postpaid

Sprint Nextel saw its biggest surge in new customers in six years thanks to the iPhone, but that growth came at a hefty price.

Still, Sprint reported a loss of $1.3 billion, or 43 cents a share, on revenue of $8.72 billion in the fourth quarter. That compares with a loss of $929 million, or 31 cents a share, on revenue of $8.3 billion in the year-ago quarter.

The Q4 results included a loss of $241 million, or 8 cents a share, due to one-time costs related to asset charges on property, plant, equipment, as well as … Read more

The mobile world moves at a breakneck pace, and it's difficult to keep up--even without the technical jargon most industry insiders throw around. And they do love to toss those terms about.

Earlier this month, I explained the nuances between the different 4G technologies and why you don't want companies cramming you. With the carriers posting their quarterly earnings results recently, I figured it would be a good chance to provide you with a refresher course on telecom jargon that industry executive and Wall Street types like to use.

So for some light reading, here are few terms … Read more

Running an Internet cafe isn't just a matter of setting up a few computers and inviting customers to use them. You have to have a way to monitor and charge for the amount of time that customers use. Internet Cafe Management Software, or IncaMS, is a simple program that lets you do just that. It's not particularly sophisticated, but if you need a basic way to track computer usage and ring up transactions, it could be exactly what you're looking for.

IncaMS includes both client and server software, and we installed both without any issues. The program … Read more

AT&T added fewer contract customers during the first quarter, a sign that competition is heating up for new subscribers in the crowded wireless market.

The trend also calls into question where AT&T and other wireless subscribers will find growth in the future.

The company, which released the information as part of its first-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, took a significant hit due to health care reform. A change in accounting under to the new health care legislation cost AT&T nearly $1 billion, the company said. AT&T previously received a tax-free benefit from … Read more

As the percentage of Americans who own cell phones approaches 100 percent, analysts predict that the two biggest wireless providers in the country will have a harder time selling new cell phone contracts to high-value subscribers.

AT&T and Verizon, which are announcing first quarter earnings this week, are likely to see slower growth of contract customers, analysts say. AT&T reports its quarterly results on Wednesday and Verizon reports the following morning.

Wireless operators typically add fewer customers in the first quarter, since many consumers buy new phones during the busy holiday season. But analysts say they … Read more

As part of Sprint's acquisition of Virgin Mobile, the carrier will cease providing postpaid service by May 25 of this year. While current Virgin Mobile postpaid subscribers won't be automatically transferred to Sprint, the company is giving a whole bunch of incentives for people to switch over. They include a $50 credit toward a Sprint postpaid handset with a new two-year agreement and an additional $150 off handsets as part of Sprint's new customer offer. Plus, Sprint will waive all activation fees.

Virgin Mobile began its outreach effort to existing postpaid customers as early as March 1, … Read more

Sprint Nextel launched a new service plan Thursday that let's subscribers make unlimited calls to any U.S. cell phone without using up voice minutes.

For just $69.99 a month, the new Any Mobile, Anytime plan allows subscribers to call any cell phone in the U.S., regardless of the carrier. The plan also comes with Sprint's Everything Data plan, which includes unlimited text messaging and data services. Subscribers also get 450 voice minutes for calls to landlines. Subscribers already signed up for the Everything data plan will automatically be upgraded to the new Anytime Mobile plan. … Read more