AT&T/Cingular Expands International Data Roaming Options with PDA and Smartphone Plans

On April 19th AT&T launched a new range of international data plans for PDAs and smartphones. The new plans range in price from $44.99 to $74.99 and include unlimited domestic data usage as well as 20 Megabytes of international data usage in 29 countries. Customers can purchase the plans with the Samsung BlackJack, Cingular 3125, Cingular 8525, HP iPAQ hw6920, Palm Treo 680 and Palm Treo 750.

Recommended Competitor Responses

► Verizon Wireless and Sprint badly need more device diversity for their CDMA-to-GSM roaming options. Certainly they will have trouble appealing to the business community among large MNCs, but even for frequent traveling consumers, there is just too little choice and a rental may be a hassle, given learning curves, as well as the inability to use contacts and applications that are already on the user’s primary device.

► T-Mobile should add global data plans for its other data-oriented handsets. The Windows Mobile Dash and SDA, for example, are used by sophisticated consumer and business travelers who would benefit from an unlimited plan. While T-Mobile can still boast of having the best price for BlackBerrys abroad, there is no reason to limit tie options to one device type.

► All carriers should consider upping the number of global roaming partners and launching new unlimited data plans. Global roaming charges and the fear of high and unplanned-for overages are by far the biggest obstacle to use of handsets overseas, for both voice and data.

Recommended End User/Customer Responses

► High-end consumers and businesses with frequent global roaming requirements now have a new incentive to buy smartphones and PDAs (beyond the BlackBerry) from AT&T/Cingular as the number of e-mail platforms, unlimited data plans options, and devices that they can use is now quite substantial. Without the fear of huge overages, use of these devices for Internet access and accessing business and personal e-mail accounts should go up considerably.

► For BlackBerry-only users, T-Mobile is still the best deal in town at only $19.99 a month for unlimited global data to a large number of countries.

► PDA users with international needs should note that AT&T/Cingular offers two devices, the Cingular 8525 and the Palm Treo 750, which support 3G UMTS data speeds abroad.

Sprint Reaches Out to iDEN Base with PTT-only Plans

On April 6th Sprint announced two iDEN-based unlimited walkie-talkie plans without voice minutes included. Called “National Nextel Unlimited Walkie Talkie” and “International Nextel Unlimited Walkie Talkie,” each plan offers unlimited group and national PTT calling. The international plan extends PTT calling to and from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. No voice minutes are included, but voice calling is billed in a pay-as-you-go approach at $0.10 per minute. Unlimited text messages are also included.

Recommended Competitive Responses

► With PTT offerings based on Kodiak Networks, Alltel, AT&T, and Amp’d should continue to push their differentiation of multiple-group creation, presence, and availability, something that Sprint’s iDEN network cannot offer.

► Verizon Wireless should be working on its next iteration of PTT, given its rapid EV-DO Rev. A expansion. A faster network with higher uplink capability and low latency is the essential foundation for a new PTT offering.

Recommended End User/Customer Responses

► Potential customers who want unlimited national PTT can also look into Boost Mobile’s $30 Premium Plan, which also includes $0.10 per minute voice calling, or Boost Mobile’s pay-as-you-go $1 a day PTT calling (with $0.20 per minute voice calling) without the need of a postpaid contract. However, there are no group PTT features, and text messages are free to receive but $0.10 to send.

► Potential customers who only want PTT with work group PTT calling should adopt the new National Nextel Unlimited Walkie Talkie plan, as it also includes unlimited text messaging. Moreover, off-peak calling is available at either 7pm or 6pm as an add-on feature.

Verizon Wireless Unites America’s Choice Plans with Unlimited Messaging

On April 16th Verizon Wireless launched bundled voice and messaging plans called “America’s Choice Select.” The new plans will package unlimited text, instant, and picture/video messaging into the current America’s Choice plans, essentially at a $20 premium for individual plans and a $30 premium for family plans.

Recommended Competitive Responses

► To stimulate MyCircle further, Alltel should consider including unlimited MyCircle messaging with the purchase of any Axcess Messaging pack. This has the potential to up-sell any subscribers at price points below $59.99 to adopt MyCircle plans.

► AT&T should consider matching Verizon Wireless’ America’s Choice Select plans or develop a more innovative plan portfolio. At the least, it should offer an unlimited inter-carrier messaging add-on option.

► Although Sprint offers separate unlimited text and picture messaging offerings, it should join with the other carriers to offer generic messaging. Sprint needs to bundle unlimited messaging as part of its $20 and $25 Power Vision data plans.

► Now, that Verizon Wireless has pegged unlimited messaging at $5 more than T-Mobile on individual plans and $10 more on family plans, T-Mobile should be noting that Verizon Wireless’ customers again pay much more in terms of anytime minutes or messaging.

Recommended End User/Customer Responses

► Existing Verizon Wireless messaging customers who are finding that they or their families are heavy messaging users should move to America’s Choice Select plans, because these plans provide value and peace of mind over the current messaging add-ons. However, they should be aware that moving to these new plans requires resetting the one or two-year contract commitment again.

► Customers who are looking for unlimited messaging as a key value feature have several carriers to consider. Amp’d Mobile offers this feature for $15 a month, as does T-Mobile’s individual messaging option. However, aside from Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile pioneered the flat-rate family messaging feature where one price covers up to five lines. To go even further, customers may consider Helio’s All-In membership plans, because they roll in voice, unlimited messaging, and Web access.

CTIA Wireless 2007 Analyst News Flash Motorola Launches New Enterprise Digital Assistant, Defining New Device and User Segment On March 27th Motorola launched the MC35, an Enterprise Digital Assistant a durable device that combines EDGE cellular technology, built-in GPS capabilities, WiFi and Bluetooth, with laptop functionality, camera, and bar code reader. The device lists for $640 to $750 depending on features, and supports Windows Mobile 5.0. Analytical Summary ► Current Perspective: Positive on Motorola’s new MC 35 EDA as it defines a new class of device for a growing but underserved business segment, the blue collar manager, which can also be defined as the intersection of “task workers” and “information workers.” The device combines legacy Symbol’s expertise, channels and experience in the high-end ruggedized field service and industrial automation segments with Motorola’s strengths in the smartphone and mobile office space to carve out a new niche in which there are no real competitors. ► Vendor Importance: High to Motorola as this launch helps validate the Symbol acquisition. The MC35 should appeal to more casual field workers and their managers who don’t need to pay $2,000+ for a truly industrial strength ruggedized device with full bar code scanning, but who need a scaled down version to access both field service/asset management and mobile office applications. ► Market Impact: Moderate on the enterprise mobility market as it is rare to see a new device segment introduced to the market. At $600-800 this device will likely seed new competitive offerings both from the traditional ruggedized device vendors such as Intermec, but also among smartphone competitors. The latter segment may see a place in their lineup for a more ruggedized device for industrial and field service workers who want to more economically bridge the blue collar and mobile office worlds within a single device.  Gain An Edge ► Client Access - Full Intelligence Report Related Company Advisor ► Motorola - Mobile Devices Related Market Advisor ► Smartphones - Mobile Devices More Analyst News Flashes from the Show ► ESPN and Verizon Wireless Lift Lid on ESPN Mobile TV Programming ► AT&T and Cisco Launch 3G WWAN Module for ISR Routers ► Symantec Gets Serious about Mobile Security ► Sprint Drops Price for OTA Music Downloads to 99 Cents ► A New MVNO Launches; kajeet Targets Tweens   Read all 27 Analyst News Flashes >>