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Originally Posted by Triband81
Yep, that's right. I was thinking of the word "Krise(n)" which means "crisis". I wouldn't use the literal translation "circles in the mobile telecom industry (branch of industry)" though since while it provides a general idea, it doesn't carry the same clout as MVNO sector insiders.
In terms of how this may continue, I think at some point the providers will refuse to go below a set per minute rate. They want to make some money off the MVNOs who are getting a slight freebie (for those of you who use English as a second language-- freebie means anything that is free) because they can offer the same coverage without having to invest in a network infrastructure. On the other hand, I'm surprised that T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2 would be so naive as to refuse to take E-Plus on by letting Lidl sign onto one of the competing networks. T-Mobile or Vodafone will probably be less likely to do this anyway but I could see O2 courting Lidl to use their network.
We'll have to see what Lidl does next.
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OK. Sector insiders... Not sure it was only the MVNOs, however.
But, more to the point, it seems providers HAVE INDEED JUST PROVED they will NOT go below the level of SIMYO or Aldi AT THIS POINT. A pity.
For E+, whose #s grew the least, the MVNO strategy has not paid off -- much, so it seems to me. I cannot for the life of me figure out for what offer German mobile users are waiting? The providers have the infrastructure and apparently under-utilized capacity. So any EXTRA minutes they sell at whatever the price help cover those costs --- UNLESS this strategy takes away from their REGULAR business (customers). Like the airlines letting you bid on empty seats on their planes (priceline.com and others). Would you as the airline rather fly with the seat EMPTY with no revenue or pick up $100 for the normally $500-priced seat?
I am not up on the Voda offers, since I don't have a SIM. From what I read it SEEMS they have some lower tarifs than T-MO (network internal and long calls). But as has been mentioned, their offers may be quite confusing.
T-MO keeps offering these limited time offers and it seems those who go for these soon let them expire. How many times can they try the same trick? True, 1800 offers less and probably poorer quality coverage, but to save 23 cents per minute vice XtraClassic (39 cents), why wouldn't you move to SIMYO, Blau or save even more by moving to Aldi-Talk?
Lidl isn't talking. They may have already TRIED O2.... and been rebuffed. Not clear. We can hope there will be more movement soon, but I am not sure.