Sprint CEO Disappointed With Timing Of Cable Wireless JV

NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- The length of time it took for Sprint Nextel to jointly roll out wireless service with the cable companies has been disappointing, Chairman and Chief Executive Gary Forsee said Wednesday.

Sprint is working with Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Advance/Newhouse Communications to offer the service through its joint venture, Pivot. The service took more than a year to get off the ground.

Forsee, speaking on a quarterly conference call, said he expects Pivot to be in 40 markets by the end of the year. It currently operates in 20 markets.

"So far, the reaction from the cable partners is ramping up," Forsee said.

Sprint and the cable companies still need to spend time working on the back office and systems for Pivot, Forsee said. He wasn't aware of any unusual hiring by Comcast in regards to a wireless service, he said.

-By Roger Cheng, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-2020; roger.cheng@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 8th August 2007