Sprint’s Spark LTE network disables data when handling calls

With a promise of 50-60Mbps speeds, Sprint's new Spark network looks to maximize data performance while bringing HD Voice to tri-band smartphones like the Galaxy S4 and S5 and the HTC One M8.

So far, the Spark switch has been flipped in limited markets like Seattle, San Francisco, and New York.

In tests, Consumer Reports has confirmed that phones connected to Sprint's Spark network cannot access any over-the-air data services when in the middle of a phone call. That differs from many of the company's current 4G LTE smartphones, which come equipped with a separate LTE antenna that lets you send and receive data while using Sprint's CDMA network for voice calls.