AT&T Says It Needs T-Mobile to Fix Network Problems
Please brush up on what a "Monopoly" actually is before throwing the word around.
"A market in which there are many buyers but only one seller."
Is AT&T a monopoly?
no
Will they become one with the T-Mobile merger?
no
Can you switch providers at will?
yes
If you sign a contract with a carrier, can they change it?
no
If you don't like AT&T do you HAVE to purchase them in-order to have cellular service?
no
Are there other cellular companies that provide comparable, if not better services and rates?
yes
Duopoly I've seen a lot.
And it slowly is crawling towards only having two national carriers.
Monopoly anyone? Get ready to be used and abused. ATT does not care about customers. And with this merger they will care even less
well... that was from "jewbear"
I don't think you'll need to be worried about VZW and AT&T buying each other out, it's just when there isn't another national carrier left that the consumer gets boned.
Just like the Lightsquared deal that we were talking about a minute ago. There is no reason a clever startup couldn't lease some of the network for a google voice/skype/ data combo at relatively inexpensive rates for the consumer. It'd be like vonayge, but for cellular networks!
Hell, what if Google leased network from lightquared and did it themselves??????? THAT would be cool!
GSM phones are readily available online and overseas.
LTE=GSM
There is no "Monopoly" on anything but the name "AT&T"
Troll-Bait said:
Both Verizon and Sprint sell MANY GSM compatible phones.
GSM phones are readily available online and overseas.
LTE=GSM
There is no "Monopoly" on anything but the name "AT&T"
LTE= GMS/CDMA replacement. Your assumption is that everyone with cell service is going to have access to this in the near future. For now there is going to be 1 cdma/lte carrier and 1 gsm carrier (monopoly) with plans to move to lte. It's true that if both companies fully move to LTE than there is no monopoly. Until that time comes it is what it is.
I posted this somewhere else, but it remains true here as well:
I do believe, with enough customers disappointed with the way ANY industry is heading, there will be a massive amount of competition stemming from very real alternatives.
Hypothetically, let's say Google makes a move to the Lightsquared network and gives customers plenty of reason to switch.
I can imagine Google Voice taking advantage of VoLTE service and offering plans at extremely low rates with just as many, if not more features and benefits to the average customer than any other carrier provides.
This would immediately effect the way AT&T and Verizon, as well as Sprint handle business ...
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Troll-Bait said:
There are several CDMA carriers, as well as many regional GSM carriers.
Sure, off the top of your head, name a few regional GSM carriers. I can. i Wireless (IA), WestLink Communications (KS), Viaero Wireless (CO/NE), XIT Wireless (TX), Plateau Wireless (NM). Now, name regional GSM carriers that offer native service in a top 50 market. Go ahead. Cincinnati Bell Wireless? Is that the only one?
If fewer than 10 percent of the population can get service through a regional GSM carrier is that truly GSM competition for a theoretically combined AT&T-T-Mobile?
AJ
The other side of the coin however, is not totally without relevance. Two friends converted from VZW against this same wish as you and have made reference to how much they were saving regardless. And they love their new phones. It was worth the sacrifice.
I hate contracts. I try to purchase outright if all possible. Unfortunately, with five lines, signing a contract sweetens the deal for new handsets on occassion.
Just curious, what phone are you so attached to that makes you want to carry it over to another carrier?
John B.
Their position as a carrier, is pretty much as reported. They have been struggling to regain a reputable standpoint. They want subscribers and they are aggressively offering beautiful incentives to allow new subs to try them. Sprint has realized that change had to be made and implemented. This is where the rubber meets the pavement. This is primarily why I have committed my business...
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And even though you can buy any GSM phone you want, you can't call Sprint and get a SIM and activate it.
The GSM compatible phones are almost entirely for roaming over-seas
That is true. 100%
And respectfully, I see very few advantages to GSM otherwise.
Especially with LTE coming so close to being universal among ALL carriers.
It's obvious how that relationship works.
Troll-Bait said:
Just like the Lightsquared deal that we were talking about a minute ago. There is no reason a clever startup couldn't lease some of the network for a google voice/skype/ data combo at relatively inexpensive rates for the consumer. It'd be like vonayge, but for cellular networks!
Hell, what if Google leased network from lightquared and did it themselves??????? THAT would be cool!
If you think that LightSquared could significantly shake up national competition, forget it. LightSquared is a longshot for several practical reasons.
LightSquared wants to use MSS (Mobile Satellite Service) 1400/1600 MHz spectrum to construct a hybrid terrestrial-satellite LTE network. In larger markets, ...
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Also, monopoly? No. Duopoly? Yes.
This forum is closed.