Cellphones, helio, mergers, mvnos, virgin mobile, wireless carriers

Helio and Virgin Mobile to Merge?

mocoNews reports talks are going on between Helio and Virgin Mobile USA about a possible merger between the two wireless phone carriers. Helio has had some finanical issues over the past year, and its owner, SK Telecom, has been looking to make a splash in US markets. Current talks include SK Telecom buying out Virgin Mobile USA, infusing it with cash, and having Virgin Mobile buy out Helio via stock purchase. Seeing as both carriers operate on Sprint's network, technical logistics won't be a huge hurdle, which leaves financials to deal with. But this is still very much in the early stages. [mocoNews via Phone Scoop]

3:45 PM on Thu May 8 2008
By Adrian Covert
1,263 views
11 comments

Comments

liveinvt at 04:26 PM on 05/08/08
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I am not opposed to this because it might make a worthy competitor.

I love those WIZARD commercials. But they don't play the one where he goes "THE WIZARD - oh it's you guys" that was funny. And when the other guy is going through his wallet.

PS why is the sprint guy fat?
dremon21 at 04:29 PM on 05/08/08
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Dude, youre talking about Alltell!

Which is neither one these mentioned.
liveinvt at 04:32 PM on 05/08/08
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@dremon21: Damnit! They're all the same to me.
Darrone at 04:35 PM on 05/08/08
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Connectedness Index: 90
Brought to you by Acura TSX

Virgin and Helio are still alive? That is shocking news!
Geisrud at 04:35 PM on 05/08/08
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Connectedness Index: 87
Brought to you by Acura TSX

I'm confused. Helio's parent company is going to buy Virgin, which then is going to buy Helio? Isn't that like buying your own company from yourself...or something?
awdark at 05:01 PM on 05/08/08
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I hope this occurs.
I don't like how virgin mobile is doing, they make slight profit but I like the service and rates (especially how the money accumulates over time good for light talkers)

Their phone selection stinks, and the $7 for 2mb data plans are just sad. But I have a feeling that if it does happen, they won't be merging the $0.20 voice rates with a reasonably priced data plan with the helio ocean. They always screw up mergers to make it bad for us :(
Stacky Botrus at 05:18 PM on 05/08/08
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I think its funny when MVNO's have to merge - its like the movie IMPOSTER. They have no idea who they are!

sonovabichs
SneakerFiend at 05:38 PM on 05/08/08
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Probably a full merger.
Helio operates on Sprint's network so im guessing that sprint has some of Helio's stock to keep it on its feet.

IDK hopefully if they merge they wont adopt all of virgin mobile's lame ass phones. And i thought that virgin mobile was property of sprint. Maybe im just late.
jje at 05:57 PM on 05/08/08
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Then can we call them a phone company?

In all seriousness though, my cingular-I mean ATT- contract is finally up in 2 months and I've been waiting to try out Helio. But I've been wondering if I should wait until all these rumors become true or die...

I could care less what happens, I just want their future to be secure and prices/service not drastically changing as soon as I sign on.

I guess merging with Virgin (that sounds wrong...)wouldn't be bad, but it won't effect me - I want an Ocean with all that implies...
rshettle at 07:47 AM on 05/09/08
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Meh, I thought they were already the same company... who cares?
Mongoose at 12:31 PM on 05/09/08
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This to me feels like Sprint/Nextel: Bad idea. Virgin Mobile makes its money on cheapskates and the young, and has decent success being a low-end provider with some good deals on text packages.

Helio, counterwise, is after the moneyed edge of the market, with fancier phones, more data-centric plans, and overall higher 'premium' costs.

These are not two tastes that will taste great together. They will not 'cover the market'; Helio will wither on the vine regardless of it joining Virgin or not.