Nextel Plans & iDEN Network Shutdown

[Steve B]

What will happen to people with Nextel plans or PowerSource plans when the iDEN network finally gets shut off? Will they be be moved to QChat platform? I know they will require new handsets but will the Nextel plans stay the same?...instead of Nextel Walkie-Talkie on their bill it will show something like QChat or Sprint PTT?

[Bill Clinton]

I would imagine Sprint would try to move the remaining iDEN folks over the the CDMA side. Your guess is as good as mine however. It's still a few years off so that should give Sprint enough time to figure out what they are going to do about the PowerSource and and iDEN customers.

[Steve B]

Originally Posted by Bill Clinton

I would imagine Sprint would try to move the remaining iDEN folks over the the CDMA side. Your guess is as good as mine however. It's still a few years off so that should give Sprint enough time to figure out what they are going to do about the PowerSource and and iDEN customers.

The reason why I was asking is because when they shut down iDEN and if I still have the PowerSource phone and the Nextel SERO plan w/ Walkie-Talkie, would they try and get me off that plan and make me sign up with another plan with PTT or would they just have me keep the plan and just buy another handset that will take advantage of the new PTT that will be coming out? I am getting a ic902 so I don't have to carry around two handsets. My work requires me to have a Nextel radio. I hope when the new handsets come out that have the new style PTT on they will automatically add roaming capabilities to the current customers with Nextel SERO plans (because they don't right now w/ the PowerSource phones not having 800MHz radio inside) and I am assuming the new PTT phones will have a 800MHz radio.

[PCSuser]

They would most likely put you on the Sprint SERO plan. And just add QChat rather than the mobile-to-mobile feature.

[TelcomJunkie]

This thread is missing some replies. There was a post by me and a post by Steve that now appear to be gone.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

well Sprint and Nextel are officially one company on paper and in employees but in technology they are still merging................this wont be like the Cing/AWS merger.................they have already made a universal set of plans that will work on either network with any phone...........so when they switch you from Nextel to Sprint or from PowerSource to Sprint the only way they can take away your SERO plan is by terminating your contract before you extend it.........this would allow you to leave without ETF and lose you as a customer..............this wouldnt be to Sprints advantage seeing as to the delicate situation they are in..............no when the forced migration comes around..........what they will do is remove all the Nextel and PowerSOurce phones from the selection make you select a Sprint phone........extend your contract and your done...........no switching plans needed............like i said this isnt gonna be like the Cingy/AWS merger where you have to pick a new plan............Sprint saw and is still seeing how many Blue customers the current AT&T is losing............

[PCSuser]

the NEXTEL name WILL STAY -- Sprint is calling their new QChat service 'NEXTEL'!

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

where is the news site? with this info?

[PCSuser]

Push-to-Talk on New Devices Will Give Sprint Customers More Ways to Get Things Done at SprintSpeed

There is the official press release! -- Read my post to let me know what you think, and share thoughts: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/ge...tml#post464021 (Sprint picks up the ball! (as of lately))

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Originally Posted by PCSuser

Push-to-Talk on New Devices Will Give Sprint Customers More Ways to Get Things Done at SprintSpeed

There is the official press release! -- Read my post to let me know what you think, and share thoughts: http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/ge...tml#post464021 (Sprint picks up the ball! (as of lately))

that is very interesting...............but my understanding of this is that they will keep the name Direct Connect..........and Sprint says a lot in press releases and some things never come true

[Mobile Mike]

Maybe a more defined approach with Nextel and it's DC feature will work on making the integration function better.

Since Sprint got hammered by the Nextel merger, calling the new CDMA/iDEN DC "Nextel Direct Connect" might keep Nextel in the minds of consumers of the synergy between it and Sprint, along with reminding everyone that they are a combined company.

Though we, on this site, are fully aware of Sprint/Nextel, you can bet there plenty of people out there who have no idea Sprint and Nextel are one in the same now.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

true dat.......prolli even some of their custs. dont even know..............but yeah so i think its actually a good idea to keep the Direct Connect brand but in a merger like this one COMPANY name has to be picked..............it just makes it look like the merger never finished and the company is disorganized and out of sorts because of a merger...............QChat doesnt sound good anyway...........when you buy an iDEN handset through Motorola directly the Direct Connect service is called MOTOtalk...............i would never want to use a feature called that..............lol

[TelcomJunkie]

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

when you buy an iDEN handset through Motorola directly the Direct Connect service is called MOTOtalk...............i would never want to use a feature called that..............lol

MOTOtalk is not Direct Connect. MOTOtalk is the two way radio feature for when you're not in an iDEN coverage area. It connects two phones directly without going through the tower.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

true dat.......prolli even some of their custs. dont even know..............but yeah so i think its actually a good idea to keep the Direct Connect brand but in a merger like this one COMPANY name has to be picked..............it just makes it look like the merger never finished and the company is disorganized and out of sorts because of a merger...............QChat doesnt sound good anyway...........when you buy an iDEN handset through Motorola directly the Direct Connect service is called MOTOtalk...............i would never want to use a feature called that..............lol

This is where Sprint failed big time. They never made up their minds as to what they wanted Nextel to be.

First Nextel was an equal partner, then a subsidiary, then obsolete... None of this made any sense and was never really the case. This is what it seemed like (to me) they were doing. Don't even get me started about Boost.

Sprint is a smart company. Once things settle down, they'll be just fine....Now they've got to do something about their customer service (this is the one thing I don't miss about their service).

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

regardless if whether or not it was called MOTOtalk or fhuddlewhutz...................the point is that some strategic marketing is needed to make it look like Nextel is still there even if it's only a ghost...................they took Nextels site designs and billing system and now they are using the feature names because of their marketing popularity...............as Mobile Mike said.............Sprint is a smart company and they will pull themselves out on this mess and get back on their feet again..........then WiMax here we come............

and dont get me started on Boost either

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by TelcomJunkie

MOTOtalk is not Direct Connect. MOTOtalk is the two way radio feature for when you're not in an iDEN coverage area. It connects two phones directly without going through the tower.

I'm guessing this is the DirectTalk feature that is available on some higher end Nextel phones (i870, i880, ic902)???

[TelcomJunkie]

Originally Posted by SmArTeStChIlD421

Regardless if whether or not it was called MOTOtalk or fhuddlewhutz, the point is that some strategic marketing is needed to make it look like Nextel is still there even if it's only a ghost. They took Nextels site designs and billing system and now they are using the feature names because of their marketing popularity. As Mobile Mike said Sprint is a smart company and they will pull themselves out on this mess and get back on their feet again. Then WiMax here we come...

Don't get me started on Boost either

Correct, but to compare product lines and marketing schemes we need to make sure we're all talking about the same product/feature. So calling it by the correct name helps in making sure other's aren't confused.

Originally Posted by Mobile Mike

I'm guessing this is the DirectTalk feature that is available on some higher end Nextel phones (i870, i880, ic902)???

Yes, though it doesn't go very far. I can't say I was really impressed by it.

[SmArTeStChIlD421]

Originally Posted by TelcomJunkie

Correct, but to compare product lines and marketing schemes we need to make sure we're all talking about the same product/feature. So calling it by the correct name helps in making sure other's aren't confused.

Yes, though it doesn't go very far. I can't say I was really impressed by it.

Sprint is basically just saying that the service that is being called QChat by us is gonna be marketed as Direct Connect as if it is the same service......................and yeah the DirectTalk feature was kinda short ranged but thats something you have to work with....no network and all