Carriers

The enthusiasm over Sprint Nextel possibly getting the iPhone is overblown.

News that Sprint may finally get the iPhone garnered universal praise yesterday, from a pop in Sprint's stock to longtime subscribers cheering at the prospect of finally owning Apple's smash-hit handset. Today, a few analysts have already begun to hit the brakes, noting the potential headaches that may come with the iPhone.

"Sprint iPhone? Be careful what you wish for," William Power, an analyst at Robert W. Baird, said in a research note today.

Sprint will have to deal with higher subsidy costs for the … Read more

commentary Once Sprint Nextel gets the iPhone, you can bid farewell to its unlimited-data plan.

If history is any indication, Sprint will have to make some tough decisions, if Apple's blockbuster device starts weighing on its network. It's something the other carriers have done, and it's part of a broader trend of telecommunication companies struggling to keep up with growing bandwidth consumption.

After suffering through years of heavy bandwidth usage from iPhone users, AT&T relented and switched to a tiered pricing plan last year. It only took Verizon Wireless a few months after launching its … Read more

The allure of 4G wireless service has drawn in a number of new players, including satellite-TV provider Dish Network.

Dish applied yesterday for a waiver to the Federal Communications Commission that would allow it to use its recently acquired spectrum to build a wireless network, according to Credit Suisse analyst Jonathan Chaplin. The company plans to build a 4G LTE Advanced network, Chaplin said yesterday in a research note, adding that it has committed to a "realistic" build-out schedule.

The FCC application provides some clarity on what Dish had planned to do with a recent wave of acquisitions, … Read more

Wal-Mart and its TracFone-powered mobile virtual network operator, StraightTalk, are getting ready to bring an affordable Android to the masses.

Last week, Wal-Mart's Web Site began taking reservations for the Samsung Galaxy Precedent, a low-cost barrier into Android's potential. Expected to run $149.88 without a contract, it becomes even more appealing when paired with StraightTalk's $45 unlimited voice, text, and data plan.

Specifications for the Galaxy Precedent are admirable considering the price point. They include Android 2.2 Froyo, an 800MHz processor, 384MB RAM, a 3.2-inch display, and a 2-megapixel camera. Toss in the Android … Read more

Verizon Wireless today launched Verizon Video, which is a new version of its V Cast Video service. Like its predecessor, Verizon Video is an on-demand video application that partners with a variety of providers to stream archival or live television footage. Content includes 250 full-episode TV shows and clips from ABC, NBC, CBS, Comedy Central, Animal Planet, and other channels. You can also pay for premium content if you want live sports coverage from NFL Mobile, NFL RedZone, NBC's Sunday Night Football, and NFL network.

The app is currently available for download from the Android Market on 4G LTE and certain 3G smartphones. You can get a free preview with NFL and IndyCar clips, at which point Verizon will prompt you for a $10 monthly subscription, or you can try out the app for 24 hours for $3. As you might expect, a data plan is required. Current subscribers with V Cast Video should expect to get an update to Verizon Video as well.… Read more

Sprint Nextel is in talks with the cable companies over a new round of investment that may lead to a full takeover of 4G partner Clearwire, according to Bloomberg.

Sprint is in discussions with investors Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks, Bloomberg reported today, citing anonymous sources. The report said Sprint is weighing using the investment to fund the acquisition of the remaining stake in Clearwire that it doesn't own.

Such a scenario could provide relief to cash-strapped Clearwire, which is seeking funding to stay alive and expand its network with a newer, faster 4G technology. The … Read more

Launching in 15 new cities and expanding in 10 other cities today, Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network will now reach 160 million Americans, more than half the nation's total, the company said. In just under eight months, the 4G rollout has ramped up to provide coverage to 117 cities.

The cities getting 4G today include Tucson, Ariz.; Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, Ark.; Bakersfield and Salinas/Monterey/Seaside, Calif.; Fort Collins, Colo.; Frederick, Md.; Worcester, Mass.; Omaha/Council Bluffs, Neb.; Albany, Ithaca, and Syracuse, N.Y.; Altoona and Johnstown, Pa.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Provo, Utah.

Verizon is also expanding its LTE … Read more

AT&T is cutting down on available text-messaging plans.

The carrier confirmed to CNET this morning that, for new customers, it will ditch its 1,000-message plan, which went for $10 per month, in favor of unlimited-only options. Unlimited messaging for individuals will be available for $20 per month starting on August 21, while a family messaging plan for $30-per-month will also be offered.

"The vast majority of our customers prefer unlimited plans," an AT&T spokesman told CNET in a phone conversation today. "And with text messaging growing, the number of people interested in … Read more

Google and Motorola Mobility's impending nuptials may be grabbing a huge amount of newsprint this week, but Research In Motion is doing everything it can to assert its presence in the mobile world as well. First it released the first BlackBerry OS 7 devices with Verizon's BlackBerry Bold 9930, AT&T's BlackBerry Torch 9810, and Sprint's BlackBerry Torch 9850, and tonight T-Mobile finally got around to spilling the release details for its BlackBerry Bold 9900.

Of course, the news is no surprise given that T-Mobile first said that it would carry the device last May … Read more