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[MaxPC] AT&T: T-Mobile Customers Will Have to Replace Phones

4K views 114 replies 73 participants last post by  Born2rade 
#1 ·
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AT&T is letting slip more details of their post-acquisition plans for T-Mobile as time goes on. Up on offer this evening is the degree to which T-Mobile's spectrum will be used for AT&T's 4G LTE network. The long and short of it is, that T-Mobile customers with 3G phones will need to replace those handsets in order to continue receiving data after the deal is done.

T-Mobile's AWS 3G cellular bands will become part of AT&T's LTE network. So all those towers running HSPA+ for Tmo, will move to 4G. AT&T was unclear on just how the transition to AT&T 3G would work for T-Mobile subscriber, or how fast the changeover would go. AT&T CE Ralph de la Vega said in an interview that the transition would be, "done over time, in a way that's good for customers and good for AT&T."

We're a little concerned about customers buying a phone from Tmo on a two year contract considering this news. It is possible that AT&T will simply offer a midrange phone to users for free when the time comes to flip the switch on T-Mobile towers. How do you think the changeover will go?
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#5 ·
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Originally Posted by KorgothOfBarbaria;12817431
Absolutely!! I JUST got my motorola cliq month and a half ago! I really disliked AT&T and they way they handle their business from long ago but now I really hate AT&T which will ultimately make me switch to some crappy side service that no one has heard of.
simple, cancel your contract with tmobile. you dont have to stay if they change. you can opt out without early termination
 
#6 ·
The replacement of T-mobiles 4G will take a minimum of 2 years by then most people will be able to renew their contracts anyway, and lets face it most of us buy new phones whenever we can, AT&T is just making it easier.
 
#7 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Cerberus;12817580
The replacement of T-mobiles 4G will take a minimum of 2 years by then most people will be able to renew their contracts anyway, and lets face it most of us buy new phones whenever we can, AT&T is just making it easier.
but how many people do you think went with Tmobile for a reason over at&t??im betting 90% could have went to at&t but didnt want to, now they have no option but to go to another carrier.
 
#14 ·
It's amazing how many people didn't see this coming. AT&T and T-mobile operate on 2 different frequencies. Why force manufactures of AT&T phones (post merger) to use quad-band chips when they can just force all existing T-mobile customers to upgrade within 2 years to the AT&T frequency.
 
#16 ·
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Destroyer;12817462
simple, cancel your contract with tmobile. you dont have to stay if they change. you can opt out without early termination
Lucky for me I'm not on a contract with them. It actually expired 3 years ago...but we kept T mobile since it was the best price for a family deal with 4 lines on it, hence why I'm so pissed right now.
 
#19 ·
this actually works great for me (i think). i have an unlocked iphone 3gs 32gb. i've been using it on t-mobile's service for about 6 months now. once at&t forces t-mobile users to go to their phones/services, i can revert the phone back to it's original state in itunes. then i'll update to the newest iOS and boom, on board with at&t without having to lose my phone or buy a new one. the only thing i'm not too sure about is the sim card since the one i have now is for t-mobile.
 
#20 ·
hmm... i am thinking Verizon is going to gain more customers over this forced replacement thing. don't want to be under AT&T? Buy Verizon phones!
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#25 ·
Well, if they're forcing us to switch phones, they have to facilitate it with no cost to the customer, and an "equal or lesser value" sort of situation for those of us who paid premium for a smartphone.

In that case, I won't care; just means a free smartphone out of the market available whenever this happens.
 
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