NEWS: Get Ready for a Wireless Carrier War

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

"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]

"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]

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.

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

"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

"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

"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.

"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.

"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.

"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.