yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] garwynn:
Possibly the best thing that could happen is a shakeup of the board and Hesse either put on warning or replaced as CEO. Sprint

can

be profitable again but it will take many years to do so. Softbank has always had a tough fight in Japan and yet they're still around.

All in all I don't see this as a bad deal.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] madsquabbles:
as long as i can still have my SERO acct i'll stay with them. if i lose it, then i'll have to drop them. i locked - so far - on unlimited data on verizon. sprint's coverage has been getting progressively worse around my area which is mostly rural.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] cas8180:
With Google's investment in lg for there next nexus device and the specs on the lg optimus g coming to sprint I don't think I will be able to resist. So for me it's lg or bust
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] squshy 7:
I refuse to believe LG is making a nexus device, especially considering all these leaked images have "with Google" printed on the back and not just "Google"
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] cas8180:
OK you can live in denial ; )
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sleshepic:
was I right when I read it only will come with 8 and 16gb internal storage, no SD?! If that's true(and not just an early spec rumor that changes with the wind) that's a total deal breaker for me.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] Mattix724:
Since when was this the talk about the next nexus thread?

Back to the subject at hand... I think at this point Sprint could use all the help they can get. Network Vision is taking too long to be rolled out.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] Amd4life:
my thoughts exactly

not sure how I feel about my telecommunications being owned by a foreign entity though
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] garwynn:
You'd be surprised how much foreign investment is done to our telecom companies... but I think this is the biggest stake that I can recall. We'll see how it goes, I'm willing to wait for now and see what happens.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] lilotimz:
The current telecom industry is stagnated. ATT and VZ are satisfied with the status quo because all they're doing is raking in the money for its American and Foreign investors. They do not care about anything as long as the money keeps flowing and they will do the bare minimum to maintain or increase the money flow.

There's a huge thread on s4gru already discussing this but I'll repeat what I said there, here.

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/topic/2296-japans-softbank-in-talks-for-128-bln-sprint-stake/

The investment by an aggressive and well led asian corporation such as SoftBank can only be seen as a good thing. There is a huge difference in mentality between us "Americans" and westerners vs those in Asia.

Whereas most American / Western investors demand and want their investments to be maximized in the least amount of time, Asian corporations tend to look at what they can sacrifice now for the benefit of tomorrow.

SoftBank is a telecom corporation that went from 700K subscribers to over 2.7 million in a year by aggressively undercutting the other telecoms. They see how stagnated America telecoms are and they see it as a perfect opportunity to shake things up.They're investing in sprint via buying 75% (?) of Sprints stock because they see the future of american telecoms and see that out of them, Sprint is the one that has an actual plan for success. A plan that is painful for many of us temporarily but will ensure that Sprints network will be one of the better ones - if not the best for the future.

They agree with what Dan hesse has been doing and want to be part of it. They're looking at the future and not the present as most of us are and THAT is why Asian corporations have been able to undercut and outdo American and western corporations. They look 2 steps ahead of us. Whereas we look at the next quarters, the next year. They look at the next year, 5 years, 10 years.

This can only be a good thing for us.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] garwynn:
Thanks for the S4GRU link. Will head over there sometime to read up - I often use that as my go-to source for NV.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] MoHoGalore:
Not an in depth article but mirrors the sentiment that it's good news. 19%, while modest to some, is a good sign.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/11/technology/mobile/sprint-softbank/index.html
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] wsoxrock:
I don't see this as much of a bombshell or big deal. It's how corporations run.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] MoHoGalore:
Off/on topic. Lil lady works for sprint and there is zero talk about this at her work. You'd think with 500 plus people, contractors included, they would be asking questions around the "water cooler".

But nothing.

I've been in "purchases". From Southwestern Bell to SBC to Att. Just nothing is odd to me.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] Mattix724:
I doubt the worker ants have any clue what's going on.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] MoHoGalore:
You'd think if it was making headlines in the tech field, people would be talking.

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[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] Mattix724:
You'd think... But how many employees are informed or even care?
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] MoHoGalore:
True. Good point.

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[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] cubez10:
My old moment had the with google
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] bricker1:
That's what the specs say
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] garwynn:
Title and first post changed to reflect announcement of deal this morning in Tokyo. Once through Softbank will own 70% of Sprint. Expected close of mid-2013.

S4GRU has posted a blog on the announcement:

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/...-stake-in-sprint-nextel-forming-a-new-sprint/
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
Hopefully 'Now Network' in SoftBank's native toungue will actually translate into some kind of competitive data speeds.

I'm actually quite fond of this acquisition. Like others have stated already; American business is to focussed on next quarter or next year profits, which for a company with financials like Sprint has had isn't so much the boards fault as much as it is them trying to keep their head as high in the water as possible so no hard feelings there (I'd rather have Sprint period then them force themselves under trying to please the masses NAO! Lol).

What I'm really interested in seeing is: 1. What Sprint decides on Clearwire, 2. How well Hesse and Sprint cooperate with SoftBanks changes and what changes they'll actually make, and lastly how the shareholders and regulatory committees respond to the acquisition as it is a pretty big deal (both literally and metaphorically)

Please OP, keep this thread full of anything you can find about this.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] BluesRulez:
Sprint needs this. Much needed cash. Now speed up lte rollout.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] squshy 7:
Suhweet...maybe now I can get a raise lol.

In all seriousness though, I've been for this since the news broke. My first instinct has been that little, if anything at all, will change. I personally believe that one of the reasons why Softbank decided on Sprint (when T-Mobile could have probably fetched a lower price) is the strategies that have already been deployed by Hesse and company.

Network Vision is a look-to-the-future type of move (not just an LTE roll out, as is commonly perceived), and combined with Sprint's commitment to unlimited data at competitive prices, and focus on Customer Satisfaction scores (say what you want about your own personal experiences, we are rated number one out of US carriers in CS), it fits nicely with and mirrors how Softbank has done business over in Japan. I think they are probably very fond of how Sprint is conducting business, and likely would like to keep the status quo, for now.

If anything, the only changes would be something to really shake up how Sprint competes with the big two: regardless of how that may manifest itself, it would almost certainly be a win for customers, since Sprint is in a position where they need to steal customers away.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] garwynn:
I know Chainfire doesn't think this will be good - but reading the Bloomberg piece really confirmed my perspective. Yahoo! Japan has been very successful as was it's original investment in Alibaba (which anyone looking for stuff should consider checking out or Aliexpress.com). Once seeing that was under SB's investment makes me believe they're banking on a VERY serious LTE network - possibly far more than NV currently is talking about. All the more that I'm surprised when I read SB took a big stock hit on the Nikkei for this deal.

I will be very surprised if my MVNO (KDDI Mobile) survives this deal. Softbank has an easy entrance now for its own label and keeping its Japanese customers who travel to the US on their portfolio - especially versus KDDI Mobile and Docomo USA (Tmo). It would certainly keep me if it offers free roaming between the two - something I expect execs will get but unsure if customers or businesses will be offered.

Will post any significant developments as I catch wind on them.

And, for those who ask - "Now" Network would simply be ima nettowaaku (今ネットワーク） - (Ima is now, network is pronounce slightly different due to Japanese syllables)
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] Amd4life:
it will be curious to see if a the feds will allow a major telecom to be"primarily" owned by a foreign entity. It's one thing to be an investor, but major control?? They couldn't find a US company ???

seems this will open the door to Arab investors, with far more resources to start buying up corporations, instead of the norm currently of buying small percentages.

as some have posted, in previous posts, I do find it disconcerting, from a nation first attitude, that we as nation would sell a major telecom, including the tech, customer info, etc to a foreign entity.

what about the security issues?
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] rockypr:
They talk about closing in mid 2013 but what about us, I have 2 lines due to Renew, should I start looking into another companies?
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] squshy 7:
Security issues? From Japan?

If anything this healthy for the US, as it is almost purely investment. Sure, there's control from a board perspective, but it's not like Sprint is moving to Japan; it's a major US carrier that now has a major cash infusion from foreign investors.

To look at it a different way, Chinese manufacturing is huge because of foreign investment; it's not like all that production is going towards Chinese products, it's mainly overseas. This is, in a way, the same but reversed.

In fact, the opposite idea behind this is a large reason why the American economy has been slow to keep up with the rest of the world: there has been very little foreign investment in anything American. There just hasn't been anything we produce that warrants it. Seeing investment in from outside entity in a service, that's encouraging to me.

Imagine if our country's economy was built primarily out of superior services, and such services were invested in by other countries. I could get on board with that, as that is nothing but a progressed version of other countries investing in Chinese manufacturing.

---------- Post added at 11:44 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:39 AM ----------

I doubt it? But if you're really fearful you could always get yourself locked in now and they wouldn't be able touch it without letting you leave ETF free
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] tsowen:
Not sure this is in the right forum since its not Samsung Epic 4G Touch specific, but as long as my contract does not change and I still get to keep my unlimited data then I don't see a problem with it. Sprints service where I live sucks, half the time I cannot get a good signal.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
As my father once told me 'Son, locks are only there to keep honest people honest and warn intruders there's something of value. If someone wants something bad enough they'll take it.' Maybe that's just how cynical the old man is but it seems pretty accurate to me (especially considering the fact we were all brought together by none other than breaking locks to get true use from or devices). If they meant ill will against America they wouldn't exactly want their name on the top of the files they're stealing would they?

Now on the nationalist outlook you may have some credible concerns. We already import a ton of our goods, who's to stop us from importing deep pocket investors to turn the tides of our current status economically, only to find out later they weren't planning on being very cooperative with laws, regulations and pricing. I guess it just boils down to how much do we feel like trusting a known ally nation.

I'm glad to see this can stay a civil discussion with so many varied opinions being given, that doesn't seem all to common anymore.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] Mattix724:
Your talking about the country that sent spies over to tell them our schedule at Pearl Harbor, then sent thousands of kamikaze pilots in the middle of the night to attack us when we least expected it... It took fat man and little boy for them to realize they were messing with the wrong country.

I'm not sure if we could trust them entirely, even if it has been decades since the attack. They're supposedly allies now. Just remember, keep your friends close, and keep your enemies even closer...
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] squshy 7:
Wow...just wow.

Humanity sucks. I wish I was a robot.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
But have we not committed or own atrocities? Isn't it human nature to learn from mistakes that hurt like hell? I don't know if it's right to hold a country's mistakes against them after peace has been made. Especially when our military and defense budgets are higher than most countries combined. Is that just me though?
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] garwynn:
Sorry Mattix but I gotta call foul on this comment. And not just because this one is personal - but because you're basing your entire understanding based on an imperialistic army that not everyone supported but was not allowed to dissent. Some now included in Japan were even decimated by being caught in the middle between Japan and the US at the time. (Hence Okinawa's reference of the "typhoon of steel" in 1945.)

If you really... truly... believe this, find a few people from Japan. Sit down, have a real conversation with them. I bet you find that they're not even close to what you think. Or I'll be happy to continue this convo by PM if you'd like.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] garwynn:
I'd say let's drop the politics and get back to the business part of this discussion. No one wins when we start talking like this.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sling:
I'm moving to AT&T for Note 2 and it couldn't be at a better time.

I'm not saying merger wont go smooth but those that know Sprints history nothing goes smooth.

Any bets on Sprint name change mid 2013? "SprintSoft" maybe lol

Anyway I will sit on the sideline and enjoy the new Sprint mystery show
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
Fair enough my friend. Anyone have some business sources on SoftBank? I'd be interested in seeing how they've handled themselves over the past couple years. Time to put Google to work for myself but I'd love some overlapping data

---------- Post added at 03:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------

Isn't the Note 2 hitting Sprint also? And i believe the S4guru blog said they'll be called New Sprint or some such nonsense, its a couple pages back if you feel like skimming over it yourself.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] milky1112:
Heh.. "SoftSprint" That makes me think of a fat kid running... it's more like a Soft Sprint...
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sling:
Yeah Sprint will have Note 2 but it will be lacking external sim & simultaneous voice and data on LTE connection.

As far as name change I highly doubt Softbank will throw the word "New" into mix.

New gets old to fast. Softbank will give Sprint a facelift
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
I thought Sammy fixed that problem with the GS3? Are they not standing their ground on single variations of phones across carriers any longer :banghead::confused::thumbdown::what:
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sling:
Nope Sammy caved to carriers request on Note 2.

Att build will be close to international version thank goodness.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
So not kosher. I had hoped someone pulled their head out and looked around long enough to notice that doesn't really work too well
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sling:
+ 100%
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] -EViL-KoNCEPTz-:
As far as I can tell, all manufacturers are moving away from carrier specific branding and mods, but there are differences between the network versions. There should basically be 2 versions of each device, the GSM/international version and the CDMA version, but aside from that the versions should be close to identical on all carriers under that network type. Its not perfect but a step forward, and its next to impossible to make a CDMA device identical to a GSM device due to network requirements. Also US versions have the added need for LTE capable hardware that international versions don't require adding to the other minor differences. But the note 2 will be the note 2 and won't be called something ridiculous like the Samsung Epic LTE Galaxy Note 2

We are legion, for we are many.

Sent from the DarkSide of the GalaXy with a MEK device
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
You know, I never even considered differences in tech. You're right though, they should keep things as similar device to device across carriers. I don't mind hardware differences by manufacturers when it's the same thing just a different parts brand or something, but 15 versions (exaggeration) of the same phone with many minor differences and MAYBE two or three main changes is a bit much. But hey, thats probably why they don't call me up when they get ready to rollout something new :beer:
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] darktranquility18:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAf2NY-xFkk

Hope its not headed in this direction
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sling:
This one is great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bpNqkGGylA
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] MoHoGalore:
At least it says Merry Christmas and not happy holidays.:eek::eek::eek::eek::D:beer:

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sling:
Very true.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] RayTrue04:
Where did you get your info from? I thought it didn't support SVDO on 3G like the GS3 or EvoLTE? I'm pretty sure it'll do it fine on 4G LTE just like it does on our 4G Wimax on this phone. Or am I wrong? Also isn't the reason why SVDO is not supported because Samsung decided to use their own exynos processor and not the Qualcomm like the gs3???
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sling:
http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/...note-2-big-enough-for-everything-except-svdo/
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] lilotimz:
To anyone that still questions SoftBanks

INVESTMENT

, they are a company that went from basically being irrelevant to one of the premier telecoms in japan. They offer unlimited data and already have a TD-LTE network up and running (keep your eyes on clearwire - they're going to get acquired for sure). This investment is to give the "New Sprint" buying power as they can share technologies at will and mass order whatever for way cheaper than they would both be getting stuff for if they went at it alone.

The billions of dollars cash infusion is going to go help revamp the network. There are already early notices from 3/4th round NV markets (2013 areas) and no doubt there will be significant speed ups in deployments.

SoftBank is interested in breaking into the American market via sprint. Expect prices to possibly go DOWN, better - more diverse phones , and huge network investments. Their eyes are on grabbing customers and they will do as much as they can to disrupt the ATT/Vz duopoly even if they lose in the short term.

Short term losses translate to future gains for those knowledgeable and skilled enough. A couple quarters of red ink may be well worth it for a sped up network deployment, increase in postpaid customers, and causing headaches for ATT/VZ if it means that they'll gain market-share.

But we have to remember this. This is

NOT a HOSTILE TAKEOVER but an INVESTMENT

by a foreign entity that sees a rare opportunity to break into the stagnated American telecom industry and expand their power and 'prestige' in the worldwide telecom stage.

Side note : You guys obviously havn't seen a lot what they show on Japanese tv and ad's. They're hilarious as hell because they're so "wtf" worthy.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] RayTrue04:
Thank you you've confirmed what I thought. The article clearly states SVLTE support but no SVDO support. So we should be able to do data and voice over LTE. Anybody who's more educated in this kind of thing care to correct me if I'm wrong?
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] sling:
opps had to look back at what I posted miss print on my part lol.

simultaneous voice and data on LTE connection.

Yes SVLTE is supported but no SVDO.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] MoHoGalore:
Screen shot of a couple talking points from an internal email. I'm sure you can find the guts somewhere, i was just lazy. That and i didn't ask her to send from her work account.

One point that's not on the shot, Dan stays.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] KevinGee:
Haha at least the fat kid running is faster than these awful 3g speeds

Sent from my Og Evo 4G
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mad5870:
I like the last point. Well part of what we can things for the customers will stay the same. I think this of a great deal from a business point of view. I feel like it may effect more than just Sprint consumers.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] MoHoGalore:
Pay attention to the cut off words.. At this time.

Hang on. I'll get a better shot of that.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2

---------- Post added at 09:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:35 PM ----------

Here's the part i cut off originally.

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[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mad5870:
O balls. Ha o well only time will tell
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
Well put. This and the screenshot a few posts below you pretty much sum up my opinions. Obviously they'll want to integrate as much new tech between the two as possible. Besides, can it really get worse speed wise (for some of us; usually out in the sticks or otherwise poorly covered areas)? I'd love to see Big Red and Att start scrambling to keep up since it would stir up competition. We might even get 3g speeds close to our friends across the pond and further east if we get real lucky.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] oscarthegrouch:
What was the story you're referring to with Vodafone and Verizon?
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] someguyatx:
This is good news. Hopefully they will address the slow speeds and poor service in many major markets as a primary concern.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] MoHoGalore:
I don't see a 20b plus investment as anything but good at this point. The controller has no ill reports of what would otherwise be considered hostile and the vision, unless a true farce, is one of growth.

They, like many consumers, see a stale market and are going for the long haul CPR method.

One thing to consider, speeds be dammed, unlimited has a value. I think they see that. Just ask any other carrier customer.

Going on a limb "slow and steady wins the race" comes to mind.

I, for one, am hanging tight.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Xparent SkyBlue Tapatalk 2
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] Dalmus:
Vodafone owns 45% of Verizon Wireless. They have been expressing an interesting buying out Verizon Communications for the other 55% for the past two years.
[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] mdhscanes24:
Vodaphone and Verizon, Softbank and Sprint... Am I the only one noticing a pattern forming? Haha probably just a coincidence if you believe in that kinda thing but still