Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
Summary: Not everyone is in favor of the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. Obviously, there's Sprint. But some of AT&T's own customer base is speaking out against the deal too.
Not everyone is in favor of the proposed merger of AT&T and T-Mobile. Obviously, there's Sprint. But some of AT&T's own customer base is speaking out against the deal too.
Well, at least 11 customers are upset. Certainly, there could be many, many more people within AT&T's customer base that are unhappy about the proposition, but these guys are so against the merger to the point where they're willing to hire lawyers and file arbitration cases to full out block it.
Specifically, this band of customers are basing their claims on the most obvious argument against the merger of two of the nation's largest carriers: it could seriously deter (or completely prevent) competition. AllThingsD reports:
“Government enforcement is an important part of the antitrust laws, but the Clayton Act also permits private parties who may be adversely affected to challenge a proposed merger,” attorney Scott Bursor said in a statement. “That means any AT&T cellphone, data or iPad customer who will suffer higher prices and diminished service because of this merger can sue to stop it from happening.”
Earlier this week, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), head of the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, also spoke out publicly slamming the proposed merger, reiterating how "dangerous" this situation could be for both competition and consumers.
Regardless, AT&T asserted during its quarterly conference call for investors on Thursday that the mobile provider is on track to getting approval from the FCC for the merger. T-Mobile continues to act like nothing is going on and rolled out new unlimited data plans, which would surely disappear if the deal with AT&T pans out.
Related:
- AT&T vs. Verizon Wireless: How tiered plans will shake out
- Google's Nexus coming to AT&T July 24th for $99
- Mobile commerce heats up: Isis inks deals with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx
- Verizon expanding 4G LTE network to 28 more markets
- Sprint sets 4G plans with LightSquared: WiMax with dash of LTE
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Talkback
Ridiculous
They don't like how the a company does business, they are free to take their business somewhere else.
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
You also word things oddly. They're not suing because a company is "exanding" its own business. What they're suing about is their claim that they will suffer if a MERGER is performed. If one company buys another there's no net expansion of business, just consolidation.
"...they are free to take their business somewhere else." Not if a company's merged with its competition, they aren't. :-) This also doesn't address their claim that they'll be hurt if the merger is successful. They'd be hurt in this scenario whether they stayed with AT&T or not.
That Act can only be claimed by T-Mobile customers
For AT&T customers, the merger is just an expansion of the market. For T-Mobile customers, the merger is a complete change of contract to a company they didn't select. Only T-Mobile users can claim the Clayton Act.
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
Wrong again as the AT&T customers are 3rd parties as they do not own AT&T or Tmobile but the deal would directly effect them as a third party as they have no say in the deal or it's out comes which will directly effect them finacially and in their service.
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
Actually, there is a net expansion of business, for ATT. Just not an expansion of service, for the consumer. ATT's net revenue will expand, which is what is driving this.
clayton act provisions
http://www.historycentral.com/documents/Clayton.html<br>I, as a T-Mobile customer, for 9 years, am happy with my service and don't want to see my rates go up just because someone decided to buy my provider.
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
Listen, moron, if you didn't have your head up your a$$, you could see he will have one less place to take his business elsewhere.
Message has been deleted.
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
Seriously, if you have a contract with AT&T, then taking your business elsewhere means breaking your contract and you will have to pay your ETF to AT&T. If a response is "you should have not signed a contract with AT&T in the first place," SO F- WHAT?
Get a grip. IT'S NOT ABOUT EXPANDING BUSINESS. It's about competition.
So you would be happy if Microsoft were to purchase Apple
:|
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
Microsoft puchase Apple? Someone is living in the 90s. Would be more appropriate if you said Apple purchase MS.
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
[i]They don't like how the a company does business, they are free to take their business somewhere else. [/i]
So, by the same logic if a company doesn't like what their customers they can take their business elsewhere. Wait a minute - companies sue customers who do things they don't like. Or they run to Congress to make the behavior criminal.
BTW this isn't organic expansion. It's rearranging the slices of the same pie.
:)
ATT drives me the rest of the way crazy!!!
Ever tried calling their customer service. You have better luck catching lightning in a bottle. It takes you 15-25 minutes to navigate their punch buttons (all there for my convenience of course to handle a very small issue. To automated, no personal touch, and its all for my benefit. They make me projectile vomit. But they are also the best and cheapest around here. eh, what the heck....
And somewhere else ends up back where you started
Suppose I get fed up with AT&T and go to T-Mobile; what happens if AT&T acquires T-Mobile?
The same thing happens at major banks. An employee doesn't like his employer, gets a job somewhere else, and then his new employer gets acquired by his previous one. I've seen it happen many times. Leave T-Mobile alone; keep that girl doing the commercials.
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
I'm glad that someone is fighting this merge. A merge between T-Mobile and AT&T =
1) Higher Prices
2) Less choices
3) More monopoly and reduction of services.
(ie latest cut-off of unlimited data plans)
(ie Paying for text messages when we all already pay for data and we all know is just a 5k email or less)
I'm OK with a merge between T-Mobile and Sprint... :) since Sprint network really sucks, this could help them expand their network.
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
They really can't merge since T-Mobile uses GSM technology and Sprint uses CDMA....
A merger between these 2 would mean that one of them would have to completely reengineer their systems. This is one or the reasons why ATT is going after T-moble since they both use the same technology (GSM).
RE: Some AT&T customers seeking to block T-Mobile merger
Ummm I suggest a bit of reading and maybe a basic business class to bget the answer. remeber Ma Bell? If the merger, or purchase of companies will create a monoploly or way to control the market whilke hurting competive market to its users it can be halted. other then AT&T is anyone for this merger? It will kill Tomobile users as AT&T is a far less superior network which will drag down Tmobile and rates would jump for shoddy service on the Tmobile customers while AT&T customres would get hurt by higher prices due to lack of compitition in the GSM market as Verizon and Sprint are CDMA only.