Sprint Wants to Give 3G iPhones 4G Speeds

[Paul Daniel Ash]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwV4XJJAAas&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Make Your iPhone® 4G[/ame]


Sprint Nextel has the third largest wireless carrier in the United States, greatly overshadowed by the Big Two: AT&T and Verizon. Their 3G network came in third behind T-Mobile's in a recent survey, and the carrier is losing millions of subscribers a year. But rather than sit and cry about it, they're taking a shot at the big dog, AT&T. In a new ad to be aired in the top wireless markets, Sprint makes fun of AT&T's often-maligned network and shows an iPhone 3G user getting 4G download speeds through Sprint's Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot device, which is a combination WiMAX subscriber station/WiFi base station.

Wireless technology is slowly moving towards a fourth-generation (4G) system that will allow faster speeds and secure, all-IP communication from the network core to mobile devices. Several standards are evolving to implement 4G, and are in varying states of readiness. AT&T and Verizon are both moving to implement Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, which is a step along the road to true 4G. Sprint chose to go a different route with Mobile WiMAX, a wireless Ethernet protocol based on the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard intended to bring wireless "last-mile" connectivity similar cable modems or DSL.

Sprint is marketing the Sierra Wireless Overdrive device for use with its WiMAX network, which is currently available in 27 cities in the US, with more coming in 2010. The battery-operated portable hotspot has a 4G receiver and a WiFi base station, and allows up to five WiFi devices to connect at speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G, according to Sprint. In a new advertisement for Sprint's service, two men are shown on a park bench, with one of them ("Steve") trying to download video with an iPhone that the other character "Matt" says is "limited to AT&T's 3G speeds." After "Matt" allows "Steve" to connect to his Overdrive device, the video loads instantly.

With Apple sticking with AT&T - for now at least - as the carrier of choice for the iPhone and iPad, other carriers are trying to get a piece of the action by offering alternative data plans for the devices. Verizon's MiFi currently uses 3G, but takes advantage of Verizon's well-regarded network. The uphill battle that the competitors face is price: Verizon's best data plan costs $60 a month, and has a 5GB cap, while Sprint's WiMAX service tops out at 300MB for $59.99 a month.

[rockjohn]

cool

[GellBrake'rrrr]

I love the snack "apple". 

[1shuttle1]

Would absolutely be worth it for the iPad and if you could get rid of the data plan on the iphone and they drop the price to match iphone or maybe 10 dollars more since you can use it on up to five devices at the same time. Boy what a run on sentence. A few drinks can do that. Also using an apple for snack is smart.

[Poseidon79]

300MB cap?! Are you kidding me?? I'd eat that up in a day!

[StealthBravo]

300mb?

[iGarza]

they want to give that to me!!!!!

how thoughtful.

sprint you bunch of bastards. i switched to att because you where taking crap from me

[z3r01]

i ordered mine but canceled because they dont have 4G coverage in NYC

[StealthBravo]

I tried it out here but the speeds are spotty. Sometimes I was getting 10 mbs but mostly 2-3 mbs

[clikzip]

Sprint has very little 4g coverage, like 20 cities total i believe. Yet they advertise like its nationwide. I had sprint for awhile. Never had a bill in my life with more hidden fees and taxes. My $40 rateplan was a $75 a month bill after fees and taxes. Sprint blows, but I cant say too many good things about at&t either..

[poobaa7]

Very nice

[lolcats1]

that was a really stupid idea advertising it with an iphone. they should have had him holding a pre or BB

[hollow0]

Sprints 4g is nothing but hype. Very limited in areas. And now it seems that they are taking verizons approach. If you can't beat them then bully them by making fun of them. How lame. Verizon reminds me of a playground bully. Picks on others because of low self esteem and with very little accomplishments. So next best thing, pick on some kids to feel better. Now sprint joins the clown bandwagon.

[romeo_herman]

I don't believe that, they are a bunch crap

[lolcats1]

I don't believe that, they are a bunch crap

you don't believe what? that 4g is faster than 3g?

[JacquesChirac]

well for now, 4G is as common as a wifi hotspot anyway

[vegasj]

so, since Apple keeps the leash tied to AT&T it is forcing others to create "add-ons" to give AT&T customers faster service with Apple's phone on their own service?

How is this good for Apple? It's NOT.

Come on Apple, release the grasp of the crappy AT&T service!!

[adsonjustin]

ahh my farts stink... oh back on subject, yeah it all cones down to coverage, most of it is bs though like the AT&T advertisement that says they cover 97% of Americans.

[vegasj]

I think they mean 97% of America. I must be unfortunate and always travel/work/live in those other 3% areas.

[tudtran]

To Sprint HotSpot users,
I wanna be your friend. I wanna use your 4G speed on my iPhone. Please