Hmmm it is funny that Apple isn't mentioned, given its influence in the hardware side.
A general suspicion has been that Apple will open up the iPhone to other carriers with the next rev. I wonder if this will impact that plan at all (if it exists).
Now, they don't need to expand the carrier offering to increase the customer base. But, it's a greater customer base entirely within AT&T. But, AT&T will now — presumably — have better coverage. But, AT&T is already strongly disliked as a brand, and this doesn't change that. And so on…
I would think that Apple is at best wary of the merger, since, like the rest of the hardware providers, the increased bargaining power of the carriers is a problem.
Long-term ATT'll have better coverage, but for now, not so much. Basically they (that is, existing ATT customers) get T-Mo's 2G/EDGE network, but that's about it. 3G is still on two different channels, so ATT/T-Mo customers are still split there. ATT's 4G network is nonexistent, while T-Mo's is brand-new and tiny. Moving forward, as they build out 4G, this is a net win, but the merger doesn't help anyone's 3G coverage.
Ugh... I hate this. I really don't want to be an ATT customer.
A general suspicion has been that Apple will open up the iPhone to other carriers with the next rev. I wonder if this will impact that plan at all (if it exists).
Now, they don't need to expand the carrier offering to increase the customer base. But, it's a greater customer base entirely within AT&T. But, AT&T will now — presumably — have better coverage. But, AT&T is already strongly disliked as a brand, and this doesn't change that. And so on…
I would think that Apple is at best wary of the merger, since, like the rest of the hardware providers, the increased bargaining power of the carriers is a problem.