What is Sprint's iPhone Product Life when Sprint Goes LTE in 2013?

[myPod]

Sprint just announced it's going LTE by 2013.....
What does that mean for the Sprint iPhone's product life???
It's currently a CDMA/GSM World Phone.....
But it won't work in LTE right???

Sounds like the Sprint iPhone might turn into a Sprint iPod in 2 years.

Would anybody with this knowledge please address this issue??

Thx

 

[ZBoater]

Just because they go LTE doesnt mean they stop supporting their iPhones...

 

[myPod]

Just because they go LTE doesnt mean they stop supporting their iPhones...

I'm not too worried about supporting the iPhone...
I'm more curious about the Sprint Cellular network as a whole.

If Sprint goes LTE, what happens to their SLOWER CDMA network?

All of us early adopters of Sprint CDMA iPhones are doing so knowingly that Sprint will be switching to a faster LTE network in 2013 and we will be in possession of a slower CDMA device.

(I guess we can switch to a GSM carrier when the time comes, right?)

 

[FreakinEurekan]

This is more of a concern for WiMax devices, which currently get "4G" speeds but will not any longer once WiMax is phased out (they will fall back to CDMA/EVDO speeds). The iPhone (on Sprint) is a CDMA-only (EVDO) device, so it does not take advantage of Sprint's current (WiMax) or future (LTE) 4G features. It is a 3G-only device, and Sprint's 3G network will coexist with LTE (as it does now with WiMax) for many years.

 

[TonyBaloney]

Sprint won't discontinue its CDMA network for several years knowing full well that majority of customers will still be on it for some time. That being said, if you sign up for a contract today, it expires in 2013!! So you can get the new iPhone 7 LTE then.

 

[myPod]

This is more of a concern for WiMax devices, which currently get "4G" speeds but will not any longer once WiMax is phased out (they will fall back to CDMA/EVDO speeds). The iPhone (on Sprint) is a CDMA-only (EVDO) device, so it does not take advantage of Sprint's current (WiMax) or future (LTE) 4G features. It is a 3G-only device, and Sprint's 3G network will coexist with LTE (as it does now with WiMax) for many years.

Are you saying the Sprint iPhone is CDMA-only and cannot switch to GSM where they have HSPA+?? It is CDMA ONLY???

I thought it was a CDMA/GSM "World Phone" device.

 

[i hate phones]

Are you saying the Sprint iPhone is CDMA-only and cannot switch to GSM where they have HSPA+?? It is CDMA ONLY???

I thought it was a CDMA/GSM "World Phone" device.

it is, but its locked to your carrier... the phone itself would be capable if unlocked. not sure anyone really knows for sure but that's how its looking anyway.

 

[myPod]

Sprint won't discontinue its CDMA network for several years knowing full well that majority of customers will still be on it for some time. That being said, if you sign up for a contract today, it expires in 2013!! So you can get the new iPhone 7 LTE then.

That's what I'm thinking. In 2 years from now, I'll probably upgrade to the iP7 anyway.

If CDMA might be phased out, the resale of the Sprint CDMA iPhone might not be as much as a GSM version. But C'est la Vie

 

[CrAkD]

Att and Verizon both have lte networks....doesn't mean 3G won't work anymore. so I don't really see the point of this thread. Besides by 2013 I would almost guarantee that apple has an lte iPhone out.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

Are you saying the Sprint iPhone is CDMA-only and cannot switch to GSM where they have HSPA+?? It is CDMA ONLY???

I thought it was a CDMA/GSM "World Phone" device.

It can switch to HSPA+ on Sprint's worldwide roaming partners, but not in the USA. Sprint iPhone 4S devices are locked to Sprint's network (which doesn't and won't support HSPA+) within the USA.

 

[myPod]

Att and Verizon both have lte networks....doesn't mean 3G won't work anymore. so I don't really see the point of this thread. Besides by 2013 I would almost guarantee that apple has an lte iPhone out.

I was expressing concerns for people who might hang on to their phones for more than a couple of years that they will still have support.

Sprint made a big deal about their Road Map to LTE but made no mention of their existing CDMA network.

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It can switch to HSPA+ on Sprint's worldwide roaming partners, but not in the USA. Sprint iPhone 4S devices are locked to Sprint's network (which doesn't and won't support HSPA+) within the USA.

Just curious, but the reverse of that scenario, the AT&T iPhone 5....
Is it switchable to Sprint CDMA and back to AT&T - or is it locked too??

 

[bidwalj]

The CDMA network is going no where. They will be launching lte along with their current CDMA network. The CDMA network will still be used for voice as lte will only be for data. It's the same with Verizon and AT&T.

 

[mds]

Sprint won't discontinue its CDMA network for several years knowing full well that majority of customers will still be on it for some time. That being said, if you sign up for a contract today, it expires in 2013!! So you can get the new iPhone 7 LTE then.

It'll probably be the iPhone 5S.

 

[myPod]

The CDMA network is going no where. They will be launching lte along with their current CDMA network. The CDMA network will still be used for voice as lte will only be for data. It's the same with Verizon and AT&T.

Thanks, good to know. LTE only for data.

Most of the time I use WiFi for data anyway. 3G data from my vehicle or walking around, but heavier usage when WiFi is available.

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Thanks everybody!!