Comments on: AT&T: Netbooks key to expansion beyond cellphones? http://blogs.reuters.com/summits/2009/05/19/att-netbooks-key-to-expansion-beyond-cellphones/ Exclusive outtakes from industry leaders Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:28:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Netbook Nark http://blogs.reuters.com/summits/2009/05/19/att-netbooks-key-to-expansion-beyond-cellphones/comment-page-1/#comment-848 Netbook Nark Wed, 20 May 2009 17:58:21 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/summits/?p=3040#comment-848 The interview is from a phone person who started in ops with Bell South Telephone in 1976. His experience in retailing is the telephone company stores that also once tried to sell computers. AT&T will need cost containment on distribution channels. With the 2,200 company-owned stores selling netbooks and iPhones, how can the 5,000 agent-operated stores survive? And there's another 5,000 locations of Best Buy and Radio Shack. AT&T and Verizon each have about 20,000 points of distribution. Total U.S. channels for mobile services exceed 50,000. There are 20,000 U.S. car dealerships with 10% or 2,000 being closed by GM and Chrysler. Can we anticipate 10% to 40% of mobile stores to close? Carrier-branded stores that are agent-operated would be cost-cutting. Best Buy launching the Palm Pre with in-store rebates could set the model for efficient delivery and customer fulfillment. And netbooks sold like phone bills will never be. The interview is from a phone person who started in ops with Bell South Telephone in 1976. His experience in retailing is the telephone company stores that also once tried to sell computers. AT&T will need cost containment on distribution channels. With the 2,200 company-owned stores selling netbooks and iPhones, how can the 5,000 agent-operated stores survive? And there’s another 5,000 locations of Best Buy and Radio Shack. AT&T and Verizon each have about 20,000 points of distribution. Total U.S. channels for mobile services exceed 50,000. There are 20,000 U.S. car dealerships with 10% or 2,000 being closed by GM and Chrysler. Can we anticipate 10% to 40% of mobile stores to close? Carrier-branded stores that are agent-operated would be cost-cutting. Best Buy launching the Palm Pre with in-store rebates could set the model for efficient delivery and customer fulfillment. And netbooks sold like phone bills will never be.

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