Sprint (S) hasn’t yet disclosed how long its exclusivity period for Palm’s (PALM) new Pre handset will be, but a person familiar with the matter told Reuters Thursday that it will run through the end of 2009, and that was good enough for the company’s long-suffering investors. Sprint shares surged on the report though it didn’t offer any details beyond 2009 or even a ballpark launch date for the device itself. Unofficial estimates have the Pre arriving at market sometime this spring, which might mean Sprint’s exclusivity period for the touchscreen phone could be six to eight months. Whether that’s time enough to reverse the company’s subscriber losses–or even stem them–remains to be seen. Certainly, the Pre would have to debut with an almost iPhone-like popularity to do so.
Sprint has an Option to extend its 2009 exclusivity, which is very different to a limited exclusivity. If Sprint feels the exclusivity is beneficial to its underlying business, ie its ROI then you can rest assured they will continue with the exclusivity. Again the situation is a wait and see and their is absolutely no proof on your part that would ascertain Sprint’s relationship with Palm, with regard to the term limit of Sprint’s exclusivity. What makes no sense is how anyone would indicate Sprint’s term limit with Palm’s Pre, when they have’nt even introduced the product.
In light of the negativity on Sprint the following is true for its competitors:
“AT&T and Verizon face stunted revenue growth, heavy debts, steeper than anticipated phone line disconnections and soaring costs associated with video expansion and phone subsidies to lure wireless subscribers.
To be sure, it is a bold call, requiring investors to look beyond 2009 and the dreary effects of the recession, growing unemployment and a lingering banking crisis.
AT&T and Verizon face stunted revenue growth, heavy debts, steeper than anticipated phone line disconnections and soaring costs associated with video expansion and phone subsidies to lure wireless subscribers.”
To date T & VZ have done nothing but TALK about how they intend to evolve into 4G, however Sprint already has begun to provide 4G, which is being currently offered in Portland and Baltimore. Perception of Sprint’s bad customer service and reality are two totally different things. All one needs to do is Trust but Verify the findings of JD Powers and Gizmoto, which indicated nothing but positive results regarding Sprint versus its competitors.
Ive said it before, but Sprint is awesome. Im always the last in a group to lose service and call quality is great. I cannot wait for the Pre…
Only negative for Sprint is their commercials featuring its CEO…I dont get it…who wants see a company CEO in a commercial (unless your Apple Fanboys) and how is this benefiting brand/revenue.
John Paczkowski has been poking fun at the tech industry and the personalities that drive it since 1997. From 1999 to 2007, he wrote the award-winning tech news Web log Good Morning Silicon Valley for the San Jose Mercury News, Silicon Valley's daily newspaper. Read more »
Here is a statement of my ethics and coverage policies. It is more than most of you want to know, but, in the age of suspicion of the media, I am laying it all out.
12:58 AM: Breakfast: Two schools of fish from Tokyo Bay. Calories: 782,000. How I was feeling when I ate this: confused, irradiated, hating my size. 11:37 AM: Exercise: “Taxi Stomp” (alternating legs, for 30 blocks). Calories burned: 148,900,183.
1983. The Beatles announce their first tour in thirteen years, but likewise announce that Michael Jackson will be going on tour with them as a one gigantic mega-concert event.
Sprint (S) hasn’t yet disclosed how long its exclusivity period for Palm’s (PALM) new Pre handset will be, but a person familiar with the matter told Reuters Thursday that it will run through the end of 2009, and that was good enough for the company’s long-suffering investors. Sprint shares surged on the report though it didn’t offer any details beyond 2009 or even a ballpark launch date for the device itself. Unofficial estimates have the Pre arriving at market sometime this spring, which might mean Sprint’s exclusivity period for the touchscreen phone could be six to eight months. Whether that’s time enough to reverse the company’s subscriber losses–or even stem them–remains to be seen. Certainly, the Pre would have to debut with an almost iPhone-like popularity to do so. 
Comments
Sprint has an Option to extend its 2009 exclusivity, which is very different to a limited exclusivity. If Sprint feels the exclusivity is beneficial to its underlying business, ie its ROI then you can rest assured they will continue with the exclusivity. Again the situation is a wait and see and their is absolutely no proof on your part that would ascertain Sprint’s relationship with Palm, with regard to the term limit of Sprint’s exclusivity. What makes no sense is how anyone would indicate Sprint’s term limit with Palm’s Pre, when they have’nt even introduced the product.
Posted by darius arya at February 20th, 2009 at 9:52 amIn light of the negativity on Sprint the following is true for its competitors:
“AT&T and Verizon face stunted revenue growth, heavy debts, steeper than anticipated phone line disconnections and soaring costs associated with video expansion and phone subsidies to lure wireless subscribers.
To be sure, it is a bold call, requiring investors to look beyond 2009 and the dreary effects of the recession, growing unemployment and a lingering banking crisis.
AT&T and Verizon face stunted revenue growth, heavy debts, steeper than anticipated phone line disconnections and soaring costs associated with video expansion and phone subsidies to lure wireless subscribers.”
To date T & VZ have done nothing but TALK about how they intend to evolve into 4G, however Sprint already has begun to provide 4G, which is being currently offered in Portland and Baltimore. Perception of Sprint’s bad customer service and reality are two totally different things. All one needs to do is Trust but Verify the findings of JD Powers and Gizmoto, which indicated nothing but positive results regarding Sprint versus its competitors.
Posted by darius arya at February 20th, 2009 at 10:00 amRE: Customer service and overall coverage.
Ive said it before, but Sprint is awesome. Im always the last in a group to lose service and call quality is great. I cannot wait for the Pre…
Only negative for Sprint is their commercials featuring its CEO…I dont get it…who wants see a company CEO in a commercial (unless your Apple Fanboys) and how is this benefiting brand/revenue.
Posted by Dominic Pannone at February 20th, 2009 at 2:23 pm