Sprint profit expectations as it outsources, while AT&T Wireless is up for sale … 12 years ago this week
Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
Sprint expects PCS profit in ’05, IBM to do customer care
Speaking at its annual investment community meeting in New York a day after reporting fourth-quarter and full-year 2003 results, Sprint Corp. said it expects service revenues in its wireless division to increase in the high-single digits this year, driven by a larger customer base, stable average revenue per user aided by increased contribution from data services and a strong gain in wholesale services. Sprint also said it expects wireless losses per share of between 13 cents and 18 cents this year, with results turning to a return of 20 cents to 30 cents per share in 2005. The company’s wireless division posted a loss of 66 cents per share last year, which was a 14-percent increase from the 58 cents per-share loss Sprint PCS reported in 2002. … Read More
AWS aims to steer acquisition process
As the list of potential suitors became clearer last week, AT&T Wireless Services Inc.’s management took control of the situation by announcing a mid-February deadlines for potential buyers to submit acquisition proposals. The carrier also said it plans to make a decision about its future by the end of the month. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, AWS said it expects proposals to be submitted by Feb. 13 and that it would not sign a deal before that date. The filing noted letters containing the deadline were sent to a number of companies including Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and its parent companies, SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp., in addition to NTT DoCoMo Inc., Vodafone Group plc and Nextel Communications Inc. … Read More
Deadline for AWS suitors
AT&T Wireless Services Inc.’s clouded future began to clear last week as suitors looking to acquire the world’s ninth-largest wireless carrier were expected to place their final bids by AWS’ self-mandated Feb. 13 deadline. Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and Vodafone Group plc rose to the top of potential victors in the multibillion-dollar contest. Both Cingular and Vodafone were expected to make bids at a healthy premium over AWS’ $27.5 billion market capitalization, with published reports indicating Cingular’s proposal would be designed to top an expected $34 billion bid from Vodafone. Current AWS minority-shareholder NTT DoCoMo Inc. was reported to have notified AWS management that it would not submit an offer to increase its stake in the U.S. carrier, while bids from other potential suitors including Deutsche Telekom AG and Nextel Communications Inc. were not expected to materialize by the deadline. … Read More
Bundles back in style-with a twist
Telecommunications bundling has made a strong comeback over the past year, with nearly all of the country’s regional providers offering some form of packaged deal to customers. Those bundles usually include a wireless link either through a direct subsidiary as is the case with Verizon Wireless and parent company Verizon Communications Inc., Cingular Wireless L.L.C.’s with parent’s SBC Communications Inc. and BellSouth Corp., and Sprint PCS with Sprint Corp., or through corporate agreements as with AT&T Corp. and former subsidiary AT&T Wireless Services Inc. These traditional bundled offerings, which usually have centered on voice communications, have been joined recently by less traditional pairings as a number of telecom firms have announced deals with other media outlets to expand content to consumers. … Read More
Next buildout frontier could be inside
As the battle for network supremacy rages on, wireless carriers are targeting places with minimal wireless coverage, including highly trafficked indoor spaces like airports, shopping malls, casinos, office buildings, healthcare facilities, government buildings, convention centers and public transportation systems. Carriers are still deciding how best to deploy these sought-after networks. In the meantime, in-building wireless has attracted new players to the field and broadened traditional equipment providers’ offerings. Regardless of how segmented the in-building wireless market is, it is likely to surpass $1 billion by 2010, fueled by competition and the battle for network supremacy, according to recent research from ABI Research. … Read More
Fox sees wireless potential-Doh!
The Simpsons. King of the Hill. The X-Files. Aliens. Predator. Ice Age. 24. The Rocky Horror Picture Show. “There’s a lot of stuff that can be used for wireless,” said Jim Beddows, vice president of wireless entertainment for 20th Century Fox’s licensing and merchandizing division. Beddows’ job at Fox is to browse the company’s vast media holdings and pick properties-be it Homer Simpson or the interstellar predator from “Predator”-that wireless users would pay to get on their mobile phones. Beddows’ position is essentially at the top of the content food chain and gives him a unique perspective on the wireless industry. … Read More
Party’s over, carriers hike rate plans
Following a robust holiday season that witnessed less pricing competition from nationwide operators, carriers waited the customary month into the new year before putting away their limited holiday promotions and rolling out new rates that are expected to set the stage for the rest of the year. Most of the changes over the past week involved carriers exchanging holiday promotions for more on-network friendly offers designed to draw groups of customers to their networks and keep them from straying off their respective networks. … Read More
Nextel tests Flarion technology
Nextel Communications Inc.’s next-generation plans are set to be tested by the public as the carrier is planning a network trial in the Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area using Flarion Technologies Inc.’s Fast Hopped Low Latency Access with Seamless Handoff, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, or Flash-OFDM, technology. Neither company would comment on the trial, but Nextel has set up a Web site at nextelbroadband.com providing information for potential users and highlighting the service’s capabilities, including network speeds of up to three megabits per second. … Read More
Nortel, Cisco battle for ‘core’ dominance
Third-generation contracts seem to be giving Nortel Networks Ltd. an edge lately, owing to what industry observers describe as the Brampton, Ontario-based vendor’s Internet Protocol advantage. Nortel’s complete solution has helped it in its contracts of late with both Verizon Wireless and AT&T Wireless Services Inc. Sources say AWS will give the bulk of its Wideband CDMA core network contracts to Nortel, while Nokia Corp. and L.M. Ericsson will get most of the carrier’s radio-access network deals. But Cisco Systems Inc. claims to be up there with the Canadian company in the quest for getting IP contracts. … Read More
Microsoft, Ambient glance at nontraditional wireless devices
Although mobile phones are perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the wireless industry, they are by no means the only aspect of the business. Indeed, wireless technology today inhabits everything from gas monitors to vending machines to laptop computers. The market has evolved to the point where even ordinary, seemingly benign objects are now connected to a network. Clocks, watches, paperweights, pinwheels and other items are among the newest players in the sweeping world of wireless. Such gadgets fall under the “glanceable” class of wireless devices. … Read More
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