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IVR Technologies
IVR Technologies, Inc. is a leading software development company providing a fully integrated application, media and billing server to next generation networks.

July 2012

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Wireless Users Shifting Away From Contracts to Prepaid

July 15, 2012

According to new data recently crunched by consultant Chetan Sharma, there's a notable shift among United States consumers away from two-year contract wireless plans -- and toward more cost-friendly prepaid options. According to Sharma, the top seven wireless carriers in the United States lost 52,000 postpaid customers last quarter, the first such lost in the wireless market's history. Prepaid customers have been growing 15% year over year (compared to 1% for postpaid), and now account for 25% of all wireless consumers. Sharma notes that Sprint is the beneficiary of many of these users:

Carriers to replace buckets of minutes with unlimited calling

July 1, 2012

The nations' Tier 1 carriers are increasingly toying with the idea of getting rid of options that allow customers to have tiered voice minute packages in favor of a flat rate for unlimited calling, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Although no concrete plans have been introduced, and the carriers have not said when they might make the shift, they certainly seem to be angling in that direction. The shift comes as voice usage continues to decline in favor of data, and as Internet-based calling services gain traction in the age of smartphone applications.

Carriers argue that moving toward a flat rate for unlimited calling will give customers simplified options, but the net effect will be to retain revenue from voice, which despite rising data usage remains the bulk of customers' bills.