Helio lays off about 100 employees, says sales are bullish
We talked to Helio today and confirmed the reports that the MVNO is laying off about a hundred people from its workforce of about 700. According to Helio, most of the employees being let go were needed during its initial launch period (remember, Helio went official early 2006); about 80 jobs in regional field sales offices were included in the cut (Helio says that's due to the fact that the bulk of their sales are coming from just a couple of offices) and about 20 jobs at HQ, which are post-launch redundancies. Given EarthLink's financial dire straits right now (and the firm's financial ties to Helio as a co-owner), we'd be worried, but Helio was quick to reassure us that sales are booming (July was their best month ever, and August is about to top July), no Helio flagship stores are closing, and the number of Helio kiosks will increase from 30 to 50 this year. Helio's bottom line: "we don't want to burn cash like some MVNOs do". Fair enough -- we're ALL looking at you, Amp'd.[Via GigaOM]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Verizon customer @ Aug 30th 2007 7:52PM
I don't know anyone who owns a Helio...never a good sign.
Lp @ Aug 30th 2007 8:30PM
http://elioso.blogspot.com/2007/08/new-helio-total-happiness-guarantee.html
The NEW Helio Total Happiness Guarantee
VZ Insider @ Aug 31st 2007 10:47AM
Hilarious! I think VZ should buy them out and offer the Ocean and more.
Charles Akimoto @ Aug 30th 2007 10:49PM
Helio has said it all themselves... They are marketing towards spoiled rich kids and Koreans. If you don't know, Helio is partly major Korean cellphone provider SK Telecom and as such, the Korean version of the phones are labeled SK Telecom instead of Helio, have Korean lettering, unlimited text messages to Korea, and 10 a minute calling to Korea. I live in Hawaii and my mom has Helio... They've been doing a lot of advertising all over the Korean radio stations and TV stations... I know a lot of Koreans with Helio so they must be doing pretty well over here...
p0x @ Aug 31st 2007 8:06PM
I actually just bought a Fin, and am currently waiting for it to arrive. You cannot beat $65 a month for 500 minutes and unlimited everything else (except tethering). And please don't say that Verizon should offer the Ocean. They would just cripple the bluetooth and charge extra for email sync, then cut you off when you exceed their (small print) data plan.
In better news, which I don't think is announced yet they have a multiple line plan now. With their 'all-in' plans it was going to run me and my wife $120 for 1k minutes and unlimited data on two phones. Basically it's the cost of the 'all-in' plan then $35 for each additional line. I'm just assuming but I don't think this will apply to the cheap $120 unlimited everything plan.
Good PR @ Aug 31st 2007 8:37PM
I really hope they don't sink, once my contract is up with Nextel I'm going to switch to them (Ocean FTW!)
rygar @ Sep 5th 2007 4:14PM
I've been with Helio for just about a year and they have blown away my old carrier in every regard. Prior to Helio I was with AT&T/Cingular and that was two years of hell. Actually I bet I could get better reception in hell! Cause I couldn't get it in my living room.
I really hope Helio sticks around. If they go bust I don't know who to go to. Maybe I'll just get a land line :).
walter @ Sep 11th 2007 5:20PM
Well... obviously you people dont have a helio because... Helio rocks! this is the best company that ive been with so far!
Jeff D @ Sep 12th 2007 8:38PM
I'm not a rich kid or a Korean, though I did buy Ocean's for my wife and I at a Korean video store in Boston. They have Korean lettering (like I care) and my Korean buddy was able to negotiate me a price of $225 per phone.
The Ocean is great so far. The biggest thing I'd like them to add is a better way to port over address books from other phones.
John @ Sep 29th 2007 3:40AM
I LOVE MY HELIO!!! I actually worked for Helio back in December so I got a lot of inside news on them, I currently own the HELIO OCEAN which kills all sidekicks!! I previosly had att/cingular paid $150 and canceled it to switch. Just because you dont know anyone who has Helio doesnt mean its not a great company. Actually it means they are working harder to steal away customers in a Tuff market!