| ems to me that you need billions of dollars and many | | | | STi mobile utilizes their international calling card network |
| years to build a major infrastructure to provide | | | | to allow for cheap direct dial international calls from |
| nation-wide cellular service. Now new mobile phone | | | | their phones while using Sprint as a backbone. Boost |
| companies are appearing overnight. Companies like | | | | Mobile and Ampd Mobile are providing multi-media |
| Virgin Mobile, STi Mobile, Boost Mobile, Tracfone, and | | | | downloads. ESPN Mobile and Disney mobile will provide |
| Net 10 have already claimed millions of subscribers. | | | | exclusive media capabilities as well. Helio, a joint |
| Right on their heels even more new companies like | | | | venture between SK Telecom (Korea) and |
| Helio, Amp’d, ESPN Mobile, and Disney Mobile | | | | Earthlink.net, will take its already successful Korean |
| are set to launch in 2006. | | | | muscle phones, muscle media, and muscle services |
| Welcome to the era of the Mobile Virtual Network | | | | model from Korea and introduce it here in the United |
| Operator or MVNO. A MVNO buys airtime from a | | | | States. I think these guys are very interesting. |
| major wireless provider and turns around and sells its | | | | Why are most of the major US mobile companies |
| own branded phones and services. They’ve | | | | finally welcoming MVNOs (because many did not in |
| been around in the United States for a few years, | | | | the past)? It is because much of the main stream plan |
| mostly as pre-paid companies. But now suddenly, | | | | subscriber base is saturated, but the growth |
| they’re hot. | | | | opportunities for MVNOs marketing in the prepaid |
| Virgin Mobile is the largest MVNO in the U.S., using the | | | | markets, youth, and specialty areas is huge. The |
| Sprint network and targeting the hip youth market. One | | | | Yankee Group, a technology research firm, projects |
| of the reasons for the more recent larger scale | | | | that mobile virtual network operators will generate $11 |
| success is that US mobile carriers are now willing to | | | | billion in service revenue by 2010, up from $1.9 billion last |
| accommodate MVNOs more aggressively. | | | | year. |
| Previously MVNOs just remarketed cellular services | | | | Sprint has been the most aggressive MVNO service |
| under their own brand, but now a new wave of what I | | | | provider. Let’s hear it for Sprint. I hope they are |
| call Muscle-MNVOs are not only using the major | | | | rewarded highly for their support of competition and |
| carriers network, but are providing new value add-ons. | | | | creativity in the Mobile Marketplace. |