What Does the Future Hold?

Predictions for the wireless industry in 2001:

"Defining year to determine if wireless Web services will generate revenue growth. Further attempts at industry consolidation. Growth by companies dedicated to exemplary customer service."

- Kevin Beebe, Alltel group president, communications

"Consolidation will continue as large carriers drive toward national footprints. Wall Street will again look to this sector with favor. Also, John Stanton will buy Deutsche Telekom."

- G. Edward Evans, Dobson president & COO

"The interdependent industries of mobile convergence will reach their potential only if they come together to overcome marketplace, regulatory and technical barriers to create consumer-driven products."

- Jay Kitchen, PCIA president & CEO

"2001 will see the `real kick off' of the m-commerce arena with services such as wireless Web, voice browsing and 2-way messaging realizing the majority of the growth."

- Peter Mannetti, Qwest Wireless president

"The PCS spectrum auction (taking place this month in Canada) looks to be the big development of the year. It will allow existing carriers to increase capacity and offer new services as well as possibly get some new players into the industry."

- Peter Barnes, president & CEO, Canadian Wireless Association

"Wireless messaging will grow dramatically in 2001. Instant messaging will be the main type for personal users and enterprises are starting to take serious looks at rolling out wireless e-mail to mobile workers."

- Phillip Redman, Gartner Group research director

"Users (will) want access to the basic services that they have at their desktop, such as e-mail, addresses and their calendars. Wireless alternatives to wireline service will become more popular as `big-bucket' plans proliferate."

- Rick Ekstrand, Rural Cellular president & CEO

"Look for more unlimited airtime plans, more people migrating from landline to wireless phones and further development of wireless data applications."

- Robert Piper, US Unwired president