Sprint Corp. and Nextel Communications Inc.'s "merger of equals" announcement last week could have an unequal impact on each operator's respective affiliate partners. At one time those affiliates were integral to each carrier's expansion plans, but with the merger announcement, they could become hurdles....
Sprint PCS' largest affiliate Alamosa Holdings Inc. made good on previous comments that it was interested in acquiring a fellow affiliate by signing a deal last week to purchase AirGate PCS Inc. for $630 million. The deal, which is expected to close during the...
Following months of speculation, sports entertainment company ESPN Inc. reported a deal with Sprint Corp. to begin offering ESPN-branded wireless services using Sprint PCS' network. The mobile virtual network operator agreement is expected to be similar to Sprint PCS' existing agreement with Virgin Mobile...
Virgin Mobile USA is considering an initial public offering worth up to $2 billion, according to a report in the Financial Times.A Virgin Mobile USA spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the report.The report cited unnamed sources pointing to an IPO in...
TOKYO-Japanese wireless giant NTT DoCoMo Inc. released its latest line-up of advanced handsets for its FOMA third-generation network. The carrier's new 901i series of mobile phones feature advanced video calling, increased memory and support for a variety of features. Although DoCoMo does not name...
WARREN, N.J.-Virgin Mobile USA and Universal Music Group announced an exclusive mobile music deal that calls for the two companies to offer ringtones and voice greetings from rock group Sum 41.Virgin Mobile, in conjunction with UMG and The Island Def Jam Music Group, will...
TEWKSBURY, Mass.-Starent Networks Corp. said Virgin Mobile USA has chosen its data access gateway for enhanced data and content-based billing. The product, known as Starent ST16, will be a CDMA2000 1x home agent to expand the carrier's range of voice, data and multimedia solutions,...
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.-Sprint PCS affiliate UbiquiTel Inc. said it added 17,500 net subscribers during the third quarter compared with 13,200 net additions during the third quarter of 2003 and just edging the 16,900 subscribers the carrier added during the second quarter of this year. The...
OTTAWA-Virgin Mobile USA has licensed and implemented Bridgewater Systems' AAA Service Controller solution to support its high-speed data services rollout.The mobile virtual network operator will use the solution for its user management and mediation needs, including authentication, authorization and account management. Certain features of...
In what is likely shaping up to be the last quarter with six nationwide operators, four of the country's largest carriers posted relatively healthy third-quarter earnings that showed there is still penetration growth potential in the U.S. market. Cingular Wireless L.L.C., which is set...
Sprint Corp. and RadioShack Corp. reported a multi-year agreement to develop, deploy and operate Sprint-branded kiosks in about 500 shopping malls across the country following a 10-month test program involving 10 Sprint kiosks. The new agreement calls for RadioShack to provide Sprint with a...
Once relegated to outdated handsets and overpriced basic voice services, prepaid customers increasingly are being catered to with the latest handset technology and services to go along with more rational pricing plans. 7-Eleven Inc. and Virgin Mobile USA L.L.C. last week each launched their...
Whether you're looking for true love or virtual love-or simply want to play hooky from work-your mobile phone can help.While handset manufacturers and carriers are scrambling to make space-age mobile devices that double as on-the-go entertainment centers, savvy wireless users are using phones for...
OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint PCS released download figures for a number of its top-selling music ring tones, showing four tones from Beyonce Knowles' "Dangerously in Love" album have cumulatively sold more than 1 million downloads. The album has sold 7 million copies worldwide.Other top-selling music...
Who is your wireless carrier?A question that used to be answered easily is becoming more complicated as mobile virtual network operators gain traction in today's market. It's good to be an MVNO as Virgin Mobile USA is showing, signing up more than 1 million...
Despite the continued financial uncertainty surrounding a number of Sprint PCS network partners, the carrier's largest affiliate by subscriber numbers-Alamosa Holdings Inc.-said last week it would be interested in further consolidation among the remaining affiliates.Speaking at the Raymond James Midwest Mini Conference in Chicago,...
Sprint Corp. announced a multiyear agreement with the country's eighth-largest cable operator Mediacom Communications Corp., enabling Mediacom to provide telephony services in nearly all of its markets currently covering 2.7 million homes in 23 states.The telephony services will initially use Sprint's wired network to...
COPENHAGEN, Denmark-TDC, a Danish telecom carrier, said it will launch a mobile virtual network operator service in the United Kingdom in cooperation with U.K. company EasyGroup. The U.K. service will launch under the "easy" brand in the third quarter and is eventually planned for...
COPENHAGEN, Denmark-TDC, a Danish telecom carrier, said it will launch a mobile virtual network operator service in the United Kingdom in cooperation with U.K. company EasyGroup. The U.K. service will launch under the "easy" brand in the third quarter and is eventually planned for...
The rush of companies joining the ranks of pseudo-wireless providers continued last week as mobile content and application provider SmartServ Online Inc. announced plans to begin offering its prepaid Uphonia wireless services using a yet-to-be named wireless operator's network. Unlike a number of companies...
LONDON-Virgin Mobile U.K. introduced a new content service for its mobile users, based on information from its new customer magazine.Virgin Mobile is calling its BITES-or Bite-Sized Boredom Busters-entertainment service "a cross between a celebrity gossip magazine and an infotainment service on the phone." The...
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.-Another wireless carrier is hoping to throw a lifeline to singles stuck on a disastrous date.Cingular Wireless launched "Escape-A-Date" Tuesday, allowing users to schedule a "rescue" phone call during potentially bad dates. The service uses one of eight randomly generated scripts-such as...
Six of the nation's eight largest wireless carriers posted second-quarter results, highlighted by strong customer growth at Sprint PCS, Alltel Corp. and U.S. Cellular Corp. and continued financial gains by Nextel Communications Inc., but tempered by sluggish performances from Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and AT&T...
LONDON-Virgin Mobile U.K. has cut the price of its shares in its pending initial public offering by 20 percent due to "tough market conditions," according to international press reports.Virgin Mobile shares will now be priced between $3.70 and $4 rather than the original $4.35...
