Results 1 to 15 of 70
- 09-05-2003, 02:25 PM #1PDA ManGuest
Carriers will likely spend heavily to keep customers once number portability
kicks in this November.
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - On Nov. 24, the long-awaited wireless number
portability rule kicks in, which will allow cell phone users to keep their
numbers when they switch service providers.
So if the hassle of letting people know your new number is the only reason
you've stuck with your current service, you will soon be in luck. And based
on the backlash the wireless industry received after last month's blackout,
there may very well be a bunch of customers looking to switch.
Curiously, the pending change has not fazed investors. (Maybe they are too
busy chatting away on their cell phones to notice.)
Shares of Nextel are up 64 percent this year. AT&T Wireless has surged 56
percent. Sprint PCS is up 26.5 percent. And the stocks of several regional
wireless carriers, such as Triton PCS and Western Wireless are up sharply
Its Going To Get Ugly
But wireless number portability has the potential to make an already tough
business even more competitive. "This is going to cause a mess next year and
into 2005," said Patrick Comack, an analyst with Guzman & Co. "It's going to
be an ugly period for a while."
Comack said that wireless carriers would likely have higher churn rates,
which means more customers dropping service. In addition, many may increase
the amount of handset subsidies, i.e. offering prospective subscribers cell
phones at discounted prices.
And in a recent research note, Wachovia analyst Jennifer Fritzsche noted
that the biggest negative associated with wireless number portability is not
that carriers will lose a lot of customers but that they will spend a ton to
keep them.
In other words, if you think wireless companies advertise a lot on
television now, you ain't seen nothing yet.
And of course, the carriers will likely come up with creative new pricing
plans in order to lure customers and hang on to existing ones.
Add all that up and you have lower profit margins.
"This is going to cause more price wars, minute wars, whatever you want to
call it," said Comack. "It's great for consumers but terrible for the
wireless companies."
For complete article
http://money.cnn.com/2003/09/04/tech...stor/lamonica/
› See More: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
- 09-05-2003, 03:31 PM #2David LGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> Carriers will likely spend heavily to keep customers once number portability
> kicks in this November.
>
(snip)
It's going to be interesting.
Corporate America to benefit from LNP
by Dan Meyer
Sept. 04, 2003 1:15 PM EST
"...corporate America could see a multi-million dollar windfall if
carriers are forced to reduce rate plans in an attempt to garner new
customers or keep their current subscribers....
Most carriers have begun trying to lock up high-value customers to
long-term contracts prior to the scheduled Nov. 24 implementation of
WLNP, with analysts noting the enterprise market as being the most
lucrative..."
Complete article at
RCR Wireless News
http://rcrnews.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?newsId=14946
[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]
- 09-05-2003, 03:44 PM #3PhillipeGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
In article <[email protected]>,
davNOLindiSpamatHotmaledotkom (David L) wrote:
>
>
>
> "PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in article
> <[email protected]>:
> >
> > Carriers will likely spend heavily to keep customers once number portability
> > kicks in this November.
> >
> (snip)
>
>
> It's going to be interesting.
>
> Corporate America to benefit from LNP
> by Dan Meyer
> Sept. 04, 2003 1:15 PM EST
>
> "...corporate America could see a multi-million dollar windfall if
> carriers are forced to reduce rate plans in an attempt to garner new
> customers or keep their current subscribers....
>
> Most carriers have begun trying to lock up high-value customers to
> long-term contracts prior to the scheduled Nov. 24 implementation of
> WLNP, with analysts noting the enterprise market as being the most
> lucrative..."
>
>
> Complete article at
> RCR Wireless News
>
> http://rcrnews.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?newsId=14946
Stateside carriers give Corporations 8 to 27% discounts. In England
where portability has been around a while, 50% discounts are more the
norm. Maybe We should be buying puts on wireless stocks.
- 09-05-2003, 04:18 PM #4Not InterestedGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
Well I am sure that there are some people who are concerned but it will
all result in about the same thing. Businesses will still need wireless
carriers. People will still need to use their cell phone. So if someone
goes from SPCS to Verizon there will be a more or less even number of
people churning from one carrier to another.
I doubt that it will be nearly the "ditch 'em and run" situation that
everyone thinks.
"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> Carriers will likely spend heavily to keep customers once number portability
> kicks in this November.
>
> NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - On Nov. 24, the long-awaited wireless number
> portability rule kicks in, which will allow cell phone users to keep their
> numbers when they switch service providers.
>
> So if the hassle of letting people know your new number is the only reason
> you've stuck with your current service, you will soon be in luck. And based
> on the backlash the wireless industry received after last month's blackout,
> there may very well be a bunch of customers looking to switch.
>
> Curiously, the pending change has not fazed investors. (Maybe they are too
> busy chatting away on their cell phones to notice.)
>
> Shares of Nextel are up 64 percent this year. AT&T Wireless has surged 56
> percent. Sprint PCS is up 26.5 percent. And the stocks of several regional
> wireless carriers, such as Triton PCS and Western Wireless are up sharply
>
> Its Going To Get Ugly
> But wireless number portability has the potential to make an already tough
> business even more competitive. "This is going to cause a mess next year and
> into 2005," said Patrick Comack, an analyst with Guzman & Co. "It's going to
> be an ugly period for a while."
>
> Comack said that wireless carriers would likely have higher churn rates,
> which means more customers dropping service. In addition, many may increase
> the amount of handset subsidies, i.e. offering prospective subscribers cell
> phones at discounted prices.
>
> And in a recent research note, Wachovia analyst Jennifer Fritzsche noted
> that the biggest negative associated with wireless number portability is not
> that carriers will lose a lot of customers but that they will spend a ton to
> keep them.
>
> In other words, if you think wireless companies advertise a lot on
> television now, you ain't seen nothing yet.
>
> And of course, the carriers will likely come up with creative new pricing
> plans in order to lure customers and hang on to existing ones.
>
> Add all that up and you have lower profit margins.
>
> "This is going to cause more price wars, minute wars, whatever you want to
> call it," said Comack. "It's great for consumers but terrible for the
> wireless companies."
>
> For complete article
> http://money.cnn.com/2003/09/04/tech...stor/lamonica/
>
>
>
>
[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]
- 09-05-2003, 04:31 PM #5William BrayGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
Horror stories ranging into billions of dollars have been used by
providers as proof that the change is dangerous. In all reality what is
really needed is to increase to capacity of the towers and develop new
hardware to deflect interfering signals. Most providers do want to
actually invest in anything that benefits the public. It's not
profitable- in the short run.
"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> Carriers will likely spend heavily to keep customers once number portability
> kicks in this November.
>
> NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - On Nov. 24, the long-awaited wireless number
> portability rule kicks in, which will allow cell phone users to keep their
> numbers when they switch service providers.
>
> So if the hassle of letting people know your new number is the only reason
> you've stuck with your current service, you will soon be in luck. And based
> on the backlash the wireless industry received after last month's blackout,
> there may very well be a bunch of customers looking to switch.
>
> Curiously, the pending change has not fazed investors. (Maybe they are too
> busy chatting away on their cell phones to notice.)
>
> Shares of Nextel are up 64 percent this year. AT&T Wireless has surged 56
> percent. Sprint PCS is up 26.5 percent. And the stocks of several regional
> wireless carriers, such as Triton PCS and Western Wireless are up sharply
>
> Its Going To Get Ugly
> But wireless number portability has the potential to make an already tough
> business even more competitive. "This is going to cause a mess next year and
> into 2005," said Patrick Comack, an analyst with Guzman & Co. "It's going to
> be an ugly period for a while."
>
> Comack said that wireless carriers would likely have higher churn rates,
> which means more customers dropping service. In addition, many may increase
> the amount of handset subsidies, i.e. offering prospective subscribers cell
> phones at discounted prices.
>
> And in a recent research note, Wachovia analyst Jennifer Fritzsche noted
> that the biggest negative associated with wireless number portability is not
> that carriers will lose a lot of customers but that they will spend a ton to
> keep them.
>
> In other words, if you think wireless companies advertise a lot on
> television now, you ain't seen nothing yet.
>
> And of course, the carriers will likely come up with creative new pricing
> plans in order to lure customers and hang on to existing ones.
>
> Add all that up and you have lower profit margins.
>
> "This is going to cause more price wars, minute wars, whatever you want to
> call it," said Comack. "It's great for consumers but terrible for the
> wireless companies."
>
> For complete article
> http://money.cnn.com/2003/09/04/tech...stor/lamonica/
>
>
>
>
[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]
- 09-05-2003, 05:54 PM #6DougGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
>Well I am sure that there are some people who are concerned but it will
>all result in about the same thing. Businesses will still need wireless
>carriers. People will still need to use their cell phone. So if someone
>goes from SPCS to Verizon there will be a more or less even number of
>people churning from one carrier to another.
>
>I doubt that it will be nearly the "ditch 'em and run" situation that
>everyone thinks.
Interesting take, but I think you're mostly wrong. Sure, for Verizon
and Sprint users, changing will be harder, but $ savings will be
compelling unless those two get more realistic. But for T-Mobile,
AT&T, and Cingular users, there is going to be an awful lot of action.
I think T-Mobile stands to gain enormously, Cingular somewhat, with
AT&T the big loser. T-Mo because they simply have the best plans
(minutes per $, no roaming, cheap data, etc) and Cingular because
rollover will attract some and 850 GSM others. The GSM 3 will slowly
pull from Sprint and Verizon, with the interoperability between them
being a major selling point and comforter to customers (gee, I can
switch between these 3 with the same phone if I go with any one of
them). Yet at the same time they'll be their own worst enemies.
Your dismissal of the coming battle sounds cynical. As if to say
competition doesn't really exist and numbers will even out eventually.
It couldn't be further. Loss of a number is such a radical barrier to
switching carriers, I don't know how you don't see this. Perhaps
because you don't have a wireless number that means the world to you,
in business or with family/friends. Not a flippant comment, just an
observation. I'm very excited about the wireless future. The
companies are going to have to get awfully lean and efficient, because
revenues are going to drop in the short term. But as wireless becomes
even more ubiquitous, the industry will do better than ever. It's the
landline providers that need to worry in all this.
Doug
- 09-05-2003, 06:13 PM #7Bob SmithGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
"Not Interested" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well I am sure that there are some people who are concerned but it will
> all result in about the same thing. Businesses will still need wireless
> carriers. People will still need to use their cell phone. So if someone
> goes from SPCS to Verizon there will be a more or less even number of
> people churning from one carrier to another.
>
> I doubt that it will be nearly the "ditch 'em and run" situation that
> everyone thinks.
I don't think so either, however, there will be some wheeling & dealing on
plans & phones and there will be some movement of customers between
carriers.
One thing to watch for in late November through early January are the hold
times to the respective CS depts. The carriers will be offering their annual
holiday specials as well.
In addition, I'm betting that there will be a 200% increase of phones up for
auction/sale on eBay as well.
Bob
- 09-05-2003, 07:30 PM #8Todd AllcockGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Carriers will likely spend heavily to keep customers once number portability
> kicks in this November.
They already do. That's the hysterical part of all this WNP speculation- there
already IS a "war" between carriers. Every time someone's contract is up,
there's a new battle!
My favorite quote from the article was this:
> Curiously, the pending change has not fazed investors. (Maybe they are too
> busy chatting away on their cell phones to notice.)
No, they realize it will have very little impact. Sure there will be some
churn, but the cellular market,despite what the press reports, is not teeming
with tens of millions of customers holding back from changing carriers because
they'd have to print new business cards! Sure some customers are waiting,
but I'd be surprised if it's more than a couple percent of cell phone users.
- 09-05-2003, 07:31 PM #9Larry W4CSCGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
"In other words, if you think wireless companies advertise a lot on
television now, you ain't seen nothing yet."
Argggh! I think he's wearing a flak jacket under that VZW jacket on
TV. Head shot?
Just think of how the service would be if they spent the money wasted
on all the ads and.............
B O U G H T M O R E I N F R A S T R U C T U R E !!!!!
Idiots........
Larry
Extremely intelligent life must exist in the universe.
You can tell because they never tried to contact us.
- 09-05-2003, 07:51 PM #10p laneGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
Not a smart remark, just a question, I agree that there are some great
offers from say Sprint at contract time, but how many of us have seen a
lot of effort from verizon--I have had verizon service for years, and
other than rather mundane flyers in the monthly statement don't believe
I've ever been offered anything really "special--probably because my
bill only runs $60 for so a month==not a heavy user..However, sprint
seems to have offers available which are better than advertised
rates--guess it;s like the old ad that when you are number 2 you've got
to try harder..
[email protected] (Todd Allcock) wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> "PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > Carriers will likely spend heavily to keep customers once number portability
> > kicks in this November.
>
> They already do. That's the hysterical part of all this WNP speculation- there
> already IS a "war" between carriers. Every time someone's contract is up,
> there's a new battle!
>
> My favorite quote from the article was this:
>
> > Curiously, the pending change has not fazed investors. (Maybe they are too
> > busy chatting away on their cell phones to notice.)
>
> No, they realize it will have very little impact. Sure there will be some
> churn, but the cellular market,despite what the press reports, is not teeming
> with tens of millions of customers holding back from changing carriers because
> they'd have to print new business cards! Sure some customers are waiting,
> but I'd be surprised if it's more than a couple percent of cell phone users.
[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]
- 09-05-2003, 08:24 PM #11Jaymz JaymzonGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
"PDA Man" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> Carriers will likely spend heavily to keep customers once number portability
> kicks in this November.
>
> NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - On Nov. 24, the long-awaited wireless number
> portability rule kicks in, which will allow cell phone users to keep their
> numbers when they switch service providers.
>
> So if the hassle of letting people know your new number is the only reason
> you've stuck with your current service, you will soon be in luck. And based
> on the backlash the wireless industry received after last month's blackout,
> there may very well be a bunch of customers looking to switch.
>
> Curiously, the pending change has not fazed investors. (Maybe they are too
> busy chatting away on their cell phones to notice.)
>
> Shares of Nextel are up 64 percent this year. AT&T Wireless has surged 56
> percent. Sprint PCS is up 26.5 percent. And the stocks of several regional
> wireless carriers, such as Triton PCS and Western Wireless are up sharply
>
> Its Going To Get Ugly
> But wireless number portability has the potential to make an already tough
> business even more competitive. "This is going to cause a mess next year and
> into 2005," said Patrick Comack, an analyst with Guzman & Co. "It's going to
> be an ugly period for a while."
>
> Comack said that wireless carriers would likely have higher churn rates,
> which means more customers dropping service. In addition, many may increase
> the amount of handset subsidies, i.e. offering prospective subscribers cell
> phones at discounted prices.
>
> And in a recent research note, Wachovia analyst Jennifer Fritzsche noted
> that the biggest negative associated with wireless number portability is not
> that carriers will lose a lot of customers but that they will spend a ton to
> keep them.
>
> In other words, if you think wireless companies advertise a lot on
> television now, you ain't seen nothing yet.
>
> And of course, the carriers will likely come up with creative new pricing
> plans in order to lure customers and hang on to existing ones.
>
> Add all that up and you have lower profit margins.
>
> "This is going to cause more price wars, minute wars, whatever you want to
> call it," said Comack. "It's great for consumers but terrible for the
> wireless companies."
>
> For complete article
> http://money.cnn.com/2003/09/04/tech...stor/lamonica/
>
>
>
>
I hate to break it to everyone but most carriers are going to gain just
as many customers as they lose, do think that everyone is just pissed at
one carrier? I dont think so, there will be just as many people who are
pissed at verizon and cingular and everyone else, they all still want to
keep their phones so they will have to go somewhere, by the way,
everyone will have to get a new phone
[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]
- 09-05-2003, 09:10 PM #12PhillipeGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Jaymz Jaymzon) wrote:
> I hate to break it to everyone but most carriers are going to gain just
> as many customers as they lose, do think that everyone is just pissed at
> one carrier? I dont think so, there will be just as many people who are
> pissed at verizon and cingular and everyone else, they all still want to
> keep their phones so they will have to go somewhere, by the way,
> everyone will have to get a new phone
Its the promotions and additional advertising that will cost everyone,
regardless of net gain or loss from switching. If any one doesn't keep
up with the others, they will lose. And companies that already in the
red, can only hemmorage.
- 09-05-2003, 10:03 PM #13David LGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
>
> In addition, I'm betting that there will be a 200% increase of phones up for
> auction/sale on eBay as well.
>
> Bob
>
>
Good point, lots of used phones up for sale.
I suspect a lot of new handset models offered as well, to lure
prospective new customers.
I also bet there is a huge demand for multi-brand phone book transfer
equipment and software.
Carriers would be smart to set up easy transitions, especially for biz
accounts.
-
David
[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]
- 09-05-2003, 10:19 PM #14John AndrewsGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
CS times wont be effected that much
Portability will be done thru sales channels remember...
Only ones that will be calling are the ones that cant port their numbers
because they havent settled their bills with the previous carrier...
Sprint has said they wont if you owe anything besides current bill...
Portability isnt a magic wand...
"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> "Not Interested" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Well I am sure that there are some people who are concerned but it will
> > all result in about the same thing. Businesses will still need wireless
> > carriers. People will still need to use their cell phone. So if someone
> > goes from SPCS to Verizon there will be a more or less even number of
> > people churning from one carrier to another.
> >
> > I doubt that it will be nearly the "ditch 'em and run" situation that
> > everyone thinks.
>
> I don't think so either, however, there will be some wheeling & dealing on
> plans & phones and there will be some movement of customers between
> carriers.
>
> One thing to watch for in late November through early January are the hold
> times to the respective CS depts. The carriers will be offering their annual
> holiday specials as well.
>
> In addition, I'm betting that there will be a 200% increase of phones up for
> auction/sale on eBay as well.
>
> Bob
>
>
[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]
- 09-05-2003, 10:20 PM #15John AndrewsGuest
Re: NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War
"Bob Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
>
> "Not Interested" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Well I am sure that there are some people who are concerned but it will
> > all result in about the same thing. Businesses will still need wireless
> > carriers. People will still need to use their cell phone. So if someone
> > goes from SPCS to Verizon there will be a more or less even number of
> > people churning from one carrier to another.
> >
> > I doubt that it will be nearly the "ditch 'em and run" situation that
> > everyone thinks.
>
> I don't think so either, however, there will be some wheeling & dealing on
> plans & phones and there will be some movement of customers between
> carriers.
>
> One thing to watch for in late November through early January are the hold
> times to the respective CS depts. The carriers will be offering their annual
> holiday specials as well.
>
> In addition, I'm betting that there will be a 200% increase of phones up for
> auction/sale on eBay as well.
>
> Bob
>
>
[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]
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