Free 3G/4G Modem

Do you have 4G in your city? Even if you are just a 3G subscriber on Sprint, you can get a 3G/4G laptop modem for free with a two year contract. The pricing is the same for using 4G, but you get unlimited data usage when you are in a 4G coverage area. If you have a laptop card or are thinking about getting one from Sprint, this would be a great choice in case you ever travel to a city with 4G coverage, which are really starting to add up. (Sprint)

How T-Mobile Could Save Sprint

It is no doubt that Sprint is trying to make a comeback from their heavy customer losses and customer service issues the company has had in the past. And now that they have become the first U.S. carrier to offer a 4G phone, and the first with a 4G network, it is clear that they are going to try to use WiMax to win back customers and to increase their revenue. But recently, the other carriers, both in the United States and around the globe, have been choosing the competing 4G technology- LTE- over WiMax. What does this mean? Well, if wiMax doesn't have as many subscribers or carriers using it, it means that most phone manufacturers will produce more phones for LTE networks, much like we have already seen with the GSM/CDMA conflict in 3G already. It also means that LTE equipment would be more readily available than WiMax gear, making everything from phones to the tower equipment cheaper than WiMax. So, you ask, what does T-Mobile have to do with this? Well, the company is currently focusing on ramping up it's 3G network before making the jump to 4G, and hasn't selected a technology that they would use for their next network. Their parent company has already picked LTE, but there have been reports lately that T-Mobile is in talks with Sprint/Clear about using their WiMax network for their customers 4G gear. If this is true, and a deal comes around that T-Mobile jumps on the Clear WiMax network (or just plain chooses WiMax over LTE), this could change the game in 4G and for Sprint. Getting another carrier in the United States market to use WiMax would mean more manufacturers would want to make a WiMax phone instead of or in addition to a LTE phone, and mean that another company would be in the mix to help contribute money to network expansion, if they join forces with Sprint and Clear. Many people already consider WiMax to be an outdated technology, or one that will disappear in the next few years, which might be true if T-Mobile decides to go with LTE instead. This could mean that manufacturers wouldn't bother making a WiMax version of phones, or would just make phones for LTE networks. This could lead to many customers migrating away from Sprint and Clear, just to get better and newer phones on other networks. An increase in the pricing of 4G might also become a reality, as Sprint and Clear pay more for their network equipment than LTE carriers, and as customers migrate away to other carriers to get better phones or cheaper prices.

There is nothing decided yet in the 4G wars, and everything is just heating up in the 4G market. Sprint and Clear have established the lead for now, but if other networks can offer 4G with cheaper plans and better devices, then Sprint will be in one big pinch if they don't have a network to back up the pricing and phones.

Sprint Announces First 4G Phone

The rumors have turned out to be true, Sprint has announced their first 4G phone (the first 4G phone in the United States, too) at CTIA just yesterday. Codenamed the Supersonic, the phone is a powerhouse that is running Android 2.1, uses both the 3G and 4G networks of Sprint, has a 1 GHz "Snapdragon" processor, and a huge 4.3" screen. The more advanced features of the phone include the ability to use it as a hotspot for up to eight Wifi devices (much like the Pre and Pixi), HDMI output, an eight megapixel forward facing camera and a 1.3 megapixel camera facing the user of the phone (most likely for video calls). During the presentation at CTIA, multiple Sprint and HTC executives demoed the various features of the device, ranging from streaming HD video from the phone to a TV, using the hotspot feature, playing high definition Youtube videos, and comparing the screen to that of the Droid. If this phone performs even a fraction of what they have been showing at CTIA, it looks like it will be a great competitor to every other smartphone and Android phone currently on the market. One of the major draws of the phone is the speed, not only in the phone itself but of the data. Considering other networks are just going to be getting their 4G going this year, it is a major thing for Sprint to already have a phone supporting the fast service on their network. The Sprint/Clear WiMax network already covers over thirty cities in the United States, with more cities to be getting the service this year. The 4G speeds on the device seem to be as fast as ever, and Sprint has said the battery life will be "comparable". No release date or pricing have been announced for this phone yet, but hopefully we will see this phone sooner rather than later, as it just might be Sprint's phone to get them back in the wireless game. (Sprint)(Engadget)(Sprint)

HTC Supersonic 4G Phone Coming at CTIA?

We have already heard rumors about the HTC Supersonic Android phone coming to Sprint, but now we have more rumors coming along, saying the phone will be announced at this year's CTIA. Sprint has previously said that the first Android phone will be coming this summer, so is this just a rumor or a release date, or are they giving us a 4G phone early? The Supersonic will be a dual mode phone that will run on both the new WiMax 4G network and Sprint's old 3G network, making it the first phone in the United States to run on a 4G network. Considering that Sprint's competitors don't have 4G networks up and running yet, having a 4g phone before them would be great for drawing in new subscribers. We will have to wait until CTIA to know if it is going to be announced, but this phone is definitely something to keep your eyes on. (Engadget)

Nexus One Coming To Sprint

Google's own cell phone, the Nexus One, is going to be coming to Sprint! Already available on T-Mobile and in AT&T 3G bands, the phone will be coming to Sprint sometime this year. Now release date and pricing are still to be announced, but the phone is now going to be available on the four largest U.S. networks. The Nexus One has a five megapixel camera with flash, a 1 GHz "Snapdragon" processor, a 3.7 inch AMOLED display, and Wifi. The phone is also running Android 2.1 (Eclair), which is the newest version of Android. It looks like a great Android phone to be coming to the Sprint network, along with our new 4G Supersonic. (Sprint)

More Cities Confirmed for Sprint 4G in 2010

Multiple cities are going to be receiving the gift of 4G this year. Here is the list:
-Boston
-Denver
-Kansas City
-New York City
-San Francisco
-Houston
-Minneapolis
-Washington D.C.
With some of these major cities, Sprint should hopefully see a rise in it's 4G customers, especially with the many people that live in San Francisco and New York. (Engadget)

Open Enrollment for Sprint Insurance Program in March

This month, you will be able to enroll in Sprint's Insurance plan for phones, no matter how long ago you purchased your phone. So in case you forgot to enroll within the first month of purchasing your device, or you realize that you want to enroll now, you can sign up now. They are also extending customer service hours and letting you track your phone online, which are great features for people anxious to get a broken phone back and working again. (Sprint)

Sprint Expands Buyback Program to Non-Sprint Phones, Too

Looking to switch to Sprint, but wondering what you are going to do with your old phone? It looks like anyone that has an old phone, even from other carriers, can now get credit for them when they give them to Sprint. Up to three phones can be returned to Sprint for a credit, and any phones after that won't be credited. If your family has been with another carrier before now, each person buying a new Sprint phone could give three phones for a credit, which adds up to a nice fat credit, depending on the phones. You can use the credit to pay for your bill or new phone, too. Previously, Sprint only accepted Sprint branded phones for a credit, but now they will take any phone and give you credit back for them. A great way to get customers, especially those that don't want to deal with services like eBay and Craigslist. (Sprint)

Treo Pro No Longer on Palm, Sprint Death Sometime Soon?

Palm's last Windows Mobile device, the Treo Pro, has officially left Palm's website. The phone was a popular Windows Mobile device that has a similar design to the Palm Centro. If you still want a piece of Palm's Windows Mobile device, it is still available directly from Sprint, but once it is gone from the phone manufacturer's website, it's probably going to be gone soon. Hopefully with the Treo Pro gone, Palm will make new devices on the modern WebOS platform to take it's place, and fast. (Palm)

Sprint Most Reliable 3G Network (In a Tie)

PC World has conducted another test of the Big Four national carriers, and Sprint is the most reliable again (in a tie with AT&T that is). They got perfect reliability in three of the cities that PC World tested in, and they only dropped below 80% in a few cities. In addition to being the most reliable in some of the cities, they also have 4G up and running in some of those cities, which is a bonus if you live in a Sprint 4G city. Although they didn't have the highest speeds out of all the carriers, they have improved their reliability from last year (about 90%) four percent (to about 94%). Overall, all the carriers saw improvements in their networks. Sprint increased their speed in some cities, but were starting to drop in speed in a few that they haven't upgraded their 3G network in. AT&T got the best 3G speeds in almost every city that PC World tested, increasing by more than 100% in some cities. But if you are looking for coverage and reliability in your network, look to Sprint, which has already started on their 4G network and have almost twice the 3G footprint of AT&T and more than eight times more than T-Mobile. (PC World)

HTC Legend Coming to Sprint?

It looks like the popular Hero has a follow up device, with the HTC Legend supposedly coming to Sprint. With a new unibody design and still having the same Sense UI, it is essentially just an updated Hero. And to support it coming to Sprint, it has already cleared the FCC tests that are required for every phone before being released on the United States. (Engadget)

Engadget WebOS App Now Available

If you are regular readers of Engadget like me, you have probably checked their website too many times to count on your mobile device. Engadget has now made it easier for you to read everything from their blogs on your WebOS device, with their new app. It's the first app of 2010, too, and the 1000th app in their catalog! You can find the app by searching in the catalog on your Palm device. (Engadget)

WebOS 1.4 Update Now Available

If you have a Palm Pre or Pixi, you might already have updated to the latest OS, WebOS 1.4. The update includes numerous bug fixes and adds a few new features, so if you haven't checked for an update already, it might be time to get the latest OS. (Engadget)

New Smartphone Low Prices

Starting this week, multiple smartphones from Sprint have dropped in price. Here are a few of the dropped phones:

Palm Pixi: $49 (was $99)
HTC Hero: $149 (was $179)
Samsung Moment: $99 (was $179)
Blackberry Tour: $99 (was $149)

Maybe the most notable of these smartphones is the Palm Pixi, which is only a couple of months old. If this is anything like the Pre, the price has dropped so soon because of weak sales. The launch of the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus on Verizon might have a hand in that, though. The Moment is now a great deal if you are looking for an Android phone, especially with the full keyboard and Android 2.1 coming soon. If you are in the market for any new Sprint smartphone, though, now would be the time to buy for low prices. But if you are looking to get the latest and greatest, these price drops might just mean we are going to be getting some new smartphones soon, such as the Bold. (Sprint)