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]
Thursday, May 17, 9:39 AM
It's good to be part of a duopoly. In addition to talking about Verizon's (VZ) upcoming shared data plans, CFO Fran Shammo said Big Red plans to hike prices for its FiOS fiber-to-the-home TV and Internet services, citing strong customer satisfaction. Shammo's remarks come even though Verizon has no plans to invest in expanding FiOS into new markets. Time Warner Cable (TWC) is also reportedly planning to raise its broadband prices.
Comment![Tech]
Wednesday, May 16, 4:56 PM
Verizon Wireless' (VZ, VOD) shared data plans, due mid-summer, will be "very different, very innovative, something that really hasn’t been tried before in the industry," boasts Verizon CFO Fran Shammo. 3G/4G tablet makers, whose sales have been crippled by current mobile data plans, hope he isn't bluffing. As part of the move, Verizon will be eliminating unlimited data plans for 3G users who upgrade to 4G.
1 Comment[Tech]
Wednesday, May 16, 4:59 AM
The FCC said yesterday it needs more details from Verizon Wireless (VZ, VOD) on its offer to sell some wireless spectrum if/when regulators approve its plan to purchase another set of airwaves for $3.9B. The FCC wants more info on the link between the two deals by May 22.
Comment![Tech]
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, 3:29 PM
Ciena (CIEN +8.4%) shares surge as Verizon (VZ +1.5%) says it is using Ciena technology as part of its plans to build additional control panel technology into its network infrastructure. Citi says the news allays concerns that CIEN's technology isn't being accepted by customers and should give investors better confidence in its long-term growth opportunities.
Comment![Tech, On the Move]
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]
Thursday, May 10, 1:29 PM
T-Mobile (DTEGY.PK +1.3%) spurns Verizon Wireless' (VZ +0.9%) offer to sell it spectrum, saying it's rife with interference problems and limited coverage availability. Verizon Wireless had said last month that it would sell the 700mhz band if approved by regulators, but T-Mobile has been a vocal opponent of the deal, saying it risks interfering with TV stations that already occupy nearby spectrum bands.
Comment![Tech]
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.
Comment![Tech]
Wednesday, May 9, 10:31 AM
The FCC and DOJ continue to have concerns about Verizon Wireless' (VZ, VOD) plans to buy spectrum from cable providers, sources tell Bloomberg, leading to speculation a go-ahead won't come quickly. Sprint, T-Mobile, and many rural carriers are opposed to the deals, declaring them an attempt to keep rivals from effectively competing. Verizon continues to assert it needs the spectrum to deal with soaring data traffic. (also)
1 Comment[Tech]
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]
Monday, May 7, 9:14 AM
CNNMoney's David Goldman talked with 10 Verizon (VZ, VOD) sales reps, and found all of them recommending he buy a 4G LTE Android model instead of an iPhone. Others report similar experiences. Verizon probably isn't motivated by hostility towards Apple (AAPL), but by an interest in offloading its surging mobile data traffic onto its high-capacity LTE network. It recently mentioned all of its future smartphone releases will support LTE.
41 Comments[Tech]
