Tech Analyst Jeff Kagan | What’s Next at CenturyLink?

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Atlanta, GA, July 26, 2011 — We have watched CenturyLink grow and change dramatically over the last several years. They are now the number three local phone company in the United States, right behind Verizon and AT&T.

I have two big questions for CenturyLink. One, who will they acquire next? And two, will they transform and update their analyst and media relations to keep the marketplace up to speed?

Glen Post, CEO of CenturyLink has done an incredible job building this company to date. The world has now changed for the company. Will they continue to do as well going forward?

CenturyLink has grown organically of course, but mainly they have grown through acquisition. Two of their largest have been Embarq, which was Sprints local phone business, and now Qwest, the number three baby bell.

Now they are similar to Verizon and AT&T, but CenturyLink is also very different. Do they represent the next model in the changing telecom business?

They offer local and long distance telephone and Internet. They resell television and are experimenting with wireless.

The question is, what is next for CenturyLink?

Who will they acquire next? I continue to expect the next big merger. And there are plenty of options for them.

Will they update their media and analyst relations? They have a very weak operation in this area. Now that they are suddenly the number three baby bell, everyone is watching them.

Either CenturyLink works well with the community or they will struggle. News stories, research reports and comments will be made about the company going forward.

The way I have noticed this works is as follows. Either the company can work with the marketplace, or if there is no interaction the marketplace will find things of interest to write about on their own.

It will be interesting to watch the next steps CenturyLink takes going forward.

Jeff Kagan

Tech Analyst

770 579 5810

jeff@jeffkagan.com