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AT&T Says It Needs T-Mobile to Fix Network Problems

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Please brush up on what a "Monopoly" actually is before throwing the word around.

Troll-Bait

Mar 23, 2011, 9:31 AM
Monopoly:

"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
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Caucasian

Mar 23, 2011, 9:34 AM
I've not seen anyone use Monopoly in any statements yet.

Duopoly I've seen a lot.

And it slowly is crawling towards only having two national carriers.
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Troll-Bait

Mar 23, 2011, 9:36 AM
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"
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Caucasian

Mar 23, 2011, 9:54 AM
Touche`.

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.
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Troll-Bait

Mar 23, 2011, 10:03 AM
We have three national carriers left right now, assuming the merger goes through, and a lot of very innovative people creating alternatives to those networks.

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!
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wigsplitta

Mar 23, 2011, 10:13 AM
AT&T will actually have a monopoly on GSM based cell service. No GSM phone will come to market without meeting specific demands of AT&T. No wi-fi calling, tethering, etc. etc. Phones will be locked up tight or they won't be sold by the giant. I could go on and on with the negative outcomes but it's all speculation on my part. However, with 1 GSM carrier calling the shots you can bet that you will see what a monopoly truly is. That is the whole point of business. Maximize shareholder wealth and kill competition; otherwise you never make true profits.
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Troll-Bait

Mar 23, 2011, 10:20 AM
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"
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wigsplitta

Mar 23, 2011, 10:30 AM
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.
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Troll-Bait

Mar 23, 2011, 10:50 AM
There are several CDMA carriers, as well as many regional GSM carriers.

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 ...
(continues)
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WiWavelength

Mar 23, 2011, 1:43 PM
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
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pickles

Mar 23, 2011, 3:56 PM
is already integrated with sprint. great move by sprint imo, anyone can now make their sprint number a google voice number. if this tmobile deal goes through, i see lots of android boys going to sprint, and hopefully sprint rises to the challenge and actually gets some cool phones. i would have signed up with sprint 20 times by now if they had any phones that were worth a 2YSA and if they actually had 4G in my area.
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Azeron

Mar 24, 2011, 2:57 PM
I would sign up if I could bring my own phone or buy one full retail and not sign a contract.
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Slammer

Mar 24, 2011, 6:13 PM
It is unfortunate that Sprint currently does not offer this option. I have friends that have the same wish as you.

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.
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Azeron

Mar 25, 2011, 6:52 AM
It's not the matter of a phone. I could not take my VZW handset to them in any case. A few years ago when I still worked at Verizon, employee accounts ticked me off and I was ready to switch. Sprint was close in price to what I was paying even with my discount. I wanted to activate an aircard and phone which I had obtained. They still wanted a two year contract.
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Slammer

Mar 25, 2011, 8:12 AM
Maybe at some point, Sprint will offer this. However, the position Sprint is in right now, they are no different than any other carrier. They want a commitment. The pricing and services they currently have, are extraordinary for the size carrier they are. They have made tremendous inroads across the board. This is reason to try them again for the first time.

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...
(continues)
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Azeron

Mar 23, 2011, 10:43 PM
Instead of dreaming of Google getting involved, I would rather see someone interested in competing in this wireless space buy T-Mobile from DT and keep it out out of AT&T's paws. I guess we both need to wake up, huh?
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Caucasian

Mar 23, 2011, 10:39 AM
The GSM compatible phones are almost entirely for roaming over-seas, a bid from CDMA carriers to get international travelers on their service instead of AT&T or T-Mobile getting all of them.

And even though you can buy any GSM phone you want, you can't call Sprint and get a SIM and activate it.
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Troll-Bait

Mar 23, 2011, 10:53 AM
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.
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Azeron

Mar 23, 2011, 10:35 PM
I do not think that is correct.
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Versed

Mar 23, 2011, 12:43 PM
It has nothing to do with gsm or cdma when it comes to the FCC or Justice, its if its a monopoly on service. And yes, its all about the money, and bottom line. As it is with Sprint, as it is with Verizon, as it is with DT, as it is with Vodafone, as it is with everything.
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pickles

Mar 23, 2011, 3:54 PM
there are still a couple regional players, and there are a BUNCH of national MVNO's running GSM to choose from...granted most of them use the AT&T network haha
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CamelTowing

Mar 23, 2011, 8:52 PM
That's like comparing a rhino to the bird on it's back(FoTC) 🙂
It's obvious how that relationship works.
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pickles

Mar 23, 2011, 9:29 PM
very true, a lot of the MVNO profits will just be funneled straight to the bigger players, but at least consumers will still have some choices
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WiWavelength

Mar 23, 2011, 2:10 PM
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, ...
(continues)
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kvlt

Mar 23, 2011, 12:26 PM
You're wrong, they can. They do it all of the time. Read any of the Terms of Service for any major cell phone provider.

Also, monopoly? No. Duopoly? Yes.
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GeeksAreBest

Mar 23, 2011, 12:27 PM
Certain things, yes. But there's also always a 30 day notice and a line-item in your contract that says you have such and such period to make a dispute.
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Versed

Mar 23, 2011, 12:46 PM
Yes if a carrier does a TOS change, you can terminate without an ETF. Most the vast majority don't bother. But still you can.
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