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    palmofnapalmSam Rutherford
    11/05/19 2:40pm

    The big fear for consumers is how T-Mobile and Sprint’s merger could negatively impact the price of wireless plans across the country.

    I think that’s only half the analysis though. Sure, ignoring all else, I’d rather these two companies remain separate, but if Verizon and AT&T already have almost 70% of the market between them, it seems like T-Mobile and Sprint wouldn’t be able to meaningfully compete for the remaining 30% unless they teamed up.

    The real answer here isn’t just blocking this merger, it’s breaking up Verizon.

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      IAmBrettpalmofnapalm
      11/05/19 4:57pm

      That’s part of the rationale for this, although I still think the merger is a bad idea. T-Mobile’s efforts after the blocked AT&T merger mostly took market share away from Sprint, not AT&T nor Verizon. They seem to be entrenched at the top. 

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      Dixie-Flatlinepalmofnapalm
      11/05/19 5:19pm

      In that 70% that isn’t Tmobile/Sprint, there’s around a 10-12% conglomeration of all the wireless subsidiaries (Trac Phone, Boost, Cricket, Mint, etc). Verizon isn’t that far ahead of AT&T, so I don’t see how breaking them up could be a valid argument.

      As of right now, Tmobile and Sprint exist as the cost-cutting leaders of the top tier providers. That’s their niche. Merging them together is going to remove any incentive they have to remain in that niche. 

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    IAmBrettSam Rutherford
    11/05/19 4:53pm

    This really sucks. For whatever reason, having four or more major providers seems to be important - at least one of them will try a competitive strategy offering benefits to the consumer that end up shifting the whole business in a positive direction as a whole (such as T-Mobile deciding to blow up 2-year contracts and re-open access to Unlimited Data plans after their attempt at a merger to AT&T was blocked).

    But with three major providers or fewer, they can more effectively “not compete” with each other on pricing and services. Don’t be shocked if Unlimited Data Plans start disappearing again with the 5G roll-out.

    Yes, yes, Dish is supposed to be that budding 4th provider. You know what would have been a more effective way of doing that? Just having Dish absorb Sprint. 

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      City HunterIAmBrett
      11/05/19 6:34pm

      I think Sprint was on the verge of collapse.  I don’t mind them joining forces if it makes T-mobile stronger.  There are other services out there, like Google Fi and Comcast mobile that could still keep things mixed up a bit.

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    dmay1Sam Rutherford
    11/05/19 5:12pm

    I did not know Verizon had such a massive market share.

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      City Hunterdmay1
      11/05/19 6:36pm

      I know right? They aren’t exactly the cheapest.

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    rezzykSam Rutherford
    11/05/19 2:36pm

    Shit, now I can’t use the excuse of “Let’s see how your network is after you merge!” to the screaming Sprint guys at the mall

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      Badprenuprezzyk
      11/05/19 3:21pm

      That is my big concern as someone who already has T Mobile. I don't even know how network coverage could get worse after a merger like this but if anyone could manage to fuck it up, it would be Sprint. 

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      rezzykBadprenup
      11/05/19 5:43pm

      My understanding has been that Sprint is circling the drain - their network, equipment, etc is not up to snuff and if they didn’t merge with T-Mobile they were going to be SOL in a few years (I heard about this before the big 5G push, so I don’t know if it’s changed). Basically I think they are going to use T-Mobile’s network and quietly shut theirs down as quickly as possible.

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    TheSillyManSam Rutherford
    11/05/19 2:42pm

    Most important question for after the merger. Will my friend still get T-Mobile tuesdays so I can get 4 dollar movie tickets through him?!!?!!??!? 

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      BadprenupTheSillyMan
      11/05/19 3:16pm

      Maybe, but I’ve had T Mobile for like 2 years and rarely see the cheap tickets as an option anymore. Normally if I see cheap tickets through T Mobile Tuesday it is for movies that are so bad they would need to be paying me to get me to go see them.

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      TheSillyManBadprenup
      11/05/19 3:43pm

      Oh yea its definitely only for movies that I wouldnt see otherwise.

      Reply