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I disagree with Apple running a telecom but to say that they don't do so just so that they have an excuse is just silliness. There are plenty of other reasons why, such as:
- It's not anywhere near their core competency
- Telecoms are becoming more and more of a commodity
- Would limit the number of iPhone customers in the US
- Lots of federal, state and local regulatory headaches
- and why? what do they gain?

THANK YOU. Especially the core competency comment. Is this that hard to understand?
 
People should stop complaining. This is business. Wake up people we live in a capitalistic society. This is a win win situation for both carriers and the only people it sucks for is Verizon and sprint.
 
THANK YOU. Especially the core competency comment. Is this that hard to understand?

Nope, but it's what separates smart business people from the failures. Just because you need something for your business (or home) doesn't mean you make it yourself. Let someone else do what they're good at, and you do what you're good at. Some would say it's basic capitalism.
 
This is why you should let sleeping dogs lie...T-Mobile has been poking AT&T with a stick for months now touting it's "4G" in commercials...so what does AT&T do? Snatches T-Mobile's network up like a Japanese Fuedal Warlord snatching up new territory...seriously though, who's surprised? the rumor was discussed at Macrumors this time last year...remember?
 
I'm amazed that $39 Billion can keep 42,000 productive jobs going while $3.5 Trillion US budget expense for 2010 can't do crap.
 
I guess there won't be as many unlocked iPhone 4's on craigslist this summer now... lol

"Like New iPhone 4 *Unlocked & Jailbroken* (AT&T/T-Mobile) :p:D:p:D
 
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It will be the other way around Sprint buying Verizon.
And where will Sprint get the money? Sprint still has yet to turn a profit after buying out Nextel, and that was years ago.
 
T-Mobile: "That blast came from the Death Star!"

AT&T: "Now witness the firepower of this fully ARMED and OPERATIONAL battle station! "

LMAO....I couldn't help but post this
 
This is good for everyone, why? Well att and t-mobile customers will get more coverage and less traffic. Att will have more customers so att can maybe have more deals and better plans. If your on T-mobile you will be able to get a att phone and if your on att you can get a t-mobile phone if you want. Att is also good at grandfathering so as long as you keep your plans nothing will change. Vz (att's main competition) is still around so nothing is going to change about that, if anything vz is gana step it up, so that is good for vz customers. Then people happy with subpar coverage with (for the most part) ok phones but cheap plans still have sprint. No one should be complaining except vz executives.
 

Now only one company in the US will have GSM is this right?

That's a moot point, because by the time this deal clears regulatory hurdles, the technological hurdles (combine billing systems, etc), and the re-branding efforts are completed and T-Mobile becomes a thing of the past, Verizon and AT&T will both have pretty large LTE networks, and there's rumors of Sprint considering LTE too.

Someone on one of these pages suggested AT&T Mobile.

The official name is AT&T Mobility. So it's close enough. I doubt they'd change that.
 
I'm worried about what the FCC's conditions will be, if they let it go through at all. They usually demand divestures instead of gaining iPhone customers, you could see customers losing iPhone access in smaller markets. This smells to be like AT&T just wanting to to get rid of a large competitor.
 
The reason why the service is spotty is because there is no government oversight and no consumer protection in the US. If I had that quality of service in Europe that I have in Boston then I'm sure they would fine the hell out of the carriers and you would be entitled to suspend payments.

Don't forget that while everyone wants cell service, no one wants the towers and they'll piss and moan about any suggestion of one being raised in their view.
 
i assume it takes a while for ATT to determine billing, towers, frequencies, but the in the first year that T-Mobiles 33 million subscribers get iPhones it would mean probably 1 million iPhone sales. This is good for Apple.
 
I don't care who said it, it's wrong. Only $5 billion of cash comes from ATT. You're welcome.


NEW YORK (Reuters) – AT&T Inc said on Sunday it would buy Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA, in a $39 billion cash-and-stock transaction that would create a new industry behemoth by combining two of the four largest U.S. wireless carriers.

The purchase price includes a cash payment of $25 billion with the balance to be paid using AT&T common stock. AT&T has the right to increase the cash portion of the purchase price by up to $4.2 billion.

As part of the deal, Deutsche Telekom will get about 8 percent stake in AT&T, and a Deutsche Telekom representative will join the AT&T board. AT&T can increase the cash component so long as Deutsche Telekom receives at least a 5 percent equity stake in it.
The agreement has been approved by the boards of both companies.
AT&T said it would finance the cash portion with new debt and cash on AT&T's balance sheet. AT&T has an 18-month commitment for a one-year unsecured bridge term facility underwritten by JPMorgan Chase & Co for $20 billion.

AT&T will not assume any debt from T-Mobile USA or Deutsche Telekom.


You are welcome to read the entire article at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110320/bs_nm/us_tmobile_att.
 
NEW YORK (Reuters) – AT&T Inc said on Sunday it would buy Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA, in a $39 billion cash-and-stock transaction that would create a new industry behemoth by combining two of the four largest U.S. wireless carriers.

The purchase price includes a cash payment of $25 billion with the balance to be paid using AT&T common stock. AT&T has the right to increase the cash portion of the purchase price by up to $4.2 billion.

As part of the deal, Deutsche Telekom will get about 8 percent stake in AT&T, and a Deutsche Telekom representative will join the AT&T board. AT&T can increase the cash component so long as Deutsche Telekom receives at least a 5 percent equity stake in it.
The agreement has been approved by the boards of both companies.
AT&T said it would finance the cash portion with new debt and cash on AT&T's balance sheet. AT&T has an 18-month commitment for a one-year unsecured bridge term facility underwritten by JPMorgan Chase & Co for $20 billion.

AT&T will not assume any debt from T-Mobile USA or Deutsche Telekom.


You are welcome to read the entire article at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110320/bs_nm/us_tmobile_att.

You managed to stop reading before you got to the important part. Good job. 5 billion of ATT cash. $20 billion is lent to them.
 
I wonder if this explains why AT&T was taking the longest to implement their 4G network for their customers. At least now I can actually "Rethink Possible" seriously now. :cool:
 
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