Verizon (VZ) primarily competes with Sprint Nextel (S) and AT&T (T) in the mobile subscription plan business. The average monthly fee that Verizon's postpaid wireless subscribers pay for wireless service, excluding data service, has been consistently declining over the past few years. The decline in pricing is mainly attributable to nearing saturation of the U.S. cellular market, creating fierce competition among telecom players to maintain and increase their market share.

A successful Verizon-iPhone (AAPL) deal and rising data revenues from smart phone penetration could, however, offset declines in average mobile plan prices.

Continue reading Outlook for Verizon's Mobile Plan Pricing

Outlook for Verizon's Mobile Plan Pricing originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Microsoft (MSFT) and Nokia (NOK) recently announced a strategic partnership in which Nokia will adopt Windows Phone 7 as the main operating system for its smart phones. Microsoft competes with other tech bellwethers like Google (GOOG), Research In Motion (RIMM) and Apple (AAPL) that make smart phones and tablets, as well as the corresponding operating systems for mobile phones and tablet devices.

We believe the Nokia deal presents upside for Microsoft, as it provides an opportunity to gain share in both the smart phone operating system market and the search advertising market by leveraging Nokia's large global presence.

Continue reading Nokia Partnership Provides Upside for Microsoft Stock

Nokia Partnership Provides Upside for Microsoft Stock originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tomorrow is a big day for Verizon (VZ) customers who have been waiting to get their chance to join the iPhone revolution, and we now learn that Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) will also be carrying the Verizon iPhone 4 at 600 retail stores across the nation.

As of today, when you visit Apple's (AAPL) website you are given the option to order an iPhone for use on either AT&T (T) or Verizon, with the price being the same for either option.

Continue reading Walmart Joins the iPhone Party

Walmart Joins the iPhone Party originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In his BullMarket.com advisory, Bill Martin looks to new products from Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), such as the next version of the iPhone.

In addition, the advisors looks to the recent stronger-than-expected results announced by Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) and why that may bode well for Apple's own upcoming results.

Martin observes, "RBC Capital Markets analyst Mike Abramsky said Apple will launch a new version of the iPhone inJune, which the analyst has dubbed the iPhone 3G Pro.

"In a research note, Abramsky said the new version of the popular smartphone will include a number of new features and improvements over the one introduced last summer to popular appeal.

Continue reading Apple: Still a favorite for the 'long haul'

Apple: Still a favorite for the 'long haul' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"If you can tolerate the volatility, it's a good idea to begin dipping back in to the stock market, in solid companies with strong cash balances, little debt and great prospects," says wireless sector expert Nikhil Hutheesing.

In The Forbes Wireless Stock Watch, the advisor asks, ""In the long run, smart investments today will lead to profits down the road. One of those companies, that I now think looks attractive, is the Canadian maker of the BlackBerry - Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM)."

"The Canadian company introduced the BlackBerry in 1999 and it quickly became a must-have way for employees oflarge companies to communicate through email and voice wirelessly. In its fiscal 2008 (which ended in February) the company sold nearly 14 million devices (more than double the year before).

"Recently, though, the financial crisis has dealt a strong blow to the company. Investors doubt whether RIMM can repeat the 90% growth in revenues that it achieved in fiscal 2008.

"Not only is the slowing economy a threat to growth but so is increased competition. Apple's iPhone, for example, has been a hit among consumers and now the company is pushing into the corporate market, trying to erode Research In Motion's market share.

Continue reading Research in Motion (RIMM): Smart buy in smartphones

Research in Motion (RIMM): Smart buy in smartphones originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM) are taking the smartphone market by storm," says Toby Smith in his ChangeWave Investing.

"AAPL and RIMM are both pushing all of the other manufactures to the sidelines. It's clear that RIMM's BlackBerry is the dominating force in the corporate smartphone market, but the Apple iPhone has shaken things up quite a bit on the consumer side.

"The combination of the new Apple model flying off the shelves, and rumors of a postponement for one of RIMM's new releases, has raised questions among some analysts as to RIMM's ability to fight back.

"Research in Motion may be planning to release several new smartphones this year, including the KickStart, the Thunder and the already announced Bold.

Continue reading AAPL and RIMM: Smart buys for smart phones?

AAPL and RIMM: Smart buys for smart phones? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Based on news from Engadget, Business 2.0, and other sources, "unlocked" versions of the Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone have begun to go on sale. This means that the handset can work on networks other than AT&T (NYSE: T) Wireless.

The phones will not be available directly to consumers. A company called iPhoneSimFree will offer the software to modify the phone to resellers who already market the iPhone. The handsets can be used on some networks overseas and the T-Mobile network in the US.

For AT&T, the new software is clearly bad news. The phone company is likely to have real problems with losing customers from its network due to their new found ability to change the handset over to other networks. AT&T has spent a huge sum of money marketing the iPhone and it was hoping to switch a number of customers from competing cell providers. That advantage could now begin to erode.

From Apple's side, a report from Piper Jaffray estimates that Apple is receiving $3 a month from AT&T for each iPhone user, and an additional $8 a month for new subscribers to AT&T's network lured by the iPhone. Despite losing some of the cut it gets from AT&T's calling plan revenue, Apple may not hurt badly over time.

Overseas, Apple is also in the process of signing deals with with T-Mobile of Germany, Orange of France and O2 in the UK, according to the FT. Under these contracts, Apple will get 10% of the fees charged for phone calls and data. Unlocked phones would certainly threaten some of that revenue.

Douglas A. McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

Apple (AAPL): The 'unlocked' iPhone goes on sale originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Is Apple Inc's (NASDAQ: AAPL) iPhone a flop? That's what the stock market seems to think, judging from the decline in the share price of Apple and the phone's exclusive vendor AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), after the telecom company reported disappointing sales numbers.

AT&T, which also had lackluster earnings, signed up 146,000 iPhone customers in the first two days of sales, below analysts' forecasts of more than 500,000, according to Reuters. How meaningful is this? After all, there is no possible way analysts could have accurately predicted sales of the iPhone since it's so unique. About the best analysts could do is make educated guesses, which have proven to be wrong.

Continue reading Is the iPhone a flop?

Is the iPhone a flop? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sony, in competition against Sling Media of San Mateo, CA, announced a new version of its LocationFree line of electronic devices that allow a user to stream TV programs from the TV at home to any computer connected to the net in some fashion. Although Sony has been marketing this technology for the past two years, the installation process was too geek-heavy to appeal to a large customer base. Sling Media's products had copied a page from Gateway computers: open box, plug in device, begin using. Sony had finally simplified its own line of "place-shifting" devices accordingly.

Beginning later in the fall in the US, customers can purchase new LocationFree products with simplified set-up starting at $200. Wirless options will be priced higher. Ideally, a customer can TIVO or select a live TV program on a home TV, and then have the programming forwarded to whatever location is most convenient for mobile computing at any given time. Plans are in the pipeline for software for a LocationFree product that will connect to smart phones. Sony is collaborating on the software development.

Sony's Anywhere TV originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.