http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/ Engadget Comments for SK Telecom handing over $270 million (more) to Helio http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/Sep 21st 2007 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/
Now Piss Off Qualcomm! And quit lifting, patent trolling and lawsuit-ing and go back to (or start) inventing stuff for realz!]]>Sep 21st 2007 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/Sep 21st 2007 7:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/Sep 21st 2007 3:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/Sep 22nd 2007 12:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/
"...will mean all US Operators will be playing on the same 4G type network tech..."

You forgot to include Alltel, US Cellular, MetroPCS, and Cricket still running CDMA. Of course, when Verizon folds Alltel won't be far behind. They help each others' networks too much.]]>Sep 21st 2007 4:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/Sep 21st 2007 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/Helio's problem isn't their phone but the network. Plus, they don't have the strength to match the big carriers on service. MVNO market is somewhat crowded, the only successful one is and will be Virgin Mobile.
However, if SK buys out Sprint, they may be able to merge the Helio operation into it and lower the operating cost and also cut the expense for consumers. If they can lower their flat rate data and minutes plan to below $50 - the magic number. They will have a shot to takeover a substantial part of the market. Vertical integration baby!
That's an impossibility right now due to the fixed cost they have to pay Sprint for the network. Then again, buying out Sprint will leave them with a crappy network that will cost billions to upgrade, so no winning formula here.]]>Sep 21st 2007 5:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/Sep 21st 2007 6:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/Sep 21st 2007 7:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/
I was with AT&T/Cingular for over ten years and had calls drop on my constantly (and I live in Boston, not exactly the sticks.)

A month with Helio and not only have I not dropped a call, the clarity if fantastic.

SK Telecom is printing money, I'd love to see them buy Sprint and enter the U.S. market and would not at all be surprised if that is in their plans.]]>Sep 23rd 2007 1:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/21/sk-telecom-handing-over-270-million-more-to-helio/I'll tell you... in Orlando, Helio blows. Ironically enough, I'm reading this article while waiting, on hold for about 20 minutes now, on the phone w/ Helio trying to get the bastards to give me that refund they owe me. It's been 2 months since I returned my Ocean under their 30-day guarantee and still have not received a dime.
I returned my Helio Ocean due to excessive dropped calls (like... EVERY call would drop) and lack of signal. What's the point of high-speed when you can't get a signal indoors?? Then the final straw was when my Ocean crapped out on me and I find out that there is a high-rate of defects in Oceans. So now we have Crap Service + Defective Phone. Of course they replace the defective phone... with a refurbished one... but that was nearly 2 weeks I had to go with no phone until the replacement came. Top that off with some of the dumbest customer svc reps you ever talked to... I have nothing good to say about Helio. Sorry to those who've had positive results, but if you live in Orlando, don't even bother. Stick with T-mobile or Cingular. It's too bad because I did like Helio's pricing and plans.]]>Sep 25th 2007 9:46AM