Sprint and Nextel agree to merger

Damn, that happened fast. We only just discovered that Sprint and Nextel were even talking about a merger, and apparently they've already come to an agreement. The Wall Street Journal reported moments ago that the two companies have "tentatively" agreed to join forces, with Sprint swapping 1.3 of its shares for every Nextel share. The new company would be called Sprint-Nextel and become the nation's third largest wireless carrier. More details to come.

[Perabyte @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

im on the phone canceling my service as i write this.

[Asher @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Me too! Nextel has always sucked. And I've rather enjoyed my Sprint service these last five years.

[StuBee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Thank god. Hope that this means my company will let me get a sprint phone instead of this sucky nextel. The chirp-chirp (walkie-talkie) feature is even more environmentally annoying than a normal cellphone.

[Vince Veneziani @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Oh my god can you scream ANTITRUST in the cellphone industry? Now we're combining crap with feces....and the end result will be pure...well, you get the point. Sorry to you Nextel people who had at least free incoming calls. Now you get the crappiest of both worlds!

[chuck @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

sprint = crap. nextel = crap.
combining these two companies = one gigantic crappy company.
and wow.. "SPRINT-NEXTEL"? how creative. i mean, imagine the commercials.. and on the phones, that would take like two lines to write. this is funny. i seriously hope the FCC doesn't approve this. all these merging cell phone companies will leave less competition and even worse service. and T-Mobile will be left with nobody to merge with, which will leave them with a comparably tiny customer base and very little market share.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Sprint wanted a PTT service, and now they'll have one rather than the stuff they were working on. They're both fit for each other, IMHO.

And while they've "agreed," this isn't yet completed. I'd say next week we'll see something a little more solid.

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

how will they merge their networks? because iDen (the Nextel one) is proprietary and not compatible with CDMA. We need more competition like in Europe.

how come none of the other sites (cnn, etc.) have confirmation of this?

[The Truth @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

This merger wont benefit the consumer very much. For instance youre not going to see Sprint CDMA phones with Nextell PTT technology on it, nor will you see Nextel IDEN phones with superior wireless coverage. Itll just be one big company that offers both CDMA phones and IDEN phones. At least with the Cingular-AT&T merger all the customers were interested in the same products and services.

[Tom @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Brian - there is no confirmation right now. There's a NYTimes item that says there is an "agreement" on how they would merge the companies via stock, but that's about it. As for the networks, anyone's guess what their plans are.

[roo @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I'm so glad I didn't cave and buy a new Sprint phone recently with all the new bluetoothy fun. I'm also so glad that my contract is up again in just 3 more months.

Not for nothing, but Nextel isn't for the consumer. The walkie-talkie is a gimmick I liken to Instant Messaging, which by the way annoys the hell out of me.

And from what I understand other carriers have increased their sound quality in the past few years so Sprint really lost that edge, which is the big reason why I kept with them for as long as I have.

[Dubstah @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Read this forum :
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?s=184963e49ef4b59eb35cd52e5f95fc41&threadid=516370

for more speculation and information about what could happen and also how the 2 different networks technologies might work together.

[Jrubzer @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

In NYC and Just cancelled my Sprint service last week after 5+ years. Jumped to Cingular and couldn't be happier (so far). Agreed this is not good news for Sprint's customers. They obviously think this will strengthen their corporate business, but the technology hurdles alone will cause massive defections. What a mess.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

No big deal. Or is it?
I don't understand what the uproar is about. 3 major companies to chose from; big deal? So you have plans to have service with 5 6 or 7 companies at once? In the end you chose one; and of the four carriers left; you still have choices. Cingular still has rollover minutes; they haven't lost that yet. Hmmm; they have a 30 day return policy too. Gee; not a bad alternative; a CHOICE!!!!! Quick; get Nextel, t-mobile or Cingular service asap for their excellent hi speed web/data services; wait; what web services? So much for all your choices. LOL
C'mon lighten up people. IBM news shocked me more to hell than this merger; and I just jumped ship from nextel to sprint (because of the treo 650) Looks to me like Sprint has catapulted right up there with verizon now if things continue the way they are going. This also leaves room for new companies to come on in once the economy shapes up (a very long long time from now) I remember when cingular became a major player; I was at macworld and steve jobs was talking about his rendevous networking and I learned of cingular and that neat sony phone back then; I left Verizon and joined cingular; never looked back. Onward to Nextel and now Sprint. If a new company with cutting edge technology and slick gadgets hit the market; guess where I'll be going!

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Well I personally don't use my Nextel phone all that much as a phone, but the fact that it is the only carrier out there with a full GPS reciever chip in it with NMEA out, that makes it a great GPS unit and modem for my PDA.

Hopefully no matter what changes they make, they keep the full gps capabilities.

[Monica @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I think the merger sucks. I have sprint now and planned on going with nextel next because i cant stand sprint so basically I guess i wont be going anywhere. I just wanted a different phone and different customer service. sprint has been selling out and giving the jobs to jamaca and i try not to encourage this and who wants to call customer service and have to have them repeat everything 15 times so you can understand them!

[VB @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Hmm, Could they call it SexTel ?

that would rock!!!
har har har

[Frank @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

It's noted that they are going to call it Sprint-Nextel boy that sounds creative. I wonder how much money they spent on the renaming. It's like the Yellow logo, I wonder what genius thought that up? Even thought I like the color yellow, what was wrong with the old logo?

About a new name? How about Sprintel.. or Spentel...well that will be something we
( those who work for for said companies) will have to think about while we wait in the unemployeement line...when they lay people off from both Sprint and Nextel...Where do you think how they will save the 8 billion they mentioned in the news article?

I have a meeting Monday...one of the questions won't be the name, it's going to be do I still have a job...

[Hmmm @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Hmmm all of you sound like little retarded kids who don�t even have good credit to even get Nextel. Do you people even research the companies or do you just like the company that gives you a contract because your credit sucks crap. For the little idiots out there that is just sticking up for their sorry service provider because they gave you a contract. Get some intelligence please.

[J @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Sprint is crap in the NorthWest.
Absolute Worst service, however Nextel is good from what I hear. Maybe this is a good thing for Sprint users, bad for Nextel users..

[Thaddius @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Went from airtoch to sprint to at&t to voicestream to t-mobile (merger) to nextel to sprint. Sprint and Nextel by far best experience for me. and i know all people have different experiences but i am happy with the merger i feel it will create more competetion. If you are the small tree in the forest you will be choked out until there is nothing left but a few big trees with little competion. It was getting hard for companies to compete with verizon and cingular they are huge they have the deep pockets to buy and manipulate the wireless industry. good for sprint and nextel and lets hope this helps the consumer.

[Thaddius @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Went from airtoch to sprint to at&t to voicestream to t-mobile (merger) to nextel to sprint. Sprint and Nextel by far best experience for me. and i know all people have different experiences but i am happy with the merger i feel it will create more competetion. If you are the small tree in the forest you will be choked out until there is nothing left but a few big trees with little competion. It was getting hard for companies to compete with verizon and cingular they are huge they have the deep pockets to buy and manipulate the wireless industry. good for sprint and nextel and lets hope this helps the consumer.

[Jeepster @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Ok you guys that are putting down the sprint nextel merger really need to get a life, i own a nextel, and a verizon phone, and here is how it is, nextel phone kick the ass of verizons, it so much durable, and is way cooler looking, and is available with a sim card yeah i can transfer my phone book from phone to phone hm...........with verizon better set an hour or two to program all new numbers in. i know nextel signal isint all that great but with this merger i think verizon, and cingular better start pushing there nre (stole from nextel) direct connect phones.

[Mike Branch @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

First of all, Sprint's "PTT" service called "Ready Link" is far more reliable and easier to use than Nextel's "Direct Connect" Plus, for those of you who think your plans are going to change, do a little more research before you publically sound stupid. Sprint will own both but carry both brands and each will maintain what makes them each unique.

[SupHomie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Man, this is great news! Nextel will get better service if they merge the service provider routers, (which they will) and Nextel roxxEr ur momma's boxxer

[SupHomie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Man, this is great news! Nextel will get better service if they merge the service provider routers, (which they will) and Nextel roxxEr ur momma's boxxer

[Unknown @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I just want to say, I work for Sprint on the business consumer side.We just recently heard about this merger ourselves, and are still wondering will this be good or bad.But I will tell you this..unless you have ever actually studied what goes in to making a cell phone work, and the amount of money that is sprent to CONSTANTLY try and make it better...try and keep an open mind.We have all had bad experiences, with all companies.But I will tell you this, the combination of these two companies will open up so much more for the cell phone industries.Sprint and Nextel are two of the strongest companies around today and if you merge the two together, how can that possibly be bad? Trust me when I say Sprint is constantly spending money trying to keep up with the times, and providing the absolute BEST service we can.The customer is always our number one priority.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Whoa! How we do fear change.

[stw @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

So will us sprint customers be able to "walkie talkie" and talk to nextel customers for free and vice versa??

[Nextel Sprint Merger @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

First of all, those of you who don't or can't appreciate the advantage of the Push to Talk "Walkie-Talkie" service are part of the "Less" family; Clue, Hope or Worth, take your pick. If you don't understand it and how it benenefits small companies, don't show your ignorance by posting crap about it here.

Frankly, those of us at Nextel abhor this merger. We have the lowest churn in the industry, and now we're thrown in with the worst customer service carrier, was a suprise to all and a thrill to none. Sure, we've got our opportunities, but we were pure, and now we are going to have to deal with all you cell phone dweebs who expect everything and want it today, but offer nothing but complaints. Does anyone remember what it was like when you didn't have a cell phone? Would you rather go back to payphones?

[Mica @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I love my Nextel; although calls do drop in certain areas. I am interested in how the merger will affect consumers. If I had my way they should add PTT to all of Sprints phones and keep Nextel's free incoming calls plans. Sprint does have better phones and ring tones. This is a chance to upgrade and change to beat out the competition.

[Craig @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Back in November of 2002 I originally looked into replaceing my Cricket Phone with a Nextel because of the free incoming calls and direct connect. At first I was driven away by their high credit deposit fees and went with Verizon. Big mistake. nothing but dropped calls, billing problems etc. Well my contract was up this year and after nearly 2 years of research and weighing my options, I finally got a Nextel. I love them. The direct connect, the free incoming calls, & the only finest coverage in my area!! I especially love how Nextel doesn't cater to teeny-bops and the masses who want dumb-*ss "kewl" ring tones or a stupid games. They have smart business oriented -NO NONSENSE phones. I use my Nextel in my job as well as a personal phone. I am worried that the merger will bring the "dumbing" down of Nextels handsets with the eventual technology change from iDEN-800 to CDMA to make them more like Sprints phones with less business oritented features that Nextel/Motorola iDEN made great. Hopefulle Motorola will not lose from this merger and still get to manufacture the Direct Connect handsets for Sprint-Nextel. I've heard too many complaints about Sprint and their lack of coverage and "dead spots" just like Verizon.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

On Dec 1, the day just before my contract with ATT expired, I switched from ATT to Nextel. In the short time we've been switched (my wife and I have a shared plan) the service has been remarkable. Signal strength booms, all calls are clear and defined (we haven't experienced one dropped call), and the phones are functional in the extreme. My wife and I are not particularly interested in ring tones or games or sending pictures of our friends hanging out at the mall. However, what we do want to spend our money on is good, solid cell phone calls and service. With ATT we spent much of our time yelling and saying 'I lost you, I'll call you back!' ATT customer service had little to be desired, and I was frequently having to have them correct my bill for some mistake or unexplained charged. (I repeatedly receive a bill for $0.00 against some account number that isn't even mine. ATT�s response�Don�t worry about it!) And now, now that we are very happy with Nextel, they go and get themselves merged. Hopefully, Nextel will be left alone to do their very good Nextel thing. However, I kind think things are going to change. Too bad. But then again, things might even get better! It could happen...maybe� sort of.

[karrie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

hands down nextel is the best wireless provider out there, thats why only the best of the best have nextel. im sure if every could be approved to join such a team they would.

[Ann Marie @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I feel as though this will be a good merge. Maybe we will have some good customer service and since they are both great companies, what do we really have to loose? Other than that I am all for it. I have had both Nextel and currently have Sprint and I can't wait to see the future.

[Mica @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I don't like how Sprint cuts your phone for $.50. I'm with Nextel and even with $1000 (5 phones) my phones have not been cut off.

[April @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

We've had Nextel for the past year & in our area (northern NJ) it's signal has been way better than Verizon's or AT&T's. BUT- we were wondering if others are experiencing signal problems the past week or so. Has the company merge affected the signal? Especially wondering if there's some equipment problems with Nextel because they could not be reached at their customer service number ALL day...

[torrence r josepj @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

i've read all of the comments that people will say and i have a comment of my own an hpoe that this will make both sides come to an agreement. Everyone look no matter how we rate on how cellphones compare with each other everyone needs to look at the big picture. the cellular industry is all about business, trying to out do each other. wich kind of company, we as a consumer, deals with us we have to realize there will be pros and cons to the service. the merger that nextel and sprint will have is nothing more than a business trying to get the most out of it's customers and to get the number one spot, if you really read the headlines every cellular company wants the number one spot and have a parking spot all to their selves. sprint,nextel,cingular,at&t,etc. all these companies are trying to do is get the trophy if you want to say something about the company really research and do your homework. all cellular companies have flaws and issues no matter what. i'm with nextel, yes they have flaws and issues but if you can't deal with the issues and flaws then you don;t need to have a cellphone or you need to ask yourself do i have a cellphone cause i need to use it for my productive lifestyle or do i have one because monkey see, monkey do. you all need to ask that to yourself.

[sprint rider @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I am estatic about the merger. I've been with Sprint for 4 years and wanted a Nextel but the direct connect feature wasn't enough for me. I loved that Sprint offers unlimited pcs to pcs for only $5 and that they offer free after 7pm. So, if I can keep those features along with the direct connect Nextel offers, that would be awesome. My friend has a Nextel and she has more dropped calls than me. So, I think together Sprint and Nextel can make the best wireless service ever with the strengths each service offers. These are very smart people running these companies. They are going to make this worth while for old and new customers. I feel sorry for those of you who cancelled your plan and are going to try to come back when it's blowing the competiton out of the water.

[Karma @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I have had Nextel for 6, almost 7 years. When I first got Nextel, I hated it. Dropped calls, horrible customer service, but in the last 3 or 4 years, it has really improved. However, the customer service still sucks. I keep Nextel, because it is the best plan out there for me. I have had about 7 different phones and loved them all. The only problem I have now with Nextel, is their customer service. No one can help you, they don't speak English very well.. they act like it is a pain in the butt to have to help you. If Nextel would improve their customer service/support - they would be PERFECT in my eyes.

[T @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

For the person who left the comment on the name, we wish it was that easy.But Sprint has many many different areas-local, pcs, dsl.Changing the "company name" to something else besides Sprint at this point isn't possible.Keeping the name like that for now is just to show the merger, so people don't think we are all one company, because we are not at this point.Just thought Id tell you a little about why we cant just put the names together...althought we could have some serious fun coming up with combo names!!!

[ajw @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I am disgusted by the abusive and insulting comments directed at others simply because they happen to have a different opinion based on their respective wireless experiences. I think that it is truly sad that people take such an insignificant thing such as a cell phone company merger(that by the way has'nt even materialized) and use it as fodder to disrespect others. And for the person who said that "only the best of the best" own Nextel, I will be praying for you because you obviously have a very low sense of self if you have to derive your worth and pride through your cell phone company. Let's grow up people, this topic is really not as serious as you are making it out to be. We will all survive regardless of who merges with whom. Save your anx and distress for subjects that truly matter like... I don't know, maybe world peace, the state of the economy and our deteriorating educational system. Just food for thought!

[Steve @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Read this:

Robust Network Capabilities

Sprint Nextel will have a clear technology migration path and valuable and extensive network and spectrum assets. The new company will have robust wireless network capabilities, including Nextel�s current nationwide 800MHz/iDEN network, Sprint�s national 1.9GHz/CDMA network and Sprint�s nationwide deployment of wireless EV-DO. Sprint Nextel�s plans include migrating over time Nextel services, including push to talk service, to Sprint�s CDMA EV-DO network. Sprint Nextel will have the capability to deploy new services on the two companies� 2.5GHz combined spectrum holdings that together cover 85 percent of the households in the top 100 markets. Sprint Nextel will also utilize Sprint�s nationwide fiber optic wireline network which extends to 60 metropolitan networks and 37 international fiber points of presence. These combined capabilities are expected to make Sprint Nextel a key partner for the largest content providers, systems integrators, mobile virtual network operators and other new telecommunications entrants to jointly offer the full portfolio of consumer services � voice, data, video, wireline, and wireless � and customized enterprise applications and integrated solutions for business.

Source/More Info: http://sprintnextel.mergerannouncement.com/?refurl=uhp_globalnav_merger

[Christopher Pittman @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

To all of you people who have Sprint and Nextel, too bad. You should have gone with T-Mobile in the first place. Sprints coverage and service sucks and Nextels is even worst and Nextels phones are huge and bulky. The only good thing about Sprint is the phones (which are too expensive) and the 7 p.m. night and weekend minutes. T-Mobile is the best out there because their plans are cheaper, coverage is great, phones are very nice, and they have award winning customer service. I have a plan where I get 1000 day time minutes and unlimited night and weekend minutes for 46.00 a month. T-Mobiles phones are also worth more but cost less because T-Mobile is the only company that will unlock their phones so that you can use it with any GSM provider on the market. T-Mobiles features are also much cheaper than all other carriers and they will give service to a very wide range of people. When I got T-Mobile, I had fair credit not great and I got approved for two lines of service. So basically my point is that with all of these mergers and leaving T-Mobile alone, T-Mobile is going to rise in the market because alone they are greater than everyone else. So switch now if you are going to.

[Brian Parish @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

Hey I think this is great. I really enjoy my i860 from nextel. I always thought nextel was a little behind on the appearance .They always had a basic look to them. They are starting to cater to white/blue collar workers. I think this will help us all.Looking forward to better coverage area.

[jon c. @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

To whom it may concern:

As you have probably seen I have been experiencing many problems and difficulities with SPRINT/NEXTEL, I have spoken to several people with the cellular company to only get unsatisfactory results. As i stated prior i have had NEXTEL since last September. I signed up with NEXTEL after using other carriers which i didnt like - INCLUDING SPRINT. I left sprint originally because of bad services and horrible customer service. When i signed up for SPRINT I originally signed a one year contract. Everytime i contacted/called into NEXTEL MY Contract experation kept switching. In August of this year after going thru 7 + Phones (have had problems with being disconnected/dropped calls, echoing on my phone line, calls not completed, network busy signals etc.etc.). I was under the impression the new phone would be better for me - that was not the case. I then upgraded to the I560 PHONE which I have to mention I PAID FOR (Wound up being $145.00). Since upgrading to the i560 i still experience the same problems. I have contacted SPRINT/NEXTEL about this and have told them i dont think i should be penalized for services i believe are poor quality and services that i am not happy with. THEY DEMAND I pay $200.00 TERMINATION FEE for disconnecting services.... I have spoken with everyone and they still say they cant waive this fee.

Last week my phone went to MOTOROLA for repair - and got it back ---- SAME PROBLEMS this time static galore. According to one of the technical support associates who came to my house I have EXPERIENCED 401 NON CONNECT PHONE CALLS - (THAT DIDNT GO THRU WITHIN A 90 DAY PERIOD).....

I am trying to get assistance, i dont believe i should have to pay an additional $200.00 fee when i have already paid for my phone. it seems as if they just keep wanting to charge me.

I ORIGINALLY SIGNED MY CONTRACT WITH N E X T E L NOT SPRIT so why should i have to pay this termination fee?? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!

[Nettie Dowell @ Dec 19th 2005 12:08AM]

I have a sprint cell phone with Radio Link,which I can only radio sprint user,when our Sprint going to merge with Nextell radio link?