No New High End Phones

[adbrown83]

It has been over 4 months since Sprint launched a new high end Android device.

Verizon has released 3 new high end Android devices during that time.

At this point with the Nexus being the next high end device, we are probably looking anywhere between 5 and 6 months between new high end devices on Sprint. That is just killer, if you are like me and coming off contract and deciding where to go.

I know Sprint and Verizon are competing in different realms when it comes to user bases but Sprint's inability to get devices to market has been a problem for the last couple of years and is driving someone like me away or even worse yet, possibly to a iPhone 4s.

 

[MarkHirt]

So want a new phone...

• With WiMax, that is going away
• With LTE that you can't use for awhile

 

[uh60james]

Sprint can't afford "high end" phones all the time. They spent a ton of money on the iPhone recently and in case you didn't know Sprint doesn't have the spending power of the Big 2.

I see this is your first post, why don't you tell us a little about your current situation. What phone are you using now? What are you expecting out of your new phone that Sprint isn't offering?

 

[adbrown83]

Sprint can't afford "high end" phones all the time. They spent a ton of money on the iPhone recently and in case you didn't know Sprint doesn't have the spending power of the Big 2.

I see this is your first post, why don't you tell us a little about your current situation. What phone are you using now? What are you expecting out of your new phone that Sprint isn't offering?

I believe the iPhone is an exception to the rule. They are not guaranteeing sales to any other manufacturer.

I am currently on an EVO Shift.

I wouldn't have a problem with the Galaxy S II buttt it is already 4 months old, and with 18 month life cycles, the phone is already 25% of the way through its life cycle. That means I will have 6 or more months with an unsupported phone with the new 20 month upgrade cycles. LTE is not a deciding factor since 90% of the time I am on Wi-FI.

In the "old" days of yearly upgrades I would already own a GSII.

 

[SERO wireless]

The gap in new phone launches was probably caused by Sprint's 4G u-turn - all Sprint's high-end phones in development were designed for Wi-Max and had to be scrapped. If they chose to re-engineer their designs for LTE it would have delayed their release by another 3-6 months. Trust me - you'd like that even less.

Sprint is rolling out the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in Q1. CNET gave the Verizon version their editor's choice award last month. The Sprint version will have 32GB of memory and Google wallet. Samsung will also roll out their Galaxy S III before summer.

There hasn't been a lot of news lately because the handset manufacturers are saving their thunder for MWC next month. Expect MANY announcements from Barcelona.

 

[P_M_G]

Verizon has an established network - Sprint had to admit the wimax folly and with the move to LTE why would they release a new "high end" phone that won't work to the fullest until the network is in more than 3 neighborhoods?

My upgrade is next month - but it'd be pretty stupid for me not to wait. I'm expecting to see some sweet new phones - EVO LTE maybe? - coming out of MWC.

 

[3ball]

I still have the original EVO 4G and have been looking for news of something beastly coming out to replace it with when I can upgrade in April. The HTC One X sounds awesome, but isn't likely coming to Sprint of course. I really like HTC so I'm hoping something is coming that will be a worthwhile upgrade of my EVO 4G.

Any decent rumors floating around?

 

[chubb]

The gap in new phone launches was probably caused by Sprint's 4G u-turn - all Sprint's high-end phones in development were designed for Wi-Max and had to be scrapped. If they chose to re-engineer their designs for LTE it would have delayed their release by another 3-6 months. Trust me - you'd like that even less.

Sprint is rolling out the Samsung Galaxy Nexus in Q1. CNET gave the Verizon version their editor's choice award last month. The Sprint version will have 32GB of memory and Google wallet. Samsung will also roll out their Galaxy S III before summer.

There hasn't been a lot of news lately because the handset manufacturers are saving their thunder for MWC next month. Expect MANY announcements from Barcelona.

That makes the most sense. Sprint has hit a bad time in phone launches. Every carrier has these "slow" times, getting everything squared away.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

 

[tsak6789]

I'm due for a new phone in May. I read on Cnet that Sprint is getting the Galaxy Nexus with ICS, but they didn't say when.
Anyone have a clue when this is happening?

 

[Paul627g]

I think its better when the development or rather introduction of new devices into the market slows down.. Way to often on all the carriers is a high end or new device overshadowed almost instantly by something else they release the next day on the same carrier. The market gets over saturated with phones and many get left to be forgotten about because they didn't get the fair exposure they deserved.

As for Sprint, I think right now they should be in a bit of a holding pattern. Lets get LTE up and running and in some major markets before pushing out new models supporting LTE.

I think this will be a good upcoming holiday season for Sprint, by then they should have LTE up and going in a good handful of cities large and small and make for some interesting choices in new LTE models to push for the holidays.

 

[hotbbq]

I've haven't seen Sprint commit to any of the devices dropping at MWC this week. They really seem to be dropping the ball on new devices lately. I'm really over this Kyocera Echo. Looks like I might just have to buy a used Galaxy or something.

 

[sparkeater79]

Research. Thats all I have to say. The MWC is a gsm area, not sure how much they are gonna have for us here at sprint.

 

[hotbbq]

Well considering LTE is based on GSM I would see no reason that Sprint wouldn't be picking up at least one or two of these new devices.

 

[P_M_G]

At this point I'd be happy with a Sprint LTE version of the Rezound. Toss in a quad core even better.

It's got a nice screen size (4.3) with 720p spec and the new behemoths are just getting stupid big.

 

[Xiphias]

At this point I'm getting pretty furstrated. My Evo 4G's getting pretty long in the tooth and if I'm upgrading, I don't want to be upgrading to anything other than a very new, cutting-edge phone. My contract's up in June and if they don't have anything appealing by then, I'm jumping to Verizon or T-Mobile or (god help me) AT&T.

 

[SERO wireless]

Samsung cancelled their MWC press conference (but their SPH-L710 phone for Sprint has received wifi certification). Sprint's other high-end supplier, Motorola, isn't even holding an event at MWC. Your best bet for new info is Dan Hesse's address on 1 March.

 

[tsak6789]

I was at Sprint today, and the 2 guys there knew nothing about new phones coming out. They kept pushing the Iphone on me.
Then I went over to Verizon, and played around with the Nexus, and it's frigging sweet! I just have to convince the wife. For some reason she's commited to Sprint.

 

[oespinoza83]

At this point I'm getting pretty furstrated. My Evo 4G's getting pretty long in the tooth and if I'm upgrading, I don't want to be upgrading to anything other than a very new, cutting-edge phone. My contract's up in June and if they don't have anything appealing by then, I'm jumping to Verizon or T-Mobile or (god help me) AT&T.

I am in the same boat. I have had my EVO since launch-ish and my contract is up in May of this year. I really am thinking of jumping ship.

 

[blacksapphire08]

I was at Sprint today, and the 2 guys there knew nothing about new phones coming out. They kept pushing the Iphone on me.
Then I went over to Verizon, and played around with the Nexus, and it's frigging sweet! I just have to convince the wife. For some reason she's commited to Sprint.

Yeah I used to be committed to Sprint but the lack of new phones and degrading quality of service over the last year has finally changed my mind. Yeah they like to really push the iPhone, lol.

I just ordered the HTC Amaze (similar to HTC Rezound on Verizon) and will be switching to T-Mobile. To be honest i'm a bit anxious as I havent had the best experiences with GSM carriers in the past. If Sprint turns things around in the future i'll be back.

 

[lennyj17]

You guys do this every year.....Everyone poo-poo'd Sprint this time last year and by September it was a banner year for devices on Sprint....

Verizon - ATT releases their Top Ends between Christmas and April....Sprint releases May-October (Beginning with CTIA) these carriers have always done it this way..Nothing new...When Sprint is having its releasing season everyone at Verizon and ATT will be crying about how everything's going to Sprint.

Not to mention Sprint has confirmed they aren't releasing anymore Wimax phones (Smart) and everything from here on out will be LTE, but you need the network first and that will be in June-July......