- MetroPCS plans to expand its service to 3 new markets by the end of 2013 if its proposed merger with T-Mobile USA is approved. Although the company did not reveal the 3 markets where the service will be launched, Metro CFO Braxton Carter has said in prior discussions with investors that the company will launch service in markets such as New Orleans&Minneapolis where MetroPCS' service is not currently available.
- Carter, along with MetroPCS Chairman and CEO Roger Linquist, fielded questions from investors at the UBS Global Media & Communications Xonference today. In particular, investors wanted to know how quickly MetroPCS & T-Mobile, once merged, will benefit from the synergies of the 2 companies. Carter said that 2013 will be a year of stabilization for T-Mobile's postpaid subscribers and also a time for expansion of the MetroPCS brand, hopefully on a nationwide basis.
- Interestingly, Carter said that MetroPCS will save significantly on roaming fees once the merger closes. He noted that the company currently pays more than $100 million a year in roaming fees to other CDMA operators.
- Asked about the LTE network, Linquist noted that the company has more than 20% of its customers LTE & said that 75% of upgrades are to the LTE network. He also noted that the company is seeing usage in the 2GB a month range for LTE users who are on the $55 a month unlimited usage plan.
- Investors also asked whether T-Mobile is spending enough money on its network. T-Mobile plans to spend $4 billion on its network modernization project, which includes refarming its 1900MHz PCS & 1700MHz AWS spectrum & deploying LTE. Carter said the cost of integrating MetroPCS' distributed antenna systems into T-Mobile's network will likely increase that $4 billion figure. He added that T-Mobile & MetroPCS will provide more guidance on the combined company's spending at DT's investor meeting later this week.
Source http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...markets-after-t-mobile-deal-closes/2012-12-05
RUMOR below
T-Mobile USA appears to be preparing to launch a low-cost prepaid service called GoSmart Mobile, but it is unclear when the service will launch & whether it will be an independent brand or a T-Mobile sub-brand.*
-According to documents first unearthed by the blog TMoNews, T-Mobile parent DT used a "corporation service company" to trademark the GoSmart Mobile name in the US. The prepaid brand appears to be wholly owned by T-Mobile.
- According to the blog, GoSmart Mobile will offer 3 main, low-cost plans. There will be a $30 plan for unlimited voice & texting, a $35 plan for unlimited voice, texting & 2G & a $45 plan for unlimited voice, texting & "high-speed" Web service, though a company flyer makes clear that this will only be "3G" service & thus probably not T-Mobile 4G HSPA+ service.
- The GoSmart Mobile brand could part of T-Mobile evolving prepaid strategy, especially as it moves forward with its merger with prepaid flat-rate player MetroPCS, which is scheduled to close by mid-2013. MetroPCS CFO Braxton Carter said Wednesday at an investor conference that 2013 will be a year of stabilization for T-Mobile's postpaid subscribers & also a time for expansion of the MetroPCS brand hopefully on a nationwide basis.
- With that in mind, GoSmart could be a way for T-Mobile to segment the prepaid market. As TMoNews points out, this is what Sprint has done with its Boost Mobile & Virgin Mobile brands. T-Mobile could focus on improving its postpaid brand while leaving MetroPCS & GoSmart as 2 different prepaid brands, with GoSmart positioned at the low-end part of the markett.
- It is unclear what would happen to T-Mobile's Monthly 4G prepaid offering or how GoSmart would compete with them since they have buoyed T-Mobile's results in recent quarters they're also more expensive than GoSmart's plans & also take advantage of the 4G HSPA+ network.
Source http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...bile-prepaid-service/2012-12-06#ixzz2EIZCIoRp
- Carter, along with MetroPCS Chairman and CEO Roger Linquist, fielded questions from investors at the UBS Global Media & Communications Xonference today. In particular, investors wanted to know how quickly MetroPCS & T-Mobile, once merged, will benefit from the synergies of the 2 companies. Carter said that 2013 will be a year of stabilization for T-Mobile's postpaid subscribers and also a time for expansion of the MetroPCS brand, hopefully on a nationwide basis.
- Interestingly, Carter said that MetroPCS will save significantly on roaming fees once the merger closes. He noted that the company currently pays more than $100 million a year in roaming fees to other CDMA operators.
- Asked about the LTE network, Linquist noted that the company has more than 20% of its customers LTE & said that 75% of upgrades are to the LTE network. He also noted that the company is seeing usage in the 2GB a month range for LTE users who are on the $55 a month unlimited usage plan.
- Investors also asked whether T-Mobile is spending enough money on its network. T-Mobile plans to spend $4 billion on its network modernization project, which includes refarming its 1900MHz PCS & 1700MHz AWS spectrum & deploying LTE. Carter said the cost of integrating MetroPCS' distributed antenna systems into T-Mobile's network will likely increase that $4 billion figure. He added that T-Mobile & MetroPCS will provide more guidance on the combined company's spending at DT's investor meeting later this week.
Source http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...markets-after-t-mobile-deal-closes/2012-12-05
RUMOR below
T-Mobile USA appears to be preparing to launch a low-cost prepaid service called GoSmart Mobile, but it is unclear when the service will launch & whether it will be an independent brand or a T-Mobile sub-brand.*
-According to documents first unearthed by the blog TMoNews, T-Mobile parent DT used a "corporation service company" to trademark the GoSmart Mobile name in the US. The prepaid brand appears to be wholly owned by T-Mobile.
- According to the blog, GoSmart Mobile will offer 3 main, low-cost plans. There will be a $30 plan for unlimited voice & texting, a $35 plan for unlimited voice, texting & 2G & a $45 plan for unlimited voice, texting & "high-speed" Web service, though a company flyer makes clear that this will only be "3G" service & thus probably not T-Mobile 4G HSPA+ service.
- The GoSmart Mobile brand could part of T-Mobile evolving prepaid strategy, especially as it moves forward with its merger with prepaid flat-rate player MetroPCS, which is scheduled to close by mid-2013. MetroPCS CFO Braxton Carter said Wednesday at an investor conference that 2013 will be a year of stabilization for T-Mobile's postpaid subscribers & also a time for expansion of the MetroPCS brand hopefully on a nationwide basis.
- With that in mind, GoSmart could be a way for T-Mobile to segment the prepaid market. As TMoNews points out, this is what Sprint has done with its Boost Mobile & Virgin Mobile brands. T-Mobile could focus on improving its postpaid brand while leaving MetroPCS & GoSmart as 2 different prepaid brands, with GoSmart positioned at the low-end part of the markett.
- It is unclear what would happen to T-Mobile's Monthly 4G prepaid offering or how GoSmart would compete with them since they have buoyed T-Mobile's results in recent quarters they're also more expensive than GoSmart's plans & also take advantage of the 4G HSPA+ network.
Source http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...bile-prepaid-service/2012-12-06#ixzz2EIZCIoRp
