In a Shift from Nextel's Network, Sprint Releasing Rugged CDMA Phones

Although Sprint has already announced their plans to phase out their iDen network acquired by Nextel, they haven't given customers on the aging network a real reason to switch over to CDMA. In a first move to change this situation, Sprint has released the Sanyo Taho, a rugged flip phone that runs on the CDMA network. Although the phone isn't totally waterproof, it can withstand total submersion in up to one meter of water for thirty minutes, along with other military-grade specs. The phone doesn't have any type of push-to-talk service that doesn't use iDen, however, so this is only a phone for Nextel customers that like the rugged style of some of the phones. Sprint also has the Motorola ES400S smartphone, which is also a rugged phone. The ES400S has a full QWERTY keyboard on a candybar design and is running Windows Mobile 6.5.3. (Sprint)

Sprint Plans to Phase Out iDen

Sprint has plans to end its iconic push to talk network within the next few years, according to CEO Dan Hesse. Although the service is popular with customers looking for the very best push to talk service, the network technology used for the service is aging rapidly and doesn't work well for data transfers, which are quickly becoming the most important thing in mobile phones. Although they won't be ending the service right away, as time goes on it should be easier to end it with the amount of customers that have been leaving the iDEN network. Sprint plans to get customers to use the more popular CDMA network. When they eventually shut down the iDEN network, they will use the spectrum for other services. (Engadget)

Sprint Announces Third Quarter Results

Sprint has announced another quarter of results recently. Sprint kept up the customer increases, adding a total of 644,000 customers last quarter. 354,000 postpaid subscribers were added to the network, which are valued customers because they sign new two-year contracts. Sprint also did well in the prepaid department, gaining a total of 471,000 prepaid subscribers. A whopping 1.2 million of those customers are new to the CDMA network, but the total number of additions was dragged down by 700,000 prepaid customers leaving the iDen network. Although Sprint is gaining customers again, they lost an average of thirty cents per share this past quarter. The strong customer gains are good news, but the loss might be troubling to Sprint investors. (Sprint)

Sprint Announces the Blackberry Style, With Blackberry 6

Sprint has announced the Blackberry Style flip phone, the first flip-style Blackberry with a full keyboard and the first CDMA Blackberry to launch with OS 6. The phone features a 360 by 400 pixel internal display, a five megapixel camera, GPS, b/g/n wifi support, and support for dual-band CDMA Rev. A. The Style will come in both black and purple, and is exclusive to Sprint, at least for now. The Blackberry experience is even better with the addition of OS 6, bringing an improved Webkit browser, universal search, and Blackberry Media Sync, although the phone's style isn't the most attractive. The phone will be available on October 31 for $99 with a new two-year contract and a mail-in rebate. (Sprint)

Blackberry Curve 3G Announced for Sprint

The Blackberry Curve 3G, yet another update to the popular Curve series, has been announced for Sprint. The phone will be coming on September 26 through Sprint's telesales and online sales, and then in brick and mortar stores on October 10. The phone will cost $49 after a $100 mail-in rebate and a new two-year contract. The Curve 3G is very similar to the Curve 8530, with the main differences being a slightly updated housing and double the RAM inside. A 2 GB microSD card will be included with the Curve 3G. The phone will be coming in Graphite Gray and Royal Purple, with a new textured battery cover on both. The main reason for the release of the new phone is that it will be compatible with Blackbery OS 6, when it comes out for phones other than the Blackberry Torch. The phone is a bigger upgrade for GSM users, however, because the Curve 8520 did not include 3G like the Sprint and Verizon versions. An Everything Data or Simply Everything plan is required to use the phone.
-Sprint Blog