On Sat, 27 Jan 2007 16:49:27 -0700, Todd Allcock
<elecconnec@AmericaOnLine.com> wrote in <epgofi$9cg$1@aioe.org>:

>At 27 Jan 2007 23:10:19 +0000 John Navas wrote:
>
>> >Apparently the complex functions of three different companies spit out
>> >exactly the same results.
>>
>> Exactly?
>
>Yes- I mentioned the "three largest carriers" and then also by name-
>Verizon, Cingular and Sprint.

Sorry, but I fail to see the significance of that. Lots of things can
be "proven" if you artificially constrain the alternatives.

>> T-Mobile offers 600 minutes for that price.
>
>True. Although, in fairness, they are not one of the three largest
>carriers, nor are they named either "Verizon," "Cingular" or "Sprint."

Nonetheless a major player.

>If we were discussing that McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's were all
>selling Happy Meals for the same price, I doubt the lower price of meals
>at Carl's Jr. would have much of an effect on their marketing plans!

I respectfully disagree. Competition is competition.

>T-Mo is essentially in a different category due to lesser nationwide
>coverage, and half the customers of the big three (making it harder to
>pitch "free in-network calling" as a perk.)

Again, I respectfully disagree. To most cellular users, T-Mobile is in
the same category.

>> MetroPCS is unlimited for that price.
>
>Correct. See definition of "three largest carriers" and even a list of
>their names repeated above. (Boy, we've moved from Carl's Jr. to "Joe's
>Hamburger Stand" now!)

Hardly -- MetroPCS is doing quite well in the markets it serves.

>> Prepaid plans are all over the place.
>
>> It's not so simple even when features and packages are ignored.
>
>Agreed. What this says to me, mostly, is that T-Mobile still, despite
>the best efforts of Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Jamie Lee Curtis before
>her, has not yet established themselves as a major player in people's
>minds, since they compete by "giving away" their service as compared to
>the major nationwide carriers.

I think the reasons are much more the relative amount of investment and
longevity.

>Personally I'm content for it to stay
>that way. If T-Mo had the market share and network of the big boys,
>they'd charge what the big boys charge as well.

Maybe. Maybe not.

--
Best regards, FAQ FOR CINGULAR WIRELESS:
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cingular_Wireless_FAQ>