Coverage: Sprint has CDMA coverage in every state, but coverage in Alaska is limited to analog roaming only. They have also been rolling out their Sprint Wimax 4G which speeds rank near the top. Nextel's iDEN network has coverage in every state except Alaska and Montana. As with all carriers, individual coverage will vary by location and we recommend searching fo out consumer generated Sprint coverage map on the right. For international coverage CDMA roaming is available in 26 countries while Nextel iDEN roaming is available in 11 countries. Their coverage is spotty in a few areas around the United States and roaming charges do apply to some areas. However, if you live in a major metropolitan area it is likely you will have comparable coverage to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile in most areas. One benefit of being a customer of a smaller carrier means you are likely competing against less users for network capacity. This usually results in less data and voice congestion problems when you are at a stadium or on a crowded freeway. Sprint and Clearwire Communications announced plans to launch their respective 4G mobile Internet services in 2009 and is rolling out in many large cities. Each of the companies will offer 4G under their own 4G brand which seems like a waste of resources in our opinion. However, Comcast will likely be the consolidator of the two companies in the future and acquire both within a few years. We think that Comcast will soon start leveraging their large footprint of cable lines connected into homes in the US in order to roll out femtocells to customers and have a quadruple play service. In-building home coverage is the weakness of all US carriers and Sprint been always been an early adopter in the space with its' Airwave enhanced coverage microcell tower. Plans: Sprint is beginning to attract more customers with the a compelling device line-up like the and the clarity and simplicity of plans. Plans are typically less expensive, particularly for unlimited internet access, text and messaging services. They offer several plans pre-paid, family and individual plans. Sprint's Power Pack plans have extended night and weekend hours. Nextel offers plans with unlimited incoming calls and a strong set of business-friendly features, including adding a second line to a handset. Nextel pioneered push-to-talk technology with its Direct Connect (now called Walkie-Talkie) service.
Plans available:
- Sprint offers a 3G (EV-DO) network but coverage limited to urban areas.
- Rolling out 4G services in major cities in partnership with Clearwire.
- Sprint Airave femtocell or mini cell tower for enhanced in-building coverage.
- Push-to-talk technology with Direct Connect (now called Walkie-Talkie)
- Sprint's CDMA network and Nextel's iDEN network are distinct technologies that use separate networks with different coverage areas.
- International CDMA and iDEN coverage has a smaller footprint than GSM, though the carrier now offers dual-mode CDMA/GSM handsets and a dualmode iDEN/GSM device.
- We recommended you monitor your text messaging usage closely and get on an unlimited plan so you don't get charged the outrageous .25 cents per message if you go over.
- Sprint has the Android phone on the HTC Hero handset with unlimited data plans. We highly recommend it!
Other Reviews:
- T-Mobile Service Plans and Coverage Review
- Verizon Wireless Service Plans and Coverage Review
- AT&T Wireless Service Plans and Coverage Review
Feedback is always welcome. Please submit your comments below.
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I would like to see coverage improve in the Maintenance area of the East Campus of Century College. Our IT department switched us everyone to Sprint per state contract. When we had Verizon we did not drop calls in the area of the building. Now that we have Sprint, we frequently drop calls around the 1400E suite.
Please fix.
Wow Sprint SUCKS!!!! My sister has been trying to get some customer service for 2 days now and has gotten nothing but a run around!! The people in the store were flat out rude and the customer "care" line doesn't seem to care about the problems she's having. This is INSANE. SPRINT SUCKS!!!!
I've had nothing but good luck so far with Sprint in terms of coverage - which is a far cry from the shotty service I had with AT&T over the years. Loosing service in Miami is a given with most carriers, but at least with Sprint I loose it less and less and their 4G network really does work at super fast speed.
In fact, Sprint's network is so vast that it supports three other carriers at the same time on one network so the ocassional deadspot is no surprise. It's about to get a lot more crowded as well now that Virgin Mobile/Sprint's Assurance Wireless program has begun. Though, Assurance Wireless has the potential to generate more than business for Sprint.
Their “Assurance Wireless” program is being in offered in five states and exclusively to low income, qualifying families and its an amazing deal. Qualifers can get both a phone and 200 minutes, with no fees or contract, for free with the potential to expand their program at. 10 a minute. While the program is new, I can only hope it will expand to more states and people who could also use a plan like this.
I might not be low-income, but the savings would totally help me. While free is a bit much to ask of already loyal customers, maybe Sprint and its parents companies could offer something like this for $10 for everyone – new and old customers alike. Times are tough and having a cell phone is a must so click here for Sprint president’s email address: http://assurancewireless.webs.com and let him know that everyone could use these savings.
Its kind of confusing to understand the whole Clearwire, 4G, Wimax coverage issue? Why promote 4G when there are very few handsets that work with it? Just be clear and say its for data / laptop users mainly.
Please give us signal in Camden Point Missouri! Our closes tower is not even St Joseph, but Overland Park! Why can't we use the prevelant AT&T Towers out here, o yes, they don't allow us to select roam only on our smart phones. This is my ONLY problem with Sprint. Please Fix ASAP! Thanks
I am an Ntelos subscriber (regional - east coast) and from what I have been told we use Sprint towers for 'roaming'. It is very disappointing that Sprint only has data transmission (EV-DO) in larger urban markets. Verizon and AT&T seem to have much better data coverage for just a few dollars more per month.
I switched to sprint from straight talk just to have a better phone and I effing hate the service at least with ST I had great service EVERYWHERE,I found some smart phones for ST so I think I'm going back
I bought an i680 "brute" at a Las Vegas Sprint store, and I pay my monthly rate to Sprint. I have Nextel coverage. In Nevada.
The sales associate told me my coverage would be the same as the Sprint phone I just upgraded from. I was now getting Email, Internet, walkie-talkie, GPS. I paid and I left with that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you think you've just done a responsible thing for the life your family leads.
Don't get me wrong, it's one tough phone. Built for the outback. The problem is, I can't get service out back! I have to stand by one of my south-facing windows to keep from dropping a call. In Reno.
As for the rest of the state, Nextel coverage is next-to-nowhere. A lot of times, the only thing I can do with my cell phone is take pictures of other people using theirs! Forget about the other promises, I-net not, E-mail, not. W-T, well I just never found anyone else with the same PTT setup...hmmm I wonder why.
Anyway, I bought this phone to both be a phone, and to get me information and service when I need it most.
The phone itself rocks. Nice job, Motorola!
Nextel...come on, guys. Why would you provide service for a heavy-duty phone that I can barely leave town with? Very disappointing, y'all.
Spend a few bucks on rural coverage or get out of the rugged unit line altogether. Please.
I was just about to buy one on looks and promises
alone. Thanks for the heads up.
Switched from Nextell to Sprint. BIG mistake.Coverage is supposed to b excellent in my area for both carriers. With Nextell it was. Sprint gave me an airwave to improve service, helped a little bit, but still have lots of dropped calls or no service at all, and when I am on phone, conversion is at best difficult to understand. Stay away from Sprint go Nextell