WirelessAdvisor.com Forums - Wireless News http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/ Post and discuss the latest wireless news items in this forum. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:03 GMT vBulletin 60 http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wa_2007_style/misc/rss.jpg WirelessAdvisor.com Forums - Wireless News http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/ NORTHEAST U.S. -- Atlantic Beach Cell tower on hold http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76700-atlantic-beach-cell-tower-on-hold.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:42:28 GMT Cell tower on hold - Five Towns - LIHerald.com - Nassau County's source for local news, breaking news, sports, entertainment & shopping]]> Before the story, I would just like to that I am totally impressed with T-Mobile. They have some real balls attempting to put up a tower here. I know this has been a dead spot for t-mo for a long time, as they are the only carrier not on a building down the street. Tmo seems to be the only carrier even attempting to put up towers anymore.
My opinion, this tower will never happen. This is a very residential area, right on the bay and ocean. It is a very nice area, and the area residents are way stuck up. Good luck, tmobile, you will need it.
______________



Many Atlantic Beach residents, who are up in arms over the potential erection of a 53-foot cell tower in the middle of the small beach community, will have to wait even longer to have their say and get answers they demand following the postponement of a public hearing that had been set for this Thursday. The Village of Atlantic Beach Board of Zoning Appeals was set to review T-Mobile Northeast LLC’s cell tower application, but will adjourn the case at the request of the wireless service provider.

“The public hearing that is required and was scheduled for the November meeting is not going to happen,” said Atlantic Beach Village Attorney Charles S. Kovit. “The public hearing pertaining to the T-Mobile cell tower application will be adjourned at the request of T-Mobile. ... They probably weren’t ready to present their case, which requires a lot of technical information.”

Kovit added, “So if anyone is expecting to go down on the 19th to hear people talk about cell towers, they won’t see it. I’d tell anyone that called me that if they want they can come down and they can see the Board of Zoning Appeals adjourn the case.” He said that it is likely that the BZA will have the public hearing at the village’s January meeting.

The Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District entered into a contract leasing a parcel of land to T-Mobile last November. Now, pending approval from the Village of Atlantic Beach BZA, T-Mobile would be able to erect a 53-foot-tall cell tower on a property owned by the water district, located on the north side of Beech Street, between Vernon Avenue and Yates Avenue, and across from Wayne Avenue. The property is designated on the county tax map as Section 58, Block 61, Lot 114. The cell tower would consist of steeples, poles, telecommunication and public utility structures. The permit application also includes accessory uses and fences.

The approval of the village’s zoning board would be the final step necessary for T-Mobile to start the cell tower project. “Nothing can go through until the board decides the case,” Kovit said. “And then there might be subsequent litigation, but we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves at this point.” According to Kovit, the sewer district made a decision that has nothing to do directly with the village or the Town of Hempstead. He described the Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District as a “separate entity,” and added that the village’s Board of Trustees does not “take a position as a formal body” on the proposed cell tower.

Members of the Board of Commissioners of the Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District did not return phone calls.

Many residents said that members of the Board of Trustees do not support the proposed cell tower. Those same residents have been asking questions pertaining to the proposed wireless communication facility for the past few weeks and said they haven’t gotten any straight answers.

This outcry comes despite an Oct. 21 informational meeting, arranged by the village, with representatives from T-Mobile in attendance and the village’s initial adjournment of the case from October to November. According to Kovit, the new hearing date should be determined by the board at its Nov. 19 meeting.

More than 100 residents attended a Nov. 10 meeting of the Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District and signed a petition against the proposed cell tower. “They’re not forthcoming about where the pole is going and gave us no direct answers at the meeting,” said Doreen Isola, who lives within 200 feet of the site. “The water department’s attorney gave us no answers and also said that if they just pulled out that they would be sued. They didn’t respond at all. There was zero response. It was as if I didn’t say a word. The zoning law is the only thing that can stop it.”

Atlantic Beach homeowner Alan Rosenbloom, who attended both the October informational meeting and last week’s water district meeting, said he senses some nervousness on the part of the commissioners of the water district due to the reaction of village residents. “People are up in arms to say the least,” Rosenbloom said. “They were quite vocal at the meetings. I think we’re on quite solid ground saying that this cell tower should not go forward. The Zoning Board of Appeals, which has now put off the decision, has ample grounds in order to turn down the application for a variance.” According to the village attorney, the number one priority of the mayor and the Board of Trustees, as well as the zoning board, is to protect residential property values, area character and aesthetics. “When somebody like T-Mobile comes in and is looking to put up a big, unsightly cell tower we believe it is the village’s role to challenge everything that T-Mobile says and take nothing for granted,” Kovit said. “We are very interested in knowing if they need a cell tower at all. We have to question if it is difficult to get cell phone service in Atlantic Beach and Atlantic Beach Estates. And even if there is a problem with service, are there other places that the cell tower could go where it would have lesser effect on property values, area character and aesthetics?”

Kovit said that the village hired Richard A. Comi, of the Center for Municipal Solutions, the leading municipal cell tower consultant in New York, to be sure that all the facts are straight before the zoning board makes its final decision. “We consider Mr. Comi essential to fully protect the interest of the residents of Atlantic Beach and Atlantic Beach Estates,” Kovit said. “If it wasn’t for him, we’d just have to accept all of their stuff at face value and obviously they have a vested interest in this and want the variance to be granted.”

Isola said her biggest concerns are the possibility of fire and potential health issues. “Our elected board needs to consider the consequences that such a large steel structure will act as a lightning rod and ignite the dense forest of bamboo and brush growing wildly in the field of the intended tower,” Isola said. “The effects of long-term exposure to these wireless transmissions from cell towers and antennas is wildly debated and is probably why T-Mobile chose to lease instead of buy to limit their liability.”

She added, “Who wants be forced to endure this aesthetically displeasing eyesore along with suspicious, possible cancer causing microwaves? I wouldn’t.”



Comments on this story? PShapiro@liherald.com or call (516) 569-4000 ext. 201.
Cell tower on hold - Five Towns - LIHerald.com - Nassau County's source for local news, breaking news, sports, entertainment & shopping ]]> Wireless News Yankees368 http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76700-atlantic-beach-cell-tower-on-hold.html T-Mobile parent seeks partner for US network. http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76699-t-mobile-parent-seeks-partner-us.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:59:33 GMT Deutsche Telekom seeks partner in U.S. - report | Deals | Mergers & Acquisitions | Reuters An related note, I think the general public doesn't know that Verizon Wireless is a joint venture with a non-US based company; Vodafone. See this article: Vodafone CEO: Need To Resolve Verizon Wireless Situation It isn't mentioned in the article, but I think Vodafone owns 45% of Verizon Wireless.]]> Reuters has a story about T-Mobile US parent company Deutsche Telekom seeking a partner for its US T-Mobile network.

Reuters article: Deutsche Telekom seeks partner in U.S. - report | Deals | Mergers & Acquisitions | Reuters

An related note, I think the general public doesn't know that Verizon Wireless is a joint venture with a non-US based company; Vodafone.

See this article: Vodafone CEO: Need To Resolve Verizon Wireless Situation

It isn't mentioned in the article, but I think Vodafone owns 45% of Verizon Wireless. ]]> Wireless News JFB http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76699-t-mobile-parent-seeks-partner-us.html Pics of what the WIND Mobile stores currently look like… http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76698-pics-what-wind-mobile-stores-currently.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:57:46 GMT MobileSyrup.com - Canadian Mobile Phone News & Reviews - Cell phones and Accessories]]> Here is a link to what the Wind stores will currently look like. In my opinion I think it looks a little plane.

MobileSyrup.com - Canadian Mobile Phone News & Reviews - Cell phones and Accessories ]]> Wireless News Der84 http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76698-pics-what-wind-mobile-stores-currently.html Telus sues Rogers for ads of being the “fastest” network http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76697-telus-sues-rogers-ads-being-fastest.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:53:00 GMT MobileSyrup.com - Canadian Mobile Phone News & Reviews - Cell phones and Accessories]]> Back in January Rogers filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) stating that Bell Mobility went against the Canadian Code by placing the statement “fastest and largest network across North America” in one of their ads.

Today, TELUS joined the game and filed a suit with the Supreme Court of British Columbia and sued Rogers for apparently misleading the Canadian public with some of their ads stating they are the “fastest and most reliable” network.

We reached out to TELUS for further explanation and Shawn Hall, TELUS spokesperson stated:

“TELUS’ sole interest in filing this suit is to have a competitor remove a false, misleading, and harmful claim from their advertising. In light of our recent launch of Canada’s largest 3G+ network, Rogers has no network advantage and they should not be misleading the Canadian public with false superiority claims.

Making a big claim in bold type and then trying to use fine print to restrict the claim to a comparison against just our old network and select criteria is clearly misleading to the public. We kindly asked them to remove the claim recently, and they refused. This lawsuit, while unfortunate, is our only recourse.”

In response to these claims, Rogers sent us a note with their comment: “We stand behind our claims. All of our internal and third party external testing since 2007 has consistently demonstrated that we have the most reliable network. We’ve established our reliability over time with millions of customers on our network. Telus has not submitted any data on their network performance. We look forward to vigorously defending our position in court.”

More on this shortly

MobileSyrup.com - Canadian Mobile Phone News & Reviews - Cell phones and Accessories ]]> Wireless News Der84 http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76697-telus-sues-rogers-ads-being-fastest.html T-Mobile to offer Blackberry on pre-paid plan http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76691-t-mobile-offer-blackberry-pre-paid.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:47:06 GMT Article in the Chicago Tribune]]> T-Mobile says they are the 1st to have a Blackberry on a pre-paid plan.

Article in the Chicago Tribune ]]> Wireless News JFB http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76691-t-mobile-offer-blackberry-pre-paid.html <![CDATA[AT&T Responds To Verizon 3G Ads]]> http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76689-at-t-responds-verizon-3g-ads.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:39:18 GMT YouTube - Side by Side And the ad has a new website listed at the end of it: www.TruthAbout3G.com Story / Source: http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=6163]]> AT&T claims in this new ad that, 'side by side' that they have 'a better 3G experience.'

YouTube - Side by Side

And the ad has a new website listed at the end of it: www.TruthAbout3G.com

Story / Source: http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=6163 ]]> Wireless News KyleAndMelissa22 http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76689-at-t-responds-verizon-3g-ads.html <![CDATA[Judges Denies AT&T's Request To Halt Verizon Ads]]> http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76685-judges-denies-ts-request-halt-verizon.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:03:34 GMT http://www.crn.com/networking/221900...OSKHWATMY32JVN]]> Judges Denies AT&T's Request To Halt Verizon Ads

By Rob Wright, ChannelWeb


AT&T may hate Verizon Wireless' 3G advertising, but the company will have to deal with it now that AT&T's quest to have the ads taken off the air has been thrown out of court.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten denied AT&T's request for a temporary restraining order against Verizon's "There's A Map For That" campaign that would force the wireless carrier to cease running the ads, which unfavorably compare AT&T's 3G wireless map to Verizon's much larger coverage areas. AT&T filed a lawsuit earlier this month claiming the Verizon's ads were misleading consumers to believe that AT&T had extremely limited wireless Internet service. The company even published an open letter to customers claiming Verizon's ads were "blatantly false."

Verizon, meanwhile, continued to antagonize AT&T with more ads for the campaign. In addition, Verizon filed an unusually straightforward and humorous legal brief this week arguing that the ads were true and that "the truth hurts." In fact, AT&T never claimed Verizon's maps were a false representation of AT&T's 3G. Instead, it argued that the ads led consumers to believe they could not use their wireless Internet services outside of the extremely limited 3G areas.

In the end, Judge Batten agreed with Verizon and denied AT&T's restraining order request. The decision is a potential knockout blow for AT&T, which has another chance to plead its case in court on Dec. 16th.

Source: http://www.crn.com/networking/221900...OSKHWATMY32JVN ]]> Wireless News Gamer03 http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76685-judges-denies-ts-request-halt-verizon.html <![CDATA[AT&T: Ignore Verizon's Ads and Fix Your Own Woes]]> http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76666-t-ignore-verizons-ads-fix-your.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:17:54 GMT AT&T: Ignore Verizon's Ads and Fix Your Own Woes - PC World]]> AT&T: Ignore Verizon's Ads and Fix Your Own Woes
Robert X. Cringely, InfoWorld
Nov 14, 2009 8:00 am

The Verizon and AT&T dustup is turning out to be far more entertaining than any tired old Microsoft vs. Apple campaign. After a series of scorching "there's a map for that" TV ads by Verizon mocking its competitor's spotty 3G coverage, AT&T ran to a federal judge crying "Daddy daddy daddy, that mean old man is making fun of me."

Yesterday the No. 1 cellular company issued a statement on its Web site to "set the record straight on Verizon ads." Among the rebuttals: 75 percent of the U.S. population has access to AT&T's 3G net, and 300 million can log onto its slower EDGE and GPRS offerings (though the site conveniently fails to mention the slower speeds).

[ Apple, AT&T's partner in iPhone, has garnered its share of grievances too. Get a load of Cringely's take on Steve Jobs' empire in "It's Apple's world, we just click in it" | Stay up to date on Robert X. Cringely's musings and observations with InfoWorld's Notes from the Underground newsletter. ]

As GottaBeMobile blogger Warner Crocker notes:

Touting EDGE and GPRS coverage numbers as a part of [AT&T's] strategy is, in my pea brain, akin to advertising Windows by saying you can run a DOS prompt.

AT&T is also demanding that Verizon pull its latest holiday-themed ads featuring elves video, Elvis ("Blue Christmas"), and the Island of Misfit Toys. That last one is my favorite.

Is Verizon pushing the envelope of truthiness just a bit? Sure -- the iPhone is not a pink-spotted elephant or a jack-in-the-box named Charlie. But so does AT&T's "we've got the fastest 3G network" claim, which obscures its gaps in coverage. As they say, all is fair in love, war, and advertising.

But first, can we all just stop for a moment and agree that AT&T sucks? As an involuntary AT&T customer (I started out with Cingular and had no complaints there) let me assure you: AT&T sucks.

Coverage is abysmal. I watch people all around me chatting on their T-Mobile or Sprint Nextel or Verizon phones when I'm getting zero bars. "Voice quality" is an oxymoron. As for 2G or 3G data speeds, roll the dice and take your chances. Customer service? I'm sorry, I can't talk about that right now, I just ate.

AT&T is the one reason I do not own an iPhone and am not likely to get one.

It's not just me. In survey after survey, AT&T has been kicked to the curb by consumers. The American Consumer Satisfaction Index puts Ma Bell's bastard child a distant fifth (out of six) among wireless carriers. (Verizon tops the list, FYI.) J.D. Power ranks AT&T's call quality dead last. Consumer Reports (available online for subscribers only) also ranks AT&T among the bottom feeders.

Technologizer (and iPhone addict) Harry McCracken describes a typical AT&T experience:

I use an AT&T iPhone a lot in non-descript urban settings around San Francisco (especially in the SOMA neighborhood) and sometimes I can't get the phone to work reliably at all, let alone at 3G speed. (The lobby of the Courtyard Marriott at Second St. and Folsom is an amazing Bermuda Triangle when it comes to AT&T reception.) There are times when my iPhone's data connection is delightfully zippy, but there are also times when I identify with the "Blue Christmas" dude.

Really, all AT&T has going for it is its immense size and the iPhone -- otherwise, bupkis. So it has to sue, because lawyers are all it has left to fight with. And that strategy, like most everything AT&T does these days, is turning into a PR disaster.

My advice: If you want people to stop ridiculing you, stop being ridiculous. AT&T needs to forget the map and focus on the territory. In the old pre-breakup days, AT&T was known for impeccable quality and reliability (customer service, not so much). That's what it needs to re-establish. Conquer that territory, and no amount of snarky advertising can harm you.

Can AT&T get back to the glory it once was? E-mail me:cringe@infoworld.com.

This story, "Hey AT&T: The map is the least of your problems," was originally published at InfoWorld.com.

AT&T: Ignore Verizon's Ads and Fix Your Own Woes - PC World ]]> Wireless News ComicalMoodyDan http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76666-t-ignore-verizons-ads-fix-your.html <![CDATA[AT&T Sets the Record Straight on Verizon Ads]]> http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76654-t-sets-record-straight-verizon-ads.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:21:33 GMT AT&T Response to Verizon Ad]]> AT&T Sets the Record Straight on Verizon Ads

To Our Customers:

As the U.S. market leader in wireless data service, we typically don't respond to competitors' advertising. However, some recent ads from Verizon are so blatantly false and misleading, that we want to set the record straight about AT&T's wireless data coverage.

The key facts are:

AT&T's wireless data coverage reaches 303 million people – or 97% of the U.S. population, where they live and work. Our data coverage consists of 3 different types of technology:

3G. 233 million people or 75% of the population are covered by AT&T's 3G network, the nation's fastest.

EDGE. 301 million people or more than 96% of the population are covered by EDGE.

With both 3G and EDGE coverage, customers can access the Internet, send e-mail, surf the Web, stream music, download videos, send photos, text, talk and more. The only difference – with some data applications, 3G is faster than EDGE

GPRS. Covers 303 million people, allowing you to talk, text, e-mail and access basic websites optimized for wireless.

AT&T is the #1 network for smartphones, with twice the number of smartphone customers than Verizon, our closest competitor. Some of the reasons include:

Most popular smartphones. Unlike Verizon, AT&T offers the most popular smartphones in the industry.

More wireless apps. Unlike Verizon, AT&T customers have access to more than 100,000 applications, more than with any other wireless company.

Talk and E-mail at the same time. Unlike Verizon, AT&T's 3G network lets wireless customers simultaneously talk and surf the web or do e-mail.

Fastest 3G in the nation. Unlike Verizon, AT&T has the nation's fastest 3G network.

Thank you for allowing us to set the record straight. We appreciate your business and will continue to work hard to deliver the best wireless data experience in the industry.

Your AT&T Team


Link: AT&T Response to Verizon Ad ]]> Wireless News Gamer03 http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76654-t-sets-record-straight-verizon-ads.html Worm on jailbroken iPhones w/SSH http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76650-worm-on-jailbroken-iphones-w-ssh.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:22:22 GMT BBC NEWS | Technology | Worm attack bites at Apple iPhone ---Quote--- The self-propagating program changes the phone's wallpaper to a picture of 80s singer Rick Astley with the message "ikee is never going to give you up". The worm, known as ikee, only affects "jail-broken" phones, where a user has removed Apple's protection mechanisms to allow the phone to run any software. Experts say the worm is not harmful but more malicious variants could follow. ....... *It only exploits jail-broken phones that have SSH installed*, a program that enables other devices to connect to the phone and modify the system and files. My prediction is that we may see more attacks like this in the future Graham Cluley The worm is able to infect phones if their owners have not changed the default password after installing SSH. "What's clear is that if you have jail-broken your iPhone or iPod Touch, and installed SSH, then you must always change your root user password to something different than the default, 'alpine'," wrote Graham Cluley of security firm Sophos. "In fact, it would be a good idea if you didn't use a dictionary word at all." After a phone becomes infected it disables the SSH service, preventing reinfection. ---End Quote--- ]]> ...at least it's not that malicious... well, if you don't consider a picture of Rick Astlee malicious (I think I might ;))

BBC NEWS | Technology | Worm attack bites at Apple iPhone

Quote:
The self-propagating program changes the phone's wallpaper to a picture of 80s singer Rick Astley with the message "ikee is never going to give you up".

The worm, known as ikee, only affects "jail-broken" phones, where a user has removed Apple's protection mechanisms to allow the phone to run any software.

Experts say the worm is not harmful but more malicious variants could follow.

.......


It only exploits jail-broken phones that have SSH installed, a program that enables other devices to connect to the phone and modify the system and files.

My prediction is that we may see more attacks like this in the future
Graham Cluley

The worm is able to infect phones if their owners have not changed the default password after installing SSH.

"What's clear is that if you have jail-broken your iPhone or iPod Touch, and installed SSH, then you must always change your root user password to something different than the default, 'alpine'," wrote Graham Cluley of security firm Sophos.

"In fact, it would be a good idea if you didn't use a dictionary word at all."

After a phone becomes infected it disables the SSH service, preventing reinfection.
]]> Wireless News RadioRaiders http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76650-worm-on-jailbroken-iphones-w-ssh.html Apple pushed Nokia to #2 spot as most profitable. http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76645-apple-pushed-nokia-2-spot-most.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:37:04 GMT http://blog.telephonyonline.com/unfi...handset-maker/]]> Amazing performance from a one horse phone company


Macrumors reports that:

"Telephony Online reports on data from research firm Strategy Analytics that places Apple as the most profitable mobile phone manufacturer in the world for the third quarter of 2009. Apple's estimated $1.6 billion profit easily topped Nokia's $1.1 billion take for the quarter.

The firm estimates that Apple's iPhone operating profit came in at $1.6 billion in Q3, while Nokia recorded only $1.1 billion in operating profit. "With strong volumes, high wholesale prices and tight cost controls, the PC vendor has successfully broken into the mobile phone market in just two years," said analyst Alex Spektor in the research note.

Earlier this year, data from 2008 pegged Apple at approximately 20% of the mobile phone industry's total profit despite holding only about 1% unit market share. Nokia was reported to have accounted for 55% of the industry's profit in 2008.

More recently, a separate survey covering the first half of 2009 estimated Apple's share of industry profits at 32% with $2.0 billion in operating profit in its iPhone business. Apple just edged out Nokia's $1.9 billion profit, which accounted for 30% of the total industry profit, in that survey."

Telephony Online:
November 10th, 2009
Nokia (NYSE:NOK) may still claim the largest global market share, but Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) has overtaken it as the world’s most profitable handset vendor in the third quarter of 2009, according to Strategy Analytics. The one-handset wonder pushed Nokia into the no. 2 slot, as Nokia’s margins were hit hard by both the economic downturn and a stagnant presence in the U.S.

The firm estimates that Apple’s iPhone operating profit came in at $1.6 billion in Q3, while Nokia recorded only $1.1 billion in operating profit. “With strong volumes, high wholesale prices and tight cost controls, the PC vendor has successfully broken into the mobile phone market in just two years,” said analyst Alex Spektor in the research note.

It is not all bad news for Nokia. Even with falling profits, it managed to capture 37.9% market share and ship 16.4 million handsets in the third quarter. Strategy Analytics said that focusing on the U.S., Apple’s high-profit home turf, will be the key to recovering in 2010, but that won’t be an easy fight. Nokia’s profit margin for its handset division has been shrinking during the entire 2009 global economic downturn, and the handset-maker is also facing increased pressure from Google Android devices and other new high-end smartphones planned for the rest of the year and into 2010.


http://blog.telephonyonline.com/unfi...handset-maker/ ]]> Wireless News viewfly http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76645-apple-pushed-nokia-2-spot-most.html Sprint Nextel To Cut 2,000 Jobs http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76640-sprint-nextel-cut-2-000-jobs.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:31:28 GMT Sprint Nextel To Cut 2,000 Jobs -- Wireless Business -- InformationWeek]]> Sprint Nextel To Cut 2,000 Jobs
The wireless carrier is betting on cost cuts and its stake in Clearwire, which has been rolling out high-speed WiMax network nationally.

By W. David Gardner
InformationWeek
November 10, 2009 12:04 PM

Sprint Nextel said Monday it will lay off between 2,000 and 2,500 employees and trim external labor and contractor costs in cost cutting measures that are designed to save $350million.

The third largest U.S. mobile phone service provider has lost subscribers in several consecutive quarters, although the number of defections has been declining each quarter. Sprint Nextel shed 545,000 net subscribers in its recently-reported third quarter.

The company said it has discontinued the use of 27 call centers because of customer service improvements. The company added that customer call volume has decreased "in the wake of service improvements." Sprint Nextel has historically fared poorly in independent consumer polls when compared with its competitors.

"The labor cost reductions are the latest action in the company's efforts to make its cost structure more competitive in the industry and to remain financially secure in a challenging economic environment," the company said in a release. Spring Nextel noted that it had a balance of $5.9 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments at the end of the third quarter. The layoffs represent 6% of Sprint's 42,000 employee work force.

The company hasn't had a big "hit" mobile phone and has suffered against AT&T with its iPhone and Verizon Wireless with its wide network coverage. Sprint has been betting heavily on its 51% ownership of Clearwire, which has been rolling out its high-speed WiMax network nationally.

Sprint shed another 6,000 employees who moved to Ericsson when the latter firm took over the management of its network infrastructure.

Sprint Nextel To Cut 2,000 Jobs -- Wireless Business -- InformationWeek ]]> Wireless News ComicalMoodyDan http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76640-sprint-nextel-cut-2-000-jobs.html <![CDATA[Apple Said To Be Working On 'World-Mode' iPhone]]> http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76619-apple-said-working-world-mode-iphone.html Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:49:07 GMT Apple said to be working on 'world-mode' iPhone | Wireless - CNET News ---Quote--- The latest posting to suggest an imminent rapprochement between Verizon and the iPhone comes from the AppleInsider blog, which on Friday said that it's gotten wind of Apple having contracted to build a Verizon iPhone that would debut in the third quarter of 2010. More broadly, according to AppleInsider, the new "hybrid iPhone" will work on both the GSM/UMTS and the CDMA systems, meaning that Apple will be able "to sell a single global handset to all carriers, and specifically to Verizon Wireless in the US." In the U.S., carriers AT&T and T-Mobile are in the GSM/UMTS camp, while Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel are in the CDMA camp. ---End Quote--- This is just a rumor, but still, it's a rather interesting development. I guess we'll see if there's any reality to this rumor next Summer when it's likely Apple refreshes the iPhone again (as they've done regularly since the phone's 2007 initial release).]]> From CNET: Apple said to be working on 'world-mode' iPhone | Wireless - CNET News

Quote:
The latest posting to suggest an imminent rapprochement between Verizon and the iPhone comes from the AppleInsider blog, which on Friday said that it's gotten wind of Apple having contracted to build a Verizon iPhone that would debut in the third quarter of 2010.

More broadly, according to AppleInsider, the new "hybrid iPhone" will work on both the GSM/UMTS and the CDMA systems, meaning that Apple will be able "to sell a single global handset to all carriers, and specifically to Verizon Wireless in the US." In the U.S., carriers AT&T and T-Mobile are in the GSM/UMTS camp, while Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel are in the CDMA camp.
This is just a rumor, but still, it's a rather interesting development. I guess we'll see if there's any reality to this rumor next Summer when it's likely Apple refreshes the iPhone again (as they've done regularly since the phone's 2007 initial release). ]]> Wireless News Mobile Mike http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76619-apple-said-working-world-mode-iphone.html <![CDATA[AT&T Completes Centennial Acquisition]]> http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76606-at-and-t-completes-centennial-acquisition.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:26:00 GMT AT&T- News Room]]> It didn't take them long once the FCC signed off:

AT&T Press Release:

"AT&T today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Centennial Communications Corp. (Nasdaq:CYCL). The acquisition enhances AT&T’s network coverage across the Midwest and Southeast United States and in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands"

Full text of the PR on AT&T's web site:

AT&T- News Room ]]> Wireless News yimitz http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76606-at-and-t-completes-centennial-acquisition.html Verizon Wireless doubles early termination fee - $350! on certain devices http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76597-verizon-wireless-doubles-early-termination-fee.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:52:58 GMT Verizon Wireless doubles early termination fee - Technology Live - USATODAY.com Verizon to raise early termination fees for 'advanced devices' | Dialed In Podcast - CNET Blogs]]> Verizon - Starting Nov. 15, Verizon plans to double its early termination fee (ETF) -- to $350 -- for customers who end their cellphone contracts early. The fee, arriving just in time for the holidays, applies to customers who have a smart phone or other advanced device on a one or two...

Sources:

Verizon Wireless doubles early termination fee - Technology Live - USATODAY.com

Verizon to raise early termination fees for 'advanced devices' | Dialed In Podcast - CNET Blogs ]]> Wireless News Kalimotxo http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/wireless-news/76597-verizon-wireless-doubles-early-termination-fee.html