Editor's Note: Welcome to our weekly feature, Analyst Angle. We've collected a group of the industry's leading analysts to give their outlook on the hot topics in the wireless industry.It was a year most of us would like to forget, but one we're certain...
There's a new carrier in town. That is, if your town is located in northwest Georgia or Tennessee. Based in Dalton, Georgia, SmartPCS is a new no-contract, unlimited calling provider operating in a similar vain to Leap Wireless International Inc. and MetroPCS Communications Inc....
Leap Wireless International Inc. said it recorded a solid final quarter for 2008, adding 385,000 new customers that contributed to an overall increase of 34% for the year.The regional, flat-rate carrier announced that it ended the year with 3.84 million customers and saw growth...
It looks like MetroPCS Communications Inc. may be cashing in on the current economic downturn. The no-contract, unlimited wireless provider said it added 520,000 customers during the fourth quarter of 2008, its highest quarterly net additions in the company's history. The growth put the...
In 2009, the wireless industry is apt to suffer many of the same consequences exacted upon others by the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression: layoffs (likely giving way to stepped-up outsourcing), reduced capital spending, lower revenues and slimmer profit margins, tight credit,...
U.S. carriers may say they're swimming through the current rough economic waters un-affected, but one factor keeping them afloat is the continued support from investors. While they might not be in danger anytime soon, ratings and investor recommendations have become increasingly more negative, putting...
A new carrier is set to enter the competitive no-contract, unlimited calling market, this time with some help from the Chinese. Smart PCS is stepping into the fray with service in parts of northwest Georgia and Tennessee. Similar to offerings from segment stalwarts Leap...
The companies listed below represent the 12 largest national and regional licensed wireless carriers and mobile virtual network operators based on subscriber numbers at the end of the third quarter of this year.
There was no movement among the top carriers when compared with numbers...
Leap Wireless International Inc. is expanding service to Milwaukee, Wisc.. Starting tomorrow, Leap's Cricket Communications Inc. service will be available in the greater Milwaukee area, including the cities of Racine, Kenosha and Madison, bringing Leap's total national covered population to 64.1 million. It's coverage...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier--RBC Capital Markets downgraded Clearwire to sector perform from outperform and lowered its price target to $9 from $15 on more conservative valuation.--RBC Capital Markets...
The following list includes ratings changes and financial information for wireless companies announced this week by investment-banking and financial-services firms.Carrier--Credit Suisse First Boston lowered its price target on Leap Wireless to $55 from $70 despite solid third-quarter results and positive fourth-quarter trends. CSFB said...
THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION'S conditional approval of Verizon Wireless' acquisition of Alltel Communications L.L.C. and the merger of Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp.'s WiMAX operations could have significant post-election policy and marketplace ramifications, including a private auction of sorts for more than 100...
Nov. 4, 2008, will go down as a historic day both for the country as well as for the wireless industry. The impact of the presidential election is probably self-evident and better explained by those with more knowledge on the subject. But the impact...
With the wireless industry's nationwide players having posted third-quarter results, it appears that the market is quickly changing from a battle of the big 4 to a war between the big 2. Last week, the industry's No. 3 and No. 4 operators, Sprint Nextel...
MetroPCS Communications Inc. and Leap Wireless International Inc. will offer free roaming onto each other's networks, a move stemming from a reciprocal roaming agreement signed in September by the two rivals. Leap's markets will be free to MetroPCS customers signed up for the carrier's...
The cell-phone and tower industries urged the Bush administration to reject backup-power reporting requirements, arguing the Federal Communications Commission grossly underestimated time, operational and financial burdens placed on wireless providers.Indeed, wireless providers argue information collection guidelines associated with the eight-hour cell site backup-power mandate...
MetroPCS Communications Inc. posted its full, third-quarter earnings report, along with news that it is now up and running in new Michigan markets. The carrier, which previously announced that it added 249,000 customers during the third quarter, launched service in Flint, Lansing, Saginaw and...
The nation's top wireless and high-tech companies appear poised to be big winners Nov. 4, with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin seemingly on track to secure votes that will result in further industry consolidation, create a super-size WiMAX service provider, expand Wi-Fi and...
The companies listed below represent the largest independent national and regional tower companies in the United States for the second quarter of 2008.
American Tower and Crown Castle continue to dominate the U.S. tower industry.
American Tower remains the largest tower company in the country,...
So far, despite massive lobbying over scheduled Nov. 4 votes on white spaces, wireless mergers, the universal service fund and intercarrier-compensation reforms, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin has yet to blink. The FCC last night released the official agenda for the...
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION CHAIRMAN KEVIN MARTIN is coming under mounting pressure to postpone votes on major wireless items scheduled for Nov. 4. As Martin tries to round up support for the Verizon Wireless-Alltel Communications L.L.C. and Sprint Nextel Corp.-Clearwire Corp. deals and unleashing Wi-Fi...
In addition to recent pricing changes, Sprint Nextel Corp. subsidiary Boost Mobile is altering its marketing approach as well as its target market. Matt Carter, Boost's new president and GM, said the company needs to put more emphasis on prepaid and put it in...
Editor's Note: Welcome to our coverage of 25 years in wireless. RCR Wireless News is celebrating with a package of stories detailing the advances of the past three decades. For full coverage please visit RCRWireless.com/25years.
During the past 25 years, two overriding factors have shaped...
The following list ranks U.S. wireless industry CEOs by total compensation for the 2007 fiscal year.
The ranking includes executives at public U.S. companies listed on the RCR Wireless News Stock Watch. Salary and total compensation figures were derived from annual proxy statements filed with...
