AT&T to honor T-Mobile rates plans beyond the contract's life
Even though AT&T still has a major hurdles to overcome in their move to buy T-Mobile (Justice Department litigation, customer opposition, litigation from States, etc.) they are still doing their best to pitch this acquisition in a positive light. The latest comes in the form of a leaked internal T-Mobile memo that outlines proper responses to customer questions on the acquisition.
The memo addresses what happens, if the purchase goes through, with T-Mobile customers rate plans and it goes something like this.
Scripted question: "Will my service or bill change due to the AT&T announcement?"
Scripted Answer: "No. While AT&T and T-Mobile have agreed to an acquisition, it will not be finalized for an estimated 12 months. Until that time, T-Mobile customers will not see any significant changes to their current T-Mobile experience as a result of the pending transaction."
The scripted reply continues to say, "If the acquisition is approved AT&T will honor the terms of each T-Mobile customer's contract. T-Mobile customers will be able to keep their rate plans. They will be able to do so for as long as they want to, even when their terms end and the service continues on a month-to-month basis."
This is a nice gesture and the right thing to do but what we don't know is what happens if you decide to upgrade phones? Go from that feature phone to a Windows Phone do you get to go to an AT&T plan? One would suspect if you make the purchase and enjoy the contractual discounts, you'd have to enter a new contract. A new contract that has AT&T rates and scraps your T-Mobile plans.
But that's only a guess on our part.
source: tmonews
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Solidstate89 says:
Here's hoping they never have the chance to fulfill that promise and the deal is effectively blocked.
WheresWinPho says:
"..it will not be finalized for an estimated 12 months..""..After which time you will be seriously screwed over by us for the rest of eternity. Havea nice day."I might be paraphrasing a little here.
Lloyd_S says:
I have T-Mo as month-to-month and have been with them as such for about 2 years. As a m-2-m you cannot currently upgrade phones without changing your number and entering into a contract. I get full usage as if I had a contract but just can't upgrade. As I buy unlocked devices this is better anyway.
keithvsmith says:
Yeah, no big news here. They will only accept those on contract, because if they to change your bill you'd have the legal ability to cancel your contract without any cancellation fees. This is part of the US laws governing such mergers. This doesn't mean once your contract ends, that they'll still keep those prices... same goes for those off of contract. I say upgrade now & get a new phone when you can so when/if the deal goes through, you have your bill locked in or at least can cancel without any fees.
DavidinCT says:
Yea, once you get a new phone (aka sign a new contract), you'll have to find a new plan
zulu208 says:
what about those that are not on a contract? Am I going to be forced into a new contract w/ ATT?
TreizFaction says:
I remember when Cingular bought ATT wireless. The ATT customers got to keep their service until they wanted to upgrade, then they had to pay a migration (upgrade) fee, and select a standard Cingular plan. I think it will be the same with ATT/Tmo.
Jazmac says:
When did they get in the position to honor T-mo contracts? Doesn't much matter, I don't want a GSM monopoly. That's far too much power for one wireless carrier. Next they will grab Sprint then finally Verizon. And it's back to the days of Ma Bell where nothing happens on the web except it should pass through AT&T.
scdkad says:
Here's what they should do-at the T-mo costumers request let them cancel their contract whenever they want without an ETF and be able to go to any carrier they want. And another thing-will I see 10-15mbs 4g the day this gets approved?Being that ATT is whining about "much needed" spectrum etc bla bla bla...
