Comments on: Get ready for MVNO 2.0 http://www.prepaidreviews.com/blog/mvno/get-ready-for-mvno-20-35425/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:36:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: PrepaidWirelessGuy http://www.prepaidreviews.com/blog/mvno/get-ready-for-mvno-20-35425/comment-page-1/#comment-37608 PrepaidWirelessGuy Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:01:05 +0000 http://www.prepaidreviews.com/blog/?p=1168#comment-37608 Very interesting topic indeed. I definitely see the market evolving, however, I think the definition of MVNO 2.0 is far too liberal. I see Apple as an OEM. They're doing great things, and introducing the opportunity for some great application development, but they don't buy wholesale minutes on a carrier network (the core of the MVNO definition), and they don't operation their own backend wireless support systems, etc. As carriers become more and more focussed on the value of segments for which they previously ignored/outsourced (ex. prepaid), the need for MVNOs will continue to diminish. We've seen the large carries (ex. Verizon & AT&T) start to push their prepaid services, and there are significant benefits to both the carrier and the customer to have an integrated experience with the "postpaid mothership" so to speak. That's not to say that the MVNO model is dead, but I think the discussion is a different one. Lastly, Boost Mobile is not an MVNO (they are a wholly owned division of Sprint Nextel) , and Virgin hasn't turned a profit since the say they launched, so I would hesitate to denote them as successful ;-). Please don't get me wrong, I think this article is thought provoking and extremely well written. I just think that the definition of MVNO 2.0 requires further discussion, and would likely be along the lines of very unique, targeted products and services that can only be provided by a third party entity. Cheers, PrepaidWirelessGuy www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com Very interesting topic indeed. I definitely see the market evolving, however, I think the definition of MVNO 2.0 is far too liberal. I see Apple as an OEM. They’re doing great things, and introducing the opportunity for some great application development, but they don’t buy wholesale minutes on a carrier network (the core of the MVNO definition), and they don’t operation their own backend wireless support systems, etc. As carriers become more and more focussed on the value of segments for which they previously ignored/outsourced (ex. prepaid), the need for MVNOs will continue to diminish. We’ve seen the large carries (ex. Verizon & AT&T) start to push their prepaid services, and there are significant benefits to both the carrier and the customer to have an integrated experience with the “postpaid mothership” so to speak. That’s not to say that the MVNO model is dead, but I think the discussion is a different one. Lastly, Boost Mobile is not an MVNO (they are a wholly owned division of Sprint Nextel) , and Virgin hasn’t turned a profit since the say they launched, so I would hesitate to denote them as successful ;-) . Please don’t get me wrong, I think this article is thought provoking and extremely well written. I just think that the definition of MVNO 2.0 requires further discussion, and would likely be along the lines of very unique, targeted products and services that can only be provided by a third party entity.

Cheers,
PrepaidWirelessGuy
http://www.prepaid-wireless-guide.com

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