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Sprint to keep iDEN network
Sprint Nextel put to rest any speculation that it would try to sell the iDEN push-to-talk network that it acquired when it merged with Nextel in 2005. The company said it will hold onto the network, despite rumors that it had been shopping for a buyer.
In a statement, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse reiterated what he has said before: that the iDEN network is critical to Sprint's operations. "The iDEN network is a key differentiator for Sprint, as it allows us to offer products and services no other carrier in the industry can match," he said.
In September, Hesse said that Sprint was going to hold onto the iDEN network despite the drag it had made on the carrier's business, as the operator hemorrhaged subscribers. However, in early October rumors swirled that either Cerberus Capital Management or Latin American cellular operator NII Holdings might be a possible buyer of the network.
For more:
- see this article
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Comments (5) | Post a comment
Comments
Posted by Joe Press-to-Talk | October 31, 2008 - 1:10pm
Yes, iDen is a great differentiator. Proprietary, dinosaur network. Huge churn. Nobody wants to buy the business. What other bizarre networks will Sprint continue to invest in? SuperDuper WiMAX 802.16-wacko? Send iDen to the elephant’s graveyard and take the write-downs. Give WiMax away to Clearwire, free, before it too pulls down Sprint. Try and earn your big paycheck Dan, and help your shareholders. Your paycheck is bigger than Arun's and he has 265 million subs under management.
Posted by Mohsin J. | November 1, 2008 - 12:43am
Well, there is no future path of iDEN so why they are do not start downgrading it slowly ..
Posted by BJ_Sprint | November 4, 2008 - 5:28pm
My name is BJ and I'm a representative for Sprint. We decided to retain our iDEN network because we looked at every option and determined that the network and the push-to-talk business is a valuable asset to our full component of wireless products and services. PTT will always be of value, and despite what some analyst suggested, there are new services coming for PTT users. We currently offer and are developing Push-to-X services that provide a new generation of split second communication on both the iDEN and our CDMA networks. Yes, Sprint had some rocky times with iDEN after the Sprint Nextel merger, but the network is operating at the best metrics in its history, and we are not going to give an inch to our competitors. If you have any additional questions on it, please feel free to email me at BJD@Sprint.com. Thanks!
Posted by Joe PTT | November 5, 2008 - 9:11am
Is not iDen 100% Motorola equipment? And Motorola Devices is sinking fast. What's the plan if Motorola Devices folds or stops making iDen? In Motorola's 10Ks, management guides lower iDen.
Posted by Anonymous | November 7, 2008 - 7:53pm
How can this be?
Per the Sprint spin machine...
The instinc is flying off the shelves
The network is performing at best ever levels
We have won awards for our improved customer service
1.3 million ex-Sprint customers (3rd quarter) have spoken and well, obviously disagreed.
