Sprint voice service down in New York City (updated with official statement)
By Chris Ziegler 
posted June 9th 2010 2:19PM
posted June 9th 2010 2:19PM
We certainly don't want to point the finger at a wildly-successful EVO 4G launch just yet, but it seems that Sprint's voice service is down in New York City (data is still working, for what it's worth). This is happening consistently for three of us here in the city with EVOs on hand, so it certainly seems like a real problem. We're reaching out to Sprint for comment and we'll let you know what we hear.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Update: And we just got this from Sprint --
Let's hope those glorious EVOs resume normal operation shortly."One of our VoIP switches in New York did experience an equipment failure earlier today causing some traffic to be rerouted to another switching location during the repair process and resulting in call congestion for some Sprint customers. Our network operators are working aggressively to resolve this issue and hope to have service back to normal soon."
Update 2: Looks like we're back online, at least intermittently.
Update 3: Sprint tells us that service was 100 percent back to normal as of 4:15PM ET. Carry on, folks!
lol service was down for me in albuquerque yesterday!!! the EVO IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looks like it was either a glitch, fluke, or temporary localized outage.
Actually this is true...I called sprint because all outgoing calls gave me a busy signal...oddly enough I can receive just fine. Sprint confirmed when I called them they are having some sort of "outage".
AT&T data is down in Florida but voice is up...
@Prime First
AT&T data is always down.
@Prime First
Wonder why this isnt reported. Seems Crapgadget like to flame Sprint or anything not made by Apple
@Prime First http://erictric.com/2010/06/09/att-services-down-in-florida/
It has definitely been down since 9 this morning in Tallahassee. It's kind of annoying.
@nwhat because everyone knows ATT sucks. Sprint very rarely has large outages. 1st one that I have experienced in the 3 years I have been with them.
Sucks... [click]
...to be on Sprint right now... [click]
...at least on AT&T I can mak....
[throws phone at wall]
I have a Sprint Palm Pre and I my voice service is partially down. I can receive calls but I cant make them.
I was having call problems at about the same time on my EVO. Seems to have cleared up now.
@summerboy18 Did you type that last word with your iPhone?
And this is only the beginning haha
Last i had checked there was no sprint 4g in ny.
So, really who cares? It's just like a tower going down anywhere else. I don't see why it's even worth mentioning.
I love my evo
yeah I'm in manhatten and it's working fine for me. This article should be removed asap.
Oh wow this is sorta shocking. I wonder how many EVOs it took to crash the network. Any reports on sales?
I use to be a RF engineer for Verizon responsible for designing, maintaining, and optimizing the cellular network. Let me shed some light on the issue. As both verizon and Sprint use the same CDMA/EVDO technology I think I can shed some light on the issue here.
1. The Voice network operates on a separate radio and frequencies then the Data. So it is possible there is a problem with the voice and not the Data radio.
2. The cause of this could be any of a number of issues.
a. at the cell tower there can be could be a componet failure. Bad amplifier, filter, radio, loss of GPS timing.
b. if Sprint is upgrading the network, say to implement WiMAX or just to upgrade call capacity, normal practice would dictate that they do this during the maintance window normaly sometime late evening early morning 12am-4am. This requires the tower to be taken offline. For any number of reasons they are still working on it and were not able to bring it up before the end of the maintenance window.
c. If they are upgrading the tower the, RF engineer has to "Build" or Configure the new cellular configuration. This tells the antenna sectors what towers are nearby to hand your call to. Sets access controls and a ton of other settings. If something fat figured and entry then this could render the tower useless.
d. An event or car accident can literally take down a cell tower. By looking at the call load on cell towers in my network I could tell you when and approximately where there was a car accident on I-95 when hundreds of people call 911 simultaneously saturating the towers capacity. Large sporting events or gatherings can overwhelm the capacity Super Bowl, Daytona 500.
e. The T1 lines that connect the towers back to the switch can have issues. Or there could be an issue with the cards back at the switch that routes and process the call.
f. Its the Chinese hackers and there mounting a cyber attack in preparation for a secret invasion.
These are just a few possible reasons. The cell towers are independent of the network. By independent if there are issues with a tower or towers at one location this will not effect towers in another part of the network.
I would say it is a bit ridiculous reporting on an localized outage amidst the extremely heavy and positive iPhone coverage. This only makes it appear that engadget is bias toward apple and trying to counter some of the criticism of the AT&T network and thus the iPhone 4.
@linenoise sorry for the poor grammar. It seems like I only notice the mistakes the second I hit submit.
@linenoise Now THAT is how you comment on a story. Thanks linenoise!
@linenoise
Just recently, I move to sprint and I can say I'm impressed by it's call quality compare to my previous ATT (3gs) and T-Mobile (N1). Sprint call is very clear and way less static on the background or is it the Evo magic at work. I dunno, but I'm planing to stick with Sprint for a while. Engadget is really not a bias but the writer can sometime be a total fanboy. Not to mention they got to satisfy all the branded cattle out there. I'm a bit branded too but I will fly like a wind when I see something more capable.
Give 'em the real AT&T experience ;)
Lord Vader, I can't believe you've contracted some Rebel scums for this clandestine operation!
"We're reaching out"
No, you're *asking*.
@bfdhud Never had any issues or know anyone who had with verizon. Imo chose the network before the phone have fun on sprint
@Soapinmouth Oh NO SPRINT HAD ONE SERVICE OUTAGE IN HOW LONG???
God...people annoy me. A lot.
@Soapinmouth
Happens on verizon too... towers go down all the time... Verizons not perfect either sorry..
I'm in Times Square area and my phone has been working fine all day. Voice and data
Wow really engadget you and your lies I have been making calls on my Evo since 7 this morning and have had no problem at all but my iPhone has dropped 4 calls so sorry all you Apple and At&t fan boys there is no problems try and find something else to make you feel better at your self
"We certainly don't want to point the finger at a wildly-successful EVO 4G launch just yet"
This statement should be revised.
According to Precentral.net (http://www.precentral.net/sprint-revises-evo-launch-sales-numbers-closer-pre-previously-stated)...
"While Sprint first announced that "the total number of HTC EVO 4G devices sold on launch day was three times the number of Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre devices sold over their first three days on the market combined," today's correction describes launch day sales as "in line" with those of the Instinct and Pre. Still quite respectable, to be sure, but not the blowout first thought."
What the he'll does this have to do with apple and AT&T? You guys are geeks lol. Cool it already
No problems with my Evo at all but my iPhone 3GS has dropped 4 calls to day so people need to stop hating on Sprint
Thank god they didn't sell too many EVOs after all. Would have completely killed the network.
Wow.. if a network outage gets on engadget.. they would've had a field day with nz's telecom xt network.. 4 major outages since launch..
If Engadget thinks that a 100-150K EVO sales nationwide is wildly successful, then it is on crack and if that paltry number crushed Sprint's network then they must be sharing the drugs. Engadget is an equal opportunity exaggerator on both the up and downside, Apple and Android - whatever will get them the most hits, comments and most importantly ad impressions.
@capnbob66 ...yep.
I keep seeing the AT&T bashing, but what Sprint just experienced, and what the other two WILL experience, will become more commonplace when the other three carriers begin to approach AT&T's data usage numbers. All 4 major networks need to be making huge infrastructure upgrades.
@Hemlocke, nonsense!!! Obviously you haven't heard that Verizon and Sprint accounted for 63% of ALL data use in 2009. http://www.zdnet.com/blog/gadgetreviews/report-verizon-sprint-account-for-63-of-nations-mobile-data-traffic/13790
You need to stop believe those stupid At&t commercial. For the record, Sprints VOICE service did not go down, voice was relayed over a different switch. By the way, reread the article, it had nothing to do with data. Lastly, At&t's network is 1/4 the size of Sprints. Having more customers does not translate into a larger network.
Hey engadget, what happened to this article: "iphone or evo which one should you get?" I hate to think you're censoring.
just can't wait until AT&T network have 4 different types of iPhones on their network and see how it hold up, well they have 3 different ones now and you see how it's working now
Such anger in here tonight. Ive been sending and receiving calls all day in both the 10025 and 10001 area codes all day. Data on the other hand has been in and out until about 4:30 then it just quite. Still out at 9:51
I guess Sprint didn't anticipate this much traffic on their network during the release of the EVO. NY on the other hand, has poor reception anyway.
If you look at the quick menu on the top, there are 3 for Apple related products.
One for Evo, one for HP and another for Google.
3 Apple Products.
Ipad.
Iphone 4.
Iphone OS 4.
3. In one menu bar.
that mention to the EVO only shows that engadget folks use the best phone EVA!!!
It is ironic that telcos are using VOIP for their internal routing to save cost and bandwidth, while at the same they try hard to prevent end users to use VOIP over cellular data, so they can charge you for cellular voice instead. Many of us knew that already, but it is not common for them to officially acknowledge that they are using VOIP equipment for internal routing.
I think Engadget should put back up the Iphone vs. Evo article with poll saying more people wanted the EVO. where did it go??