The demise of Monet Mobile Networks might be cautionary tale for Verizon Wireless's expansion: Julio Ojeda-Zapata writes that Monet's demise could teach Verizon Wireless something about the cost of building advanced networks and acquiring customers. The small firm offered EvDO in more than a dozen tiny markets hoping for early adopters who had few other choices.
But according to reports at its launch, Monet charged just $40 per month for unlimited access, which one might think was competitive with broadband DSL or cable modem, which would be less uniformly available in the regions that Monet picked.
Still, I and others believe that the growth of high-speed cellular data networks hinge on business travelers who are need access at all times and high-end consumers who use the service for games and streaming media as well as a variety of communication with friends and family.
Monet's lesson might be that deploying in one area can't sell the service, thus validating Verizon Wireless's plan to spend a billion dollars to push EvDO out nationwide this year. [link via Om Malik]