From this weeks edition of Business Week.
<After government auctions of radio spectrum in 1995 and 1996, there are now at least four wireless operators in most metropolitan markets. The benefits to customers are evident: It's no longer necessary to sign up for a year-long contract, features like caller ID and voice mail are usually free, the first minute of an incoming call is free, and calling rates are down 25% or more. That should help push the number of U.S. wireless subscribers to 67 million at the end of 1998 from 56 million now, according to BankAmerica Robertson Stephens estimates. ''The revolution in wireless is just beginning,'' says Andrew Sukawaty, CEO of Sprint PCS.
Consumers' gain will be operators' pain, however. What's driving penetration is a decline in the price of wireless minutes that's expected to average 5% annually for the next few years. Such pressure is hurting many small wireless operators that hoped to snag a share of the growing market. Several are likely to go out of business, and many will have to dramatically reduce their expansion plans. One example of wireless enthusiasm turned sour is NextWave Telecom Inc., which bid $4.7 billion for wireless licenses but is struggling to find a way to pay for them. ''I think we're going to see a shakeout among the small players,'' says Ameritech's Notebaert. Still, ''it's a great opportunity.''>
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