I have already expressed my disappointment with this merger on multiple forums. Back in 2001 when
I became the customer of T-Mobile I was happy to see that finally a technology that is recognized all
over the world was being brought to the american public. Prior to that time there were a couple of
choices however the companies kept the subscribers on a leash. When I saw the opportunity I left
Cellular One (the same that turned into Cingular, then AT&T, then SBC Wireless and then into at&t
and what else). Since that time I saw how at&t was progressing... in order to be the first in line, they
launched their 3G services on already oversaturated frequencies. Then they grabbed a leash of
iPhone and kept it from the rest of the population that was on other networks, rised the prices,
imposed data caps, became the champion of the worst customer service while at the same time lying
promoting deceptive marketing tricks. 10 years later I was happy that I had a choice. Not only for the
face that I was offered a superior service but also because T-Mobile allowed me to use my phone the
way I WANT to. When needed, I am being allowed to remove the so called SIM lock so that I can use
my phone with other carrier if I travel outside of the US, the prices that are right, the data caps that
are MUCH hight than anyone else's. On top of that T-Mobile is the pioneer of Android. Had this been
at&t, we would NEVER see Android OS as it is today (if ever). at&t is anything BUT for the
advancement of the technology. If they say they are - it's ONYL to tweak the technology to the point
that it gives them a grip on the customer, and then force you into paying higher prices. at&t already
said that they will "RE PURPOSE" T-Mobile's 3G frequency...so what will happen to all of the
customers on AWS band. It's a clear statement on at&t's side that says "Screw the current T-Mobile
Customers, all we want is the spectrum and the customers are just a side perk". T-Mobile became
the first provider in the world to offer 3G on AWB band, which then started gaining momentum in
Canada, Mexico and the rest of Latin / South America. What at&t is planing to do is to create yet
another new standard by repurposing it for LTE. This is not an advancement but a step back in. If
at&t is so kin on being the "GOOD" guy, what's stopping them from creating a joint venture like they
had with T-Mobile before on the East and West coast where both companies created a 50/50
ownership entity which was managing the network on behalf of both. I agree that the coverage is the
key but not the merger. The merger will create in fact a MONOPOLY for many years to come...no
duopoly (Verizon / at&t). Verizon is CDMA based and only a tiny part of their phones can be used
overseas... on VODAFONE network...Verizon's sister company...but Verizon WILL NOT unlock their
phones. at&t will be ONLY GSM provider in the picture (excluding rural GSM carriers, of which many
will become invisible after the merger). We will NOT have the option of going to the provider and
asking them to unlock the phone because they simply will not do that. Moving my phone from
Verizon to at&t or vice versa also will not be possible - different technologies. at&t bought the
spectrum for LTE 700. Why suddenly do they want to add 1700 AWB and repurpose it for LTE. It will
create another fragmentation. I HOPE from the bottom of my heart that FCC will not allow for this
merger to go through. I'm sure there will be a lot of sweet talk (or rather sweet lies) from at&t as to
why it should. When I left Cellular One / AT&T at that time, I did it for a reason and I will not allow for
some merger to pull me back into the claws of corporate shredder who treats every subscriber simply
as a shred of paper just so it can spit it out in the end.