Sprint and Nextel going to Merge
Rumor Mill: Sprint eyeing merger with Nextel
According to reports in today's Wall Street Journal, Sprint may be considering a deal to acquire Nextel Communications. Wall Street insiders are abuzz with stories that the two carriers could push forward a deal sometime next year. Neither Sprint nor Nextel have commented on the rumors. A merger of Sprint and Nextel would create a carrier with a combined subscriber base of 38 million. Experts claim this company would be better prepared to compete with No. 2 carrier Verizon Wireless and US market leader Cingular Wireless.
Analysts have speculated about a merger between Sprint and Nextel for a long time. In the past, most dismissed the possibility of a deal between the two companies because of the difference in their respective network technologies -- Sprint uses CDMA2000 and Nextel uses iDEN. In recent months, though, Nextel has hinted that it might adopt CDMA2000 1xEV-DO for 3G. Sprint is already in the process of rolling out EV-DO. If Nextel does move forward with EV-DO -- and decides not adopt a standalone solution, like Flarion's Flash OFDM -- some insiders claim it will be a sign that the carrier is seriously looking to join forces with Sprint
According to reports in today's Wall Street Journal, Sprint may be considering a deal to acquire Nextel Communications. Wall Street insiders are abuzz with stories that the two carriers could push forward a deal sometime next year. Neither Sprint nor Nextel have commented on the rumors. A merger of Sprint and Nextel would create a carrier with a combined subscriber base of 38 million. Experts claim this company would be better prepared to compete with No. 2 carrier Verizon Wireless and US market leader Cingular Wireless.
Analysts have speculated about a merger between Sprint and Nextel for a long time. In the past, most dismissed the possibility of a deal between the two companies because of the difference in their respective network technologies -- Sprint uses CDMA2000 and Nextel uses iDEN. In recent months, though, Nextel has hinted that it might adopt CDMA2000 1xEV-DO for 3G. Sprint is already in the process of rolling out EV-DO. If Nextel does move forward with EV-DO -- and decides not adopt a standalone solution, like Flarion's Flash OFDM -- some insiders claim it will be a sign that the carrier is seriously looking to join forces with Sprint
