Introduction
Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications out of New Jersey and the European-owned telecommunications company "Vodafone." Verizon Wireless is a wireless communication carrier that operates in the continental United States. Currently, Verizon Wireless provides wireless communication services to over 60 million customers nationwide including customers in Hawaii and Alaska. Its products include wireless voice and data services using the largest wireless voice and data network in the United States. Cingular Wireless is currently the leading cellular carrier when it comes to amount of customers on its wireless network. However, as Verizon Wireless continues to grow its market share as the United States' second largest wireless carrier, it ranks number one in total revenue collected as well as how it is viewed by Wall Street. Verizon Wireless' strong market position, perception of quality, and its proportion of income has a strong competitive advantage that would allow a small price increase--making the demand inelastic, "quality demand stretches very little in response to price change" (McConnell et. al, 2004).
Verizon Wireless cellular service is inelastic because the products and services it offers makes them the dominant leader in the wireless industry; therefore, a 10% change in calling plan prices (monthly access fees) would not affect the quantity demanded. Verizon Wireless can depend on this inelasticity in their pricing model because of the strength of its brand and the wealth of products and services it offers. Verizon Wireless' competitive advantage comes from its ultra-low churn rate (the percentage of customers who disconnect their service is less than one percent of ...