Items tagged with Sprint
It seems as though wireless carriers are finding new ways to squeeze out profits and in turn hit customers with further restrictions on their cellular plans. We can credit T-Mobile with causing a resurgence in unlimited data plans, but the term "unlimited" has been butchered recently. The latest carrier to muddy the unlimited data waters is Sprint. The company has announced two new unlimited data plans: Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Basic priced at $70 and $60 per month respectively. Unlimited Plus gives customers unlimited data, talk and text along with 15GB of LTE hotspot. In addition, Unlimited Plus allows you to stream in Full HD and includes free subscriptions to Hulu and TIDAL....
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When it comes to the biggest wireless networks in the United States, we have four major players (ranked by size): Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. While all four wireless carriers offer "nationwide" coverage, the quality and speed of that service really depends on where you live. For those that are looking to choose a wireless carrier -- either after moving to a new part of the country, or if you're just simply looking to make a switch to take advantage of some hot promotions -- PC Magazine has conducted an extensive number of speed tests featuring the four major wireless carriers across 30 of the largest population centers in America. In the 2018 edition of the...
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Even though Sprint is currently in the process of acquired by T-Mobile, that isn't stopping the company from trying another ploy to steal customers from its larger rivals. The company's latest offer is a $15/month unlimited data plan that is quite restrictive, as you might expect with the bargain basement pricing. $15/month gets you unlimited calling, texting and data. However, Sprint admits that video streaming will be limited to DVD quality (480p), music streaming is limited to 500 Kbps, and game streams will be capped at 2 Mbps. You will also be subject to "data deprioritization" during periods where Sprint's cell towers are congested. To qualify for the offer, you have to switch from...
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Computex 2018 is currently underway and Intel has announced that Sprint is now a partner in its 5G PC rollout plans. Intel and Sprint will work together on 5G-connected PCs that will be offered from Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Microsoft. Both laptops and 2-in-1 machines will be offered packing 5G starting in 2019. With 5G on the horizon, Intel is still going to be working on 4G-equipped computers as well. Intel plans to help deliver ten more 4G-connected PCs from Dell, Asus, Acer, and HP before the 5G machines roll out, which presumably will mean these other PCs are coming this year. This is in addition to the 25 Intel-powered 4G machines that are on the market already. What’s a bigger...
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Sprint is offering a deal that folks who are interested in one of the new slick little Qualcomm Snapdragon Always Connected PC Platform devices will really love. The deal allows eligible devices to get free unlimited LTE data for the entirety of 2018. There are three devices that are eligible for the free data offer, including the ASUS NovaGo, HP Envy X2, and the Lenovo Miix 630. All three of those devices are on the aforementioned Snapdragon 835 Mobile PC Platform and employ a Qualcomm X16LTE modem. The 2-in1 machines look very similar to the Microsoft Surface Pro with ultra-portable detachable or convertible designs, some with keyboard covers. The fine print on the deal notes that the free...
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Sometimes it feels like security and privacy are myths in this day and age of data leaks, hacking, and everything else. The latest example comes from a LocationSmart, a relatively obscure (to the public) location-as-a-service outfit has been leaking real-time location information of cell phone users on all of the major wireless networks in the United States, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. LocationSmart offers a free demo in which anyone can see the approximate location of their own mobile phone simply by entering in their name, email address, and phone number into a form on the company's website. The service then sends a text to the phone number that was entered asking for...
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It looks though the third time was a charm for T-Mobile and Sprint. After two previous attempts at tying the knot, T-Mobile and Sprint today officially announced that they have agreed to merge in an effort to create a powerhouse wireless company delivering 5G internet the masses. The move is no doubt an attempt to better compete with Verizon Wireless and AT&T, America's first- and second-place wireless carriers respectively. T-Mobile is currently a distant third place when it comes to wireless subscribers, while Sprint sits in fourth place. The combined company will be called T-Mobile, and it will be led by the T-Mobile's current executive team to spread more Un-carrier goodness....
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For what feels like the millionth time, T-Mobile and Sprint are reportedly once again in talks about a possible merger, and this time it sounds like they're actually making progress. It's said the two wireless carriers might even come to terms on a deal as early as next week, though we have learned that it when comes to these two companies, merger talks can fall apart at any moment, as they've done in the past. Nevertheless, negotiations are ongoing. Should T-Mobile and Sprint ultimately decide to join forces, they would create a wireless juggernaut with 127 million customers. That would still put the company behind Verizon and AT&T, which have an estimated 150 million and 141 million customers,...
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Will they, or won't they? T-Mobile and Sprint have tried on two previous occasions to tie the knot in an effort to create a powerhouse wireless carrier to better compete with Verizon and AT&T. However, those two previous deals both crashed and burned leaving T-Mobile and Sprint to fend for themselves. Now, both CNBC and the Wall Street Journal are confirming that T-Mobile and Sprint have restarted merger talks. It is not known who was the initiating party this time around, but Sprint is seemingly in dire straight these days as its bleeds customers and attempts to raise capital to build out its nationwide wireless network. T-Mobile CEO John Legere (L), Sprint...
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Mobile networks are not all created equal, despite the fact that if you look at coverage maps they often boast nearly identical coverage in many areas. Each year OpenSignal issues a report that looks at all the mobile carriers in the U.S. and compares the speed and performance offered to help consumers look through all the hype and marketing and see which carrier really is the fastest. According to the latest report, both Verizon and AT&T have stopped the declining performance on their networks that were attributed to the return of unlimited data plans. Both networks have returned to their pre-unlimited plan speeds as of the end of 2017. However, that doesn't mean either of the networks is...
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As the fourth-place wireless carrier in the United States, Sprint is in need of a new strategy or ploy to stem its subscriber loss and become more competitive with the larger players in the market. To help on this front, Sprint has announced a new partnership with Hulu that will benefit users of its Unlimited Freedom wireless plans. These customers will now be given free access to Hulu’s Limited Commercials plan starting November 17th. For those keeping score, this basic Hulu plan usually costs $7.99 per month and only allows for one stream at a time. However, you do get full access to Hulu's expansive streaming library, including Hulu Originals like The Handmaid's Tale. “We know people love...
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Samsung's long-running Galaxy Active series of smartphones have long been exclusive to AT&T. The most recent entry in the series, the Galaxy S8 Active, launched on AT&T's network back in early August. However, AT&T's Kung Fu Grip on the Galaxy S8 Active has loosened, with both T-Mobile and Sprint announcing that they will now carry the smartphone. On T-Mobile's network, the Galaxy S8 Active supports the third-place wireless carrier's 600 MHz spectrum (Band 71). This slice of spectrum will be a boon to expending T-Mobile's coverage in rural areas that are typically underserved. It was first reported back in late September that T-Mobile would be receiving the Galaxy S8 Active. “The...
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Almost as fast as the rumors began, talks of a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile have been officially called off. T-Mobile has announced that discussions on a potential merger, rumors of which surfaced first in September, of the Uncarrier and Sprint have ended because the two companies were unable to find mutually agreeable terms. Even if the two mobile carriers had been able to come to agreeable terms, they certainly would have needed regulatory approval. Historically, regulators have been unwilling to approve a merger that limits competition in the mobile market and with the "duopoly" already firmly in place, as TMo CEO John Legere likes to refer to his primary competition, another consolidation...
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Apple will open pre-orders for its upcoming flagship iPhone X smartphone at 3AM EST on Friday, and Apple is hoping that it has a winner on its hands with consumers. The recently released iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus haven't exactly been strong sellers with the Apple faithful according to recent reports, so Apple needs a big win with iPhone X sales. However, there is one thing standing in the way of the iPhone X and sales glory: its price tag. The smartphone starts at $999 with just 64GB of storage onboard and climbs to $1149 if you opt for 256GB of storage. Sprint, America's fourth-place wireless carrier, is the first through the gate with its discount offer on the iPhone X. Sprint will allow you...
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Andy Rubin is the father of Android and he and his company, Essential, decided not too long ago to try and break up the Samsung and Apple duopoly with a new smartphone. Things didn't go so well right out of the gate. Now, Essential has decided to price their device more realistically, which could spark a new wave of interest from cautious consumers. Essential is selling the unlocked device directly on its website at a $200 discount making the phone $499. That is a much more appealing amount than the $699 launch price. The original price put the device right in line with other more established and popular devices making the Essential Phone a hard sell. This direct price cut on the smartphone...
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Sprint has announced something that LG V30 fans who wished for more storage will be pretty pumped about, and it's known as the the LG V30+. This smartphone will be a Sprint exclusive at launch, and that launch will happen on October 13, which is about a week after the standard LG V30 launches on October 5 at Verizon and AT&T. There's also a treat for audiophiles with the new V30+ bundle as well.The V30+ will look just like the normal V30 (check out our hands-on for all the details), but the differences are all on the inside. The V30+ will have twice as much on-board Flash storage, 128GB to be exact. Sprint also promises that its V30+ will have higher sound quality experience for music and...
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When the father of Android, Andy Rubin, launched the Essential Phone recently, most of us expected great things. The phone certainly looks appealing with thin bezels and good looks. Last month the white version was delayed, but black versions were still shipping quickly. However, a new report has surfaced that claims Essential Products has sold a scant 5,000 units via Sprint since the smartphone launched there as an exclusive (which few were happy about). If you compare Essential to Apple and Samsung, the gulf is gigantic with both of those firms selling tens of millions of devices each quarter in the States. The 5,000 unit report comes from BayStreet, a company that tracks shipments of phones...
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We've been hearing rumors about a potential T-Mobile/Sprint merger for months, but the word on the street is that a deal is right around the corner. In fact, a new report out today suggests that T-Mobile, the nation's third-place wireless carrier, and Sprint, the fourth-place carrier, could announce their engagement as soon as next month. According to Reuters, a "major breakthrough" has been achieved that would pave the way for the two companies to merge. According to leaked details surrounding the transaction, T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom would own a majority stake in the combined company, while Sprint parent SoftBank Group Corp would own somewhere between 40 to 50 percent. T-Mobile...
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A little less than a week ago, Apple introduced the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, which bring meaningful upgrades to their immediate predecessors, and the all-new iPhone X, which represents a complete rethink of iPhone flagship design. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus retail for $699 and $799 respectively, while the iPhone X hits a new high (for Apple) with a base price of $999. Sprint understands that many of its customers would probably love to upgrade to a new iPhone 8, but have sticker shock at the price tag (even when split into monthly payments). So, the fourth-place wireless carrier is looking to soften the blow if you have a newer smartphone to trade-in (and meet all of the requirements for...
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The LG G6 was first announced back in late February, which seems like ages ago when it comes to flagship smartphones. Since that time, we’ve seen a number of competitors enter the fray including the Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, OnePlus 5, Essential Phone and Motorola Moto Z2 Plus. With that in mind, third- and fourth-place U.S. wireless carriers T-Mobile and Sprint are offering discounts on both the LG G6 and the LG V30. Over at T-Mobile, the LG G6 is being offered for $20 down and $20 per month, which makes its total price $500. Likewise, the LG V20 is available for $0 down and $20 per month, bringing the total outlay for that device to $480. To make the deal even sweeter, purchasing either...
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When you’re the last place wireless carrier in the United States, and have a reputation for spotty coverage and service quality, you need to make some noise in order to get noticed. That’s just what Sprint is doing with its latest promotion, which provides one year “free” of unlimited service if you switch from your current wireless carrier. We put free in quotes, because you know that there’s rarely a completely free lunch when it comes to wireless carriers. You will still be responsible for paying for the SIM ($2.99), shipping and handling charges for the SIM (a rather ridiculous $10) plus taxes and fees associated with the monthly unlimited plan pricing. Your other out-of-pocket costs (with...
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If you have had your eyes on Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone, we might have some bad news to bring you this morning. It is being reported that the Essential Phone will launch as a carrier-exclusive for fourth-place U.S. wireless carrier Sprint. Now before you get your pitchforks out, let us remember that you can still purchase the Essential Phone direct from Essential, and it will work on all four major wireless carriers. However, for those that don’t want to drop $700 on a brand-new smartphone all at once, your only bet is to get one from Sprint where you will be able to take advantage of any special pricing offers and installment plans to pay the device off over the course of 24 months. Most smartphones...
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