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Cingular-AT&T Wireless Merger Complete
bigmase521 writes "PRNNewsWire, Phonescoop.com, and this thread on Howardforums.com, are reporting that the Cingular/AT&T Wireless Merger is now complete. Cingular bought out AT&T Wireless for ~$41B to become the nations largest cellular provider. Details of the merger, and full press coverage, including the audio of this afternoon's conference call can be found here, and Cingular and AT&T customers can see what is/isn't changing for them at newcingular.com."
IT IS NOT AT&TS WAY OF SAYING THAT THEY JUST WANT FREE MONEY!
It most certainly is. Sure the costs are real. WalMart doesn't have $6.65 on the box, only to charge you storage fees, parking fees, retail overhead, "government regulation fees" (they pay money directly to Social Security and other fees directly to governemnts). They figure out the cost, advertise $9.88, charge $9.88 (plus tax, if you are in a taxed location) and pay all the fees without bugging you.
If I were in charge of the FCC (too bad I'm not a general's son), I'd order that all telecom companies include all static (either in $ or %) fees in the advertised price. They shouldn't be allowed to tell you service is $20, then charge you $40 because of all the fees they add in that they blame on the government. It is their cost of business, and the only reason they are separating them out is to be able to advertise or quote lower rates that they are not able to deliver.
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