suncom wireless

ALSO NOTED: Sprint elects new board member; FCC on SunCom-T-Mobile; and more...

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> Sprint appoints activist investor to its board. Article

> FCC greenlights T-Mobile acquisition of SunCom Wireless. Article

And Finally... Keep up with all our live coverage of Mobile World Congress here.

Small operator extinction

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:59:54 -0500

Over the past year we saw many operators snatch up smaller players in an effort to increase their footprint and continue their strong subscriber growth. It's clearly more economical for large operators to deploy new technologies in rural markets than for small operators with tiny footprints and less buying power.

Some purchases were quite small such as Leap buying Hargray Wireless for $30 million, Verizon Wireless snapping up Ramcell for an undisclosed amount and AT&T purchasing its remaining stake in Edge Wireless, a long-time affiliate in the Pacific Northwest. Others were more substantial such as AT&T acquiring Dobson Communications for $2.8 billion, Verizon buying Rural Cellular Corp. for $2.67 billion and T-Mobile USA snapping up SunCom Wireless for $2.4 billion.

For vendors the shrinking base of Tier 2 and Tier 3 carriers means fewer customers to buy their equipment. Obviously if you're a vendor with a Tier 1 customer base, this isn't a problem. But for smaller vendors, the Tier 3 carriers often offered them a chance to get a foothold in the market. -Sue

Small operator death knell

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:59:59 -0500

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Small operator death knellÃ‚Â
Over the past few months we've seen a flurry of operator acquisitions. Some were quite small such as Leap buying Hargray Wireless for $30 million and Verizon Wireless snapping up Ramcell for an undisclosed amount. Others were more substantial such as AT&T acquiring Dobson Communications for $2.8 billion, Verizon buying Rural Cellular Corp. for $2.67 billion and T-Mobile USA snapping up SunCom Wireless for $2.4 billion.Ã‚Â

Just last week AT&T purchased the remaining stake in Edge Wireless, a long-time AT&T affiliate with about 172,000 subscribers in several markets in the Pacific Northwest. The amount of the acquisition wasn't disclosed yet. The deal is expected to close in 2008.

It's clear that building a bigger footprint is the basis for this buying spree among the large operators. As penetration rates climb, operators have to expand their footprint into rural and suburban markets to maintain their growth.

These acquisitions also eliminate roaming fees and reduce operating costs. It's more economical for a large operator to deploy new technologies in rural markets than for small operators with tiny footprints and less buying power. It's also tough for small operators to get the latest handsets from the manufacturers. Small operators don't have the buying power or the volume to cut exclusive deals with handset makers so they are often left with last-year's handset models.

Nevertheless I'm saddened by this trend. Many small operators are more entrepreneurial and innovative than their larger counterparts. For example, Kentucky-based Bluegrass Cellular offered push-to-talk and multimedia messaging before many of its larger counterparts. Midwest Wireless (before it was acquired by Alltel) experimented with a fixed wireless offering that competed with DSL and cable-modem service providers. Others, such as Cellular South differentiate themselves from their Tier 1 competitors by offering stellar customer service and strong ties to the community.

For vendors this trend means fewer customers to buy their equipment. Obviously if you're a vendor with a Tier 1 customer base, this isn't a problem. But for smaller vendors the Tier 3 carriers offer them a chance to get a foothold in the market.

I hope some small operators are able to survive this acquisition trend. Without them, I think this market is much less dynamic. -Sue

ALSO NOTED: Suncom revenues up; Sprint/Clearwire partnership good for vendors; and much more...

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> Suncom Wireless adds 106,000 customers. ARPU increases to $57.21. Release

> ABI Research analyst Phil Solis praises the Clearwire/Sprint partnership for the economies of scale it offers vendors. Release

> The GSM Association reports that operators serving 40 percent of the world's subscribers are working on contactless m-payments systems. Release

And finally... Paranoid about all those GPS devices you're carrying around? Don't want the black helicopters using LBS apps to hunt you down? Try this new device. Blog

ALSO NOTED: Suncom delisted; Tesco to offer MVNO in Ireland; and much more...

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 19:01:30 -0500

> Mobile music and social networking service, Phling releases usage stats from Swisscom Mobile after first 30 days. Article

> Suncom Wireless's stock has been delisted from the NYSE for failing to meet its minimum market capitalization of $100 million. Article

> Tesco to offer mobile services to Irish customers with an MVNO through O2. Article

And Finally... A mobile video about drug use is causing a stir as its popularity increases in schools throughout the U.K. Article

RELEASE: SunCom to sell tower assets to SBA

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 12:27:16 -0500

SunCom Wireless Agrees to Sell Domestic Tower Assets to SBA Communications
Monday November 13, 5:20 pm ET

BERWYN, Pa., Nov. 13 -- SunCom Wireless Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TPC - News) today announced that it has agreed to sell 69 wireless communications towers to SBA Towers II LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SBA Communications (Nasdaq: SBAC - News; "SBA"), for $18.0 million. Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007.

The towers are located throughout SunCom's markets of North Carolina, South Carolina, and eastern Tennessee.

As part of the sale agreement, SunCom and SBA will also sign at closing 10-year site lease agreements for each of the 69 towers, with four 5-year lease renewal options.

After giving effect to this transaction, SunCom will no longer own any wireless communications towers in its continental U.S. markets. Upon closing, SunCom has agreed to prepay the first four years' rent to SBA.

Media Capital Advisors, Inc., a West Chester, Pennsylvania-based investment banking firm, represented SunCom in the transaction.

SBA currently owns or manages approximately 5,400 wireless communications towers and other communications sites.

About SunCom Wireless

SunCom Wireless is a leader in offering digital wireless communications services to consumers in the Southeastern United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. With more than 1 million subscribers, SunCom is committed to being a different kind of wireless company focused on treating customers with respect, offering simple, straightforward plans and providing access to the largest GSM network and the latest technology choices. SunCom Wireless is a proud provider of Wireless AMBER Alerts. For more information about SunCom products and services, visit http://www.suncom.com or call 877-CALL-SUN (1-877-225-5786).

Statements in this press release regarding SunCom Wireless's business that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any such forward-looking statements are identified in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and other documents SunCom Wireless files from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Alltel launches 'My Circle' calling plan

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 20:01:36 -0400

Alltel looks like it has taken a cue from small regional player SunCom Wireless by introducing a new plan called My Circle that allows customers to make free calls to any 10 people, regardless of what network they are using. SunCom, which competes with Alltel in many Southern markets, launched Mobile-to-Anyone plans on March 1 that allow unlimited calling to any 10 people, regardless of whether the network is a competitor's or a landline network.

To read more about Alltel's My Circle plan:
- take a look at this release from the company

SunCom introduces mobile-to-anyone calling

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 19:01:37 -0500

SunCom Wireless, a regional provider in the Southeast and Caribbean, announced an interesting marketing initiative to help distinguish itself among the nationwide carrier powerhouses. The operator announced the industry's first "Mobile-to-Anyone" feature, which gives customers unlimited calling to 10 people in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, regardless of wireless provider or type of phone line. Depending on their plan, customers pay either an extra $10 or $15 per month. It's hard to believe such a plan is a money-maker given the termination costs, but the carrier looks to be curbing costs a bit by only allowing these unlimited calls to be initiated or received within the customer's plan calling area.

For more about SunCom's mobile-to-anyone calling feature:
- read this press release from the company

SunCom expands licensing deal with Qpass

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 19:01:37 -0500

Qpass has announced an expanded two-year licensing deal with SunCom Wireless. As part of the deal, SunCom will add Qpass' content delivery platform and content management services to its Downloadables service. Qpass' technology and services will allow SunCom subscribers to manage and personalize premium content transactions and download ringtones, games, graphics and other digital media to their mobile phones. Downloadables' products include ringtones from artists like Kanye West and Green Day, games such as Prince of Persia and wallpaper from Sports Illustrated.

For more details on the SunCom/Qpass licensing deal:
- see this SunCom press release

ALSO NOTED: Cloudy future for prepaid wireless biller; Capitol Hill network expansion project completed; and much more...

Wed, 08 Jun 2005 20:00:41 -0400

> A cloudy future for a prepaid wireless biller. Article

> Cinglular Wireless completes Capitol Hill network expansion project. Release

> Sprint simplifies wireless bills. Release

> Suncom Wireless chooses Brightstar for logistics. Release

> BlackBerry-only store to open in New York. Release

And Finally... Good friends, good cuppa Joe and, please, turn off that WiFi. Blog