T-Mobile reaches 20 million customers, comments on 3G plans

[Matt]

Two separate stories:

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 2005--T-Mobile USA, Inc. (NYSET - News) announced today that it now has surpassed 20 million wireless customers, having doubled its customer base during the past 10 quarters.

"I personally thank our 20 million customers for their continued loyalty to T-Mobile, and for recommending T-Mobile to family and friends," said Robert Dotson, President and Chief Executive Officer, T-Mobile USA.

The company credits this achievement in part to the success it has had in delivering on its Get More® promise to its customers. T-Mobile's commitment to offer more minutes, features and service has resonated with consumers.

"Customer-centric service, value leadership, and services innovation is the foundation for our customer growth," Dotson said. "T-Mobile will continue to grow by meeting the needs of its customers, rapidly expanding network coverage, and offering widely accessible and meaningful devices, features and services."

T-Mobile USA reached the 10-million customer mark during the first quarter of 2003.

Earlier this month, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced that it had earned the highest rankings in all six regions surveyed in the J.D. Power and Associates 2005 Wireless Regional Customer Satisfaction Index Study(SM) for the second consecutive year.

...and...

T-Mobile to invest in 3G in US, plans start in '07
Wed Sep 21, 2005 11:57 AM ET
DUESSELDORF, Germany, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Deutsche Telekom's (DTEGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) mobile unit plans to invest in its U.S. business and hopes to start third-generation services there in 2007, the unit's Chief Executive Rene Obermann said on Wednesday.

"We want to carry on our business there. We want to invest," T-Mobile [TMOG.UL] chief Obermann said in a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce in Duesseldorf.

Analysts estimate Deutsche Telekom would have to invest up to $10 billion to buy permits for 3G services in the United States and build a network there for T-Mobile USA, the group's primary growth motor.

This summer fund managers told Reuters that Deutsche Telekom had been sounding out institutional investors as to whether they would prefer that it sold the business rather than make such a large investment.

But Chief Executive Kai-Uwe Ricke said in an interview last week: "There are no grounds for a sale. On the contrary, we are currently preparing for the next round."

The smallest mobile operator in the United States after Cingular Wireless (SBC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (BLS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , Verizon Wireless (VZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (VOD.L: Quote, Profile, Research) and Sprint Nextel (S.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , T-Mobile USA now has more than 20 million customers, Obermann said.

"In view of its success, its importance is beyond doubt," he said. T-Mobile USA has doubled its customer base in 10 quarters.

Obermann said there was enough time to prepare to offer 3G services, which include live video and audio transmission. "We hope to be able to offer 3G services in 2007," he said.

[ShoresGuy]

That's cool , I hope they offer some decent plans, 3G/UMTS plans are still too costly here in Germany and unlike Italy or the UK, you still can't 3G/UMTS as a prepaid subscriber. That's the biggest joke of all.

Vodafone even goes as far as to disable 3G/UMTS on their GSM/UMTS handsets. I'm glad that I always buy my phones unlocked.

[Mobile Mike]

Your welcome, T-Mobile, and thank you for the great service!

Thanks Matt for posting this info. I'm guessing their having an awesome 3rd quarter so far. Way to go, T-Mo!!

[Andy]

Good job, T-Mobile, way to go!!!

[Matt]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

That's cool , I hope they offer some decent plans, 3G/UMTS plans are still too costly here in Germany and unlike Italy or the UK, you still can't 3G/UMTS as a prepaid subscriber. That's the biggest joke of all.

Since they are offering EDGE for $19.99, and all the rest are $60 or so for EDGE or EV-DO, I think TM will continue ti be price competitive when they roll out UMTS/HSDPA.

[ShoresGuy]

Now the next question would be which band will T-Mobile use for UMTS voice services. Are they limited to using 1900 or could they *theoretically* also get on 2100 since this would be used mainly for HSDPA?

[cards89]

T-Mobile is garbage, I had them for 6 years. I am so glad they were dumped. Customer sevice terrible, reception and dropped calls even worse!

[Matt]

Originally Posted by ShoresGuy

Now the next question would be which band will T-Mobile use for UMTS voice services. Are they limited to using 1900 or could they *theoretically* also get on 2100 since this would be used mainly for HSDPA?

They'll be using the spectrum the FCC is auctioning off next year....isn't that 1700 (maybe 2100 too?)

[agentHibby]

its 1700 phone to the base station and 2100 base station to the phone

[agentHibby]

T-mobile doubling its customer base in 10 quarters is something Verizon can't say they did that. If I am correct they were at 26 million in July 2000.

[danny boi]

Originally Posted by agentHibby

T-mobile doubling its customer base in 10 quarters is something Verizon can't say they did that. If I am correct they were at 26 million in July 2000.

Yes, but they can't beat Cingular or Sprint's recent rapid growth. One borrowed the money from Ma & Pa Bell and the other broke out the credit card by purchasing or incorporating a rival nationwide wireless network in a matter of months after making it public. LOL

[Fire14]

Originally Posted by YourDaddy

Yes, but they can't beat Cingular or Sprint's recent rapid growth. One borrowed the money from Ma & Pa Bell and the other broke out the credit card by purchasing or incorporating a rival nationwide wireless network in a matter of months after making it public. LOL

That's true, but for a carrier that has smaller coverage in most areas then either 1 of them, it is impressive that they added 10 million in just over 2 years.
Now with Verizon adding close to 2 million a quater lately they will over shadow both this milestone for T-Mobile & Cingular's #1 spot and adds if Cingular doesn't get there #'s higher, They just need to get the integration done to reduce the network issues and get customers to trust them again to have add's like Verizon has been doing.

[Airb330]

Yup, pretty amazing really. T-Mobile really built out popular areas here well, they just need work in some rural areas. If sprint can do it, so can T-Mobile. I know if I lived in a major city, I'd have them.

[Gamer03]

Originally Posted by Airb330

Yup, pretty amazing really. T-Mobile really built out popular areas here well, they just need work in some rural areas. If sprint can do it, so can T-Mobile. I know if I lived in a major city, I'd have them.

I would probably have them too. As of right now (according to their coverage tracker), I would lose service in two-three areas while traveling to my campus from my house everyday on I-75.

[ShoresGuy]

Originally Posted by cards89

T-Mobile is garbage, I had them for 6 years. I am so glad they were dumped. Customer sevice terrible, reception and dropped calls even worse!

This statement doesn't apply to everybody using T-Mobile. Cingular wasn't superb either in the early days of GSM, it takes time for a network to mature and for the dead spots to be found/ironed out.

This isn't a rant directed at you, go with the service which works best for your area.

[Fullstrength]

i wish TMobile would go coverage crazy, and become a real 3rd competitor, even in dense nj/nyc market there are some very urban areas without service. Even if they change there perception in this market, it would help them alot.

[Mobile Mike]

Originally Posted by cards89

T-Mobile is garbage, I had them for 6 years. I am so glad they were dumped. Customer sevice terrible, reception and dropped calls even worse!

A comment from a newbie. Speak for yourself, not for others.

[Matt]

One more story from today:

Deutsche Telekom says no plans for T-Mobile USA IPO for now

German telecommunications operator Deutsche Telekom AG (DT) has no plans for an initial public offering for its U.S. wireless unit T-Mobile USA now, Chief Executive Kai Uwe Ricke said at an investor conference Thursday.

"I would not rule it out forever - you cannot rule out anything forever, but right now, why should we do that?" Ricke said at the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) Communacopia conference in New York. His comments were broadcast on Deutsche Telekom's Web site.

"Right now, it's not our path to go for an IPO of T-Mobile USA," Ricke said.

Ricke said Deutsche Telekom doesn't need to sell shares to finance growth in the U.S., and he said there's no need to list shares to highlight the value of the business to investors and financial analysts.

Selling shares in T-Mobile USA now would mean "drawbacks in terms of diluting the profitable growth opportunities," he said.

Deutsche Telekom recently said it's committed to keeping T-Mobile USA, which has some 20 million subscribers, even though the U.S. operator is significantly smaller than rivals like Cingular Wireless (CIW.XX), Verizon Wireless (VRZ.XX) and Sprint Nextel Corp. (S).

When asked about expansion in the U.S. Ricke said it "doesn't make sense to look at any of the smaller players and go for M&A here." The aim is to buy further wireless frequency spectrum, where it's needed, he said.

He declined to specify how much Deutsche Telekom will spend to bolster its network, but noted falling prices for wireless equipment. "Let me assure you that when it comes to the infrastructure investment, it isn't that much. It has a lot to do with replacing the network, which you do anyway."

Ricke said there's no need to partner with a third party such as a cable operator to build the network.

Turning to the U.K., Ricke said "there will be consolidation" among the wireless operators. "Whoever consolidates, we can benefit from that," he said.

In August, Deutsche Telekom and Dutch rival Royal KPN NV (KPN) ended talks on a bid for U.K. wireless operator O2 PLC (OOM.LN). The aim would have been to carve up O2, with KPN taking the German operation and Deutsche Telekom the U.K. activities.

Ricke said the U.K. wireless unit - T-Mobile UK - has been hit by too little investment in marketing as well as cuts in termination rates. "We are really on a good path there when I look into what we've done over the last six months," he said, noting that business with more lucrative contract customers in the U.K. is "picking up."

The CEO noted that antitrust regulators would never allow Deutsche Telekom to buy O2's German activities given its considerable share of the domestic market. "In Germany, I wouldn't be allowed to keep O2 - I'm absolutely certain," he said.

[bobolito]

Originally Posted by Matt

Since they are offering EDGE for $19.99, and all the rest are $60 or so for EDGE or EV-DO, I think TM will continue ti be price competitive when they roll out UMTS/HSDPA.

Is that $19.99 price for unlimited access with a laptop? I think I want to get something like that being that Cingular is so super-hyper-expensive on data! Do they have any EDGE cards? I only saw the GC-79 in their website.

Also, the price I saw was $29.99/month for unlimited. So maybe the $19.99/mo is if you have a voice plan as well?