Sprint bypasses AT+T with the "iPad 4G Case"

Sprint may be dying, but it is not going down without a fight! While AT&T and Verizon continue to get the cool phones, it is trying everything to wrest marketshare from the giants. Their newest attempt is the 4G iPad Case which includes a Mifi router (which interfaces with their WiMax network and produces a mobile Wifi hotspot) and a professional-looking case for your Wifi iPad. The idea being you get a faster connection this way, than by using AT&T's 3G network. Great idea, although it lacks the convenience of a built-in 3G connection.

Palm Pre Phone Home?

There has been a lot of scrutiny of Apple's iPhone because of its so-called "monopoly status", but it is important to keep your eyes on the smaller guys as well. A hacker, going thru the Palm Pre SDK has determined that the Palm Pre regularly calls home and sends your current location to Palm, Inc. They claim that the privacy policy protects customers, but such a setup could easily allow the company to insert location-targeted ads into their apps to generate extra profit.

Sprint Bungles Boost Mobile

Sprint sold thousands of its prepaid Boost Mobile phones with the $50 a month unlimited plan. The problem is that those phones are depended on the Nextel network which Sprint isn't spending much money to upgrade. Looks like they have been caught off guard by this massive influx of users. Looks to be a major goof that could cost Sprint in the long run.

Sprint Divorces from Customers Who Call Them

In the age of the internet, companies more and more hate dealing with people on the phone. It is inefficient, expensive, and requires staffing to be available 24/7. But, I find it highly ironic that a cell phone company whose whole business is selling the technology to make voice calls is cutting off customers who actually call customer service.

On June 29, 2007, Sprint sent letters notifying some customers that their service would be canceled by the end of July due to excessive calls to customer service.

"Our records indicate that over the past year, we have received frequent calls from you regarding your billing or other general account information," the letter reads. "While we have worked to resolve your issues and questions to the best of our ability, the number of inquiries you have made to us during this time has led us to determine that we are unable to meet your current wireless needs."

"Therefore after careful consideration, the decision has been made to terminate your wireless service agreement effective July 30, 2007."

The one upside to this letter is anyone who got it has no early termination fee, and their account balance is set to $0 by Sprint. I can't help wondering how many customers will use this opportunity to jump to AT&T for the iPhone. Still, it seems like shortsighted bad business, rather than being a company that puts the customer first.

What are our reader's experiences with Sprint and their customer service?