AT&T+(T-Mobile)= -No Good^2 (I Hear Ma Bell Calling)

Posted on March 22, 2011 Updated on April 19, 2011

So I’m sure by now you all have heard about the acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T for $39 Billion of which $25 Billion is cash and the rest is in stock. This acquisition is bad news. This could only mean less innovation in technology, higher prices and pushes towards a monopoly. There are currently 4 major wireless carriers. AT&T with around 90 million subscribers, Verizon with around 80 million subscribers, Sprint with around 50 million subscribers, then T-Mobile with about 35 million customers with Sprint and T-Mobile being the “low cost” players. If you all remember in history class Ma Bell; what American Bell Telephone Company (1877-1984 long time right…) was known as after it was disbanded because of its practices. Once during its near monopolistic reign there was a government sanctioned monopoly but it was “regulated”. Regulated being the government had a consent decree with them in which Bell couldn’t have no more than 85% of the market.. This almost sounds like one of AT&T’s explanations to our current government to allow such a thing.

They say they will have about 95% of the country covered (over some years) with a high speed data connection (LTE) because of the extra spectrum they will be gaining from the T-Mobile take-over. The Obama administration is pushing for more connectivity in our country all around and in rural areas so this seems like something the government would possibly be interested in. This still needs to be approved by the FCC. Now does this sound like a repeat of the past or what!? American Bell was disbanded in 1984.

We know there are other options our there but AT&T is attempting to cover 95% of the US with their service. We should have most the country covered by many carriers.It’s also interesting to know that from American Bell Telephone came  Southwesten Bell, BellSouth, Northwestern Bell, US West (Quest), Verizon (yes o_O), and AT&T; to name a few. There are benefits that would arrive (supposedly)  sooner for AT&T subscribers with this deal but as a whole it’s not good. As Americans we are pretty greedy but my goodness..(Don’t get me started on Google~a love/hate)… In the end the customers lose. What’s your take on it?