Carrier Sprint CEO: T-Mobile ETF offering is having "some impact" on Sprint

[EbookReader]

http://www.fiercewireless.com/story...ctations-477000-new-subscribers-q4/2014-02-11

However, during the company's fourth-quarter earnings conference call, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse acknowledged that recent competitive actions by Sprint's rivals have affected the company. Specifically, he said that T-Mobile US' offer to pay customers' early termination fees in order to get them to switch to T-Mobile is having "some impact" on Sprint.

T-Mobile only started the ETF offering in January 2014. And it probably got a boost from the Super Bowl ads.

This is last year #:

Sprint lost 2.285 million subscribers in 2013.
T-Mobile gained 4.4 million subscribers in 2013.

 

[Apple Trees]

That's probably true. T-Mobile and Sprint cater to a similar demographic. Sprint and to a lesser extent, AT&T have been hurt the most by T-Mobile's Uncarrier stuff. Verizon is mostly unfazed as of right now.

 

[deeddawg]

T-Mobile only started the ETF offering in January 2014.

Officially perhaps, but in July 2013 I know some T-Mobile reps were offering on the order of $200 per line to bring a family plan over to TMO from AT&T. (I was actively considering moving over to TMO at the time)

 

[T5BRICK]

Verizon is mostly unfazed as of right now.

They aren't "unfazed," but they certainly haven't responded to T-Mobile in the same manner that AT&T and Sprint have.

 

[2298754]

Sprint and TMobile cater to the same lower-class demographic, which is why Sprint has the highest porting ratio (to TMo) of any carrier.

 

[Retired Cat]

Sprint and TMobile cater to the same lower-class demographic, which is why Sprint has the highest porting ratio (to TMo) of any carrier.

Seems a bit elitist to say that ;-) I think that at least where TMo is concerned, their simple plan choices have appeal for those who don't need ATT or VZW levels of coverage. Why pay more for something one doesn't need?

 

[2298754]

Seems a bit elitist to say that ;-)

Hardly elitist. Demographics don't lie. TMo and Sprint (with their relaxed credit restrictions) go after a different customer than AT&T/VZW.