AT&T buys T-Mobile

Just announced now, AT&T acquires T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom in a cash-and-stock transaction at $39bil.
http://www.macgasm.net/2011/03/20/att-buys-tmobil…

Quick takeaways:
AT&T now has access to one of the largest 4G LTE networks, meaning the rumors of the new iPhone actually having 4G may be substantiated if the primary carrier can finally support it
T-Mobile subscribers may now get access to the iPhone without having to switch over to AT&T

Comments or thoughts, anyone?

 
Best Response

This deal didn't actually happen, GS TMT wasn't involved.

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/att-to-buy-t-mobile-usa-for-39-b…DB-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-ATB-032011-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

AT&T was advised by Greenhill & Company, JPMorgan Chase and Evercore Partners, as well as the law firms Sullivan & Cromwell, Arnold & Porter, and Crowell & Moring.

Deutsche Telekom was advised by Morgan Stanley.

edit: sarcastic, no shit plz

 
rafiki:
That deal size is almost an Exxon-XTO, it should be interesting to see how big the deals can get before the next recession.
Good point.

cjohn, that's what I was just talking with my father about, it'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

damn, there goes my cheap t mobile bill. : (

"Look, you're my best friend, so don't take this the wrong way. In twenty years, if you're still livin' here, comin' over to my house to watch the Patriots games, still workin' construction, I'll fuckin' kill you. That's not a threat, that's a fact.
 
Will Hunting:
damn, there goes my cheap t mobile bill. : (

I'm with you. This f*cking sucks. I have T-Mobile's myTouch 4G. Sick phone with unlimited talk, text and web for $80/month plus free tethering. T-Mobile was a great alternative to the absurdly priced Verizon and AT&T. And my T-Mobile web and cell phone coverage has been nothing but sublime. This is VERY disappointing news. Maybe I should lock in a 2-year contract now (I'm on month-to-month).

Array
 

The biggest issue between Sprint and tMobile was the incompatible network (CDMA vs. GSM). Ideally Sprint should make a deal with Verizon (CDMA), but probably unlikely given regulators won't permit only 2 major players in the whole country. But might not be as bad given there are many low cost providers currently in place (although many are major four subsidiaries). Sprint probably feels like US Airways after United-Continental merger. Post merger integration will be fun though.

 
LeveragedFiend:
A Posse Ad Esse:
AT&T now has access to one of the largest 4G LTE networks

I don't understand, I thought AT&T is building their own 4G network and T-Mobile will be the one that gains access to it.

US Carriers use the term 4G very lightly. In fact, the whatever standards association doesn't consider any of the existing networks 4G, but no one cares about them. T-mobile's network is HSDPA+, which is an incremental upgrade from 3G that's significantly faster. AT&T is phasing in LTE, which is a different technology and is faster than HSDPA+, this is "real" 4G. They are ALSO con-currently upgrading to HSDPA+, so it's a bit confusing as they are trying to implement two different technologies and calling them both 4G Sprint is on WiMAX, a completely different animal, but also real 4G.
 

Unless you move to a different plan, you should be able to keep your legacy plan, also known as being grandfathered in. They might play some games with you like restricting phones you can pick. I have the awesome Sprint Sero plan - 500 minutes, unlimited text and web for $30 - Employee Discount. Even corporate phone can't phase me to get rid of it.

 
abacab:
Unless you move to a different plan, you should be able to keep your legacy plan, also known as being grandfathered in. They might play some games with you like restricting phones you can pick. I have the awesome Sprint Sero plan - 500 minutes, unlimited text and web for $30 - Employee Discount. Even corporate phone can't phase me to get rid of it.

The problem is what most of us like about our "legacy" plan is that we do month-to-month. A monthly customer is likely not going to be grandfathered in. There is no "contract" or "plan" to grandfather in. Plus AT&T charges something like $30/month to tether. T-Mobile has free tethering. Free tethering isn't really part of a "plan" to be grandfathered in--it's more like what T-Mobile gives its data customers.

Array
 

Perhaps it's myopic of me to think this way, but I can't help but envy the analysts who were on this deal.

 

Yeah. AT&T's customer service has always been sucky, their nationwide coverage is spotty compared to Verizon and T-Mobile, and they're the pricier of all the companies. I've only been with them for the iPhone, and I'm waiting to see what happens with the new iPhone this summer to see whether I stay or roll over to Verizon. Biggest factor is that I got grandfathered in with my data plan when they changed them, I'm still paying $15 a month for unlimited, less than all my friends with new contracts pay for 2GB.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

Read again, a few of the comments discussed it a bit, particularly one of mine. But yes, I agree quite a bit, #2 and #4 combining (and both primary GSM providers) raises a serious anti-trust issue.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 
DealBook:
An army of investment bankers, which are expected to make hundreds of millions of dollars worked on the deal. AT&T was advised by Greenhill & Company, JPMorgan Chase and Evercore Partners, as well as the law firms Sullivan & Cromwell, Arnold & Porter, and Crowell & Moring. Deutsche Telekom was advised mainly by Morgan Stanley. Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse also acted as financial advisors for Deutsche Telekom. It, too, has hired a bevy of lawyers: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Cleary Gottlieb and Wiley Rein to handle regulatory issues in Washington.
“Millionaires don't use astrology, billionaires do”
 

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