Marketers spy and entice to get an edge
Article Abstract:
Cellular telephone service suppliers are relying on high technology equipment to compare their service with their competitors' in a war for customers. Spies are dispatched with transmitters to monitor band size and service quality. Companies offer commissions of $200 to $300 for customer contracts. Marketing departments offer everything from free voice mail or free equipment to round-trip tickets to Hawaii to entice new customers. All seem to think it is worth it to gain a greater share of what was a $2 billion market in 1989. Projections are that the 1990 figure will reach $3.2 billion. Smart shoppers may be able to find systems for as little as $67 under certain promotions. Despite cutthroat competition and price wars, one industry insider believes that the cellular wars have yet to begin. The industry has been so busy growing, 'it hasn't engaged in real marketing yet.'
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1990
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Pacific Telesis in group awarded German phone job
Article Abstract:
A consortium that includes Pacific Telesis is awarded a license by the West German Postal Ministry to operate the first private cellular telephone system in that country. Pacific Telesis, which has a 26 percent stake in the consortium, sees the license as helping the company enter into international telecommunications, giving Pacific Telesis an edge over the other Bell regional holding companies. Industry analysts predict the lucrative West German market could give the new network 200,000 subscribers by 1992 and 350,000 by 1995. The network will use digital technology to compete against the Postal Ministry's own cellular phone system and will carry five times the normal analog system capacity at cheaper rates. The consortia also includes Mannesmann AG, with a 51 percent stake; Cable and Wireless PLC; Lyonnaise des Eaux; and DG-Bank Deutsche Genossenschaftsbank.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1989
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Pacific Telesis, McCaw reach cellular pact
Article Abstract:
McCaw Cellular Communications Inc and Pacific Telesis Group reach an agreement on jointly owning and operating cellular telephone systems in the San Francisco, San Jose, Dallas and Kansas City metropolitan areas. Industry observers see the move by the two companies as an effort to strengthen their grip on the rapidly expanding cellular radio market. The 50-50 joint venture calls for PacTel Corp, a subsidiary of Pacific Telesis, to contribute 4.4 million potential customers and $100 million; McCaw will contribute five million potential customers to the joint venture and will give PacTel 620,000 potential customers in the area of Wichita and Topeka, in Kansas.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1991
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- Abstracts: Profits increased at Bell Atlantic, US West, Nynex; first-period earnings fell at Pacific Telesis, SNET due to higher expenses
- Abstracts: Home banking gets another chance; banks hook up to videotex to reach users. Prodigy service in Northeast to be delivered by Nynex
- Abstracts: Nynex seeks $965 million rate increase in New York after rebuff of earlier plan