Prepaid Wireless in the United States: Market Analysis and Forecast 2013 - 2018

News provided by

Jan 08, 2014, 06:46 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

Prepaid Wireless in the United States: Market Analysis and Forecast 2013 - 2018
http://www.reportlinker.com/p01937929/Prepaid-Wireless-in-the-United-States-Market-Analysis-and-Forecast-2013---2018.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=Wireless_Technology

Overview:

Prepaid wireless moved beyond the credit challenged market only a long time ago and has become mainstream for many segments including the cost conscious user. For many, prepaid wireless is a hassle free, simple, less expensive alternative to establishing a post-paid plan. In addition, prepaid does not have the same sigma it once had as many prepaid wireless service providers offer smartphones and advanced feature phones to their customers.

For example, Walmart's prepaid Straight Talk, run by Tracfone, offers unlimited talk, text and data for only $45 a month and one can even get an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. In addition, third-party companies are constantly developing new applications, content, and commerce options for prepaid users across various prepaid service providers. These options often include usage tracking, payments, promotions, alerts and other features to provide enhanced customer experience and access from any smartphone.

This research evaluates the prepaid wireless market in the United States including major provider and service assessment. The report analyzes major MVNO companies and offerings. The also report provides a view into the future of prepaid wireless and market forecast through 2018.

Target Audience:

• Prepaid service providers
• Mobile network operators
• Wireless device manufacturers
• Wireless infrastructure providers
• Mobile Virtual Network Operators
• Mobile application store companies
• Prepaid service distributors and marketers
• Application, content, and commerce providers

Table of Contents:

1 Chapter 1: Introduction 9
1.1 Executive Summary 9
1.2 Topics Covered 10
1.3 Key Questions Answered 11
1.4 Target Audience 11
1.5 Companies Mentioned 12

2 Overview of the US Telecom Market 14
2.1 US Operators Plans 14
2.1.1 Prepaid and Postpaid Wireless Market Overview 15
2.2 Prepaid and Post-paid Market Strategy 2013-2018 17

3 Post-paid Operator Analysis 21
3.1 Market Outlook 21
3.1.1 Future of Post-paid 22

4 Major Carrier Landscape 24
4.1 AT&T Wireless 25
4.1.1 Network Technology 25
4.1.2 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 25
4.1.3 Pricing Overview and Analysis 25
4.1.4 Plan Overview and Analysis 26
4.1.5 Professional Analysis 26
4.2 Verizon 26
4.2.1 Network Technology 26
4.2.2 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 26
4.2.3 Pricing Overview and Analysis 26
4.2.4 Professional Analysis 27
4.3 Sprint 27
4.3.1 Network Technology 27
4.3.2 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 27
4.3.3 Pricing Overview and Analysis 28
4.4 T-Mobile US 28
4.4.1 Network Technology 28
4.4.2 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 28
4.4.3 Professional Analysis 28

4.5 MetroPCS 29
4.5.1 General Overview 29
4.5.2 Network Technology 30
4.5.3 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 30
4.5.4 Pricing Overview and Analysis 30
4.5.5 Plan Overview and Analysis 31
4.5.6 Professional Analysis 32
4.5.7 A Comment on the Future 33

5 US MVNO Analysis 34
5.1 Pricing Overview and Analysis 34
5.2 Prepaid and Post-paid Offering 35
5.3 Plan Overview and Analysis 35

6 Carrier and MVNO Assessments 38
6.1 Airlink Mobile 38
6.1.1 General Overview 38
6.1.2 Funding Overview 38
6.1.3 Underlying Network Provider 38
6.1.4 MVNO Type 38
6.1.5 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 39
6.1.6 Pricing Overview and Analysis 39
6.1.7 Plans 40
6.1.8 Plan Overview and Analysis 40
6.1.9 Professional Analysis 41
6.1.10 A Comment on the Future 42
6.2 Airvoice Wireless 42
6.2.1 General Overview 42
6.2.2 Underlying Network Provider 43
6.2.3 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 43
6.2.4 Pricing Overview and Analysis 43
6.2.5 Professional Analysis 43
6.2.6 A Comment on the Future 44

6.3 Cbeyond Wireless (JOLT!) 44
6.3.1 General Overview 44
6.3.2 Underlying Network Provider 45
6.3.3 MVNE and Service Providers 45
6.3.4 MVNO Type 45
6.3.5 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 45
6.3.6 Pricing Overview and Analysis 45
6.3.7 Plans 46
6.3.8 Plan Overview and Analysis 47
6.3.9 Professional Analysis 48
6.3.10 A Comment on the Future 49
6.4 Boost Mobile 49
6.4.1 General Overview 49
6.4.2 Underlying Network Provider 50
6.4.3 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 50
6.4.4 Pricing Overview and Analysis 51
6.4.5 Plan Overview and Analysis 52

6.4.6 Professional Analysis 54
6.4.7 A Comment on the Future 55
6.5 Circle K 56
6.5.1 General Overview 56
6.5.2 Underlying Network Provider 56
6.5.3 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 56
6.5.4 Pricing Overview and Analysis 56
6.5.5 Plan Overview and Analysis 57
6.5.6 Professional Analysis 57
6.5.7 A Comment on the Future 57
6.6 Consumer Cellular 58
6.6.1 General Overview 58
6.6.2 Underlying Network Provider 58
6.6.3 MVNO Type 58
6.6.4 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 58
6.6.5 Pricing Overview and Analysis 59
6.6.6 Plan Overview and Analysis 61
6.6.7 Professional Analysis 61
6.6.8 A Comment on the Future 61
6.7 Cricket 62
6.7.1 General Overview 62

6.7.2 Underlying Network Provider 62
6.7.3 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 62
6.7.4 Pricing Overview and Analysis 63
6.7.5 Plan Overview and Analysis 63
6.7.6 Professional Analysis 63
6.8 Firefly Mobile 64
6.8.1 General Overview 65
6.8.2 Underlying Network Provider 65
6.8.3 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 65
6.8.4 Pricing Overview and Analysis 66
6.8.5 Plan Overview and Analysis 66
6.8.6 Professional Analysis 66
6.9 GTC Wireless 68
6.9.1 General Overview 68
6.9.2 Underlying Network Provider 68
6.9.3 MVNO Type 68
6.9.4 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 68
6.9.5 Pricing Overview and Analysis 69
6.9.6 Plan Overview and Analysis 69
6.9.7 Professional Analysis 70
6.9.8 A Comment on the Future 70
6.10 GreaCall (Formerly Jitterbug) 71
6.10.1 General Overview 71
6.10.2 Underlying Network Provider 72
6.10.3 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 72
6.10.4 Pricing Overview and Analysis 72
6.10.5 Plan Overview and Analysis 72
6.10.6 Professional Analysis 73
6.10.7 A Comment on the Future 73
6.11 kajeet 74
6.11.1 General Overview 74
6.11.2 Underlying Network Provider 74
6.11.3 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 74
6.11.4 Pricing Overview and Analysis 75
6.11.5 Plan Overview and Analysis 75
6.11.6 Professional Analysis 75
6.11.7 A Comment on the Future 76
6.12 Liberty Wireless 77
6.12.1 General Overview 77
6.12.2 Underlying Network Provider 77
6.12.3 MVNO Type 77
6.12.4 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 77

6.12.5 Pricing Overview and Analysis 78
6.12.6 Plan Overview and Analysis 78
6.12.7 Professional Analysis 78
6.12.8 A Comment on the Future 79
6.13 Locus Telecommunications 80
6.13.1 General Overview (H2O Wireless) 80
6.13.2 Underlying Network Provider 80
6.13.3 MVNO Type 80
6.13.4 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 80
6.13.5 Pricing Overview and Analysis 81
6.13.6 Plan Overview and Analysis 81
6.13.7 Professional Analysis 82
6.13.8 A Comment on the Future 82
6.14 Movida 83
6.14.1 General Overview 83
6.14.2 Underlying Network Provider 83
6.14.3 Network Technology 84
6.14.4 MVNO Type 84
6.14.5 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 84
6.14.6 Pricing Overview and Analysis 84

6.14.7 Plan Overview and Analysis 84
6.14.8 Professional Analysis 85
6.14.9 A Comment on the Future 86
6.15 NTT Docomo USA 87
6.15.1 General Overview 87
6.15.2 A Comment on the Future 87
6.16 Virgin Mobile USA 88
6.16.1 General Overview 88
6.16.2 Underlying Network Provider 89
6.16.3 Network Technology 89
6.16.4 Prepaid or Postpaid Offering 90
6.16.5 Pricing Overview and Analysis 90
6.16.6 Plan Overview and Analysis 91
6.16.7 Professional Analysis 91
6.16.8 A Comment on the Future 94
6.17 Wal-Mart 95
6.17.1 General Overview 95
6.17.2 Professional Analysis 95
6.18 MVNO Guide 96

7 United States Prepaid Market 2013 - 2018 98
7.1 Market Forecast 98
7.2 The Future of Prepaid Wireless in the US 98

List of Figures

Figure 1 Postpaid and Prepaid 18
Figure 2 Postpaid and Prepaid Subscribers in US and Europe 19
Figure 3 U.S. Gross Additions 2004-2012 20
Figure 4 US Mobile Operator Subscribers 25
Figure 5 Airlink Mobile Plans 40
Figure 6 Airvoice Wireless Plans 43
Figure 7 Jolt Plans 47
Figure 8 Consumer Cellular Plans 60
Figure 9 Guide to MVNO Companies 97
Figure 10 USA Prepaid Wireless Market Forecast through 2018 98