07-04-2005, 11:00 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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T-Mobile To Be Sold By Year's End?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/04/AR2005070400310.html
"Deutsche Telekom has been sounding out institutional investors on whether to sell off U.S. mobile operator T-Mobile USA or spend billions of dollars to expand the business, according to fund managers. Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile USA officials declined to comment on what they called market rumors."
Please please please please spend the billions! I have really enjoyed using T-Mobile for the past few years. It is totally seamless in GSM environments in other countries, if not a bit expensive. $20/mo for all you can eat data plans has been awesome for me, and their customer service has always been top notch. Getting swallowed whole into Cingular isn't what I would like to see happen. Too many co-workers and friends that were with AT&T Wireless that haven't had a good experience getting moved into Cingular.
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07-04-2005, 11:09 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 717
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I think they are going to sell it. US market, as far as cellular goes, is flat. Actually North American market is flat period. I doubt it will start going up anytime soon too. It is all about population density which, compared to Europe and Asia, NA does not have.
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07-04-2005, 11:35 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 44
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How typical... I finally get a mobile carrier that I like and now they'll be swallowed by someone else. I skipped to T-Mobile a few years back when I got an unlocked PPCPE and AT&T wouldn't let me use it on their system ("if you didn't buy it from us you can't use it on our system"). I walked over to T-Mobile and 10 minutes later I had a SIM for my phone. Their customer service is excellent - I've NEVER had to wait on hold.
Perhaps T-Mobile should be sounding out customer opinions as well. I'd love to see them expand service rather than disappear.
Steve
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07-05-2005, 02:12 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,041
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I've had T-Mobile after trying out Sprint and Verizon and T-Mobile has been by far, the best! But in the U.S. consumer market, it's all about price. The business community is more about quality and services, but T-Mobile doesn't do enough to attract that service.
I don't even know what carrier I would go with if T-Mobile was sold off. I love Hot Spots and all you can eat data service! Cingular/AT&T? Blah! They've consistently gotten the worse ratings you can get in almost every category.
Let's look at Nextel. They do almost no consumer advertising, but I always see businesses going with them since you get that walkie-talkie feature, which is super cool. They may not be as big as the other carriers, but they have a solid client base because of the features they offer. It's probably just as expensive as T-Mobile.
I talk-up T-Mobile all the time cause they deserve it. Customer Support, service, data services and coverage are all top-notch.
T-Mobile, please spend the money and get more into the U.S. corporate world. Develop more partnerships. Come out with some awesome features. Don't waste your time with the consumer market. That market is a low margin, high maintenance headache.
You also have to think about the SEC. I don't think they would allow Cingular to purchase T-Mobile due to anti-monopoly laws. Other than T-Mobile and Cingular, no one else uses the GSM technology.
The U.S. market may be flat, but it can provide a nice solid foundation for their business. If you want to compete in the consumer market, come out with no-frills, inexpensive plans. You'll get the business. Concentrate on what businesses and focus your advertising dollars on them and you'll get them too. Talk-up your data services, hot spots and coverage and you'll come out ahead. Too many people still believe that AT&T/Cingular get's superior coverage. You gotta change that. Talk-up your Customer Service and quality, which is what sold me.
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07-05-2005, 02:19 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,341
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Re: T-Mobile To Be Sold By Year's End?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Getting swallowed whole into Cingular isn't what I would like to see happen. Too many co-workers and friends that were with AT&T Wireless that haven't had a good experience getting moved into Cingular.
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I believe Cingular have already publicly stated they do NOT want to buy T-Mo.
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07-05-2005, 02:41 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 498
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Yes, they should sell it out. I never got any signal just 20 miles away from downtown, either in cities of Alabama or California. The tmobile signal in bay area is so bad that I guess nobody will miss Tmobile even it disappeares tomorrow.
Sorry for my ranting. :devilboy:
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07-05-2005, 05:36 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1
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I have T-Mobile and I have great coverage in Alabama from Huntsville to Mobile and everywhere in between. I currently live about 20 mi outside Birmingham and have no problems whatsoever.
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07-05-2005, 06:51 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 94
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Out of all of the carriers I have used, T-Mobile has been the most reliable and the most affordable. I would hate to lose that to Cingular or Verizon, neither of which have filled me with much hope.
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07-05-2005, 08:45 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 539
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even if t-mobile is sold, you'll all be able to keep your current plans for the future.
i have a friend who had a pretty good offer with max.mobil in austria. max.mobil was then bought by t-mobile, but his rates have not changed. they offered him to change to another plan with more benefits but higher monthly subscription fees, yet he has been able to keep his old offer.
so ... not to worry, i think.
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07-05-2005, 08:48 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 44
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ricksfiona
Let's look at Nextel.
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Bought by Sprint recently....
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