AT&T could sell 25% of T-Mobile to sway feds in favor of acquisition

AT&T is prepared to make sacrifices in an effort to sway the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission in favor of its planned $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile, Reuters reported on Friday. On August 31st, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against AT&T in attempt to block the merger, a move that is said to have caught both AT&T and T-Mobile USA’s owner, Deutsche Telekom, off-guard. “AT&T is pretty determined that they can find a solution, and they are pretty confident,” one source told Reuters, which noted AT&T’s “two-track” plan that includes possibly selling off as much as 25% of T-Mobile, including customers and spectrum, if the deal is approved. It is still unclear who could be a potential customer for the assets, however, as the government could investigate Sprint or Verizon Wireless if either carrier chose to purchase those assets. Reuters said U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle will preside over the case and said Huvelle is known for moving swiftly. AT&T has asked for an expedited hearing and the case could be heard within the next two months.

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BGR

AT&T willing to make concessions to save T-Mobile merger, sources say

Now that the US government has moved to block its merger with T-Mobile, AT&T is gearing up for a long and potentially pricey legal battle with the Department of Justice. According to Reuters, however, the provider is also working on a settlement offer, in the hopes of bypassing the courtroom altogether. Sources close to the matter say AT&T will soon present its proposal to antitrust regulators, who are concerned that the company’s purchase of T-Mobile may hinder market competition. Details on the proposal remain vague, though it will likely include promises to keep T-Mobile’s low-cost data and calling plans, along with pledges to sell off some of its own assets. But some insiders say the carrier may have to sell up to 25 percent of T-Mobile’s business in order to put regulators’ minds at ease. AT&T has yet to comment on the report, though one of Reuters‘ sources claims that its lawyers are “pretty determined that they can find a solution, and they are pretty confident.”

Reuters

 

AT&T BlackBerry Bold 9900 Update: Still waiting on an official release date…

 

Please AT&T… give us a release date for the Bold 9900. We don’t want to have to picket 🙂

Anybody who dare think or say that the passion for BlackBerry is waning need not look further than the reader comments on our Petition to AT&T to Release the BlackBerry Bold 9900. AT&T… you seriously need to read them. It’s clear that AT&T CUSTOMERS WANT THEIR BLACKBERRY BOLD 9900s and by not having it released you are losing out!!

On this week’s CrackBerry Podcast, we discussed the petition and half-seriously/half-jokingly decided that September 17th would be the day we take to the streets and do some good ‘ole fashioned smartphone picketing to bring more real-world attention to our cause if we hadn’t received a received word on a release date by then. That’s all we’re looking for AT&T, just a little better communication about the BlackBerry Bold 9900. Better than a release date we’d like to see it released SOON of course, but I think a lot of us would be happier right now if we just knew when it would become available.

I’m still struggling with a reason of why it hasn’t been released seeing as Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile are all selling the 9930/9900, but at this point I don’t even care. The most likely reasoning is actually a positive one — that AT&T is pushing their exclusive of the Torch 9810 for only $49.99, which is a GREAT DEAL (so thank you for that AT&T). I know quite a few Torch 9800 owners now who have gone ahead and upgraded to the 9810 because of this deal and they’re loving it. But I just hate seeing people jonesing for a new BlackBerry any longer than they need to, and I think to a lot of people the Bold 9900 is distinctly different than the Torch 9810.

In the meantime, the petition is still going strong at the link below (and by leaving a petition comment you’ll be entered to win an AT&T BlackBerry Bold 9900 when it gets released) so be sure to jump over to the petition and have your voice heard.

Read / Sign the AT&T BlackBerry Bold 9900 Petition.

via:CB

‘AT&T is certain to lose’ lawsuit with DOJ, former FCC chairman says

Former FCC chairman Reed Hundt voiced his opinion on the Department of Justice’s decision to sue AT&T in an effort to block its planned $39 billion merger with T-Mobile USA. “AT&T is certain to lose,” Hundt told SNL. “They can litigate the case to death,” he said noting that the acquisition was anti-competitive. “It’s an extremely easy case. The Department of Justice will win the case in court. No question about it.” According to SNL, AT&T believed federal regulators would consider the acquisition based on a market-to-market analysis, rather than nationwide analysis. Hundt said the DOJ will instead determine whether the deal is anti-competitive or not based on both national and market-by-market investigations. Until recently, AT&T was confident that the acquisition would be approved by March 2012. AT&T vowed to contest the DOJ lawsuit and said it is confident the merger is in the best interest of consumers, and “the facts will prevail in court.” The carrier also said it would consider selling off 25% of T-Mobile USA in an effort to sway federal regulators toward an approval. Deutsche Telekom’s CEO Rene Obermann said on Thursday that both firms “have everything under control.”

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BGR

AT&T Discounts A-List Effective Immediately

 

Engadget has received a memo stating that AT&T has discontinued their A-List features for new customers effective immediately.   AT&T originally launched these features 2 years ago to compete with the other big carriers int the USA such as Verizon and T-Mobile.

AT&T offers customers 1,000 free rollover minutes

AT&T sent text messages to its customers on Thursday offering 1,000 free rollover minutes. The message specifically said: “There’s no cost or obligation to you. It’s our way of saying thank you. To have your minutes added, reply “YES,” by 9/7/2011.” We received the SMS on an iPhone in the office and confirmed that we did indeed receive 1,000 free rollover minutes. An AT&T spokesperson did not immediately responded to a request for further details on why AT&T issued the offer.

BGR

AT&T willing to make concessions to save T-Mobile merger, sources say

Now that the US government has moved to block its merger with T-Mobile, AT&T is gearing up for a long and potentially pricey legal battle with the Department of Justice. According to Reuters, however, the provider is also working on a settlement offer, in the hopes of bypassing the courtroom altogether. Sources close to the matter say AT&T will soon present its proposal to antitrust regulators, who are concerned that the company’s purchase of T-Mobile may hinder market competition. Details on the proposal remain vague, though it will likely include promises to keep T-Mobile’s low-cost data and calling plans, along with pledges to sell off some of its own assets. But some insiders say the carrier may have to sell up to 25 percent of T-Mobile’s business in order to put regulators’ minds at ease. AT&T has yet to comment on the report, though one of Reuters‘ sources claims that its lawyers are “pretty determined that they can find a solution, and they are pretty confident.”

Reuters

Engadget

US government files to block proposed AT&T / T-Mobile merger (update: companies respond)

You heard right. Bloomberg is reporting that the United States government (!) just filed court papers in Washington, D.C. to block the much ballyhooed tie-up between AT&T and T-Mobile USA. Oddly enough, T-Mobile and AT&T promised this morning that a total of 5,000 jobs would be hand delivered to the US if the two telcos were allowed to become one, but it’ll take a heck of a lot more convincing now. For what it’s worth, this doesn’t mean that the deal is or isn’t happening — it’s just another step in the process — but it most certainly doesn’t bode well for proponents. Nor for AT&T’s share price.

AT&T tempts FCC, promises to bring 5,000 jobs back to U.S. if T-Mobile merger is approved

AT&T said on Wednesday that it promises to bring 5,000 of its outsourced call center jobs back to the United States if its proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA is approved by the FCC. AT&T also promised that it will not layoff any AT&T or T-Mobile call center employee who is employed at the time of the merger. In addition, AT&T will invest $8 billion in its U.S. infrastructure and the Economic Policy Institute has suggested that move could provide up to 96,000 new jobs. AT&T made its announcement hours before the United States Justice Department filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block the merger. “AT&T’s elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low- priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market,” the Justice Department said. AT&T responded and said that “there was no indication” from the DOJ that a lawsuit was being contemplated. “We remain confident that this merger is in the best interest of consumers and our country, and the facts will prevail in court,” AT&T Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel Wayne Watts said, noting that AT&T will continue to fight for the merger’s approval.

Read on for the full press release from AT&T.

Petition: Dear AT&T, We want the BlackBerry Bold 9900 Now!

Dear AT&T,

On behalf of CrackBerry Nation and AT&T subscribers, we the commenters to this blog post request that you hurry up and release the BlackBerry Bold 9900. We feel that “later this year” is too wishy washy of a time frame and rumors pointing to a November launch date are simply too far away. It’s unacceptable. With the BlackBerry Bold 9930 already available from Sprint and Verizon, and T-Mobile’s Bold 9900 available August 31st nationwide (it’s already available on business channels), we think AT&T is really missing out on sales here and ticking off a lot of subscribers who want to upgrade to the BlackBerry Bold 9900 NOW. We know it’s not Research In Motion holding things up here — it’s you AT&T — and we think it’s time you change your priorities and make the Bold 9900 available for purchase asap.

Our CrackBerry forums are full of AT&T subscribers looking to buy the Bold 9900 from AT&T, and every day we’re getting overloaded with emails and tweets asking when the Bold 9900 will be available from AT&T. There IS demand for this phone and we need the requests to stop (it’s distracting!). Enthusiastic BlackBerry fans have chosen not to wait – they are buying BlackBerry Bold 9900s from other carriers to unlock and use on AT&T. The world would be in a better state right now if you did the right thing and put the Bold 9900 up for sale. Delaying its release does not serve the interests of your consumers.

We’re not sure why you haven’t announced an exact date for the release of the Bold 9900 or put it on sale yet. We get that the now-available BlackBerry Torch 9810 is exclusive to AT&T in the USA so maybe you’re giving it some time in the spotlight, but a huge amount of people want the Bold 9900! And if you’re delaying its arrival until after a new iPhone launches for some reason, well that’s just silly. People who want the best physical keyboard ever put on a smartphone are going to want the Bold 9900 whenever it’s released, so it might as well hit the market now. Or maybe you’re mad still about the whole BlackBerry Bridge thing on the PlayBook and want to punish RIM a little bit. If that’s the case, get over it. The BlackBerry Bold 9900 is too hot a phone to hold back from people’s twitchy thumbs.

We appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to a speedy release of the BlackBerry Bold 9900 on AT&T.

Sincerely,

Kevin Michaluk
Founder, CrackBerry.com

PS. In true CrackBerry fashion, we’re going to give away an AT&T BlackBerry Bold 9900 to a member who posts a comment on this petition. Be sure to tell AT&T why you want them to release the BlackBerry Bold 9900 now. The contest is open until AT&T releases the Bold 9900. The day it’s available we’ll announce the winner. The sooner AT&T gets the Bold 9900 to market, the sooner somebody will win!

via:cb