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AT&T Starts Whining About Sprint SoftBank Deal
The Japanese Will Ruin AT&T's Uncompetitive Party

AT&T has started to publicly complain about Sprint's acquisition by SoftBank and Sprint's now controlling stake in Clearwire -- which will likely end in an acquisition. The deal of course gives AT&T a more viable competitor with the funds to deploy a larger LTE network, something AT&T certainly won't like.

In a press statement issued yesterday, AT&T Vice President Brad Burns complained that SoftBank's acquisition of Clearwire would put too much spectrum in the hands of a foreign-owned company, apparently hoping a little xenophobia would bring added regulatory scrutiny to the deal:

quote:
"Softbank's acquisition of Sprint and the control it gains over Clearwire will give one of Japan's largest wireless companies control of significantly more U.S. wireless spectrum than any other company. We expect that fact and others will be fully explored in the regulatory review process. This is one more example of a very dynamic and competitive U.S. wireless marketplace, which is an important fact for U.S. regulators to recognize."
AT&T hates competition almost as much as cats hate baths -- and would certainly love to see regulators scrap the SoftBank deal after Sprint played a starring role in getting AT&T's planned T-Mobile acquisition crushed by regulators. AT&T may have had their eye on Clearwire's spectrum, hoping to snap it up after the company ran out of cash. AT&T certainly doesn't have much to complain about on the spectrum front. In addition to their robust existing stable of spectrum (including as yet un-refarmed 2G spectrum) -- they've been on a spectrum acquisition spree which includes using WCS spectrum to offer LTE services.

Wanting the all spectrum for themselves, and loathing the idea of added competition, AT&T will assign countless lobbyists tasked with stopping the Sprint deal, and the first step appears to scare monger about foreign ownership. Odd AT&T never showed concern previously about UK operator Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless? Or their own relationship with NTT DoCoMo (who helped deploy 3G in Hawaii)? Once they get their talking points, you can expect AT&T's paid friends in Congress to begin attacking the SoftBank deal using xenophobia as a central thesis.
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rrm
@tresourcegroup.com

rrm

Anon

ha ha@att

ha ha... damn att
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

Terabit

Member

Re: ha ha@att

Not to mention, it's not their fault that no American carrier is smart enough to expand abroad.

Most of our monopolies fail to grasp that 95% of the World's population lives 'outside' America.

Then again, AT&T is a Texan company, which by nature is oblivious to anything outside that state.

footballdude
Premium Member
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO

footballdude

Premium Member

Re: ha ha@att

said by Terabit:

Most of our monopolies fail to grasp that 95% of the World's population lives 'outside' America.

95% of the world's population can't afford $150 a month for phone service.
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

Terabit

Member

Re: ha ha@att

Are you be sarcastic regarding AT&T or do you actually believe the GOP propaganda that the rest of the Big Gov world is poor?

Corehhi
join:2002-01-28
Bluffton, SC

Corehhi

Member

Re: ha ha@att

said by Terabit:

Are you be sarcastic regarding AT&T or do you actually believe the GOP propaganda that the rest of the Big Gov world is poor?

Fact.....most of the world is poor.
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

1 recommendation

Terabit

Member

Re: ha ha@att

said by Corehhi:

said by Terabit:

Are you be sarcastic regarding AT&T or do you actually believe the GOP propaganda that the rest of the Big Gov world is poor?

Fact.....most of the world is poor.

For starters, how many foreigners from a developed country have you come across in SC... So of course your view of the world is limited to probably illegal aliens and faux news.

In terms of household income, SC is ranked 5th last, yet you want to talk about everyone else being "poor". Then again being out of touch with reality is a quintessential GOP voter trademark.

If it wasn't out of the scope of this thread, I'd list nations in terms of GDP per capita, median income, quality of life, and the best of all median wealth per adult; which we do not even rank in the top 10.

And that includes blue states, take them out and red states would probably be on par with Poland.

jazzy_
join:2004-01-27
Charleston, SC

jazzy_

Member

Re: ha ha@att

Don't be so ignorant. The USA has the highest disposable income in the world. Even beating out the few tiny population countries that end up with higher per capitas.
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

1 edit

1 recommendation

Terabit

Member

Re: ha ha@att

Oh the irony of anyone southern, particularly from South Carolina calling me ignorant, now that is funny. Have you actually lived in any other developed country? Both of you guys clearly have not, as you wouldn't dare open your mouth about money if you did.

No offense but I lived in many world leading cities abroad that had more people than the entire state of SC.

Let me get you out of the Southern Red state denial bubble. When you talk about money, $600K buys a mansion in most of SC; whereas, $600K barely buys a studio apartment in various developed Big Gov countries.

Anyone I know of who lives and works overseas, earns a six figure salary -- even blue collar workers. Now compare this to the median $39k 'household' income of a right to work state like SC. Yes household, not personal income, which is even less.

The last time the South was the envy of the world was a good 200+ years ago. Today, Southern Republicans have made it the butt of jokes all over the planet and its synonymous with poor, uneducated, uncouth, trailers, 3rd world infrastructure, ignorance, racism, backwards, gun-toting etc etc etc.

jazzy_
join:2004-01-27
Charleston, SC

jazzy_

Member

Re: ha ha@att

Sigh. You really haven't a clue. Of course SC has poverty especially in lots of rural areas. They're pretty much cut off from any kind of work that could make them a decent income. $600k will hardly even buy you a plot of land downtown Charleston or on the surrounding islands. You can head out of town and buy a house fairly cheap in the suburbs which is a good thing.

I've been to both Paris and Stockholm for extended stays not live. But that doesn't even matter for this discussion. I'm talking about stats. And the fact of the matter is that the USA is #1 in disposable income among OECD nations, Norway comes in at #2. Most of these countries you are talking about end up paying about 50-75% of their income in taxes.

And this backwards place came in #1 recently in Conde Nast Traveler US and World Rankings:

"At an awards ceremony Monday in New York, Charleston was named the country’s No. 1 tourist destination, winning the coveted Readers Choice Award held annually by Conde Nast Traveler. Displacing San Francisco—which held the title for 18 years—Charleston earned the honor based on evaluations in six categories: atmosphere/ambience, culture/sites, friendliness, lodging, restaurants and shopping."

Remove the blinders.
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

Terabit

Member

Re: ha ha@att

You guys are talking up SC, as if it's the Hamptons, yet you accuse me of having "blinders". Yes, SC has 'some' expensive areas, that is known as the exception, not the norm. As does almost every developed country, however, their expense ranges in the tens of millions.

In terms of 'median wealth per adult', a Credit Suisse report illustrates that America does not make the top ten; all Big Gov type nations take the spots - ironically.

Not to mention, they do indeed pay more in taxes but have the cutting-edge infrastructure, modern and clean cities, and world leading quality of life to show for it. Whereas, not a single US city ranks in the top 40 globally for livability any more; not a single Southern city in the top 80.

With the exception of Florida, no Republican city is world renowned for travel. In fact, an easy Google search brings up the various reputable sources illustrating this reality firsthand. Heck, not a single foreign airline flies into Charleston versus the '92' that service London.

Back to the original point, the rest of the world is not poor as you guys assume they are or talk-radio tells you they are.

Corehhi
join:2002-01-28
Bluffton, SC

Corehhi

Member

Re: ha ha@att

said by Terabit:

You guys are talking up SC, as if it's the Hamptons, yet you accuse me of having "blinders". Yes, SC has 'some' expensive areas, that is known as the exception, not the norm. As does almost every developed country, however, their expense ranges in the tens of millions.

So does the rest of the world. Hong Kong?? Singapore? London?? Just follow the money center banks all over the world that is where you find the rich people for the most part.

footballdude
Premium Member
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO

footballdude to Terabit

Premium Member

to Terabit
said by Terabit:

your view of the world is limited to probably illegal aliens and faux news.

FYI, as soon as you devolve into ad hominems like 'faux news', you immediately lose whatever credibility you started with. Make an argument without smarmy talking point insults and maybe you'll get some play. I stopped reading as soon as I hit the sentence above.

Corehhi
join:2002-01-28
Bluffton, SC

Corehhi to Terabit

Member

to Terabit
said by Terabit:

said by Corehhi:

said by Terabit:

Are you be sarcastic regarding AT&T or do you actually believe the GOP propaganda that the rest of the Big Gov world is poor?

Fact.....most of the world is poor.

For starters, how many foreigners from a developed country have you come across in SC... So of course your view of the world is limited to probably illegal aliens and faux news.

In terms of household income, SC is ranked 5th last, yet you want to talk about everyone else being "poor". Then again being out of touch with reality is a quintessential GOP voter trademark.

If it wasn't out of the scope of this thread, I'd list nations in terms of GDP per capita, median income, quality of life, and the best of all median wealth per adult; which we do not even rank in the top 10.

And that includes blue states, take them out and red states would probably be on par with Poland.

I'm from NY and have travel in Europe, South America and many of the islands. I don't think you have traveled much at all you just look at stats. There are countries with higher standards of living but they use guest workers for the crap jobs and they are not included in the stats. If you add up the people around the world most are poor period with pockets of rich people. China is a big government country and they have a billion people who are straight up dirt poor. If you are talking about the most develop countries you need to figure in the guest workers. There is no middle class in South America for the most part, just wealthy and poor. Europe is a much more class based system then I think you are a were of. For that matter I've had to squat over a hole in the floor to take a crap in a public toilet in Europe more than once so I guess they must not spend there money on public bathrooms. LOL.

footballdude
Premium Member
join:2002-08-13
Imperial, MO

footballdude to Terabit

Premium Member

to Terabit
said by Terabit:

Are you be sarcastic regarding AT&T or do you actually believe the GOP propaganda that the rest of the Big Gov world is poor?

From Wikipedia, average disposable income by country 2011:

1 United States 42,050
2 Ireland 41,170
3 Luxembourg 37,997
4 Switzerland 35,471
5 Australia 34,952
6 United Kingdom 33,513
7 Canada 32,662
8 Norway 31,101
9 South Korea 31,051
10 Netherlands 29,269
11 Austria 29,008
12 Sweden 28,301
13 Denmark 27,974
14 Japan 27,763
15 France 27,452
16 Spain 26,856
17 Finland 25,747
18 Belgium 25,642
19 Germany 24,174
20 Italy 23,194
21 Greece 21,352
22 Portugal 17,170
23 Czech Republic 15,115
24 Slovakia 14,701
25 Poland 14,389
26 Hungary 12,843

Note that you don't see any South American or African countries represented in the top 26. You also don't see China. How many billions of people then have less than $12k a year in disposable income? You really think people in those situations will be able to drop 2k a year on a phone?

Big Tex
@comcast.net

Big Tex to Terabit

Anon

to Terabit
said by Terabit:

Then again, AT&T is a Texan company, which by nature is oblivious to anything outside that state.

That's because nothing outside of Texas matters

I wouldn't be surprised if US carriers haven't expanded abroad because it's unlikely that in most places they would make the egregious profits that make in the US. It'll be interesting to see whether Softbank brings Japanese-style rates to the US market (assuming the deal goes through). They'll probably have to back it up with better coverage, though.
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

Terabit

Member

Re: ha ha@att

Good point. I think our carriers would go bankrupt in any other country as the people would lol at these charges and the services they offer for them here. Heck, typically any plan over $60 gets you the handset for free overseas.

Not to mention, they would face fine after fine in numerous countries that prohibit duopolies and locking customers and their handsets to one network. Their pricing must also include all fees and taxes, which AT&T and VZ would hate.
meowmeow
join:2003-07-26
Helena, MT

meowmeow to Big Tex

Member

to Big Tex
Japanese-style rates? Japanese rates are quite expensive. Japan isn't the UK...
firedrakes
join:2009-01-29
Arcadia, FL

firedrakes to rrm

Member

to rrm
funny

WiFiguru
To infinity... and beyond
Premium Member
join:2005-06-21
Seattle, WA

WiFiguru

Premium Member

Did...

Did AT&T forget that Verizon Wireless is 45% owned by Vodafone? Sounds like AT&T wants to eventually acquire Sprint when they start to crumble.
CSD8086
join:2004-03-12
US

CSD8086

Member

Re: Did...

Wasn't the old AT&T Wireless partially owned by NTT DoCoMo? Selective amnesia...
wingrider01
join:2006-07-25
Saint Louis, MO

wingrider01 to WiFiguru

Member

to WiFiguru
ATT "whining" what about those other carriers that starting yelling when at wanted to buy t-mobile? Woult the author of this consider that "whining" also? They bith are doing the same thing so it should be

WiFiguru
To infinity... and beyond
Premium Member
join:2005-06-21
Seattle, WA

WiFiguru

Premium Member

Re: Did...

said by wingrider01:

ATT "whining" what about those other carriers that starting yelling when at wanted to buy t-mobile? Woult the author of this consider that "whining" also? They bith are doing the same thing so it should be

Yeah, but the other carriers had good reason to "whine". AT&T acquiring T-Mobile would eliminate competition in the United States Wireless market. This Sprint/Softbank deal will grow competition within the US Wireless market.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina to wingrider01

Member

to wingrider01
You missed a key point, neighbor. The T-Mobile situation was a takeover. The Sprint situation is a change in majority ownership.

One is like Wal-Mart buying Target vs. Samsung buying a majority stake in Target. Samsung is huge but as far as I know, they don't have a retail organization in the US. A Samsung acquisition of Target doesn't affect consumer choice even if they eventually rename it to Tarsung or Samget.
openbox9
Premium Member
join:2004-01-26
71144

openbox9 to WiFiguru

Premium Member

to WiFiguru
Yes, but there is a difference between majority and minority ownership.

battleop
join:2005-09-28
00000

1 recommendation

battleop

Member

I hate AT&T like everyone else but....

If Sprint can cry about AT&T buying T-Mobile then AT&T certainly has a right to cry about SoftBank buying Sprint.
mogamer
join:2011-04-20
Royal Oak, MI

1 recommendation

mogamer

Member

Re: I hate AT&T like everyone else but....

said by battleop:

If Sprint can cry about AT&T buying T-Mobile then AT&T certainly has a right to cry about SoftBank buying Sprint.

Sure they can cry, but they're full of BS. ATT buying T-Mobile would have eliminated a competitor. The Japanese buying Sprint actually stregthens one. Big difference there.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: I hate AT&T like everyone else but....

att is business, about making money, not seeing their competitors stronger, how that makes them full of bs?

now if you said, because they eliminated $10 1000 text plan due to lack of competition then I agree.

myosh
join:2001-05-03
Cupertino, CA

1 recommendation

myosh

Member

Re: I hate AT&T like everyone else but....

said by chgo_man99:

att is business, about making money, not seeing their competitors stronger, how that makes them full of bs?

now if you said, because they eliminated $10 1000 text plan due to lack of competition then I agree.

But what mogamer said is true. AT&T wanted to eliminate a competitor in the U.S. market in buying T-Mobile. SoftBank does not operate in the U.S. so it's investment doesn't eliminate a competitor but instead is strengthening Sprint. While I understand why AT&T doesn't like it, as consumers we should be loving this deal.
chgo_man99
join:2010-01-01
Sunnyvale, CA

chgo_man99

Member

Re: I hate AT&T like everyone else but....

true, but it still does not make att BS because it sought to eliminate competitor. Thats what business is about. Though of course, the deal att sought was unfair for us as customers.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

rradina

Member

Re: I hate AT&T like everyone else but....

True. ATT has been BS a long time.
betam4x
join:2002-10-12
Nashville, TN

betam4x to myosh

Member

to myosh
Yep, and if Sprint plays their cards right, they could become a formidable competitor. Can you imagine if Sprint actually had the capital to build out their network and compete properly? Right now everyone I talk to hates Sprint due to their lousy coverage. Sprint could easily fix that.
Expand your moderator at work
rblizz
join:2001-12-16
North Richland Hills, TX

rblizz to chgo_man99

Member

to chgo_man99
said by chgo_man99:

att is business, about making money, not seeing their competitors stronger, how that makes them full of bs?

Oh, they're free to whine, but there's no law against a competitor getting stronger -- and they know it. There are, however, anti-trust laws that keep one competitor from eliminating a viable competitor.

AT&T's attempt at FUD here will most likely be unsuccessful as it is obviously transparent and self-serving.
rradina
join:2000-08-08
Chesterfield, MO

1 recommendation

rradina

Member

Re: I hate AT&T like everyone else but....

It shouldn't be successful but don't underestimate the ability of ATT's lobby machine to turn SoftBank into Huawei. Although Americans probably trust Japan more than China, it wasn't that long ago that Japan was where China is today. Unlike the mostly dead generation of folks who still have emotions regarding Pearl Harbor, there are lots of still-living and voting constituents that lost jobs to the Japanese complete takeover of the electronics industry and decimation of the auto industry. It might not take much to raise the temperature of those smoldering embers. It may not matter since this will likely play out after the election. Regardless of what happens, few will remember in two years.
mogamer
join:2011-04-20
Royal Oak, MI

mogamer to chgo_man99

Member

to chgo_man99
said by chgo_man99:

att is business, about making money, not seeing their competitors stronger, how that makes them full of bs?

now if you said, because they eliminated $10 1000 text plan due to lack of competition then I agree.

Their press release was full of bs.

SrsBsns
join:2001-08-30
Oklahoma City, OK

SrsBsns to chgo_man99

Member

to chgo_man99
said by chgo_man99:

att is business, about making money, not seeing their competitors stronger, how that makes them full of bs?

now if you said, because they eliminated $10 1000 text plan due to lack of competition then I agree.

The problem with AT&T is they don't want to be the best wireless company. They want to be the only wireless company.

Subaru
1-3-2-4
Premium Member
join:2001-05-31
Greenwich, CT

Subaru to mogamer

Premium Member

to mogamer
said by mogamer:

said by battleop:

If Sprint can cry about AT&T buying T-Mobile then AT&T certainly has a right to cry about SoftBank buying Sprint.

Sure they can cry, but they're full of BS. ATT buying T-Mobile would have eliminated a competitor. The Japanese buying Sprint actually stregthens one. Big difference there.

This!
meowmeow
join:2003-07-26
Helena, MT

meowmeow to mogamer

Member

to mogamer
"The Japanese" - we're not talking a government, we're talking a company. And SoftBank is a terrible one. It's not NTT DoCoMo we're talking here. It's Japan's poor coverage, low-budget, low-speed, constantly congested carrier. Just like Sprint, LOL.
wingrider01
join:2006-07-25
Saint Louis, MO

wingrider01 to mogamer

Member

to mogamer
and moved more taxable infrastructure outside the US borders, that in itself is a major issue

FFH5
Premium Member
join:2002-03-03
Tavistock NJ

1 recommendation

FFH5 to battleop

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to battleop
said by battleop:

If Sprint can cry about AT&T buying T-Mobile then AT&T certainly has a right to cry about SoftBank buying Sprint.

Yes, payback is a bitch. Sprint went to town on AT&T and made an enemy. Now AT&T is returning the favor. And if the US legislators hate the idea of Huawei doing business in the US, they may be persuaded to hate the idea of Softbank moving in.

••••••

vpoko
Premium Member
join:2003-07-03
Boston, MA

vpoko to battleop

Premium Member

to battleop
One big difference: Sprint's whining worked, AT&T's won't.

••••
SunnyD
join:2009-03-20
Madison, AL

SunnyD

Member

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

That is all.
tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Brooklyn, NY

tmc8080

Member

any day now..

so, in 6 months we're gonna see cheaper wireless rates?
believe that one and I've got a bridge to sell you..

••••

Mizzat
Will post for thumbs
Premium Member
join:2003-05-03
Atlanta, GA

Mizzat

Premium Member

Not unlike Sprint

Gotta laugh as Sprint complains about everything every other competitor does.

Mike
Mod
join:2000-09-17
Pittsburgh, PA
·Verizon FiOS

Mike

Mod

Looking at Softbank's site

Click for full size
I was looking up Softbank's Japanese plans to see what they offer and what they're about.

I noticed this. Anyone else have a minor case of dyslexia too?

•••••••

meeeeeeeeee
join:2003-07-13
Newburgh, NY

meeeeeeeeee

Member

Don't ever forget

That AT&T is an Amerikan company, it's even in their name (although spelled the way that other America spelled it). We should BLINDLY support them even if they constantly rip us off with incorrect bills, hidden mystery charges, metered Internet and prices that are among the highest in the world. It is our DUTY as Amerikan Sheeple to buy everything they say just as we buy the stories out of Washington about terrorists and kiddie-pornographers lurking behind every bush. Damn it...Be Amerikan... Drink the koolaid!
Terabit
join:2008-12-19

Terabit

Member

Re: Don't ever forget

Inverting to 90 degrees under the guise of capitalism is the 2012 American way. While the board and shareholders bath in cash, and use the lack of competition and American ignorance against us, we are forced to squeal like a pig and just take it.

meeeeeeeeee
join:2003-07-13
Newburgh, NY

meeeeeeeeee

Member

Re: Don't ever forget

No one is forced. They willingly bleet like good sheeple and drink their koolaid when it's passed out. Stalin and Ned Beatty would be proud.

kara
@comcast.net

kara

Anon

let them keep whining

HAHAHA
BiggA
Premium Member
join:2005-11-23
Central CT

BiggA

Premium Member

A ways to go...

Sprint has a long ways to go before their network is as big as AT&T's, but maybe they will pull it off with some Softbank money.

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium Member
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

KrK

Premium Member

Karl called it

We knew this was coming.

Personally, I hope Softbank kicks their asses with a revitalized Sprint with a strong LTE build-out and good prices.

Go Softbank!

linicx
Caveat Emptor
Premium Member
join:2002-12-03
United State

linicx

Premium Member

Re: Karl called it

It had to happen! I hope Sprint is successful.