Print this article | E-mail this article | Comment on this article

Sprint customers get next-gen MySpace Mobile first

By Jacqueline Emigh, BetaNews

December 13, 2007, 2:43 PM

With its subscriber base declining, Sprint surely needs a lift in its heated competitive struggle with AT&T and Verizon Wireless. Could a newly unveiled deal with MySpace Mobile help do the job?

Sprint today announced that its wireless data customers will be able to link to MySpace and Fox Interactive Media (FIM) mobile Web sites free of charge, signifying the latest agreements in an ongoing duel of one-off deals between US wireless carriers and Web sites for Internet access from cell phones.

Sprint's customers will be accessing a new advertising-supported MySpace Mobile Web site -- featuring richer graphics and a revamped e-mail interface -- which is slated to leave beta and enter official launch status some time in early 2008.

Sprint customers will click from the Sprint mobile portal directly to MySpace Mobile, meaning that they won't have to type in the MySpace URL, a relatively cumbersome experience from cell phone handsets as opposed to PC keyboards.

In addition, through a long-standing relationship between MySpace and Fox, Sprint data customers will get direct links to the following FIM Web sites: IGN, AskMen, FoxSports.com on MSN, RottenTomatoes, and Fox's network of local affiliates.

The relationship between MySpace and Sprint isn't exactly new, either. A current generation of MySpace Mobile alerts and applications is already running on Sprint phones.

Meanwhile, though, MySpace also been partnering with other US carriers around its mobile offerings, including major Sprint rival AT&T Wireless.

Late last year, for example, MySpace forged a pact with AT&T's predecessor Cingular to let members view profiles, add friends, and post blogs and photos. But Cingular subscribers had to pay $2.99 a month for the privilege.

As Sprint keeps sliding in its customer satisfaction ratings and subscribership versus both AT&T and Verizon Wireless, the carrier looks likely to get some degree of competitive boost out its deal around the next gen MySpace Mobile site.

At the same time, the new MySpace Mobile site should help to bolster MySpace, whose social networking competitor Facebook recently introduced a version of its own site specifically for Apple's iPhone.

Add a Comment (10 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By KSzostek

posted Dec 17, 2007 - 8:00 AM

To little to late for Sprint.

The sad part of this is Sprint has no clue whats wrong with their platform, and I really don't think they care.

How can companies like this stay in business this long with their approach to business?

Score: 0

By pgaines

edited Feb 25, 2008 - 2:35 PM

because once they have you locked in a contract (and extensions anytime you look at your bill) they figure they can keep you there forever. they are by far the worst business on the planet. they had no choice but to merge with nextel or become obsolete.

Score: 0

By forgie

posted Dec 14, 2007 - 6:40 PM

Boy am I glad I paid the money to get out of my Sprint contract a couple years ago. Got no service in my neighborhood but they kept telling me it was a covered area.

Score: 0

By siryak

posted Dec 13, 2007 - 7:26 PM

The only way Sprint is going to win me back over is if they get some fregin towers somewhere besides on the interstate!!! Until then I will stick with CellOne/AT&T.

Score: 0

By raveen69

posted Dec 13, 2007 - 3:40 PM

I agree with Hellcat,

giving me myspace is not going to fix the crapy phones they keep giving me. no matter how many times i go to the sprint store, they continue to give me a crapy phone and tell me they don't know what to do about it. I've had the 650, 700, and now the 755, all at the 'expense' of sprint. I can't wait for the next iphone model to come out, cus im getting one!

Score: 0

By Hellcat_M

posted Dec 13, 2007 - 3:17 PM

What sprint needs to do is just care about its customers more and listen to their complaints and fix them. I've had sprint for over 6 years and for a while they were doing well. I moved and the area where I moved to doesn't get good Sprint service, I get dropped calls and when it rains I can't even make a call. I've been trying to leave my contract for months with no luck, since there are 3 phones on the family plan I'm on it would cost $600 to leave. They keep saying the problem will be looked into and its gotten a little better but still there are problems. I call customer service and their a bunch of idiots, they say anything to get you off the phone. I think Sprint needs to get people who know how to run a buisness, and either train or fire their grunts because they're going to keep loosing customers no matter what new thing they put into their service, if they don't fix their problems.

Score: 0

By forgie

posted Dec 14, 2007 - 6:43 PM

I would suggest you try sending an email directly to the Sprint CEO. Having a lot of problems with Comcast, my cable provider, I finally was fed up and sent an email to their CEO telling them to engage and fix it or I'm going to a competitor for service. Got a call an hour and a half later from their executive escalations team who actually knows how to get things done. It's a shame it takes an email to the CEO to get help.

Score: 0

By horsecharles

edited Dec 14, 2007 - 3:39 AM

Threaten Sprint that you'll go to Legal Aid, Small Claims Court, complain to BBB, FTC, even the SEC... + your state's equivalent of them... as well say you're a major presence in online journalism, tech communities, investment forums.

Then, when they attempt to troubleshoot your problems, just have your phone turned off beforehand. Try to get this done during inclement weather btw.

I guarantee they'll let you walk w/o penalty.

Score: 0

By xyzcb1

posted Dec 13, 2007 - 3:40 PM

The biggest problem is they have a bunch of idiots running the support line. They have no idea of what the problem is. You could call 5 times and get 5 different answers on the same problem. Worst yet, they documented your problem and their answers, however, no one read it. You have to read it back to them, then, they said oh yea... Lastly, they will promise you the sky, only days later you have to call and repeat the process.

The only knowledgeable staffs they have is ecare. They know their sh1t.

Score: 0

By dracodos

posted Dec 14, 2007 - 3:25 PM

I agree, the problem is their customer support line. I worked there as support for 6 months (more of a need for a job at the time then want). The issue i found is that they train you on how to, supposedly, talk to a customer and how to end the call but they do NOT give you any of the tools to actually help the customer, if any actually exist. What they do give you is useless junk. Then they expect you to play with the demo phones (which are ridiculously restricted) on what time? I take a pee break and they b****!

Me having a tech background i was infuriated on how they can't at least give me some useful tools to troubleshoot issues. I ask and they say, sorry we just don't know. Just offer, transfer, offer, watch your time, blah blah blah.

Between that and the mounting number of pissed customers they have it's just a snowball effect.

Too bad, plans like fair & flexible were great options. I thought the net access setup was better than any other phone service. Phones and coverage were decent.

Score: 0

Oct 11 - 11:16 AM ET Things left unsaid, in a recent interview with Sony's CEO

Oct 11 - 11:03 AM ET EU regulations block Italian ISPs from blocking Pirate Bay

Oct 11 - 10:55 AM ET Making it to Apple's App Store by staying out of court

Oct 10 - 7:43 PM ET Wal-Mart changes its mind, leaves existing DRM servers up

Oct 10 - 7:05 PM ET Hands on: An amateur photographer tests out Adobe's latest Lightroom

Oct 10 - 6:52 PM ET Mobile service providers brace for the economic storm

Oct 10 - 6:24 PM ET Apple warns users about bad Nvidia graphics chips

Oct 10 - 4:21 PM ET New Norton Vista tool trades UAC for online feedback

Oct 10 - 3:23 PM ET Verizon Wireless to raise fees for service-related texts

Oct 10 - 3:04 PM ET BlackBerry Bold sales halted in UK