Powertel

Powertel (acquired by T-Mobile) was a regional GSM mobile network operator serving markets across 11 states in the southern and southeastern United States. In addition to launching its network from the ground up, Powertel focused on delivering new value-added services that would come to be core to the offerings of next-generation wireless communications providers.

Client:

Powertel

Core Competencies:

Go-to-Market, Product Strategy, Product Launch, Sales Enablement, Positioning, Channel Marketing

Key Highlight:

Go-to-Market, Product Strategy, Product Launch, Sales Enablement, Positioning, Channel Marketing

Case Study Dive In

Powertel

First-of-its-kind product launch establishes a new service category with significant revenue contribution

Situation:

Powertel needed to develop an offering to serve a large prospective user base that was otherwise being turned away due to legacy industry practices.

Challenge:

Powertel needed to find a low-risk way to service younger and credit-challenged populations that made up close to one third of the network operator’s TAM. The company focused its efforts on launching a new prepaid mobile service – something relatively unknown in North America at that time. Powertel had to educate the market, differentiate from incumbent carriers, and scale adoption quickly to prove viability.

The Solution:

I led the product marketing strategy, focusing on market research, segmentation, and tailored messaging based on a successful European model. The marketing campaign, with a strong focus on pricing strategy and value proposition, not only focused on end customers, but also educated a network of channel partners that was instrumental in deploying the service to the broadest market.

The Result:

Powertel was the first North American mobile network operator to launch a prepaid service, allowing the company to capture a majority market share of this new segment in the first six months. Customer acquisition surpassed projections by more than 30%. Total subscriber numbers, brand recognition, and revenue all increased significantly, ultimately contributing to a strategic acquisition by  T-Mobile, the multinational mobile carrier that consolidated networks across the US.