AT&T Inc’s $39 billion buyout of T-Mobile USA on Mar. 30 has left university students with T-Mobile devices in the dark about their future service.
Providence Kruger, sophomore communications major, says that she is cautiously optimistic that the change will be for the better.
“I mean I think it can really help provide better service because with T-Mobile there were dropped calls constantly, and I never had service,” Kruger said about her phone service. “At this point I think AT&T is doing everything it can to compete with Verizon, and I think that’s a good thing.”
The head of AT&T’s effort to acquire T-Mobile James Cicconi said the merger would solve issues with dropped calls and slow connection speeds, according to Reuters. Donna Motabar, sophomore chemical engineering major, also uses T-Mobile, but is not as optimistic.
“Everyone on AT&T has problems, and everyone on T-Mobile has problems. What would make anyone think that combining the two would make anything better,” Motabar said. “Granted the iPhone will probably draw in some people, and stocks will probably rise, but from a service standpoint I think it’s a bad idea.”
Motabar went on to say that she understands the need for AT&T to compete with Verizon, but said that the iPhone was not enough to overcome the cellular titan.
“Verizon has become such a juggernaut in cellular service that I just don’t see this merger having a significant effect on the competition between the two,” Motabar said. “But for me I just want to not be in the dark about what’s going to happen with my service.”
Kruger echoed the same concerns with her coverage.
“I’ve heard nothing,” Kruger said. “An email would do, or a letter, or anything to just let me know what’s going to be different. Maybe something like that is in the works, but it’d just be a nice gesture to long-time customers.”