What if Apple bought Tmobile?

[Vegastouch]

Why wouldn't they be allowed to? Verizon has some phones that they market as their own, but PCD actually makes them.

But where is the fine print saying that's illegal?

So has T-Mobile, like the Sidekick. Im sure T-Mobile dont actually build them but then neither does Apple.

 

[boss.king]

With that logic then why make computers when you could sell your OS on every computer made?

I can't actually think of a company besides Apple that makes both the hardware and OS for a computer. Can you?

Exactly, because no one is expecting them to do it.
They can revolutionize the way things are done nowadays at the carriers, cable providers, and ISP.

Initially it didn't make any sense for Apple to get into the Music business.

Google can change the way the internet services are provided, also they can, if they want to revolutionize the way mobile carriers operate.

There were some rumors about Apple trying to sell services from different carriers, and letting the subscribers or customers to choose anytime they wanted (at least on a month to month basis, if I recall correctly) the carrier that they prefer to use with the iDevices.

The traditional business models are dying: cable TV, landlines. And I think cellphone carriers and ISP are next.

Google and Apple have the money to do so if they want.

And that is the main caveat, do they want to?

The other issue is the power struggle on how the market rulers will lobby and avoid things that negatively affect their traditional streams of revenue.

Hmm, I see what you are getting at, but I still don't see how Google or Apple could revolutionize the way a company provides an internet/phone connection, and then how they could be able to role that out to the rest of the world.

 

[McGiord]

I can't actually think of a company besides Apple that makes both the hardware and OS for a computer. Can you?



Hmm, I see what you are getting at, but I still don't see how Google or Apple could revolutionize the way a company provides an internet/phone connection, and then how they could be able to role that out to the rest of the world.

Apple have retail experience with their Apple stores, Google not. Their presence is global and has been rolling out since they started, so also they know how to spread their business to a retail level.

I think the way they can do it is with a radical change of the infrastructure used to provide the services.
Cell Towers will be replaced with ultar fast speed Internet connections, whatever they will call them. The servers will be strategically located in server farms, they already started in North Carolina, currently it seems that they are aimed to support iTunes and the iCloud services that could help to improve the mobileMe "user experience" and expand and explore the delivery of services, movie rentals has been another one.
iMessenger (formerly iChat) will be another step in this transition, building on the market grown by RIM and their BBM, (by the way, WhatsApp rocks!).
Apple have the end user hardware, OS, a bunch of customers, content and certain infrastructure, the end user experience is highly affected by the service providers: carriers and ISP.
If they have the chance to buy some licenses or bandwidth of the spectrum they could create a good thing for them and for their customers.

Google have the experience with advertising, innovation and is getting into the mobile business with purchase of Motorola, they have google voice and other communication services, that for some reason they are not wide spread yet?
They lack media content and a solid App Store revenues stream.
But they have the know how, and great deal of people that can change the way things are done in any of these service providers: cellphone carriers or ISP.
Google also have the advantage of funding their "free" service with the advertising marketing service. So we could see free Wi-Fi, and higher speed connections in the future that you can access with your google devices, because they need you to be connected and you need them to be connected.
So they make it free and then transition to a small fee for businesses or premium accounts for those that prefer not to have a free service.

Anyway, all this is if they want to.

 

[paulyras]

In the U.S. carriers aren't allowed to make their own handsets

It's either that you make handsets or that you are a wireless provider (can never be both). Thats why you would never see any carrier make their own device and why Apple (making the iPhone) could never buy T-mobile...

Source?

 

[MonkeySee....]

wow thanks! Never knew that they were not allowed to do that.

/thread

T-Mobile is also part of Orange here in the UK so i think you can rule that out too.

Although...... Orange are doing some "free film" with iTunes thing at the moment.

 

[vikingjunior]

if they bought it we would see the fanboys and girls go over to it in droves then scream at how great it is and how all the others suck. They would pay a extra for that right as well.

They would completely ignore the fact that the coverage compared to AT&T and Verizon Suck. Chances are there would be dropped call issues with network flooding due to the fact that the Apple worshipers would be flooding the network as well and they would defend the Apple cell network like no tomorrow.

I personally would love it because chances are it would mean cheaper prices on AT&T for me and the network being clogged up would not be as bad due to the people leaving.

I don't know where you live but T mobile is 10x better then AT&T in my area.

 

[b166er]

the whole t-mobile thing is such a mess. t-mobile NEEDS to be bought by someone. It is for the better of their employees and customers. But when ATT stepped in and made an offer everyone cried monopoly (which it totally wasn't).

I honestly think someone needs to do it eventually, they might as well just let the ATT deal go through now.

As far as Apple buying a carrier, it could be neat but in the end it would probably not be very profitable for them. They already make a ton of money off the iPhone (and the mandatory data plans) as it is and they don't have to directly deal with the headaches of running a carrier. In fact they might even enjoy being able to lay some blame on the carriers.

 

[sniffies]

In the U.S. carriers aren't allowed to make their own handsets

It's either that you make handsets or that you are a wireless provider (can never be both). Thats why you would never see any carrier make their own device and why Apple (making the iPhone) could never buy T-mobile...

Where did you get this info??? That's some hardcore BS.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I don't know where you live but T mobile is 10x better then AT&T in my area.

T-Mobile is fine in a lot of areas but does not change the fact that they have large gaps in there coverage.
Hell for me T-Mobile would work find 90-95% of the time. They just have more dead zones between cities and there 3G/ fake G network is a lot smaller.

 

[Badrottie]

Good idea...Apple is going to abandon Mac line and Tmobile will have to rename all Mac line to TBook line Tbook Pro TMac Pro TPhone 5...

 

[McGiord]

Good idea...Apple is going to abandon Mac line and Tmobile will have to rename all Mac line to TBook line Tbook Pro TMac Pro TPhone 5...

Who wrote that T-Mobile will buy Apple?