[{"_id":"project-settings","settings":{"translateMetaTags":true,"translateAriaLabels":true,"translateTitle":true,"showWidget":true,"isFeedbackEnabled":false,"fv":1,"customWidget":{"theme":"dark","font":"rgb(255, 255, 255)","header":"rgb(0, 0, 0)","background":"rgba(0, 0, 0,0.8)","position":"right","positionVertical":"bottom","border":"","borderRequired":false,"widgetCompact":true,"isWidgetPositionRelative":false},"widgetLanguages":[{"code":"es-LA","name":"Español (América Latina)"},{"code":"fr-CA","name":"Français (Canada)"}],"activeLanguages":{"fr-CA":"Français (Canada)","es-LA":"Español (América Latina)","de":"Deutsch","en":"English"},"enabledLanguages":["de","en","es-LA","fr-CA"],"debugInfo":false,"displayBranding":true,"displayBrandingName":true,"localizeImages":false,"localizeUrls":false,"localizeImagesLimit":false,"localizeUrlsLimit":true,"localizeAudio":false,"localizeAudioLimit":false,"localizeDates":false,"disabledPages":[],"regexPhrases":[],"allowComplexCssSelectors":false,"blockedClasses":false,"blockedIds":false,"phraseDetection":true,"customDomainSettings":[],"seoSetting":[],"translateSource":false,"overage":false,"detectPhraseFromAllLanguage":false,"googleAnalytics":false,"mixpanel":false,"heap":false,"disableDateLocalization":false,"ignoreCurrencyInTranslation":false,"blockedComplexSelectors":[]},"version":4517},{"_id":"en","source":"en","pluralFn":"return n != 1 ? 1 : 0;","pluralForm":2,"dictionary":{},"version":4517},{"_id":"outdated","outdated":{"#by Ash Kreider on Sep <span ljsid-1=\"\">18</span>, <span ljsid-3=\"\">2023</span>":1,"#by Ash Kreider on Feb <span ljsid-1=\"\">22</span>, <span ljsid-3=\"\">2024</span>":1,"#by Ash Kreider on Mar <span ljsid-1=\"\">6</span>, <span ljsid-3=\"\">2024</span>":1,"#Buy Now, Pay Later gives approved customers the flexibility to pay for devices or accessories over time. With a quick eligibility check and a seamless checkout flow through Remote Pay, retailers can offer a modern financing experience that can increase conversion and lift revenue.":1,"#Buy Now, Pay Later":1,"#Buy Now, Pay Later can unlock higher conversion, larger order value, and greater revenue by offering customers an easy and flexible way to complete their purchase. Offering BNPL as a payment option can help telecom retailers close more sales while delivering a smooth checkout experience.":1,"#Increase conversion and boost revenue":1,"#única":1,"#Ironically, Mint Mobile is still not able to operate in Canada.":1,"#Arguments about competition are happening as wireless consumers are more price-conscious than ever.":1,"#Convergence in the telecom market has been intense in the past few years, especially in terms of telco acquisition of MVNOs. T-Mobile’s acquisition of Mint is just the latest in a series of major MVNO acquisitions, after Dish’s acquisition of Boost, Verizon’s acquisition of TracFone, and others. This is widely seen as a threat by consumer-advocacy groups, which <a ljsid-1=\"\">have opposed further vertical integration</a> in the telecom market.":1,"#In addition to competing on price, <a ljsid-1=\"\">MVNOs are also leading the market in customer satisfaction</a>. JD Power found that while overall customer satisfaction with wireless providers had increased, the providers with the highest customer satisfaction scores were all MVNOs: Consumer Cellular, Metro, and Mint Mobile.":1,"#Telecom’s most famous Canadian continues to make waves in wireless.":1,"#Recent research from JD Power shows that for <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>value MVNOs” like Consumer Cellular, TracFone and Straight Talk, <a ljsid-5=\"\"><span ljsid-5-0=\"\">68</span>% of their customers are <span ljsid-5-2=\"\"></span><span ljsid-5-4=\"\">“</span>price-switchers”</a>, up from <span ljsid-7=\"\">63</span>% in <span ljsid-9=\"\">2021</span>.":1,"#However, the CRTC’s <a ljsid-1=\"\">new rules finalized in late <span ljsid-1-1=\"\">2022</span></a> retain the restriction that operators must own physical infrastructure to operate in Canada — a move that consumer advocacy group <a ljsid-3=\"\">OpenMedia says is recommitting to a bad policy</a>. <span ljsid-5=\"\"></span><span ljsid-7=\"\">“</span>They have just been <span ljsid-9=\"\">100</span> per cent committed to the facilities-based or physical infrastructure-based competition model, which simply hasn’t served Canada,” said campaigns director Matt Hatfield. <span ljsid-11=\"\"></span><span ljsid-13=\"\">“</span>We’ve been trying it for over a decade and it doesn’t actually happen.”":1,"#These restrictions are something that Vancouver-born Ryan Reynolds has spoken out against, going so far as to put up a billboard in downtown Toronto in late <span ljsid-1=\"\">2021</span>.":1,"#questions” actually are over MVNOs status/future. I presume you mean that they all risk being acquired like Mint was, and the new competition in the market will be swallowed up by the big players? If yes, be a bit more explicit about that, including explaining why T-Mobile/Mint creates new questions - given that, as you observe, this is just the latest in a line of similar acquisitions":1,"#The growing consumer interest in MVNOs is being driven largely by consumer demand for lower wireless prices as inflation continues to cause consumer belt-tightening in <span ljsid-1=\"\">2023</span>.":1,"#Cable One CFO Todd Koetje added, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>In many of our rural markets, wireless reliability is actually not where it needs to be yet for us to consider that.”":1,"#The furor over MVNOs will remain on the American side of the border for the foreseeable future. Despite the fact that Canada has one of the most consolidated telecom industries in the world, CRTC rules requiring providers to have physical networks have kept MVNOs from being able to operate in Canada.":1,"#Telecom convergence is happening amid an explosion of cable market entrants.":1,"#According to Roger Entner, founder of Recon Analytics, the FCC has long taken the (somewhat controversial) position that <a ljsid-1=\"\">MVNOs are not <span ljsid-1-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-1-3=\"\">“</span>real” competitors to MNOs</a>.":1,"#Mint Mobile Acquisition Shines Light on Uncertain Market Position of…":1,"#T-Mobile’s comedic announcement of Mint Mobile acquisition provoked a lot of laughs, but has also raised questions about the status of MVNOs in the…":1,"#<span ljsid-1=\"\">3</span> Biggest Sources of Telecom Market Competition":1,"#3 Biggest Sources of Telecom Market Competition":1,"#Signs point to… maybe?":1,"#These rules aren’t expected to change, so whatever happens with MVNOs in the United States in the near future, Canadian consumers will have to be content with Ryan Reynolds-free wireless ads.":1,"#Is that something most NCTC members are interested in? Could we see tens, if not hundreds of new cable MVNOs flooding the market?":1,"#In mid-March, T-Mobile announced that it would be acquiring Mint Mobile and its affiliated brands Ultra Mobile and Plum. And while the brilliantly written announcement alongside Mint co-owner Ryan Reynolds <a ljsid-1=\"\">provoked a lot of laughs</a>, it also has done a lot to raise questions about the status of MVNOs in the increasingly competitive wireless market. Namely, are MVNOs a competitive threat to mobile network operators, or aren’t they?":1,"#Mint Mobile Acquisition Shines Light on Uncertain Market Position of MVNOs":1,"#I feel like this post needs a firmer identification of what the":1,"#uncertainty” or":1,"#That stance by the FCC doesn’t sit well with Peter Adderton, former owner of Boost Mobile and current CEO of newly launched MVNO MobileX, who <a ljsid-1=\"\">wants regulators to treat MVNOs as competition and protect them accordingly</a>. <span ljsid-3=\"\"></span><span ljsid-5=\"\">“</span>My belief is the FCC and the DoJ need to do something fast to protect the MVNOs, because without some kind of protection, they’re just going to get swallowed up by the bigger carriers.”":1,"#Subscribe now!":1,"#Julie Laulis, Cable One’s president and CEO, <a ljsid-1=\"\">said on a recent earnings call</a>, <span ljsid-3=\"\"></span><span ljsid-5=\"\">“</span>We don’t hear from our customers that they’re clamoring for yet another provider of wireless service at this time”.":1,"#While Dish is still being coy about when Boost Infinite will see nationwide coverage, <a ljsid-1=\"\">the service is now live in <span ljsid-1-1=\"\">12</span> markets</a>. Cox Communications is also ramping up its own MVNO offering. And the NCTC — a trade group of more than <span ljsid-3=\"\">700</span> independent cable and broadband companies — is in the final stages of hammering out a deal with Reach that would <a ljsid-5=\"\">allow its members to market and sell mobile services</a>—either as part of a home broadband bundle or a standalone service.":1,"#All of this takes place as telecom carriers are losing share to cable, which accelerated mobile gains in <span ljsid-1=\"\">2022</span>—<a ljsid-3=\"\">a trend expected to continue into <span ljsid-3-1=\"\">2023</span></a>—as US cable companies accounted for more than <span ljsid-5=\"\">40</span>% of net wireless adds in Q<span ljsid-7=\"\">4</span> of <span ljsid-9=\"\">2023</span>. Additionally, major US cable MVNOs are still coming online, which will only increase competition in this already-crowded space.":1,"#de":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">911</span>HM<span ljsid-2=\"\"><a ljsid-2-0=\"\">010300733</a></span>":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">911</span>BJ<span ljsid-2=\"\"><a ljsid-2-0=\"\">010100333</a></span>":1,"#iQmetrix | Thank You - Pricing":1,"#Thank You - Pricing":1,"#TL;DR – Stop Annoying Customers and Employees With Bad Processes and Tools":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">18</span>% lower employee turnover":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">8</span>% higher sales":1,"#However, improving employee experience isn’t just about ensuring that stores have adequate staff to reduce long wait times. Data shows that investing in better employee experience directly improves customer satisfaction and sales and reduces employee turnover.":1,"#Consumers are unlikely to join a queue if <a ljsid-1=\"\">more than seven people are in line</a>":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">2022</span> was a year of unprecedented challenges for telecom retail.":1,"#Businesses with highly engaged teams":1,"#iQmetrix | Top 3 Wireless Retail Customer Experience Trends For 2023":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\">So how can wireless retailers meet customer expectations and provide great consumer experiences?</strong> Here are wireless retail trends to stay on top of for <span ljsid-2=\"\">2023</span>.":1,"#Employee turnover rates of <span ljsid-1=\"\">50</span>% or more have been the reality in retail for years. The added stresses of the pandemic have only served to <a ljsid-3=\"\">increase retail employee churn to an average of <span ljsid-3-1=\"\">60</span>%</a>, as many retail employees are attempting to leave the sector entirely. <a ljsid-5=\"\">A September <span ljsid-5-1=\"\">2022</span> report from McKinsey</a> showed more than half of frontline retail workers and nearly two thirds of frontline retail managers were thinking of leaving their jobs in the next few months.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">86</span>% of consumers have left a store <a ljsid-2=\"\">because of frustration about slow lines</a>":1,"#In such turbulent market conditions, businesses that want to remain competitive will need to retain the loyalty of the customers that they already have. This means keeping up with rapidly evolving consumer expectations for customer service — even as the pandemic has radically changed the way that consumers shop for devices.":1,"#Customers hate it when you waste their time, either through long wait times or inefficient processes such as multiple entry of the same information. Meanwhile, wireless retail employees hate being blamed for negative experiences caused by clunky and disjointed systems.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">5</span>% higher rates of customer satisfaction":1,"#Today’s consumers are loyal to experiences, not brands, and will jump ship if they think they can get a better experience somewhere else. <strong ljsid-1=\"\">The top indicator of a bad experience? Wasting their time.</strong>":1,"#Retailers need to have systems that offer a <span ljsid-1=\"\">360</span>-degree view of their customers. Businesses that are able to understand their customers’ needs will have a major advantage — Gartner projects that by <span ljsid-3=\"\">2024</span> these companies will <a ljsid-5=\"\">outperform competitors’ CX metrics by <strong ljsid-5-1=\"\"><span ljsid-5-1-0=\"\">20</span>%</strong></a>.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\"><span ljsid-0-0=\"\">94</span>%</strong> of consumers are frustrated by <a ljsid-2=\"\">disjointed experiences across a brand</a>":1,"#With the typical buyer’s journey now spanning multiple channels, it’s no longer enough to have a disjointed view of your customers:":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">1</span>. Understanding Your Customers Is Key":1,"#outperform less engaged competitors with:":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">2</span>. Efficient Processes Are Mandatory":1,"#Retail in <span ljsid-1=\"\">2021</span> experienced a surge in sales across all categories as consumers returned to in-store shopping. However, runaway inflation in <span ljsid-3=\"\">2022</span> saw a sharp reversal as retailer costs skyrocketed and consumers reduced spending across all categories. Additionally, continued supply chain woes saw some retailers continuing to struggle with stockouts even as others are trying to clear large amounts of excess inventory.":1,"#<strong ljsid-0=\"\"><span ljsid-0-0=\"\">54</span>% </strong>of consumers will <a ljsid-2=\"\">stop using a brand after just one bad experience</a>.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">10</span>% higher likelihood of customer recommendation":1,"#<a ljsid-0=\"\"><span ljsid-0-0=\"\">74</span>% of consumers</a> will go to a competitor’s store if they feel like the queues are shorter there":1,"#Making investments to improve employee engagement and remove roadblocks to providing excellent customer service can go a long way toward giving your business the competitive advantage it needs to stay ahead in what could be another turbulent year.":1,"#Optimizing store tools and processes is no longer optional. Businesses need to do what it takes to implement systems that improve transaction times and reduce frustrations like needing to enter the same information multiple times.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">3</span>. Employee Experience is Just as Important as Customer Experience":1,"#<a ljsid-0=\"\"><span ljsid-0-0=\"\">73</span>% of customers</a> will leave without making a purchase if they have to wait more than five minutes":1,"#iQmetrix | Mint Mobile Acquisition Shines Light on Uncertain Market…":1,"#el 100":1,"#Automated replenish and stock-balance processes":1,"#Flexible level controls to streamline analysis and adjustments":1,"#Transparent sell-through data":1,"#VoiceComm’s customized VMI program eases inventory fears and frees up time by allowing us to manage your wireless accessory inventory.":1,"#Optimized Inventory Management":1,"#VoiceComm is the premier mobile accessory distributor for the North American market. Our diverse, high profile product portfolio coupled with our commitment to serve has allowed us to quickly become the go-to destination for wireless accessories in the market. With a focus on what’s important for wireless retail and related channels, we inspire through customization to develop the programs and resources businesses need to succeed.":1,"#iQmetrix | VoiceComm":1,"#Director of Operations, Amcomm Wireless":1,"#Chris James":1,"#VoiceComm Solutions":1,"#VoiceComm’s engagement and relationship in all levels of the organization, and the vendors, is a unique experience in this industry. VoiceComm’s VMI program offers services and tools unique to this industry which provides a level of confidence in the ability to manage our inventory. The Order Approval Tool allows us the flexibility to make changes with full transparency to what and how our stores are being replenished on a weekly basis. VoiceComm’s VMI services and tools have saved me several hours each week spent reviewing accessory inventory trends and replenishment. VoiceComm is a true partner who keeps our inventory cost of goods and accessory strategy in mind when replenishing our stores. VoiceComm’s VMI tools, flexibility, industry insight communication and proactive engagement is the differentiates VoiceComm’s VMI program to other VMI Program services I have had in the past.":1,"#Vice President of Operations, Team Wireless":1,"#Our biggest challenges with inventory are cost of goods, selection and stock levels. We’ve been very aggressive with stock cuts, pivoting to new options, and taking advantage of our VMI RMA. VoiceComm has been reliably excellent in procuring product we want to stock in our locations, and we see it in-store very quickly. These actions have lead to immediate improvement in attach rate and accessory ARPU. The excitement from the fresh line up keeps our sales force engaged, and involvement from vendors energizes our team. VoiceComm’s VMI team has been great with monitoring our levels, and sometimes even catching problems before we do.":1,"#Deliver a better customer experience and increase your bottom line":1,"#Fulfillment lifecycle of every order monitored by designated specialists":1,"#Offer <span ljsid-1=\"\">40</span>+ industry-leading mobile accessory and CE brands in VoiceComm’s catalog":1,"#VoiceComm’s Dropship program digitally expands your wireless accessory inventory with top-selling brands, effortlessly solving the problem of limited selection and limited choice.":1,"#Eliminate Lost Sales. We’ll Cover the Logistics.":1,"#Detailed monitoring and reporting performed by designated specialist":1,"#About VoiceComm":1,"#Two of VoiceComm’s most popular programs, Dropship and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), are integrated services produced in partnership with iQmetrix. VoiceComm has been a premier integrated partner with iQmetrix since <span ljsid-1=\"\">2014</span> and has developed a suite of customized tools and services to enhance your experience. Each program is designed to significantly impact the health of your business for the better!":1,"#However, what happens when you look deeper than surface stereotypes like <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">„</span>Gen Z is incapable of doing anything without a smartphone” and <span ljsid-5=\"\"></span><span ljsid-7=\"\">„</span>Baby Boomers always hold their phones at weird angles on video calls”?":1,"#The pace of this technological revolution is happening faster than any other time in history, which has predictably resulted in very different generational approaches toward this technology. Adults in their early <span ljsid-1=\"\">20</span>s have literally grown up using this technology, while Baby Boomers can still remember when <span ljsid-3=\"\"></span><span ljsid-5=\"\">„</span>computers” were machines that took up an entire room.":1,"#Multi-Channel Retail Management Solution for Telecom":1,"#Control inventory with a unified hub. Instantly track cross-channel product performance instantly to make informed stocking decisions for your warehouse or retail channels.":1,"#Because today’s consumers expect to shop everywhere, telecom retailers need one solution to manage inventory across physical, digital, or hybrid channels. Take control of your inventory with iQmetrix Multi-Channel Inventory Management, which enables retailers to list all products on all channels, all from one system.":1,"#Take control of your inventory with iQmetrix Multi-Channel Inventory Management, which enables retailers to list all products on all channels, all from…":1,"#Last Updated: December <span ljsid-1=\"\">14</span><sup ljsid-2=\"\">th</sup>, <span ljsid-4=\"\">2020</span>":1,"#Telecom’s Battle Against Robotexts, Robocalls, and Cyber-Attacks is Just Getting Started":1,"#iQmetrix | Customer Lifecycle Management for Wireless Retail":1,"#How Wireless Retailers Can Make Customers Feel Heard":1,"#Infographic: Get Ready For a Potentially Rocky Peak Retail Season":1,"#Stay up to date with telecom trends and insights! Sign up for our monthly newsletter The Overview.":1,"#Tax Management is an end-to-end wireless retail sales tax solution that manages tax compliance for telecom retailers.":1,"#iQmetrix Tax Management for Wireless Retail":1,"#Rather than defining our software products based on solution type, we prefer to look at their outcomes for your business, and categorize our solutions that way.":1,"#Let us explain a bit more about what Interconnected Commerce is and what it means for your business.":1,"#Creating a technology category isn’t a marketing stunt or a branding exercise. It’s a long-term stake in the ground that we can stand by as leaders and innovators in the space. Others may also step into this category — and they are free to do so, just as Lyft did after Uber’s launch — but they will not have the depth of experience or long-standing industry relationships that give iQmetrix its competitive advantage.":1,"#Interconnected Commerce and What it Means for Your Telecom Retail…":1,"#iQmetrix Interconnected Commerce is streamlined tech stack, designed to carry the complexities and weight of telecom retail so all carriers, OEMs,…":1,"#Find out more about Interconnected Commerce solutions":1,"#What’s more, we believe that our new technology category unlocks a fresh layer of future strategy and innovation within the telecom retail software space, and we can’t wait to explore its potential with our current and future clients and partners.":1,"#For those players seeking a seamless technology platform to power their telecom retail operations, iQmetrix Interconnected Commerce now offers an easier, more holistic way of understanding and defining our solutions and what they can do for your business.":1,"#For all our existing clients, iQmetrix will continue to be the same trusted technology partner you’ve been working with, offering all the services you’ve come to rely on to keep your business ahead. You may hear your Client Manager suggest some solutions using some of our new terminology mentioned above, but your business will see no negative changes or disruptions.":1,"#What does Interconnected Commerce mean for your telecom retail business?":1,"#As a newly defined category, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>Interconnected Commerce” was born. But iQmetrix has been living and breathing in that space for more than <span ljsid-5=\"\">20</span> years.":1,"#… it had a unique offering that interconnected all those disparate systems, smoothed the previously disjointed commerce experience, and solved telecom retail’s specific pain points.":1,"#more than two decades of expertise and deep relationships in every area of the sector":1,"#a vast ecosystem of integrated partner vendors supporting the industry, and":1,"#a streamlined, end-to-end, yet flexible tech stack built for telecom retail":1,"#iQmetrix realized that, when combining its key competitive advantages of:":1,"#The rapid growth of telecom retail over the past <span ljsid-1=\"\">25</span> years has resulted in a vast range of back-end complexities in the processes of selling and activating a device. The result is a costly, complicated, spaghetti-bowl tech stack and mess of disparate systems. And with each new challenge comes another IT project, and more costly changes that need to be made. This has weighed down telecom retailers, taking them away from being able to focus on creating a great customer experience. And it has also reduced the freedom of the consumer, who is often trapped in that poor commerce experience.":1,"#Today’s communication technology — such as the latest smartphone or tablet — often feels effortless and seamless, giving users increasing freedom of communication. But the same can’t be said when it comes to the experience of buying and activating a device. And yet, the experience of this commerce transaction <em ljsid-1=\"\">should</em> be as human as the need for connection.":1,"#iQmetrix has been North America’s leading provider of retail management solutions for telecom for more than two decades. However, the phrases <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>retail management system” or <span ljsid-5=\"\"></span><span ljsid-7=\"\">“</span>point-of-sale solutions” didn’t feel anywhere near comprehensive enough to cover everything we do for the sector. What’s more, our combined offering is so unique, there was no category in existence that possibly could capture it all. When we considered this, we realized that we needed to establish a brand-new category of technology solutions that truly encapsulates our products, services, expertise, and relationships. And, more importantly, what all those elements combined can do for your telecom retail operations, and the problems that all players in the sector face.":1,"#How did iQmetrix define the Interconnected Commerce category?":1,"#If you sell devices, whether it’s online or in-store, we can empower you in various ways. Whether it’s the transaction itself, adding or improving activations, fulfilling products, operating your business, unifying the online and in-store experience, or connecting vendors and systems — we can help in every way.":1,"#iQmetrix's CRM software solution helps wireless retailers manage customer data and reporting, provide personalized service, and build customer loyalty…":1,"#Keep CRM Solutions Connected for an Elevated Experience":1,"#Streamline your data management with iQmetrix’s Customer Relationship Management software. Seamlessly collect, analyze, merge, and integrate information. Enhance customer expectations and personalize interactions with ease. Build unbeatable loyalty with a powerful CRM solution.":1,"#Used advanced Customer Relationship Management software to elevate your service and keep customers returning. Incentivize repeat shoppers with customized loyalty programs that offer diverse rewards, complement outstanding service, and reward customer loyalty.":1,"#In September, Ligado Networks announced that it was <a ljsid-1=\"\">putting plans to launch <span ljsid-1-1=\"\">5</span>G networks in parts of Virginia on hold</a> after the US government’s National Academics of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) released a report that raised questions about whether Ligado’s planned network would interfere with GPS and other existing devices and networks. However, the validity of these concerns are currently being hotly contested.":1,"#This led ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt to call for increased government investment in <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G base stations in a <a ljsid-3=\"\">February op-ed in the <em ljsid-3-1=\"\">Wall Street Journal</em></a>. According to Schmidt, China has already built more than <span ljsid-5=\"\">1</span> billion base stations, compared with less than <span ljsid-7=\"\">100</span>,<span ljsid-9=\"\">000</span> in the U.S. — which is similar in size geographically but is <a ljsid-11=\"\"><span ljsid-11-0=\"\">4</span>.<span ljsid-11-2=\"\">5</span> times smaller</a> in terms of population.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">1</span>. COVID":1,"#If the rollout of <span ljsid-1=\"\">4</span>G went so smoothly, what’s the hang-up? It turns out that the logistical obstacles to the rollout of <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G have been more numerous and complex.":1,"#% of wireless consumers. In contrast, at the equivalent stage of":1,"#The result? A see-saw of <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G coverage where American wireless subscribers have much higher access to <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G at very low speeds and Canadians have much higher download speeds with much lower coverage: <a ljsid-5=\"\">OpenSignal</a> reporting ranked the United States <span ljsid-7=\"\">30</span><sup ljsid-8=\"\">th</sup> in the world for download speed in Q<span ljsid-10=\"\">4</span> <span ljsid-12=\"\">2021</span>, compared with Canada in <span ljsid-14=\"\">4</span><sup ljsid-15=\"\">th</sup>.":1,"#G coverage has yet to break":1,"#Read the whitepaper":1,"#One big reason <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G has higher penetration in Asian markets is because countries like China and South Korea already had a very dense grid of mobile sites. In North America, the grid is adequate for provision of <span ljsid-3=\"\">3</span>G and <span ljsid-5=\"\">4</span>G, but distances between sites are often too great for <span ljsid-7=\"\">5</span>G frequencies, which don’t travel as far because of shorter signal wavelengths.":1,"#In contrast, the United States was <a ljsid-1=\"\">first in the world for <span ljsid-1-1=\"\">5</span>G availability in late <span ljsid-1-3=\"\">2021</span></a>, at <span ljsid-3=\"\">49</span>.<span ljsid-5=\"\">2</span>%. However, because <span ljsid-7=\"\">5</span>G in the United States has been largely rolled out using Dynamic Signal Sharing (DSS), many current US <span ljsid-9=\"\">5</span>G users are limited to <span ljsid-11=\"\">4</span>G download speeds. Additionally, <span ljsid-13=\"\">5</span>G networks in some American cities are actually slower than <span ljsid-15=\"\">4</span>G networks — a far cry from the <span ljsid-17=\"\">20</span>x — <span ljsid-19=\"\">100</span>x speed increases that US consumers were initially promised.":1,"#In Canada, Bell has promised to <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>work towards offering <span ljsid-5=\"\">5</span>G+ coverage to approximately <span ljsid-7=\"\">40</span>% of the Canadian population by the end of <span ljsid-9=\"\">2022</span>.” And yet, in August of <span ljsid-11=\"\">2022</span>, <a ljsid-13=\"\">data from OpenSignal</a> showed that while Rogers was the leading wireless provider of <span ljsid-15=\"\">5</span>G in terms of availability, Rogers users spent only <span ljsid-17=\"\">13</span>.<span ljsid-19=\"\">3</span>% of their time on active <span ljsid-21=\"\">5</span>G networks. (Bell ranked second at <span ljsid-23=\"\">11</span>.<span ljsid-25=\"\">9</span>% and Telus third at <span ljsid-27=\"\">11</span>.<span ljsid-29=\"\">4</span>%.)":1,"#If the rollout of 4G went so smoothly, what’s the hang-up with 5G? It turns out that the logistical obstacles to the rollout of 5G have been more numerous…":1,"#more than <span ljsid-1=\"\">80</span>% of customers":1,"#G service. However, the expansion of":1,"#South Korea became the first country to offer":1,"#Carriers are optimistic about <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G rollouts in the coming years. But with global markets in decline and supply chain disruptions set to continue into <span ljsid-3=\"\">2023</span>, it’s anyone’s guess how <span ljsid-5=\"\">5</span>G rollouts will go in the coming year.":1,"#<a ljsid-0=\"\">In a May FCC hearing</a>, U.S. military officials reported that Ligado’s <span ljsid-2=\"\">5</span>G network plans could interfere with Pentagon satellite signals. In response, a spokesperson for FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called the military’s concerns <span ljsid-4=\"\"></span><span ljsid-6=\"\">“</span>baseless fear mongering”. The Pentagon isn’t alone in its concerns, though. In late <span ljsid-8=\"\">2021</span>, the FAA put out two directives about concerns over interference with radar altimeter interference.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">2</span>. Mandated switch-out of Huawei equipment in North America and Europe":1,"#At the risk of stating the obvious, COVID-<span ljsid-1=\"\">19</span> was a huge obstacle to the timely deployment of <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G that nobody could have foreseen, delaying rollouts of <span ljsid-5=\"\">5</span>G around the world.":1,"#G LTE. Three years in,":1,"#The Outlook for <span ljsid-1=\"\">2023</span>? Hazy":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">6</span>. Concerns about interference with GPS and other network devices":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">4</span>. Lower population density = fewer mobile sites":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">5</span>. Building <span ljsid-2=\"\"></span><span ljsid-4=\"\">“</span>cloud-native” <span ljsid-6=\"\">5</span>G systems":1,"#Due to the increasing size and complexity of networks, most operators want to make full use of technologies that make networks more efficient and allow for network automation. However, analysts say that so far <a ljsid-1=\"\">the transition is proving to be tough</a>.":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">3</span>. Earliest <span ljsid-2=\"\">5</span>G boxes were big and heavy":1,"#The United States, Canada, and Europe, Australia, and New Zealand have all passed bans on the installation of Huawei equipment into <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G networks. However, this required extra effort in some markets to remove and replace existing Huawei equipment.":1,"#Top Logistical Obstacles to <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G Deployment in North America":1,"#<span ljsid-0=\"\">4</span>G network boxes were comparatively light and easy to install, often not requiring street closures or structural reinforcement. However, the first boxes bought by Vodafone for its <span ljsid-2=\"\">5</span>G deployment weighed <span ljsid-4=\"\">60</span> kilograms (<span ljsid-6=\"\">132</span> pounds)! This often required steel work and heavy equipment to install in a safe manner. <span ljsid-8=\"\">5</span>G equipment has slimmed down considerably since then; the units Vodafone now buys from Ericsson weigh less than <span ljsid-10=\"\">30</span>kg (<span ljsid-12=\"\">66</span> pounds) and can be installed more easily.":1,"#G service to":1,"#G rollout, British mobile carrier and internet provider EE was providing":1,"#, and in March":1,"#Three years into the rollout of <span ljsid-1=\"\">5</span>G, most people still don’t have access to high-speed <span ljsid-3=\"\">5</span>G service. Why?":1,"#the <a ljsid-1=\"\">Privacy Policy</a> located further down this page.":1,"#iQmetrix | Tax Management Software for Telecom Retail":1,"#Conclusion":1,"#iQmetrix | Interconnected Commerce and What it Means for Your Telecom…":1,"#iQmetrix | Why Has the 5G Rollout in North America Been So Slow?":1,"#Highlights include:":1,"#Easily incorporate carrier data into retailer systems to simplify the selling process. We support both turnkey and custom integrations, allowing seamless connectivity to external CRM systems.":1,"#Better serve customer needs by using comprehensive reports to analyze preferences, history, and trends.":1,"#Stay on your customers’ radar with affordable targeted marketing. Use email, direct mail, and phone strategies with data-driven reporting and keep customers informed with impactful campaigns that effectively convey the value of your offering.":1,"#Deliver personalized experiences with centralized customer data":1,"#Retail Management CRM Software for Telecom Retail":1,"#iQmetrix CRM Campaign":1,"#Be the customer’s first choice with cost-effective, targeted marketing. Stay connected and effortlessly follow up using actionable lists.":1,"#Build customer loyalty with reward programs":1,"#Build strong customer relationships through effective data management. Centralized storage of customer profiles empowers personalized experiences with great service across all brand touchpoints.":1,"#Are you ready for a complete view of your customers?":1,"#A Complete View of Your Telecom Customers":1,"#Know your customer in one click. View records on activations, repairs, emails received, invoices upsell opportunities, refunds, and more.":1,"#RMS CRM Software for Personalized Wireless Retail":1,"#Integrations to maximize customers":1,"#Customer Reporting":1,"#We work with best-in-class partners to develop custom integrations that fit your business needs. Whether out-of-the-box or a custom integrations, our solutions are here to ensure accurate information across all stores through seamless communication between authorized retailers and carriers.":1,"#API Integrations":1,"#Set up company and customer profiles, view and track company accounts, and link customers to companies — all in one view.":1,"#An affinity program gives customers points or serialized coupons for their loyal business and, in return, you provide tiered rewards.":1,"#Engaging campaigns put your brand at the forefront":1,"#Our marketing partners have all you need to take your business to the next level by implementing strategies that enhance your offerings.":1,"#iQmetrix | RMS CRM Software for Personalized Wireless Retail":1,"#Set up customer-specific preferences including accounts receivable, contract type, and whether they accept checks.":1,"#Paul Stemick":1,"#Our partners at Ingenico and POSDATA offer value-added managed services to help you configure, install and maintain your devices and systems.":1,"#Just like Uber once claimed and then dominated the new ride-share technology category, and similar to how Lululemon rules athleisure, we at iQmetrix can stand firmly in our category as the only provider of Interconnected Commerce solutions built for telecom.":1,"#iQmetrix has proudly claimed and stepped into a brand-new category of technology solutions. It’s called Interconnected Commerce.":1,"#Why Has the 5G Rollout in North America Been So Slow?":1,"#It moves from high-cost, high-effort implementations to turnkey, plug <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">'</span>n’ play solutions.":1,"#Learn more about wireless retail trends to stay ahead of in <span ljsid-1=\"\">2023</span> by reading our whitepaper The State of the Telecom Retail Industry: Trends for <span ljsid-3=\"\">2023</span> and Beyond":1,"#The number of postpaid stores operated by Verizon, AT&amp;T, and T-Mobile combined has steadily declined, falling from <span ljsid-1=\"\">18</span>,<span ljsid-3=\"\">529</span> in May <span ljsid-5=\"\">2022</span> to <span ljsid-7=\"\">17</span>,<span ljsid-9=\"\">607</span> in May <span ljsid-11=\"\">2024</span> (see graph below left). All three carriers are scaling back their retail footprints.":1,"#Moore said, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>All you have to do is look at the numbers of T mobile and Verizon or reporting for home internet. It is such a simple solution. You just grab the router, it’s plug and play, and you can pay as little as $<span ljsid-5=\"\">35</span> for Verizon. If you buy premium unlimited T-mobile, you can get it $<span ljsid-7=\"\">40</span> a month, you can cut the cord with the cable company and maybe bundle this in with your wireless service. It can be a pretty good solution for a lot of people. Plus, T-Mobile has a solution that’s portable now. So if you’re an RV sort of person, you’re traveling, you’re a digital nomad, you can take this solution.”":1,"#Moore observed, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>Walmart has a very focused strategy, they’re pursuing it aggressively, and we really think that they’re winning market share. One way you can tell that is, when Straight Talk was acquired by Verizon, it had more than nine million subscribers — and where is Straight Talk sold? Only at Walmart.”":1,"#Moore said that his company, Wave<span ljsid-1=\"\">7</span> Research, has consistently found Simple Mobile to be the leader in this space since <span ljsid-3=\"\">2015</span>. <span ljsid-5=\"\"></span><span ljsid-7=\"\">“</span>Our research has concluded that more than two-thirds of these <span ljsid-9=\"\">7</span>,<span ljsid-11=\"\">000</span>-plus multi carrier tours are selling Simple Mobile.”":1,"#Moore said, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>Honestly, these stores are all over the charts as to what they look like. Some are very focused on selling prepaid wireless — you’ll see a banner from Simple, or you’ll see something for Ultra, and it looks very much like a cellular store. Others will be selling you gas and chips and beer and cigarettes and, by the way, activating a few phones on the side.”":1,"#Moore added in his presentation, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>I see Consumer Cellular as a poster child for MVNO success because they have really drilled out and focused on their market, which is delivering quality services with good customer service to older Americans. They have four million subscribers, so they’re doing very well. You may have seen the advertisements with Ted Danson.”":1,"#Moore, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>Most of you know that USCellular is said to be acquired by T Mobile, so we’re looking to some change happening in <span ljsid-5=\"\">2025</span>. Maybe T-Mobile will seek to keep some of these stores open.”":1,"#Moore told SummitX delegates, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>If I were talking to you <span ljsid-5=\"\">10</span> years ago, I would tell you that a lot of the cable stores are not exactly gleaming retail — they’re usually just an out-of-the-way place where you go to return your cable box, and the person behind the counter is probably half asleep. That is not the case anymore. Now, the stores are nice looking, they have phone deals, they’re staffed well, and they’re pitching wireless very heavily — in addition to, of course, their cable and internet services and other things. So, the cable companies have gotten into wireless retail in a very big way.”":1,"#Moore said, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>I can tell you from the [All Wireless and Prepaid] Expo in Vegas two months ago that there’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes, as Verizon is investing in business, and the Total Wireless store count is going to get nothing but bigger and better. So, when we see this year that the number of prepaid stores is down, that’s not the whole story.”":1,"#A significant portion of these stores are dealer-operated (see graph below right), with AT&amp;T increasing its reliance on authorized retailers. T-Mobile has trended in the opposite direction, with nearly half its locations being corporate operated. Moore added, <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>T-mobile is trying to make more of their locations corporate stores because that’s their company philosophy.”":1,"#Moore was quick to tell the SummitX audience that this is still a strong number. <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>Before anyone says that postpaid carrier retail is dead, just a quick reminder that there are <span ljsid-5=\"\">17</span>,<span ljsid-7=\"\">600</span> stores here,” he said.":1,"#Once a customer gets the text message that it is their turn to shop in your wireless retail store, they will be prompted to reply <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">“</span>Here” to the provided number when they arrive, so that associates can be notified of their arrival.":1,"#Rental and purchase options available. Speak with an iQmetrix Payments Specialist for pricing and more information.":1,"#Ingenico Move <span ljsid-1=\"\">5000</span> Charging Base":1,"#Lane <span ljsid-1=\"\">7000</span>/<span ljsid-3=\"\">8000</span> Stand":1,"#Lane <span ljsid-1=\"\">3600</span>":1,"#We offer hybrid working for those near an office city, fully remote options for others, and flexible hours so you never miss your kid’s soccer game. We have incredible paid time off perks, including trusted vacation days and trusted sick days, operated on a <span ljsid-1=\"\"></span><span ljsid-3=\"\">„</span>take what you need” basis.":1,"#G and then to":1,"#G mobile towers went online in":1,"#G service has been slow, especially compared with previous transitions from":1,"#The first":1,"#G to":1,"#by":1,"#Note: Device stands are strongly recommended to help ensure you are meeting PCI compliance standards. Accessories may not be an exact match with their listed image.":1,"#Manage your device’s entire lifecycle with services like advanced exchange, asset and pool management, warranty management, and e-waste disposal.":1,"#Ask Questions":1,"#Terminal Solutions":1,"#Deployment Services":1,"#Extended Warranties":1,"#Lifecycle Services":1,"#Our advanced end-to-end encryption reduces your PCI scope and delivers pre-configured attestation forms and a standardized Information Security Policy.":1,"#Deploy devices simply with services like product configuration and staging, asset tagging, and product deployment and provisioning.":1,"#Link <span ljsid-1=\"\">2500</span>":1,"#Lane <span ljsid-1=\"\">7000</span>":1,"#Managed Device Services":1,"#Software Package Add-Ons":1,"#Shop our extensive range of payment devices now.":1,"#Every Device For Your Store":1,"#Lane <span ljsid-1=\"\">8000</span>":1,"#Shop Now":1,"#Payment Devices":1,"#Extend the standard <span ljsid-1=\"\">1</span>-year warranty (included with each device*) with purchase of <span ljsid-3=\"\">3</span>-year or <span ljsid-5=\"\">5</span>-year device warranties.":1,"#Powerful device reporting, device sharing across multiple workstations, and branded device screens. Get it all with robust Terminal Solutions.":1,"#Take advantage of your EMV device’s advanced capabilities with our valued-added software packages":1,"#iQmetrix | Queue Terms of Use":1,"#Tier <span ljsid-1=\"\">1</span> Carrier Postpaid Store Trends":1,"#At SummitX <span ljsid-1=\"\">2024</span>, Jeff Moore of Wave<span ljsid-3=\"\">7</span> Research — one of the U.S.’s leading experts in wireless retail, and organizer of the annual All Wireless and Prepaid Expo — took an engaged audience through the state of the brick-and-mortar wireless retail industry today, broken down by segment.":1},"version":4517}]