Sprint Reportedly Bowing Out of T-Mobile Bid (was "Sprint offer" and "Iliad" threads)

[MacinJosh]

Has anyone thought for one moment that this is all marketing ploys, and a distraction from the real target? Being that I still feel the chance of a joint venture between T-Mobile and Sprint like EE in the UK between T-Mobile UK & Orange UK, I think someone is trying to sidetrack the Sprint haters so they can finish hashing out the details. And there is always the possibility that it could be a tri-venture with Dish in the mix. We just don't know. I know everyone is all crazy over a merger, but maybe that's what they want us to think.

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 5S using Tapatalk 2

[Fraydog]

http://webcast.softbankmobile.co.jp/en/conference/20140605/index.html#__utma=184678699.611962613.1401943021.1401943021.1401943021.1&__utmb=184678699.4.9.1401943082745&__utmc=184678699&__utmx=-&__utmz=184678699.1401943021.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=114814343

 

 

Completely unrelated but this SoftBank press conference in Japan is crazy. Pepper the talking robot.     

[Destroyallcubes]

So I'm curious if this would be possible, but if sprint bought T-Mobile, and was forces to sell spectrum, couldn't they just sell to the regional carriers, in turn for them to apart of the CCA/Net america alliance, basically being able to use the spectrum still but not in control. So they wouldn't actually have an even larger portfolio of spectrum, but keep access to use it in certain locations. Plus it would help out regional carriers grow and possible merge into another 4th carrier ? Any thoughts or did that make no sense lol?

[ericdabbs]

Exactly. Both companies successfully petitioned the FCC to set some friendly rules with regards to the 600MHz auction. Instead of flushing that down the toilet, why not get that out of the way and then see about making a move.

 

I will be so mad if this merger goes through given that that the 600 MHz spectrum auction rules were set for Sprint AND Tmobile to benefit by allowing them to obtain some 600 MHz spectrum

 

I mean Sprint and Tmobile merging doesn't change the fact that they don't have that much sub <1 GHz spectrum but the FCC will have to revisit their stance on these rules given that Sprint/Tmobile will have a ton of mid band spectrum even after the divestitures.  I was really hoping the 600 MHz auction would occur first and both Sprint and Tmobile as separate companies would gobble up a decent amount of 600 MHz spectrum before merging.  Now this idea goes down the toilet.  Seems like one of those moves that I must critique Son about especially on the timing of this proposal which is not a good move on his part.  Son seems too impatient to try to merge the 2 companies.

[ericdabbs]

So I'm curious if this would be possible, but if sprint bought T-Mobile, and was forces to sell spectrum, couldn't they just sell to the regional carriers, in turn for them to apart of the CCA/Net america alliance, basically being able to use the spectrum still but not in control. So they wouldn't actually have an even larger portfolio of spectrum, but keep access to use it in certain locations. Plus it would help out regional carriers grow and possible merge into another 4th carrier ? Any thoughts or did that make no sense lol?

 

Yes if I were Sprint and needed to divest some spectrum, I would sell the EBS spectrum to Dish and some PCS/AWS spectrum to the regional carriers.  Verizon and AT&T don't need any spectrum since Verizon has the lions share of AWS spectrum with the SpectrumCo deal and AT&T has both WCS and Leap spectrum.

[bigsnake49]

Sprint and T-Mobile are also considering forming a joint venture to bid together in upcoming auctions of wireless airwaves, the people familiar with the matter said.

 

http://online.wsj.com/articles/sprint-t-mobile-generally-agree-on-merger-terms-1401919219

 

Instead of merging?

[sbolen]

Just an observation:

• Sprint's corporate color (HEX value) is: #ffe100
• T-Mobile's corporate color (HEX value) is: #e20074 (don't sue us for the Magenta, TMUS!)

If you were to combine the two colors:

 

The color in the middle is Verizon's corporate color (HEX value): #ff0000

 

[MacinJosh]

Sprint and T-Mobile are also considering forming a joint venture to bid together in upcoming auctions of wireless airwaves, the people familiar with the matter said.

 

http://online.wsj.com/articles/sprint-t-mobile-generally-agree-on-merger-terms-1401919219

 

Instead of merging?

That's what I've been trying to say!

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 5S using Tapatalk 2

[bigsnake49]

That's what I've been trying to say!

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 5S using Tapatalk 2

 

it would have been a much better proposition if they did it before both went on the LTE deployment binge...

[jamisonshaw125]

Well. whatever happens I just hope it happens soon. 

[MacinJosh]

it would have been a much better proposition if they did it before both went on the LTE deployment binge...

No, it isn't always better. It's still easy to set up a combined LTE network.

 

 

Sent from Josh's iPhone 5S using Tapatalk 2

[digiblur]

Imagine if they put that $$$$ towards network expansion and bit of marketing that is dumbed down for the masses.  Simple commercials without all the talking elephants, giraffes, thugs, hippies, etc, just some average folks.  People love maps so show them a map points all over with new coverage.  Zoom into the point quickly showing some people posting/viewing videos, pics, listening to music on their phones with the quickness.  Then you can adopt the Done. thing again.  "More Coverage.  More Speed. That's Sprint speak.  Done."

[TheForce627]

Imagine if they put that $$$$ towards network expansion and bit of marketing that is dumbed down for the masses. Simple commercials without all the talking elephants, giraffes, thugs, hippies, etc, just some average folks. People love maps so show them a map points all over with new coverage. Zoom into the point quickly showing some people posting/viewing videos, pics, listening to music on their phones with the quickness. Then you can adopt the Done. thing again. "More Coverage. More Speed. That's Sprint speak. Done."

Thank you!!!! This money is better off spent adding coverage, increasing density, and better advertising.

[sbolen]

 

Bloomberg News previously reported a deal would probably be announced in June or July. It’s possible a deal announcement could slip into August, one of the people said. If no deal is reached by then, the sides are likely to stop negotiations for several years and wait for a new U.S. presidential administration, the person said.

 

Well, for those of you worried about the merger, this Bloomberg News article mentions a nice 'out' (emphasis mine).

[JeffDTD]

Son is so wealthy, the risk of losing 1B is well worth the reward of a merged company in his eyes. Betting 1B on a play that could be wildly profitable is equivalent to one of us taking, oh, say 2% of what we're worth to a casino.  And whats to lose?  Well, if his dreams of a merged company don't play out, Sprint's spectrum holdings and potential still make it valuable enough to dump, perhaps leaving him with little or no loss. There is another billionaire out there with hoards of liquidity just dying to make a play... 

[centermedic]

Imagine if they put that $$$$ towards network expansion and bit of marketing that is dumbed down for the masses.  Simple commercials without all the talking elephants, giraffes, thugs, hippies, etc, just some average folks.  People love maps so show them a map points all over with new coverage.  Zoom into the point quickly showing some people posting/viewing videos, pics, listening to music on their phones with the quickness.  Then you can adopt the Done. thing again.  "More Coverage.  More Speed. That's Sprint speak.  Done."

This is what I have been saying from the beginning. Apparently it is a moot point now.

[ericdabbs]

Sprint and T-Mobile are also considering forming a joint venture to bid together in upcoming auctions of wireless airwaves, the people familiar with the matter said.

 

http://online.wsj.com/articles/sprint-t-mobile-generally-agree-on-merger-terms-1401919219

 

Instead of merging?

 

I doubt Son wants to form a joint venture with Tmobile just to bid on upcoming spectrum auctions.  Son is very intrigued with Tmobile and how it is transformed itself and the industry in just a short time and thinks a combination with Sprint will help form a solid #3 carrier.  I think deep down Son feels that Tmobile's turnaround resembles his own journey when he had to revamp the Softbank brand with Vodafone Japan back in 2006 and wants to help Sprint turnaround itself to be a carrier that is not associated with constant negativity.

[derrph]

For some reason this merger well possible merger makes sprint in my eyes feel unattractive now. I feel like Sprint can make the same waves that T-Mobile has but I do not think that Son wants to put in that kind of work in repairing Sprints Image but thats just my thinking but I could be wrong. 

[bigsnake49]

For some reason this merger well possible merger makes sprint in my eyes feel unattractive now. I feel like Sprint can make the same waves that T-Mobile has but I do not think that Son wants to put in that kind of work in repairing Sprints Image but thats just my thinking but I could be wrong. 

 

Thank you!!!! This money is better off spent adding coverage, increasing density, and better advertising.

It's not an either/or proposition. They will finish building both networks, although band 41 buildout might slow down a bit since 20x20 AWS is rather lightly used.

[Feech]

I'm not an expect on this matter so I'm going to ask because I have seen many of you write on the subjects of frequencies, radios, and blah blah blah.  I'm sure a bunch of us went thru the Nextel fiasco and when you look back at what some of the folks that worked there said about the failings it seemed to fall into 2 categories.  Culture and Technology.  If I am wrong please say so.  I'm hoping that the culture part can be worked out this time but from a technology stand point can someone explain what this will look like if this gets completed?  Is it just a matter of new phones with chips to take advantage of all frequencies on both networks? Is it just LTE frequencies the chips would use.  We're just speculating but this is what we do right?

[WiWavelength]

Imagine if they put that $$$$ towards network expansion and bit of marketing that is dumbed down for the masses.  Simple commercials without all the talking elephants, giraffes, thugs, hippies, etc, just some average folks.  People love maps so show them a map points all over with new coverage.  Zoom into the point quickly showing some people posting/viewing videos, pics, listening to music on their phones with the quickness.  Then you can adopt the Done. thing again.  "More Coverage.  More Speed. That's Sprint speak.  Done."

Thank you!!!! This money is better off spent adding coverage, increasing density, and better advertising.

 

And that would be a risky investment with no guaranteed return.  Sure, Sprint could theoretically throw the $30 billion at CAPEX instead to expand the network greatly.  But what if that would attract away from VZW, AT&T, and T-Mobile only an additional three million subs?  Great, Sprint just spent $10,000 per sub to acquire them.  That would be a poor return on the investment and might be enough finally to sink Sprint for good.  Thus, you can see why Sprint wants the scale automatically gained from T-Mobile's 40 million subs.

 

AJ

[bigsnake49]

Sprint (NYSE: S) CEO Dan Hesse said he does not see the carrier going head-to-head in the near-term with the likes of Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and AT&T (NYSE: T) in the market for wired home broadband Internet access. Hesse's comments, made during a Sprint meeting with industry analysts and relayed by an analyst, stand in contrast to the long-term vision of Sprint Chairman and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, who has said Sprint could eventually compete in and shake up the wired broadband market in the U.S.

Read more: Sprint's Hesse says there is no plan to attack wired broadband market in near-term - FierceWireless http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/sprints-hesse-says-there-no-plan-attack-wired-broadband-market-near-term/2014-06-05#ixzz33ncq77kb 

 

The right hand does not know what the left is doing? Or is one talking about the short term whereas the other one is talking about the long term?

Edited June 5, 2014 by bigsnake49

[taylorcox75]

Would Sprint have them operate separately and take advantagebof the spectrum, or rehaul all the tmobike sites to NV? Sprint obviously is cdma and T-Mobile is GSM so how would the consumer benefit?

[jeffcarp]

I don't see any conflict in those statements at all. It seems that Hesse said nothing in the near term and the comments posted above say that Son clearly said both the words long term and eventually. Seems like they are trying to make something out of nothing.

[jeffcarp]

Would Sprint have them operate separately and take advantagebof the spectrum, or rehaul all the tmobike sites to NV? Sprint obviously is cdma and T-Mobile is GSM so how would the consumer benefit?

Wouldn't it be the spectrum itself that is viewed as the most valuable and the most long-term strategic advantage? I wouldn't think that the technology deployed in that spectrum is necessarily as big of a deal. Network Vision seemed to show us that with billions of dollars and 3 years you can convert about anything from one technology to another so maybe they just view GSM/CDMA as a short term hurdle to get to a much longer term goal.