Prepaid
Wireless Tracker - February 2011
Issue
Hi,
Prepaid wireless is a growing and truly exciting industry. At
Prepaid
Wireless Guide I try to provide you with in-depth information that
isn't
readily available anywhere else. Its content is original, and
created
from firsthand experience working in the prepaid wireless industry.
This monthly email provides you with a quick glance at what's in the
news so
that you can easily keep informed. I believe in brief,
to-the-point
summaries/commentary so that you can move onto other tasks in your day.
Each snippet includes a link to the original story should you
be
interested in the full details.
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MetroPCS Finds Itself
In Net Neutrality Debate
NASDAQ
In an attempt to offer a low cost 4G
data plan on its handsets, MetroPCS finds itself under fire for
violating
impending net neutrality laws. The
spirit of its tiered pricing is that it can control data costs by
limiting
access to high bandwidth sites. Customers
can buy up to gain more access.
Ultimately, if MetroPCS loses, it will simply mean higher
prices and fewer
options for customers.
Amdocs/Ovum
survey: Major shift in thinking about prepaid
charging underway
ConnectedPlanet
The spirit of the article is that carriers are starting to think of
prepaid
wireless as just as important as postpaid, and need flexible platforms
to bring
new price plans to market in a reasonable time.
The irony is that Amdocs has a prepaid platform offering
that is
anything but flexible, and certainly not cheap.
MetroPCS
Reports Q4 Sales Slump
RCR
Wireless
While sales in this period in 2009 were much stronger, the company is
still
growing despite considerable competition in the prepaid space. I think calling it a slump
is a little
dramatic, despite being a catchy headline!
Cricket's New Smartphones from Huawei and LG:
Hands-On
PC
Magazine
This article reveals a number of well priced, fully featured Android
smartphones coming in 2011 from Cricket.
I think we can now officially say that prepaid smartphones
are
abundantly available, and selection in 2011 will only continue to rival
postpaid offerings. Check
the site
(https://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com/smartphone-comparison.html)
for a constantly updated list of prepaid smartphones as they become
available.
Assurance Wireless
Expands Phone Service into
Washington Metro Area
TMCnet
As you can imagine, the addressable market for free cell phone service
has been
increasing given the difficult economy, and Virgin was more than happy
to
expand to Washington metro area. Don’t
be fooled; this is a valuable (i.e. lucrative) segment for those
carriers
offering the service!
Virgin Mobile's
Free Service for CT's Needy
Hartford
Business
Assurance Wireless comes to Connecticut!
Leap Wireless
Strategy Paying Off
Wall
Street Pit
Despite its price plan revamp in mid-2010 where it
began including
telecom
taxes, this article focus mainly on the success Cricket has had with
its
Android smartphone portfolio. You
can
certainly see a trend with this month’s e-zine in terms of
smartphones
really
making significant inroads in the prepaid industry.
MetroPCS Sues LCD
Firms
Dallas
Business
Journal
Claiming that LCD prices have been fixed, resulting in higher prices
for
carriers like MetroPCS, it files a lawsuit to set things right. This isn’t the
first time
we’ve heard of this
issue, including Samsung holding back its latest screen technology to
use in
its own smartphones instead of sharing the love with its competitors. In the long run, customers
should see the
availability of lower cost, higher quality phones.
Leap Wireless:
COO To Stay On As Consultant
For 18 Months
Leap’s COO retires but continues on as a consultant for 18
months,
earning $80K
per month (no, that’s not a typo!) even if he leaves early. I don’t know
about you,
but he’s no Steve
Jobs, meaning that the company will be just the same with or without
him. I
can’t
imagine he’s worth that kind of
money, essentially taking shareholder value right out of the stock via
this frivolous
expense. Or is it
just me?
Virgin Mobile
Confirms February 1st Launch of Optimus V
PhoneNews.com
I’ve
tested the MetroPCS
version of this phone (the LG Optimus M); it’s a great
smartphone,
particularly
in this price range. If
you like Virgin’s
plans, you’ll be happy to have this phone as an option!
What's New at
Prepaid-Wireless-Guide.com?
- Updated
Tablet PC
Comparison page with all Samsung
Galaxy
Tab variants (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon)
- Added
new page Android OS
- Added
new page
Android Operating System
- Added
new page Android
Apps
Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from
you. Just reply to
this zine and tell me what you think!
Cheers!
PrepaidWirelessGuy
