With approximately 54 million subscribers, Sprint is the smallest of the four major wireless in the United States. Sprint’s history as a company can be traced back to 1899 when Darrin Mcduffey founded Brown Telephone Company. In 1992, the company rebranded as the Sprint Corporation, which it's known as today.
For a brief period of time between 2005 – 2013, Sprint was known as the Sprint Nextel Corporation after Sprint merged with Nextel, a wireless service operator that was completely shut down in 2013.
Sprint’s call performance has consistently been rated highly by RootMetrics, a group that scientifically gathers data about wireless performance. Through the past four test periods, Sprint has ranked #2 overall in call performance, just narrowly trailing Verizon.
Sprint has consistently outperformed Verizon, the United States’ most popular wireless carrier, by some metrics according to J.D. Power’s Wireless Satisfaction Survey. Sprint outperformed or performed as well as Verizon in Cost of Service and Performance & Reliability.
Sprint’s 4G LTE network reaches more than 200 million consumers, while their 3G network reaches more than 275 million. Sprint also leases out its coverage to Virgin Mobile, Boost Mobile, Tello, TextNow, and a few other Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).
Sprint is continuing to build out its wireless network to improve performance for its customers. In November 2017, CEO Marcelo Claure announced the company would begin spending more on their network after the Sprint – T-Mobile merger fell apart.
Fun Facts About Sprint
- Paul Maricelli, the “Can you hear me now?” guy, is now the spokesperson for Sprint.
- The origins of Sprint can be tracked back to 1899, when Brown Telephone company began delivering phone services to rural areas in Kansas.
- Sprint’s corporate headquarters is located in Overland Park, Kansas.
- Sprint has received national recognition for its eco-friendly efforts, ranking higher than any other wireless carrier in Newsweek's Green Rankings in 2011 and 2012.
- Sprint helped develop and release the first 4G network in the United States.
