Verizon threatens to shut off Amp'd's airwaves
It appears to be nothing more than a little playful legal wrangling at this point, but Verizon's threat to straight-up disconnect Amp'd serves as a stark reminder to customers and other MVNOs just how critical the national carriers are to a virtual network's day-to-day operations. Verizon's argument, of course, is simple: Amp'd burns through tens of millions of dollars per month of The Network's airwaves, and nonpayment is grounds for sending out the "can you hear me now?" guy to Amp'd's house to disconnect the service, metaphorically speaking. This'll all play out in the courts over the next few days and months as Amp'd navigates the wide world of bankruptcy, but we've gotta believe Verizon isn't heartless enough to leave its paying customers in the dark.[Via Phone Scoop]
Filed under: Verizon Wireless, MVNOs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
kopas @ Jun 7th 2007 4:13PM
I thought I read that the major reason for bankrupcy was that Amp'd customers don't pay...
Cactus @ Jun 7th 2007 4:39PM
I'm sure Verizon would never leave its paying customers in the dark.
Customers of a non-paying virtual network operator, however... you're on your own. You can't expect Verizon to just keep looking the other way as Amp'd burns the little that's left of its cash in marketing and other fees... while forgoing paying the rent.
It's last call for Amp'd, and Verizon's calling the bar tab. "WHERE YOU AT?"
Brian @ Jun 7th 2007 5:57PM
While it does cost a bunch of $$$ to acquire customers in the mobile world, what with handset subsidies, agent commissions, marketing, etc, it's not like AMP'd management wasn't in this biz before (Boost). They should've known better. This all makes their "we grew too fast" excuse weak at best.
And, yes, VZW would love nothing better than shutting them down. They could probably buy AMP'd out for a $10 million or so "song." A cheap way to acquire 200K+ new customers lickety-split! Why do you think VZW time-stamped their demand for payment, and then said "Oh no you didn't" when AMP'd played the CH.11 card three hours after? From my understanding, VZW is exempt from the bankruptcy "shield" as a result.
Pimp Daddy 10" @ Jun 22nd 2007 3:42PM
Ampd mobile fo' da last two days gots not been answering they phone lines at 310-575-2500 (Coporate HQ) or 611 from by phone. I gots been on hold now waiting ta speak fo' someone fo' 4 hours now! I leting it stay connect just ta see if any picks up at all! Are dey now out o' bidness? Did they employess in da page center jet? I th'o't dey use an outside company fo' customer service an' all. So did amp'd pay dem? What iz up? My other phone iz uh hybrid iz acting like uh prepaid, muh ma fuckin wife calls an' says she has uh hybrid plan, dey say she do not! an' wont but any minutes on fo' her! I had ta pay 20 bones fo' muh ma fuckin own phone cuz they geekbox system wuz down an' could not place any mo' minutes on fo' me, so ah paid $20 over muh ma fuckin phone fo' it. They said dey would refund me later... and git Sheniquah's ass back ova' heeah.