According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, a consortium of cable providers--Comcast, Time Warner and Cox Communications--are nearing a deal to sell Sprint Nextel's wireless services. Unlike Sprint's previous reseller agreements and MVNOs, this service will be sold under the Sprint Nextel brand name. The deal could also see Sprint developing a VoIP hybrid handset that works over the end-user's cable modem in the home and over mobile networks.
The deal could cement the cable companies lead in their race with carriers to deploy a veritable quadruple play of voice, data, video and wireless services. Although Verizon and SBC have launched IPTV trials and mobile TV services, this deal would provide the cable companies with not only a VoIP solution but Sprint's entire mobile offerings. The deal sounds like a big win for cable companies and somewhat cannibalistic on Sprint's part, but if the deal goes through, financial details should clear it up.
For more on the Sprint, cable deal:
- read this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)
- check out this blog entry
PLUS: Nextel Partners approves Sprint Nextel acquisition. Article