sprint

Sprint's critical turning point: The death of Nextel

For Sprint Nextel, it's darkest before the dawn.

Sprint is slated to decommission the Nextel network at the end of June, finally putting to rest one of the worst mergers in corporate history and ridding itself of an awkward dual-network structure that put a hefty, unnecessary burden on the company.

But before Sprint can declare mission accomplished on a turnaround, it'll have to deal with what will undoubtedly be an ugly second quarter.

Sprint earlier Wednesday reported first quarter results that showed a narrower loss and a healthy increase in its adjusted operating earnings. However, a weak performance … Read more

FreedomPop introduces nationwide 3G, $40 hot spot

For a while now I've been wanting to test-drive FreedomPop, the wireless Internet provider that offers, among other things, 500MB of free mobile data per month.

Alas, because it's a 4G-only service based on Clearwire's WiMAX network, there's no coverage in my area.

That changes today with the introduction of FreedomPop's new Overdrive Pro mobile hot spot, which offers both 4G and 3G coverage via Sprint.

In other words, now I can get in on the free-data action. The Overdrive Pro costs $39.99 and allows for up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices to connect at … Read more

Sprint's Nextel defection drives 415,000-subscriber loss in Q1

Sprint continues to undergo the painful and awkward transition of shutting down its Nextel network.

The Overland Park, Kan., wireless provider on Wednesday reported a first-quarter loss of $643 million, or 21 cents a share, compared with a loss of $863 million, or 29 cents a share, from a year ago.

Revenue, meanwhile, edged up slightly to $8.79 billion from $8.73 billion a year ago.

The results compare to the loss of 33 cents a share and revenue of $8.71 billion that analysts had projected, according to Thomson Reuters.

Sprint lost a net 415,000 subscribers in … Read more

RadioShack sells Samsung Galaxy S4 on April 27

RadioShack confirmed on Tuesday that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available at more than 4,700 retail locations starting Saturday, April 27.

Specifically, RadioShack will offer the Sprint and AT&T versions of the flagship Android smartphone.

Pricing for the pair will cost the same as going through their respective carriers; however, phones purchased through RadioShack also include free lifetime tech support.

To sweeten the pot just a little more, RadioShack will toss in a coupon good for $10 off a future accessories purchase of $30 or more.

RadioShack's Trade & Save program will give you cash … Read more

Where and when to buy the Samsung Galaxy S4

The release of Samsung's next super smartphone, the Galaxy S4, is just days away. Sporting an improved design over the Galaxy S3 and packed with a ton of high-end features and specialized software, the Galaxy S4 already is an Android powerhouse. And even better, it will land at all major U.S. carriers plus a few smaller, regional providers.

Note, however, that the carriers aren't following the same release schedule. T-Mobile, for example, will begin selling the phone this week, but U.S. Cellular customers will have to wait until next month. Meanwhile, C Spire and Cricket have … Read more

Sprint forms special committee to review Dish proposal

Sprint is at least wiling to consider a proposal that Dish Network made recently to acquire its business.

Sprint today announced that it has formed a "special committee" made up of several of its board members, including Larry Glasscock, who will serve as the committee's chairman. The committee's charge is simple: to review the deal offered last week by Dish to determine if it's superior to the one already brought by Japan-based Softbank.

Last October, Japan-based Softbank announced that it would invest $20.1 billion into Sprint. A large portion of that -- $12.1 … Read more

HTC One hits retailers today

Consumers eyeing the new HTC One smartphone can finally buy one starting today.

The phone -- which CNET Reviews calls a "beautifully crafted, near-ideal smartphone" -- is now available both online and in several retail stores. Offered by AT&T and Sprint, the HTC One can be purchased directly through both carriers, online, and via their retail outlets. Shoppers will also find the phone at Best Buy, RadioShack, Walmart, Target, Amazon.com, Costco, Car Toys, Sam's Club, HSN.com, and HTC.com.

AT&T is selling the 32GB version of the HTC One for $199 … Read more

Dish tells FCC its Sprint buyout is 'better for national security'

It appears that when Dish wants something it doesn't give up.

After making a surprise bid of $25.5 billion to acquire Sprint on Monday -- which would snatch the mobile provider from the hands of Japan's SoftBank -- Dish submitted a filing to the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday claiming a SoftBank acquisition of Sprint wouldn't be good for U.S. national security.

According to Reuters, Dish requested that the FCC suspend the review of SoftBank's possible buyout of Sprint. In the filing, Dish claimed that Softbank didn't have the "existing in-market infrastructure&… Read more

Sprint expands LTE to 21 new markets, including Los Angeles

Sprint has expanded its 4G LTE network to 21 new markets, the CEO said Thursday, boosting the carrier's footprint with the high-speed network.

Chief exec Dan Hesse, speaking at the Competitive Carriers Association trade show in New Orleans, said the new markets include Los Angeles; Charlotte, N.C., and Memphis, Tenn. He also noted that customers are seeing LTE in cities that haven't been officially announced yet, such as New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Sprint has been playing catch-up in terms of 4G LTE, lagging far behind rivals Verizon Wireless and AT&T. It … Read more

Galaxy S4 heads to T-Mobile for $150, Sprint for $250 this month

Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy S4 will hit its stores later this month.

T-Mobile's Galaxy S4 will come out first on April 24 for $149.99 down and monthly service payments, which are likely to be $20. Sprint's Galaxy S4 will hit the market three days later, and will cost $249.99 with a two-year contract.

T-Mobile's and Sprint's prices for the Galaxy S4 can't exactly be stacked side by side because T-Mobile requires the monthly fees and Sprint requires a two-year service contract. Sprint said that new customers that switch … Read more