telecommunications — english language news service

15.05.2008« [telecommunications — телекоммуникация — telekommunikation]

usa — sk telecom in talks with virgin mobile on helio

On Wednesday, Virgin Mobile USA and South Korean SK Telecom revealed they have held preliminary talks over US MVNO Helio, a joint venture between SK Telecom and ISP EarthLink. SK Telecom had initially denied any negotiations had taken place but is now saying, ‘Discussions are at an early stage, and there can be no assurances that these discussions will lead to any transaction’. SK Telecom will still not confirm rumours that it plans to buy Virgin Mobile's US operations, or that it has decided to sell Helio.

Source: TeleGeography's CommsUpdate

earthlink

EarthLink, Inc. provides Internet access and related value-added services to individual and business customers throughout the United States. The Company operates in two segments: Consumer Services and Business Services. The Consumer Services segment provides Internet access and related value-added services, such as dial-up and high-speed Internet access and voice services, to individual customers. The Business Services segment offers Internet access and related value-added services to businesses and communications carriers through its wholly owned subsidiary, New Edge Networks. These services include managed data networks, dedicated Internet access and Web hosting, among others.

helio

HELIO, the mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) established as a joint venture between Korea-based advanced wireless operator SK Telecom and EarthLink in 2005, markets wireless voice and data services to the the 18-to-32-year-old demographic. HELIO's also sells a custom wireless device of the same name for use only on its network. Investments from both partners are fueling the company, which boasts about 70,000 subscribers. HELIO sells to consumers online, through its own retail locations, and through third-party retailers and non-traditional retail locations. The company has offices in Los Angeles and Atlanta.

sk telecom

SK Telecom Co., Ltd. (SK Telecom) is a wireless telecommunications services provider in Korea. The Company’s offerings include cellular services, providing its subscribers with code division multiple access (CDMA) service; wired and wireless Internet integrated portal services under its NATE brand name, which allow its wireless subscribers to access various Websites designed for cellular and personal digital assistant (PDA) use, such as access to entertainment-related contents and services; mobile multimedia service, ranging from television programs to entertainment content such as movies, music, animation, games and sports under the brand name June; global roaming service for long distance calls; network service, offering general and Internet lease lines, as well as ubiquitous and automobile digital convergance services, such as satellite digital multimedia broadcasting.

virgin mobile

Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. principally serves as the holding company for Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., an indirect, majority owned (81.5%) subsidiary engaged in the wireless communications services business. The minority equity interest (18.5%) in Virgin Mobile USA, L.P. is held by Sprint Nextel Corporation. The Company provides voice and data services, handset units and other related offerings that are designed to meet the lifestyle of the youth sector, its targeted market. Virgin Mobile USA commercializes its products and services under the Virgin Mobile brand. It delivers its services using the nationwide Sprint PCS network. As of December 31, 2007, the Company served approximately 5.1 million customers within its service areas.