Earnings Preview: Sprint Nextel To Give 1Q Results

It also has tried to take advantage of the growing number of consumers looking for cheaper wireless service, offering a $50-a-month unlimited calling, texting and data plan through its Boost prepaid subsidiary. As opposed to traditional postpaid cell phone users, prepaid customers don't sign annual contracts.

The Boost plan was partly a response to the network expansions of MetroPCS Communications Inc. and Leap Wireless International Inc. They have long offered unlimited calling for about $50 per month in limited areas, but in recent months they've moved into big cities in the Northeast, greatly increasing their possible customers. Virgin Mobile later responded with its own $50 unlimited prepaid plan, and T-Mobile USA started offering long-term customers a similar plan to keep them.

At the same time, Sprint is focused on cost-cutting and has slashed 8,000 jobs this year in a bid to save $1.2 billion annually. There is still speculation the company could outsource thousands more.

BY THE NUMBERS: Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect Sprint Nextel to post a loss, excluding items, of 4 cents per share on $8.3 billion in revenue.

ANALYST TAKE: Analysts will be watching closely to see if Sprint has slowed the losses and how big of a gain Boost is providing. Increasing the pressure, Verizon on Monday said it gained 1.3 million new customers during the quarter, while AT&T last week said it added 1.2 million.