Beep beep -- Sprint's looking to offload iDEN network?

Still committed to iDEN, eh? After another relatively brutal quarter of lost cash, lost subscribers, and lost opportunities, word on the street is that Sprint might be rethinking its approach to its legacy push-to-talk network -- the obsolescence-bound spectrum it acquired via its purchase of Nextel a few years back for the questionable price of $35 billion. Given Sprint's current financial state, a liquidity crunch means that the carrier is looking to offload any salable piece; Nextel's not exactly the most attractive piece of that puzzle with a declining subscriber base, limited bandwidth, and a limited range of Moto hardware to back it up, but even at its current estimated value of $5 billion, analysts are suggesting that Sprint could be willing to bite at a deal. NII Holdings, which operates iDEN networks under the Nextel brand in Brazil, Mexico, and a handful of other Latin American countries, is being tossed around as a potential suitor, as are private equity firms looking to make a quick buck. How one goes about making a quick buck on a network as old and quirky as iDEN in the year 2008, though, remains to be seen.

[Via Phone Scoop]

[Flashpoint @ Aug 9th 2008 12:46PM]

Years ago, NEXTEL used to be the most fashionable phone here in NYC. We aren't big NASCAR people but, having the latest Nextel was a fashion statement.

From the day that I heard Sprint was buying Nextel, I KNEW they were doomed. I've never trusted nor had any love for Sprint and sure enough they destroyed NEXTEL just when it could have made major strides forward. Thank God I sold my Nextel shares.

Sprint destroyed them by never releasing a worthwhile phone. There should have been an iDEN Razr. There should have been new Blackberry iDEN PDA's. Sprint allowed them to release the craptastic i930 which was a far outdated PDA without even bluetooth. Huge bulky $500 piece of crap.

That's why I'm happy to see Sprint's stock decline year-to-year. I enjoy their FAIL.

[xemumanic @ Aug 9th 2008 12:54PM]

You couldn't have said it any better, word for word. Even the thing about NYC. Sprint are absolute morons for sitting on their purchase and doing nothing with it.

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 2:51PM]

I am coming right out and calling you an idiot.

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 3:07PM]

The reason there is no iden razor is because iden requires more power than a razor battery can hold. You should actually research this kind of stuff before you just let the %^& flow out of your mouth. People like you are a disease on this planet.

[pwnetheus @ Aug 9th 2008 3:21PM]

Stupid head is just that... stupid. Flashpoint is absolutely correct. I remember a few years before the merger when having a Nextel phone was actually considered "cool". Most people definitely considered it a fashion and just about all of them upgraded their phones every time the newest one came out which is ridiculous considered all their new phones were over $400 without a new contract. To me it still looks like they have the same phones now that they did pre-merger. As much as I've always hated Nextel and it's stupid ass bleep bleep, Sprint really failed to capitalized on the late teen crowd that was hooked on that crap. It wasn't too long ago that I couldn't walk a block in the Bronx without hearing someone yelling into their stupid Nextel phone.

[j_g_puff @ Aug 9th 2008 3:38PM]

stupid head = disgruntled Sprint employee?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Aug 9th 2008 4:24PM]

What? Was Nextel even sponsoring NASCAR for long before Sprint bought them? Back in the late 90s when every tech company employee had a Nextel, I don't think they were sponsoring NASCAR.

It was always entertaining when someone's phone chirp-chirped in the elevator of a telecom hotel and all the employees of various tech and telecom companies reached for their pocket.. :)

[CT A @ Aug 9th 2008 5:52PM]

Unix: Nextel sponsored Nascar before Sprint bought/mergered/whatever with them. They had the Nextel Cup until Sprint changed it to the Sprint Cup.

Though I doubt they mean any pun to the Sprint Cup.

[Nathan @ Aug 10th 2008 7:35PM]

Flabpoint,

You don't have a clue man, take it from somebody who has first hand knowledge of the situation. Nextel was a startup that was flying by the seat of their pants...Yes Sprint's management was dumb to buy them you must realized that they were truly only bought for the Spectrum they owned not for the tech or subs...So when Sprint bought Nextel, our management inherited a network that was growing faster than Nextel capacity planners had planned for, and their 6 to 1 vocoder failed (thank you Motorola) and the network pretty much collapsed. Once Sprint got their mess straightened out they have also duplicated sub second PTT functionality on CDMA, which Verizon and ATT and TMobile still haven't been able to do. So basically now that Sprint has done that there really isn't a need for the Iden network...Sprint would be wise to get rid of a dead asset!

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 9:16PM]

stupid head = disgruntled Sprint employee?

No, I am ex Nextel.

[Jacob Varghese @ Aug 10th 2008 1:08PM]

Hey Stupidhead,

chk out the iden razor:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/motorola-cabo-bringing-razr-2-style-to-iden/

[stupid head @ Aug 10th 2008 3:33PM]

chk out the iden razor:

Yeah, battery technology has come a long way in the last 5 years. I think its awesome that iDEN will finally have a rzr phone this is great!!!

Sprint finally has a CEO that likes and respects the iDEN network. this is good news. I thought all way lost when Donahue was rejected but its turning out to be good for iDEN.

[Jack C @ Aug 11th 2008 11:40AM]

Sprint/Nextel don't seem to pull anything off! Their Clearwire merge, WiMax deal, according to this article: http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=617&doc_id=153313&f_src=flffour has the odds against it!

Their churn rates are off the roof, employees leaving... not looking good for them.

[R0B3RT @ Aug 9th 2008 12:47PM]

I love how theres is a add for sprint next to stories of its demies

[L8on @ Aug 9th 2008 2:37PM]

lol... that's funny, for me it's a Verizon ad.

[JerseyBricklayer @ Aug 10th 2008 3:30AM]

Ad's? wtf are ad's? I see none.

[7j6cei @ Aug 9th 2008 12:58PM]

Ok, why in the heck would anyone even want to touch IDEN right now? Does anyone remember that Sprint is on the hook for rebanding? This was going to be completed over 3 years ago, and is still a boat anchor on Sprints books. Makes me wonder if Sprint keeps asking for FCC extensions so that they can have some more time to "off load" the problem on someone else.

If it was me, I would let them die completely; then swoop in and get the parts for cheap-cheap.. ;-)

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 3:09PM]

the 800 rebanding is a non issue.

[Phoenix @ Aug 9th 2008 1:20PM]

wanker

[digitallysick @ Aug 9th 2008 1:27PM]

If you remember nextel was doing fine without sprint. Sprint took over and they went to shit. Sprint does that to every company they come in contact with. They bounce from service to service trying to make some $$$$$ and then abandon it when it doesn't work out for them. They have failed in VOIP, and Regular land line service

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 3:12PM]

I dont remember a sprint voip service?? And the FCC required them to spin off the local line side of the house. What other companys has Sprint "turned to shit" as you say? And how is Nextel "shittier" now then it was before Sprint came along?

[digitallysick @ Aug 9th 2008 10:42PM]

@stupid head
http://www.nextel.com/en/solutions/voip/index.shtml

sprint had a small voip campaign. Also when sprint had pots lines , they never actually owned the lines, they were leased, they went through 3rd party companies. They had horrible hold times, puc complaints , sprint just put its name on different services, until they start to fail then they jump to the next cash cow

[stupid head @ Aug 10th 2008 9:44AM]

sick, you make me sick! get your facts straight. you dont even deserve a reply jackass.

[Knives_Out @ Aug 9th 2008 1:34PM]

sprint = fail

[Racedriven @ Aug 9th 2008 1:43PM]

Not surprised, ,y father use to be a Sprint customer and left earlier this year for a prepaid AT&T and after reading that they are selling off several towers, again this report is no surprise, they are sinking...

I guess this is going to effect Boost Mobile too, which is my prepaid cell phone service, if so, what do I do with about a $100 in the account and an expensive phone...

[Who Knows @ Aug 9th 2008 2:06PM]

Sprint should've never looked into iDEN. Nextel was the shit back before Sprint got to them. Sure their phones were hella expensive but that PTT thing worked perfectly for anybody of all ages

[OCEAN 12 @ Aug 9th 2008 2:10PM]

whats that in the picture, looks like something the dinosours use after eating apples

[Micah @ Aug 9th 2008 2:28PM]

The only people that use iDEN are construction workers, and I don't know why they do exactly. I had Nextel for years and I hated that stupid PTT crap. It would always break up but you had no way of telling the person on the other side that you couldn't hear a word they said until they were done rambling. Let Sprint and iDEN die they are a waste of perfectly good bandwidth.

[Korey @ Aug 9th 2008 2:30PM]

Good Riddance! that chirp thing was terrible no body will miss the aged iDEN network.

[Korey @ Aug 9th 2008 3:21PM]

To stupid head I would Naomi Campbell your ass with my blackberry? Oh jealous that you nextel schmucks dont get the sweet phones awww chirp chirp fruit

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 2:33PM]

Whatever. Sprint and Nextel offer better service and phones than either verizon or att.

[Flashpoint @ Aug 9th 2008 2:38PM]

WOW

I won't come right out and call you an idiot...but, that was the dumbest statement I've heard since anything beggining with "al Queda in iraq".

Verizon has had better phones than Sprint for the past 5 years at least. Sprint's only major additions to phones was high megapixel cameras. That's it. Once Sidekick 2 and Blackberries got rolling in mass, Sprint's usership has plummetted.

Why don't you take a look at their stock's peak and then watch it ffall from month to month on a finance graph.

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 2:39PM]

Because Verizon sucks ass

Duh.

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 2:55PM]

Because hotflash, verizon is no where near where even iden is when it comes to quality of service. Sprint has verizon and att beat there and in other areas. You are too blind to see it apparently.

[pwnetheus @ Aug 9th 2008 3:26PM]

I actually have to agree with stupid head here. I still believe Sprint is better than Verizon. I've noticed that just about anywhere Verizon gets service, so does Sprint. Even if it doesn't, that's what free roaming is for and guess what? Then I'm using Verizon's network without having to pay their ridiculous prices. That and Verizon's data plans suck ass. My friend has the same data plan as me yet he pays almost twice as much. I don't get that. Screw Verizon. Although I do agree that Sprint doesn't get too many good phones. I can't wait for the Touch Pro.

[lanejasper69 @ Aug 9th 2008 4:47PM]

ok, I tried to stay out of it, but Sprint Sucks ASS in all areas!! you "Stupid_Head" should probably call it quits before you are flamed in a turkey broiler because you certainly are asking for it. Sprint has had issues for years now! Not that they all don't in one form or another, but their track recored for idiot employees is perfect!

[THJ @ Aug 9th 2008 10:25PM]

You all realize that different carriers have better/worse signal strength on a block-by-block basis.

What is great in one part of town/city/county/state/region may be absolutely terrible in another part.

That said, all cell phone providers are terrible in their own ways.

Saying Sprint/ATT/Verizon/T-Mobile sucks is as useful as saying osx/vista/ubuntu sucks.

[EddieWillers @ Aug 10th 2008 2:32AM]

NXTL and Sprint suck because they employ people like SH.

Even if they got their feces coagulated re: their rebanding non-project and the constant signal strength fluctuations, they will still be tied to a millstone of poor customer service and low employee morale.

New CEO Dan, here's hoping you spend as much time reforming the HR aspect as you do the tech and marketing aspects. Until a SIGNIFICANT change is seen, us commercial customers will continue to drop off the service. In fact, the day after our largest customers tell us they've completed their move to Southern Linc and Verizon, we're 90% ready to follow them, as we will have no reason to stay and suffer the fools you've got working for you.

[JerryA @ Aug 10th 2008 8:51PM]

I'm with pwnetheus. Sprint's voice rates are comparable to VZW, unlimited data is like 1/3 of what VZW charges, and Sprint gets all the good smartphones at least 6 months before VZW releases their crippled versions. Sprint has plenty of issues right now but they are by far the cheapest and fastest network in many metro areas and you can roam for free on VZW anyway so even in areas where VZW has a better signal I can use it without paying their rates. As far as speeds, price, and smartphone selection, they are on top in my area at least. I just hope they can turn around the parts of their company that are lacking.

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 2:38PM]

And no one else has a decent push to talk service.

[bigriggy63 @ Aug 9th 2008 3:16PM]

I love the fact that people are hating on Sprint so much; the reality is this: Being a Sprint user myself, I know that our Customer Service sucks. However, in both the DC Area, as well as Chicago, I continually enjoy excellent call quality, EVDO Rev A. Speeds, and cutting technology-laden phones. (Not to mention a great plan with affordable pricing- and I do NOT have SERO, either.) Blackberry and Treo do NOT rule the roost for cell phones, folks. Get over yourselves; It can be argued that Nextel's purchase was a mistake by Sprint- COSTLY, but a mistake, nonetheless. All big business is prone to it. So, what does Sprint do now? They cannot just fold into oblivion, after all they STILL have 51 million loyal subscribers still supporting them. Step One- trim the fat.That includes LEARNING from past costly mistakes by not offering plans so cheap that you aren't earning money from them. Selling off your Cell Phone Towers, and leasing them from Verizon...genius. Why not piggy-back off of your rival that has towers in more areas anyway? Win-Win. Step Two- Offer popular phones with features and design that people want; You may or may not like the Samsung Instinct, but the phone has sold extremely well, and has helped to convert people to their top-tier Pricing Plans. Step Three...DONT FOLD. If Sprint can manage to "turn the ship around", with limited exclusives like Instinct, HTC Herman, HTC Victor, etc. doesn't everyone win? I mean, the less major carriers that exist, equals more premium pricing on the remaining Carriers. So, for all you ne'er do wells that have nothing but Ill-Will towards Sprint, it would you serve you well to think carefully about what you wish for. After all, it would be ironic if Sprint did fold, and you had to pay a 20-30% increase for service.

A Sprint customer since 95 (sprint spectrum), my 2 Cents.

[Korey @ Aug 9th 2008 3:09PM]

P2T is a joke buy a blackberry and use Verizons EV-DO network Email,TXT,IM,Phone,Web your connected everywhere no need to chirp and piss off people around you cause I would say something if you were chirping around me that is so annoying and the audio quality sucks. Verizon PWNS

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 3:17PM]

Why? its smaller then Sprints ev-do network. weather you like it or not there is a market for PTT. go ahead and say something just try not to get punched in the face. Verizon quality is sub standard, it just is.

[Citizens @ Aug 9th 2008 3:12PM]

We have been spreading the word on Sprint and their Corporate misconduct since we were contacted by a Dealership in California, their stock was trading at $23.00 a share at that time. You know how long that has been. They have cheated everyone out of money to keep liquid. No commission payments to Master Agents, Dealerships or employees. Always over charging the customers for services they didn't have or want.

Sell iDEN to Boost and let the top bidder take the leftovers...Whatever that may be.

To Dan and the rest of the Execs, you should be ashamed!!!!!!!

[stupid head @ Aug 9th 2008 3:19PM]

Let me help you spread the word. You see, some people in America feel they are entitled to things with out having to work for them. No one got cheated out of money... Sprint said, you will have to WORK for it. so now you have guys like this that think people care. You are entitled to nothing sir.

[Jim @ Aug 9th 2008 4:39PM]

"Sell iDEN to Boost and let the top bidder take the leftovers...Whatever that may be.

To Dan and the rest of the Execs, you should be ashamed!!!!!!!"


Welcome to the world of being an ignorant jackass.

1) Boost is owned by Sprint.

2) Dan Hesse didn't cause any of the problems at Sprint. He only started in December.

[drumstyk1 @ Aug 9th 2008 3:16PM]

not now stupid head, the grownups are talking

[Korey @ Aug 9th 2008 3:23PM]

@Stupid Head I will Naomi Campbell your low tech nextel loving ass with my Blackberry

[Korey @ Aug 9th 2008 3:27PM]

The selling it to Boost would not work since Sprint/Nextel runs Boost as an MNVO marketed towards the urban youth demographic seeing as they have no or bad credit its a nice option. How bad does a company suck when they market to people with no credit in urban enviroments if you can read between the lines that makes them bigots

[dcny @ Aug 9th 2008 4:22PM]

There not bigots because of that , all they do is target teens and early twenty year olds lots of companies to that; ask every credit card company they target teens and people 20-23 go to any event that has to deal with teens and i guarantee you will see some bank offering credit cards.

An Urban environment that is where the majority of the population is NYC, LA, ATL, Baltimore, Chicago, DC, Seattle, Houston, Dallas, Boston are urban environments (a large city) , If they didnt target urban environments who the hell are you targeting in the middle of nowhere bigfoot.