After several takeover attempts and one failed merger with AT&T, T-Mobile (T-Mo) has been a target in a bunch of sights for a while now. The latest from Sprint…
Sprint… … Really ? they do not even use the same phone technology ???
It goes without saying that’s a merger that should never happen as Verizon should never had been able to acquire AllTel. It’s just anti-competitive.
As I always say, those that can not innovate, acquire those that can.
I say things are looking up at T-Mo and hereby award them the best of 2013 in competitive practices.
Why?
With each of the three big cell-co’s having no competition except for AT&T and T-Mobile because of the similar technology used in their networks. Meaning, you can not take a phone used on sprint network and use it on the others even if the phone is unlocked.
T-Mo has been on top of their game in actually implementing LTE data networking. They are not touting their stuff, just doing it.
At the same time, they have broke the proverbial ICE by opening up handsets “unlocked” when not in contract. Allowing freedom to pick a new network when they fail to live up to what was promised in a one sided contract they they continue to change.
This promotes the idea of deliver the goods or I will go where they are. Instead of Promise the goods, get them under locked contract and deliver them by the time the contract is up.
When I bought my first iPhone at AT&T, when they first came out, I specifically asked if the phone would be unlocked after contract. I was told yes, that would not be a problem. This took 4+ years to make happen and I was not planning on moving, just wanted the freedom to if I wanted to. Or to be able to sell my device to folks that could use it on either network.
When I bought a iPhone 3G at AT&T, I was told that 3G data service was coming in a few months. Did not happen for 2+ years and by that time I was out of contract and they were advertising 4G service still undelivered 2 years later. Somewhere in the middle of the second two year contract, I had to accept new terms that disallowed me from joining a class-action law suites against them for their bad behaviors.
So I came to believe nothing that was said and began asking to see where it was in writing anywhere before you sell me a new dead end 4G service that I am stuck with for 2 years +. Needless to say, they can not “sell me” on anything anymore. their words are garbage.
Only in America can a company do this. Europe does not have this kind of behavior because they have rules. Europe also has better networks and better pricing for those services and those European company’s are making good money for it.
We in the US rank 3rd or lower for services provided and 1st for cost of them and those cell company’s have less rules to contend with in the US than anywhere in the world. Something is wrong with this picture.
For those that tout “buyer beware” to excuse the need for regulation I say ” It’s to late to beware when you are in the middle of a contract and you can not sue them for violating it”.
I plan to switch my network (all accounts) to T-Mobile just in reward of good business practices. As it turns out, I may get more service for less money. I certainly don’t like rewarding the tricky-dicks of the world. Some family members are likely to switch also.
As it turns out, AT&T is going out screaming. I have many I-Devices and while it looks good on the surface, there are still challenges unlocking my iPhones/iPads. So perhaps I may just reward T-Mo with my purchase of new ones.
“High Five T-Mo” I predict you will be the number 2 carrier by Sept of 2015 and running hot for Number One. But thank you for changing the Industry.
Competition is GOOD when you can find it.