Any Ex Sprint Customers Here?

[Scotlac]

Hi guys,

I had a couple of issues with Sprint customer support during the process of getting my Evo LTE (which I ultimately returned). Combine that with the current state of their network and I'm seriously considering making the leap to AT&T. Especially since I've now decided on the Galaxy S3!

I know that the grass is not always greener so I'd love to hear from someone who has experience with both carriers.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mercury81]

My partner just made the jump from Sprint to AT&T and he loves the new LTE service. His android speed is 10X faster than mine. He went through radio shack which their insurance deductible is $100.00 cheaper than AT&T's. Just saying...

from Evo4GLTE on Android Central

 

[Dreissig]

I had an Evo 4G when I decided to switch to AT&T from Sprint. I like being able to use any unlocked GSM mobil, AT&T themself having no contract plans and their network. It is lightyears ahead of Sprint's network, and the AT&T version is even faster than the international version.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Android Central Forums

 

[Mikest]

Id like to piggyback on this thread. Current Sprint GSII owner looking to AT&T since Verizon went loco. I live in Louisville KY, a nice city but not high in AT&T's LTE rollout priorities list so I was wondering how HSPA+ is. My friends with iphones dont give it the best recommendations. What's your experience?

 

[blacksuntzu]

Loved sprint but their network was not getting the job done. Went to ATT S3 and not looking back. The network is a monster. Never got above 400k down on sprint and getting 5mbs down now. Only $10 dollars more with employer discount.

 

[Scotlac]

Thanks for all the input guys! Sounds like it's pretty much a no brainer......

 

[boxta]

Im in the same boat. I was with att on iphone before, went to sprint with evo because att kept dropping call on me.

Now 2 years later, sprint started to drop call on me quite frequently too, and att rolled out lte in the sf bay, so karma... Thinking about switching back too

But can someone also comments on the drop call-ability?

Every call on iphone used to be dropped somewhere
Thanks

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Scotlac]

Oh, one more question. Just in case battery life is better with LTE off could someone please comment on ATT's 3G speeds. Are they faster than Sprint's?

 

[jppowers]

I had Nextel, switched to AT&T for the first iPhone a week after it's release (got lucky as crap finding a store that had it at the time), stick with them for an iPhone 3G, then went to Sprint for the HTC Evo 4G. I'm not switching back to AT&T for the SGS3.

When it comes down to it, in my area (Raleigh, NC), both AT&T and Sprint have, minimum, acceptable coverage in most of the town. However, when you go outside of the city limits, Sprint is basically non-functional. Personally, I'm rarely in those areas though. When I had AT&T I had a similar problem, but it was far rarer.

When it comes to the customer service, they both have had ups and downs to me. Sprint stores were decent to me, but not flawless. AT&T was actually always great to me in stores. If I called for simple stuff, they were both great. When I called for some complex stuff at AT&T, they were acceptable but nothing to shout about. The complex stuff with Sprint was an absolute nightmare. Basically, I'd LIKE to say it's a wash, but Sprint pissed me off one two many times with policies and policy changes so it's not a fair fight.

Sprint's 3G speed is garbage, at best. AT&T's 3G speeds are nearly as fast as what I'd get on WiMax, too. LTE blows it away even further.

Overall, what it comes down to for me, I really want to go back to knowing my phone is usable anywhere in the world. I haven't left the country since I was 17, so it's not like it's a huge deal or anything, but it's peace of mind. I stopped turning WiMax on on my Evo because the battery life plummeted too fast, and I'm used to the 3G speeds so the upgrade will be great, too. Everything else is all personal feel or taste.

Overall, in most of the country's major markets, you're really just picking Pepsi or Coke. Get what you like. That said, if you live in a city that's notoriously bad for a certain provider, avoid it unless there's something special about them you want.

 

[Lorak]

Had AT&T years ago and went to sprint because the AT&T network wasn't great in my area, and then the first iphone killed what was left.

Loved sprint at first, but here it is now a non-network. Was lucky if you got over 100kbps download speeds. Started about a year ago and just has got worse and worse. (last week I never peaked over about 60kbps with a lot of speeds in the 20-40kbps range.

So I made the jump back to AT&T for the GS3 (chose AT&T over Verizon for the any mobile to mobile calling).

AT&T is awsome in my area. In the few years since I had left I guess they really improved their network here. Great signal everywhere I go. Been using the phone a lot the past two days, no dropped calls. Getting constant HSPA+ speeds of 5-7Mbps (no LTE here yet).

I couldn't be happier. And to make things even better my Wife and Daughter are even singing praises about how much better things are now.

Of course like all wireless carriers your experience will totally depend on your area.

 

[cgardnervt]

Make the jump! Jump ship! The Sprint ship is sinking IMO. ATT is much better! I have had ATT now for just over a month.

 

[geauxlsutigers]

I've been thinking about the switch because 3G speeds have been inconsistent over the past months on Sprint but just picked up the EVO LTE with renewed hope that Sprints Network Vision gets going in FL. The latest information I have seen about Network Vision upgrades is that the speeds will be really good, 3G and 4G so i know Sprint is working on it. Aside from the intermittent 3G issues I really like the Sprint network. I would like to keep unlimited data as I am using over 10 gigs a month. It seems people here are happy with AT&T but in my area a lot of my friends / co-workers complain about them...can any ex-Sprinters in central FL comment on AT&T?

Sent from my EVO using Android Central Forums

 

[MattMJB0188]

I have them all and where I live AT&T is the best. Sprint's 3G on a good day got me around 100Kbps down and 50kbps up. T-Mobile has an excellent HSPA+ network but in my opinion their number one priority needs to be getting off the AWS bands. I was outside and got a full 4G signal and then I'd go inside and get EDGE. T-Mobile also doesn't seem to have 3G coverage. It's HSPA+ or EDGE.

AT&T has a much better, more mature 3G network to fall back on when HSPA+ is unavailable. When I can pull near 8Mbps down on HSPA+ and then 30 Mbps down on LTE makes my phone even more powerful.

Only downside for new customers are AT&T's tiered plans.

 

[jppowers]

I forgot to mention: Sprint's only big advantage is unlimited data. I thought I used a lot but looking at my usage (according to Sprint's billing at least) I bared used over 1gig a month. I connect to wifi so regularly to save power and to get (what should be) faster speeds.

Keep that in mind. If you're around wifi as much as I am, data plans wont matter much. If you're always away from it though, that real unlimited network is an advantage you can't ignore.

 

[Scotlac]

I forgot to mention: Sprint's only big advantage is unlimited data. I thought I used a lot but looking at my usage (according to Sprint's billing at least) I bared used over 1gig a month. I connect to wifi so regularly to save power and to get (what should be) faster speeds.

Keep that in mind. If you're around wifi as much as I am, data plans wont matter much. If you're always away from it though, that real unlimited network is an advantage you can't ignore.

I am around WiFi the majority of the day. I checked my usage yesterday and it was similar to yours. I think part of that is because Sprint's network is so unusable but even with LTE I don't see myself going over 3GB.

 

[MattMJB0188]

I can't stop laughing at anyone who gets an EVO LTE on Sprint because they are buying a phone without the main feature on it. Majority who buy the EVO LTE will never see LTE light up on their phone.

Another thing I don't like is how this site seems to favor Sprint pand Verizon. T-Mobile blows Sprint away and is second to none here. AT&T actually has a very solid network now, two layers of 4G technology, respecatble coverage, and an awesome selection of Android phones and pathetic Sprint still seems more popular here. It baffles me.

 

[8er]

It is highly doubtful that a majority of EVO LTE users will never see LTE on their phones. The majority of the population lives within a metro area, and metro areas are LTE areas. Your statement is true if rural users are interested in the EVO LTE and metropolitan users are disinterested in EVO LTE devices.

The above is false if you know Sprint LTE service will never deploy according to Sprint's plan.

My guess is EVO LTE buyers like the phone for its features and the price.

Side bar. Note the ATT/Verizon 4G coverage as of 3/2012
Verizon, AT&T 4G LTE coverage maps: truth comes in comparison

 

[8er]

I can't stop laughing at anyone who gets an EVO LTE on Sprint because they are buying a phone without the main feature on it. Majority who buy the EVO LTE will never see LTE light up on their phone.

It is highly doubtful that a majority of EVO LTE users will never see LTE on their phones. The majority of the population lives within a metro area, and metro areas are LTE areas. Your statement is true if rural users are interested in the EVO LTE and metropolitan users are disinterested in EVO LTE devices.

The above is false if you know Sprint LTE service will never deploy according to Sprint's plan.

My guess is EVO LTE buyers like the phone for its features and the price.

Side bar. Note the ATT/Verizon 4G coverage as of 3/2012
Verizon, AT&T 4G LTE coverage maps: truth comes in comparison

 

[MattMJB0188]

It is highly doubtful that a majority of EVO LTE users will never see LTE on their phones. The majority of the population lives within a metro area, and metro areas are LTE areas. Your statement is true if rural users are interested in the EVO LTE and metropolitan users are disinterested in EVO LTE devices.

The above is false if you know Sprint LTE service will never deploy according to Sprint's plan.

My guess is EVO LTE buyers like the phone for its features and the price.

Side bar. Note the ATT/Verizon 4G coverage as of 3/2012
Verizon, AT&T 4G LTE coverage maps: truth comes in comparison

No, no, no. You don't want Sprint even if your in a metropolitan area with LTE. Their LTE will be nowhere as fast as Verizon's or AT&T's and the second you step out of that city you'll be on their garbage dial up network.

 

[Mikest]

No, no, no. You don't want Sprint even if your in a metropolitan area with LTE. Their LTE will be nowhere as fast as Verizon's or AT&T's and the second you step out of that city you'll be on their garbage dial up network.

I would only say how fast do you really need your LTE to be? I'm of the belief most people could easily get by with HSPA+ speeds unless they're tethering to a computer. Mobile phone apps with the possible exception of video chat aren't really all that taxing.