Friday, February 29, 2008

Sprint Nextel Continues to Struggle

Sprint Nextel looks to score big with the launching of the "Simply Everything" unlimited wireless plan but there is no denying that the company is still struggling. The company has taken major losses in profit and stock value. Predictions indicate that the wireless network will also suffer from major customer defections.

Let us begin with the losses recently reported by Sprint Nextel. The wireless network reported that for its fourth fiscal quarter it suffered losses worth $29.5 billion. This bleeding is the effect of continued decrease in the number of Sprint subscribers and the write-down from the wireless network's 2005 acquisition of Nextel. As a result, the company will not pay dividend in the foreseeable future.

The problems will only worsen as the wireless network estimates that they will lose more than a million customers who pay monthly bills in the first quarter. One of the causes of these defections is the fact that Sprint was unable to lay out a plan to improve conditions. the wireless network also ranks among the lowest inters of customer satisfaction and service quality.

The stocks of the carrier also suffered due to the report of the the loss in profit and the continued decrease in subscribers. The wireless networks stock was down 10.4% to $8.02 when they reported the losses. A write down of the value of Nextel Communications Inc. is also consider as a major factor in the profit loss and the devaluation of the company's stocks.

Sprint has continued to struggle after it merged with Nextel. The acquisition was suppose to increase the average revenue per user (ARPU) of its subscribers but that plan has not been accomplished. The main reason for this is the fierce competition offered by rival wireless networks. The mobile phone industry remains as a very lucrative business and so far Sprint has suffered from the intense competition.

Fortunately, all is not lost for Sprint Nextel. Although the company is struggling, efforts are being done to turn things around. These efforts is headed by the new CEO and the new " Simply Everything" wireless plan will help stem the flow of customer defections. The layoff of about 4,000 employees and closing of more than a hundred 125 retail outlets will also help the company to recover.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

What Consumers Say About Sprint Nextel's Samsung Slider

About a week ago, I made a post about some cool new Samsung phones that were launched by Sprint Nextel. One of the new phones now available at the wireless network's stores is the Samsung M520 or more popularly known as the Samsung Slider. After consumers and mobile phone enthusiasts have gotten a hold of this phone, some reviews on the device have begun to come out.

The Samsung M520 is the first EV-DO slider offered by the major wireless network. This device offers a music player, a 1.3 megapixel camera, the ability to multi-task between applications and a microSD slot for storage.

If you are interested in getting Sprint's Samsung Slider, then you might want to read a few reviews about it first. After all, it makes no sense to pay for a cell phone that will not satisfy your needs.

Here is a video review of the wireless network's newest phone. This Phonescoop Samsung M520 video review will give you a good idea of how the device looks as well as get some vital info on the Samsung Slider.



The video review of this Sprint mobile phone indicated that the phone is similar in dimension to the Mysto another Samsung mobile phone. The review also suggested this phone for wireless consumers who are looking for a mid range phone that is compact and slim.

I also scanned the web for reviews on this phone. getting information about a device from other consumers is also an effective way of getting an idea of how it performs and other useful information. I found a lot of reviews on Sprints first EV-DO slider ao many people are interested in this device.

Let me give a list of the common positive and negative reactions on the Samsung Slider form Sprint Nextel.


Positive Attributes:

It's a Slim Slider-
many consumers love the fact that this phone is a slim slider which
makes it a sleek and cool looking phone. And who wouldn't wean to have a
cool looking cell phone?

Mini SD Slot - consumers were also impressed with the Samsung Slider's mini SD slot. This
feature allows customers to store 2 gigabytes of music, videos and pictures.

Loud Speaker- the reviews given by consumers also indicated that the speakers one the
device were good.

User Friendly- Many reviews pointed out that like most Samsung cellphones, the M520 is
easy to use.


Negative Attributes:

Short Battery Life:
The consumers who offered reviews lamented that the battery life is
inferior.

1.3 mega Pixel Camera: the video review as well as the online reviews indicated that the
Samsung Sliders camera does not fare well when compared with the
cameras on other phones. If you value a good camera when
looking for a mobile phone, then perhaps you won't like the Slider.

Sprint Nextel's Service: Several consumers also made observations that the device suffers
because of the wireless networks service. Some complained of bad
reception and poor customer service.

I hope the info I provided can help you decide if you should have this phone. If you decided to get this phone then I also hope that you'll have a great time using it.

Monday, February 25, 2008

T-Mobile Acquisition of SunCom is now Complete

A few weeks ago, I made a post about T-Mobile getting the approval to purchase another company to bolster its wireless network. SunCom Wireless a regional carrier that primarily serves the southeastern United States and some Caribbean islands was in the process of merging with T-Mobile. Now, that deal has been completed.

The proposal for this merger was first announced during September of last year. however, the proposal was only approved by the Federal Communications Commission on the early part of this month.

The companies involved has made an announcement this week that the deal has been finalized. T-Mobile's vaunted customer service and unique wireless products are now made available to more than a million wireless consumers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The president and chief executive officer of T-Mobile USA, Robert Dotson, gave this statement regarding the completion of the acquisition.
We look forward to offering our new customers in the Southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico T-Mobiles industry-leading customer service, quality national network and unique personal communications products and services that help customers stay connected to those who matter most
The completion of this buyout is also advantageous for T-Mobile. The major wireless network will now have more consumers and a wider network. T-Mobile will not be able to cover about 259 million subscribers with its wider network. As a result of this deal, the carrier will now be able to offer its services to ninety eight of the top 100 national wireless markets.

Customers will probably enjoy the services of T-Mobile as the company has been renowned for the quality of serve it offers to customers. In fact, the wireless network has held the top spot in the J.D. Power and Associates Wireless Customer Care Performance Study for the seventh consecutive time. I hope that all will work well for both the wireless network and the customers.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Samsung SCH-U550 Now Available at Verizon Wireless

With the addition of this hip mobile phone, Verizon's cellphone lineup has become more formidable. The Samsung SCH-U550 is now available at the wireless network's online site and on the communications stores scattered throughout the US. Mobile phone fans who love clamshell type devices will appreciate this gadget from Samsung Telecommunications America.

The Samsung SCH-U550 is described as a fashionable clamshell type cellphone. With its trend-setting brown finish, this device will really emphasize your stylish looks and fashion sense. If you would like to grab the attention of your peers, then this mobile phone will give you that opportunity.

In line with the latest generation of mobile phones, the newest device offered by the "most reliable" wireless network has all the features that consumers love. It gives wireless consumers the ability to listen and download their favorite music. The Samsung SCH-U550 can also allow users to watch short video clips as well as create them.

Taking pictures of awesome sites and of beautiful people will also be a blast with the 1.3 megapixel camera on this cell phone. The Samsung SCH-U550 comes with a special camera that has Night Shot capabilities. This feature enhances the camera’s effectiveness and digital zoom in dark environments. If you like to party with your hip friends on late nights, then this device will capture those moments better than some mobile phones.

This phone is also compatible with most of the wireless network's V CAST services. You can get this awesome device for about $70 after rebates and if you sign up for a new two-year wireless contract. Here are some of the cool features of the Samsung SCH-U550:

  • Text, picture and video messaging
  • Instant Messaging using AIM®, MSN®, Yahoo!®
  • Expandable memory with microSD™ memory card slot
  • Advanced Speech Recognition
  • Speakerphone
  • Personal organizer
  • Bilingual user interface: English and Spanish
  • TTY/TTD-capable
  • Hearing Aid Compatibility rating: M4/T4
  • Get It Now®-capable
  • VZ NavigatorSM
  • Mobile Web 2.0SM
I hope that this info on the latest phone release from one of the top wireless networks will be useful for you. You can check out the Samsung SCH-U550 at Verizon Wireless news for more details.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Sprint Nextel Launches Cool Samsung Cell Phones

Sprint Nextel maybe having a tough time starting from the later part of last year and the wireless network is facing a few hurdles in the early part of this year but they have managed to offered their customers some new mobile phones in their lineup.

The new cellphones that have recently appeared on Sprint Nextel's lineup are both from Samsung. The Samsung i325 ACE and the Samsung M520 Slider are now available on the wireless network's website. Let me give you a few details on these phones to help you decide if these devices are what you need.

The Samsung i325 ACE is one of the new Samsung mobile device on Sprint's lineup. The wireless carrier describes it as the sleekest world phone with Windows Mobile 6. This mobile device has dimensions of 4.65" x 2.32" x 0.46" and weighs 3.9 ounces. It has a Lithium Ion 1300 mAh battery with a talk time of more than four hours.

Customers can access their professional (MS Outlook) and personal email, text messages with the Samsung i325 ACE . This phone also allows users to view documents and files, surf the web, take pictures and capture videos.

Here are the key features of the Samsung Ace:
  • Sprint TVSM enabled
  • Speakerphone
  • Built-in camera
  • Web, email capable
  • Bluetooth
  • External display
  • Memory card slot
  • Voice dialing
  • Broadband speeds where available

The second new Samsung cellphone that was launch by the major wireless network is the Samsung M520 or the Slider. This device is a dual-mode phone meaning it has both CDMA/EVDO for use in the U.S. and GSM/GPRS for roaming abroad.

The Samsung M520 Slider is an updated version of the M510 and the wireless network's first EV-DO slider. Its dimensions are 4.01" x 2.04" x 0.5" and it tips the scales at 2.75 oz. The 800 mAh Standard battery that runs the Samsung Slider provides up to three and a half hours of talk time.

Here are some of the key features of the Samsung M520 Slider:

  • Sprint Music StoreSM
  • Sprint TVSM enabled
  • Speakerphone
  • Built-in camera
  • Web, email capable
  • Bluetooth
  • External display
  • GPS enabled
  • Memory card slot
  • Voice dialing
  • Broadband speeds where available

Sprint Nextel is currently trying to recover from customer losses as well as the class action suits that have been filed against the wireless network. However, the arrival of cool cellphones will attract a few more customers too the wireless carrier. If they can offer great services along with their mobile phones then Sprint Nextel will be able to weather the storm that the company is facing right now. You can check out the deatils of these phones at Sprint Nextel. Simply suplly your zip code to view the cellphones and other products available to your area.

Friday, February 15, 2008

LG Vu AX565 and LG Scoop Now Available at Alltel Wireless

Alltel Wireless customers can now two of the hottest devices in the mobile phone market. There is no doubt that many subscribers of the wireless network are itching to get their hands on these phones.

Let us first talk about the LG Vu. This phone is designed for streaming Web videos. Some cell phone analyst expect this neat wireless device to usher in the MediaFLO age which will allow wireless networks to offer Mobile television services.

The 1.3 MP camera with video capabilities that come with this phone will give customers the ability to create their own videos. Wireless network subscribers will also enjoy the other features of this phone especially the chat-style text messaging and Music player with FM transmitter.

The specific information on this phone are not yet available of this moment. I found out through this blog that the Vu is priced at $69.99 after rebates have been deducted and and a 2 year contract has been signed, However, let me make up for it with this video review.This should give you enough info to satisfy your curiosity about this phone.



Now let's move on to the LG Scoop the other well anticipated phone to be launched by Alltel. This cool phone is the wireless network's version of Sprint's LG Rumor. It comes in three colors that customers will love. They can choose form slate gray, turquoise blue and citrus orange.

This device is messaging friendly because of the QWERTY keyboard and chat-style IM it offers. these features will give you thumbs a break from pushing buttons while composing text messages. This phones also has AOL Instant Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger for those who love to chat over the web. Its 1.3 MP camera with video capabilities and Bluetooth capabilities makes this device a cool phone indeed. You can check the rest of the details of the LG rumor by clicking here.

Wow, with all the cool phones being launch, choosing one can really be an ordeal. The mobile phone market is constantly growing so better phones are being released all the time. I need to save a few bucks to be able to buy a new cool phone because my current phone is growing old fast. Anyway, i hope you can get useful info from this post.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Motorola ROKR E8 Music Phone is Coming to T-Mobile USA!

I've got some great news for T-Mobile subscribers and mobile phone enthusiasts.

According to this engadgetmobile article, one of Motorola's hottest phones will be launched by the major wireless network.

The Motorola ROKR E8 is described as a music phone with a heap of internal memory. That means music loving T-Mobile subscribers won't be able to wait to get their hands on this cool mobile device.

The wireless network has not yet announced the launch date and other details on this development. Nevertheless, T-Mobile subscribers will be excited when this phone is finally made available by their wireless network.

Information about the Motorola ROKR E8 spread last September but no definite info on the launching and price were released. Complete information is still not available but it is definite that T_Mobile will be offering the phone in the upcoming months.

Let me provide some of the basic Specs of the Motorola ROKR E8 to those who are unfamiliar with this music phone:

Weight: 3.77 oz

Dimensions : 4.57" x 2.11" x 0.43"

Form Factor: Bar

Battery Life: Talk: 6 hours (360 minutes) Standby: 300 hours (12.5 days)
10 hours music playback

Display Type: LCD (Color TFT/TFD), Colors: 262,144 (18-bit), Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels

Memory: 2 GB (built-in, flash shared memory)

See the Motorola ROKR E8 at PhonesScoop.com to get more details about it.

And of course, here is a video review of the Motorola ROKR E8 to whet the appetites of those who are interested in this phone.



The video should give you an idea of what this phone can offer. But then, there's nothing like the real thing and the only way to see if it's the real deal is by seeing it with your own eyes. We all have to wait until T-Mobile launches this phone. Let's all hope that the wireless network gives us a fair price or else I wouldn't be able to purchase it.

Monday, February 11, 2008

T-Mobile Gets Approval to Purchase SunCom Wireless Plus the T-Mobile Shadow Update

This piece of news indicates that competition in the mobile phone industry remains to be very stiff. One wireless network will no longer operate while another increases in size and number of customers.

This week, T-Mobile has been granted approval to assimilate SunCom wireless into its fold. The major wireless network reportedly had to shell out twenty four billion dollars in order to merge SunCom into its company. Information about this proposed buyout was first released by both companies during September of last year.

SuncOm Wireless is a regional carrier that primarily serves the southeastern United States and some Carribean islands. More than a million wireless customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are being served by this regional wireless network.

Currently, T-Mobile provides wireless services to more than 27 million customers in the US. When this deal will be completed hopefully at the end of this month, more than a million customers will be added to their customer base as well as expand the carrier's network into new areas.

the Federal Communications Commission explained that approving the buyout is for the good of the public interest because it will promoting competition and the Southeast and the Caribbean will be included in T-Mobile's wireless footprint.

T-Mobile Shadow Update

T-mobile made another important announcement, this time it involves their famous T-Mobile Shadow.

The wireless network has offered a software update to the HTC Shadow Windows Mobile smartphone. This update allows users to add some new features to the amazing.

One of the exciting new features is the "audio postcard' which is exclusively offered by T-Mobile. This unique feature allows users to attach a vocal message to a picture message before sending it.

The MyFaves menu of the T-Mobile Shadow has also been updated. Text entry in now easier some multimedia features, including new ringtones and wallpapers have also been included in the update. There is no doubt that these updates makes the amazing Shadow a more formidable smartphone.

Click to here to download the T-Mobile Shadow update.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Major 3G Network Coverage Expansion for 2008 Planned by AT&T

This week major wireless network, AT&T has announced some of their major plans for 2008.

The mobile phone industry is grown steadily and the needs of wireless customers also evolve and grow unceasingly. This expansion will allow the company to continuously evolve its network to meet the ever growing needs and demands of the wireless community. To continue delivering higher speeds and capacity for the future, AT&T aims to focus on the evolution towards HSPA+ and LTE technologies.

The network released a statement indicating they plan to make high speed wireless Web connection more accessible by creating a wider network for mobile customers. To achieve this vision, the wireless network will deploy third-generation (3G) wireless broadband services to more than 80 additional US cities.

When this massive expansion plan for this year is complete, AT&T 3G services will be available to nearly 350 leading U.S. markets. No less than 1,500 additional cell sites will be necessary to attain this 3G initiative. That should give you a picture of the immensity of this project.

At&T also mentioned other plans that will be initiated this year. Oner of them is building the nation's first High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA)-enabled network. This project is expected to be completed by the middle of 2008.

When thisa new generation technology is completed, the wireless network will deliver faster uplink speeds. This means that sending large files in a shorter amount of time will be possible for AT&T's HSUPA-enabled laptop users. They will also be able to take full advantage of the latest interactive Internet and business applications when the HSUPA enabled network becomes operational.

The evolution of AT&T's 3G network will not be possible without the deployment of the HSUPA network. Further enhancements and speed boosts will follow if the initials stages of the expansion has been established. The transition of the AT&T 3G network to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) standards will be completed only after the deployment of the HSUPA network.

Ralph de la Vega, the president and CEO for AT&T's wireless unit released this statement,
"Fast wireless broadband is the foundation for a whole range of new and emerging applications that our customers are adopting, including everything from social networking to sending live video and large business files. With these aggressive initiatives, we're expanding the scope and the speed of our 3G capabilities, connecting people with their world and enabling more customers to do more with their wireless devices, wherever they may be."
It seems that AT&T wants to start this year with the right foot. The competition in the lucrative wireless phone industry is very tight so getting every possible advantage over the competiton will spell success. If the wireless network can sucessfully expand their networks and complete the tranistion into HSPA+ and LTE technologies, then they will have a significant edge over their rivals.

I hope that these developments will also produce positive changes for wireless consumers. Perhaps the stiff competition among wireless networks will result in the best services and products for us wireless consumers.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Virgin Mobile USA Suffer Continued Losses

It seems that another wireless network is going through a tough time.

It has been reported that despite adding more than 210,000 customers in the final quarter of last year, Virgin Mobile USA Inc. will be taking on a loss of $3 million to $6 million. The company stock was down more than 13% to $6.99 according to the news. Well, if I am an investor, then I will have a pleasant day with those figures.

I don't find it surprising that a lot of consumers decided to choose Virgin mobile over other wireless carriers. After all, this wireless network has been a consumer champion according to some studies. In fact, this company added a total of about 512,000 customers into their network last year and currently have nearly five million customers.

I think that this is a good indication that excellent customer service or providing good consumer satisfaction is a important factor in gaining customers. Some wireless networks who were criticized for subpar customer relations have promised better customer service programs for this year.

Let's go back to the scoop on Virgin Mobile's losses. According to reports the losses were caused by an increasing competitive prepaid landscape combined with economic impacts on the customer base of Virgin Mobile.

The CEO, of Virgin Mobile Inc.,
Dan Schulman, reassured his company's investors with these words, "We believe that sustainable, disciplined customer acquisition will result in higher return on investment and growth over the long term."

He is hoping that the current decline in the wireless network's stocks is only a short term effect of the economic factors that are affecting the company. He also pointed out that
during the final months of the year, Virgin Mobile purposefully avoided cutting prices on its handsets. The CEO further explained that poor customer economics is the common result of temporary, aggressive pricing.

I hope that this slide is indeed only a temporary problem for Virgin mobile. They are doing a good job at providing good and cheap service to their customers. If they can adjust accordingly to the factors that have cause the decline of their stock value, then perhaps they can make their investors happy.

Friday, February 1, 2008

T-Mobile Tops Customer Service Survey

Let's applaud T-Mobile for doing a good job of making their subscribers happy.

In the latest study conducted by the researchers of J.D. Power and Associates, T-Mobile USA Inc. remained as the top wireless carrier in terms of customer service performance. For the past several studies done by the research company, T-Mobile has stayed rooted at the top. It must be good to be a customer of this wireless network.

Let me describe how the study is done. The research gathers information on how well the wireless carriers meet customers’ service-related needs. They look at several types of services including those done over the phone with a representative, via automated response system, personal visits to T-Mobile retail stores and online transactions.

To complete the study, researchers form J.D. Power and Associates also measures the efficiency of how customers’ issues are resolved. About twelve and a half thousand wireless customers who contacted their carrier’s customer-care department within the past year were the foundation of this research.

Other wireless networks also did well in this customer satisfaction study. Verizon Wireless was ranked number two while AT&T and Alltel are tied at the third spot. Sprint Nextel Corp. ranked last in the study but they made announcements before the end of last year that they will initiate programs driven towards improving customer service.

Several interesting findings also surfaced as a result of this customer satisfaction study. For instance, nearly half of wireless customers connected to the customer care service of their wireless networks. Most of them were related to inaccurate charges and other inquiries related to bills.

A lot of wireless network customers contacted their carriers by phone but most people still prefer personal visits to a retail store. Maybe people feel more comfortable with doing things personally. In my experience, nothing beats talking personally with a customer care representative when discussing a problem.

I hope that this post have been helpful for you. If you haven't chosen a particular network, then the results of the study might help you form a decision.