Last Friday we noted that Sprint had disconnected from the Cogent network because of a peering dispute -- something that's not particularly unfamiliar to Cogent. Sprint e-mails us to note that over the weekend, Sprint posted an update to their website, hammering not only Cogent for the peering dispute, but for their decision to issue a press release attacking Sprint. According to Sprint, the company initiated a temporary reconnection to the Cogent network on Sunday, "so that customers would have temporary access while longer-term alternate and permanent access options are explored." Sprint says that any disruptions "are the sole result of a negative reaction instigated by Cogent against the customers of both parties."

• Group Calls for Broadband Policy Debate Cease-fire [pcworld.com]
• Comcast COO: Local Focus Wins Battles Against Telco, DBS Competitors [multichannel.com]
• Interview with Xohm President Barry West [muniwireless.com]
• UK Broadband Migrations Rise by 8.5% Over 2007 [ispreview.co.uk]
• T-Mobile advert given thumbs up by Advertising Standards Authority [thinkbroadband.com]
• IEEE considers Gigabit speeds Wi-Fi [computerworlduk.com]
• University of Kentucky cuts all dorm landlines since nobody uses them anymore [nky.com]
• McAfee launches real-time virus killer [theinquirer.net]
• Why is Apple keeping critical QuickTime and iTunes updates on the down-low? [theregister.co.uk]

• Lawmakers tell FCC Chief to worry about DTV transition first instead of battling cable television industry [multichannel.com]
• Google bid to beam broadband to Africa [telegraph.co.uk]
• AT&T Eases Out Whole-Home DVR [multichannel.com]
• Telstra tears Terria a new one over NBN monopoly revelation [itwire.com]
• Google responds to mounting EU pressure on privacy by promising to anonymize users' IP addresses after 9 months [techradar.com]
• Sprint’s retail swat team aims to give you such good service that you’ll forget its previous transgressions [zdnet.com]
• Zune update includes Wi-Fi downloads and streaming [mercurynews.com]
• RIAA defendant accuses Media Sentry of felonies [theinquirer.net]

• Phorm delays internet trial [ft.com]
• Wireless Access: What Price Speed [zdnet.com]
• Plan rolling to improve vehicle-based Wi-Fi nets [networkworld.com]
• Brit Gov review set to advise against state aid for high-speed broadband network [guardian.co.uk]
• Verizon Wireless Ranks Highest in Call Quality in the Northeast Region: J.D. Power and Associates [marketwatch.com]
• Sprint Nextel's Bleak Outlook [thestreet.com]
• Femtocells & Notspots: Coverage Is King [lightreading.com]
• RFID leakage is hushed up - claim [theinquirer.net]

• Boston, Philly, Dallas next for Sprint’s WiMAX [muniwireless.com]
• Incumbents maintain ‘stranglehold’ on European broadband market [siliconrepublic.com]
• Ultrawideband chip debuts at tough time for wireless USB [eetimes.com]
• Most give Apple a pass on 3G woes [azcentral.com]
• Virgin Media and O2 Battle for UKs Fastest Broadband Claim [ispreview.co.uk]
• China Mobile to use TD-LTE for mobile broadband [techwhack.com]
• iPhone 3G Pay & Go Pricing Revealed: Feel The Pain [gizmodo.com]
• Google launches open source web browser [nma.co.uk]

• FCC to test proposed free wireless service for interference [news.com]
• AT&T-iPhone Problems May Signal Difficulties For Android [informationweek.com]
• Judge: Qualcomm violates Broadcom ruling [post-gazette.com]
• China's 3G strategy revealed [theinquirer.net]
• Clearwire WiMAX demo coming to S.F. CTIA show [muniwireless.com]
• Phone Companies Launch Backup Plans for Gustav [foxnews.com]
• EVDO and VoIP for remote audio transmission [linux.com]
• One in nine broadband users breaking law [thinkbroadband.com]

• Mobile Broadband Starting to Threaten Established ISPs [ispreview.co.uk]
• Sprint-Clearwire Deal Expected to Close in Q4 [seekingalpha.com]
• 3G iPhone update still leaves problems say users [computerworlduk.com]
• Can Comcast Make TV 2.0 A Reality? [multichannel.com]
• Orange Takes Broadband TV (IPTV) Trials National [ispreview.co.uk]
• Japan to start overseas cell phone technology push [adn.com]
• Symantec nabs PC Tools for added street cred [theregister.co.uk]
• Too much iPod will give you a heart attack [theinquirer.net]

• Yahoo may consider Google alliance; does this mean bidding war in works? [Yahoo News]
• Sprint's image could use taste of Apple's strategy: experts [KC Business Journal]
• Researchers get jail time for trying to steal Korea's Wibro technology [Chosun.com]
• Internet users wasting £162m a year for broadband access [Scotlandonsunday.com]
• Eye-Fi collaborates with Nikon on Eye-Fi capable camera [Hardwarezone.com]
• Japanese minister advises only way UK can ensure ubiquitous broadband is to set deadline [ComputerWeekly.com]
• Yahoo turns to Rhapsody for music service [Reuters]
• Broadband source has broad appeal [Electronicstalk.com]

* For those interested, DSLReports.com now hosts some blogs for your reading pleasure. Please be sure to check out the "About DSLReports.com" Site Blog by DSLR owner Justin; keep up with MS related news in DSLR resident Microsoft MVP MSeng's blog "Microsoft Watch"; read about various interesting computer related tidbits in "The Burnfolder" blog from DSLR moderator rjackson, and you can also catch industry news and commentary in the "Broadband Bytes" blog. The blogs can be found by opening the "News" tab on your DSLR control panel and clicking on the blog you are interested in.

Welcome to the Product Spotlight -- a continuing series of articles highlighting individual products commonly used by our members.

In The Spotlight: EV-DO: Sprint Mobile Broadband vs. Verizon BroadbandAccess
Previously:
• Verizon FiOS Spotlight
• HughesNet Satellite Spotlight
• Optimum Online Spotlight
• Comcast HSI Spotlight
• Clearwire Wireless Internet Spotlight

See also: US Broadband Price Comparisons

Two of the big names when it comes to EV-DO service, specifically the EV-DO Rev.

Welcome to the Product Spotlight -- a continuing series of articles highlighting individual products commonly used by our members.

In The Spotlight: Clearwire Wireless Internet broadband service.
Previously:
· Verizon FiOS Spotlight
· HughesNet Satellite Spotlight
.

Sprint recently joined forces with Comcast, Cox, Time Warner Cable and Advance/Newhouse Communications to spend $2.4 billion on wireless spectrum -- enough to technically make cable companies the nation's fifth largest wireless phone provider. They've since started offering wireless phone service to cable customers under the Pivot brand; $15-$25 on top of a traditional Sprint mobile phone plan will net you mobile video content, email access and web browsing.

Sprint now says they're backing out of SpectrumCo, one of two joint ventures with the cable industry. The Pivot brand will not be affected by the move. While Sprint has said they aren't interested in bidding at the upcoming 700Mhz auction, if they choose to do so, it won't be alongside cable operators.

Mobile Jones sits down and calculates how much users actually pay wireless providers for bandwidth used for SMS (text messages), and it isn't pretty. They calculate that one SMS character equals one byte. If there are 1024 x 1024 or 1,048,576 bytes in 1MB, then there are 6,553.6 SMS messages in 1MB of data.

Sprint plans to offer 2-4Mbps WiMax service for around $50 starting in 2008, with a goal of reaching 100 million people by the end of next year. The company recently announced a roaming partnership with Clearwire, and now says they're building a new WiMax mobile portal powered by Google:Sprint should begin testing the network in Chicago, Baltimore and Washington by the end of this year.

Despite recent rumblings of discontent, Sprint's plans to offer 2-4Mbps WiMax service for around $50 starting in 2008 are on track, though the company has been looking for ways to reduce costs. As had been floated as an option, their solution appears to be a partnership with WiMax ISP Clearwire -- according to a company press release: story continues..

After a week's worth of bad press, an anonymous Sprint insider now tells the Consumerist that the thousand customers who were cancelled for calling the company too much were, in fact, trying to scam free service credits: story continues..

Last week, reports emerged that Sprint was terminating the service of voice and data customers who called the provider to resolve billing or other problems too frequently. Says the letter Sprint sent to a number of annoying customers:

"Our records indicate that over the past year, we have received frequent calls from you regarding your billing or other general account information. While we have worked to resolve your issues and questions to the best of our ability, the number of inquiries you have made to us during this time has led us to determine that we are unable to meet your current wireless needs..."

This week, Sprint tells the Associated Press that the total number of impacted customers was between 1,000 and 1,200 and that those customers called Sprint a total of 40,000 times in one month.

"In some cases they were calling customer care hundreds of times a month for a period of six to 12 months on the same issues even after we felt those issues had been resolved," says a Sprint rep.

One of those "annoying" customers tells her side of the story here, claiming a significant number of her calls were to correct repeated billing errors made by Sprint.

Cingular (now AT&T) has dumped customers for being "unprofitable," but it appears that Sprint will dump you as a voice or wireless broadband customer if you call for assistance (or to correct billing issues) too frequently, notes the Consumerist. Says a Sprint letter to a customer:

"Our records indicate that over the past year, we have received frequent calls from you regarding your billing or other general account information. While we have worked to resolve your issues and questions to the best of our ability, the number of inquiries you have made to us during this time has led us to determine that we are unable to meet your current wireless needs..."

The Consumerist has an interesting relationship with Sprint. After the website posted leaked internal contact numbers, Sprint created a special complaint hotline just for Consumerist readers.