Sprint fuels the fire, instigates fight with T-Mobile but gets the facts wrong

2. manny (unregistered)

If I Super Charged my 4 banger Honda, can I call it a v8? HSPA+ is a 3G network/technology and always will be! Trash-Mobile = Failed
Who gives a rats ass about what the itu said, they seem to make shit up as they go. The only real built 4TH GENERATION technology is Lte and Wimax.

VERIZON THE FASTEST NETWORK IN AMERICA!!

3. whocares112 (unregistered)

you people take this shit too seriously

4. MattyAF (unregistered)

They really do ... I mean who gives a flying rats a$$ ... I have T-Mobile and the phone makes calls , I can send texts , and update my facebook. I could care less about anything else other than that. Some people are just pathetic

5. JeffdaBeat (unregistered)

Sprint can't really complain seeing as their "4G" network wasn't included in the first round draft pick of what is 4G. In fact, their WiMAX network was added with T-Mobile's HSPA+ network.

But in the end, it's all about speed. I don't care what G is behind it. It could be EDGE for all I care, if they found a way to make EDGE work at 6mbps.

6. insuusvenerati (Posts: 7; Member since: 25 Sep 2010)

So just because some people actually work for their money and would like to invest in a device that does more than your free phone that you beg for in the tmobile store all of the sudden they are pathetic? And why are you trying to insult people over the internet. You sound just as sad as the moron for who this article was written.

7. ddsindpls (Posts: 17; Member since: 16 Sep 2007)

Get over yourselves. Just use whatever is the best coverage in your area. If it's fast enough for you then that's all that matters.

9. taeh1291 (unregistered)

People people people. Its Christmas. So Merry Christmas. Can't we all just get along. Whatever carrier or speed that works for you should be the only thing that matters. I use ATT with my Nokia N8 and I love it. My goodness, did I just open myself to a barrage of !@#&?

10. gnRview (unregistered)

Just to set the record straight, the ITU hasn't completed their analyst on this yet.

Please not the " UNDEFINED " (Please see below actual language) word and the full analyst will NOT be complete until 2012. And to be more direct, let’s wait until a year from now and see if T-Mobile has announced an LTE (Long Term Evolution) network then the confusion really get ugly.


QUOTE from actualy ITU statement released

" Following a detailed evaluation against stringent technical and operational criteria, ITU has determined that “LTE-Advanced” and “WirelessMAN-Advanced” should be accorded the official designation of IMT-Advanced. As the most advanced technologies currently defined for global wireless mobile broadband communications, IMT-Advanced is considered as “4G”, although it is recognized that this term, while undefined, may also be applied to the forerunners of these technologies, LTE and WiMax, and to other evolved 3G technologies providing a substantial level of improvement in performance and capabilities with respect to the initial third generation systems now deployed. The detailed specifications of the IMT-Advanced technologies will be provided in a new ITU-R Recommendation expected in early 2012."

Stephanie did fine with our her statements, it's just everyone is trying to keep up with the demand and it will get worst over the next year. And no, I don't work for Sprint!

11. Slammer (Posts: 1515; Member since: 03 Jun 2010)

For individuals to say 4G is only about speed, is incorrect. Many programs and applications coming into the next year, will be very data intensified. While increasing speed is a great, people need to look at backhaul, spectrum and throughput.

I can have the fastest car on the road. Once I mingle with traffic, my car is no faster than the traffic jam ahead of me. This is true with older generation networks. I cannot stress enough that HSPA+ in its current form, is NOT 4G. Speed may be evident, but tmo's lack of spectrum and backhaul will buckle once new emergences of technological programs culminate.

Example:
As it stands right now, Dish Network, Comcast, Time Warner etc, are setting up live broadcasts to be delivered right to the mobile device. This requires large amounts of bandwidth. Restaurants are setting up their businesses to allow managers/ owners to monitor operations and activity of their locations as well as to check status on a their equipment. This is done through new technology I am currently installing on equipment to communicate with mobile devices.

Automobiles are now being fit with onboard computational chips to interact with mobile devices. GE, Maytag, Whirlpool etc are fitting their appliances with WiMAX and LTE chips to allow the customer to control many aspects of operation from the palm of their hands. Home alarms and video monitoring systems are equally in production for such programs.

For those into gaming: How about simultaneously kicking your buddy's ass from your house in NY while he is in California. This requires large amount of bandwidth. This is all coming very shortly. Current HSPA+ will be rendered back to slow 3G speeds once exposed to all these programs plus far more in the pipeline.

So ask yourselves if you think speed is going to be enough? Do you want a small 4 cylinder engine to try and penetrate traffic, or do you want a large diesel engine?


Please clarify that the ITU did not mention "HSPA+" in their statement. There is a reason for that. When you take all the examples I have placed in my post and add far more developments and technological programs coming into next year and closely after, you will see that speeds alone will not handle the demands.

John B.

12. Doakie (Posts: 2227; Member since: 06 May 2009)

"For individuals to say 4G is only about speed, is incorrect. Many programs and applications coming into the next year, will be very data intensified. While increasing speed is a great, people need to look at backhaul, spectrum and throughput."

So backhaul seems to be just fine with Tmobile. I get consistent 6mbps all day long with spikes up to 10mbps on my Mytouch 4g. Backhaul doesn't seen to be an issue. Spectrum, so then only large carriers with tons of national spectrum will be the ones with 4g? I didn't see the ITU putting a backhaul, or spectrum requirement. Also, throughput, I get a lower ping(75ms vs 400ms), faster download, and faster upload vs my Evo.

Sounds to me you're making up your own standards that no one else has adopted.

13. Slammer (Posts: 1515; Member since: 03 Jun 2010)

@Doakie,

I guess you missed my point. Video Chat plus all the things I mentioned, have not come into full mainstream standards as of yet. These things are just beginning or going to begin the infancy stage. Thus the reason you see no issue. Once more and more programs culminate into everyday use, you will most definitely see a degradation on the part of older tech.

If you read my post, will certainly see that speeds are not an issue now, but will be by the end of next year.

Tmo's claim may seem legit. However, at current standing, the ITU's outline clearly states that 3G needs to have substantial improvements in performance and "Capabilities". Performance may include speed which TMO has done. But what about the capabilities of fulfilling the very near future of what the world will be transitioning to? Speed will be breached once the load increases. This is changing with the increasing interest in front facing cameras and video chat and the other things I mentioned. There will be many other offerings of different types from different industries very soon. I would like you to compare the difference yourself between a 3G video chat and a 4G video chat. You will be amazed. Speeds are not the main ingredient in delivering this technology. It takes spectrum and the throughput that comes with it.

I've been a technician most of my 50 years and have tried to study the logistics of 4G for the last 4 years. If you honestly feel that HSPA+ in its current state can handle what is coming, then I wish you luck. HSPA+ is not designed for the constant modulation rates that will be associated with the the future of communication. Not to the mention lack of spectrum in T-Mobile's yard.

I have been in contact with the ITU with this 3G/4G debacle and I think that one of the things they were pretty adamant on in their last report, was that the carriers not abuse the definition. Currently, in my opinion, T-Mobile is doing just that. It is not a 4G implement in the realms of "capabilty". They need to make the move into at least the 42mbps HSPA+ category as well as implementing the newer infrastructure hardware. Until then, it is what it is.

John B.

15. Rawrzellers (Posts: 224; Member since: 22 Aug 2010)

Someone is getting fired :D Good job lady you've set the example to the rest of the world that big businesses in America are nothing more then trash talking whore bags like yourself. God I love Sprint and how competitive they get over small things. FYI American Carriers, DoCoMo, Softbank, and many more asian/european carriers mock us because of how you resell us old technology that they have no use for anymore. Keep it up sprint and with all this trash talking you can be on par with local politicians for being the most unclassy whore on the continent!

16. jbarajasp (Posts: 5; Member since: 06 Nov 2010)

well... please do some research before bashing her comments.....

t-mobile defined thier hspa+ network as 4G because of the 21mbps speeds (they even said that att's hspa+ was not considered 4G because it was limited to 14mbps)

************The G2 and mytouch 4G only have support for 14mbps hspa+ so following t-mobiles own logic you couldnt actually count them as 4G. *************

if you dont believe me then check it out here....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T-Mobile_G2

DONT FORGET THAT T-MOBILE IS THE SAME COMPANY THAT TRIED TO SAY THE THE VIBRANT BENEFITED FROM ITS HSPA+ NETWORK.... see herehttp://www.engadget.com/2010/06/28/samsung-vibrant-is-official-on-t-mobile-coming-july-21-for-20/

anyways.... if you feel so inclined as to hate on the sprint manager then please also put into consideration the rest of the facts.... T-Mobile has 1 hspa+ device capable of 21mbps 4G speeds (and 2 phones capable of 14mbps 3G speeds)...... SPRINT HAS LAUNCHED AROUND 18 4G DEVICES......


ITS PLAIN AND SIMPLE....
DONT HATE ON PEOPLE WITHOUT DOING THE RESEARCH!!!!!!

PS: ITU mentioned that the advanced hspa+ network capable of the faster speeds "could" be considered 4G but it made no mention of the slower 14mbps speeds supported by the g2 and mytouch.

17. Jeromeo (Posts: 135; Member since: 11 Jan 2010)

Honestly, not knowing the difference between the letter "o" and the number "0" when you insult someone is almost as ironically cocky as saying "Your stupid.".
I get peaks at about 9Mbps some days on my N900 on T-Mobile's network in my area. I don't care how they market their network, as long as I no longer need to pay for 3Mbps Comcast anymore.
Here is some interesting related reading on T-Mobile's backwards compatible network upgrade plans:
http://www.tmonews.com/2010/12/forget-hspa-and-lte-lthe-is-the-way-to-go/

18. pingpong (Posts: 145; Member since: 28 Mar 2010)

I love when people get verbally abusive online to defend the network they are with. For some reason it makes them feel better about the contract they signed up for and will make them better by dissing other companies. Keep it coming!

23. luxzy801 (Posts: 140; Member since: 16 Jun 2010)

I love how people say "Do your research" when they have not done any research themselves;
here is some research for you, this is an actual comparison of GSM vs CDMA networks and this information is fully recognized as the point of resource for all the wireless companies around the world.
GSM:
GPRS: 1.5G
EDGE: 2.5G
UMTS: 3.5G
HSDPA: 3.75G
HSPA+: 4G
GSM LTE: 4.5G

CDMA:
1xRTT: 2G
1xEVDO Rev.0 and Rev.A: 3G
WiMax: 3.5G
CDMA LTE: 4G

As per Verizon, they are getting CDMA converted LTE, which drops bandwidth and MHz range as opposed to its GSM bretheren, so in reality, the LTE that Verizon is supposed to get is actually 4G on a global technological scale unless Verizon is to convert their entire network to GSM.
CDMA has always been slower and less technologically advanced than GSM and that will always be the point.

Just to throw it in, these are the speeds of all the technologies that I mentioned above:

GPRS (GSM): 33kbps equivalent
1xRTT (CDMA): 144KBPS
EDGE (GSM): 256KBPS
1xRTT Rev.A (CDMA): 600-800KBPS
1xRTT Rev.0 (CDMA): 1.4MBPS
UMTS (GSM): 1.7-3.6MBPS
WiMax (CDMA): 5-6MBPS
HSDPA (GSM): 3.6-7.2MBPS
LTE (CDMA): 6-31.7MBPS
HSPA+ (GSM): 7.2-42MBPS
LTE (GSM): 42MBPS-326MBPS

So you tell me, what is faster and better technology (By the way, CDMA LTE is slower than HSPA+, DO SOME RESEARCH like everyone says)

24. EtothaD (Posts: 5; Member since: 27 Dec 2010)

People are so funny....really who cares what phone you have, who cares what service you have. If it does what you want then great...Did you know there are still people who only use it as a phone? LIKE OMG, FOR REALLL! It is and always will be different strokes for different folks. This phone $#it has turned to the equivalent of how people fight over who's religion is righter, people take it so personal. It's all about being the more right person and not feeling like the decision you made was the wrong one. So you defend your phone and the company you may be stupidly sending all your money, to in order to feel better and righter.....Get over it people. Can't you see that they know this and keep you idiots buying a new model every 6 months cuz "it has a kickstand" A KICKSTAND!...what is a it a freaking bike! Go spend your money on an education or an investment you know things that matter!