Sprint's Board said MetroPCS merger "didn't feel right"
0. phoneArena posted on 25 Feb 2012, 19:54
Why did Sprint's Board of Directors decide to vote against the purchase of MetroPCS for $8 billion even though Dan Hesse had already signed off on it? According to reports, the deal just "didn't feel right" in terms of timing...
This is a discussion for a news. To read the whole news, click here
1. snowgator posted on 25 Feb 2012, 20:06 1 0
Okay, Sprint needs some good news. Fast. I really thought most of their loss of customers was due to the iDEN shutdown. But, it still looks bad. They want a LTE system, but can't find a dependable partner. Now this? I cannot believe the believe the board would pass on this just because of a falling out with Mr. Hess. There has to be more to the story.
6. BuckeyeCadet86 posted on 25 Feb 2012, 20:40 0 0
Isn't it interesting that your comment implies they cannot move forward without a partner...
I feel that Dan Hesse doesn't seem to have a long term viable view with Sprint. He has long relied on other companies for Sprint's future growth, first with Clearwire and Wi-Max, now his attempts with LightSquared and MetroPCS. While the MetroPCS deal sounds good, it would take nearly 2 years to completely mesh the LTE network and current spectrum with Sprint's existing network and by then it won't matter because Verizon and AT&T will be completed with their LTE network rollout (or at least well on their way with AT&T).
Perhaps Sprint's board would rather take the ownership of their own network and work toward a viable 4G LTE solution of their own making, yes it costs a lot of money to build out a network but these short-term solutions will only be stop-gaps and as Sprint's latest quarter shows, it isn't really working great as it is.
13. remixfa posted on 26 Feb 2012, 08:45 2 0
sprint needs consolidation... badly. they are still operating too many networks. Dan Hesse has done a lot to stop the hemmoraging of Sprint, but some of his deals.. like the iphone deal.. have made them whipping boys to other companies. All of the big plans so far have been dependant on another company to bail them out.. apple, light squared, metro, tmobile, clear wire, and even selling off their towers. And in all this time they have done squat to completely kill the IDEN network and other things that are financially tying them down.
consolidate the network, take the short term hit from angry iden rednecks.. give them a free phone to get on CDMA.. raise your prices a smidge if you need to and get building on that LTE.
2. Mr.Mr.Upgrade posted on 25 Feb 2012, 20:07 0 0
sprint is done your stock is worth just two dollars....... verizon will buy u out soon... mark my words
3. joey18 posted on 25 Feb 2012, 20:10 0 2
The only way sprint cant compite is lowers those plans let att and verizon those spenced contracts 69 plan no extra 10 thast why people dont go for sprint
4. sun0066 posted on 25 Feb 2012, 20:19 0 0
at least in the Miami area ( south florida ) sprint signal is ok and gets the job done, without pay what ATT wants and at the same time be limited, so Sprint wish you the best of lucks .
15. TechnoTechyes posted on 27 Feb 2012, 04:36 0 0
I travel the country Key West to Seattle, Honolulu to Bangor, ME, and the only areas I've been that really lack Sprint coverage are: Middle of Wyoming west of Casper. mountainous regions but they outperform Verizon and AT&T there (in that: nobody can make a call, but at least Sprint allows texting) Ironically, Verizon's map claims coverage there, but nobody seems to be able to get it. Sprint's maps say no coverage, but they have some.
There are little pockets, where Sprint fails, but every carrier has those. Even if their maps say they don't... I do have to state Verizon has the best coverage, but their maps overstate where they have coverage, and that has put us in danger a few times. We have camped in areas Verizon marks red (Colorado Mts.) Verizon's signal there is dead flat zip. There are Mtn Lions, Rattle Snakes, steep cliffs, ice and frequent lightning storms there. If you don't have a signal, be honest and save lives.
5. Gawain posted on 25 Feb 2012, 20:37 3 0
Let's see, been bleeding cash since buying Nextel for some obsene amount of cash, saddling it with debt ever since, been losing customers since 2007, started making positive sub-adds with the iPhone, but started losing cash faster, sunk a ton more money into Clearwire which has an operating margin of negative-135% and has never made money, Google is selling their share of that investment...
..."didn't feel right"...I got it! It's code for "we don't have the money and we can't float more bonds".
7. ngo2dd posted on 25 Feb 2012, 20:49 0 0
How are they listing customer another article on the same site say that gain customer in Q4
9. QWIKSTRIKE posted on 25 Feb 2012, 21:34 2 1
They spent millions for the iPhone, and they need to sell as many as possible, but as I mentioned in another thread anyone one that was left at Sprint wasn't there necessarily waiting for an iPhone. They are late to the party when other phones like Droid Maxx, GN, GSII, are eating the iPhones lunch. People left Sprint for the GN on Verizon, and the GN as well. If Tmobile gets iPhone some of their users will buy it, but not in landslide amounts. Windows phone would have been a better addition than the iPhone for the billions that they paid to get it. Now Sprint will have to be slow adding other smart phones because not having LTE, and their need to sell iPhones to satisfy the money they fronted Apple. Not to mention analyst say they may have to float more stock to pay Apple off in my opinion for a declining phone.
10. Jyakotu posted on 25 Feb 2012, 22:52 0 0
Honestly, Sprint should have purchased MetroPCS, not for customers, but for their LTE network and just build out from there. If they purchase Leap Wireless, since Cricket uses Sprint for nationwide coverage anyway, then that's additional spectrum as well. I know Sprint is for the "little guys" when it comes to the carriers, but they need all the help they can get. I'm a Sprint customer, former AT&T customer, and the only thing Sprint has going for them right now is that they're a value carrier, like T-Mobile. Sprint had better watch itself, because even though Verizon said that it doesn't need Sprint, they will be looking for their spectrum if Sprint can't stay afloat. That or some foreign CDMA carrier (if there are any) will come and try to take over.
11. BuckeyeCadet86 posted on 26 Feb 2012, 00:10 1 1
Sprint is really only a value carrier if you use tons of data, otherwise T-Mobile is $30 cheaper and Verizon and AT&T are only $5-$10 more a month. Sprint is only a value if you are the 5-10% that use a ton of minutes and data, otherwise they have fairly limited options and can be quite expensive. Sprint has the highest ARPU of the 4 major carriers... yeah ARPU I went there.
14. DigitalJedi_X2 posted on 26 Feb 2012, 21:19 3 0
You're joking right? For the same amount of minutes, At&t and Verizon on their 450 minute plan with comparable data plan(5GB) will run you $130 a month BEFORE taxes are factored in. Same plan on Sprint is cheaper by about $30 or $40 dollars and there is NO data cap! Yeah... I'd stick with Sprint any day of the week. On top of that, their customer service is superb. At&t and Verizon SUCK at customer service. Alot of Sprint haters/arm chair analysts here and it's cracking me up! Sprint isn't going anywhere nor will it be bought out. Trust me on that one. And I've had both Verizon And At&t, and their data is horrible to nine existent in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn or parts of New Jersey. Sprint on the other hand, I have excellent data and reception everywhere I go. So me and my SGSII will be just happy where we are. With Sprint.
16. archangel9 posted on 28 Feb 2012, 05:03 0 0
I agree 100%. Ok they're having their issues w/Lightsquare and now Metro(which would've been a excellent ideal ,many of my associates have Metro and they would've had the iPhone 4/4S).It would ve meant a capital for the agressive LTE rollout and more powerful reception. In Miami,particularly SoBe ,reception is no problem except in certain parts of a building. I HOPE THEY CAN COME BACK TO THE TABLE Mr.Hesse and the Board.Put petty stuff aside and go in for the best interest of your subscribers..VZW is waaaayy too expensive as with ATT!!! I ride with Sprint .
