Sprint answers Steve Jobs and Apple's iPhone on June 20

Go check out the apple store. THe new 3G iPhone will be for sale next month...... for $199!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAH. Read'em and weep, SAMSUNG!

from a GREAT writer! Thanks.

I was still thinking how inaccurate and poorly written your comment above is, when I read the completely accurate and very well-written message that appears below in reaction to your comment about Cricket!

BTW - I third the notion that Cricket is the only way to go. I use it to call KC from San Diego all the time, and it's perfect. The price is literally a fraction of what I paid Sprint for the exact same usage pattern. And NO CONTRACTS EVER! You'd be an idiot NOT to at least try Cricket, because even if you don't love it, you can just pay your last bill and that's it. No "pay us $200.00 for termination fee or we won't unhand-cuff you" B.S..

Gotta run - need to pick out a suit to wear while dancing at Sprint's funeral.

The poster to whom you responded is 100% correct in noting that Apple did not "rip off" its "unparalleled success" from PARC.

That poster made his/her comment in response to the claim that Apple "ripped off everything they are" from PARC.

If anyone believes that Apple "ripped-off" ANYTHING from PARC, they clearly don't know the definition of "rip off."

Your very first sentence describes "Jobs' first visit to PARC," as the source of "all the ideas that became the Mac." First of all, even you can't actually believe that ALL of those ideas came ANY single source --- PARC or anyone else. And even if that preposterous statement COULD possibly be true, "ripping off" still hasn't in any way come into play.

Let's say you visit the Smithsonian, where you view extremely historically significant items, which were voluntarily submitted by their creators and/owners. During this visit, you get "ideas" (your word) to improve upon your own idea by incorporating elements as abstract as "a modern graphical user interface."

Would any thinking person consider that you had "ripped-off" the creator of the item(s), who, again, had not only willingly displayed, but actually INVITED you to assess, those items?!

Steve Jobs and the engineers from Apple did not BREAK INTO PARC, I highly doubt that they were anything less than ENCOURAGED to take notes while there, and, according to your own timeline, they were welcomed to visit the facility more than once.

In your very last sentence, your exact words are that they would later "incorporate" a portion of "what they saw" into their future products. (You said "much of what they saw," but again --- that is NOT the same thing as your ridiculous assertion that these were "ALL the ideas that became the Mac.")

So I ask you: exactly when in this timeline was anything "ripped-off" (by or from) anybody?

I have Cricket, and like the person who wrote the comment above, I am "delighted" with everything about them.

I regularly use my Cricket phone all over the country, and it has NEVER been "a brick."

My Cricket phone and its flawless performance are worth WHATEVER amount I'm paying for them --- and again, like he/she reported above, that amount is a damn sight less than I paid when I used Sprint. (Or should I say, when they used me.)

And let me just state right now that YES, I have worked for Sprint, and NO, I was neither laid off nor fired. And my relationship with Cricket is and always has been strictly as a customer.

"fwtxm," regardless of anything you can possibly write on this board, the INESCAPABLE FACT remains that all of the reputable and authoritative articles, reports, surveys, trend analyses, etc., etc., etc., that have been cited in this forum --- by the countless people who absolutely despise Sprint --- are 100% correct: Sprint Nextel is an utterly abysmal operation, and it will soon cease to exist.

As someone noted elsewhere, the chances of Sprint EVER "rising again" are about as good as the chances of the sun rising in the west tomorrow morning.

Cricket is a limited area unlimited plan. You leave the metropolitan area you are in and you are carrying a brick!
It's almost as ridiculous as rollover minutes!
fwtxm@yahoo.com

Yea, AT&T has GSM, but that coverage is no better than CDMA. GSM is spotty and isn't as consistent at CDMA. I'm not protecting Sprint, i'm just stating the facts. To get an idea of AT&T's GSM coverage check out their data coverage on their maps!!?? Oh, yea, forgot, they don't let you see the true details, they show map everything in orange!!
Today's cell services are pretty much the same, with very few exceptions. The most common issue is the customer's perception of the carrier and that the proper expectations aren't set correctly upfront. I agree that Sprint has issues. Lest you forget the issues that AT&T and Cingular had when they first merged? It was strange that as soon as they started advertising the least drop calls of any carrier that just inspired more customers to call other carriers because AT&T/Cingular didn't explain that their low drop call rates were in the larger metropolitan areas where they had invested a large some of money in build out and capacity. Look at Verizon and T-Mobile. They do well with customer service. Want to know why? It's really not that difficult to understand but for those that can't figure it out, here it is. The expecation set in advance and at the inception of a new customer makes a HUGE difference.
Let's face it folks, you are smart enough to realize that cellular coverage is not an exact science. All carriers roam on each other's networks. Not one carrier has spent the money it takes to build their own true nationwide network. It costs too much. To be competitive they may build out their own digital/enhanced network in larger metropolitan cities but every where else they strike up roaming agreements with other carriers. It's just that simple.
I agree Sprint has made serious and major mistakes. They lost focus, they had the wrong people in charge and now they have a "take charge" guy in Dan Hesse running the company, but even he can't fix miracles overnight. They still have work to do. I believe Hesse can and will make it happen. As long as the board members give him the chance and the power and authority he needs. I do not directly work for the company any more, however i did for 7 years. I did it because i enjoyed the product and those customers i worked with that knew the expectations up front, were happy. Communication is the key. It may take some time to find someone that can answer your questions the right way the first time but you have to understand the way to make it happen. If the person you get the first time doesn't know, HANG UP THE PHONE and call back. There are different call centers and more often than not the transfers you receive are within the same call centers. It may be a pain, but hell, i worked for the company and that's what i had to do. Another thing, again, i worked for the company and had to call the same customer care you as customer's had to do.
If you aren't happy, ask for retention, tell them you are going to cancel your service. See what happens then.
Another thing, take ownership of your account. Understand what you are doing when you make a rate plan change, upgrade your device, add a new line of service. These phones aren't as cheap as you think. The manufacturers really charge an arm and a leg. The carriers make their money by keeping you in a contract. Find out the specifics. READ YOUR CONTRACT, even the fine print. If you don't want to call into customer care, go to the website and register your account online. They have online chat capabilities and those reps are more often than not more knowledgeable than the ones that answer the phone. Don't tell me you don't have time!! While you are posting on blogs damning this carrier, that carrier or person, you could easily register your account online and have your issues resolved in the same amount of time it takes you to browse through your myspace, facebook, or whatever site you are playing around on at work. Don't act like you don't do that either, you know MOST of you do.
Let's face it, you can please some of the people most of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time. There is a reason you are staying with Sprint all this time. TO be honest, people are more often going to complain about one bad issue but never discuss all the good.
AGain, i'm not standing up for Sprint, i'm just stating the facts!
fwtxm@yahoo.com

Are you not a follower then? Just a flashy UI on features that has been offered on PDA devices for 3 yers prior. Did you ever take a look at RIM just to name 1 company offering these types of devices? Maybe the Apply hype got to you.

Especially about Jobs first visit to PARC, where he got all the ideas that became the Mac.

1973 - The Alto, the first computer to have a modern graphical user interface, is born at Xerox PARC.

1977 - Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found Apple computer. The Apple II personal computer does not have a GUI, but uses bitmapped raster graphics.
- The Alto personal computer and it's graphical user interface are presented to the Xerox sales force during "Futures Day" at the Xerox World Conference. The laser printer and computer networking are also introduced.
- The first portable personal computer, the Xerox Notetaker, is introduced along with the Dorado.

1979 - Steve Jobs and engineers from Apple visit Xerox PARC. They would later incorporate much of what they saw into the design of the Lisa and Macintosh.

All the Steve Jobs groupies are probably getting their hackles raised by this.

The bottomline is this,

"No matter how big the "coolness" factor a product / service has, if someone can provide it cheaper, faster and better, consumers will gravitate towards it." (except for the groupies offcourse).

Being a "copycat" has nothing do with it.

Is Google a copycat, for copying Yahoo's search business?

This is pure business.

In the long run, Cheaper, Better & Faster will almost always beat, expensive & slower. No matter how "cool" it is, for the time being.

If it helps you relate, then just see the examples below,

1) What Internet Explorer did to the "Netscape Browser". (free, better, faster)

2) What Google did to Yahoo. (both are free, but google is better & faster)

3) What Charles Schwab & Co. did to traditional brokerages in the 70's. (cheaper commissions, better products, faster executions)

4) What cheap chinese products are doing to the US economy, just check your local Walmart, Target. (cheap goods, not always better & faster).

5) What Japanese electronics & cars did to the US Electronics (remember RCA?) & Automotive industry. (cheaper, better, may be not faster, since most designs were copied from the US).

and so on and so forth.......

Given that, I think iPhone's days are numbered....

But time will tell........

BTW, the iPhone was not Steve Jobs's idea, he "bought" it from some contract designer at Apple.

What a thoughtful and insightful post!

But what I cannot understand is why, given your obvious sincerity and just plain common sense --- you've been lining the pockets of this abominable company for over 10 years, and that you're still continuing to do so?

I honestly don't know which is the greater atrocity: that you don't deserve them, or that they don't deserve you!

Best wishes,

Shelley

I've bin a Sprint customer for 14 + years and they have treated worse than any other company I've dealt with in my 47+ years of life. I hate Sprint!

JD9296@aol.com

Dear Sprint
I have been a sprint customer for over 10 years (longer than most people have been married or stay married). As a matter of fact, I have been with no other wireless carrier. I have been faithful to a company that doesn’t appreciate my loyalty or my business. In this time of hit-and-run-subscribers, why haven’t I or others like me been rewarded (IT SEEM’S TO ME, NEW CUSTOMERS ARE MORE VALUED)? I suggest that a loyalty program be created for subscribers and the longer you remain with a carrier you are rewarded. I suggest the following loyalty program:
• On a subscriber’s completion of the 1st year of service, you receive your 13th month free and for the next four years the 13th month is free.
• On the 5th year (anniversary date of service) you receive a free Bluetooth Headset. You are allowed one Free Bluetooth Headset for the next four years (As I understand it, those employees who work in a Sprint Store, receive 2 free Bluetooth Headset’s per year. And we know how employee turnover is at the Sprint Store).
• Upon the beginning of your 10th year of service you will receive one free handset and will continue to receive one free handset per year for life (anniversary date of service).
This is a simple program that could be tweaked by any carrier to create loyalty and I respect the tweaking of this idea to ensure a profit by any carrier. I am not about cutting into the bottom line but I want to nip in the butt the disrespect of my carrier (SPRINT).
Sprint has been recognized as a very customer unfriendly organization and to a certain extent I agree. However, I agree for reason many may not agree with:
• Lack of resolution when I call customer service:
1. Amount of time on phone is more important issue with the phone or service
2. The language spoken by the representative barely the callers primary language
3. Customers call’s are just not that important, to the company or the call taker
4. Sprint Stores: Last Stop Before Hell (I rather go to the DMV)
5. The Store Representatives, Phone Representatives and Online always have different bill total, solutions for your problems and frequently blame the other for your trouble (try all three on the same day and see what happens)
6. Do any of the employees know how to use the products they sell?

• Poor product choices create overwhelming issues for carrier
1. Sprint has a very “old” product line (surprised they don’t still carry the “bag phone”)
2. Does Sprint have cool “teen pone” or is it even “cool” to be a Sprint Customer?

• There’s a lack of creativity in Sprints Advertising
(Sprint advertises like the know they aren’t #1 in the industry and don’t care to be)
1. Name one Sprint Commercial or Ad Campaign (Sprint is forgettable)
2. Sprint has no identity
T-Mobile: “fab 5”, fun commercials, teenager’s pone plan friend
AT&T: iphone, text friendly network, cool and hip
I have no doubt many if any will disagree with my observation of Sprint and the lack of service and product they provide. It seems to me Sprint could easily correct the wrongs they have perpetrated and win back the hearts and minds of its subscribers. Certainly with happier customers, going to work would be a better place for Sprints employees. I can only imagine how unhappy it would be to take call after call of unhappy, dissatisfied and angry subscribers. It’s not that hard to take care of a customer. Have fun. Sprint lacks fun.
I ‘m still a customer and after this Sprint may want to part ways. Sprint, if you want divorce, can I get half?
Signed
Loyal Longtime Subscriber

I don't believe it takes an algebra whiz to figure this one out buddy boy. If you can't afford an iPhone then don't talk your talk. I could have brought any phone out there. But bottom line iPhone is way more compatible with what people want to do with a mobile device. Well you did get one thing right It is a great SHINY LITTLE TOY ;). The only moron here is the one that is caught up in all the media that is thrown at you. Your such a follower. Why don't you do some research Algebra whiz. Why do i waste my time with you. I guess to try to help your lost soul. I hope your not upset right now :)

Sprint has a limited customer base because of CDMA as compared to GSM that AT&T provides. As many posters here have said, it is the idea not the product. Simply copying the iPhone means nothing and will not help Sprint at all. Sprint has a horrible network and has has a bad call drop rate. Unless they fix that and improve on other things no matter what they will fail. Second why would anyone go buy a copy for $300 when the original will be here for around $400 and better service.

If you find it a knock off because the Instinct has a very intuitive UI, advanced voice services, easy to use touch enabled data services, and get a bill every month that is the same price, then not a bad deal!

Copied what? Touchscreen...well iPhone must have copied the old Samsung and Palm PDA touch screens. Instinct has a UI that doesn't suck like others arguably Windows Mobile? Darn the poor customers are going have a great experience. Copies what....form factor....last I check circle phones don't fit well in pockets.

God forbid if Sprint needs smoking good phones to keep its customers and also doesn't need an Apple. iPhone is a darm good device, lots of stuff that has existed for a long time, just touch screen enabled now. Remember #1 is voice....this device is a MUCH better voice phone then iPhone and has compelling legacy touch screen enabled data applications.

It's all about business. You come out with a TOY that looks all fancy and shiny and people flock to it to look "cool". Face it, that's all you guys have for the iPhone. An iTouch IPOD! that you can talk on and you just go on getting ripped off enough money on it to buy yourself a laptop. I was enemies with Sprint, I dont give two craps about them, but ATT's customer service (as well as others) is going down the tubes, as well as their ridiculous plans, JUST to have an iPhone. At least Sprint has come out with new technology AND has spent money and made advances to their known problem on customer service. Now they are promoting a phone that will be more economic, with a more economic plan, with just as good a quality, and features that the first iPhone didn't have and if you're into having a shiny little toy to talk on, this one is just as good. You guys are a bunch of morons I'm sorry, where did you go to school at? Or was high school algebra too hard for you.

Unless this phone has any type of windows software in it, it is dead from the start. I mean how could anyone besides possibly MS compete with the iPhone. Apple had built there OS X inside this device and they also put together the hardware. I dont think any phone manufacturer can just come out with a phone and think they are going to beat the iPhone which has had innovation being put in its OS from over the past 25+ years. Its just not going to happen. Its like saying a phone manufacture can come out with a Operating System thats just as good as MAC OS X or WINDOWS. Its coming down to software and the phone manufactures sat on this for tooooo long and now its toooo late. GO APPLE!

I had over a year bad romance with Sprint customer service dept; until realizing that department is either robots or simply dummies. Then due to past connection with few Nextel high managers, I made contact with them and only then my problems have been solved. Apparently we: The Nextel managers and I realized that the customer’s service department is the crummy of the crummy with no a bit of understanding what they should be doing with customers.
I was promised that the Customer’s Service department will be improved unless Sprint will continue loosing customers although Sprint today having one of the best terms and the cheapest plans.

From what I hear, it's a bit late. Supposedly June 9 the iPhone 3G will be released. That should raise the bar once again, so following is still following. Plus: Welcome to the world of on demand. Who watches TV live when it "broadcasts" anymore? This is 2008. We all time and place shift everything, bending it to our own desires. I have to confess I have no issues with Sprint. They served me well for over a decade. I do have issues with AT&T. But the iPhone is too good to miss so I left Sprint on June 29, 2007. And I've only looked back once or twice...

Perfectly stated. Thanks.

Apple didn't rip off their unparalleled success from PARC.

They copied the idea of using letters and numbers too!

Apple ripped off everything they are from PARC.

no idea.

Samsung made the phone. Sprint is merely the middleman.

Either way . . . lost cause. Sprint is spending $100 million to further promote the iPhone.

"Die, Sprint, Die!"

Wait, let us guess:

Sprint has developed a unique and innovative NEW approach that will outperform all competitors, revolutionize telecom as we know it, and stop the toilet flush that has already been started.

Sprint became my enemy about 7 years ago and I've kept my promise to never give them another dime. What did they do that was so horrible? They claimed that I changed my calling plan to one that had fewer anytime minutes but still cost the same. WHY would I do such a thing. And, as you said, their customer service dept. was completely inept.

"NowIsGood?" Never would be better.

I AGREE I WILL BE LEAVING SPRINT AS SOON AS 3G IPHONE
HITS THE STORE( AND YES I WILL BUY OUT OF MY CONTRACT)I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH SPRINT EXCEPT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE IPHONE
AND MY TREOS A PIECE OF CRAP (ALL THOSE DAMN LITTLE BUTTONS )
GIVE ME A BREAK. I WILL WELCOME THE PHONE THAT PEOPLE STOOD IN LINE FOR 20+ HOURS, EVERYONE SAID WAS TO EXPENSIVE ,IT SOLD OUT
IN RECORD TIME,EVER OTHER PHONE COMPANY IN THE WORLD IS TRYING TO COPY IT (GIVE IT UP!!!!!!! APPLE COME IN ON THEIR FIRST TRY AND YOU HAVE THE GREATEST PHONE EVER

THE IPHONE IS "THE BEATLES" OF PHONES

You obviously didn't see the specs comparing it to the iphone. Sprint has full access to the internet and is very fast; Sprint has TV, including live TV; and the GPS services are excellent, rather than just putting you in a general area. Check out the site www.nowisgood.com

The instinct does not use Windows Mobile.

You make several excellent points, but why, despite your observations, are you still planning to get an InStink?

Why not look into Cricket? Although they do utilize Sprint's network, or "backbone," it soon won't matter anyway, because the Sprint backbone will finally be permanently snapped. :-)

In any case, Cricket has delighted me with:

1) No contracts EVER

2) Steady, predictable bills without an incessant array of cryptic, nonsensical charges

3) All standard calling features included

4) Optional features available individually, and at reasonable rates

5) Friendly. plentiful, knowledgeable, and helpful associates in their stores --- and phone reps who aren't in New Delhi, who aren't taking Americans' job, and who actually speak English!

6) Reliable hardware

7) Unlimited usage at any/all hours with NO surprises

8) Did I mention phone reps who aren't in New Delhi, who aren't taking Americans' job, and who actually speak English?!

9) No preposterous "early escape" blackmail

No, I don't work for Cricket, never have, and don't know anyone who does. But I also don't know anyone who's ever been disappointed with them.

True, switching to Cricket still results in my contributing a relatively small amount to the Evil Sprint. But like I said, soon enough Cricket, Virgin, etc. will all have to tie into a backbone other than Sprint's --- because the spineless Sprint will literally be without a spine!

Once again Sprint is missing the mark. Wanna be is always second or lower at best. They need to be a leader both internally and externally to there business. This will not solve the real issues of a toxic culture, bad billing, insulting customer service and NO LEADERSHIP. To continue ti lie to yourself and follow along is the surest way to Bankruptcy Court and SEC fillings for internal issues. Some of you know what I am talking about.....Allegedly .

you'd think they would have come up with a different design...can you say copycats?

It is way early to consider that the "instink" will compete with the iPhone, even if it is comparable with the iPhone 1, iPhone 2 will already be launched before the sprint phone comes out. Frankly, as a happy iPhone user, I will buy the new iPhone as soon as it is out and sign up for another 2 years with ATT. As a former happy Nextel customer who was abused by sprint customer service, ATT now seems wonderful. Not working with a Mac is a serious problem for the "instink" and that gaff shows the same mindset that doomed sprint to pass on the iPhone in the first place. The iPhone 1 is slow on the web, but the new iPhone should be much faster, have GPS, and much more... I still discover new thoughtful touches that I had not previously noticed using my iPhone 1. Too bad Kansas City has to suffer because of idiots in control at sprint. (My misspelling of "instict' is intentional as is my refusal to capitalize the word sprint.)

I like the idea of the instinct but like the treo it sucks to sync etc... I talked to samsung and there is not going to be anything to sync to a mac. which is now 14% of the market and growing. If sprint were smart the would stop trying to be so avantgarde and find a way to get the damn iphone on their network... I WILL get the Instinct but its like getting a cheap crappy knock off. and who knows if I dont like it... I may go to AT&T... all the carriers suck anyway...

Never a leader, always a follower. Did they forget that the iPhone is also an iPod? How is Microsoft doing against that one? Face it you botched your "game-changing" moment by not ponying up for the iPhone...move on already.

This phone will be a great runner up to the iPhone! Oh wait - no App store and uses Winblows Mobile. I take that back. It's gonna suck. I'm sure Steve Ballmer will love it tho. (Pit stains and all) If only the instinct had - "developers, developers,developers,developers,developers,developers,developers,

Wow...I bet Apple is scared.