Wireless Carriers in the United States

Wireless Carriers in the United States Historical Strategic Issues When it comes to wireless carriers in the United States the most common historical strategic issues revolves around price, performance, and customer service.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Wireless Carriers in the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The key players in this industry had to mindful of all three factors because the consumers in the U.S. market can easily switch to another carrier if they are not satisfied with the value they are getting for their money and the kind of service that they believe they deserve. Take for example the ability to SMS or to text one another. There was a time when this type of service was non-existent in North America (Gow Smith, p.58). The key players in the industry had to balance all three in order to increase their market share. Their strategists cannot afford to simply focus on price because their competitors are willing to lower thei r own prices as well in order to attract more customers and yet at the same time make their offer much better by improving the customer service aspect of the business. Among the key players in the industry, a reliable service is already a given, and yet users of wireless communications technology are also looking for cheaper rates and if possible the capability to buy a mobile phone at a lower cost. The price of the plan or the service is affected by the operational costs incurred by the wireless carrier. Thus, streamlining the operations and finding ways to lower overhead costs is a permanent fixture of a company-wide strategy. There are many things to consider in this regard such as technology and regulations stipulated by the Federal Government. There is a need to acquire the appropriate technology in order to maintain a certain level of performance. This is a major source of expenditure for the company. Furthermore, new laws regarding tariffs and other forms of taxes can easily limit the capability of wireless carriers to offer cheaper plans and better rates for their consumers.Advertising Looking for essay on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In order to maintain quality service, wireless carriers had to be contented with relatively lower profit margins (Abell, p.1). This explains why the wireless carrier business is a very competitive industry. Key players in this industry may be forced to accept a smaller profit margin. On the bright side, these firms are not expected to slow down in the next few years because of the phenomenal growth in the number of people using mobile phones (Kavoori Arceneaux, p.155). Key Players and their Operations According to a respected market research agency there are four major players in the wireless telecom carrier industry and these are: Verizon Wireless; ATT Inc.; Sprint Nextel Corporation; and Deutsche Telekom AG (IBISWorld, p.1). The rankings change all the time because of the competitive nature of the industry there is a constant need to do mergers or buy-out the competition. But as of March of March of 2011 ATT is considered the largest wireless company in the United States (Abell, p.1). ATT earned this distinction when it decided to purchase T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion and as a result the combined entity is now one third larger than former number one Verizon Wireless (Abell, p.1). The significance of this new development is seen in how ATT has now more than twice the subscriber as Sprint Nextel (Abell, p.1). Nevertheless, ATT cannot afford to rest on its laurels so to speak because subscribers can easily change carriers if they believe they can get a better deal. Strategic Change Consumers should expect constant change when it comes to the strategies employed by wireless carriers. Strategic change is always dependent upon price, performance and customer service; there is a need for constant adjustment in order to please as many subscribers as possible. It is imperative to retain loyal customers while at the same time attract new subscribers and take a bigger piece of the market. Wireless companies had to skillfully balance price, performance and customer service. The CEOs of these firms knew very well what is expected of them and it is to deliver the best value to increase the profitability of the company and achieving all of that without spending too much. The most dreaded scenario is to see loyal subscribers transfer allegiance to another wireless company. When it comes to the price war it can be argued that wireless companies already demonstrated their willingness to lower the price of their plans. Thus, the crucial battle is all about performance and customer service. The significance of these two factors can be seen when a wireless company begins to experience success and the increased number of subscribers puts a toll into their infrastructure. As a res ult the most common strategic change taking place in recent years is the ability to consolidate, to merge with other companies and to buy-out the competition. According to one analyst the primary reason why ATT had to acquire T-Mobile USA is due to its connectivity issues and the perception that it is not a reliable wireless company (Abell, p.1)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Wireless Carriers in the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is of course due to the fact that ATT has an existing business partnership with Apple and this has resulted in the 80-fold increase in its wireless-data usage (Abell, p.1). By acquiring T-Mobile USA, ATT hopes to address this perception problem. Strategic change in the U.S. wireless carrier industry is heavily affected by the mobile phone phenomenon (Grant Meadows, p.316). Consider the following research findings: â€Å"Adolescents use the cell phone to network with peers. For adults, family and security drive use† (Grant Meadows, p.316). The mobile phone is not only a communication tool but has now become a mobile computer and in turn became a reliable source of news, information, entertainment, social networking using wireless applications and the World-Wide-Web to interconnect and download information. In addition, the mobile phone has become a status symbol and an extension of the self. For instance, â€Å"adolescents are the most active in reinventing wireless technology as a personal medium and a social prop for self-presentation †¦ fashion attentiveness affects the purchase, use and replacement of cell phones† (Grant Meadows, p.316). This observation was corroborated by an interesting discovery made a research group. In their study they found out that Verizon Wireless is the leader when it comes to customer service and performance in 2008 (Carton, p.1). Respondents were interviewed with regards to dropped calls. Resp ondents also provided feedback when it comes to cellular service provider satisfaction rating. In both instances Verizon Wireless came on top and yet subscribers are switching over to ATT. The major reason why ATT has more subscribers than Verizon Wireless in 2008 is attributed to what the company can offer in terms of mobile phones. ATT subscribers can choose a deal where the company enables them to own an iPhone and this is the main reason why revenue is up.Advertising Looking for essay on communication strategies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Strategic change must be focused on price, performance and customer service. But competitors in the wireless carrier industry must also focus on how they can provide better phones on top of the great deals they are offering their subscribers and potential clients. These firms had to realize that â€Å"the cell phone is characteristically identified with new modes of mobility, personalization, identity, and individual and group relations† (Kavoori Arceneaux, p.155). This is nothing new because Nokia in the past decade made a statement with regards to their unconventional designs and made the realization that mobile phones must be associated with lifestyle and emotional appeal (Gow Smith, p.60). This is a feature of the wireless communication business that should become a major focus of strategic change. It is therefore crucial to consider how a wireless carrier can provide more services related to the personalization of the mobile phone. Subscribers are no longer contented w ith having a mobile phone. They also wanted the device to express their identity and personality. The ability to download applications to enhance the usability of the mobile phone should be a major source of income for telecom companies. Strategic change must be done in such a way that a firm continues to eliminate any form of waste; it is imperative to streamline operations to increase the profitability of the company. On the other hand these firms must realize the power of the consumers to switch carriers in an instant. This is the beauty and challenge of wireless communication technology. It is no longer enough to provide a reliable communication platform it is also important to understand how mobile phones had revolutionized 21st century living and therefore all the CEOs working within this industry had to acknowledge that style and substance goes hand-in-hand when it comes to wireless telecommunication services. Abell, John. ATT to Buy T-Mobile, Becomes the No.1 U.S. Wireless Company. Web. Carton, Paul. Verizon Wireless Leads in Performance, but ATT Takes Market  Share. 2008. Web. Gow, Gordon and Richard Smith. Mobile and Wireless Communications: An  Introduction. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Grant, August and Jennifer Meadows. Communication Technology Update. Vol. 10. MA: Focal Press, 2006. IBISWorld. Wireless Telecommunications Carriers in the US. Web. Kavoori, Anandam and Noah Arceneaux. The Cell Phone Readers: Essays in Social  Transformation. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, 2007.

American Dream Essay Research Paper Listening to

American Dream Essay, Research Paper Listening to the panel treatment on the American Dream helped me to recognize several things about past, current, and future coevalss. I found it interesting that a bulk of the great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents worked in either a mill or a factory, or on a farm. Several of the adult females besides stayed at place to raise the kids. None of the panellists attended college except for Sam, Jo, and Edwin. Sam and Jo were both the first in their households to go to college, while Edwin? s gramps and male parent besides attended college. It surprises me that there were no involvements in earlier coevalss to foster their instruction. I am non certain if it was merely a deficiency of involvement in fostering their instruction, or if since they all could hold occupations working on farms or in mills, they all found it unneeded to travel on with it. It? s astonishing how all these people and their households came from all different parts of the universe, each of them with their ain vision of their American Dream. It? s interesting how the farther we move in front in coevalss, each one truly seems to bloom more than the old 1. All of the above merely goes to demo how everyone? s construct of the American Dream is different, and what may suit one person and make them happy, might not be suitable for someone else. The panelists all agreed that they have achieved their version of the Dream in the life they lead, and that they would like for their children to make their own decisions and follow their own paths and journeys. They also all agreed that the American Dream is reality ? alive and well in society. All of the panelists basically defined the American Dream along the same lines, just using different terms. I agree with almost every concept that was mentioned regarding the American Dream. I believe that it is an evolving thing, depending on where we are at a given point in time, and as we grow older it changes. I certainly agree that the American Dream gives us choices?we have the freedom of choice, we have the opportunities. We all have the choice to be what we want to be and to go out and get more from this world. I would describe the American Dream in one word?happiness. Edwin said it best stating, ?The Ameri can Dream is happiness. Go where you are going to be happy and your Dream will be fulfilled. Don?t just go for materialistic things.? That was honestly the most powerful statement from the panel that really made me realize what I feel the American Dream is all about?happiness. It?s about bein

History US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

History US - Essay Example to world power status. The New Deal provided numerous economic programs that stabilized the economy through giving support in banking and finance, unemployment, and agriculture. In banking and finance, President Franklin D. Roosevelt offered significant credit facilities to industry and agriculture. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) also insured savings-bank deposits up to $5,000. Moreover, to reduce unemployment that affected 13 million Americans, Roosevelt created job-stimulating programs. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a program that gave mostly conservation jobs to young men between 18 and 25 years of age (IIP Digital, 2008). The Public Works Administration (PWA) gave employment to skilled construction workers for different medium- to large-sized projects, among other programs (IIP Digital, 2008). In addition, to improve agricultural revenues, the Congress passed the Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA) in 1933. It gave economic relief to farmers by increasing crop prices throug h paying farmers a subsidy to reimburse them for deliberate cutbacks in production (IIP Digital, 2008). Despite these job and financial programs, the New Deal did not restore the Gross National Product (GNP), consumption levels, and employment rates to pre-Depression years (West, n.d.). World War II created complete economic recovery because of greater federal spending that improved employment rates both for men and women and for whites and colored people. Military spending by the federal government jump-started the economy, increasing GNP, consumption levels, and employment rates more than the New Deal did. By 1943, California’s aircraft and shipbuilding industries hired 243,000 and 280,000 people correspondingly, and tens of thousands worked in plants in Pacific Northwest (West, n.d.). In Seattle, the Boeing Company’s sales of aircraft in 1944 reached ten times that of the total city’s industries five years before (West, n.d.). With bustling

The Article Jihadi John and London's Culture of Gang Violence Assignment

The Article Jihadi John and London's Culture of Gang Violence - Assignment Example As the essay states many young Muslims living in London had joined ISIS. For example, Mohammed Emwazi alias Jihadi John has joined the ISIS where he is now an IS executioner. Mohammed Emwazi grew up in a fractured environment with high population, immense poverty, and high levels of crime like shootings, drug wars, and gang violence. According to the report finidngs Emwazi’s parents were middle class citizens and hence poverty may not have motivated the young British Muslim join radical Islamists groups. Emwazi was a member of the â€Å"London Boys† a criminal gang that operated in north-west London with an ultimate goal of financing radical Islamists groups. In the recent past, radical Islamists groups have been interacting with organized criminal gangs like the London Boys. Just like some other young Muslims in London, Emwazi joined the London Boys to escape from the alienation experienced in London. Even the police mistreated and suspected young Muslims of crime leading to the increasing Muslim prison in London where 27 % of all prisoners are Muslims. Radical preachers and their rallies helped Emwazi to understand his Islamic identity. Radical Islamists groups create a sense of brotherhood and unites Muslims thus attracting many young Muslims like Emwazi. The article notes that radical Islamist group like ISIS helped Emwazi and his peers to overcome tribal differences, escape uncertainty, and value their lives.

Tuberculosis Prevention Essay -- Biology Medical Biomedical Disease TB

Tuberculosis Prevention There are several ways to prevent tuberculosis. One is to control existing infections from those infected including people, pets, and cows. Unfortunately, more than 1/3 of the population has tuberculosis, making it hard to contain every case of tuberculosis. The BCG vaccine exists, but it is not very useful in countries like the US. The body’s defenses against tuberculosis are effective but fail once the immune system becomes suppressed. Antibiotics can be used to help prevent tuberculosis, but tuberculosis quickly grows resistant to antibiotics. Much needed research is being done to find a way to fight off and prevent tuberculosis. Tuberculosis has plagued mankind for a long time. This disease, which was previously believed to be eradicated, has once again shown up and begun attacking the lives of many humans. Tuberculosis infects a third of the population and kills a fraction of them. Many approaches have been used including different varieties of infection control, bodily defenses, and treatments to try to protect humans from tuberculosis. The best way to prevent tuberculosis infections is to contain the source of tuberculosis. The most common source of tuberculosis infection is from infected humans. By diagnosing, containing, and treating people with latent tuberculosis before they get active, contagious tuberculosis, tuberculosis can be quickly contained. Once someone has been diagnosed with TB, they should be placed under isolation. All TB isolation rooms must have a lower air pressure when compared to the outside corridors. This ensures that air enters the isolation room from hallways and adjacent areas and leaves only via planned outside exhausts†¦ Vertical displacement ventilation can also be u... ...ingfield: Charles C Thomas, 1943. 4.) Means-Markwell, MC, USNR, LCDR Melissa. Prevention of tuberculosis. Aug 2000 Postgraduate Medicine. 16 July 2006 . 5.) Mylonakis, M.D., Eleftherios. PPD skin test. 10 June 2006 MedlinePlus. 26 July 2006 . 6.) PetPlace Veterinarians. Tuberculosis in Dogs. 2006 PetPlace. 26 July 2006 . 7.) Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR , William C.. Tuberculosis Skin Test. 18 Sept 2005 MedicineNet, Inc.. 23 July 2006 . 8.) Tuberculosis. 21 Dec 2004 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). 16 July 2006 .

Corporate Social Responsibilities of Maruti Suzuki in Terms of Employment

MUMBAI: Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest carmaker, is extending some of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities to associates on the shop-floor in a bid to make it more inclusive and increase their identification with the company. So far, these programmes were only for managers and engineers. As part of the initiative called e-parivartan, the company helps employees contribute to various social causes. The initiative is run in partnership with local voluntary organisations. Ads by Google LIC Life Insurance PlansInvest Rs. 543/Month & Get Rs. Cr. Life Cover+Medical Benefit. Buy Now LIC. TermInsuranceIndia. co. in Reliance Job Openings2500+ New Jobs For Exp: 5-15 Years. Upload Resume. Apply to Reliance Now TimesJobs. com/Reliance-Openings The company's CSR department facilitates volunteering activity as a link between employees and the community. â€Å"Encouraged by their enthusiasm for social work, we would like to take the employee volunteering programme to th e shop floor,† says SY Siddiqui, chief operating officer in charge of administration (HR, finance, IT and COSL) at Maruti Suzuki India. Some of the focus areas for next year include counselling Class 10 and 12 students at local government schools for higher studies and vocational courses, and support to the environment. â€Å"This community interaction gives extreme satisfaction to the employees. With such associations, their involvement and liking for the company also goes up,† says Siddiqui. The e-parivartan programme was started about four years ago when a group of young employees, in a communication meeting, expressed their desire to meaningfully associate with a social cause. Starting with 40 employees in 2008-09, the programme now involves about 2,200 staffers. From this year, the company has made volunteering an integral part of new employees' induction programme. For instance, new employees like graduate engineer trainees (GET) undergo a full day of community service. This year, a group of GETs participated in an anti-malaria and dengue campaign in Gurgaon that was organised by Maruti in partnership with the government health department. Such exposure helps us shape them as rounded professionals so they are able to contribute not just to the company but also to society,† says a company spokesperson. Underlining the fact that a renewed focus on employee involvement and engagement is very critical for the company, Siddiqui says: â€Å"HR should be able to support all, blue-collared or white-collared. Maruti is refocusing on building bridges between the whiteand blue-collared. † E-parivartan has so far shown tremendous results with white- col lared employees,

Placoid Scales on Sharks and Rays

Placoid scales are the tiny, tough scales that cover the skin of elasmobranches, or cartilaginous fish—this includes sharks, rays, and other skates. While placoid scales are similar in some ways to the scales of bony fish, they are more like teeth covered with hard enamel. Unlike the scales of other fish, these do not grow after an organism has fully matured. Placoid scales are often called dermal denticles because they grow out of the dermis layer. The Function of Placoid Scales Placoid scales are packed tightly together, are supported by spines, and grow with their tips facing backward and laying flat. Placoid scales are rough to the touch and the structure they form is nearly impossible to penetrate. These scales function to protect a fish from predators and can even be used to injure or kill prey. The v-shape of a placoid scale reduces drag and increases turbulence as a fish moves through the water so that they may swim more quickly and quietly, all while expending less energy. Placoid scales form a matrix that is so dynamic and fluid that swimsuits have been designed to mimic their composition. The Structure of Placoid Scales The flat rectangular base plate of a placoid scale is embedded in a fishs skin. Like teeth, placoid scales have an inner core of pulp composed of connective tissues, blood vessels, and nerves. They are a part of the fish. The pulp cavity is nursed by a layer of odontoblast cells that secrete dentine. This hard, calcified material forms the next layer of scales, which fits tightly between the old layers. The dentine is coated in vitrodentine, which is an enamel-like substance that is produced by the ectoderm and is even harder than dentine. Once the scale erupts through the epidermis, it cannot be coated in any more enamel. Different species of cartilaginous fish support their scales with unique spines based on the shape and role of the fish. A species can be identified by the shape of its scales. Because rays are flat and sharks are more angular, the spines of their placoid scales are slightly different to allow both fish to swim quickly. The placoid scales of some sharks are shaped like a duck foot with spikes at the base. These spines are what make the skin so rough in texture that some cultures have been using it to sand and file for centuries. Shark Skin Leather In addition to being used as sandpaper, shark skin is often made into leather called shagreen. Shark scales are ground down so that the surface of the skin is still rough but smoothed enough that the leather can be handled without causing injury. Shark skin leather can take on dye colors or be left white. Years ago, sturdy shark skin leather was used to encase sword hilts and add grip. Other Types of Fish Scales The four main types of fish scales include placoid, ctenoid, cycloid, and ganoid scales. This list gives a brief description of the characteristics of all scale types other than placoid. Ctenoid: These scales are thin and round and rimmed with an outer edge of teeth. They are found on fish such as perch, sunfish, and other bony fish.Cycloid: These scales are large and rounded and show growth rings as they grow with the animal. They are smooth and can be found on fish such as salmon and carp.Ganoid: These scales are diamond-shaped and fit together like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle rather than overlapping. Gars, bichirs, sturgeons, and reedfishes have these armor plates.