Archives: Phones & Cell Phones

According to the August 12, 2005, Washington Post article "Sprint, Nextel Complete $35 Billion Merger," the new company will need to make a few adjustments in preparation for the transition.

"It will be a number of weeks before consumers notice new signs going up at retail outlets, marketing aimed at exposing the new brand, additional service plans and handsets and other outward signs that the deal is sealed. All of this is being carefully rolled out in time for the crucial holiday shopping season.

Some will see signs of change sooner.

Investors traded shares of FON, which closed down 24 cents Friday at $26.38 and NXTL, down 64 cents to $33.85, for the last time, with the ticker symbol S to begin on Monday. Employees will receive instructions on how to get identification badges, stationary and business cards with the new company logo. And Donahue steps back as Sprint's Gary D. Forsee emerges as president and CEO.

'Getting bigger is a large reason for doing this deal,' said Avi Greengart, an analyst with Sterling, Va.-based Current Analysis. 'But in terms of these two companies matching, they matched their customer demographics very well.'

Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint, whose campus now becomes the operational headquarters, is known for its focus on consumers and its emphasis on technology, from downloadable cell phone games to live television on your handset. Reston, Va.-based Nextel, whose suburban Washington base is the new corporate headquarters, is popular with businesses of all sizes and is the leader in push-to-talk technology that makes cell phones like walkie talkies."

In recent discussions with a Sprint representative HearUsNow was told that this fall all stores will become Sprint stores that will sell both Sprint PCS branded phones and Nextel phones.  At that time, PCS to PCS calling on Sprint's network becomes mobile-to-mobile and will include Nextel's customers.

Some things to watch for:

• Existing customers should also carefully check their bills to make sure there are no errors, because the process of combining two huge billing systems leaves plenty of room for glitches
• Make sure to read your contract carefully to completely understand the new terms of service
• Remember that when you change your service plan in any way, you could be agreeing to another one-year or two-year contract
• New customers and those considering renewing their contracts should specifically ask about the phone issue
• Make sure the written contract guarantees that a new phone, fully functional on the combined network, will be provided at no additional cost

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