AT&T FOLLOWING Verizon’s Suit and 4 Telecom Titans Attracting Interest

AT&T, Inc. (NYSE:T): To no one’s surprise, AT&T (NYSE:T) is following Verizon Wireless’ (VZ, VOD) lead in rolling out shared data plans that will feature unlimited voice and text. Their plans are almost as costly as Verizon’s, 1GB a month for $95 and 4GB which will be $120 monthl, shared between a smartphone and a tablet. However, unlike Verizon’s plans, Ma Bell’s won’t be a required upgrade for users. Sprint (NYSE:S), trying to maintain its cost edge, has said it won’t follow suit.

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Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE:S): According to Android Central, Telecom companies in France and Australia indicated that Nexus S phones will receive updates from the latest version of Google’s, (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android operating system. Their shares traded down $0.01 (0.14%), they were recently at $3.64.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ): Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is expected to report second quarter earnings before the market open on Thursday, July 19.  According to First Call,   Analysts are looking for earnings per share of 64c on revenue of $28.56B. The consensus range is 61c-67c for earnings per share, and a revenue of $28.21B-$29B. Verizon reported positive first quarter results, which narrowly beat their EPS and revenue estimates. The company said it expected to see increasing free cash flow levels going forward, and that top line growth trends continued to be very positive. In a bid to raise revenue per subscriber,Verizon recently decided to eliminate unlimited data plans for customers who upgraded to their 4G LTE high-speed mobile network. Since their first quarter results were released in late April, their shares have traded sharply higher, making a fresh 52-week high of $45.95, stocks are up approximately 70%, currently near three-year highs. With so much good news discounted in the shares, investors will need exceptional results to justify further commitments. The shares traded up $0.11 (0.24%) recently at $45.77.

Vodafone Group PLC (NASDAQ:VOD):  After the Vodafone Group (NASDAQ:VOD) began a U.S. mobile phone partnership with Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ),over 10 years ago, payments from the venture remain uncertain and investors are unhappy. Last year, Verizon Wireless announced a $10B dividend, the first since 2005. Sources say that the venture’s board will soon decide about this year’s payout. Their shares traded up $0.25 (0.85%), they were recently at $29.05.

Level 3 Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:LVLT):  Level 3 Communications Inc. announced that ESPN Brazil will use Level 3 Vyvx broadcast solution’s infrastructure and managed services to optimize transmissions that provide integrated services for TV stations carrying their programs in Brazil. This is Level 3′s first Vyvx infrastructure contract in Brazil. Their shares traded up $1.11 (5.59%), they were recently at $20.98.

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