The previously fast-growing US cell phone market is now fully saturated. Wireless carriers collectively lost 20,000 customers with long-term contracts (the most profitable segment) in Q1 ’12; the first decline ever. While this is partly due to holdouts that bought the latest iphone in Q4 ‘11, markets just don’t grow forever. This should lead to better and cheaper handsets, improved customer service, and price competition. Bring it on!
Tag Archives: Cell phones
Sell Phone Patents for Sale
Google’s $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility, and its 17K patents, will get FTC and Justice Department approval. After all, it’s a big company picking up a small one in a very different space. The big concern is that Google will give MM access to new versions of the Android operating system before Nokia, LG, HTC and others. Thus, Google may be forced to agree to license Android to all comers on fair, non-discriminatory terms.