Despite record number of smartphone activations, Verizon loses $1.93 billion in Q4

2. Alan01 posted on 22 Jan 2013, 08:05 1 6

Actually, the costs related to Hurricane Sandy also dealt with the wireless end of the business.The company waived a number of late charges and the costs of using mobile trucks to keep the network running weighed on the quaterly results.

The best way to look at Verizon's numbers is to remove one time charges which resuklts in profits of 45 cents a share. That includes both wireless and the FIOS/landline business.

Considering that we never broke down the numbers between the two divisions, our coverage is completely accurate.

Regards,
Alan F.

8. PAPINYC posted on 22 Jan 2013, 13:36 5 1

Actually, the best way to analyze Verizon's loss (since that's what the article attempts) is to state the obvious, if Verizon had not been so benevolent during (and, after) SuperStorm Sandy, it's quarterly loss would have been much less. Realizing, of course, that they are still repairing damage to their underground lines near Water Street, TriBeCa and other areas in NYC where their underground lines were damaged, as is evidenced by the presence of Verizon repair crews.

Verizon also GREATLY helped non-subscribers (who were with other carriers) to borrow phones (since their service was dead, cough-cough, T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint); allowed people to charge their phones (AT&T said "No, you can not use our outlets even if you're a subscriber); allowed people use of their in-store demo devices; sent out Mobile trucks to affected areas (no other carrier did that); loaned out phones to FEMA - all cell phones in use at FEMA DRC's were Verizon flip phones!! How's that for accuracy?!

12. corporateJP posted on 22 Jan 2013, 20:24 0 1

Kool-Aid.

• This comment is posted in response to #8 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #8 Hide

4. kaintae posted on 22 Jan 2013, 09:04 0 8

Youre absolutely right. They should have left the network down and charged customers for the extra usage during hurricane sandy.

5. Bernoulli posted on 22 Jan 2013, 10:06 5 1

Or they could charge less to customers and bring back unlimited data

6. threed61 posted on 22 Jan 2013, 10:26 4 3

Or you could just sigh up with a carrier that charges less. No one is forced to use Verizon Wireless for their cellular service.

• This comment is posted in response to #5 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #5 Hide

7. PAPINYC posted on 22 Jan 2013, 13:19 5 1

Agreed: partial expenditures to go along with "their" partial service.

• This comment is posted in response to #6 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #6 Hide

9. lkjhg755 posted on 22 Jan 2013, 15:11 4 2

Maybe I would want Verizon because it the only network I get lte in my area but I don't want to pay $100 a month for what T-Mobile give for $60?

• This comment is posted in response to #6 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #6 Hide

11. threed61 posted on 22 Jan 2013, 19:33 2 1

I'd kinda like to have a Mercedes for the price of my Ford, but it doesn't work that way. In all serious though, I ditched t-mo to pay more for Verizons better coverage and reliability, it was worth the extra to me. I know rural dwellers don't have the options I do, my sympathies if your stuck with only one choice.

• This comment is posted in response to #9 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #9 Hide

14. corporateJP posted on 22 Jan 2013, 20:30 0 2

That is not entirely true considering some of the "Big Boys" have been eating up the "Little Guys", leaving many consumers with two, or even one, option.

Where I'm at, it's AT&T or Verizon, and in some cases one works where the other doesn't or vice versa.

So, you're wrong.

• This comment is posted in response to #6 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #6 Hide

10. kaintae posted on 22 Jan 2013, 15:28 3 2

just so we're on the same page...when you say that it serves them right, do you mean to imply that this is some sort of cosmic karma because they got rid of unlimited data and because their service fees are higher?

looking at their churn numbers, it doesn't seem like your original point or supposed solution makes any sense at all. i agree with #6. if you don't have the money, why not just go with a cheaper carrier instead of coming on the boards and saying stuff that makes little sense.

besides that, remind me to never work for a business you own. i'm a consumer like everyone else. but i also understand profitability. clearly, you don't

• This comment is posted in response to #5 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #5 Hide

13. corporateJP posted on 22 Jan 2013, 20:26 0 2

Everything you said is correct.

BUT...there is a fine line between profitability and rape, and more than one carrier is walking it now.

• This comment is posted in response to #10 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #10 Hide

15. kaintae posted on 22 Jan 2013, 20:48 2 0

neither verizon nor at&t has ever grabbed anyone off the street and forced them to use their service. yes, their prices are higher. but comparing it to rape isn't fair, considering we all know that there are a bunch of providers out there, who offer different plans in different price ranges.

• This comment is posted in response to #13 Show
• This comment is posted in response to #13 Hide