Cingular acquisition of AT&T

[jetprop]

I saw an article a few days ago that the Cingular/AT&T transaction is being expedited and should be completed in a couple of months. My understanding is that Cingular will give up it's network in California and AT&T's network would survive. That's bad news for me and other folks along the Central California coast and in other areas of California as AT&T has poor service in our area, while Cingular's has improved dramatically in the past year. I am now able to use my Cingular T600 as my phone both at home and on the road, while my wife, who has AT&T service, has only spotty reception anwhere in the area.

Does anyone know about the changeover in California? Hopefully, my understanding is incorrect and the Cingular network would survive.

[AllGamer]

Man, the future is not as bad as you think.

all these buy outs are merely paperwork

AT&T is not stupid enough to actually teardown or turn off ex-Cingular towers and repeaters.

Actually it is quite the opposite. It's most likely AT&T will be using the ex-Cingular network, along with their own for better coverate.

It'll be too funny and dumb if they didn't  )

[catbert00]

I read somewhere that TMobile will buy Cingular's network and Cingular will use AT&T's (like jetprop said).  But I also read that this will not be a short process!  Before Cingular can give up it's 1900MHz network, it will have to improve AT&T's 850MHz network to have at least as good coverage as the existing Cingular network so as not to screw any current customers.  I don't know how true this is though...

I have mixed feelings myself.  I am looking forward to 850 in CA.  The 1900 signal doesn't penetrate buildings as well as 850.  But like you, I'm scared.  I know that Cingular works well for me for the most part where I use my phone, and I don't know how good AT&T's network is from personal experience.  Cingular may say it's going to improve the AT&T network, but will they really?

[MrByte]

I don't know if you have been noticing (or is it just here in FL) but now my phone changes (roams) onto Cingular's network very often.
 I called ATT just to make sure there wasn't gonna be some charges, and they told me as they merge, this will happen even more often and at the end, Cingular is what will remain. So, in my case, Cingular covergae is better than ATT's, so I hope that one remains here!

[100thMonkey]

Does anyone know about the changeover in California? Hopefully, my understanding is incorrect and the Cingular network would survive.

Here's the straight scoop man

Okay, IF the Cingular acquisition of AWS goes through, then Cingular and T-Mo have agreed to dissolve their network sharing in NYC/CA/NV in FOUR YEARS...that will give Cingular time to build up their newly acquired facilities from AWS. In CA/NV, Cingular keeps the AWS 850 spectrum and a bit of the 1900 mHz and T-Mo will get most of Cingular's 1900 mHz only at a cost of about 4 billion I think. In NYC, T-Mo will return all of their original spectrum (from Omnipoint) plus get an additional sliver of 1900 mHz that AWS had. Cingular will again keep the 850 and a sliver of the 1900 mHz. You can see more http://www.fcc.gov/transaction/cingular-att_wireless.html

[alrod23]

I don't know if you have been noticing (or is it just here in FL) but now my phone changes (roams) onto Cingular's network very often.
 I called ATT just to make sure there wasn't gonna be some charges, and they told me as they merge, this will happen even more often and at the end, Cingular is what will remain. So, in my case, Cingular covergae is better than ATT's, so I hope that one remains here!

I'm with T-mobile and found it weird that while traveling to North Carolina. Phone was on a Cingular network. The thought of outrageous roaming did come to mind often.  Especially since I was non stop GPRS being used to my unlimited data transfer for $20 with T-mobile. )

[100thMonkey]

Day 179 of 180 for the FCC decision


I have stickied this topic and will keep all issues related to the acquisition/merger here.

It appears that, thus far that the government will approve Cingular's purchase of AWS for $41,000,000,000 USD.

ALso, Cingular and T-Mo will keep up the network sharing agreements, called GSM Facilities, in NYC metro, California and Nevada for about 4 years.

That way, both companies will have time to build up their new networks. At the end of those four years, Cingular will sell T-Mo some of native and acquired from AWS 1900 mHz in CA/NV and also some of the 1900 mHz from AWS in NYC metro area.

Thus Cingular is positioning itself to be mostly on GSM 850, at least until the 2007 auctions of 1700 and 2100 mHz spectrum.

[idont]

$41,000,000,000.
wow.  that's alot of money!

[AllGamer]

Cool so AT&T is gone, and Cingular with its better rates will prevair, nice....  

[Snerdy]

so AT&T is gone

I don't think that's actually correct.  The way I remember it, part of the sale stipulates a period of noncompetition, but AT&T retains their brand and can eventually enter the wireless market again after a certain amount of time.  AT&T Wireless dies, but not permanently -- like Sleeping Beauty.

[brutel1]

There is some sort of weird arrangement with Sprint and AT&T for wireless.

[100thMonkey]

AT&T and AWS are different companies.

AWS is currently leasing the ATT name

AWS will be out of business and no more

and yes, AT&T is arrainging to become a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) on Sprint...much like Virgin is on Sprint

Sprint will be one to watch in the next years...with two commercial resellers, that'll be lots of revenue

and watch old AWS shit a brick when they find out that they can't use their TDMA/GSM phones on the new AT&T (Sprint) CDMA network. I can't wait

[Snerdy]

AT&T and AWS are different companies.

AWS is currently leasing the ATT name

AWS will be out of business and no more

Well, there you go.  That explains the itch in my memory.

[100thMonkey]

you scratch my itches and I'll scratch yours...well, maybe

[100thMonkey]

well, apparently Cingular has now officially purchased AWS

here