To: Maurice Winn who wrote (1524 ) 2/23/2002 10:40:54 PM From: pcstel Respond to of 2737 Maurice: <The monsterish trend in telecom right now is hugely negative for margins. The industry is shifting from high-margin voice minutes to very low- or no-margin data minutes. There's the huge trend of wireless substitution where people are moving in large numbers from profitable wireline minutes to much lower margin wireless minutes> AMAZING, 1 MILLION SUBS DON'T SHOW UP AT CHRISTMAS AND TELECOM BECOMES TELEBOMB! Well, the truth is Maurice. We have been in a price-war. Just no-one would own up to it! If you check out some of the Sprint Affiliates, they simply can not continue on this pace! Like I said. It's "Wireless Armageddon".. Remember that phrase... Like WDMA technology! Everyone has their Wireless Bucket O' Minutes with Free LD pointed at one another! The LEC's like Verizon and Bell South/SBC simply will not cannibalize their Wireless Business only to cannibalize their Wireline Business! Subscriber growth has shown is slowing for traditional wireless services.. Look at PCS.. They are gonna kill their ARPU and margins trying to attract another million low ARPU/low margin/credit risk subscribers? Everyone thinks the Price War is about to begin. I say, it's getting ready to END! Pretty soon, Verizon, or ATT are going to say.. No more Free Long distance! And the rest of the majors will follow right behind them.. Why?? Because it will increae their operational margins, then one will drop roaming areas back to several states without additional per MOU fees, and the rest will follow! It's like the Cold War. The "Doomsday Clock" is at 11:59. Will they really launch a Price War which reduce ARPU and margins down to zero, just to attract a million more slow pay/no pay high credit risk customers? Does the Ritz Carlton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, and Marriott lower their room rates to compete with Motel 6 because 25% of their rooms are empty? Cricket is the Extended Stay America of the hotel business! It's not fancy. But, it is priced fairly, and provides comfortable/safe surroundings. Sorry Maurice, No Price War! Free features (like LD) will go away. All of the Majors will follow suit! They will start talking about how much their margins are going to improve over the next 2 years as their customer contracts expire and they go to the no FREE LD model. Sprint had "First Incoming Minute FREE".. No one matched it! It died! The real assult will be the Flat Rate Providers on the RBOC's. Northcoast is owned by the Dolans and Cablevision. Devon is affliated with Adelphia! I would suspect COX will want in this market sooner or later! PCSTEL