Bellevue’s T-Mobile to close 7 call centers

Bellevue’s T-Mobile cellphone carrier will cut 1,900 jobs nationwide as it consolidates its call centers in an effort to reduce costs and remain competitive. None of those cuts involve employees here.

Bellevue’s T-Mobile cellphone carrier will cut 1,900 jobs nationwide as it consolidates its call centers in an effort to reduce costs and remain competitive. None of those cuts involve employees here.

Seven of its 24 call centers will be closed by the end of June, according to a report by The Associated Press. In all, there are about 3,300 people who work at the centers slated to be shuttered. Despite the cuts, T-Mobile said it plans to hire up to 1,400 people at its remaining 17 centers, the Associated Press said.

The call centers slated for closure are in Allentown, Pa.; Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; Frisco, Texas; Brownsville, Texas; Lenexa, Kansas; Thornton, Colo. and Redmond, Ore.

The company said that workers whose jobs are eliminated will have a chance to transfer to the remaining call centers.

Bellevue-based T-Mobile is the smallest of the four national carriers and is dealing with steep subscriber loses, resulting in fewer calls to its call centers, according to the AP.

In last year’s fourth quarter, T-Mobile lost a net 802,000 subscribers on contract-based plans, which are the most lucrative. It is the only national carrier not offering the iPhone, the popular Apple Inc. device now carried by all three of the company’s larger rivals.

In addition, a $39 billion bid by AT&T Corp. to take over T-Mobile was thwarted last year by antitrust concerns.

T-Mobile said it will restructure other parts of its business during the second quarter. That includes plans announced previously to modernize its network, add new technology and hire more sales staff. The company employs about 36,000 people.

It announced in February that it will revamp its wireless data network this year, making it compatible with iPhones and other smartphones.