Get our Newsletter!
Sign up below, then download the free DCA Desktop agent
to receive notification of new issues and read them at your leisure.
The Wireless Outpost News Issue #8 Vol. 5
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Another (politically incorrect) issue of the Wireless Outpost News. This publication is produced for the soon to be educated cellular phone user community. If you know of anyone else that may have an interest in our publication, make sure to forward them a copy. Don't worry if you miss an issue of our publication, we archive to cellularphonenews.com for your convenience. Now we move forward at Mach II speed!
[Note: This newsletter is delivered Bi Weekly on Wednesday.]
MULTIPLE SURVEY RESULTS PROVIDE INTERESTING BIG PICTURE SCOPE
In this specific article, we are running together a number of surveys with the results of each. By doing so, we hope that it will allow for a broad scope of the industry although it may appear fragmented unless you can connect the dots. We were connecting dots left and right but the picture would have looked about as defined as a star constellation. Therefore, we will publish the results and let you do your own analysis.
The first one has to do with the overall sales volume for mobile phones. First quarter showed a healthy growth of 18% with expectations for 113 million phones to be sold worldwide this year. That doesn't include the secondary market and in fact shows that people are replacing their phones faster than ever. Nokia leads the pack, and it is anticipated that Samsung is very close to taking second place from Motorola as having the most cell phones sold. Keep an eye on Lucky Goldstar (LG) too.
A recent report commissioned by Telecom Media Networks and conducted by Harris Interactive found that wireless subscribers want their wireless providers to be more proactive in offering the best wireless plan to suit their calling needs. The study found that carriers' attempts to attract the highest spending customers might not be the most profitable as those customers that spend more than $76 per month for wireless service have a higher tendency to select the lowest possible price point plans than customers who spend between $50 and $75 per month for wireless service.
The study noted that carriers should focus their attention on keeping and attracting only customers that have been with their wireless providers for more than a year as these customers spend the most on their wireless service, account for more than 77 percent of wireless users and are less costly to carriers because they are less likely to churn. Turns out that proactive measures by carriers are more likely to earn loyalty from wireless subscribers if it involves helping them find an appropriate plan for their calling patterns.
The survey found key satisfaction and loyalty drivers for the major wireless carriers, including Sprint PCS offering the lowest prices and contacting customers to offer the best plans based on phone use; AT&T Wireless Services Inc. providing accurate billing, offering the lowest prices, contacting customers to offer the best plans based on phone use, making customers aware of products and services, and targeting products and services to consumers' specific needs; and Verizon Wireless offering easy-to-understand calling plans and billing, resolving billing issues quickly and contacting customers to offer the best plans based on phone use.
In addition, the survey reported T-Mobile received the highest satisfaction and loyalty rating among all providers; Sprint received the lowest ratings; and Verizon Wireless received higher overall satisfaction and loyalty ratings compared with AT&T Wireless. Now tell me that you didn't find this interesting. But wait! There is more to come. Check this out on the SMS front.
Research analysts at IDC indicate that the US market for wireless short message service and instant messaging markets are expected to grow to 75 million and 63 million subscribers, respectively, in 2007. IDC also expects wireless IM to become popular in the business market and widespread adoption of SMS to occur among consumers. Analysts predict revenues will grow to $1.9 billion for each service by 2007. IDC has also reported that downloadable ringtones could grow as much as $1 billion dollars by 2007 as well.
ANOTHER SURVEY ON WHY PEOPLE BUY WIRELESS PHONES & SERVICE
This survey we had to add separately because it focuses more on the consumer as a group of wireless users. Specifically on their motivations for buying a cellular phone. Since it was more detailed, we have included a full disclosure of the survey results that were presented in the press release. It also covers those who do not currently own a cellular phone why they don't and what may entice them to purchase.
A recent poll by Harris Interactive® for AT&T Wireless shows that while half (49%) of non-wireless owners in the U.S. feel they don't need a mobile phone, a majority (61%) has wished they had one for emergencies, when they were running late, when lost or just sitting in traffic. Many Americans who currently do not own a mobile
phone (57%) also indicated they would likely feel safer or more secure if they did own one. Of women surveyed, particularly, 63% indicated that having a cell phone would offer them an added sense of security.
The first-ever 'Connecting the Other Half' study, which examined the attitudes, opinions and emotions of American consumers who do not currently own a mobile phone or service plan, revealed that there are real reasons why many Americans do not own a mobile phone. Many may be excluded from 'connecting' primarily because of the cost of plans (22% say wireless phones are too expensive).
When consumers were asked what held them back from purchasing a wireless phone, the most commonly cited reasons were costs and issues pertaining to
contracts:
* Respondents stated they did not have a wireless phone because it was too expensive (22%), they don't like wireless phones (12%), didn't want to commit to a long-term contract (6%), the plans were too confusing (4%), they didn't qualify for wireless service plan they wanted (3%), or poor reception or coverage (1%).
* Of those who said they didn't qualify for traditional service plans, the majority (71%) said they had poor or no credit history (18%). Others said that the deposit was too expensive (12%) or their income was not high enough (12%), or the coverage they wanted was not available in their area (6%). [NOTE: These results are based on a very small respondent sample base.]
The study also found that an overwhelming 76 percent of these non-wireless owners would want a mobile phone in emergency situations: nearly 25 percent said they would feel more confident and 14 percent more outgoing if they owned a mobile phone. Consumers repeatedly referenced the assurance they felt a wireless phone
would offer them or their children, and the diminished sense of personal vulnerability it would afford. Sixty percent (60%) believed the best reason to buy a wireless phone for a child, teenager or young adult was to help them stay in touch with their parents. Demonstrating the desire to stay connected, 59% said that a wireless phone would add a measure of safety when given to a child, teenager or young adult.
Some other key findings of the survey included:
* Respondents also strongly/somewhat agree that they would worry less (40%), feel more confident (22%), or feel more outgoing (14%) if they had a cell phone.
* One-in-five adults who currently do not own a wireless phone (20%) said they are likely to purchase one in the next year. Most of those would buy a wireless phone for themselves (91%) and when buying for someone else, more would buy for a significant other or spouse (14%) than would buy for a child (7%).
* When buying a cell phone for a child, more people are likely to purchase for a college-age, 18-24 year-old, child (20%) than for a pre-teen (5%) or teen (5%).
A quarter of those without wireless phones (25%) indicated interest in purchasing a prepaid wireless plan. Other prepaid services that interested consumers were prepaid gas (38%), meals (35%), movie tickets (30%), dry cleaning (18%) and a Krispy Kreme donut (15%).
Adding to that, the Yankee Group estimates that 64% of the US population had a mobile phone in 2002, up from 53% in 2001 and 48% in 2000. Lexicon Marketing, USA, indicated that in 2002, 53% of the total population in major metropolitan areas subscribed to mobile phone service. The findings from Telephia's survey of wireless subscribers and
non-subscribers showed that one in four non-subscribers expects to sign up for service in 2003. According to the study, new subscribers in 2003 are 60% more likely to be young adults and 69% more likely to be Hispanic than the overall population of
non-subscribers. Once again, emphasizing the need to pay attention to the growing Hispanic market.
According to the 2000 US Census, there are roughly 281.4 million people in the US. Of those people, 78.5% are age 15 and older (220.9 million). Suggesting that the preteen and children's markets may be shrinking from years past. It also means that all of us need to work on having 2.3 children for the next three generations or else we will have nobody left to pay for our social security benefits when we all retire at the age of 80. If they haven't already changed it to 90 by then.
CALIFORNIA NEXT IN LINE FOR NEW YORK STYLE CELL PHONE DRIVING BAN
First it was New York and a hundred other cities, counties, or states seeking to implement a cellular phone driving ban and now we have our next contender. Recently legislation passed the California State Assembly making talking on a cellular phone to be illegal while driving. It is too bad that politicians don't really follow public opinion anymore on anything other than election polls. Expect more political wipeouts in upcoming elections.
Speaking of which, California is closer to passing legislation than New Jersey. Interesting that it was a big issue in New Jersey that has suddenly fallen by the wayside isn't it? I mean New Jersey was supposed to have laid claim to be the second state to have passed such legislation. Is this the same fate that may happen in California? Only the California State Senate can answer that one who has to approve the bill before it can be sent to the Governor for signature.
The assemblyman Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who introduced it said that it is a safety issue that doesn't infringe on
people's rights to have a cellular phone. The legislation was introduced based on a study conducted by the Highway patrol. The study found that mobile phone use did contribute to accidents. However, it was not clear if it was the operation of the phone or the types of conversations held on the phone that led to the accidents. Nor does it appear that the studies conducted comparing cellular phone use to other driver distractions was taken into consideration.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is even getting in on the game with recommending an educational campaign and the NHTSA recommended drivers with learning permits not be allowed to use cellular phones while driving. I can agree that new drivers should
not be using cellular phones while driving. In fact, they shouldn't be eating while driving, or doing anything else that may distract them from driving on the road. However, even they agree that more studies need to be done to compare the distraction of cellular phone use while driving to other distractions. Which is why the recommendation for state bans on cellular phone use while driving is absent from their report.
I can appreciate the desire by politicians to make our roads safer to drive on. But when they get a bit obsessed with making one specific activity the focal point of a problem then I start to have a problem with it. Next, eating while driving will be against the law. Nor do I see the use of a hands free device as being any more safe than without one. You still have to take your eyes off the road to dial the phone. Common sense doesn't appear to be in large commodity when these people are looking for a bill to pass in the hopes of making a name for themselves. If they had conducted thorough and valid research which showed it to be a problem and they showed that the alternative solution would save lives, I would be the first to jump on it as a staunch supporter.
At first, I was surprised that the CTIA was opposed to these types of bans. The carriers will make extra money by selling hands free kits with their phones and selling replacements. But then I realized that the sale of an accessory is a one time shot and doesn't even come close to the profit margins that can be earned from service minutes used on a plan. Especially with the fact that accessories only wear out every three years or so. Making residual revenue the top priority.
Allow me to clarify that I am not against the reason behind promoting cellular phone driving bans. I realize that it is a safety issue that is to be addressed. In my case, I think they are going about it the wrong way and they are relying on faulty information on which to make these
un-researched decisions. How do they know that hands free devices are really any safer than not using one while driving? They don't. Instead they assume that it is safer.
Here is something else that I just realized. If I am remembering correctly, it appears that most if not all of these types of bills were introduced by Democrats and passed by legislative bodies that had a democratic majority. That is only an unconfirmed observation on my part and would require a little research for validity. But I think I am right on that one. In total, there is no way you can make stupidity a crime because if it were, many politicians would find themselves in jail.
Before I end this article let me clarify something. My busting the chops of politicians is not because I am anti-American. I am far from it because I am 125% American and I love to use my right to free speech and freedom of the press to bust their chops. Nor do I have a problem with most politicians. Only the ones who have a family tree that relates them to the jackass. When I bust on politicians, what I am really saying is that their opinion on an issue doesn't necessarily equal the truth of a situation. For that matter, that applies to me too. That's all folks!
AT&T WIRELESS ON TRACK TO BECOME THE KING OF SMS FOR US MARKET
I have to hand it to AT&T Wireless. They appear to be making moves that is putting them into position to become the leader in the SMS aspect of the US market. How they are pulling that off is beyond me as I haven't really seen any advertisements promoting SMS via AT&T Wireless. Their latest move includes offering text based directory assistance to subscribers. Read all about it right here.
In a U.S. industry first, AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) introduced TXT-411, a text messaging-based directory assistance service for direct "text-access" to the White and Yellow Pages™ and more. AT&T Wireless' TXT-411 service offers customers the added convenience of having phone numbers, business locations, and driving
directions delivered right to their wireless phone via text messaging. The listings or directions can then be stored on the phone and recalled at any time.
For about half the cost of traditional directory assistance services, AT&T Wireless text messaging users can simply send a text message with a directory assistance query to the abbreviated number, or short code, "2411." A message will be delivered to the user shortly thereafter with the requested listing or information.
"Today's wireless users rely on their phones as their single source for accessing information while on the move," said John Bunyan, senior vice president of AT&T Wireless Mobile Multimedia Services. "TXT-411 is a natural evolution of directory assistance, where direct access to national directory
listings is as easy as sending a text message. Once again, we are breaking new ground and extending our leadership in the messaging arena."
The "411" on How It Works: Directory assistance listings for individuals or businesses may be submitted using a specific name and location in the body of the TXT-411 query. The system is designed to recognize multiple entry formats when selecting a location including the city, ZIP code, airport code, phone number (for businesses only) or street address. For example, a customer interested in finding a phone listing for someone can simply type "last name < space > first name.location" (e.g. Smith Jane.Seattle) and send it to "2411." To find information about a business they simply type "business name.location" (e.g. Acme Restaurant.New York) and send it to "2411."
TXT-411 also allows for broader queries, when customers do not know the name of an individual or business. For example, a customer looking for a pizza place in Redmond, WA can simply send a text message with the query, "pizza.Redmond" to the number "2411." TXT-411 would then return a message that includes a restaurant name, phone number, address, and menu of additional options such as driving directions. The message will also indicate if more than one listing meets the description and gives them the option to view the next listing.
"It used to be that people let their fingers do the walking to find phone numbers. Now, with this new capability from AT&T Wireless, their thumbs can do the texting," said Bunyan.
Pricing and Availability: AT&T Wireless TXT-411 is immediately available to all post-paid customers with two-way text messaging capable handsets. Standard text messaging rates apply for queries sent to TXT-411. Customers using TXT-411 will be charged $.40 for each business or individual listing they receive, and driving
directions will cost an additional $.50. There is no monthly fee associated with the TXT-411 service. For more detailed information about TXT-411, please
visit http://www.attws.com/messaging/txt411/
.
Leading the Adoption of Messaging in the U.S.: TXT-411 is the latest innovative text messaging or short message service (SMS) offering from AT&T Wireless. AT&T Wireless was among the first of the national carriers to offer text messaging in the U.S. beginning in October 2000. In November 2001, AT&T Wireless became the first national carrier to allow its customers to send text messages to virtually any wireless phone -- regardless of the carrier -- simply by knowing the recipient's phone number.
Last July, AT&T Wireless became the first carrier to introduce color picture messaging in the United States. In February of 2003, the company introduced multimedia messaging service (MMS) to the U.S. allowing customers to combine color pictures, animations, text and sound that can be sent to and from wireless phones. AT&T Wireless also introduced text voting to the US through its groundbreaking sponsorship of Fox's American Idol in which millions of viewers can directly impact the outcome of the show through text messaging.
Today, approximately eighty percent of AT&T Wireless customers have phones with two-way messaging capability. AT&T Wireless customers can take their
compatible phones to over 100 countries and use text messaging to stay connected to family, friends, and business colleagues back here in the U.S. In addition, unlike with most other carriers, AT&T Wireless customers only pay for text messages that they send. Customers are not charged for the standard text messages they receive from others. For additional information about the text messaging visit
http://www.attwireless.com/ .
CTIA'S LNP LAWSUIT SHOT DOWN BUT POLITICIAN INTERFERENCE MAY DELAY LNP
The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia handed a smack down to the CTIA and Verizon Wireless who were trying to delay the implementation of LNP services to wireless subscribers. The results on the rulings for the case were quite clear as they were handed down by the judges. Basically stating that LNP cannot be disputed at this time for validity. However, one politician may foul up the implementation of LNP. More on that in the next article.
On to this specific situation. First, it was shot down because the CTIA and Verizon filed the lawsuit six years after the mandate was implemented. The courts said that a petition would have had to have been filed within 60 days of the initial mandate being in effect. Next, the CTIA and Verizon Wireless wanted the court to rule that the FCC had to provide absolute definitions on what was "necessary" for the purposes for enforcing a mandate.
The courts decided that the definition of "necessary" as used by the FCC was designed to allow for flexible interpretation and that absolutes were not enforceable. The FCC is expected to provide carriers with a list of issues to be addressed such as how long carriers have to handle the porting of a cellular phone number to another carrier and the differences in porting by wireline and wireless carriers.
Verizon Wireless is claiming that the implementation of LNP will force wireless carriers to back off of network expansion, upgrades, etc. in order to focus on meeting the LNP and 911 mandates as set forth by the FCC. Considering that the mandate was issued in 1996, I would think that six years would have been more than sufficient time for the wireless carriers to address these issues. Unless of course, wireless carriers were diverting resources to other projects which if that was the case, then it is on them for not taking care of it sooner and consumers should not have to suffer for it in my opinion.
Which brings us to the next dilemma. Politicians may once again help with the delay of LNP implementation in the name of Homeland Security. Chairman Fred Upton,
R-Mich, of the Telecommunications Subcommittee is saying that LNP could delay the implementation of wireless 911 services and that LNP should take a back burner to that activity. The 911 organizations are in support of such a move and are threatening to lobby congress to enact legislation that would make this a reality. A review of Mr. Upton's background shows him as being a career politician and never holding a private sector position.
There is also a proposition to provide grants to states for the purposes of upgrading their 911 services however, states that have raided the fund collected for 911 services will not b eligible for the grants if they have spent the money on other budgets not related to 911 operations. However, Senators and PUC regulators may put some water onto that kind of fire. Rural carriers might fight against it too. Senator Schumer is also introducing the legislation for the wireless consumer bill of rights which would require LNP be implemented by November 24th, 2003. The number of proponents for and against LNP will make this a very interesting battle.
Overall, this battle smells of fishy lobbyists trying to find another route on behalf of wireless carriers in which to delay LNP implementation. The fear by wireless carriers really boils down to the fact that they will not be able to stem churn. Mainly because the carriers may have failed to address these issues to a point of being sufficient to discourage churning of wireless subscribers. The Homeland Security angle would be the only route which could over-ride the enforcement of LNP implementation if it were to gain momentum.
Giving wireless carriers a glimmer of hope that they may in fact delay LNP in November
after all. Those of you in support of LNP should contact your local Public Utility Commissioners and Federal legislators to inform them of your support for LNP. Those against should only contact your federal legislators as you may not find a sympathetic ear with the PUC regulators. The test will come when and if Mr. Upton should introduce legislation to delay LNP in favor of 911 wireless enhancements. It may or may not pass the House and Senate. Until that happens, LNP will be available on November 24th of this year.
POLITICIANS ARE AFTER THE MCI WORLDCOM IRAQI RECONSTRUCTION BID
Well, it looks like the MCI contract may be in jeopardy of staying intact. It appears to have raised the ire of a great deal of people who are doing all in their power to have the contract pulled and keeping future contracts out of the hands of MCI Worldcom. Somebody at the GSA appears to have leaked the letters between Senator Collins and the GSA which brought this entire situation to light.
For a journalist, leaks are nuggets of gold to be treasured and shared.
Some are requesting an investigation of the contract to MCI Worldcom and both Congress and the Senate are drafting bills which would force the administration to justify contracts that were awarded without competitive bidding procedures. MCI Worldcom on the other hand is saying that their contract was competitively bid. However, we have been keeping an eye on these things and we saw no requests for proposals on this contract.
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-Maine) has requested that the General Services Administration (GSA) launch a probe and investigation in the contract awarded to MCI Worldcom. Verizon happens to be a major contributor to Senator's Collin's campaigns and Verizon makes no bones about wanting MCI
Worldcom pushed out of existence.
Citizens Against Government Waste are also campaigning against MCI Worldcom which would discourage awarding federal contracts to the company. Should the contract fall through and future contracts be slipped past MCI
Worldcom, it could cause major financial problems for the former wireless reseller.
In reference to the letters, it appears as if the Senator was telling the GSA that they should have launched a probe and investigation into the wisdom of awarding a contract to MCI Worldcom. The GSA informed the Senator that they saw no reason for MCI Worldcom to be barred from picking up government contracts. The GSA cited regulations and available information for their conclusion.
The Senator was outraged that this could be the case under the circumstances with the MCI Worldcomm snafu which puts them in the same position as companies such as Enron and HealthSouth for fraudulent SEC filing statements. A recent report implicates Bernard Ebbers, former CEO of the company as having a direct hand in the fraudulent activities. Then again, there are countless scandals such as the MCI Worldcom, Enron, and Health South situations now that the dot com bubble has burst.
There was also a question on the contract to award Baghdad officials with Ericsson phones was put out for a competitive bid too. Again, it is doubtful as we have not seen anything to suggest that it was either. Currently MCI Worldcom is working on trying to emerge from bankruptcy and has agreed to pay a fine to the SEC in the amount of $500 million dollars. That is allot of Iraqi reconstruction contracts there!
As far as all the people were indicted for fraud, ask yourself this question. How many of them have actually been convicted? That is right, because money talks people. Better than many of us too. When it is all said and done, the indicted will still walk away with tons of money and the ones doing the prosecution will make names for themselves and we will continue to live our lives as we have always done and the world continues to turn.
CONNECTICUT FIRST STATE TO IMPLEMENT WIRELESS ONLY AREA CODE
That is right. The FCC has authorized the Connecticut PUC to establish a wireless only area code to overlap the wireline area codes already in existence. How that may affect LNP is not known but they must have thought of that or the FCC wouldn't have allowed it to happen. However, the new wireless only area code will only be issued to new wireless subscribers. It will also fix two other problems that have plagued various parties with specific agendas.
The first one being number pooling. Once the FCC's Wireline Competition Bureau has approved the state's implementation plan for the new area code to be established, the wireless carriers will be required to return all unused numbers in the 203 and 860 area codes. It also fixes a problem for telemarketers who were trying to figure out how they could comply with the laws making it illegal to call cellular phones since the receiving party paid for the call.
Now all they have to do is block the wireless only area code in their database to make sure they are not being called. In the past, the FCC has ruled against states implementing a wireless only area code and the wireless industry in general is not in favor of wireless only area codes. Why do the wireless carriers not like the idea of a wireless only area code? They are concerned that people will be alerted to the fact that someone is using a cellular phone as their primary form of communication and people will not sign up for the service.
I am not so sure that such a reason makes such sense. Everybody uses cellular phones now so why would anyone be concerned that people would be tipped off that they were calling a cellular phone? I give both my office number and my cell phone number to people if I think they need them both. Criminals may find it to be a bit of a setback too. Police on the other hand might appreciate it more when they are conducting investigations. Then again, maybe not since it won't help them with identifying the specific location of a caller based on the cell phone number alone.
Not that they can do that now with numbers being assigned within the area codes of a specific state if they have no more local numbers available. We are proactive supporters of police departments throughout the US so we know they do their best to glean info from cellular phone numbers. Some of these detectives are quite resourceful and the location of where a cellular phone number was assigned doesn't matter.
Which brings me to the next point. The wireless industry is concerned with the identity people may assume about the caller based on the area code. What? How is that any different from assigning people with numbers from somewhere else within the state? I live in the central part of my state and I have a number assigned from the northern most area code.
Nobody has ever assumed that I was a member of the Mafia. The bottom line is that the concerns that have been presented by the wireless industry are nothing but smoke and mirrors to hide an underlying agenda. With the wireless only area code, wireless carriers will not be able to pool and stock unused phone numbers as well as they were able to do under the old system. That is the true fear that hasn't been publicly voiced by the industry.
I have to give the lobbyists credit for being the masters of spin. With being able to convince the legislators that the issues and concerns over the implementation of services that will benefit consumers are not to our advantage and that carriers are going to have a time of it if they are forced to comply. What they fail to add is that wireless carriers have architecture already in place to resolve issues that are similar to the problems they would have faced with the implementation of the FCC mandates.
THIEVES TRY TO STEAL ONE MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF CELLULAR PHONES
The Cuban Mafia must be really active in the US but I didn't know that Castro was allowed into the US lately. Something is going on though and Florida, the gateway to South and Latin America, is the hotbed for wireless inventory theft. With the fact that they ended up in Florida, I am going to bet they were TDMA phones which are very popular to our brothers to the South. There are two reasons why I think this is probably the case.
First, they were Nokia phones who have made the majority of TDMA phones used in the US. Second, the US is no longer using TDMA phones as much which means the inventory is becoming scarce especially at the prices they would want to pay in South America. Leaving only two options. Either pay the higher price or steal them from a warehouse. This is the second or third large scale theft that we have heard about.
This one happened in Denver, Colorado. Two men cut the surveillance cameras and bypassed the alarm system to swipe 18 pallets of phones for an accumulated total of about 11,000 units worth about a million dollars. It took them two hours to load the phones onto a tractor trailer. This doesn't look to be amateur hour either. Florida authorities stated that there is a ring of cargo thieves who steal inventory to be swept out of the country.
The port for most of their activities tends to be in Miami. However, these two
bozos were not as brilliant as they had hoped although they wore masks and gloves. They failed to disable the backup system which recorded their every move. Most likely, it even recorded the truck's identification information and left other clues at the scene which is how they were possibly busted. If convicted, they could be spending a few years in prison.
The next step will be to find out if it was an inside job or if they had accomplices from the inside. The sucker who took money for that info might find himself on one of those luxurious all expenses paid vacations with the six foot rooms and steel bunk. We already have the highest prison population in the world so what is one or three more. However, I can't say that is a bad thing when you compare our crime rates to those in other countries. Not too bad in my book. I say lock them up and throw away the key for all I care.
PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND ASSOCIATES ABOUT OUR NEWSLETTER. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE IN MAKING OUR NEWSLETTER A SUCCESS.
If you want your name to vanish from our list because our newsletter is just too boring or someone else signed you up, let us know. We will reluctantly take you off of our newsletter list. And we still reserve the right to make faces at you when you aren't looking. Copyright notice: Information contained on this website may not be reprinted or distributed in full or in part without the express permission of EarthVision Communications Inc. or Cellular Phone News.
