Sprint

Companies plan for possible swine flu pandemic

Following the outbreaks of SARS and Avian Flu earlier this decade, Sprint Nextel has taken the threat of a global flu pandemic very seriously. And in 2005, the company created a special group within its Emergency Incident Management team to plan what to do in such an emergency.

Late last week, when the World Health Organization started alerting the international community to the threat of the swine influenza that originated in Mexico, Sprint's four years of planning came into action and Sprint has been working through its checklist of actions. On Friday, it started posting information and updates on … Read more

Palm Pre rumor of the day: June 7 release date

What's a day without a Palm Pre story, right? Uhh, right. The latest rumor making its way across the Internet tubes comes via SprintGurus, which says the Pre will launch on June 7 and not May 17 as originally thought.

This is based on an internal document posted by the owner of SprintGurus, who goes by "Coal," that shows all the devices that are in alpha/beta testing with Sprint. In the forum, Coal states, "For those asking about the Pre, there are 2 release windows, one is around 6/7/09 - the other I … Read more

In defense of Sprint and the Palm Pre

As you may have seen by now, PreCentral.net got ahold of an internal memo from AT&T comparing its precious iPhone 3G with the Palm Pre, and not surprisingly, bashing the Pre as an inferior device.

Now, you know I haven't been particular happy with Sprint or Palm about the way the company's been handling the Pre, but I'm coming to its defense here and saying that this is just plain laughable. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

First off, AT&T has a couple of legitimate points. The iPhone has the advantage of international world roaming and comes in a 16GB capacity, whereas the Pre isn't a world phone and only comes in an 8GB model. Fair enough. However, the carrier then criticizes the Pre for only coming in black and being thicker and heavier than the iPhone. Well, if you want to nitpick, AT&T, the Pre is shorter and smaller in width, and I'm sure the whole 0.07 ounce of extra weight will slow all Pre owners down.

Next, AT&T makes several baseless statements, saying that the Pre's touch-screen gesture controls are "not intuitive" and that it has an "unproven App catalog." Unless AT&T has some moles embedded in Sprint's and Palm's labs, how do we know this is the case? Hey, I'll be the first to give Apple credit for the iPhone's ease of use, multitouch screen, and iTunes App Store, but does that mean the Pre will be unintuitive and have a crappy app store? No. The fact is, we won't know for sure until it's out, and to make this argument on pure conjecture is weak. … Read more

Sprint's spreading the word through fortune cookies

I just missed a call from our front desk this morning saying that two representatives from Sprint were downstairs with a package delivery. My first thought? "OMG, the Palm Pre!!"

I ran downstairs, and when our security operator told me they just left to drop the packages off at our loading dock, I bolted out the door to the back of our building and caught up with them. Guess what? It wasn't the Pre.

Instead, I got a little package of fortune cookies and a flash drive filled with press releases on Sprint's service plans, its … Read more

LG Lotus in red now available for $49.99

We mentioned at CTIA 2009 that Sprint had plans to release a red version of its popular LG Lotus messaging phone. Well, it's now officially available, and at 50 percent off the original price!

It has the same textured design as the purple version, and features include a 2-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, GPS, EV-DO, a music player, and more. And yes, instead of $100, the Lotus is now available for $49.99 with a two-year service agreement. So now it's even more affordable for you messaging fanatics out there.

Sprint releases cameraless BlackBerry Curve 8350i

Sprint, you're a sneaky one. Without much fanfare or, frankly, even a peep, the carrier released a cameraless version of its RIM BlackBerry Curve 8350i.

The smartphone is available now for $149.99 with a two-year contract and comes without the 2-megapixel camera for those customers whose workplaces ban the use of camera phones. The rest of the device's feature set is the same as its camera-loving counterpart, so you'll still get support for Nextel's Direct Connect push-to-talk services, Wi-Fi, and GPS.

(Via: Boy Genius Report)

Palm, Sprint to launch Pre early as May?

There are two things the tech world is waiting to hear about the Palm Pre: when it will arrive, and what it will cost. The first answer might be falling into place.

Phone News (via Gizmodo) obtained internal e-mails sent to Sprint retail employees informing them that training for the Pre is about to begin, and that taking a vacation during May is not going to be allowed. There are two scenarios for the Pre launch date outlined in the memos that seem to depend on Palm's ability to wrap up development and ramp up manufacturing.

The first scenario … Read more

Sprint's new ads stress savings, 3G network

Last month, I celebrated the fact that Sprint was killing its bizarre ad campaign with CEO Dan Hesse. Reader response to the blog was divided--some readers said they liked the ads, while others shared my joy. A Sprint spokesperson even chimed in to say that the ads "ranked among the best wireless ads in recent months for memorability."

Sprint also was good enough to send me its press release for two new TV, billboard, and Internet ad campaigns. The first, which (surprise!) features the Palm Pre (at least someone gets to touch it), revolves around Sprint's Now Network, aka the carrier's wireless broadband network. The central message appears to be the breadth of Sprint's network and the services, information and communication available on it. The campaign launched April 6.

You can see the video on YouTube and Sprint has launched a "Sprint Now widget" that gives you a taste of the campaign. On the widget is a treasure trove of random facts that will fascinate the trivia buff.

You'll find everything from Sprint-related factoids, such as how many text messages are being sent to the carrier's network, to the very non-Sprint-related, such as how many babies are being born right now. You'll also find completely useless information, such as how many people are stuck in elevators are this moment. … Read more

Why the Palm Pre must launch at $149

Ever since Palm trotted out the Pre at CES in January there's been a lot of speculation over what price tag Sprint would slap on its smartphone savior when it finally came out this spring. Initial reports pegged the Pre at $399. But that high price was quickly downplayed as a nonsubsidized, sans contract version. As we wait for official pricing--an announcement could come any day--the pundits seem to have settled on the $199 to $299 range as the likely number. But I'm here to tell you Sprint has to do better. It has to break $199 and … Read more