Switching from AT&T to Sprint?

[RainCityMacFan]

I will be switching to Sprint.

The main selling point is that they'll be unlocking the GSM portion of their phone after a few months of being with them. I travel often so on a Sprint plan, I get more for my money and it's cheaper seeing that I don't have to buy an unlocked 64GB iPhone 4S. (I calculated the cost for the next 2 years) Plus I have a 23% discount with Sprint while AT&T only gives me a measly 10%.

Also I heard that Sprint can "roam" on Verizon's network so I'll be fine with that, even though I rarely call or go on the internet (my campus is blanketed in WiFi).

 

[dabunique]

I decided to switch as I save $30 a month/$360 a year for da same plan with AT&T. Both my roommate and I have iPhones and it is virtually impossible to have signal in our building without going to da balcony. So maybe for me Sprint will be better. If not like the guy said, I'll go back to AT&T.

 

[iamthedudeman]

I won't bother responding to all of this, though I disagree with it. (Mostly because it's too late to do so rather than because of my agreement or disagreement) but you're just plain wrong.

Go onto the AT&T site, zoom in on the coverage map. See all those dark blue spots? They have HSPA+. See everywhere that doesn't? Including my area? (Southern Oregon) we don't.

In any case - I trust my real world experiences and experience with my area's cellular networks (been on all three major carriers) more than your word. And for my area, and the places I frequent, Sprint is the best by far. If AT&T is the best for you - wonderful, don't need to justify it to me.

Sorry buddy. This is 2011 not 2007. Things change. Apparently you missed it.

How am I just plain wrong.


4G and HSPA+ do not mean the same thing. According to ATT certain speeds of HSPA+ are considered 4G. While they have essentially their whole 3G footprint is HSPA+. HSPA+ only means HSDPA and HSUPA together. Not 4G. Only when the cell cites have enhanced backhaul to they consider it "4G". Exactly what I said and exactly what ATT says on their website.

Sorry, this is not just my opinion. You guys need to reevaluate what you are doing when changing carriers. I don't think you know exactly the pro's and cons of doing so.

AT&T has deployed HSPA+ to virtually 100% of the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, enabling 4G speeds when combined with enhanced backhaul.

http://www.att.com/network/


I am averaging speeds of over 4Mps and 7Mps. While you are averaging speeds of 700kps. Big difference.
And yes my company uses all three. Sorry.

This is a fact. You will be stuck with 700kps speeds until Sprint LTE rolls out. Essentially not for the entire time you own your iPhone 4S. Not even in time for the iPhone 5 rollout.

Think about that for a moment and let it sink in.

We have left the days of dial up behind us. Apparently Sprint didn't. Their 3G network is slow. What good is good coverage like you claim if their network is slow under the best of conditions.

As for coverage, PC mag months ago had ATT as best in rural areas. How is that? People like to make it out as ATT's coverage is poor, according to PCMag that is not the case. Goes against everything you are saying doesn't it.

http://www.pcmag.com/Fastest-Mobile-Networks-2011#fbid=BYxjyhwEbeK

It's not just the best for me. It is the best for anyone who likes decent speeds on their brand new iPhone 4S.

Sorry Sprint isn't Verizon. At least with Verizon you get good coverage.

How is that not true?

 

[jokemjokester]

^There's nothing wrong with what you said about AT&T and Sprint. If you are satisfied with the "4g" speeds AT&T provides and you get constant connection, more power to you bro. I think people here are just pointing out that in THEIR area, Sprint/Verizon/Tmobile works much better than AT&T. I can probably speak for everyone and say that they would rather have good connection with decent data speeds compared to AT&T infamous drop calls and high data speeds. Where I live, Honolulu, HI, Tmobile for me works excellent. On the mainland e.g., California, Seattle, Nevada, not so much. I'm not saying Tmobile is the best in the country but it so happens that it just works best for my daily life at home

 

[iamthedudeman]

^There's nothing wrong with what you said about AT&T and Sprint. If you are satisfied with the "4g" speeds AT&T provides and you get constant connection, more power to you bro. I think people here are just pointing out that in THEIR area, Sprint/Verizon/Tmobile works much better than AT&T. I can probably speak for everyone and say that they would rather have good connection with decent data speeds compared to AT&T infamous drop calls and high data speeds. Where I live, Honolulu, HI, Tmobile for me works excellent. On the mainland e.g., California, Seattle, Nevada, not so much. I'm not saying Tmobile is the best in the country but it so happens that it just works best for me for daily life at home

I agree. Go with what carrier has better coverage in your area. Saying ATT doesn't have good coverage around the country or that Sprints speeds are 'just as good' is not exactly what you are describing.

I have never seen ATT's infamous dropped calls data or otherwise. I wouldn't call 700kps speeds 'decent' either. That is my point of view. You are entitled to your own.

 

[jokemjokester]

I have never seen ATT's infamous dropped calls data or otherwise. I wouldn't call 700kps speeds 'decent' either. That is my point of view. You are entitled to your own.

I would love to have 700kps. Edge on my factory unlocked iphone 4 just isn't cutting it lol.

 

[Seattleite]

We currently have AT&T with 2 iPhone 4's and 1 dumb phone. We recently moved and have a pretty crappy signal here in our home, as well as at my husband's work. One of the iPhones belongs to my daughter and she has a horrible signal in her barracks room and office.

We decided to see if Sprint is any better, so orders the new 4s for all of us. Once they arrive, I will be doing comparisons for signal, speed etc. and go from there. If Sprint is no better, we will stick with AT&T.

 

[iamthedudeman]

I won't bother responding to all of this, though I disagree with it. (Mostly because it's too late to do so rather than because of my agreement or disagreement) but you're just plain wrong.

Go onto the AT&T site, zoom in on the coverage map. See all those dark blue spots? They have HSPA+. See everywhere that doesn't? Including my area? (Southern Oregon) we don't.

In any case - I trust my real world experiences and experience with my area's cellular networks (been on all three major carriers) more than your word. And for my area, and the places I frequent, Sprint is the best by far. If AT&T is the best for you - wonderful, don't need to justify it to me.

It is worse than I thought. I don't care what of coverage you have, those speeds are just unusable.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1252643/

You still have time, get rid of the phone and go back to ATT or go to ATT while you still can. This is what happens when a already slow network gets bogged down by the iphone. It happened to ATT, and everyone said, they just suck this and that while not taking into account that increased users using alot of data will have that effect.