Throw Your Smartphone Down the Rabbit Hole

[Donnachaidh]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/05/04-4

Do you believe in fairy tales?

AT&T wants you to. The phone giant is trying to make everyone believe that its takeover of T-Mobile would be good for jobs, innovation and the economy, while saving you hundreds of dollars on your smartphone.

The opposite is true. But that didn't stop AT&T from making these claims in a 381-page FCC filing that was so filled with half-truths and fantasies that the Los Angeles Times said it came from Alice in Wonderland.

"The wireless marketplace will be more competitive," AT&T claims in the filing. For those keeping score, the phone company is actually saying that consumers will gain more choice among mobile phone carriers by subtracting T-Mobile from your options.

More at the link --

[JackintheGreen]

1. Now with worse service for higher fees!

If AT&T hadn't grandfather in my fee structure I would have fled faster than Orpheus with Euridice. As it is, my story will probably end the same way.

[Sherman A1]

2. Pardon me, for a moment

I need to :banghead: AT&T's proposed takeover of T-Mobile just leaves me that way.

[rbixby]

3. The ONLY upside to this

would be that combining the networks would result in better network coverage. I've been locked into AT&T for years because I have a company cellphone, and coverage hasn't ever been that great. My friends with Tmobile have much better luck, fewer dropped calls, etc.
I've got a feeling that this deal won't go through though (hopefully), because if that was the case there would only be one major provider in the US that uses the GSM network and that seems decidedly monopolistic. So, here's to hoping that they shoot down the deal, the only people it will be good for in the end are the big shareholders and execs at AT&T. (though I do have to say, the AT&T iPhone kicks the Verizon one's ass)

[Pigheaded]

4. Dammit

Damn I wish Sprint had coverage here.

CP