AT&T is buying T mobile for $39 Billion.

[deadpoolRKO]

ORLANDO, Fla. (Dow Jones)--Shock and speculation over the potential $39 billion merger of AT&T Inc. (T) and T-Mobile USA dominated the wireless industry as it converged in Orlando for one of its more significant annual trade shows.

The surprise deal announcement on Sunday--which would create the nation's largest wireless carrier with roughly 130 million customers--was a topic that monopolized the conversations of industry pundits and executives on the first day of the CTIA Wireless trade show Monday. Many were still processing the development.

"It's too early to say what the impact is," said Mark Slater, vice president and head of U.S. sales at Nokia Corp. (NOK). The company, who was busy pitching the company's Astound smartphone for T-Mobile USA, is looking at the potential combination closely, he said.

T-Mobile USA is the U.S. wireless arm of Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE.XE).

One AT&T executive said he received roughly 50 inquires into the deal, although he had little insight to add.

"How can you not talk about?" a person familiar with the industry said. "It's a pivotal moment in the wireless industry."

Sony Ericsson's head of marketing for North America, Paul Hamnett, said the company is taking a "wait-and-see approach," noting that the deal represents a massive announcement. The company--a joint venture between Sweden's Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson (ERIC) and Japan's Sony Corp. (SNE)--hasn't met to discuss the impact of the deal yet, he added.

The topic was touched upon by the several policy panels held Monday, a day ahead of the official start of CTIA. It will likely be a key topic during a morning roundtable session Tuesday with AT&T Mobility Chief Executive Ralph de la Vega, T-Mobile USA Chief Executive Philipp Humm, Verizon Wireless Chief Executive Dan Mead and Sprint Nextel Corp. (S) Chief Executive Dan Hesse.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) and Vodafone Group Plc. (VOD)

Monday, some speculated on the difficulties AT&T faced in getting the deal approved. William Ho, an analyst at Current Analysis, said he expects the deal to go through with the typical concessions, including the sale of spectrum and assets.

"That's how these deals go," he said.

Even the bus and taxi drivers who typically stick with National Public Radio heard about the deal. One bus driver who ferried convention goers between an industry event and their hotels said talk over the the potential merger was a common theme found during his drive.

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...22-705573.html




Jimmy Kimmel tweeted " ATT is buying T Mobile for $39 billion. It was a tough call for AT&t. Then again , EVERY call is a tough call for AT&T "

lol.

[Sword Slicin' Leo]

And the real loser is the T Mobile customer

[Raph's Girl]

Originally Posted by Sword Slicin' Leo

And the real loser is the T Mobile customer

But we'll get to have an Iphone now! Wee.... *sighs* Im still not sure if it'll be a good thing or not to have AT&T....

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by Raph's Girl

But we'll get to have an Iphone now! Wee.... *sighs* Im still not sure if it'll be a good thing or not to have AT&T....

The iphone is crap. The Driod phones are way better. If Apple didn't represent a status thing no one would be using them. This sucks. First my bank gets bought out by Chase, who are terrible, and now this. I was gonna jump ship eventually anyways but this just gives me more reason. I wonder if my contract will allow for early termination if the company changes hands?

[Roseangelo]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

The iphone is crap. The Driod phones are way better. If Apple didn't represent a status thing no one would be using them.

LOL, fail. It's fine if Android phones are the best fit for you, but likewise iPhones are the best fit for others and *gasp* it's not just a "status" thing. If I was worried about status I wouldn't drive a cheap Korean car no one's heard of. I really don't get the iPhone vs. Android hate.

I've also never really had any problems with AT&T. And all those T-mobile towers that are making your phones work now will still be working for you after AT&T takes ownership of them, so I don't see what the big deal is. If it turns out that it sucks for you, you switch. But I think it's way too soon to assume that it's going to suck.

Oh, and if Chase hadn't bought out WAMU you wouldn't have a bank at all. They weren't up for sale, they outright failed.

[GK Punk]

Yeah I'm unsure how I feel about this. I endded up leaving ATT for T-Mobile awhile back. I've had better service on T-Mobile than I did ATT. And my rate plan is great.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by GK

Yeah I'm unsure how I feel about this. I endded up leaving ATT for T-Mobile awhile back. I've had better service on T-Mobile than I did ATT. And my rate plan is great.

That's my main issue with AT&T. They over charge and it's mainly because of the iphone. I don't know how Verizon getting it effected their prices but they toss around 4g a lot so they probably haven't gone down much. 4g isn't even real it's just 3.25g.

[Master Splinter]

Originally Posted by Roseangelo

And all those T-mobile towers that are making your phones work now will still be working for you after AT&T takes ownership of them, so I don't see what the big deal is.

Exactly.

And yes this would be a way to get out of your contract.

-ms

[GK Punk]

As long as my price doesn't go up, I could see this as a good thing. The bad thing is that if I cross over on to an ATT Tower, T-Mobile phones only operate on ATT EDGE network, not 3G. And the same For an ATT user using T-Mobile Towers.

[Raph's Girl]

I just wonder if my phone will work in Fred Meyer after this goes thru? Seriously it works everywhere but I go into a Fred Meyer and BAM....no bars at all. Really weird. :/

[GK Punk]

If ATT has coverage there, it should.

Also found this relevant
http://www.tmonews.com/2011/03/att-s...ing-structure/

[deadpoolRKO]

Originally Posted by GK

If ATT has coverage there, it should.

Also found this relevant
http://www.tmonews.com/2011/03/att-s...ing-structure/

that's a smart move on AT&T's part because a lot of the ppl who are on T Mobile went there because of their pricing structure and if AT&T would've changed it they probablly would've went to Ntelos or US Cellular or somewhere that has the affordable plans they need

[Toon]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

The iphone is crap. The Driod phones are way better.

Pew pew pew!

The biggest downside is that T-Mobile serves as a check against the big 2. It offers good plans at good prices for both voice and data, and it takes chances on new handsets that other service providers don't carry. Plus, its customer service is outstanding. Losing T-Mo means losing the only real leverage against the AT&T and Verizon, and having only 2 major players without viable competition doesn't strike me as a good thing.

[Ninja Turtles 25 Years]

The real concern with T-Mobile customers is fares are expected to go WAY up, and it is expected to be less options. My friend has T-Mobile and he is not liking this.