With the possibility of AT&T’s T-Mobile accusation hanging by a thread, recent reports are saying that AT&T might opt try for a joint venture with T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom, instead. Although the deal is far from final, it seems like a more reasonable proposition given the many roadblocks faced during the planned merger. AT&T had to recently withdraw its merger application from the FCC to focus solely on the lawsuit brought forth by the Department of Justice that gets underway in February. A 109 page document was issued by the FCC citing all the ways in which they were not in favor of the merger, not to mention the fact that AT&T failed to convince them that the accusation would create new jobs.
It appears to be a long road ahead for AT&T and the consistent merger headache should be a sign that a joint venture may be in their best interest. Actually, what’s really wrong with the business plan they have managed to maintain for all these years so far? I mean come on, they already earned the nickname Ma Bell!
[via BGR]