GLG News by Mobile Phone Handsets Purchasers

AT&T’s projected $29.5 billion bid for EchoStar appears like an expensive tactic to compete in TV, but can justified in comparison to the U-verse buildout costs and projected results.

The restatement of financials by Leap Wireless raises the question of a carrier’s policies for reporting churn.  The key issue is consistency with deactivating prepaid users for inactivity or involuntary termination.

The Disney-Softbank alliance is the survival test for the “tween” phone because of: 1) Disney’s existing subscribers, 2) Softbank’s distribution, 3) NTT DoCoMo’s high churn, 4) Focus on tween features.

AT&T’s revenue sharing with Apple has the implications of contracting a manufacturer similar to an exclusive agent that activates customers with store locations.

AT&T’s mobile banking appears to be a tactic to increase data ARPU rather than consider the risk management for reliable banking access, valid transactions, and high data billing.

The Sprint Nextel and Clearwire split will be less significant than the competition for embedding broadband chipsets in mobile devices.  Intel will be a key player for the 2008 WiMAX launch.

CNN’s expansion to the I-Report hub has implications for pursuing the Google model. CNN develops loyal users rather than mere viewers, and increases the potential for advertising.

The four largest U.S. carriers changing to prorated Early Termination Fees (ETF) has the following implications: 1) Converting prepaid; 2) Selling features; 3) Increasing CPGA.

Sprint Nextel’s canceling of the Clearwire partnership has the potential for a new alliance with the four Pivot cable MSO’s to be the sales channel for WiMAX.  Sprint Nextel needs the distribution to homes, and the cable MSO’s gain Internet access and wireless features.

The Vodafone and Nokia Ovi deal has the following implications: 1) Win mobile Internet customers; 2) Operator maintains control; 3) Manufacturer builds direct-to-consumer distribution.