Sprint CEO Dan Hesse, talking to the Financial Times, has said today that the carrier is now actively considering deploying WiMAX and LTE for their 4G networks.
Currently, the company only offers 4G through WiMAX.
That decision is leading many to speculate that a long rumored merger between Sprint and T-Mobile USA is a possibility, given that both would use LTE for their 4G needs.
The merger makes no sense now, as T-Mobile uses GSM/UMTS for 3G while Sprint uses CDMA. Deutsche Telekom, the parent of T-Mobile has entertained offers to sell its American unit.
T-Mobile is the fourth biggest carrier in the U.S., with 34 million subscribers, while Sprint is third at 48 million. Both trail leaders Verizon and AT&T by a large margin.
When asked about a merger, Hesse said there was “logic” behind a move like that: “I don’t see a need to scale larger, but if there’s an acquisition that makes sense for us, I do want to have a balance sheet that would give me the flexibility of making good acquisitions when we see them.”
Result for: flexibility
SanDisk has announced that it has begun shipping ‘official’ Xbox 360 USB drives, giving gamers a place to backup their game saves, gamertags, map packs and Arcade game downloads.
The company says the USB drive is “pre-configured for seamless plug and play action,” eliminating the need for gamers to take the extra step of formatting their own drives and downloading the initial 360 software update.
Additionally, all drives come with a free one-month membership to Xbox Live Gold.
“Xbox LIVE contains a world of content for gamers to explore and download, including full-length games, movies and music,” says Shuki Nir, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Retail, SanDisk. “The Xbox 360 USB Flash Drive by SanDisk is specifically engineered to deliver a great user experience and maximum compatibility with the console, offering gamers greater freedom and flexibility in how they store, manage and enjoy their favorite files.”
The drive is available in either 8GB or 16GB varieties, with MSRPs of $35 and $70, respectively.
Result for: flexibility
Claiming a first, Universal has announced a mobile commerce campaign partnership with Adgregate Markets, meaning consumers can buy the Blu-ray or DVD of the blockbuster Inglourious Basterds via their mobile phones.
Using Adgregate’s “ShopAds, consumers can view ads of the film, pre-order the film, or shop for the best price online.
“This innovative partnership with Adgregate Markets fits perfectly with Universal’s strategy of providing home entertainment consumers maximum flexibility and convenience when it comes to purchasing and viewing their favorite films,” says Universal Studios Home Entertainment president Craig Kornblau.
