Jackson Miller

A couple of days ago I left Sprint for AT&T. Recently I posted that now is the wrong time to buy a new cell phone (as Chuck Bryant reminded me). So what changed?

First off, let me just say that there has not been a 180 shift in my position. For many people now is not a good time to buy a new phone. For me the timing was right. That had as more to do with the carrier switch than anything.

So why did I switch from Sprint to AT&T? The reason I made the switch right now is because there was a “material change to the contract” and I could get out without paying any early termination fees. (Tip: You can too as long as everything is done before January 30, 2008).

I didn’t switch because of the change to the contract though. I had 5 primary reasons for switching:

1. Looking ahead to 4G
   Sprint’s future looks bleak. They are having to “go it alone” on WiMax; that is a lot of network to build out. Meanwhile, AT&T, Tmobile, and Verizon are all going with LTE.
2. SIM cards
   I like mobile toys. I also like to take a lot of mobile power with me on the road. The thing is, when I go to the park with the kids I just want a little phone in my pocket that will stay out of the way. If Sprint or Verizon would start supporting R-UIM cards this wouldn’t be an issue.
3. Hardware selection
   Sprint has done a great job of providing good new phones for the past couple of years. The thing is they can’t compete with unlocked phones and there will never be a Sprint iPhone. Even if Sprint did use R-UIM cards and unlocked phones were a possibility, as we move into 4G and Sprint it is the only WiMax carrier in the US, there will be very limited hardware options.
4. Customer service
   I was a Sprint customer for years. I told them that allowing me to switch to a SERO plan would keep me for a while longer. I could signup for a SERO plan as a new subscriber. They didn’t want to keep me, so I didn’t want to stay. BTW, I have had amazing customer service from AT&T so far.
5. Free mobile to mobile calling
   Sure every network has free mobile to mobile calling, but one of those networks has more customers than all the rest (i.e. more free calls). I am guessing Sprint will be the smallest (of the current big 4) by the end of 2008.

Does that make sense? It seemed/seems pretty clear to me. Like I said, the timing was mostly because of the loophole in the Sprint contract that let me do the inevitable now without paying any ETFs (early termination fees).

See Also: Goodbye Palm Treo, Hello Blackberry Curve (8310 RED)