Cellular-phone rental firms mine a neglected market: entrepreneurs prosper by providing a service in out-of-the-way places

Article Abstract:

Entrepreneurs are doing well in the business of renting cellular telephones, demonstrating that small operators can survive in a business dominated by large companies. The rental business has grown fast during the past five years and is now worth an estimated $500 million. Consumers see various advantages in renting their telephones: they do not have to pay for a year of air time, as is sometimes required by sellers; they can use the latest technology; and they do not need to key in 'roaming codes' if they are making calls outside an area where a phone is registered. Some operators are discovering markets that had previously been overlooked. In the future, pocket telephones could threaten cellular phone rental companies, but at least one industry analyst, Herschel Shosteck, believes pocket phone technology might stimulate the rental industry.

Telephone and telegraph apparatus, Cellular telephones, Wireless telephones, Small business, Telephone, Telephony, Entrepreneur, Cellular Radio, Mobile Phones, Telecommunications Services Industry

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Baby Bells profit by tapping phone paranoia

Article Abstract:

A variety of new telephone services are increasing profits for the telephone companies, but raising concerns over the personal privacy of users. The services include Selective Call Acceptance, which allows only prespecified calls to get through; Call Block, which prevents calls from specified phone numbers from getting through; Call Return, which automatically redials the last incoming call; and Caller ID, which identifies the phone number of the caller. All of these services rely on intelligent software, and the telephone companies profit because, once the software is up and running, it does not cost them anything to add new subscribers. Revenues from these services are expected to increase by 50 percent over the next five years.

Business services, not elsewhere classified, Telephone Call Centers, Business Telepone Services, Telephone company, Telephone companies, Privacy issue, Privacy, Technology overview, Business communications services, Telephone systems, Telephone system

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BT, AT&T plan a global mobile-phone service

Article Abstract:

British Telecommunications PLC and AT&T Corp. have formed an alliance to sell mobile-phone service worldwide. The move is seen as increasing the competition with the new company formed by the recent merger of Vodafone Group PLC and AirTouch Communications Inc. BT and AT&T, which serve around 41 million mobile-phone customers in 17 countries, expect the deal will help them to attract more roaming fees, save on the cost of purchasing equipment and make it simpler for them to provide one-stop shopping for roving corporate users. The agreement is one of several joint arrangements made between the two companies over the past 14 months.

United Kingdom, United States, Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications, Mobile Radio Services, Alliances, partnerships, AT&T Corp., T, Wireless communications services, British Telecommunications PLC, Cooperative agreement for product marketing

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