Thursday, May 24, 1:43 PM
Nvidia (NVDA) announces its first 4G LTE baseband chip, the fruits of its 2011 acquisition of Icera, has been qualified for use on tablets running on AT&T's (T) LTE network. The product faces tough competition from Qualcomm (QCOM), whose baseband chips are used in 4G iPad models. A chip combining an Icera baseband with an Nvidia Tegra app processor is due later this year.
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Tuesday, May 22, 1:17 PM
As Dish Network (DISH) tells the FCC to wait until at least 2016 for a 4G network launch, MetroPCS (PCS) and T-Mobile (DTEGY.PK) are calling for the agency to require Dish to sell half of its 40 MHz. of spectrum. Like others, the carriers think Dish will try to sell some or all of its spectrum to Verizon Wireless (VZ, VOD and/or AT&T (T), thereby putting smaller rivals at a disadvantage.
Comment![Tech, M&A]
Tuesday, May 22, 12:28 PM
Apple (AAPL) still has the world's most valuable brand, according to BrandZ's annual study, which estimates its value has risen 19% Y/Y to $182.9B. IBM is believed to have passed Google (GOOG) for the #2 spot thanks to a 15% increase, while McDonald's (MCD) is seen holding steady at #4 in spite of a 17% gain. Also in the top 10: Microsoft (MSFT), Coca-Cola (KO), Marlboro (PM), AT&T (T), Verizon (VZ), and China Mobile (CHL).
Comment![Tech, Consumer]
Friday, May 18, 2:44 PMNomura raises its PTs for AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ) to $36 and $42, respectively. The firm sees a "positive industry backdrop" emerging, and thinks sentiment should remain healthy through the launch of the next iPhone. On the flip side, it's worried Sprint (S), on the hook for huge iPhone purchases, could suffer if its iPhone sales "conform with broader industry upgrade trends."
3 Comments[Tech, Quick Ideas]
Friday, May 18, 1:14 PM
As Kantar Comtech reports Windows Phone is creating a foothold in the U.S. and Europe, Microsoft's (MSFT) China chief boasts the OS now claims 7% of the Chinese smartphone market, more than the 6% share he assigns to the iPhone. However, Canalys estimated the iPhone had 19% of the Chinese market in Q1, after Apple (AAPL) reported FQ2 Chinese sales tripled Y/Y. Sepeately, Lumia 900 (NOK) backer AT&T (T) predicts Windows 8 will give a lift to Windows Phone sales.
1 Comment[Tech]
Thursday, May 17, 6:12 PM
AT&T (T) mobile chief Ralph de la Vega says his company will try to lower smartphone subsidies this year in order to reduce their margin impact. Ma Bell's efforts to eliminate early upgrades already contributed to a 41% Q/Q drop in smartphone sales in Q1. Worries about iPhone subsidy cuts at AT&T and elsewhere have weighed on Apple (AAPL) shares - the $350+ retail subsidies often given for the iPhone are among the industry's highest.
6 Comments[Tech]
Wednesday, May 16, 12:38 PM
AT&T (T) and U.S. Cellular (USM) are paying $304M to buy spectrum from cable operator Cox. AT&T's spectrum purchases cover 8 states, while U.S. Cellular's cover 5. The collapse of the T-Mobile deal, along with the spectrum transfer that was part of AT&T's breakup fee, has sent Ma Bell on the hunt for new airwave purchases. It was recently reported AT&T has held talks to buy Leap Wireless (LEAP), and speculation also exists about a bid for Dish Network (DISH).
6 Comments[Tech, M&A]
Tuesday, May 15, 4:58 PM
Bernstein's Craig Moffett issues a downbeat note on the U.S. wireless industry: like others, he believes the industry saw a small Q1 net decline in postpaid subs (35K), and notes the decline is much larger (635K) if one just focuses on handset subs. Moreover, Moffett thinks ARPUs, which have been propped up by smartphone adoption, will be pressured now that sales growth is slowing, and sees more pain for struggling prepaid carriers LEAP and PCS.
1 Comment[Tech, Quick Ideas]
Tuesday, May 15, 1:32 PM
AT&T's (T) wireless customer satisfaction score rose 5 points to 69 in the ACSI's annual survey. That puts it nearly on par with Verizon Wireless (VZ, VOD), whose score of 70 represents a 3-point drop, and Sprint (S), which dropped a point to 71. Apple (AAPL) posted the highest score among cell phone vendors at 83, while Research In Motion (RIMM) had the lowest at 69.
3 Comments[Tech]
Monday, May 14, 12:58 PM
With the U.S. mobile industry nearing saturation, wireless carriers appear to have seen a net decline in postpaid subscribers in seasonally weak Q1, as gains for AT&T (T) and Verizon (VZ, VOD) were offset by losses for Sprint (S), T-Mobile (DTEGY.PK), and others. Slowing smartphone sales were a major culprit.
2 Comments[Tech]
Friday, May 11, 7:49 AM
Verizon and AT&T get upgrades to Outperform from Neutral at Credit Suisse, which also bumps VZ's price target to $45 from $38, and T to $36.50 from 30. Verizon +0.6% premarket.
3 Comments[Tech, On the Move]
Friday, May 11, 5:02 AM
AT&T (T) recently held talks to buy smaller rival Leap Wireless (LEAP), sources say, as U.S. carriers try to buy growth through acquisitions in an already-mature market. The talks were apparently quite serious, though it's unclear whether negotiations are still underway.
2 Comments[Tech, M&A]
Wednesday, May 9, 2:24 PM
AT&T (T) follows Verizon's (VZ, VOD) lead in promising it will introduce shared data plans that encompass multiple devices, though no details are provided. The moves might finally kick-start sales of 3G/4G tablets (a positive for QCOM and other mobile baseband/radio chipmakers), which have remained weak as consumers balk at paying for multiple data plans.
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Tuesday, May 8, 2:02 PM
Though Nielsen recently argued cord-cutting is for real, using 2011 subscriber losses as proof, Bernstein's Craig Moffett points to Q1 data as evidence the phenomenon is no big deal. Major U.S. pay-TV providers added 422K subs in Q1, Moffett notes, as gains of 375K and 185K for telco and satellite providers, respectively, more than offset a 137K drop in cable subs. Also, cable's decline was smaller than Q4's 316K.
Comment![Tech, Consumer]
Tuesday, May 8, 10:02 AM
It looks as if AT&T's (T) smartphone slowdown (likely affected by subsidy tightening and a cooling U.S. market) is hurting activation/provisioning software firm Synchronoss (SNCR -24.4%), which is crashing post-earnings. Synchronoss, which gets about half its revenue from AT&T, says it expects Q2 revenue of $65M-$68M, below a $68.6M consensus. It expects only 5%-10% growth in AT&T sales this year, below prior estimates.
Comment![Tech, On the Move, Quick Ideas]
Monday, May 7, 11:44 AM
AT&T (T) is expanding its Windows Phone (MSFT) lineup by adding Samsung's (SSNLF.PK) Focus 2, a mid-range 4G device featuring a 4" display, 1.4 GHz. CPU, and 5-megapixel camera. The Focus' specs aren't as impressive as those of Nokia's (NOK) Lumia 900, the subject of a massive marketing campaign, but it's also cheaper at $50 with a 2-year contract.
7 Comments[Tech]
