What were the best five things to happen to the wireless industry in 2003? What were the worst? Here are my picks (for better or worse).
The Top 5 best things that happened:
The camera phone. RCR Wireless News readers agreed; this was the readers’ choice for having the biggest impact on the wireless industry this year. While there are still obstacles with camera phones, like not all of them are interoperable, this device brought much-needed excitement to the wireless space.
Streaming video/PTT/gaming/short codes. These apps are bringing cool functionality to handsets and will drive next-generation uses.
Local number portability. Really, wireless LNP is all about giving the customer what he wants. And the customer wants to take his phone number with him if he changes carriers. More people likely will cut the cord because of LNP.
The RCR Wireless News stock index rose about 300 points since the beginning of the year. Woo Hoo!
Wi-Fi. Why not? It’s showing people data and mobility at the same time. OK, so there’s no way to make money, yet. In time, the money will come.
The Top 5 worst things that happened to the wireless industry in ’03:
LNP. Not a shining moment for industry, from the legal battles against the mandate to the implementation of the service. Some carriers were not adequately prepared, and it looked tacky.
Sprint PCS affiliate bankruptcies. An ugly solution to an uglier situation. Would networks be shut down? It turns out no, but nevertheless carrier bankruptcies are a potentially ugly business.
Carriers and dealers. Dealers and carriers. A perennial in the “worst” category, T-Mobile USA is one example of carriers being tough on dealers, telling them not to sell Cingular service. (But only Cingular service. For some reason AT&T Wireless doesn’t merit the same fear.) On the flip side, many a dealer said he was selling Cingular service under the table, similar to how one would sell illegal drugs. Is this any way to seal a satisfactory relationship long term?
Consumers bill of rights. Put forth by the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, the consumer bill of rights tries to better inform would-be subscribers about service, but in the end, customers should not believe any coverage maps for a service that can be affected by any number of elements, including Mother Nature.
The blackouts. Did I mention being affected by things outside industry’s control? What a public-relations nightmare for industry. Who would have thought the wireless industry was to blame because people couldn’t recharge their handsets when the East Coast went black?
