Monkey see, monkey do. That’s always how it seems to be in the wireless industry. If Verizon does something, you’ll see a similar move made by AT&T, and vice versa. A few weeks ago, AT&T bought Dobson Communications in an effort to expand its network. Today, it has been announced that Verizon will purchase Rural Cellular Corporation. The move, of course, was made with the interest of providing cheaper coverage to Verizon subscribers — it is said to save the company over $1 billion. Maybe those savings will help them subsidize their new handsets from Broadcom. In addition, this gives Verizon 700,000 more subscribers, which will do nothing but boost their ratings and give them more fodder for commercials. Like many deals like this, it will be a while until we see something actually happen. Both boards may have approved it, but nothing will be closed until 2008. It’s not a big deal, just a point of note. So if you live in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Alabama, Mississippi, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Idaho, Washington, or Oregon, you will likely see better service from Verizon beginning next year. [Forbes]]]>
Posted in Verizon Wireless
Thanks Verizon but I’ve been bending over for you too much in the landline market already. I control over 1200 cell phone accounts and Unicel gives me the absolute best coverage in northern New England, meshes nicely with and provides no cost exchange services with AT&T elsewhere and uses technology which lets my customers use their phones in Europe and around the world with a simple Simm card swap. Verizon’s CDMA technology and sketchy service would be a 5 to 9 year step backwards for my organization. In addition Unicel is the easiest phone company to work with I have ever encountered.
Go Bernie! Keep the bastards out!!!