merger

Hearing date set in AT&T, DOJ case

A federal judge has kicked off the hearing process on the Department of Justice's complaint against AT&T's T-Mobile bid.

Judge Ellen Huvelle has ordered AT&T and the Justice Department to be present at a hearing on September 21. The conference will allow the parties to "discuss the prospects for settlement," according to The New York Times, which first reported on the hearing.

The possibility of a settlement being struck between the Justice Department and AT&T has been rumored as of late. Last week, Reuters reported that AT&T might agree to divest up to 25 percent of T-Mobile USA's assets, … Read more

Sprint files suit to block AT&T's T-Mobile merger

Add Sprint to the list of big names choosing to speak now rather than hold their peace on AT&T and T-Mobile's dreams of corporate matrimony.

Saying it would violate the Clayton Anti-Trust Act, Sprint today filed a lawsuit opposing the deal before the same Washington, D.C.-based federal judge who received a related suit filed last week by the Department of Justice.

"Sprint opposes AT&T's proposed takeover of T-Mobile," said Sprint Vice President of Litigation Susan Haller in a statement. "With today's legal action, we are continuing that advocacy … Read more

Deutsche Telekom: We are entitled to a breakup fee

Deutsche Telekom said today it would be entitled to a breakup fee if AT&T's planned purchase of T-Mobile USA falls apart, refuting an earlier report that it could potentially end up with nothing.

Reuters, citing anonymous sources, reported yesterday that AT&T may be off the hook for paying a $6 billion breakup fee to Deutsche Telekom under certain conditions. But Deutsche Telekom said today that isn't the case.

"The story from Reuters misstated the facts," Deutsche Telekom representative Andreas Fuchs told CNET today. "The breakup fee was agreed to precisely to … Read more

Friday Poll: AT&T + T-Mobile = No love?

The AT&T and T-Mobile merger is like waiting for "The Bachelorette" follow-up show.

The two companies are engaged, but will outside forces tear them apart? Will the wedding ever happen? I can't stand the suspense.

The Department of Justice is putting its foot down on the merger. It filed suit earlier this week to block the $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T.

The feds are worried that the merger runs afoul of antitrust laws and could hamper the sort of competition that egged T-Mobile on to bring us important geeky things like the world's first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1.

I'm sensing some mixed emotions from consumers. For some, bigger is better. For others, this could signal higher prices and less choice.

So let's play pretend. Pretend the AT&T and T-Mobile merger goes through. After all, the Justice Department suit isn't a death knell.

Are you going to host a merger party to celebrate? Will you mourn the absorption of plucky T-Mobile into the Borg collective of AT&T? Vote in our poll and let us hear more about it in the comments.… Read more

AT&T looks to make a deal with DOJ on T-Mobile (report)

AT&T could divest up to 25 percent of T-Mobile's assets to keep its $39 billion bid to buy the No. 4 carrier alive, news service Reuters reported today.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice filed suit to block AT&T from buying T-Mobile USA, which is owned by the German phone company Deutsche Telekom. AT&T vowed to fight the lawsuit, but sources close to the deal who didn't want to be named told Reuters that AT&T is also trying to line up more meetings with the Justice Department to … Read more

Without AT&T, what's next for T-Mobile? (Ask Maggie)

The Department of Justice doesn't want to see AT&T end up with T-Mobile, but would it stop Sprint Nextel from making such an acquisition? What about MetroPCS or Leap Wireless?

Earlier this week, the DOJ stunned many people in the wireless industry when it filed suit against AT&T to stop its $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA. The agency said that allowing AT&T to buy T-Mobile would likely result in higher prices and a loss of innovation in the wireless market.

The news has sparked speculation about what will happen to T-Mobile if … Read more

T-Mobile sans AT&T faces big 4G gap

The Justice Department is looking to put the kibosh on AT&T's $39 billion deal for T-Mobile. So what does this mean for T-Mobile, the smallest and weakest of the four national wireless carriers?

The future of T-Mobile is the big unanswered question after the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday seeking to block AT&T's merger.

It is clear that that the Justice Department wants T-Mobile to remain an independent competitor in the market. In its lawsuit to block the merger the Justice Department called T-Mobile a "disruptive&… Read more

What DOJ's decision means for AT&T-T-Mobile merger (FAQ)

Since late March of this year, AT&T's proposed $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile has dominated the U.S. wireless industry. Customers, outside interest groups, and government officials were quick to choose sides, but once AT&T filed its initial papers with the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice in April, the deal was put in the hands of federal regulators. And today, the Feds answered back when the Justice Department filed a lawsuit (PDF) in federal court to block the merger.

Though the Justice Department's decision may sound like a death … Read more

The 404 894: Where we're touched by a tablet (podcast)

Samsclub.com finally delivered my HP TouchPad yesterday, and I can already feel the drops of regret bubbling up--listen to today's episode of The 404 Podcast before you invest in HP's next round of $99 tablets.

It's not all complaints, though--we'll also tell you what to expect from HP in the coming months, discuss the latest news in the Dept. of Justice vs. AT&T ruling, and wag our collective finger at Gawker for its unapologetic nerd-baiting.

The 404 Digest for Episode 894

HP to bring back TouchPad for last production run. Justice Department to block AT&T's T-Mobile deal. My brief OkCupid affair with a world champion Magic: The Gathering player.

Episode 894 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Why the DOJ means business on AT&T and T-Mobile

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in federal court today that could end the $39 billion merger between AT&T and T-Mobile USA.

The Justice Department said in its filing that the proposed $39 billion transaction would substantially lessen competition in the wireless market, resulting in higher prices, poorer quality services, fewer choices, and fewer innovative products.

The agency said the elimination of T-Mobile as a competitor would be particularly harmful to subscribers in rural areas, where there are fewer players to choose from, and among low-income individuals.

"T-Mobile has been an important source of … Read more