Rumors Pushing Sprint - Nextel Combo
It's been rumored before, but the concept of Sprint buying Nextel is getting plenty of attention again. In the past when it's been rumored, many have said it would be tricky to integrate, considering Nextel's use of iDEN and Sprint's use of CDMA. However, as Nextel is exploring its next generation options, one of the possibilities is EV-DO, which Sprint is already gearing up to offer -- making a combination much easier. Nextel also brings in a big crop of high ARPU business customers, which Nextel has always done a good job targeting. It could also bring them Boost Mobile, which seems to be the only major MVNO that isn't using Sprint's network already in the US. If this does come to pass, it will be interesting to see how Verizon Wireless responds. Verizon Wireless and Nextel haven't wasted any opportunities to snipe at each other -- and it certainly won't make Verizon Wireless happy to see Nextel picked up by an even larger rival. Derek adds: Also consider that SPCS has learned through Virgin that it may be better to outsource segment strategies than to grow them from scratch. Furthermore, high-quality PTT is critical to Nextel's ongoing success, which is why they have been working closely for years with Qualcomm and Motorola on a PTT technology called Q-Chat which works over CDMA networks. These rumors fit.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
"The Merger"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]