Well as a T-mobile sub, it has definitely frozen me.
I was talking to my son about updating our phones and getting us on the same family plan. We were debating iPhone @ Verizon versus Android Phone at T-mobile. I really liked UMA and since T-mobile brought it back we were leaning that way.
Given the merger, I have to assume that WiFi calling (which is what T-mobile calls UMA now) is going away. That basically shoves me at Verizon iPhones.
Don't be such a downer... I don't think it has frozen T-Mob to be in the merger process... They now have to prove they are still innovative and independent while this regulatory approval process is happening. So it does free them up to be a bit more creative on the competitive front.
At a minimum, the ATT / T-Mobile merger process will likely spur a tsunami of ativity with Verizon, Sprint and lower tier carriers, to see who is up for sale. Don't be surprised to hear of other proposed mergers in the next 12 months. If the potential wave of mergers are approved, we could see the domestic market being ruled by 2 or 3 players, hence our cellphone fees would go up due to lack of regional competition.
Here's Why:
If the merger does pass then it is basically a day at the turkey shoot for AT&T and Verizon as they carve up smaller carriers to create a massive duopoly.
If the merger doesn't pass, AT&T has still effectively made any new customers think twice about joining. Many of my friends on T-Mobile are already wondering if they should leave.
Plus, T-Mobile won't sign with LightSquared, Sprint, Clearwire or whoever for its LTE strategy. Meaning that AT&T has effectively kept a smaller rival off 4G upgrade path for a year or two while it still gets to rollout LTE on 700MHz whatever.
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Bill Me, Don't Bamboozle Me Phil Harvey 11/2/2012 - 8:15 AM All the effort service providers put into a simple, powerful network experience is wasted if the bills they send to consumers are confusing and full of unnecessary jargon and analytics
4G World 2012: Does LTE Add New Jobs? Phil Harvey 10/30/2012 - 7:30 AM Our salary report is making the rounds here at 4G World and carriers may need to fill very different types of jobs as more consumers start using LTE
Metaswitch Forum 2012: The CxO Show Phil Harvey 10/12/2012 - 11:00 AM Metaswitch CEO John Lazar and CTO Martin Taylor talk about the company's place in an evolving network and its future as a software-focused business
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