Comments on: Observations: Carriers - May 16, 2009 http://mcguireslaw.com/2009/05/16/observations-carriers-may-16-2009/ The value of any product or service increases with its mobility. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:03:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Eric http://mcguireslaw.com/2009/05/16/observations-carriers-may-16-2009/#comment-1518 Eric Thu, 21 May 2009 02:46:13 +0000 http://mcguireslaw.com/?p=2271#comment-1518 Is prepaid becoming a haven for voice-heavy users? Prepaid doesn't have to just be for voice-heavy users IMO. I used to have a Sidekick for years not because I particularly liked the sidekick but because it was the ONLY phone among all the carriers that had a prepaid data plan. Unlimited data for $30 a month - prepaid, no contract. (didn't switch to a contract until the sprint sero thing because then it became "Pay $30 to tmobile for just data -- and tmobile's limited coverage area, or pay $30 to sprint for data and 500 minutes, even though I only use maybe 30 minutes a month at that it's still nice to have the minutes if at some point I do need them) I think there IS a market for prepaid data services though, and the first carrier that embraces it with a wide range of supported devices rather than just one specific one (sidekick) has a nice market to tap into that's currently not being supported. Is prepaid becoming a haven for voice-heavy users?

Prepaid doesn’t have to just be for voice-heavy users IMO. I used to have a Sidekick for years not because I particularly liked the sidekick but because it was the ONLY phone among all the carriers that had a prepaid data plan. Unlimited data for $30 a month - prepaid, no contract. (didn’t switch to a contract until the sprint sero thing because then it became “Pay $30 to tmobile for just data — and tmobile’s limited coverage area, or pay $30 to sprint for data and 500 minutes, even though I only use maybe 30 minutes a month at that it’s still nice to have the minutes if at some point I do need them)

I think there IS a market for prepaid data services though, and the first carrier that embraces it with a wide range of supported devices rather than just one specific one (sidekick) has a nice market to tap into that’s currently not being supported.

]]> By: Eric http://mcguireslaw.com/2009/05/16/observations-carriers-may-16-2009/#comment-1515 Eric Wed, 20 May 2009 20:42:02 +0000 http://mcguireslaw.com/?p=2271#comment-1515 I don't think the iphone will 'destroy the wireless business'. I think it's kind of interesting that the same people that talk about bandwidth crunches then say "oh and growth is down, it was ONLY 24% higher." Even if margins shrink, you can still end up being able to have higher profit than you used to with lower margins if you end up with a lot more customers. Personally right now I use an HTC Mogul, and I'd say I probably use it more than iphone people use their phone. About 500MB of traffic a month. I'm trying to decide between going with a Sprint Pre or an iPhone next. It really depends on if my SERO plan works with the Pre - if it doesn't, and I'm going to have to spend over $60 anyway then I'll probably seriously consider an iphone. If I can get the Pre while remaining on my $30 SERO plan then it's a no brainer to stay with Sprint. EITHER way though, I really doubt my data usage is going to skyrocket with a new phone the way the article mentions. I don’t think the iphone will ‘destroy the wireless business’. I think it’s kind of interesting that the same people that talk about bandwidth crunches then say “oh and growth is down, it was ONLY 24% higher.” Even if margins shrink, you can still end up being able to have higher profit than you used to with lower margins if you end up with a lot more customers.

Personally right now I use an HTC Mogul, and I’d say I probably use it more than iphone people use their phone. About 500MB of traffic a month.

I’m trying to decide between going with a Sprint Pre or an iPhone next. It really depends on if my SERO plan works with the Pre - if it doesn’t, and I’m going to have to spend over $60 anyway then I’ll probably seriously consider an iphone. If I can get the Pre while remaining on my $30 SERO plan then it’s a no brainer to stay with Sprint. EITHER way though, I really doubt my data usage is going to skyrocket with a new phone the way the article mentions.

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