Goodbye to Sprint's EVDO U720 Modem? EOL on 07/23?

Alex

I took at least a half dozen calls from folks who found us online after having no luck trying to buy a U720 from Sprint online or Sprint stores.

All of them were told the U720 would be discontinued as soon as 07/23. What's odd about this rumor/claim being made by Sprint store employees, is that this past Monday we discovered that Sprint raised the price on the U720 in our ordering system from $99.99 to $129.99.

When was the last time you saw the price of a soon-to-be-discontinued item increase just before being dropped? Seems to me to be a strange thing to do. If I didn't want something around anymore, I'd drop the price and encourage folks to buy my inventory.

Some of the callers were even told that the U720 was such a bad device that Novatel themselves did not plan on ever upgrading U720's firmware again.

Thats preposterous. Folks who have been buying the U720's since last December are on 1 or 2 year contracts with Sprint. If for some reason, the device could no longer be used on Sprint's network, Sprint would have to offer replacements.

What I suspect is, some secret marketing agreement pulled the U720s from Sprints stores in favor of the 595U, and the store employees had to come up with some explanation for why they could not sell the U720, and that the 595U was the only way to go.

In any case... if you have been thinking about getting a U720 and don't want to risk the chance that the EOL rumors might be true... our team tracks number of available units in system and last we checked there were over 800 available to us.

Are these the last 800 U720's? We honestly don't know.

If you want one now, you better just order it online now:

https://3gstore.com/sprint/cards.php

and for those who can't commit and are worried about the future...
we're working on alternative supply of U720's, but it could be a few weeks.

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Cool Wings. Are they some sort of antenna? Rolling Eyes

Hank3rd · EVDO Newbie Joined: 25 May 2007 Posts: 8

I have not had any issues with my device after I got the initial kinks worked out. I kind of like the little guy. I have it connected to the KR1 router and it works fine, allot better than my Hughesnet Satellite.

I agree with the whole marketing plot and think Sprint is just trying to sell the other unit.
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Semi75 · EVDO Junkie Joined: 25 Feb 2006 Posts: 230

A bad device? It's a great device if you ask me. I do not own the u595 personally but from reports I'll stick with what i know works great.

Alex · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 10:46 am Post subject:

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

Omni or yagi? Looks a bit directional to me. Laughing

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jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Actually its a recent discovery brought about by an old concept. If you fill a bucket with water and just let it sit, it goes flat. But if you put your hand in the bucket and stir it around, the water becomes active and gains energy. So, the theorey is that if your antenna moves about rather than stagnating in a stationery mode, it will increase its energy and reception.

I am now swinging my U720 around on its cord and the downloads have increased from 1200 Kbs to almost 3000 Kbs. I learned not to do this in restraunts after striking that little old lady...

btinc · EVDO User Joined: 03 Nov 2005 Posts: 41

I was also told by sprint that u720 will be replaced by the u727 in September.

Michael · Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:15 am Post subject:

It is official.

The U720 is no longer available from Sprint.

As of today, the Sierra 595U is the only shipping USB modem.

More info will be reported on EVDOinfo.com and EVDOforums.com as this changes.
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Joel Schmidt · EVDO User Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 38

Michael · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject:

Of course Sprint will have replacements available for existing U720 customers, this is a common practice.

Regarding the comments that the Sprint Rep gave you over the phone - they are wrong. Sprint is no longer selling the U720.
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Bigdave · EVDO Addict Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 1069

Joel Schmidt · EVDO User Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 38

MBParker · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:08 pm Post subject:

So should one not buy the U720 any more, just the 595U?
And to better answer that question:

Why did Sprint discontinue the U720?
-Does the U720's USB port break over time?
Joel Schmidt wrote:

...I just talked to Sprint about finding a final resolution regarding the problem with the U720 usb connector breaking over time

I could imagine this would happen if you just had the U720 stick out of a laptop USB port, but if its neatly on cable (say Velcro'ed to the edge of your laptop lid/screen) the port wouldn't get torqued.
-Any other reasons where the U720 really falls short of the 595U?
And what's going to happen? Sprint probably won't leave Novatel hanging with only Sierra to provide the USB, no? Is Novatel going to offer an improved U720, with the USB fixed, and with what else improved?

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Novatel still lists the unit but not as a U720.

Verizon is still offering it for sale.

Novatel offers this 7.1 megabyte non-evdo unit in other countries.

I find it unusual that Sprint would drop the U720 since it works so well with my MacBook Pro. Last night for the 10th or more times I downloaded a 250 Meg sit file in about two hours with no drops or other problems. My connection using Windows XP under Boot Camp was solid.

Of course I am sitting 200 yards from a tower and have a -64 to -68 dbs connection.

But as we have seen with the iPhone, Sprint does not always make the best choices. It has, however, come a great distance from the 70s when I first encountered groups of Sprint reps trying to sell its service in the aisles of malls and experienced absolutely horrible (but far cheaper) service when calling a government agency. They would also complain about the Sprint lines and then give out another number to call.