Merger of Nextel and Sprint networks?

I know the merger of Sprint and Nextel took place several months ago,
but have they actually merged networks yet?

For example, when AT&T Wireless and Cingular merged, they eventually
consolidated the AT&T Wireless and Cingular switching systems to act
as one network, not two independent networks. It took several months
(maybe more?) but now they're working as one network in unison. The
old Suncom network that Cingular bought at the same time has also been
merged into the Cingular network and isn't considered a separate
network anymore.

I know that its almost comparing apples and oranges (AT&T and Cingular
are GSM, while Nextel is iDEN and Sprint is CDMA), but was just
wondering how much consolidation has taken place, if any.

Thanks!

Dave

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You could not be more wrong.

Sprint has made a commitment to the iDen network until at least 2008. It's
published, look it up.

There is currently a dual mode phone in development and testing. Rumor has
it that it might be available in Q4 this year that will use CDMA for cell
and data, iDen for Direct Connect.

The issues in Michigan are largely due to the volume of users and the rapid
development of formerly rural areas. As buildings go up, there are more
objects blocking the signal. Unfortunately, resolving this is not as easy
as turning up the power on a tower or raising the antenna on the tower.
These things take time, money, and local, state and federal approvals.

If you are experiencing network issues, call Nextel Care and let them know
where. If that is not working, post the location and cross roads and I can
get this info to the Network people to look into.


As for integrating the two systems, it's like trying to run a gasoline
powered engine on diesel fuel. Changes are going to have to be made on both
sides to get it to work.
"Cordata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 02 Mar 2006 20:59:10 -0500, Diamond Dave
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >I know the merger of Sprint and Nextel took place several months ago,
> >but have they actually merged networks yet?
> >
> >For example, when AT&T Wireless and Cingular merged, they eventually
> >consolidated the AT&T Wireless and Cingular switching systems to act
> >as one network, not two independent networks. It took several months
> >(maybe more?) but now they're working as one network in unison. The
> >old Suncom network that Cingular bought at the same time has also been
> >merged into the Cingular network and isn't considered a separate
> >network anymore.
> >
> >I know that its almost comparing apples and oranges (AT&T and Cingular
> >are GSM, while Nextel is iDEN and Sprint is CDMA), but was just
> >wondering how much consolidation has taken place, if any.
> >
> >Thanks!
> >
> >Dave
>
>
> I've heard both ways on their conversion. Some people say it'll
> happen sometime in the next 4-5 years, other people say Nextel is a
> write off and they've given up on the iDEN network.
>
> In my area, the Michigan market, they've pretty much written off the
> Nextel part of their network. I'm to the point of referring to their
> network as YANDZ. Yet Another Nextel Dead Zone...
>
> For example, I've contacted them multiple times over the past 2 years
> about rarely being able to get a signal in the parking lot of a local
> mall that is located right next to a major freeway. First few calls
> to support were "we'll look into it", after that it was "we're not
> showing any problems in that area", and most recently they offered to
> sell me a new phone. Like I want a new phone that still won't see the
> non-existant signal...
>
> My favorite part of all this was when they wanted me to call them from
> the parking lot so they could look check some signal strength or
> something relating to the signal. I had to explain to a supervisor
> that you can't make a call when there's no signal to begin with.
>
> If I could find someone in my area with something resembling DC, I'd
> dump Nextel in a second. Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything in
> the same speed as Nextel's DC...
>
> Cordata

Livonia is very close to an engineering location so it would not be
difficult to send someone out there to take readings.


"Cordata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 03 Mar 2006 14:38:10 GMT, "Zman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >You could not be more wrong.
> >
> >Sprint has made a commitment to the iDen network until at least 2008.
It's
> >published, look it up.
> >
> >There is currently a dual mode phone in development and testing. Rumor
has
> >it that it might be available in Q4 this year that will use CDMA for cell
> >and data, iDen for Direct Connect.
> >
> >The issues in Michigan are largely due to the volume of users and the
rapid
> >development of formerly rural areas. As buildings go up, there are more
> >objects blocking the signal. Unfortunately, resolving this is not as
easy
> >as turning up the power on a tower or raising the antenna on the tower.
> >These things take time, money, and local, state and federal approvals.
> >
> >If you are experiencing network issues, call Nextel Care and let them
know
> >where. If that is not working, post the location and cross roads and I
can
> >get this info to the Network people to look into.
> >
> >
> >As for integrating the two systems, it's like trying to run a gasoline
> >powered engine on diesel fuel. Changes are going to have to be made on
both
> >sides to get it to work.
>
>
> Based on your previous posts to the group, I'm not about to argue with
> you... You definitely seem to know the in's and out's of Nextel.
>
> If a dual mode phone ever pops it head into the market, I'd buy one in
> a heartbeat. As for the area of Michigan I'm talking about, it's in
> Livonia which has been at least 95% built up for a while now. The
> only thing being built in this city now is random houses in every
> little sliver of land they can find...
>
> I'll give a call over to Nextel Care later today, after I get a chance
> to drive past that area again. I want to make sure that it's still a
> problem "today" before I put in another report. It was a dead zone
> this past weekend, but I want to be sure before I make work for
> someone at the network center. Especially since it's hard to check
> the cause of a problem that may not be happening right now...
>
> Cordata

Give them a call anyways.


"Zman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> Livonia is very close to an engineering location so it would not be
> difficult to send someone out there to take readings.
>
>
> "Cordata" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > On Fri, 03 Mar 2006 14:38:10 GMT, "Zman" <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > >You could not be more wrong.
> > >
> > >Sprint has made a commitment to the iDen network until at least 2008.
> It's
> > >published, look it up.
> > >
> > >There is currently a dual mode phone in development and testing. Rumor
> has
> > >it that it might be available in Q4 this year that will use CDMA for
cell
> > >and data, iDen for Direct Connect.
> > >
> > >The issues in Michigan are largely due to the volume of users and the
> rapid
> > >development of formerly rural areas. As buildings go up, there are
more
> > >objects blocking the signal. Unfortunately, resolving this is not as
> easy
> > >as turning up the power on a tower or raising the antenna on the tower.
> > >These things take time, money, and local, state and federal approvals.
> > >
> > >If you are experiencing network issues, call Nextel Care and let them
> know
> > >where. If that is not working, post the location and cross roads and I
> can
> > >get this info to the Network people to look into.
> > >
> > >
> > >As for integrating the two systems, it's like trying to run a gasoline
> > >powered engine on diesel fuel. Changes are going to have to be made on
> both
> > >sides to get it to work.
> >
> >
> > Based on your previous posts to the group, I'm not about to argue with
> > you... You definitely seem to know the in's and out's of Nextel.
> >
> > If a dual mode phone ever pops it head into the market, I'd buy one in
> > a heartbeat. As for the area of Michigan I'm talking about, it's in
> > Livonia which has been at least 95% built up for a while now. The
> > only thing being built in this city now is random houses in every
> > little sliver of land they can find...
> >
> > I'll give a call over to Nextel Care later today, after I get a chance
> > to drive past that area again. I want to make sure that it's still a
> > problem "today" before I put in another report. It was a dead zone
> > this past weekend, but I want to be sure before I make work for
> > someone at the network center. Especially since it's hard to check
> > the cause of a problem that may not be happening right now...
> >
> > Cordata
>
>

I've also read about a "dual mode" phone being made. they figure instead of
merging the networks (which is very difficult because of teh iDEN vs CDMA)
they can make a phone that does both, and sort of slowly phase out iDEN that
way. then when the number of people using old nextel phones that work solely
on the iden network is low, they can switching everyone over to CDMA. thats
just what Iv'e heard

-Nick

Originally Posted by Dr Nick

I've also read about a "dual mode" phone being made. they figure instead of
merging the networks (which is very difficult because of teh iDEN vs CDMA)
they can make a phone that does both, and sort of slowly phase out iDEN that
way. then when the number of people using old nextel phones that work solely
on the iden network is low, they can switching everyone over to CDMA. thats
just what Iv'e heard

-Nick

Sprint/Nextel does not want to rely on the CDMA network either. They are working on a completely different, higher spectrum network and would phase both older systems, IDEN and CDMA, out after implementation. afterall, CDMA is not the answer to the future of wireless technology.