Alltel chooses EVDO

[jayc]

Alltel, originally in the EV-DV camp, is now on the path to EVDO after " the largest carrier in the country goes DO". Plans were to wait an additional year so the facilities in the network would not have to be separated, but fear of being left in the dust by Verizon Wireless has forced their hand. Alltel plans to have a few markets up by the end of 2004.

[twopiece]

At least someone's upgrading to EVDO.

Maybe this will give Verizon a nice swift kick on the pants.

[GoodmanR]

I wonder whether Spring will really hold out for EV-DV or not. Do you think they'll release EV-DV before someone else does? I don't think they will. Verizon will go EV-DO and then EV-DV and then Sprint will go DV.

[mcf04581]

This is realy good news for VZW because it will allow EV-DO roaming in time.

[GoodmanR]

Well, since they don't even have 1x roaming in all Alltel areas yet, I think it will be a long time before we see that.

[mcf04581]

Well, since they don't even have 1x roaming in all Alltel areas yet, I think it will be a long time before we see that.

This is not true, we do infact have 1x roaming with Alltel in place.

[GoodmanR]

I know for a fact it is not in place everywhere. I know that in Central OH, roaming on Alltel is just digital cellular, not 1x data. It may be in place with some SIDs, but not everywhere.

[mcf04581]

Very true that it is not in place everywhere, but should be by the end of the year.

[GoodmanR]

That is good news. Alltell only launched 1x in all markets somewhat recently, so the timeframe is understandable.

[AnthroMatt]

I wonder whether Spring will really hold out for EV-DV or not. Do you think they'll release EV-DV before someone else does? I don't think they will. Verizon will go EV-DO and then EV-DV and then sprint will go DV.

Sprint will go EV-DV first. It's part of some weird agreement with Qualcomm. Verizon got first dibs on EV-DO and Sprint got EV-DV. Qualcomm gets the guarantee that both of their technologies will be delpoyed and Verizon and Sprint get discounted royalty fees. I think there are some threads on the old forum dealing with this subject. I also think Verizon makes out better in the deal.

[GoodmanR]

Matt,

When would you guess Sprint will get moving on this?

[AnthroMatt]

Allegedly they already are, pushing for deployment sometime in mid-2005. I think I read that at HoFo though...so take it with a grain of salt.

Sprint tends to only launch things when their entire network is ready, I am not sure if they will do the same thing with EV-DV.

[GoodmanR]

Yeah mid-2005 seems fast. I think we might see a significanty UMTS push before Sprint really builds it out, but we'll see...

[AnthroMatt]

Yeah mid-2005 seems fast.

I think the only official word from Sprint is sometime in 2006. Whether this means the entire network or only parts of it, I have no idea.

[agentHibby]

I think the only official word from Sprint is sometime in 2006. Whether this means the entire network or only parts of it, I have no idea.

I am hearing now that if EV-DV comes out in summer of 2006, Sprint might go EV-DO in a few major markets; so they don't lose customers because they are waiting for EV-DV. Sprint will push EV-DV nationwide.

[GoodmanR]

I don't know if it would be smart for Sprint to go EV-DO in only a few markets, and not launch things nationwide at the same time. Isn't one of Sprint's big selling points that their network was built from the ground up, so it's the same in every market, and your phone and service work the same no matter where you go?

[Norsk.Viking]

I wonder whether Spring will really hold out for EV-DV or not. Do you think they'll release EV-DV before someone else does? I don't think they will. Verizon will go EV-DO and then EV-DV and then Sprint will go DV.

EV-DO has no migration path to EV-DV. So I ponder whether after spending $1B to deploy EV-DO they'll be eager to displace EV-DO with EV-DV. My guess is that the 2nd phase will be EV-DO release A for Verizon.

[Norsk.Viking]

Sprint will go EV-DV first. It's part of some weird agreement with Qualcomm. Verizon got first dibs on EV-DO and Sprint got EV-DV. Qualcomm gets the guarantee that both of their technologies will be delpoyed and Verizon and Sprint get discounted royalty fees. I think there are some threads on the old forum dealing with this subject. I also think Verizon makes out better in the deal.

I don't know the source of your info, but I wouldn't rely on this speculation as being valid.

[AnthroMatt]

I don't know the source of your info, but I wouldn't rely on this speculation as being valid.

I don't recall the source of the info either and should have included a disclaimer. I put one in the other thread on this topic, but forgot to in this one.

[GoodmanR]

I don't know the source of your info, but I wouldn't rely on this speculation as being valid.

What part of his statement are you questioning? I don't think too many people will dispute Sprint going EV-DV

[AnthroMatt]

What part of his statement are you questioning? I don't think too many people will dispute Sprint going EV-DV

I am guessing the part about the Qualcomm "deals" with Verizon and Sprint.

[agentHibby]

I don't know if it would be smart for Sprint to go EV-DO in only a few markets, and not launch things nationwide at the same time. Isn't one of Sprint's big selling points that their network was built from the ground up, so it's the same in every market, and your phone and service work the same no matter where you go?

That we know is not true at all since 2002 they upgraded 1XRTT they are still tons on spots that are still IS-95A!
I think what they mean is that the network talks nationaly. As many remember with Verizon that the due to all the merging the network talked regionaly for awhile, so when you were out of your region voice mail and other things may not work even though you are on Verizon's network.

[Norsk.Viking]

I am guessing the part about the Qualcomm "deals" with Verizon and Sprint.

That's right. They're highly improbable.