Sprint Intros ‘Framily Plans’ and New Spark Markets

Sprint today announced a new type of multi-line plan that allows customers to combine accounts even if they are not family members. The basic service costs $55 per month for one line with unlimited talk and text and 1GB of data. Each device added costs $5 less than the one before it, so a second device would cost $50, a third would cost $45, a fourth would cost $40, and so on. Sprint says each individual line can be customized to suit that person’s needs. For an additional $20 per month, Framily Plan subscribers can get unlimited data and upgrade to a new phone once every 12 months. The new Sprint Framily Plan goes into effect January 10. Additionally, Sprint named the next set of markets in which it will offer Sprint Spark. They include Dallas, Austin, Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Fort Lauderdale. Last, Sprint said that Sprint Spark will be available to Virgin Mobile customers who own the Netgear Mingle Hotspot.

Ting Offering Spark Speeds to Select Phones

Ting, an MVNO that runs on Sprint’s network, says it is the first to offer devices compatible with Sprint’s Spark service. Sprint Spark relies on tri-band LTE devices to boost mobile broadband speeds on its data network. Spark is only available in five markets right now, but will expand to about 100 by the end of 2014. According to Ting, its variants of the Samsung Galaxy Mega, Galaxy S4 Mini, and LG G2 are all able to interact with Spark. Ting CEO Scott Allen told Fierce Wireless that Sprint’s willingness to allow its MVNO customers to offer Spark demonstrates “Sprint’s commitment to wholesale and their good faith as partner.” Other providers that use Sprint’s network, such as Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile, have yet to claim that they offer Spark-compatible devices.

Sprint Says Chicago-Area Network Improved

Sprint announced that it has completed a major upgrade of both its 3G and 4G networks in the metropolitan Chicago area. Sprint ripped out much of its legacy cell tower gear and replaced it with new equipment. The result, says Sprint, is stronger performance of its CDMA and LTE networks, including better voice calls and faster data. Sprint noted that it has worked hard to provide more coverage to sports arenas, major thoroughfares, shopping destinations, and business districts throughout the region. Last, Sprint said Sprint Spark, its next-generation LTE networking technology, is now widely available throughout the Chicago area. Spark soft-launched in limited fashion in late October. Sprint Spark relies on the company’s three LTE bands and special network management technology to provide the fastest LTE speeds possible. In order to access Sprint Spark, customers need a tri-band LTE handset. To date, only the Samsung Galaxy Mega and S4 mini, and the LG G2 can access Spark.

Nexus 5 arrives at Sprint soon as first Tri-band device

Sprint on Thursday confirmed that the Nexus 5 will soon join the carrier’s roster. Priced at $149.99 with a two-year service agreement, the flagship Google smartphone will be sold starting from November 8. Pre-orders begin on Friday, November 1. As expected, the Nexus 5 will be one of Sprint’s first devices to feature support for the tri-band LTE service, Spark.

 

Sleek, powerful new LG tri-band capable device featuring Android 4.4 will allow users to take advantage of Sprint Spark technology for improved 4G LTE speed and capacity

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Oct. 31, 2013 – Sprint (NYSE:S) and LG Electronics USA today announced Nexus 5 from Google will be available from Sprint beginning Friday, Nov. 8, for $149.99 (16GB version) after a $50 mail-in rebate via reward card¹ with a new line or eligible upgrade and two-year service agreement or $18.75 per month with Sprint One Up (excluding taxes). Nexus 5 by LG will be available in all sales channels, including Sprint Stores,Web Sales and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1). Customers can pre-order the device beginning Friday, Nov. 1, by visiting www.sprint.com/nexus5.

Nexus 5 by LG is the first Android™ 4.4, KitKat, smartphone capable of using the tri-band Sprint 4G LTE² network. Sprint Spark is a unique combination of network technologies, spectrum, capacity and tri-band devices designed to bring customers super-high wireless speeds. Nexus 5 will become tri-band enabled with a software update in early 2014.

“Whether you’re streaming music or video, surfing the Web, gaming online or just catching up on email, in upgraded areas, Nexus 5 will offer Sprint customers a secure, fast connection using all three of Sprint’s 4G LTE network bands, giving customers the best wireless experience for their needs,” said David Owens, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “With the dynamic camera features available on this smartphone, our customers will be able to enjoy sharing all their photos and have the peace of mind by not having to worry about data caps or overage charges. While other wireless providers move away from unlimited service, Sprint stands behind its commitment with Sprint Unlimited Guarantee, allowing our customers to lock-in unlimited talk, text and data, while on the Sprint network, not for just the next two years, but for the life of the line of service.³”

Nexus 5 by LG is made without sacrificing power and speed and features tri-band 4G LTE, a 2.26GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 800 processor and ultra-fast Wi-Fi^® to keep customers connected at blazing speeds to race through games, zip around the Web, and switch between apps at the flick of a finger. At only 4.59 ounces and 0.34-inches thin, it’s the most powerful Nexus phone yet.

James Fishler, senior vice president-Marketing, LG Electronics USA, said, “Nexus 5 by LG expands the successful LG-Google collaboration. This latest flagship Nexus smartphone combines the popular qualities of LG G2 with KitKat for the first time and we are proud that the Nexus 5 by LG will be among the first smartphones capable for use on Sprint’s new 4G LTE tri-band network, bringing to life our brand promise. With LG, it’s all poible.”

KitKat is fast and powerful yet simple to use. Android 4.4 takes system performance to an all-time high by optimizing memory usage in every major component. That means users can run more of their favorite apps and switch between them faster than ever.

The new phone app automatically prioritizes contacts based on who the user talks to the most. Whenever customers get a call from a phone number not in their contacts, Nexus 5 by LG will look for matches from businesses with a local listing on Google Maps™.

Customers can now send and receive SMS right from Google Hangouts™, and Hangouts for Android now supports location sharing.

According to Pew Internet & American Life Project Nov. 2012, 82 percent of all cell phone owners use their phone to take pictures. Nexus 5 by LG makes it easier than ever to captures life’s important moments with its 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and convenient 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. With Photo Sphere, Nexus 5 users can create the effect of an immersive 360-degree view that no traditional camera can match. Each image is enhanced as soon as it is saved, helping the people and places in the photos really stand out. Auto Backup automatically saves every photo and video.

Additional features include:

• 5-inch class full HD IPS display (actual size 4.95-inches)
• Advanced camera lens that lets in more light
• Wireless charging via Qi wireless charging accessories (sold separately)
• 2,300mAh imbedded Lithium-polymer battery
• Best of Google includes access to more than 1 million apps and games on Google Play™, and the newly redesigned Google Maps app makes navigating effortless
• From the home screen, just say ‘Ok Google’ to start a voice search, send a text, get directions or play a song. Swipe over to the left to check your Google Now cards.
• 3G/4G LTE mobile hotspot capability supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously
• Nexus 5 customers will be among the first to receive Android software upgrades and new Google mobile apps

Customers who sign up for Sprint’s new Unlimited, My Way^SM plan or My All-in^SM plan are eligible for the Sprint Unlimited Guarantee.³ The Sprint Unlimited Guarantee gives customers unlimited talk (calls to any wireline or mobile phone), text and data while on the Sprint network for the life of the line of service. The new Unlimited, My Way rate plans start for as little as $80 per month (excludes taxes and surcharges). The Unlimited, My Way plan can offer customers a significant savings when compared to competitors’ capped data plans. For example, smartphone customers can save $30 per month vs. AT&T and Verizon’s comparable plans with only 4GB of data.⁴

Sprint One Up offers customers an affordable option to upgrade their device more frequently. With Sprint One Up, participating smartphone customers get unlimited talk, text and data for an introductory rate of $65 per month – a $15 per month savings off their Unlimited, My Way standard rate plan and Sprint’s guarantee of unlimited talk, text and data for the life of the line of service⁵. Sprint One Up is also available for smartphones on the My All-in plan as well. Sprint One Up customers will save up to $45 per month vs. AT&T and Verizon comparable plans.

Building a Better Network Experience

Sprint plans to deploy Sprint Spark in about 100 of America’s largest cities during the next three years, with availability today in five markets. Sprint 4G LTE service will be available by mid-2014 to approximately 250 million Americans, and Sprint expects 100 million Americans will have Sprint Spark or 2.5GHz coverage by the end of 2014. The first markets with limited availability are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tampa and Miami. Nexus 5 by LG is among the first tri-band capable smartphones scheduled for customer availability in early November 2013.

 

Sprint Spark combines 4G FDD1-LTE at 800 Megahertz (MHz) and 1.9 Gigahertz (GHz) and TDD1-LTE at 2.5GHz spectrum, TDD-LTE technology (2.5GHz), and carrier aggregation in the 2.5GHz band. These spectrum assets, technology and architecture are designed to deliver a seamless customer experience via tri-band wireless devices. Tri-band devices, named for their ability to accommodate multiple spectrum bands, support active hand-off mode between 800MHz, 1.9GHz and 2.5GHz, providing data session continuity as the device moves between spectrum bands.