim lines and a compact size making it a stylish accessory to any mobile device. Boasting superior audio quality and the latest audio features, including digital signal processing (DSP) for background noise cancellation, the Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 lets consumers enjoy crisp, clear conversations while on the go.
The Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 has two user-friendly buttons making managing basic call functions and volume level easy. It comes with a desk-top charger and neck strap for convenient charging, storage and carrying
The Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-804 is compatible with phones supporting Bluetooth wireless technology and is expected to launch in select markets in the fourth quarter of 2008.
I’m personally not a headset fan, but if they keep getting smaller and smaller I’m sure I’ll jump on board eventually.
