http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 12:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
Palm and Sprint marketing was way worse than any ads Apple ran for the iPhone. Apple can make something like Copy&Paste sound innovative, while Palm/Sprint ended up making the Pre seem like a feminine hygiene product with that stupid ad with the people dancing around in a field.]]>Jul 29th 2009 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 1:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
or the one with the no-name band preforming live on facebook...EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR IS NOTHING LIVE UPDATING ABOUT FACEBOOK


Pre has had one of the worse advertising campaigns ever.....]]>Jul 29th 2009 2:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/1. Stop over promoting the unlimited plans and focus on the low-end plans. Charge around $0.05 a minute or $25/mo for 500 minutes
2. Have text messaging plans setup as 50/mo, 100/mo, 200/mo, 400/mo, 800/mo, 1600/mo, unlimited all at progressively lower costs per message (i.e. $2.5/mo@$.05/mi, $4/mo@$.04/mi, $6/mo@$.03/mi, $10/mo@$.025/mi, $16/mo@$.02/mi, $24/mo@$.015/mi, $30/mo). Since text messaging costs the provider next to nothing, this is still quite the money maker.
3. Even a slight drop in the cost of data plans would sway people from the competition, I'd pay $15/mo for 5Gb/mo as long as WiFi takes precedence, but $30 is just unreasonable. I'm sure many would agree and that's what is keeping them from moving to smartphones.
4. Stop with the subsidies; the upfront cost of phones is not that big of a deal for most, especially if the plans were adjusted down accordingly. You could even keep the early termination fee in place, but the customer should own the phone and it should not be locked down to a specific provider. Look at Europe where very few, if any, phones are purchased with provider subsidies. The phone market is booming and people are paying the full price for phones.
5. $36 for the activation of the first line and $26 for the remaining phones? Are you kidding me? It takes a technician all of about 5 minutes to activate multiple phones on a plan. If you are seriously paying a tech the equivalence of $744/hr to activate two phones (that's over 20x my salaried wage!), then I think I've found some of your losses.
6. And this is just my point of view as a recent defector to AT&T; focus on fixing your reception within buildings, I couldn't get a signal anywhere within my parent's or my house and would get a faint signal if I stood beside a window with the blinds open. I look at the coverage map online and I'm in one of the darkest (best coverage) areas.

And this list wouldn't be complete without the ever-present meme:
7. ...
8. profit!!!]]>Jul 29th 2009 2:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
So you calling the iPhone a loss leader is probably not what you think it is.]]>Jul 30th 2009 3:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 5:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
The problem is that the rest of their phones are frankly pretty awful, so people who don't care about having data and unlimited text probably leave all the time. But as far as the smartphone sector goes I think Sprint is in a great place since they have the most competitive plans out there.

On the bright side the new subscribers they're getting are probably going for the $70 plans, and the ones they're losing are likely people who either wanted a regular phone or wanted an iPhone.
They probably have to add at least a couple decent dumbphones because this is pretty bad to constantly bleed customers like this.]]>Jul 29th 2009 4:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
Can't beat $109.99 a month for 2 lines with 1600 shared minutes, free nights and weekends starting at 7PM, unlimited data, email, text/picture/video messaging, GPS, turn-by-turn navigation, and Sprint TV. Also their customer service has been excellent recently -- trick is to talk to their people with chat through the website.

Sucks for them that they are losing customers, but I don't have anything bad to say about my experience with them in the past 2 years. ]]>Jul 29th 2009 11:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 12:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Not sure why people would leave Sprint, since the Pre so far is a good, if not great phone. The plans rock and customer service have been fine. Data speeds are good and from my perspective I have full bars most of the time.
Am I missing something or is all this hate unfounded? Worst case scenario for Sprint is they go under and another carrier buys them out. Big deal, it happens all the time.]]>Jul 29th 2009 12:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
Same deal with Windows Vista and Jesus. Its just a bunch of people talking about things they know nothing about. ]]>Jul 29th 2009 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
$20 per month:
-500 min talk, night and weekend start at 7PM
-unlimited data
-unlimited text
-unlimited picture mail
-GPS
-sprint tv

pays to have a friend working for sprint :)]]>Jul 29th 2009 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
link to the $109.99 plan please ?

"Can't beat $109.99 a month for 2 lines with 1600 shared minutes, free nights and weekends starting at 7PM, unlimited data, email, text/picture/video messaging, GPS, turn-by-turn navigation, and Sprint TV."]]>Jul 29th 2009 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
Find an employee address.

Go to Plans.

Everything Plus Data Family:

Anytime Minutes: 1600
Unlimited data, web surfing, email, BlackBerry Internet Services, GPS Navigation, Music Premier, TV Premier, NFL Mobile Life and NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile.
Unlimited messaging: Text, pictures, and video.
Unlimited mobile to mobile, night calling and weekends starting at 7 PM, nationwide long distance and no roaming charges.

Lines 1-2 included. Lines 3-5 are $14.99/mo/line.

Monthly Price: $109.99]]>Jul 29th 2009 1:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
This is why I don't own a Pre (Sprint won't let me on my plan, the bastards want me to pay $79/mo for 300min). Sprint is dying a slow, bleeding death. Maybe it's corporate cs karma, who knows.

Similar headline: TITANIC LOSES LOWER DECK, CREW STILL BAILING WATER WITH BUCKETS]]>Jul 29th 2009 1:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/You can get a slightly better rate: get the regular $129 plan and sign up to Alliant Credit Union for 25% off your bill (doesn't apply to fees and insurance).
97.50 per month with 1500 shared minutes instead of 1600.
]]>Jul 29th 2009 5:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
Not sure why they are telling you you need to pay $79 for 300 minutes. The regular plan is $69 for 450 and the referral is $60 for 500.

I had 2 F&F 500 plans at under $20 each, free txt/data/rm, nights @ 7, but I was sick of WinMo (last 2 phones Touch Pro and Mogul) and the Pre has been worth every penny @ 110 for 3 lines (before insurance and fees).]]>Jul 29th 2009 5:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
nub.]]>Jul 29th 2009 11:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
And "at this rate" would actually mean that they could continue to lose customers at this rate for the next 13 years- unlikely. When it comes to cash, they've already paid off their debt through the end of the year and have enough in the bank to cover their debt till 2012.

More like "at this rate" you won't be able to add or subtract by the end of the day...]]>Jul 29th 2009 12:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
Now all we need is Quix to show up in his iSuicide vest so he can blow himself up again in the glorious war against the "iHaters".
]]>Jul 29th 2009 11:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 12:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
LOL.

That's all. Just LOL.]]>Jul 29th 2009 12:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
LOL.

That's all. Just LOL."

What? no elaboration. If he's lying, maybe you can enlighten us as to where. "lol" isnt cutting it.

Come on, Zak, your're the one setting a high standard for posting here.]]>Jul 29th 2009 2:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 4:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/seems incorrect, I think sprint Q2 ended in June. so that is almost one "full month" of pre availability in Q2. thanks]]>Jul 29th 2009 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 2:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
Sprint has a good network, when you can find it. I was a long time sprint user, but I finally moved to Cingular to, you know, get a signal. And yss, it's very regional, I'm sure that there places where sprint rocks and AT&T or Verizon suck, but over all Verizon and AT&T are better in terms of coverage. It doesn't matter how fast the network is if you can't get a signal. Of, and their customer service blew goats too...

Here's to hoping that selecting Sprint doesn't cause the Pre to fail. Not that I plan on getting on, I like my iPhone, but stiff competition is good, and a great Pre will force Apple to make the iPhone even better.
]]>Jul 29th 2009 11:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/ Sprint switcher (the Pre caused me to look, but I went for a Curve, because they practically paid me to take them, until WebOS goes through another couple upgrades) my coverage has actually gotten better (in San Diego, CA). Why? When I can't get a Sprint signal, they have free roaming onto Verizon and I've actually found a few places where Sprint has coverage that Verizon doesn't. Now if I was out of a city and didn't get the native Sprint EV-DO coverage most of the time roaming might be more of an issue, but since most of my traveling in the US is to major cities Sprint is a great deal for me]]>Jul 29th 2009 1:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 12:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 1:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 11:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 12:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/
- DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THE iPHONE
- GET SOME GODDAMN ANDROID HANDSETS

There is absolutely no way in hell that they wouldn't post a positive profit if they took either of the above suggestions.
]]>Jul 29th 2009 11:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/Jul 29th 2009 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/29/sprint-loses-384m-257k-subscribers-in-first-full-quarter-of-pr/But Sprint and VZN can get on the bandwagon for UMTS and LTE, and make sure they follow global standards. Global standards = hot new handsets, hot new handsets = customers. Simple.

VZN is a bit of an exception because they do actually offer the best coverage by far in the USA so they kinda compensate for the lack of nice phones. ]]>Jul 29th 2009 12:08PM