While the wireless industry is expected to lose billions of dollars supporting the upcoming wireless local number portability mandate, 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, according to corporate expense management consultant Teldata Control.
Teldata Control noted that the mandate could mean millions of dollars in savings on cell phones for companies that do their homework and successfully time their renegotiations.
“Corporations have historically had very little leverage in cell-phone negotiations,” said Greg Carr, founder of Teldata Control. “With portability, this is a watershed moment for the pricing in that market.”
Teldata Control Vice President Nick Wray added that it is important for companies to “get a read for how the carriers are going to proceed on pricing over the next four to six months,” and Teldata Control plans to accelerate its benchmarking of cell-phone contract data as a tool for its clients.
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 for carriers.
