WebProNews

Tag: Wireless Carriers

  • Sprint Announces $767 Million Net Loss in Third Quarter

    Sprint Nextel today reported a net loss of $767 million on revenues of $7.3 billion during the third quarter of 2012. While this does represent a 6% year-over-year increase and a diluted net loss of $0.26 per share, the loss was less than expected and the company’s stock has not suffered today as a result.

    Sprint claimed that much of the loss is due to its Network Vision plan, which includes massive upgrades to its network infrastructure and the expected shutdown of the Nextel platform.

    “The Sprint platform performed well, with strong net subscriber additions, record third quarter postpaid and prepaid churn and robust revenue growth, contributing to adjusted OIBDA of $1.28 billion even as we continue to invest in Network Vision and position the company for future growth,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. “As a result, we believe we will slightly exceed the top of the range of our recently increased Adjusted OIBDA* forecast.”

    Though, as Hesse mentioned, the Sprint platform added subscribers, customers have begun abandoning Nextel in droves, resulting in a loss of monthly subscribers to Sprint’s wireless services.

    Still, even with its losses and shrinking subscriptions, Sprint could be in position for a resurgence next year. The company’s 4G LTE network is continuing to roll out across the U.S., matching AT&T and Verizon’s offerings. Sprint also announced that it sold 1.5 million iPhones in the third quarter, and Samsung’s Galaxy Note II smartphone is scheduled to launch on Sprint today.

    The Softbank investment in Sprint and the T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger should mean better competition in the U.S. The unlimited data plans Sprint and T-Mobile offer could put pressure on the “shared” wireless data pricing of AT&T and Verizon.

  • Sprint Lets Subscribers Use Their Name as Their Number

    I’ll admit it. There are only a couple of numbers in my smartphone’s contacts list that I know by heart, and I only know those because I’ve known them since before I got a cell phone. I couldn’t tell you my girlfriend’s phone number from memory if you put me on the spot.

    Today, Sprint is making it easier for all of us by unveiling its StarStar Me program. The feature will function as a sort of phone number DNS service, allowing users to pick a short name, word, or phrase, proceeded by two asterisks, in place of their number. For example, I might choose to be contacted by **SEANP, my first name and last initial (the nickname has to be 5 to 9 characters long, so I can’t use just my first name).

    “Sprint customers will be the first people to get StarStar Me,” said Kevin McGinnis, vice president of Product and Technology Development at Sprint. “We expect this service to be especially popular with professionals, students and family customers, who can tailor its use to their individual preferences, lifestyles and interests with a few simple clicks.”

    The only catch is that the service won’t be free. Sprint subscribers will be charged $3 per month for the feature. There is a smartphone app that goes along with it, though. It enables features such as managing incoming calls, automatic texting, and sending contact information, including social media accounts. The app is currently available for Android, and will be coming to iOS soon.

    Sprint has set up a website for subscribers to choose their StarStar nickname, and those who want the service should sign up quickly to get their desired moniker. As expected, many common names are already taken, though some provocative combos such as **STEVEJOBS, **BILLGATES, **BRUCELEE, **TOMHANKS and **BOBAMA are still available.

    Below is an explanatory ad that Sprint released to coincide with the launch of the service. Though **CHLOE and **JAVAGUY are taken, some of the nicknames shown in the video (such as **SUPERMOM) are still available.

  • T-Mobile Merges With MetroPCS, Still Named T-Mobile

    T-Mobile is still considered one of the for major wireless carriers in the U.S., but it still has a lot of ground to make up if it hopes to catch up to AT&T and Verizon. The failed acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T proved to actually be a $4 billion windfall for T-Mobile, and it used its newfound billions to begin upgrading its services. While its 4G LTE network is far behind its competitors’ networks, it, along with Sprint, now offer unlimited data plans as a means to compete with AT&T’s and Verizon’s expensive new shared plans.

    Today, T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom and MetroPCS Communications announced that they have signed an agreement to combine T-Mobile and MetroPCS. The new company will retain the T-Mobile name and branding. The combined company will have an estimated 42.5 million subscribers, pulling T-Mobile closer to Sprint’s subscriber numbers, but still leaving it as the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the U.S.

    The agreement is structured as a recapitalization. MetroPCS will declare a 1 for 2 reverse stock split and make a cash payment of $1.5 billion to its shareholders, or about $4.09 per share before the reverse split. MetroPCS will then issue Deutsche Telekom 74% of its common stock, pro forma.

    T-Mobile estimates the combined company will take in around $24.8 billion in revenue in 2012. It also estimated it would bring in $6.3 billion in adjusted earnings, have $4.2 billion in capital expenditures, and have $2.1 billion of free cash flow in 2012.

    “We are extremely pleased to announce this transaction with MetroPCS, which enhances Deutsche Telekom’s position in the expanding U.S. wireless market,” said René Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom. “The T-Mobile and MetroPCS brands are a great strategic fit – both operationally and culturally. The new company will be the value leader in wireless with the scale, spectrum, and financial and other resources to expand its geographic coverage, broaden choice among all types of customers and continue to innovate, especially around the next-generation LTE network. We are committed to creating a sustainable and financially viable national challenger in the U.S., and we believe this combination helps us deliver on that commitment.”

  • Sprint Ad Skewers AT&T and Verizon Shared Plans

    Sprint Ad Skewers AT&T and Verizon Shared Plans

    When Verizon and AT&T switched their subscriptions to shared data plans, many customers were upset. The new plans offer a small “shared” pool of data that a variety of devices can use. Of course, subscribers have to pay a monthly fee for each device they want the privilege of using with the plan, making the shared plans more expensive for those who don’t have lots of devices.

    The Verizon plans even ended the grandfathered unlimited plans many subscribers had had for years. A Verizon spokesperson was awkwardly unable to explain how the new plans would help save customers money, as many of the company’s statements about the plans suggested.

    The plans are a clear example of the two largest wireless carriers in the U.S. raising the prices of their data access. It would be pretty evil if those companies had a monopoly on the wireless industry, but, luckily, they don’t. Sprint announced earlier this year that it would offer truly unlimited 4G data plans, and the company has followed through. It is the only company that currently offers such a plan, although T-Mobile has recently announced one as well.

    Now Sprint is doubling-down on its unique unlimited plans, creating an ad campaign to show just how silly the claims about the shared data plans are. In a new TV spot, Sprint features a family arguing about how their small pool of data should be divided up:

    Clearly the smaller players in the U.S. wireless market see an opportunity to use AT&T and Verizon’s new, more expensive plans against them. And it just might work, if Sprint and T-Mobile can roll out their 4G LTE networks in a competitive time frame. Sprint announced just this week that its 4G LTE network is now available in four more markets across the U.S.

    (via 9 to 5 Mac)

  • Sprint Rolls Out 4G LTE in Four Markets

    Though Sprint is far behind other mobile carriers in their 4G LTE network implementation, the company has begun making strides. And with less expensive, truly unlimited data plans, customers are generally getting what they pay for.

    Today Sprint announced that it has rolled out its 4G LTE service to four new cities. Subscribers in Baltimore, Maryland; Gainesville, Georgia; Manhattan/Junciton City, Kansas; and Sedalia, Missouri can now connect with faster 4G speeds.

    “Our customers are enjoying new applications and devices that increase the demand for mobile data,” said Bob Azzi, senior vice president for network at Sprint. “The network build-out – that today is playing out in four new cities – will provide nothing less than a state-of-the art network platform for the next generation of customers. Customers across the country will begin to experience better 3G service on their devices and will be able to take advantage of 4G LTE on cutting-edge devices as we continue to launch more cities.”

    In addition to its LTE rollout, Sprint also announced that customers in Baltimore, Boston, and Washington D.C. have just gotten the company’s improved 3G service. That should come as a relief, as tests earlier this year found that Sprint’s 3G speeds were abysmal in comparison to the other major carriers.

  • T-Mobile Announces Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data Plan

    T-Mobile Announces Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data Plan

    Unlimited data plans are a thing of the past. AT&T and Verizon still have a few users here and there on grandfathered plans, but they use every trick in the book to get them onto one of their tiered plans. It makes perfect business sense since the gatekeepers are allowed to charge whatever they want for paltry amounts of data. T-Mobile is looking to buck that trend.

    Completely going against current industry trends, T-Mobile announced today that they will begin offering unlimited 4G data to their customers. The company says the new plan is perfect for “both data-hungry customers who want to experience all their smartphones are capable of and those wanting the peace of mind of never having to keep track of their data usage.”

    “We’re big believers in customer-driven innovation, and our Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan is the answer to customers who are frustrated by the cost, complexity and congested networks of our competitors,” said Kevin McLaughlin, vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. “Consumers want the freedom of unlimited 4G data. Our bold move to be the only wireless carrier to offer an Unlimited Nationwide 4G Data plan reinforces our value leadership and capitalizes on the strength of our nationwide 4G network.”

    T-Mobile is opening the new unlimited plan to both new and existing customers. New customers need only buy a new phone and they’re set with the new plan. Existing customers will only need to upgrade to the unlimited 4G plan when it becomes available on September 5.

    Unlimited data is nice and all, but how much is it going to cost? Surprisingly, not much at all. T-Mobile says that a single line with the value voice and text plan combined with unlimited data will cost $69.99 a month. A classic voice and text plan with unlimited data will go for a bit more at $89.99 a month. It will obviously cost more for Family plans as the unlimited data will cost $20 per line on the value plan and $30 per line on the classic plan.

    I can see customers angry over Verizon’s and AT&T’s new data plans moving to T-Mobile, but only if the carrier gets better phones. For one, T-Mobile doesn’t carry the iPhone and their Android line-up is severely lacking. The only great Android phone they carry is the Samsung Galaxy S III whereas other popular Android products are exclusive to Verizon and AT&T.

    Regardless, it will be interesting to see how this announcement shakes up the mobile world. Will customers leave carriers like Verizon and AT&T for free unlimited data or will they put up with their current carriers for better phones? It’s a balancing act that consumers unfortunately have to play as carriers continue to evolve their plans for maximum profit.

  • Pissed Off Guy Vandalizes T-Mobile Store With A Fire Extinguisher

    I’m sure that we’ve all experienced the blood-boiling anger that can arise from dealings with mobile carriers. Whether it’s AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile, some bad news about your data plan or your upgrade or your warranty has probably pushed you pretty close to the deep end.

    While most of us are able to control these unavoidable emotions for the most part, I guess it’s no surprise to find that someone just snapped.

    It’s unknown exactly what set off this guy in Machester. Poor customer service? Bath Salts? Whatever it was, the end result was a smashed up T-Mobile store, handcuffs, and a viral vid.

    The man’s level of calm is kind of amazing, considering the destructive powers of his actions. After methodically tearing down signs, ripping display models from the wall, and coating the store with extinguishing agent, he just sits down and accepts his fate. I guess when you’re mad an hell and just can’t take it anymore, you simply accept what has to be done – regardless of the consequences.

    Judging by the end of the video, at least the guy put on a hell of a show for a pretty big audience.

    [via reddit]

  • Will Apple Become a Wireless Service Provider?

    How would a world look in which Apple not only manufactured iPhones and provided the iOS software platform for iPhones, but also provided wireless service for iPhones? If you are an Apple fan, that probably sounds like heaven. If you’re not an Apple fan, you are probably thinking that Apple couldn’t possibly be worse than current carriers. Regardless of which side you fall on, the question might not be completely hypothetical if one wireless industry strategist is correct.

    Boy Genius Report (BGR) is reporting that Whitney Bluestein, an industry strategist who has managed deals for carriers and manufacturers such as Apple and AT&T in the past, is stating that Apple will begin selling wireless service to iOS device users in the near future. BGR’s Zach Epstein quotes Bluestein in his article:

    “The battleground is set, but Apple will be the first mover,” Bluestein said while speaking at the Informa MVNO Industry Summit in Barcelona. “Google will have to scramble because it lacks retail distribution, experience with subscriber services and the iTunes ecosystem of content. iTunes and the iTunes Store provide Apple with one-click buying and customer care. Google can acquire most of these capabilities, as it has before, but it is not a core competency of the company.”

    I’m not really sure why Google would have to scramble. Google already makes 4 times more mobile revenue from iPhones than Android phones as it stands now. The goal behind Android was to provide a free platform for manufacturers to build upon and provide Apple with competition, not for Google to take over the market. No, this would be a problem for current carriers and for Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and other manufacturers who would be excluded from an Apple carrier network.

    Bluestein is citing Apple’s solid distribution channels, customer base, iTunes credit card records, and some network architecture patents filed in 2006 as proof that Apple has the means to become a carrier. It all sounds very speculative and incredible to me. I don’t see Apple heading in this direction, mostly because I don’t see the company making the huge upfront investment that setting up a nation-wide network infrastructure would require. Still, it is a juicy rumor that a small part of me hopes is true. After all, Apple as a carrier could frighten the complacent carriers we currently have into providing some decent, un-capped service at more reasonable prices.

    What do you think? Will Apple challenge AT&T and Verizon at their own game or is this all just attention-garnering hokum? Leave a comment below and let me know.

    (via BGR)

  • C Spire Wireless Nabs iPhone 4S

    Today, C Spire Wireless announced that they will be the first regional carrier to get the iPhone 4S. The obvious reaction here is, what about T-Mobile?

    The launch of the 4S brought a new national carrier to the Apple iProduct party, as Sprint joined AT&T and Verizon as carriers of the iPhone. There was plenty of speculation and rumor that T-Mobile would also be getting the iPhone 4S, but those rumors were dispelled by company management a short time before the phone’s release.

    But back to C Spire.

    C Spire is a regional carrier that used to be called Cellular South (they changed their name in September). They are based in Mississippi and serve parts of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and of course Mississippi. According to recent figures, they have around 900K customers. C Spire offers unlimited voice and data plans and a 3G network.

    They announced the news on their Facebook page and recently updated their site to show the “coming soon iPhone 4S’ box we’ve seen on other carriers’ websites.

    C Spire WirelessC Spire will launch iPhone 4S, the most amazing iPhone yet, in the US in the coming weeks. For further information or to register interest, please visit http://tlk.tc/NqEB. For more information on iPhone 4S please visit www.apple.com/iphone 5 hours ago · 458 likes · 211 comments

    The announcement on Facebook seems to be pretty popular with their customers, as the comments show plenty of excited people. There’s no official word on exactly when the iPhone 4S will arrive on the network – just the vague projection of “the coming weeks.”

    T-Mobile is the only national carrier that doesn’t offer the iPhone, and it looks like Apple has jumped them for regional carriers.

    What do you think about the news? Let us know in the comments.

  • Wireless Carriers Keep Your “Private” Data For a Long, Long Time

    Wireless Carriers Keep Your “Private” Data For a Long, Long Time

    When it comes to data retention, most of us know by now that there are multitudes of different people who hold on to your “private” data for various reasons. Of course, this is why your “private” data isn’t really “private” at all, when you think about it.

    Carriers like AT&T, Verizon and Sprint play a huge role in most people’s daily lives. Just think about how often you text, make a phone call or surf the web from your mobile device. You are constantly using the provider’s service to function in your daily life – it’s unavoidable.

    So just how long does a carrier hold on to the data it gathers about you? A leaked memo shows that it really depends on the carrier.

    Wired has obtained a one page Department of Justice document called “Retention Periods of Major Cellular Service Providers.” They obtained it from the ACLU, who obtained it via a Freedom of Information Act claim.

    The document is dated August 2010 and says “Law Enforcement Use Only.” So this document could possibly have been used by police and investigatory organizations to better understand how to pursue data collection from mobile providers.

    After looking over the document, it’s hard to make a determination as to which carrier is the best when it comes to user privacy. Each carrier does something better and each carrier does something less desirable than the next. Here are the highlights –

    • Subscriber Information: Verizon, 3-5 years.  AT&T, depends on service length.  T-Mobile, 5 years.  Sprint, forever.
    • Call details (who, when you called) – Verizon, 1 year.  AT&T, 5 years for prepaid 7 years for post-paid.  T-Mobile, 2 years prepaid 5 years post-paid.  Sprint, 18-24 months.
    • Text Message detail (who, when): Verizon, 1 year.  AT&T, 5-7 years.  T-Mobile, 2-5 years.  Sprint, 18-24 months.
    • Text message content: Verizon is the only one who keeps this information, and they do it for 3-5 days.
    • IP session information: Verizon, 1 year.  AT&T, only on non-public IPs for 72 hours.  T-Mobile, not retained.  Sprint, 60 days.

    The same goes for IP destination information, except Verizon only keeps it for 90 days.

    Wired quotes an ACLU lawyer who says, “People who are upset that Facebook is storing all their information should be really concerned that their cell phone is tracking them everywhere they’ve been. The government has this information because it wants to engage in surveillance.”

    Facebook came under fire this week for a situation involving tracking cookies that were found to still exist even after users log out.

    The fact that carriers know and keep this information shouldn’t shock anyone. But some of the periods of retention in the document are interesting. If there is anything to be gleaned from this, it’s that everything you do sticks around, probably for longer than you think.