AT&T acquires T-Mobile

Last week, Dallas based company AT&T unveiled its agreement to purchase T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion. This acquisition will make AT&T the largest network, with over 130 million customers.

According to ABC, AT&T claims that "it would be able to bring a high-speed 4G connection to 95 percent of the U.S. population."

So, what does this mean for customers?

AT&T says that it is planning to revamp T-Mobile's cell phone towers from 3G services to 4G, according to AP. This will result in T-Mobile customers having to replace their current phones for AT&T's existing 3G frequency in order to receive service; a procedure that is planned to occur during the normal phone upgrade process.  According to AT&T's head of wireless and consumer services, Ralph de la Vega, the entire process will be completed over several years.

During a conference call on Monday with investors, AT&T Chairman and CEO, Randall Stephenson, said that the acquisition will extend services to customers. He stated that advanced LTE capabilities will be brought to virtually every community across the United States.

"We have achieved the best solution for our company, our customers and shareholders," CEO of Deutsche Telekom, René Obermann, said in a press release by T-Mobile USA. "We will be able to focus more on the opportunities of a modern infrastructure in Germany and Europe, as well as in Internet products that accompanies to our strategy "fix, transform and innovate."

Students currently using T-Mobile were agitated to hear about the potential merge.

"As a T-Mobile customer for the past five years, I believe they are very personable and customer friendly and offer great assistance and plans to their customers," Richland student Obaid Khan said. "I worked at places that carried AT&T and personally dislike it with a passion. I know how they run and they run a very monopoly style business."

Other students commented that they didn't mind the merge as long as it doesn't involve an increase in prices.

Some of the pros of the potential merge include: better network coverage of areas that previously were economically unfeasible, faster and wider broadband coverage, and more phone choices for current T-mobile customers, including the iPhone. The cons include: fewer pricing plans, job cuts for T-Mobile employees, no more unlimited data plans, and one less wireless company for phone manufacturers to sell their products to.

If the deal is approved by federal regulators, it is expected to close in a year.