AT&T buys T-Mobile

[scottmandue]

So... have you folks heard about this?

I have been with T-Mobile for over seven years and received excellent customer service. I could call in and they would review my last few monthly bills and suggest ways I could cut back and save money... and even back date the changes so I could save on the current monthly bill.

I have not heard such great things about AT&T.

Funny thing is T-Mobile is still running their ads making fun of AT&T.

Could this be like the merger of satellite TV and satellite radio where they will keep the two separate companies going?

I switched to a family plan a few months ago, wife and step daughter got new phones with a two year contract... I'm concerned.

[Rick Lee]

I have another seven mos. until my contract with AT&T runs out. I sure hope they find a way to integrate T-Mobile's network with their own before then. I can't take it a day longer than my contract lasts. AT&T sucks so bad. Verizon, here I come.

[gprsh924]

I must be the only person who never seems to have any issues with AT&T's network. The times when I don't have service, no one else does either.

[Rick Lee]

If you live in an area with good coverage, then of course, you'll be happy. AT&T is notoriously bad in the eastern part of Phoenix. My company even switched me over to Verizon for my Blackberry when I bought this house. My AT&T Blackberry did really save my ass a few years ago when I got a flat on the 993 in the middle of the desert and my Verizon cell phone wouldn't work. That's part of what made me switch. Man, am I regretting it now.

[Scuba Steve]

Monopoly on GSM mobile service. Awesome...

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Scuba Steve

Monopoly on GSM mobile service. Awesome...

Yeah... you think there would be a law

[steve911]

AT&T has PROPOSED to buy T-Mobile (and both boards have agreed to the transaction). However, the transaction still needs to get regulatory approval from the FCC etc. before it actually happens. Figure many months from now at the earliest.

I would doubt that they would keep the two brands separate, at least long term. AT&T's history to absorb/acquire and bring under a single banner.

[red-beard]

The problem with T-Mobile is that once outside their service areas, the service sucks. They are really bad about data and voice charges outside the country, etc. If I'm in a "roaming" area, my voice works, but I'm at GPRS speeds for data.

My business has been called numerous times to combine our cells with Business line and DSL. Yesterday, they actually made it possible to reduce what we are paying, especially when in Mexico. They also "gave" me a Mifi unit and reduced my plan to the point where it was basicly no extra charge. In the end, I have the MiFi and a $20/mth reduction in cost. And they are paying the termination fees.

[porsche4life]

ATT bought cell one out here and didn't rename it

[scottmandue]

I'm wondering if AT&T is doing this just to gain access to the T-Mobile towers.

Zero AT&T signal at my house (San Pedro) two to three bar on T-Mobile.

[jhynesrockmtn]

ATT bought cell one out here and didn't rename it

AT&T bought out McCaw Cellular back in the 90's. Cellular One was the brand but there were other carriers using that brand name as well. If it's still Cellular One it wasn't part of the acquisition or AT&T is the minority owner, not majority. I lived through that acquisition.

They'll ruin T-Mobile like they ruined McCaw, which became AT&T Wireless, then Cingular, then AT&T Wireless again, oh crap, I've lost track.

Thousands will lose their jobs in the Seattle/Bellevue area and other parts of the country. There will be less choice in wireless which already has a terrible reputation for customer service.... Unless the Feds have enough cahones to say no. Ma Bell?

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I'm wondering if AT&T is doing this just to gain access to the T-Mobile towers.

Zero AT&T signal at my house (San Pedro) two to three bar on T-Mobile.

That is exactly what they have said is the reason. It will increase capacity for AT&T. I believe that T-mobile has excess capacity, so it actually works. My concern, what happens to the T-Mobile 3G/4G frequencies? A lot of people on T-Mobile use thes freqs and have equipment that works there, will AT&T keep them running, or are these people SOL and have to buy new equipment?

[MBAtarga]

AT&T will put the T-Mobile spectrum to use - it won't go wasted.

[red-beard]

The problem is the phones are not compatible with the different frequencies.