Discussion on:

Bleak job outlook for telecom industry

The mobile telecomm field is one of the most dynamic sector of the telecomm industry today. What the laid off developers neeed are to learn or even brush off in the use of new languages nad technologies being used in the mobile field nowadays.
Thatsaid, some evidence can be gleaned from developments in WAP, the e911 initiative, GSM, PCS CDMA, 3G and don't leave out DoCoMo's iMode.

I sure hope that during this leaner-learning period that the Telecoms realize that customer support and service should not be neglected. There is a price to pay for not being able to give what your sales persons swore upon.

Nortel has actually anounced a total of 20,000 to be laid off of ~94,500 (Jan.1, 01)

Work with a niche or company operating/playing in a duopoly market place. It has proven to work extremely well - especially in the telco market.
Regards,
Michael Dall-Hjorring

I'm a contractor working for Nortel Networks Wireless/Optical R&D in Richardson, TX. Yes, there have been layoffs. Mostly, there's been outsourcing. My co-workers have been picked up by the contracting agency who got the business. It's about focusing on core business. Me? I work an average of 50 hours per week, with more work than can be crammed into that amount of time. Prospect? Looks good. Am I concerned about losing my position? Well, considering Nortels move to move all the contractors on indefinite length contracts, who's complaining?

AT&T has premises tech positions open as well as other positions so things can't be that bad. Jobs are listed on their site if you want to see for yourselves.

http://att.jobs/possibilities.aspx