1. Yes, it's a whole new look! Have questions or need help? Please post your question in the New Forum Questions thread Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
  2. Seeing tons of unread posts after the upgrade? See this thread for help. Click the X to the right to dismiss this notice
    Dismiss Notice
It's a new forum! Important Upgrade Note!

Helio?

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by beahmer, Jul 18, 2007.

  1. beahmer

    beahmer Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2004
    Messages:
    849
    Likes Received:
    15
    beahmer, Jul 18, 2007
    #1
  2. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2001
    Messages:
    3,277
    Likes Received:
    69
    From what I can tell, Helio is one of those companies that 'ride' on top of a major carrier's network. In this case, from their coverage map, 3G network description, etc, it looks like their riding on top of the Verizon network.

    A few companies have tried this 'business venture' before, and have failed miserably. Small niche operators like Boost, etc.

    Personally, I would tend to stay away from companies offering services like this.
     
    Mr. Linux, Jul 18, 2007
    #2
  3. Yadda Yadda

    Yadda Yadda New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2007
    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    1
    I believe the phrase you're looking for is Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Mr Linux? These are common all over the world, less so here to date. They usually offer the exact same levels of performance/uptime as 'full' operators, but with some sort of a twist to make it worth signing up with them instead - usually it's price per minute, or calling plans (lower).

    In Europe these affiliate type networks have gone so far downstream as to offer MVNOs for sports teams in some cases - Washington Redskins phone or broadband anyone?

    Helio is actually a joint venture between SK Telecom and Earthlink. Expect to see more of these as the cable companies are putting one together so that they can offer the 'quadruple play' (TV, internet, phone, cellphone) very shortly to counter the ability of the wireline carriers such as Verizon to offer them. MVNOs actually help to keep the cellular players a little more 'honest' in terms of calling plan innovation, and also help them build out stronger networks by providing additional revenue streams to the cellular carriers from people who haven't or wouldn't sign up with them directly.

    And before someone questions my response, I don't work for them, never have done, and neither does anyone in my family or any of my friends.
     
    Yadda Yadda, Jul 18, 2007
    #3
  4. Mr. Linux

    Mr. Linux Senior Member & Moderator Forum Staff

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2001
    Messages:
    3,277
    Likes Received:
    69
    That's exactly the term I was looking for! Rough morning here at work, so the old brain isn't focusing :)

    Oh! Lunchtime! ;)
     
    Mr. Linux, Jul 18, 2007
    #4

Share This Page