Quest Dumps Sprint For Verizon

[thermus]

Qwest Communications International Inc. will stop reselling Sprint Nextel Corp.'s wireless service and move its subscribers to Verizon Wireless' network, Qwest said Monday.

The move means Sprint, which is already struggling with a dwindling customer base, will lose more subscribers. Qwest contributed 824,000 to Sprint's rolls of 53.8 million subscribers at the end of last year.

The news was released after the close of the stock market, on the same day as reports emerged that Deutsche Telekom AG, the parent of T-Mobile USA, was mulling a bid for Sprint and Sprint was considering spinning off Nextel.

Sprint shares rose 83 cents, or 11 percent, to close at $8.72.

Qwest said it had signed a five-year contract with Verizon Wireless that will take effect this summer. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Current wireless subscribers will receive a free, comparable Verizon Wireless handset, probably in the last three months of this year, said Qwest spokesman Robert Toevs.

Toevs said the Sprint deal "was not right for us." With Verizon Wireless, Qwest will be able to sell wireless service not just to consumers, but to large corporate and government customers.

Qwest's brand won't be on the wireless service, as it has been under the Sprint partnership. But those who combine wireless service with a land line or Internet service can get one combined bill from Qwest.

Qwest has been reselling Sprint's service 2004. Chief Executive Edward Mueller said it February that the company was looking at its options in the wireless space.

Denver-based Qwest is the primary telephone service provider in 14 mostly Western states and operates a nationwide fiber optics network.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. of New York and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain

[D/\SH]

“ Originally Posted by thermus ”

Qwest Communications International Inc. will stop reselling Sprint Nextel Corp.'s wireless service and move its subscribers to Verizon Wireless' network, Qwest said Monday.

The move means Sprint, which is already struggling with a dwindling customer base, will lose more subscribers. Qwest contributed 824,000 to Sprint's rolls of 53.8 million subscribers at the end of last year.

The news was released after the close of the stock market, on the same day as reports emerged that Deutsche Telekom AG, the parent of T-Mobile USA, was mulling a bid for Sprint and Sprint was considering spinning off Nextel.

Sprint shares rose 83 cents, or 11 percent, to close at $8.72.

Qwest said it had signed a five-year contract with Verizon Wireless that will take effect this summer. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Current wireless subscribers will receive a free, comparable Verizon Wireless handset, probably in the last three months of this year, said Qwest spokesman Robert Toevs.

Toevs said the Sprint deal "was not right for us." With Verizon Wireless, Qwest will be able to sell wireless service not just to consumers, but to large corporate and government customers.

Qwest's brand won't be on the wireless service, as it has been under the Sprint partnership. But those who combine wireless service with a land line or Internet service can get one combined bill from Qwest.

Qwest has been reselling Sprint's service 2004. Chief Executive Edward Mueller said it February that the company was looking at its options in the wireless space.

Denver-based Qwest is the primary telephone service provider in 14 mostly Western states and operates a nationwide fiber optics network.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications Inc. of New York and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain

damn this sucks for sprint for sure. if they would up there customer service they would still be the top service provider in the country.

[thermus]

“ Originally Posted by D/\SH ”

damn this sucks for sprint for sure. if they would up there customer service they would still be the top service provider in the country.

FOR SURE. NOTHING WORSE THAN CALLING CUST. SERVICE AND GETTING WELCOME TO 7-11 HOW CAN I HELP YOU. IS THAT BAD TO SAY???? HAHAHAH WHO CARES.

[willmatic08]

can you hear me now!!!

[D/\SH]

“ Originally Posted by willmatic08 ”

can you hear me now!!!

no but i can see you paying 40 bucks a month for the same data package that all sprint customers pay 15 for lol.