[Racer Duck]

Sprint Nextel’s announcement on Friday that it is losing customers more rapidly than expected is making investors nervous about a weak economy’s effect on other wireless companies.

Shares of Sprint fell $2.87, or 25 percent, to $8.70 after it said that it planned to lay off 4,000 workers and close stores to trim costs as its customer base shrinks.

The stock prices of AT&T and Verizon also slipped after the news. AT&T, the largest wireless carrier, was down more than 3 percent, and Verizon, which owns Verizon Wireless along with Vodafone, fell more than 4 percent.

Sprint has been struggling for more than a year, and installed a new chief executive only last month. But the sharp drop in the company’s customer count during the traditionally strong holiday quarter, analysts say, raises concerns that the problem extends beyond Sprint.

“The broader question here is whether this is the tip of the iceberg in a deceleration of the U.S. wireless market over all,” said Craig Moffett, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Company.

more...

[Quality88]

Sprints problem is Sprint.... their service is crappy, as well as their customer service... they screw up their billing all the time. I had a buddy that switched to Nextel because he wanted to get away from Sprints BS... then Sprint merged with nextel and the same crap started again. He warned them and when they didn't take care of it, he switched to Verizon. 2 days later his brother in-law switched, followed by his wife 2 weeks later.

[Bob Tanner]

Bob's Rules for Survival:

(1) Absolutely nothing in this world is "Free." Someone somewhere paid for it.

(2) If it's "Too good to be true," it is.

(3) Ethics trumps personality every time

(4) Never get financially invested with any company which is (a) a telcomm, or (b) has a dot comm after its name.

Note to NA__AR: (4) is germane

Note to forum:: tag line germane

[JBurtonFanInMayberry]

Any predictions on who will replace Sprint/Nextel on the cup sponsorship when they decide to bail from NASCAR?

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by JBurtonFanInMayberry

Any predictions on who will replace Sprint/Nextel on the cup sponsorship when they decide to bail from NASCAR?

Pepsi, Budweiser or Walmart.

Or, we just might get lucky. The Federal Government might step in, nationalize professional sports and run it as effectively as they do AMTRACK, the Dept of Education or the Postal Service.

Have a nice day...

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Pepsi, Budweiser or Walmart.

Or, we just might get lucky. The Federal Government might step in, nationalize professional sports and run it as effectively as they do AMTRACK, the Dept of Education or the Postal Service.

Have a nice day...

Do i detect a bit of cynical sarcasm Bob?

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Pepsi, Budweiser or Walmart.

Or, we just might get lucky. The Federal Government might step in, nationalize professional sports and run it as effectively as they do AMTRACK, the Dept of Education or the Postal Service.

Have a nice day...

In some ways it's already happening; the politicians are already starting to get their hands on control of motorsport in Europe.