AT&T says Sprint suit to block T-Mobile deal is not about maintaining competition
AT&T has fired back in the salvo between top US mobile carriers, accusing Sprint of seeking to block the deal just to protect its own interests, while defending the merger as a win-win for consumers.
In a statement defending the $39 billion deal, AT&T said, "This simply demonstrates what we?ve said all along ? Sprint is more interested in protecting itself than it is in promoting competition that benefits consumers.
"We of course will vigorously contest this matter in court as AT&T?s merger with T-Mobile USA will: help solve our nation?s spectrum exhaust situation and improve wireless service for millions; allow AT&T to expand 4G LTE mobile broadband to another 55 million Americans, or 97% of the population; and result in billions of additional investment and tens of thousands of jobs, at a time when our nation needs them most."
Sprint has most recently cited iPhone exclusivity as an example of how big carriers could push smaller rivals out of the game. However, Sprint is expected to carry the IPhone later this fall, so Sprint's efforts to block the deal could only have the reverse effect of depriving an independent T-Mobile from selling the popular smartphone.
Blogger John Gruber of the Daring Fireball cited Sprint's merger objection related to its inability to carry the iPhone as a "tacit admission from Sprint that it is at a competitive disadvantage without the iPhone."
Gruber added, "seems obvious to me, of course, and probably to most regular DF readers. But how do the Android supporters who insist that Android is 'winning' square that belief with this?"
In a statement defending the $39 billion deal, AT&T said, "This simply demonstrates what we?ve said all along ? Sprint is more interested in protecting itself than it is in promoting competition that benefits consumers.
"We of course will vigorously contest this matter in court as AT&T?s merger with T-Mobile USA will: help solve our nation?s spectrum exhaust situation and improve wireless service for millions; allow AT&T to expand 4G LTE mobile broadband to another 55 million Americans, or 97% of the population; and result in billions of additional investment and tens of thousands of jobs, at a time when our nation needs them most."
Sprint has most recently cited iPhone exclusivity as an example of how big carriers could push smaller rivals out of the game. However, Sprint is expected to carry the IPhone later this fall, so Sprint's efforts to block the deal could only have the reverse effect of depriving an independent T-Mobile from selling the popular smartphone.
Blogger John Gruber of the Daring Fireball cited Sprint's merger objection related to its inability to carry the iPhone as a "tacit admission from Sprint that it is at a competitive disadvantage without the iPhone."
Gruber added, "seems obvious to me, of course, and probably to most regular DF readers. But how do the Android supporters who insist that Android is 'winning' square that belief with this?"
Comments
I would assume their world would have been turned upside down
How anyone can say this merger is good for consumers with a straight face is beyond me.
Count me as one who can say it with a straight face. First, explain how having T-Mobile has created competition. Most who are against this deal keep saying that the big players run the market, so how does T-mobile help?
Also, if T-Mobile is not merged there is a strong possibility that they will go away. How does that figure into your plan?
It is called the free market, get used to it.
How anyone can say this merger is good for consumers with a straight face is beyond me.
I'm with fizzmaster. T-Mobile USA being allowed to continually lose customers as the other carriers get the iPhone and thrive will not help competition. Having the US gov't bail out T-Mobile USA to keep them afloat will not help competition.
If Deutsche Telecom wants out of the US market and AT&T is willing to buy them I'm all for it. The only concession I have is that the spectrum not be completely given to AT&T, but Verizon and Sprint to bid or pay for a percentage.
This is how fair competition should work and I think three major MNOs in the contiguous US will render the same level of healthy competition that three major MNOs and a faltering fourth MNO could.
What we really need is the government to look into potential oligopolies between the carriers keeping data, voice and, most of all, SMS charges so damn high. That's where I cry foul.
Count me as one who can say it with a straight face. First, explain how having T-Mobile has created competition. Most who are against this deal keep saying that the big players run the market, so how does T-mobile help?
Also, if T-Mobile is not merged there is a strong possibility that they will go away. How does that figure into your plan?
It is called the free market, get used to it.
I partly agree with you. I mean AT&T and Verizon run the business whether T-Mobile is there or not to be honest. Also, to me it seems like T-Mobile's parent company want to get out of the US market. I have not read this anywhere, but I have a feeling that if this deal doesn't go thru T-Mobile will begin a slow and steady decline anyways. I could obviously be wrong.
At the same time though, I do understand why people would be opposed to this deal. Just for the plain fact that AT&T and Verizon have really been pissing me off as of late. With all these price increases, wanting to find anyway to take users off their grandfathered unlimited plans, cancellation fee increases, early upgrade fee increase, etc etc etc. The list goes on and on. So I guess people feel like (and rightly so) that there needs to be competition to try and slow this duopoly down.
I dont know what side to choose so I stay neutral. I just don't care since Im with AT&T for now. But who knows maybe when the iPhone gets 4G I may switch to sprint since the calls and internet will be on different bands
Count me as one who can say it with a straight face. First, explain how having T-Mobile has created competition. Most who are against this deal keep saying that the big players run the market, so how does T-mobile help?
Also, if T-Mobile is not merged there is a strong possibility that they will go away. How does that figure into your plan?
It is called the free market, get used to it.
Yea. At first I was all against, but now I really don't see any other customer for the poor t mobile. If we had more spectrum somehow more companies would have made sense. Today we basically have two networks, with everyone else renting space from them.
If sprint wants to keep t mobile from AT&T it should buy it and use the spectrum for its own if technologically feasible. If not there is not point in keeping t mobile on life support or letting it go away completely.
You really have to worry when a giant company starts claiming that it's doing ANYTHING for the good of society. That's not it's job, and not what it should be doing. Companies exist to make money. Charities exist to waste it and they do that plenty well.
All it really boils down to is that Sprint is pissed at AT&T for negotiating behind Sprints back with T-Mobile
Uh, no. That would never have happened anyway. Sprint's CDMA. No way is AT&T going to replace millions of phones for free.
all I can say is I hope Sprint goes belly up (Bankrupted) for being sore losers.
It's quite sad how little you know about the telecoms. You can't hold grudges against any of them. The more we have, the harder it is for them all (well, it's only 4 now) to collude. You need Sprint more than you could possibly know.
AT&T - Hands down the best service out of the 3.
I'm totally behind AT&T buying T-Mobile and improving and increasing my whole family's and 99% of my friends service.
The government should stay the hell out of my personal life which includes my cell/mobile service.
Sprint service sucks, that's why they didn't get an iPhone to begin with.
Uh, no. That would never have happened anyway. Sprint's CDMA. No way is AT&T going to replace millions of phones for free.
It's quite sad how little you know about the telecoms. You can't hold grudges against any of them. The more we have, the harder it is for them all (well, it's only 4 now) to collude. You need Sprint more than you could possibly know.
I need Sprint has much, as I need you, and that would be ZERO, I pay AT&T over $303.00 a month and I would gladly pay them a THOUSAND a month before I would pay Sprint $0.01 a year. And what I pay AT&T a month is less then a day's pay for me.
Sprint was negotiating to buy T-Mobile but AT&T also was negotiating with T-Mobile, and that's why Sprint is pissed, learn to comprehind what you are reading dude.
I need Sprint has much, as I need you, and that would be ZERO, I pay AT&T over $303.00 a month and I would gladly pay them a THOUSAND a month before I would pay Sprint $0.01 a year.
You clearly have some sort of unsubstantiated vendetta against Sprint.
Or you can't see past your own choices to know why we need every telecom we can get.
And what I pay AT&T a month is less then a day's pay for me.
Mattering in what way?
Sprint was negotiating to buy T-Mobile but AT&T also was negotiating with T-Mobile, and that's why Sprint is pissed, learn to comprehind what you are reading dude.
Yeah, that's the reason.
You clearly have some sort of unsubstantiated vendetta against Sprint.
Or you can't see past your own choices to know why we need every telecom we can get.
Mattering in what way?
Yeah, that's the reason.
I have had many Cell Providers (Cellular One, Verizon, Sprint, GTE) and for the last 5 years AT&T and so far they are the best, So you know why I hate Sprint so much is they continuously lied to me and had the worst service of all, they always overcharged me on almost every bill for five years, I had to call them almost every month and argue for 45 minutes to over an hour to remove the amount over billed, now you see why I hate Sprint + the CEO is a cry baby.
The funny thing here is that I don't really see very many posts from T-Mobile users. Everyone that is pouting about the merger doesn't understand that AT&T's acquisition of T-Mobile will benefit both T-Mobile and AT&T users by expanding T-Mobiles coverage area and getting the iPhone, and AT&T users getting a better 4G network.
The whole reason Apple chose AT&T as it's first, and an exclusive carrier, was because AT&T could afford the gamble and AT&T was GSM allowing Apple to create the iPhone to support more global carriers. CDMA carriers was an after-thought for Apple once they realized they could increase their profits.
Sprint should stop their whining and focus on staying ahead of US Cellular before they fall behind yet another wireless carrier.
On a side note: Droid has become an average OS for mobile phones just like MS Windows became the average OS for bulky grey boxes that sound like leaf blowers. Droid is the affordable option for people who want a cheap smartphone. People will always take issue with Apple because they build their own products and supply it with their own OS/iOS which is different than having 10 zillion computer companies building less than crappy computers and using a MS OS which in-turn makes people think MS has a crappy OS but ultimately it's the boxes that aren't up to spec. This is where Apple wins the global prize for making reliable computers, cellphones and tablets. Should Apple get into the TV business and manufacture a screen larger than 40 inches, I'll be standing in line at Apple for that too.
Don't flame me for my own opinion, unless you feel it necessary to boost your own ego.
Count me as one who can say it with a straight face. First, explain how having T-Mobile has created competition. Most who are against this deal keep saying that the big players run the market, so how does T-mobile help?
Also, if T-Mobile is not merged there is a strong possibility that they will go away. How does that figure into your plan?
It is called the free market, get used to it.
YOU ARE AN IDIOT if you believe that the customers will be served in a positive manner by AT&T once it become the ONLY national GSM provider in the U.S. It is a free market, but our government also has laws to protect its citizens when the free market is abused in a way to take advantage of people.
YOU ARE AN IDIOT if you believe that the customers will be served in a positive manner by AT&T once it become the ONLY national GSM provider in the U.S. It is a free market, but our government also has laws to protect its citizens when the free market is abused in a way to take advantage of people.
What a nice way of respecting another's opinion...YOU DON'T NEED TO SCREAM AND CALL PEOPLE IDIOTS!
AT&T whether you're on their network or not is right about one of biggest things with carriors. the US infastructure is WAY behind EU. i don't even have 3G where i'm at yet, and other countries have almost full nationwide 4G. This merger would help millions if AT&T follows through on their promise to use the 4G tech from tmobile to expand their network. even if you're on a competing carrior. cuase lets phase it, roaming is a big part of of our service. Hell when i had sprint as a service, i spent more time on other carriors towers roaming then i did on sprints weaker coverage. AT&T and verizon own most of the towers in the country. Whether you are with them or not, you have to realize that their networks are the foundation of our mobile infratructure, so upgrading that infrastructure is in the interest of EVERYONE. THAT is what AT&T is saying.
I live in the EU and I can tell you for sure my country does not have "full nationwide 4G". I also regularly drop into GPRS because there is no 3G signal. On lots of different networks this happens.
the US infastructure is WAY behind EU.
The United States also has the problem of being over twice the size of the EU.
I live in the EU and I can tell you for sure my country does not have "full nationwide 4G". I also regularly drop into GPRS because there is no 3G signal. On lots of different networks this happens.
Heh yeah, those EU carriers must feel pretty dumb investing in full nationwide 4G considering almost none of their customers have 4G phones! The grass is always greener. From the Euros I know, they are pretty miserable with the effort they have to go through to use their phone over an area larger than even an average US state. Swapping SIM cards, paying different fees depending on who they call and what type of line it is, it's all a big pain. The US system has drawbacks as well, but I'll take expensive simplicity over slightly cheaper mass complexity any day.