Yesterday it was being called an acquisition, today it's being called a merger. Either way, it does seem a lot more likely to be approved by regulators than the AT&T failed attempt.
My first response to the idea of these companies becoming one was a negative one. But mostly based on emotion, that fact that I don't much care for Sprint. I have a bit of nostalgia because my first mobile phone was a Sprint PCS unit which happened to be an early smart phone. I bought it on clearance and it served as my PDA and phone. I loved the old beast, but it went through batteries quickly. It worked great when I lived in Kansas City and traveled throughout the south. But then I moved to Minnesota.
Here in Minnesota (and Wisconsin), Sprint coverage is pretty spotty, and nonexistent outside the metro. Stories about their crappy data backbone have not stirred any warm feelings within my heart. T-Mobile service is not great outside the metro either, but it's been quite good in Minneapolis and the suburbs.
The thing I don't like is the CDMA vs GSM formats. I wonder which one will become standard. It makes more sense to keep GSM because of the way they could continue to steal customers from AT&T. I guess if they switch to CDMA, I will just have to take my phone to AT&T.
Hopefully the regulators see the benefit of four carries competing against each other. But if they do merge, then I also hope I like the new company.
