Sprint? Boost? Virgin?

Hello, I have a i850 nextel from 2006. I am aware that this runs on iden. I want to upgrade this to either a blackberry or some other type of smartphone from either boost or virgin mobile. I read that these smartphones run on cdma instead of iden, and that cdma is the sprint towers. When I mentioned this to the manager at radio shack he told me " well, if you make a call from boost or virgin and a sprint user makes a call at the same time, the sprint user will get first priority." I don't understand how sprint gets better coverage and first priority if they both run on the same towers? Could someone explain to me how the coverage works for virgin/boost smartphones as compared to Sprint phones?

Thanks!

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› See More: Sprint? Boost? Virgin?

Yes this is true, Sprint owns both Boost and Virgin. Boost Iden phones run on the same Iden network as Nextel. Virgin and Boost Cdma phones run on Sprints network.

When a call is placed on either network the towers know by codeing from your phone who you belong to. Sprints / Nextel First priority is to serve post paid customers call first in line when towers are under heavy use.

I have used all the networks and have not found this to be any problem. The biggest thing to remember in coverage options is both Boost and Virgin use Sprint / Nextel's networks exclusivly therfore there is no roaming off network. Sprint on the otherhand allows offnetwork calls and data around the country.

If you are happy with your current coverage you will be fine with virgin as well!

Hope this helps

yes my i850 is with boost and do have some dropped calls, so I guess a boost or virgin phone using cdma will be fine if not better. I haven't had too many problems calling with boost either but is there a way to buy a Sprint phone and fix it somehow to work with boost or virgin? Thank you very much, you were very helpful!

There is a way with boost (search the forum) but virgin is locked,

I currently am playing with the Samsung intercept Android phone on Virgin and having a great time with it, you may want to check that one out, if you need the Blackberry they charge an extra $10.00 mo. to run it.

Yes the android looks really nice, big touch screen and 10 bucks cheaper! I was going to get that instead but I was looking up reviews on both and people were saying that after a while the android was very slow and unstable, freezes, lags really bad and that the blackberry was all around more reliable. How long have you had it? Have you noticed any issues?

I picked it up the first day they were avialable about 45 days ago, no problems. I know Blackberry's a good phone also but it's system does not have the open platform and app's like android does.

Either way their both good choices, good luck!

Blackberry has been having some real issues on both networks (IDEN/Nextel and CDMA) for about 7 months now. There seems to be a software issue interfering with dropped calls and more that they haven't been able to resolve. The intercept is approaching end of life at sprint due to the fact that over time its operating system seems to get corrupt and have conflicts that typically require a factory data reset/wipe, or replacement. Also from the inside, it will not be getting the 2.2 Android release on the Sprint network.

All in all the android platform is better, just be sure to backup your important information if you end up getting that device (Intercept) and be prepared to do some factory resets (Menu>Settings>Privacy>Factory Data reset, unless you've updated firmware, then its Menu>Settings>SD & Storage> Factory Data reset.

The real issues begin around the 90-120 day mark from activation.

Also Sprint does not give first priority to post paid, they only do that for non-owned post paid and non owned prepaid not inhouse virgin or Boost. But not to worry, Sprint CDMA is operating at 25% capacity, meaning its got more room to expand than any of the other networks...which is why they offer no data caps on phones at this time. Hope this helps, this is 100% accurate.