Paging industry faces bind as growth slows, profits still elude it; A filed try at voice service prompts biggest player to try raising prices; Threat from cellular phones
Article Abstract:
The paging industry is struggling to find it's niche in the wireless market. The 14% increase in new subscribers experienced during 1997 is expected to slip to single digits during 1998 or 1999, and disappear altogether by 2005. By comparison, the cellular-phone industry is growing at twice the rate of the paging market, with 55.3 million subscribers reported in 1997, compared to 49.5 million pager customers. One reason the market is shifting to cellular service is the low rates companies are now offering, which has narrowed the affordability gap in the services. Improved technology and savage competition in the paging industry has resulted in drop in prices in that market as well. Consequently, paging companies are beginning to turn to resellers, who buy paging services wholesale then retail them.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1998
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Big landlords are joining the telecom fray
Article Abstract:
Real estate owners, realizing they have a captive audience have decided to offer tenants phone and Internet services. Equity Office Properties Trust has linked with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers to form Broadband Office, which will serve 2,000 office buildings. Tapping into the approximate $125 billion businesses spend on phone service, Broadband Office plans to spend $100 million installing high-speed data lines in its buildings. They plan to charge less than Baby Bells and bundle more services into one simple contract. Tenants will still have an opportunity to choose a Baby Bell if they wish.
Publication Name: The Wall Street Journal Western Edition
Subject: Business, general
ISSN: 0193-2241
Year: 1999
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