PRL Updates in select LA markets

Starting this morning, we have released new Preferred Roaming List (PRL) updates that allow customers in select areas to keep their roaming ability. This will mean nothing to 99.99% of you that read the blog, but for those few that do, I know you’ve been waiting on this for a little while now, so here you are.

The new PRLs (standard 10055/50555, EVDO 20255/60655 and data card 60755) resolve the loss of mobile broadband roaming as home service in Houma, LA and surrounding markets.

These same PRLs will also resolve the following roaming outages expected to take place on the targeted dates indicated.

• 10/28/09 - loss of roaming voice and 1XRTT - Mohave County (This PRL update does not resolve mobile broadband roaming coverage loss for customers in this area.)


• 11/13/09 - loss of roaming voice and 1XRTT - Yuma County and La Paz County, AZ


• 11/18/09 - loss of roaming voice and 1xRTT - Santa Cruz County, AZ(This PRL update does not resolve mobile broadband roaming coverage loss for customers in this area.)

Customers living in or traveling in these counties should update their PRL prior to the roaming network date, or they will lose the listed services.

Note: Dates listed are planned; however, actual actual dates may vary by about 1 - 3 days before or after.

Visual Voicemail: Upgrade Required

If you’re lucky enough to have visual voicemail on your device, then there’s an update available that you probably didn’t even know about! It’s a required update/release that came out the 2nd week of September.

You may have been ignoring the prompts, or maybe you weren’t sure what they were.. but go ahead, and click upgrade on your device. In fact, you will be required to upgrade in order to continue receiving visual voicemail in the near future. In the coming weeks, if you have not updated it, you will only receive a notification that a message was received, however the message itself will never appear on your device. This means you would not receive your actual messages, so PLEASE ACCEPT THE UPGRADE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

Just over 20% of our visual voicemail subscribers have completed the upgrade on their device. There is no risk involved, and it only takes a couple of minutes, so why not go ahead and do it now? If you’re setting up your visual voicemail, you should encounter the following prompt: “An upgrade is now available” – simply choose upgrade.

You can also get there on your own accord through the Voicemail icon > Menu > Settings > Check for Upgrade.

If you encounter a message stating “Install Blocked: For security, your phone is set to block installations of applications not sourced in Android Market”, follow these steps:

1.Click ‘Settings’

2.Check the ‘Unknown Sources’ box, and OK on the ‘Attention’ pop-up

3.Press the back hardkey to return to the Visual Voicemail Inbox

4.Choose Menu > Settings > Check for Upgrade, & click ‘Upgrade’

5.Once it’s found, choose ‘OK’, then ‘Install’, then ‘Done’

To verify the upgrade was successful, or that you have already completed the upgrade on your device,  select the Voicemail icon on your device, and repeat step 4 above. If you have already completed the upgrade, you will receive a message stating: “No upgrade is available at this time”.

Direct Protect (DP) Program Coming to an End

Direct Protect program gives iDEN and some PowerSource customers coverage for their equipment for physical and liquid damage, and lost or stolen phones. This program will permanently end on 1/8/10.

• Effective 1/8/10, existing Direct Protect customers will be migrated to either Total Equipment Protection (TEP) or Equipment Replacement Program (ERP).
  • Direct Protect and ESRP customers will be migrated to TEP.
  • Direct Protect-only customers will be migrated to ERP.
  • Direct Protect customers with a Government DP plan will be migrated to Government TEP.
• Customers are given the option to contact Sprint or Asurion and opt-out of the auto-enrollment to TEP or ERP. This will leave them with no equipment coverage when the program ends on 1/8/10.
• This change is being communicated to customers by direct mail starting 10/22/09.
• The letters will provide detailed information regarding this conversion and will include the following:
  • Highlights of TEP and ERP programs,
  • A new Coverage Certificate with the terms and conditions of the new coverage.
  • Deductible Schedule based on the model of the phone.
  • Asurion contact information if customers want to convert to TEP or ERP prior to the automatic conversion.

Important:

• Direct Protect customers should continue to call The Signal for claims until they are converted to TEP or ERP on 1/08/10. Direct Protect customers should not call Asurion for claims for a loss that occurs before 1/8/10.

Sanyo Incognito SCP-6760 12/06/09

 

 

4G WiMAX: Texas, Illinois, North Carolina & Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Tomorrow, 10/25 - 4G WiMAX will launch in the Philadelphia, PA market! and then....

On 11/1/09, 4G WiMAX launches in these new Texas markets: Dallas-Fort Worth, North Carolina markets - Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.

• The wireless revolution began late 2008, when Sprint introduced a new era for wireless consumers, with the launch of the first dual-mode 3G and 4G USB modem in Baltimore. For the first time ever, customers experienced WiMAX connection with lightning-fast speed. Including speeds 3-5 times faster than 3G with peak download speeds of 12 MegaBytes per second (MBPS).


• Aggressive 4G market expansion is under way including coverage across 80 markets by the end of 2010.  IMPACT and Sprint.com provide coverage details.


• All Care specialists are able to and should assist a 3G/4G dual-mode customer with questions, billing support, and basic troubleshooting.  Only when customers require more than basic troubleshooting should they be transferred to the 4G Dedicated Support Team.


• WiMAX KMS information is easy to locate using the Content Directory - it is located under Products, 4G-WiMAX, All Specialists.

How 3G Compares to WiMAX (4G):

Feature	4G (WiMAX Broadband)	3G Service (CDMA Broadband)
Speed	Average download: 3-6 Mbps	Average download: 0.5-1.4 Mbps
Technology	WiMAX Standard - Network built for mobile broadband wireless data that is IP centric	CDMA Standard - Cellular voice network based on CDMA technology with added on data features
Reliability	Built into the 4G network based on Sprint’s heritage and experience in providing highly reliable networks	Integrated into Sprint’s 3G network
Security	WiMAX 802.16e includes the use of X.509 security certificates for both the devices and the network. Provides greater security by preventing fraudulent devices from entering the network. Helps users validate they are receiving a valid network operator signal.	Sprint Mobile Broadband uses secure CDMA technology.
Cap	No data cap	5 Gigabyte data cap
Download Times (based on peak speeds)	10MB Photo - .8 Seconds 250 MB Movie - 21 Seconds	10MB Photo - 3.3 Seconds 250 MB Movie - 83 Seconds
Enables	* Video Chat * IP TV * Cloud Computing * Synchronization * Digital Storage * User Generated Media Content * High Definition * Full Length Video * Hard Drive Synchronization * HULU * Online Interactive Gaming - Halo	* Instant Messaging * Audio Conference * Desktop Applications Windows * E-mail * User Generated Media Content * Standard Definition * Short Video Clips * File Synchronization * You Tube * Online Static Gaming - Sudoku, Chess

WiMAX requirements:

• To experience 4G, you must:
  
  
  
  • Be in the Baltimore MD, Portland OR, Las Vegas NV, Atlanta GA, Boise ID, and Bellingham WA area (prior to this launch of additional markets)
  
  
  • Have a 4G connection card plan (shown in the table above)
  
  
  • Have the U300 Mobile Broadband Card
  
  
  • Have Sprint Smartview - version 2.24 or higher
  
  
  
  

• A 2-year service agreement is required for new customers on U300 device purchase.

New Firmware Upgrade for MiFi 2200

On 10/22/09, a new firmware upgrade will be available to MiFi™ 2200 by Novatel Wireless Personal Hotspot customers (Firmware 142).

• The free firmware upgrade will be available for download within the MiFi device’s Administration page 10/22/09.


• MiFi 2200 by Novatel Wireless customers will not be notified, prompted, or aware in anyway that there is a firmware upgrade available.

Known Issues and Enhancements Provided with this Software Upgrade

• Now fully compatible with Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve


• No longer goes into hibernate mode while plugged into AC.


• Now works properly while roaming internationally


• New Administration page enhancements:
  
  
  
  • Fixed Roaming indicator added
  
  
  • Sprint Only mode support added
  
  
  • Allows international access
  
  
  • WiFi Channel Default changed to ‘Auto‘
  
  
  • DHCP IP ranges now support class A, B and C
  
  
  
  

• Ready to Upgrade? on 10/22 here are the steps:
  
  
  
  1. Logging on to the MiFi’s Administration page.
  
  
  2. Click on WWAN tab.
  
  
  3. Select Configuration.
  
  
  4. Click Update Firmware.
  
  
  
  

BIS Seamless Sign-On Issues – BlackBerry 9630 Tour

BlackBerry Internet Server (BIS) version 2.8 Seamless Sign-on has now launched and is working fine for everyone… well, almost everyone! It seems that Blackberry Tour users are having an issue, but more than that – the default workaround directions given to the user on the device are also incorrect!.

New customers who use the Email Settings icon are not able to set up their BIS account and integrate personal e-mail accounts (for example: Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail). Instead, they receive this error message and these incorrect steps to fix the issue:

“Your Device is not registered. Please register your device and Try again.”

The on-screen help will guide you to correct this by going to the  device options, clicking Advanced Options. Click Host Routing Table. Press the Menu Key or the Trackwheel. Click Register Now

The problem? The steps listed in this error message do not fix the issue!

---

Here is the correct solution:

New BlackBerry Tour Customer Instructions:

• There are 3 easy steps if a user needs to set up their BIS account immediately:
  
  
  
  1. Access the device Browser icon.
  
  
  2. Type www.sprint.blackberry.com into the browser URL.
  
  
  3. Agree to the Terms and Conditions.
  
  
  4. Enter the e-mail account user name and password to integrate (for example: Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail).
     
     
     
     • The BIS account is now set up and customers can receive their integrated e-mail.
     
     
     • If the customer needs to access their BIS account to edit their e-mail account before a fix is communicated, follow these same steps.
     
     
     • The Email Settings icon will not work - even after the BIS account is set up using this workaround - until a fix is in place.
     
     
     
     
  
  
  
  

Existing BlackBerry Tour Customer Instructions:

• Until a fix is in place, recommend customers do not delete their BIS account in order to try and set up with Seamless Sign-On on their device.


• If a customer does choose to delete their account or it is deleted by accident, follow the workaround steps.

Samsung Intrepid – Activation Walkthrough

Ready to activate your new Samsung Intrepid tomorrow? Since it’s almost expected by now, I thought I would go ahead and give you a preview of the steps involved. Of course, most of the time all that is required is that you visit sprint.com/activate and then power on your device, and everything is quick, fast, and automatic.

This walkthrough is intended more for the uber-tech-savvy users that just like to know how everything works – and of course the Sprint retail agents, who tend to send me the most emails and comments, hands down – thanks, btw for keeping me busy! I love your emails.

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Primary & Preferred Programming Method:

• Hands Free - Open Mobile Alliance/Device Management (OMA/DM)

If you have to resort to any of the manual programming methods, you’re going to need the ESN/MEID, may as well begin there:

• The ESN/MEID can be found in two places.
  • Underneath the battery in the phone on the right side of the barcode sticker.
    • Turn off the phone and remove the battery to view.
  • The Barcode sticker on the end of the original box, labeled DEC-HEX.
    • This should always be the secondary method as the box and phone do not always match.

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INSIDE: Full post includes screenshots & step-by-step walkthroughs for: First Time Activation Programming, One-Touch Programming, & of course the Manual Programming Steps.

Read Full Post…

HTC Hero At-A-Glance Feature Review

Still undecided about the new HTC Hero? Here’s a quick review of the features, and a ‘What’s in the box’ list, too. Be sure to check the full post link below, as the list was too exhaustive for the main page.

Hardware Features:

• Processor/Chipset: Qualcomm® MSM7600™


• Display: 3.25” HVGA TFT 262K colors and 320 x 480resolution


• Network: Sprint Now Network with Power Vision Rev A


• Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 2.0 with EDR A2DP, AVRCP-Player; HSP; HFP; SDAP


• Form Factor: Smaller Candy bar form factor with integrated antenna, Capacitive Multi-touch screen with virtual keyboard, trackball, Talk Key, End Key, Menu Key, Home Key, Search Key, Back Key and Volume Slider.


• Dimensions: 4.46" (L) x 2.22" (W) x 0.54" (D)


• Weight 4.5 oz (with battery)


• Internal Memory: ROM: 512 MB, RAM: 288 MB DDR SDRAM, microSD™ slot for expandable storage up to 32 GB (includes 2GB microSD card installed)


• Camera: Built-In 5.0 megapixels with…
  
  
  
  • Photo Resolution: 2048x1536, 1600x1200 (UXGA), 1280x960 (SXGA), 640x480 (VGA), 320x240 (QVGA)
  
  
  • Video Resolution: 352x288 (CIF), 320x240, 176x144, 128x96
  
  
  • Digital Zoom: Up to 4x
  
  
  
  


• Accelerometer, Digital Compass and light Sensor


• Battery: Removable 1500 mAhr, lithium-ion Battery with Talk time Up to 4.0 Hours continuous talk time


• Headset: HTC ExtMiniUSB and 3.5mm


• Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g: Wi-Fi provides wireless Internet access over distances of up to 300 feet (100 meters).

Wait, there’s MORE! Due to the length of the ‘At-A-Glance’ features of this kick-ass HTC device, click through to the full post to view the Software Features, & ‘What’s in the Box’ sections…

Samsung Intrepid 10/11

Ready for a smooth combo of Windows productivity, rich web browsing, and advanced personalization? If you’re looking for a real powerhouse and aren’t ready to go Android, or can’t justify the price of the new Touch Pro II, then you might just find this is the answer you’ve been looking for. It’s actually almost slipped under the radar to be so feature packed. Meet the Samsung Intrepid:



Here’s a quick overview – check below for the full device userguides, & more !

• Available October 11 in all channels


• $149.99
  (2YR SVC AGR, after $50 instant savings and $100 MIR)


• IE 6, Bing intergration


• Adobe Flash Lite – Works GREAT!


• MS My Phone Service – access, manage, & backup your personal info on your device.


• MS Tellme – voice user interface – a Sprint First !

• 2.5” touch-screen interface


• 320 x 240 Resolution


• Full QWERTY keyboard


• 3.2 megapixel camera & camcorder


• MS Office Suite included.


• Stereo Bluetooth


• mircoSD slot, up to 32GB media card.


• Easy access to Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, & more…


• Threaded text messaging, and easy instant messaging access


• Windows Mobile Email (both work & personal)
  
  
  

Here’s the full PDFs, for the inquisitive:

• Samsung Intrepid User Guide Final


• Sasmung Intrepid Features Guide


• Samsung Intrepid International Roaming


• Samsung Intrepid Basics Guide Final


• Samsung Intrepid Email Guide


• Samsung Intrepid Getting Started

If you’ve had the chance to try it out yet, I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments!