The network is based on 1xRTT (single carrier radio transmission technology), also known as CDMA2000, and operates at average speeds of 50 to 70 Kbps, peaking at 144 Kbps.
The good news for Sprint customers (unlike those of other service providers) is that existing Sprint PCS Internet–enabled phones will work on the new networks. Older Sprint PCS phones will work on the new 1xRTT network, albeit at the old, slower speeds. With other carriers making the transition to high-speed networks, customers require new phones. For example, GSM phones won't work on GPRS networks—period.
PCS Vision applications include Games, Messaging, PCS Business Connection, Pictures, Ringers, Screen Savers, and Web. Games lets you download games with color graphics from the Web or from Sprint's network. Messaging is for e-mail and also provides cross-carrier two-way Short Message Service (SMS) and chat capabilities. PCS Business Connection is a solution that gives you secure access to your company data and e-mail. Pictures works with the PCS Vision Camera accessory ($100 street) on Vision-compatible PCS phones, and Ringers lets you download a variety of ring tones, some animated. Screen Savers lets you assign background screens to designated callers, so you can tell at a glance who's calling. A catchy icon on the phone's screen represents each of these applications. Although the applications are included, some of the content and services cost extra.
Device manufacturers, attracted by Sprint's enhanced network and services, have developed an impressive line of PCS Vision phones, convergent devices, and wireless cards. Other worldwide carriers had few devices immediately available for use with their high-speed networks. The lineup of PCS Vision-compatible hardware includes phones from Hitachi, LG Electronics, Samsung, and Sanyo; phone/PDA combo devices from Handspring and Toshiba; and wireless cards from Novatel Wireless, Sierra Wireless, and Yiso Telecom.
In keeping with the PCS Vision attraction model, Sprint has new Free & Clear plans with voice call charges, which are based on a preset number of minutes, and data application charges, based on megabytes of data usage. For example, for $50 a month, you can talk for 4,000 minutes and process 2MB of data, and for $120 a month, you can talk for 10,000 minutes and process 8MB of data. To put this in perspective, 2MB of data supports approximately 100 instant messages, 150 e-mails, 100 Web pages, and several downloads from the Ringer, Screen Saver, and Game services.
We tested PCS Vision services with the Handspring Treo 300 ($500 street), running Palm OS. The Treo 300 combines a bright color display, 16MB of memory, and a single-band cell phone with a built-in, backlit QWERTY keyboard. We used Sprint's network and the installed Blazer browser to check out movies and get directions. Compared with PDA browsing on slower networks, the response time was noticeably less. With the Treo 300's low-resolution screen, though (160-by-160), you'll do best sticking with preformatted information services, which tailor data displays to fit smaller screens. Free-form Web browsing requires cumbersome scrolling.
PCS Vision doesn't offer full-speed service everywhere in its coverage area yet, which is disappointing, but Sprint is definitely on the right track: Its high-speed voice and data communication, business and personal data services, and strong support from device manufacturers should make other wireless carriers realize that the high-speed wireless customer is a potential long-term partner worth wooing.
