Sprint Service Plans and Coverage Review

Coverage: Sprint, which is now part of T-Mobile, was a major wireless service provider in the United States. While the Sprint brand has been phased out, customers are now under the T-Mobile network and plans. Here is a review of T-Mobile's service plans and coverage, which now encompass former Sprint customers:

Plans: T-Mobile offers a range of postpaid and prepaid plans to suit different needs. These plans typically include unlimited talk, text, and data, with varying data speeds and data allowances. Customers can choose from different plan options based on their usage requirements and budget.

Coverage: T-Mobile's network coverage has expanded significantly after the merger with Sprint. They provide nationwide coverage across the United States, with improved coverage in rural areas and expanded 5G coverage in select cities. T-Mobile utilizes a combination of low-band, mid-band, and high-band spectrum to offer wide coverage and fast data speeds.

Unlimited Plans: T-Mobile offers several unlimited plans that provide unlimited talk, text, and data usage. These plans may have different data deprioritization thresholds, meaning that after a certain threshold of data usage, speeds may be temporarily reduced during times of network congestion.

Family Plans: T-Mobile provides family plans that allow multiple lines to share a data pool. This can be a cost-effective option for families or groups with multiple lines.

5G Network: T-Mobile has invested in the deployment of 5G technology and offers 5G coverage in various areas. Their 5G network encompasses both sub-6 GHz and mmWave frequencies, providing improved speed and capacity in supported locations.

Device Selection: T-Mobile offers a wide selection of smartphones and other devices for purchase. Customers can choose from flagship devices, mid-range options, and budget-friendly devices. They also support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs, allowing customers to use their own compatible devices on the network.

Customer Service: T-Mobile has customer service channels available, including phone support, online chat, and in-store assistance at T-Mobile retail locations.

It's important to note that the information provided reflects the combined offerings of T-Mobile and Sprint following their merger. It's recommended to visit T-Mobile's official website or contact their customer service for the most up-to-date information on their current plans, pricing, and coverage in your specific area.

Finding the best cell phone coverage just got easier by comparing cell phone coverage reports from other customers. Which wireless carrier has the worst cell phone coverage?

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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Which Cell Signal Booster is Best for Verizon

zBoost YX-510 Cell Phone Signal Booster Dual-Band Unit for Home or Office

How is Verizon's Network Handling the iPhone?

We have started to receive a lot more dropped call and dead zone complaints from Verizon Wireless customers this year now that Verizon has iPhone running on its network.  The Verizon wireless coverage problems seem to be occurring more on the East Coast vs the West Coast. See our Verizon Dead Zones Map.

It also seems a little hypocritical of AT&T and Verizon  to be offloading data on the iPhone to WiFi when you are paying for expensive and overpriced 3G data plans.   WiFi is free and smart consumers are going to need to learn how to live without 3G and 4G in the future because the networks will never be able to handle the traffic.  Wireless armageddon is coming in 2012 and the only solution is more open WiFi networks distributing the traffic.

Verizon's CDMA iPhone only works on 3G is has been reported to be much slower than the AT&T network.   Verizon's iPhone is at a disadvantage because it accesses Verizon’s EV-DO  network, which tops out at 3.1 mbps down, while the AT&T iPhone is capable of hitting 7.2 down on AT&T’s HSDPA network.  I

EVDO Advantages Over Satellite & WiFi

EVDO Advantages Over Satellite Internet & WiFi

1. Always on with seamless roaming assuming coverage
2. Fully portable
3. You are your own hotspot and not  relying on someone else's internet connection
4. Goes beyond the 300-ft range from a "hotspot"
5. Access corporate VPN (virtual private network) get a cellular signal via a secure, encrypted signal
6. Can provide service outside of cable-modem or DSL areas
7. Relative low cost with high capacity – allows rich web browsing and application usage.
8. VOIP compatible with Skype, Google Voice or Magic Jack

How Does EVDO Work

EVO stands for Evolution Data Optimized and works similarly to the way your cell phone operates in that it relies on signal from a wireless tower rather than a physical connection like a phone line or cable. An EVDO modem (often referred to as an "aircard") receives the signal and allows you to connect to the internet -it's as simple as that! EVDO modems come in as a 3G Router.  Most 3G EVDO service plan have a 5 gig cap but some do not have any data cap.

Why Use EVDO?

• Line of site issues
• Data latency 
• Can't get DSL or broadband at your home or office
• Can't get satellite broadband
• Gamers and traders people who want fast persistent connections.

Who uses EVDO?

There are countless reasons to use EVDO and we have helped customers get set up for a huge variety of applications! Below are just a few common ways people use EVDO:

Mobile applications: Cars, trucks, RV's, commercial service/fleet vehicles, shuttles, carpool/vanpool, transit (busses, trains, ferries), taxis/limos, private/commercial vessels Portable uses: Mobile work teams, trade shows, conferences, conventions, vacations, commute access, emergency response setup

Fixed-location customers: Backup to cable/DSL/T-1, dial-up alternative, satellite alternative

How does EVDO compare to other technologies?

The best aspect of EVDO (to most users) is the mobility it offers, but EVDO is also FAST! With a good signal, EVDO Rev A averages about 600-1400Kbps download with upload speeds averaging between
500-800Kbps. Here is how it stacks up to other common internet technologies:

• EVDO Rev A: 600Kbps - 1,400Kbps Down (with bursts to 3.1Mbps); 500Kbps-800Kbps Up (with bursts to 1.8Mbps)
• EVDO Rev 0: 400 - 1000Kbps Down (with bursts to 2.0 Mbps); 50 - 100Kbps Up (with bursts to 144Kbps)
• 1xRTT: 50Kbps - 100Kbps with bursts up to 144kbps Down/Up
• EDGE (2G): 50Kbps - 100Kbps Down/Up
• HSPA: 700-1700kbps Down; 500-1200kbps upload
• DSL: Varies based on provider. Average appoximately 1500Kbps Down; 128Kbps Up
• Cable: Varies based on provider. Average appoximately 1000-5000Kbps Down; 200-800Kbps Up
• Satellite: 512Kbps - 1500Kbps Down; 128 - 256Kbps Up
• Dial-Up: 56Kbps Down/Up

How to Get a Free Sprint 3G Femtocell

Sprint Airave 3G EV-DO Femtocell

Sprint will apparently begin offering FREE femtocells for its "qualified customers" that have reception problems on their 3G / EV-DO phones. Sprint's new Airave femtocell now supports 3G which technically should be 3X faster (500-700 kbps kilobytes per second ) than their 2G Samsung femtocell of 150 (kbps).  The updated Airave Access Point (aka what is a femtocell?) uses a customer's broadband internet connection to route calls back to the Sprint network and is being marketed by Sprint as a mini cell tower. It covers up to 5,000 square feet and supports up to six calls simultaneously.  The Airave will be available in stores to customers with specific in-building reception issues.

Sprint 2G Airave femtocell has been around for almost 3 years since 2007 and sells for $100.  For some reason that makes no business sense, Sprint will still continue to offering its' 2G data version of Airave for $99.99, plus a required $4.99/month plus an activation fee of $10 for a single line or $20 multi-line plans.  We don't have a clue why they would continue charging for a old product other than possibly trying to avoid cannibalizing their existing customers.

Sprint is riding the data wave that AT&T creating launched their AT&T femtocell earlier this year.  Sprint seems to be doing it right and offering the device for free which is how it should be.  We are not quite sure what criteria will get you the "qualified customer" status yet but here are some ideas below that might help get you a free femtocell:

1. Find out if the Sprint 3G femtocell is available in your market.
2. Use Sprint Dead Zones Map map to share reception problems in your neighborhood (see map below)
3. Complain a lot to Sprint customer service that your home reception is poor
4. Document your dropped calls on a daily basis using your monthly bill
5. Show Sprint that you have been a customer for many years
6. Show Sprint that you have multiple Sprint phones in the house
7. Show Sprint that you have multiple subscribers in the house
8. Show Sprint that you are a Clearwire customer
9. Become friendly with your local Sprint store sales manager
10. Find out when your contract expires and use renewal as leverage

If you know of any other factors that could help influence Sprint to give you a free femtocell please submit in the comments below or email us. See our map below to build your case to the carrier and use the map to show problems in your area.

What Does 1G 2G 2.5G 3G 3.5G 4G 5G Mean?

With the announcement of the new iPhone 4 there is a lot of confusion about what is 3G and 4G.  Here is a great video which explains the evolution of the technology and what AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint use on their networks.  The first iPhone 3G used a technology called EGDE and the new iPhone 4 is using the the HSPA technology.  Here are the protocols explained so that when someone says they have a 4G iPhone you can correct them.

Generation - Definition - Technologies - Speeds
1G - Original analog cellular for voice (AMPS, NMT, TACS) 14.4 kbps
2G - Digital narrowband circuit data  (TDMA, CDMA) 9-14.4 kbps
2.5G - Packet data onto a 2G network (GPRS, EDGE) 20-40 kpbs
3G - Digital broadband packet data (CDMA, EV-DO, UMTS, EDGE) 500-700 kbps
3.5G - Replacement for EDGE is (HSPA) 1-3 mbps
4G - Digital broadband packet data all IP (Wi-Fi, WIMAX, LTE) 3-5 mbps
5G - Gigabit per second in a few years (?) 1+ gbps