Sprint dings iDEN for postpaid losses, while Comcast included wireless in content distribution plans … 10 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!
Boost bump helps Sprint Nextel post subscriber adds
Sprint Nextel Corp. lost 188,000 postpaid customers in the third quarter as it sweated out customer credit-related issues and iDEN customer losses. But overall, Sprint Nextel came out with positive customer growth due to another strong quarterly performance from its Boost Mobile L.L.C. sub-brand. The carrier gained 216,000 direct prepaid subscribers from Boost; 177,000 wholesale subscribers, which are typically its mobile virtual network operator partners; and 28,000 customers through its remaining independent affiliates. Those numbers, minus the carrier’s 188,000 postpaid losses, result in an overall net subscriber gain of 233,000 customers. The figure was roughly in line with analysts’ expectations. Sprint Nextel said that it had made gains in postpaid CDMA subscribers, but those gains were offset by losses of postpaid iDEN users. … Read More
Comcast adds wireless to video distribution, mum on spectrum plans
Comcast Corp. will unveil a new multi-screen platform that will allow content to be distributed via TV, online and through wireless devices. The new platform will initially provide Halloween-related content such as horror movies when it is launched on Tuesday, according to remarks by John Alchin, executive vice president and co-chief financial officer for Comcast. Dubbed “FearNet,” the service will be available through the company’s video-on-demand service and Web site and through wireless devices. The company did not offer details on the wireless portion of the service. … Read More
Converged Wi-Fi/cellular services hit the market
Two wireless service providers last week began offering their customers handsets that can move between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, moves that mark the first serious attempt at commercially available converged wireless services in the United States. Such services are seen as one avenue for future converged telecommunications services, blending the wide area coverage of traditional cellular networks with improved in-building penetration offered by wireless local area networks. T-Mobile USA Inc. said it was targeting its offer to a limited number of Seattle-area consumers with a trial of its new T-Mobile Hotspot @ Home product, while mobile virtual network operator Embarq Inc. is moving out of trial mode and expanding its offering for business customers from three to six of its markets. … Read More
AT&T/BellSouth concessions do little to eliminate competitive concerns
Consumer groups and wireless carriers last week said AT&T Inc.’s proposed conditions to its $79 billion purchase of BellSouth Corp. are inadequate, creating uncertainty over whether the Federal Communications Commission can pull off a planned Nov. 3 vote on the deal. “AT&T’s concessions are nothing more than short-term candy for a few instead of long-term lower prices and better choices for all consumers. Consumers will still wind up paying inflated prices when these two phone giants merge and dominate local, long distance, wireless and Internet services,” said Gene Kimmelman, senior vice president for Consumers Union. … Read More
Carriers redesign online tools to connect with customers
Two national wireless carriers launched redesigned Web pages last week, as operators increasingly try to drive traffic and sales to the low-cost Internet channel. Cingular Wireless L.L.C. introduced a streamlined new Web site, trimming out some of the previous page’s many links and going for a cleaner, less busy look. “It’s more visually aesthetic,” said Cingular spokesman Ritch Blasi. “It’s just making it easier for customers to access the products and services.” The new page offers a number of simple graphics in lieu of tiny text. Instead of navigational buttons, the main section of the page has a navigational slider that moves among five topics-network, plans, phones, services and “Why Cingular.” … Read More
Sprint Nextel rolls out Rev. A in San Diego
Sprint Nextel Corp. is revving up its network with the promised first launch of CDMA2000 1x EV-DO Revision A technology, lighting up San Diego with coverage that the carrier promises will deliver “significantly faster” upload speeds and faster download speeds as well. San Diego is conveniently home to CDMA pioneer Qualcomm Inc. Sprint Nextel said that it will roll out 21 more markets by the end of the year, bringing its coverage to around 40 million potential customers. Among the initial markets: New York; Boston; Detroit; San Francisco; Denver; Salt Lake City; Los Angeles; Seattle; Baltimore; and Washington, D.C. … Read More
Made-for-mobile clips get respect
The overwhelming majority of wireless users continue to view the phone simply as a platform for voice conversations. For a handful of aspiring filmmakers, though, it’s a potential ticket to Hollywood. Entertainment industry executives and wireless types gathered last week at the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills at the Third Screen Film Festival, described as the first such event for films made specifically for mobile phones. Todd Spence’s “The Lost” beat out the nearly 1,000 submitted short films garnering the festival’s top prize of a $10,000 filmmaker grant. Spence’s clip will also air on Sprint Nextel Corp.’s GoTV Super Channel. … Read More
Razr sales: Price declines fueled mega-seller
Over the Razr’s unprecedented two-year run, the retail price of the device has plummeted from $500 to $50, drawing new volumes of consumers at each price point along the way. In the process, this game-changing handset has sold more than 50 million units, spawned countless imitations and launched its own family of successor devices. The best-seller has not only revived Motorola Inc.’s fortunes, but thrust the vendor into the forefront of the design-and-style-oriented handset market. Moreover, the Razr’s run has contributed to changing the way U.S. carriers market their services. Exclusive handset deals have gained added cachet and today carriers are as likely to tout their handset portfolio as their network quality. The Razr also reminded the industry that a cool handset primarily designed for voice functionality can trump the most feature-packed “mobile device” at the point of sale. (Duly noted: the Razr has acquired features with successive iterations.) … Read More
Verizon Wireless first to illuminate Flash Lite
Flash Lite is finally here. Verizon Wireless last week became the first U.S. carrier to offer Adobe Systems Inc.’s wireless platform, introducing a stripped-down version of its popular Flash Player for computers. The technology, which will initially be supported by four high-end handset models, will be automatically downloaded as consumers’ access Flash-enabled content such as games and video. The announcement marks the U.S. debut for Flash Lite, which has gained substantial traction in Japan and South Korea for its ability to provide a platform a compelling user interface as well as multimedia content. The number of Flash-enabled phones is expected to explode from 38 million units last year to 216 million devices by 2010, according to a report from Strategy Analytics. … Read More
Adult content: The money-maker few want to openly embrace
Mobile porn is slowly finding an audience among U.S. mobile users. And network operators are trying to figure out how to cash in. Adult wireless content is gaining substantial traction around the world as content providers find a market for everything from titillating mobile games to hardcore videos. Wireless adult video is expected to outpace text messaging by 2009, generating nearly $2.7 billion annually, according to recent figures from Juniper Research. … Read More
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