Sunday, March 5, 2006
Cingular Users, You Are AT&T Again
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "NEWS" @ 10:00 PM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/05/AR2006030500501.html
Well, you'll be AT&T Wireless again soon anyway. It seems that SBC Communications, which recently purchased AT&T and then renamed itself AT&T, is buying Bell South. SBC, which is a combination of several baby bells from AT&T's government mandated breakup in the 80's, and Bell South, which is the last baby bell standing that hasn't been bought out or undergone radical changes, have been partners in Cingular Wireless. Cingular Wireless purchased AT&T Wireless last year. Well, now it is all AT&T again. 8O You can see more about the whole ordeal here.
AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will acquire smaller rival BellSouth Corp. for $67 billion in stock, in an apparent bid for total control of their growing joint venture, Cingular Wireless LLC. The deal would substantially expand the reach of AT&T, already the country's largest telecommunications company by the number of customers served."
Of course this requires FTC approval, and probably FCC approval as well, but I hope by now the government realizes how incredibly stupid the mandated breakup of AT&T was back then. No one can predict where any technology area is going, and other than Al Gore who was busy inventing the internet back then, no one was even dreaming of the fundamental shifts in our telecommunications that the internet and cellular services have wrought.
For those of you with Bell South landlines, expect to see all sorts of billing errors in the coming months as they try to switch you to whatever they dream up. :roll: Never before have I been so glad I kicked Bell South out of my house almost 2 years ago when we went with cable for the internet and cellular for our phone needs. I suspect those of you with Cingular Wireless though won't see many changes other than the logo. Hooray the Orange X Man is dead!
Well, you'll be AT&T Wireless again soon anyway. It seems that SBC Communications, which recently purchased AT&T and then renamed itself AT&T, is buying Bell South. SBC, which is a combination of several baby bells from AT&T's government mandated breakup in the 80's, and Bell South, which is the last baby bell standing that hasn't been bought out or undergone radical changes, have been partners in Cingular Wireless. Cingular Wireless purchased AT&T Wireless last year. Well, now it is all AT&T again. 8O You can see more about the whole ordeal here.
AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will acquire smaller rival BellSouth Corp. for $67 billion in stock, in an apparent bid for total control of their growing joint venture, Cingular Wireless LLC. The deal would substantially expand the reach of AT&T, already the country's largest telecommunications company by the number of customers served."
Of course this requires FTC approval, and probably FCC approval as well, but I hope by now the government realizes how incredibly stupid the mandated breakup of AT&T was back then. No one can predict where any technology area is going, and other than Al Gore who was busy inventing the internet back then, no one was even dreaming of the fundamental shifts in our telecommunications that the internet and cellular services have wrought.
For those of you with Bell South landlines, expect to see all sorts of billing errors in the coming months as they try to switch you to whatever they dream up. :roll: Never before have I been so glad I kicked Bell South out of my house almost 2 years ago when we went with cable for the internet and cellular for our phone needs. I suspect those of you with Cingular Wireless though won't see many changes other than the logo. Hooray the Orange X Man is dead!
