AT&T'S QUARTERLY PROFIT DROPS 15 PERCENT

摘要

AT&T posted a 15 percent year-over-year drop in Q2 net income and isn't anticipating an economic recovery this year, Chief Financial Officer Rick Lindner said on the company's earnings call Thursday. The iPhone helped the carrier add 1.4 million subscribers. AT&T activated 2.4 million iPhones in the quarter. Congress and the FCC are looking into carriers' smartphone exclusivity deals. Wireless churn fell to 1.1 percent. There are opportunities in the prepaid market, but AT&T wouldn't do anything to cannibalize its core contract service, Lindner said. Wireline saw income fall 27.5 percent year-over-year, but the business is stabilizing, Linder said. The carrier is stepping up capital expenditure. It expects to spend 35 to 50 percent more in the second half of this year than it did in the first. Wireless will be a high priority, Lindner said. He added that the company will continue to add 3G coverage and capacity and offer backhaul between cell sites and switches.