Reality Check: Is it still an Android world?

Editor’s Note: Welcome to our weekly Reality Check column where C-level executives and advisory firms from across the mobile industry share unique insights and experiences.
As many of us took a holiday break, news continued to generate over the past two weeks. We’ll cover a couple of major developments as well as our semi-annual handset assessment in this week’s column.
BlackBerry introduces Project Ion
First, a shout out to my friends at BlackBerry with the boldest move over the past two weeks (and you thought it was the AT&T purchase of DirecTV – think again!). At the O’Reilly Solid Conference in San Francisco, BlackBerry announced Project Ion, the “cornerstone of BlackBerry’s vision to offer end-to-end solutions for the Internet of things.” While this is merely a temporary name, there is something about ION – just ask Sprint ($2-plus billion write-off from last decade’s Project Ion) or GM’s former Saturn division (Saturn Ion shown in picture). A bold move from BlackBerry with a very unfortunate name – hopefully it turns out better for them than it did for GM and Sprint.

The implications of AT&T’s purchase of DirecTV
After this column went to press on May 18, AT&T announced that they were going to buy DirecTV for $95 per share (total purchase price, including DirecTV’s net debt will be $67 billion). Many of you reached out to discuss the implications of this announcement on a) the Comcast/Time Warner Cable approval process; and b) the potential merger of Sprint and T-Mobile US.
AT&T bought DirecTV for three reasons:
1. DirecTV brings an international, but not a European footprint. AT&T has been looking outside the United States (India, Europe, other areas) for the past three years. AT&T knows the Latin American market well, thanks to their investment in America Movil, which they will be completely divesting as a result of this transaction. Consumer-based television content in a strengthening Latin America is a terrific long-term play, and the DirecTV Latin America asset is a good starting point for a more comprehensive global strategy.
2. DirecTV brings exclusive content to the table that can differentiate AT&T Mobility’s (and U-verse’s) wireless offerings. It’s an end run around Verizon Wireless’ NFL relationship. The entire transaction is contingent on DirecTV renewing the “Sunday Ticket” relationship, which DirecTV executive Mike White indicated is “highly likely” by the end of 2014. No renewal, and AT&T can walk away from the transaction. That’s how important live sports content is as a differentiator in today’s telecommunications environment. (We’ll talk more about the importance of content in a three-part strategy session starting next week).
3. DirecTV is self-funding. As we saw with the Comcast/Time Warner Cable transaction, AT&T is purchasing a company with healthy free cash flow. In the first quarter, DirecTV generated $880 million in FCF on a global basis, with the U.S. segment generating over $1 billion in quarterly FCF.
As we have discussed previously (and will discuss over the next three weeks), AT&T seeks to create differentiation through a) integration (content, high-speed Internet and mobility); and b) exclusivity (iPhone, Razr, NFL Sunday Ticket). Their ability to generate $61 billion in shareholder value is directly dependent on being able to create competitive advantage in these two ways.
By one metric, T-Mobile US is already No. 3
One of the more interesting analyses came out just before the Memorial Day weekend from Neal Shah at Counterpoint Research. In his blog post, he reported that T-Mobile US had overtaken Sprint as the No. 3 purchaser of smartphones, and closed a lot of ground with AT&T Mobility. Shah concludes that TCL-Alcatel has now overtaken Huawei as the No. 4 phone (and No. 5 smartphone) provider, behind Samsung, Apple and Nokia (and Motorola for smartphones). This analysis is especially interesting as it implies that many of T-Mobile US’ new customers are purchasing new handsets (and not simply swapping SIM cards) when they switch. It’s also interesting to note that BlackBerry’s volumes have been relegated to the “other” category.

Is it still an Android world?
Speaking of handsets, we have updated our semi-annual look at smartphone models by carrier. There are many surprises and changes since we last analyzed the marketplace last October.

1. T-Mobile US sells a lot more with fewer stock keeping units: Assuming the analysis cited earlier is true, T-Mobile US is taking a “less is more” tack with handset providers. Since last October, T-Mobile US has dropped 33% of their total SKUs (from 24 to 16). Unlike their carrier peers, they do not carry the iPhone 4S through their website. They have kicked BlackBerry to the curb (only selling refurbished units). And no market-leading Nokia device either (unlike Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility).
T-Mobile US does carry the Google Nexus 5 and the Sony Xperia Z15. And, they carry the Alcatel OneTouch Fierce and Evolve, which are two of their better selling smartphones.

The result of this strategy is that T-Mobile US sells fewer iPhones as a percentage of their total devices (or others sell more because they have “free” iPhone 4S devices). And they sell a lot more Samsung devices than Sprint (and perhaps as many Samsung devices as AT&T Mobility given the number of suppliers).
The implications of more sales across fewer SKUs are enormous: Less inventory obsolescence, better informed in-store reps and focused customer service. Winnowing the number of handsets offered to 16 while growing overall volumes is one reason to be optimistic about T-Mobile US’ profit future.
2. Carrier-specific network uniqueness is driving much of today’s handset differentiation: This characteristic was solely Sprint’s with their tri-band Spark-enabled devices, but now has been adopted by Verizon Wireless with their XLTE network marketing campaign. In the last two “Android World” write-ups, we noted that there was a lot of consolidation around large handset brands, specifically Apple and Samsung. We also noted in the first quarter earnings analysis that without network differentiation, the industry would quickly devolve into SIM card swaps.
The pendulum is beginning to swing back to the carriers. While Sprint’s Spark network is still in its embryonic stages, having a consistent 20 to 30 megabits per second experience throughout North Dallas and in most of Austin, Texas, is a welcome customer experience (and can consume one’s total Wi-Fi hot spot monthly allotment in one afternoon). The ability to have widespread marketing of the Spark network happens when Apple builds tri-band into their next iPhone. Today, Android devices are the only beneficiaries. Until Spark-enabled devices are in the hands of every high-bandwidth data user, the congestion currently experienced in Sprint markets will not be alleviated.
However, Verizon Wireless’ XLTE network is equipped on every iPhone 5S and 5C, and pretty much every device they have introduced this year. As we have discussed in several columns, Verizon Wireless’ 1.7/2.1 GHz (advanced wireless services) spectrum quantity leads to exceptional outdoor quality. In Verizon Wireless’ ideal world, pairing low-band 700 MHz spectrum (to battle in-building issues) with AWS bands creates the best customer experience. The XLTE advertising campaign turns the message back to the network, and it also informs their loyal Android, Apple, Windows and BlackBerry base that faster networks are ready. The initial reaction to the network changes has been positive.
3. Handset pricing is changing, thanks to T-Mobile US: It’s hard to believe, but when we wrote last June’s column on handset selection, the only provider of installment plans was T-Mobile US. AT&T Next was announced in mid-July, and Verizon Wireless followed shortly thereafter with their Edge announcement. Next and Edge were minimally effective until AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless paired them with attractive plans (AT&T Mobility in February, and Verizon Wireless in April). In the next Android World, we’ll move to more of an installment plan format, noting that the terms and conditions vary widely between carriers.
The implications of an installment-based wireless world are enormous. Because the cost of the device has been detached from any subsidy, wireless handset makers will be increasingly pressured to deliver the most valuable devices. Also, refurbished device availability is going to increase – dramatically – as the costs to upgrade faster have already been borne by the customer. Finally, the price/device bifurcation will provide some buffer against MRC penetration. As we have noted, AT&T Mobility’s $160 for four device plan turns from $40 average revenue per user into $65 to $70 ARPU when AT&T Mobility Next is added. As we will see with the migration to installment plans, the carriers have more ability to make money on low-end/end-of-life devices (as opposed to the “free phone” floor in today’s subsidy-driven model).
The handset world has changed dramatically in the past two years. Samsung’s release of the Galaxy S3 in May and June 2012 changed the handset world, and moved the Android operating system from “low-end smartphone entry” to “broad based global competitor.” The S3 eliminated any chance for Nokia to be successful in the United States, and BlackBerry’s misses on the Z and Q series are technology case studies in market misunderstanding. As the Counterpoint research shows this has allowed Apple and Samsung to drive 67% smartphone purchasing market share in the first quarter.
Next week, we’ll start our three-part strategic planning primer series (yes, the telecommunications community begins their strategic planning sessions in June and July). The first part will provide a look at the tablet and connected device market across each wireless carrier.
Jim Patterson is CEO of Patterson Advisory Group, a tactical consulting and advisory services firm dedicated to the telecommunications industry. Previously, he was EVP – Business Development for Infotel Broadband Services Ltd., the 4G service provider for Reliance Industries Ltd. Patterson also co-founded Mobile Symmetry, an identity-focused applications platform for wireless broadband carriers that was acquired by Infotel in 2011. Prior to Mobile Symmetry, Patterson was President – Wholesale Services for Sprint and has a career that spans over twenty years in telecom and technology. Patterson welcomes your comments at [email protected] and you can follow him on Twitter @pattersonadvice.