Qwest Wireless

Owned by Qwest Communications, Qwest Wireless LLC was a cellular phone service offered in the United States. Qwest Wireless is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) that operates on Verizon Wireless's CDMA network. Qwest was the only Baby Bell that offered its wireless service as an MVNO; Since the wireless company used Sprint's network, all of their phones were Sprint phones with the Qwest name on them. Their phones included models from Sanyo, Samsung, Nokia, UT Starcom (formerly Audiovox), HTC, and most recently Motorola. Qwest Wireless ended the year 2007 with 824,000 wireless subscribers. [ [http://www.cellular-news.com/story/29840.php?source=newsletter Small US Operators - Q4 2007 Results] ]

History

Prior to Qwest's acquisition of the RBOC US West, and unrelated to US West Wireless which became Qwest Wireless, US West operated its own analog cellular service, which merged with AirTouch and was eventually combined with GTE and PrimeCo to become Verizon Wireless. [ [http://news.vzw.com/news/2004/07/pr2004-07-01j.html Verizon Wireless To Purchase Qwest Wireless Spectrum, Network Assets] ]

On May 5, 2008 Qwest ended their agreement with Sprint Nextel and signed a 5 year contract with Verizon Wireless. Qwest has decided that they will no longer maintain an MVNO and will only resell Verizon Wireless services.

Verizon Wireless Agent/Partnership

On July 28, 2008, Qwest began selling VZW service to new customers. The transition of current Qwest Wireless customers is going smoothly according to CEO Ed Mueller [ [http://seekingalpha.com/article/89497-qwest-verizon-wireless-migration-going-well Qwest: Verizon Wireless Migration Going Well] ] . The company is currently migrating wireless-only customers as one-bill/bundle services will not be available until October. Financial terms of this agreement are not being disclosed. Current Qwest Wireless customers will be offered a comparable phone for free by Verizon, or the option to receive 25% off a different phone of the customers choice. It is unknown at this time when current Qwest Wireless customers can make the switch to Verizon Wireless. Qwest and Verizon jointly published a press release on May 5th, 2008. [ [http://press.qwestapps.com/index.cfm?fa=press.view&pressReleaseId=56671 Qwest to Deliver Verizon Wireless Products and Services to Its Customers] ] [ [http://news.vzw.com/news/2008/05/pr2008-05-05a.html Qwest To Deliver Verizon Wireless Products And Services To Its Customers] ]

External links

* [http://www.qwest.com/wireless Official Web site]
* [http://www.vzwshop.com/qwest_nse Verizon-Qwest Sales Web site]

References