Comments on: Return of Ma Bell http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:02:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Jim Whiteley http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45666 Jim Whiteley Thu, 09 Mar 2006 16:15:02 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45666 <p>Om </p> <p>Does it really make any difference since the telephone is quickly being absorbed by the computer? Skype and SIP are computing technologies. Maybe these AT&T/Bell South guys are really only a "pack of hunger dogs" fighting over the telephone scraps. If any of us were in their positions would we do any different? </p> <p>This is not about technology. I pay Ed $85 per month for phone service that one day soon I will cancel. The merger is more about decreasing telephone revenues that soon will not cover the huge fixed cost of maintaining the "last mile" and one man's ego. </p> <p>Wireless is an answer, but for how long? There are too many players and too much new technology for AT&T's profits to last.</p> Om

Does it really make any difference since the telephone is quickly being absorbed by the computer? Skype and SIP are computing technologies. Maybe these AT&T/Bell South guys are really only a “pack of hunger dogs” fighting over the telephone scraps. If any of us were in their positions would we do any different?

This is not about technology. I pay Ed $85 per month for phone service that one day soon I will cancel. The merger is more about decreasing telephone revenues that soon will not cover the huge fixed cost of maintaining the “last mile” and one man’s ego.

Wireless is an answer, but for how long? There are too many players and too much new technology for AT&T’s profits to last.

]]> By: sunil http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45665 sunil Thu, 09 Mar 2006 12:27:55 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45665 <p>I agree with Moo - Qwest and Embarq (Sprint landline) are bad choices - what's to be gained with those territories? Alltel landline falls under the same category. Alltel wireless doesn't make sense because their value is so high and Alltel will most likely not like it. They're serving everyone in roaming because they operate GSM and CDMA networks. Verizon needs to save its cash to buy Vodafone. Verizon doesn't need more bleeding landline business, it needs to take the remaining $ that is going over the pond to Mr. Sarin.</p> I agree with Moo - Qwest and Embarq (Sprint landline) are bad choices - what’s to be gained with those territories? Alltel landline falls under the same category. Alltel wireless doesn’t make sense because their value is so high and Alltel will most likely not like it. They’re serving everyone in roaming because they operate GSM and CDMA networks. Verizon needs to save its cash to buy Vodafone. Verizon doesn’t need more bleeding landline business, it needs to take the remaining $ that is going over the pond to Mr. Sarin.

]]> By: moo http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45664 moo Thu, 09 Mar 2006 06:14:21 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45664 <p>Om, a classic podcast after a long time. Havent really listened to your Web 2.0-ish centric material in a while(Blogs, RSS, Social Networking etc), but i have always been a fan of your big telecom news and analysis- RBOCs eating each other and anything else that walks by, cable cos entering voice through the back door, equipment makers running scared- now all that makes for a very interesting read. I am sure everyone agrees that consolidation and stability would be good for the industry in general. </p> <p>A little bit of my own analysis: Now it's just a question of when Verizon would buy buy out Vodafone's stake and not if. Vodafone would get a very good deal when that happens. They might make a pitch for Alltel after that. Really dont see them going after Qwest (rotten) or Sprint (DOJ). Maybe AT&T might buy out Qwest after a while. It would be interesting to see how AT&T and Verizon compete with each other in the business segment. Any thoughts on that? </p> <p>..and finally, congratulations on getting into Google News! :-)</p> Om, a classic podcast after a long time. Havent really listened to your Web 2.0-ish centric material in a while(Blogs, RSS, Social Networking etc), but i have always been a fan of your big telecom news and analysis- RBOCs eating each other and anything else that walks by, cable cos entering voice through the back door, equipment makers running scared- now all that makes for a very interesting read. I am sure everyone agrees that consolidation and stability would be good for the industry in general.

A little bit of my own analysis: Now it’s just a question of when Verizon would buy buy out Vodafone’s stake and not if. Vodafone would get a very good deal when that happens. They might make a pitch for Alltel after that. Really dont see them going after Qwest (rotten) or Sprint (DOJ). Maybe AT&T might buy out Qwest after a while. It would be interesting to see how AT&T and Verizon compete with each other in the business segment. Any thoughts on that?

..and finally, congratulations on getting into Google News! :-)

]]> By: Om Malik http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45663 Om Malik Thu, 09 Mar 2006 06:09:49 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45663 <p>oh with someone like chairman martin at fcc, little or no opposition to the deal. i think it is clear that the lack of competition between BLS and T makes it easier to approve than anything else thus far.</p> oh with someone like chairman martin at fcc, little or no opposition to the deal. i think it is clear that the lack of competition between BLS and T makes it easier to approve than anything else thus far.

]]> By: vinnie mirchandani http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45662 vinnie mirchandani Thu, 09 Mar 2006 02:44:33 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45662 <p>Om, you make it sound as if the deal is done. I think the feds are going to have to scrutinize it a lot more than previous deals.</p> Om, you make it sound as if the deal is done. I think the feds are going to have to scrutinize it a lot more than previous deals.

]]> By: Michael Arrington http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45661 Michael Arrington Thu, 09 Mar 2006 02:17:59 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45661 <p>Om, Congratulations on Google News. That's awesome.</p> Om, Congratulations on Google News. That’s awesome.

]]> By: Om Malik http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45660 Om Malik Thu, 09 Mar 2006 01:00:53 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45660 <p>ronald, they are assuming about 20 billion or so in proptionate debt as well, so the total deal works out closer to $90 billion. yeah, it is a $67 billion in stock deal, one one level. it is human to over look as well, :-)</p> ronald, they are assuming about 20 billion or so in proptionate debt as well, so the total deal works out closer to $90 billion. yeah, it is a $67 billion in stock deal, one one level. it is human to over look as well, :-)

]]> By: Ronald Lewis http://gigaom.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45659 Ronald Lewis Wed, 08 Mar 2006 19:43:59 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2006/03/08/return-of-ma-bell/#comment-45659 <p>Om,</p> <p>It's actually an all-stock based acquisition, which I'm sure you're aware of. Hey, it's human to err. :)</p> Om,

It’s actually an all-stock based acquisition, which I’m sure you’re aware of. Hey, it’s human to err. :)

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