Time Trippin’: Sprint tightens noose on iDEN; Carrier consolidation coming … 2 years ago this week

Editor’s Note: The RCR Wireless News Time Machine is a way to take advantage of our extensive history in covering the wireless space to fire up the DeLorean and take a trip back in time to re-visit some of the more interesting headlines from this week in history. Enjoy the ride!
Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile USA announce spectrum deal, with a catch
Spectrum poker continued this morning as Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA announced a deal to exchange 1.7/2.1 GHz spectrum licenses covering 218 markets, with a catch. The proposed deal calls for T-Mobile USA to pick up spectrum in 15 of the top 25 markets covering approximately 60 million potential customers and enhance its recently announced LTE build out plans. Those markets include Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Detroit; Minneapolis; Seattle; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee; Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham and Greensboro, N.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Rochester, N.Y. … Read More
Targeting European market, América Móvil increases KPN stake
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim is continuing his quest to increase América Móvil’s (AMX) share of the European market, intensifying its rivalry with Telefónica. In the latest chapter of AMX’s effort to achieve a 28% stake in the Netherlands-based telecom company KPN NV, AMX announced it has entered, again, into a number of ordinary share transactions, including 27 transactions outside regular market trading. As a result, América Móvil will hold 299,517,225 ordinary shares in KPN, representing a capital interest of 20.92% in KPN. This follows AMX’s recent move that increased its stake to 8.46% in KPN. The carrier has been on a buying spree of late, having also recently increased its share in Telekom Austria. … Read More
ARM CEO: The best is yet to come
It’s been a good week for ARM Holdings (ARMH), the British company that designs the microprocessors found in most smartphones and tablets. Microsoft (MSFT) unveiled the Windows RT version of its new Surface Tablet, which will include an ARM-based microprocessor, and Freescale (FSL) announced a new group of microcontrollers based on ARM Cortex architecture, a significant move for the chipmaker that has long relied on its proprietary core designs. … Read More
Where are the phones? Galaxy S III delays likely due to testing
Not having a hot new smartphone on the day it was promised to customers may look like a major blunder for a carrier. But insiders say the alternative could be much worse. Samsung delayed Sprint Nextel’s planned launch of the Samsung Galaxy III this week and smartphone logistics experts were not completely surprised. “It is a very bold approach to simultaneously launch multiple operators in the U.S. A lot of stars have to align,” says Larry Paulson, chief marketing officer for BrightPoint, which provides warehousing, packing, shipping and unpacking services for carriers and manufacturers. … Read More
Mobile broadband revolution taxing workforce, increasing dangers
The current move from 3G to LTE-based networks has again placed a premium on jobs across the mobile space. And, unlike the 3G evolution that in many cases was just a simple upgrade from 2G, LTE networks in many cases require more extensive build outs. This demand has some fearing a potential shortfall in trained employees able to keep up with the aggressive deployment schedule wireless carriers have laid out for their LTE networks. One sector that is looking at a potential shortfall is in the tower business, and more specifically in the actual people on the ground, or air, installing the equipment. … Read More
Windows 8 could spell trouble for Apple, Google and even Nokia
Microsoft has unveiled its Windows 8 operating system, bringing the software giant fully into the world of the touchscreen user interface. Even on PCs, Windows 8 users will touch the screen to access familiar Windows applications. The touchscreen UI is designed, of course, with tablets and smartphones in mind. Microsoft’s new Surface tablets will run Windows 8, as will the next generation of its Lumia smartphones made by Nokia. … Read More
AT&T Mobility’s spectrum focus turns to 2.3 GHz band; challenges remain
AT&T Mobility’s desire to secure spectrum resources has turned to the 2.3 GHz band, which is currently dominated by satellite radio operator Sirius XM. In a joint filing with the Federal Communications Commission, AT&T and Sirius XM laid out plans to open up some of that band to wireless broadband services. The filing looks to preserve Sirius XM’s 25 megahertz of spectrum in that band, provide for 5 megahertz of guard bands on either side of those holdings, and free up 25 megahertz for mobile broadband services. … Read More
América Móvil closes Simple Mobile acquisition, consolidates U.S. prepaid presence
América Móvil consolidated its dominate position in the U.S.-based prepaid space, announcing the closing on the acquisition of Simple Mobile. The deal, which was announced earlier this year, adds approximately 1 million prepaid customers to América Móvil’s U.S. operations that are centered on the Tracfone Wireless brand. Financial terms of the deal were not released, though some analysts predicted Simple Mobile could be worth around $200 million. … Read More
Sprint Nextel tightens noose around iDEN network
Sprint Nextel further tightened the noose around the neck of its iDEN network today as the carrier said it has expanded CDMA2000 1x coverage and roaming capabilities that now provide its CDMA-based push-to-talk service with a claimed three-times as much coverage of that provided by the iDEN network. The CDMA-based PTT service is optimized to provide near-iDEN levels of quality and set-up times when used across the carriers CDMA2000 1x EV-DO network, with the operator stating that customers using the service across its 1x network or when roaming will experience a slightly delayed call set up experience. … Read More
Report: MetroPCS, Leap under the gun; T-Mobile USA’s spectrum plans
The increasingly competitive nature of the domestic space is expected to continue squeezing regional operators, according to a new report from Canaccord Genuity, with potential causilities to include MetroPCS and Leap Wireless. In its report, the investment firm noted that following recent meetings with leadership at the nation’s four largest operators, it expects pricing pressure to increase with the result being “absent M&A activity, it will be increasingly difficult for the smallest competitors in the market, Metro PCS and Leap Wireless, to remain relevant over the long term.” … Read More
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