Sprint - 10/58 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Oct

Optimus G Review: Has LG Finally Entered The Big Leagues?

Posted by David Ruddock in AT&T, Optimus G, Phone Reviews, Sprint

Every once in a while, we have one of those moments in our lives when we try something for the first time, and we think to ourselves "I'm going to remember this moment - the moment when I discovered this thing." Be it food, some sort of gadget, a television show, or a musical artist, it's the kind of thing that sticks with you, at least for a while.

And when it comes to smartphones, there haven't been too many devices that really gave me that feeling. The iPhone - for just changing the shape of the industry. The Nexus One, as the first Android "superphone," and my personal introduction to the OS.

Oct

Sprint's Galaxy Note II With LTE Will Launch On October 25th For $300, Offers Rebate To Get Your Arm And Leg Back

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Galaxy Note II, News, Sprint

Last Updated: October 25th, 2012

For the first time, Samsung's largest flagship line will be landing on Sprint with the Galaxy Note II. During the initial launch, though, you better know you want it as this device will come with a whopping $300 price tag with a new two year contract. This isn't unheard of for some major devices, but it still ranks as one of the most expensive handsets you can buy.

The Note II will be launching with Android 4.1.1, LTE, and the same Exynos processor as the international version. As we know, devices that use the Exynos 4 processor require a discrete LTE chip outside the SoC itself which can add thickness to a phone.

Oct

Sprint Announces The Optimus G Will Be Available On Nov. 11th For $199, Pre-Orders Start Nov. 1st

Posted by David Ruddock in News, Optimus G, Sprint

We've just confirmed with Sprint that the Optimus G will be available on the Now Network on November 11th, for $199 on a 2-year agreement. Pre-orders begin on the 1st of November.

The Optimus G, as a quick refresher, is the first mass-market phone to contain a Qualcomm S4 Pro quad-core processor, which by all accounts is currently the most powerful mobile chipset on the market. I've been using the G for a few days now, and I have to say, it is fast. We'll have our review of the Optimus G for AT&T and Sprint up some time this week.

Oct

SoftBank Officially Announces The $20.1 Billion Investment In Sprint

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in News, Sprint

SoftBank, a Japanese telecommunications and Internet corporation, has confirmed via a press release and a live event in Tokyo the $20.1bn investment that would give SoftBank a 70% ownership of Sprint. The news hit the rumor mill 3 days ago and was pretty much confirmed by CNBC yesterday. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2013 pending regulatory approval.

Roughly $12.1bn will be paid to the shareholders at $7.30 a share and $8bn will be used to "strengthen Sprint's balance sheet," grow the network, and perform "strategic investments."

Sprint's shares closed at $5.73 last Friday for a +144.87% gain this year so far.

Oct

CNBC Reporting That Sprint-Softbank Deal Is To Be Announced Tomorrow: $20 Billion For 70% Of The Now Network

Posted by David Ruddock in News, Sprint

Just what the title says here, folks: Softbank and Sprint have reached a deal that will transfer 70% of Sprint's shares to the Japanese telecom giant. The price? A cool $20 billion - a premium significantly above Sprint's $17 billion market cap, 70% of which would be just $12 billion. The deal will involve Sprint selling $8 billion of stock directly to Softbank, and another $12 billion that will be acquired through Sprint shareholders, at a price of $7.30 a share. Considering Sprint stock hit a rather staggering low approaching $2 earlier this year, it's not like they're exactly getting a raw deal.

Oct

Softbank Wants A $23 Billion Loan To Buy 70% Of Sprint

Posted by David Ruddock in News, Rumors, Sprint

As we reported yesterday, there are decidedly loud rumblings that Japanese telecom giant Softbank is in talks to acquire a rather large hunk of Sprint. Today, more information regarding the potential deal has been leaked to Reuters by a person close to the matter, and the numbers are staggering.

Softbank is looking to buy 70% of Sprint, and they're asking for $23 billion in financing from Japanese banks to do it. Oddly, Sprint is only worth around $17 billion, so it's unclear why Softbank wants quite so much, unless they're planning on offering an exceptionally large premium over Sprint's current valuation.

Oct

Sprint Promises LTE Coverage For San Francisco, 21 Other Cities 'In The Coming Months'

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Sprint

Sprint would like you to know that, while LTE coverage has not yet been activated in these areas just yet, the Now Network has plans to rollout the shiny new towers to cities like San Francisco and Napa, CA, Naples and Cape Coral, FL, and several markets in midwest and southern states. The network is not live yet, of course. As with the carrier's previous announcement, this is simply to let people know what's coming.

Here's the full list of cities that have been added to the plan:

San Francisco, CA, San Mateo-Redwood City, CA
Cape Coral-Ft Meyers, FL
Dyersburg-Union City-Martin, TN
Emporia, KS
Fort Wayne, IN
Greenwood, MS
Joplin, MO
Kokomo, IN
Lafayette/West Lafayette, IN
Lexington Park, MD
Marion, IN
Napa, CA
Naples-Marco Island, FL
Ottawa-Streator, IL
Punta Gorda, FL
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
Sebring, FL
South Bend-Mishawaka, IN
Terre Haute, IN
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
Warsaw, IN

According to Sprint, before the official launch of these networks, you may see LTE coverage pop up and, in that case, you "are welcome to use the network" (as opposed to politely declining the coverage you paid for?) but there's no word yet on when the official launch in these cities will occur.

Oct

Sprint Is In Talks With Softbank For A "Substantial Investment" That "Could Involve A Change Of Control"

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in News, Sprint

We've heard rumors that Sprint is considering outbidding T-Mobile for MetroPCS's affection. Just in case that doesn't work, though, Sprint wants us to know that there is another plan in the works: being purchased by Softbank. Since most of you likely aren't up to date on Japanese telecoms, here's the deal: Softbank is a Japanese telecom. The third largest wireless carrier in the country, so a bit of a kindred spirit with Sprint. Now, the Japanese company may be interested in purchasing big yellow. Rumors broke earlier today, and now Sprint has sent out this brief press release to confirm:

Sprint (NYSE: S) today confirmed that it is currently engaged in discussions with Softbank regarding a potential substantial investment by Softbank in Sprint.

Oct

Sprint's Samsung Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch And ZTE Fury Get Minor OTA Updates

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Epic 4G Touch, News, Samsung, Sprint, ZTE

Good morning, owners of the Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III Epic 4G Touch. When you get your breath back, check your device's update function in the settings menu. Sprint's got a maintenance update, assuming that you're running the latest stock and non-rooted version of Ice Cream Sandwich. Software version S:D710.10S.FI27 adds only a few bug fixes to the email, MMS, and VPN apps, so don't get your hopes up for Jelly Bean any time soon.

ZTE Fury owners, you get to join the somewhat reserved party as well. The software update (N850V1.0.0B14) for the budget device boosts the volume for the speakerphone, adds a few network options, and purportedly boosts battery life.

Oct

The LG Optimus G Is Coming To AT&T And Sprint With Its Quad-Core S4 Pro, 2GB RAM, And LTE In Tow

Posted by David Ruddock in AT&T, News, Optimus G, Sprint

Before you ask, no, we don't know how much, and we don't know when. Yeah. Sorry. Anyway, if you've been looking forward to the first mass-market Snapdragon S4 Pro smartphone, you're in luck. Because at some point in the future (wooooooo) you'll be able to get it on AT&T or Sprint! That smartphone, of course, is the LG Optimus G. Which, if you haven't heard about it, must mean you've been living under a rock for the last month while LG has personally gone door to door making sure literally everyone has seen it.

To give you a brief overview of the device, here are some key specifications.