SK Telecom considers Investment in LightSquared
South Korea’s SK Telecom has confirmed that it is in talks to invest in the USA based LTE network operator, LightSquared.
The investment is reported to be in the region of US$100 million. This would be the second attempt of the company to enter the US market. It invested in a MVNO joint venture with Earthlink, Helio but eventually sold it for US$39 million to Virgin Mobile USA.
According to the SK Telecom spokeswoman, the company is in talks with Harbinger to decide investment terms.
LightSquared controls important high quality spectrum assets of 59 MHz of nationwide spectrum in a beneficial frequency position. In addition to the US$2.9 billion of assets already contributed by Harbinger Capital Partners and affiliates, LightSquared is announcing additional debt and equity financing of up to US$1.75 billion.
The greenfield operator was stated to have attained a US$750 million four-year loan from UBS AG last week as part of its fund raising process.
Nokia Siemens Networks was given a US$7 billion pact to organize around 40,000 cellular base stations for the network. This will cover 92% of the U.S. population by 2015.
Virgin Mobile USA to cease postpaid service by May 25
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The postpaid customers of Virgin Mobile USA and Sprint have already started getting the notification of the winding down of Virgin Mobile. The company is ceasing the operations of its postpaid service by May 25 with the hope to convert some Virgin postpaid customers to full Sprint postpaid customers.
According to Virgin Mobile spokesperson Jayne Wallace, no customer will be automatically migrated to Sprint’s postpaid service, however current Virgin postpaid customers are being given $50 towards the purchase of a Sprint postpaid handset with a new two-year agreement.
In order to keep the current Virgin Mobile postpaid number, the customers are required to contact Sprint or Virgin Mobile before May 25, the change applicable only to postpaid accounts.
Virgin Mobile to Launch Text Message ‘Dating’ Game
According to the WSJ, Virgin Mobile USA is set to announce today the launch of a dating text message game that allow its customers to test if they have the right moves in approaching others for romance.
“The game, developed by Vibes Media, puts players on a virtual date where they respond to questions and react to situations.
For example, if a female player is losing momentum, the response might be, “C’mon, throw him a bone once in a while — the poor guy can’t tell if u like him or NOT.” Then she will receive a message with several choices. Each text message choice brings the player one step closer to getting a virtual date, or striking out.”
Source- http://www.textually.org
Technorati : Mobile, Mobile Games, Virgin
Ice Rocket : Mobile, Mobile Games, Virgin
