[Kolovorotkes]

You get one large provider with two networks?

[gnusnich]

You get one large provider with two networks?

Or maybe less competition and higher prices?

[Alulursuifold]

So their best minds wouldn't be able to integrate their networks, or at least recommend that users get phones that automatically switch between the settings for each depending on what's available in a given area? I'm no techie by any means but that sounds very hard to believe.

[attackDoold]

Why is it that the towers can't be retrofitted?

[Caunnysup]

Why is it that the towers can't be retrofitted?

I doubt it would be worth it to AT&T to retrofit T-mobiles towers. I bet they are just planning on letting that spectrum die a slow death.

[nd90t3sf]

I had a couple of great deals from T-Mobile.

Mainly:
Free WiFi calling (from anywhere in the world) $10
Unlimited data (from anywhere in the world) $20

Problem was that it was a contract. Contracts suck.

And if I went over my minutes I got screwed.

JM

[Erawise]

Aren't AT&T basically buying a load of cell towers, which means they can significantly improve their coverage in some areas, and getting the rest of the company basically thrown in for free?

[66paptroump]

Is it just that though? More subscribers, towers in places they've struggled to get towers and ability to consolidate the network. Plus should be some good economies of scale in putting in the back end internet connections to the towers that they'll need to support decent 4G.

It is remarkable how **** cell coverage and mobile internet speed is in the states, you'd sort of assume they'd be world leaders.

[Ad0i89Od]

I vaguely remember something about how they screwed over Cingular customers with bad reception when AT&T bought them.

[xanaxnewtrader]

Today the news broke that journalists managed to break into the voicemail-box of all Dutch politicians (MP's and members of the Cabinet) and all public servants (Vodafone secured a contract with the Government to provide cellphones to their employees) as well as practically anybody who has Vodafone as their provider (and I assume other providers as well).

The story (backed up by NUCLEAR WEAPONS evidence) revolves about the possibility to listen to your voicemails on remote: Phone the designated number, enter your phonenumber (or any other for that matter), enter a security code (standard 3333) and you're in. Since hardly anybody knows about this 'service', nobody changes their security code for this feature.

The only caveat is that you have to actually know the phonenumber of the person you want to spy on. Once you know that and the person has not switched the standard code to use this service you can hear all their incoming voicemails.


If anybody wonders what went wrong with the Dutch botched rescue operation in Sirte (Lybia) a few weeks ago:
"Hi Uri (Dutch State Secretary), this is Hans (Dutch Defence Minister). All is set for the operation in Sirte at 8 AM next sunday. Nothing can possibly go wrong. Monday photo-op, Wednesday provincial elections. See you at the after-party!"
fictional conversation blatently stolen from a dutch weblog. The operation indeed took place before elections and failure was kept quiet until after that.

Government and ICT