By: Juan February 29th, 2012
Last week, mobile giant Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE:S) reportedly abandoned a deal to acquire Texas-based wireless specialist MetroPCS Communications. The $8 billion deal was apparently vetoed at the last minute by the Sprint board, which was against paying what would have been a 30% premium for MetroPCS Communications. According to media estimates, Sprint would have paid about $5 billion, in return for 9.3 million new subscribers from MetroPCS to add to its own 52 million. Given Sprint’s debt loan of $16 billion, the board might have concerns about the deal’s financial viability and integration process. Moreover, this sudden turn of events has also sparked widespread speculations about the future of Sprint CEO Daniel Hesse, who was a strong proponent for the deal.
The company’s stock ended at $2.47 last Friday, marking a 6.93% gain for the year. With a market cap of about $7.4 billion, Sprint has been trading in the range of $2.12 to $2.70 for the past three months.
By: Juan February 28th, 2012
Google isn’t offering much information about the forthcoming Android 5.0, even though there are rumors saying that the new version of the operating system will be available on a smartphone by early summer.
It’s more likely that it will be rolled out in the fall, based on comments made by Hiroshi Lockheimer, vice president of engineering for mobile at Google. He spoke with Computerworld at Mobile World Congress here on Monday.
“After Android 4 comes 5, and we haven’t announced the timing yet, which we’re still sorting out,” Lockheimer said. “There’s a lot of engineering work behind it still, and there’s also just the question of how to time it.”
Lockheimer added: “In general, the Android release cadence is one major release a year with some maintenance releases that are substantial still.” That statement would suggest a fall 2012 time frame for the release of Android 5.0, given that Android 4.0 was released last November, he acknowledged.
By: Juan February 27th, 2012
Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) announced today that it plans to offer approximately $2 billion in aggregate principal amount of notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) and notes due 2017 (the “2017 Notes” and, together with the 2020 Notes, the “Notes”) in a private transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”). The 2020 Notes will be guaranteed by the company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries that guarantee its existing credit agreements.
The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, redemptions or service requirements of outstanding debt, network expansion and modernization and potential funding of Clearwire Corporation and its subsidiary Clearwire Communications LLC.
The Notes and the guarantees related to the 2020 Notes have not been registered under the Act or the securities laws of any other place and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption therefrom. The Notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and to persons outside the United States under Regulation S.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This notice is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135c under the Act.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding Sprint Nextel’s current expectations and beliefs as to the consummation of the offering of Notes and uses of proceeds thereof, as well as other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting management’s judgment based on currently
By: Juan February 27th, 2012
Sprint (NYSE: S) announced today the opening a new Sprint retail store in Midtown. The new store will provide Atlanta customers another convenient location to purchase products and services from Sprint. The new Sprint retail center is located at 855 Peachtree St., Atlanta, GA 30308. The phone number is 404-685-3139.
“We are excited to provide a new location for customers to learn more about our wireless phones, products and services,” said Jeff Bennett, regional vice president-Sprint. “The new Midtown store provides the full array of Sprint products and services for new customers as well as the ability to better serve the needs of our existing customers in this area.”
Sprint is committed to creating a retail experience that offers hospitality and relationship-building with new and current customers. The new Midtown location offers customers a unique way to experience Sprint’s products and services, including voice, data access, text, email, Sprint ID and Sprint 4G in an environment that encourages hands-on learning and interaction.
By: Juan February 24th, 2012
Six of the world’s top consumer technology firms have agreed to provide greater privacy disclosures before users download applications in order to protect the personal data of millions of consumers, California‘s attorney general said on Wednesday.
The agreement binds Amazon, Apple, Google , Microsoft, Research In Motion, and Hewlett-Packard — and developers on their platforms — to disclose how they use private data before an app may be downloaded, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris said.
“Your personal privacy should not be the cost of using mobile apps, but all too often it is,” said Harris.
Currently 22 of the 30 most downloaded apps do not have privacy notices, said Harris. Some downloaded apps also download a consumer’s contact book.
Google said in a statement that under the California agreement, Android users will have “even more ways to make informed decisions when it comes to their privacy”.
Apple confirmed the agreement but did not elaborate.
By: Juan February 23rd, 2012
Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) has created New Ventures, an organization intended to deliver new business models and product initiatives that tap into the explosive growth of Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android mobile operating as well as accelerating subscriber demand for new applications and premium services.
Sprint is kicking off the New Ventures initiative with the launch of open platforms Mobile ID and Mobile Zone, touted as white-labeled versions of the operator’s Sprint ID and Sprint Zone applications. Sprint’s international and wholesale partners can leverage Mobile ID to package applications, widgets, ringtones and wallpapers in thematic bundles across a range of categories and utilities, allowing subscribers to obtain a host of content in a matter of clicks. Sprint customers in the U.S. have downloaded more than 6 million Sprint ID app packs since October 2010; partners include MTV, ESPN, E and Yahoo.
Mobile Zone supplies a messaging gateway for on-the-go customers to access account information, learn about their Android device and discover new apps. The free Sprint Zone app, first launched in mid-2010, includes My Sprint (offering account management tools and information), My Sprint News (updates and insight to enhance the wireless experience), Suggested Apps (recommendations spanning a variety of software categories) and Phone Tips and Tricks (videos and other media spotlighting device use).
By: Juan February 23rd, 2012
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse will follow the example of past Sprint CEOs by leading this year’s United Way of Greater Kansas City fundraising campaign.
“I don’t think I have ever seen a company more dedicated to a community than Sprint is to Kansas City,” said Hesse, who last year served as the chairman of the campaign’s Big 12 division that includes companies conducting the area’s largest United Way campaigns. “This community-mindedness has been passed down from Paul Henson to Bill Esrey to Gary Forsee and now to me. Sprint’s people are committed to the health of the communities we live in and serve.”
Sprint has donated nearly $25 million to United Way over the past 15 years.
By: Juan February 21st, 2012
Microsoft’s Office suite may soon come to the Apple iPad, according to a report by The Daily.
The blog reported today that its sources say that an Microsoft app that will include Office programs, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will soon be submitted to the Apple App Store. The blog first noted the existence of an iPad version of the Microsoft Office suite in November.
The Daily said that it’s had some hands-on experience with the new app. The user interface is supposedly similar to the current OneNote app. There is also some resemblance to Metro, the new interface design used on Windows Phone and the soon-to-be-released Windows 8 desktop operating system.
Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will be supported and users will be able to create and edit these documents locally or online, according to the Daily. But the blog said it’s unclear whether other Office apps will be supported.
By: Juan February 20th, 2012
An interesting post from one of our members:
Despite claims that it doesn’t throttle customer’s data speeds, Sprint’s Ts n Cs make it clear that they can. I’ve heard many explanations for Sprint’s subpar data speeds – backhaul, congestion, slow NV implementation and the list goes on and on. Because of a lack of transparency, if you were being throttled, how would you know?
I suggest you run M-Lab’s Tools to test and diagnose your internet connection. You might be surprised by your results.
By: Juan February 17th, 2012
Latest Press Release From Sprint
Sprint has been supporting the traditional healthcare delivery model for many years with a reliable network and secure messaging. Now Sprint is working with innovative companies to bridge the gap as healthcare evolves to a virtual model and focuses on improving quality, increasing efficiency and reducing costs. Emerging consumer-driven technologies are enabling patients to become better informed and more active in the healthcare process. With that in mind, Sprint announced new agreements with Acadian Monitoring, LLC, Daya Medicals, Inc. and HealthSpot, Inc.
- Sprint and M2M solution provider Reflection Solutions are collaborating with Acadian Monitoring Services’ Health Monitoring Center to provide 24/7 health monitoring. Together they will offer remote monitoring capabilities that operate over the Sprint wireless network. Acadian Monitoring Services has teams of trained Emergency Medical Dispatch certified healthcare professionals, including paramedics, who monitor data coming from the patients, including a patient’s location, health, physical activity, fall detection and medical alerts. The team is under the direction of Acadian’s medical director and is managed by a Registered Nurse. Acadian Monitoring Services’ Health Monitoring Center provides home health agencies, hospitals and elder care organizations with comprehensive services, including telehealth equipment rental, wireless connectivity and monitoring.
