Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

Cingular Completes Merger With AT&T Wireless; Creates Nation's Largest Carrier
New Cingular to serve 46 Million Customers
With Largest Digital Voice and Data Wireless Network in U.S.

Leadership Team Announced

ATLANTA, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Cingular Wireless LLC, a joint venture
between SBC Communications Inc. (NYSE: SBC) and BellSouth Corp. (NYSE: BLS),
said it has completed its previously announced merger with AT&T Wireless
Services Inc., creating the nation's biggest wireless carrier with the largest
digital voice and data network in the country. The newly combined company,
with more than 46 million customers and an extensive nationwide network, will
offer consumers maximum convenience and flexibility, improved reliability,
enhanced call quality and the widest array of new and advanced services.
To view the Multimedia News Release, complete with audio, video, and
Hi-Res images, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/cingular/20429/
"It's a new day for wireless customers in America. We are committed to
improving the wireless experience and giving customers the coverage, the
phones, the capabilities and the call clarity they deserve," said Stan Sigman,
president and CEO of Cingular. "We are also committed to expanding our
high-speed Third Generation services to the ever-growing community of mobile
data users. And Cingular is laying the foundation to enable rural carriers to
bring 3G services to rural America."
All required federal regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Department
of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission, have approved the
transaction. Under terms of the agreement, AT&T Wireless shareholders will
receive $15 per common share, or approximately $41 billion.

Customer Benefits
Cingular will now start opening access to both the Cingular and AT&T
Wireless GSM networks to further improve coverage, allowing customers of both
companies to use the new, combined network without roaming charges. Customers
also will have the ability to make unlimited mobile-to-mobile calls to any
Cingular or AT&T Wireless customer.
"Cingular itself is the result of a merger of major wireless providers, so
we know a lot about successfully combining companies, networks and
operations," said Sigman. "We'll use our employees' experience and expertise
to bring the full benefit of the combined company to our customers."
Cingular and AT&T Wireless customers will benefit from the new company's
enhanced spectrum position and combined network assets. This strong
combination will pave the way for a true 3G wireless network - UMTS (Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System) - to be delivered to customers in major
urban and suburban markets across the United States, making possible an even
greater range of new and advanced wireless services. Customers will have the
widest choice of handsets and devices in the industry and unmatched services
for business customers, including high-speed wireless connectivity for PCs and
wireless email devices.
The combined company will also greatly expand its global capabilities,
ultimately offering customers the largest international coverage of any U.S.
carrier. Customers can use their "world phones" to make calls on six
continents and in more than 100 countries. In addition, GPRS (General Packet
Radio Service) data roaming will be available in more than 50 countries for
laptops, PDAs and other data devices.

Seamless Transition
Customers of both companies will continue to enjoy the benefits of their
current phones, rate plans and features, without any service interruption.
Customers with questions or looking for more information should log on
to http://www.cingular.com for answers about the new company. Cingular will
soon start communicating with customers through advertising, and direct
communications channels.
"We are working to make this transition as seamless as possible for
customers of AT&T Wireless," continued Sigman. "They can continue using their
existing phones and rate plans - but now have access to the largest digital
voice and data network in the country. And it's only going to get better from
here - as we add more capabilities and services our customers want."

Corporate Leadership Named
The new company's key leadership and organizational structure are now in
place. Stan Sigman will continue to serve as the president and CEO of the new
company and Ralph de la Vega will continue his current role as chief operating
officer. Pete Ritcher will be the chief financial officer, Thaddeus Arroyo
will be chief information officer and Joaquin Carbonell will serve as
executive vice president - general counsel. Rick Bradley will be executive
vice president - human resources, and Marc Lefar will be the chief marketing
officer. The company will continue to be headquartered in Atlanta.
"From the start, we have seen deep synergies between our two companies -
in compatible technologies, operations and systems; rich histories of product
innovation and more importantly, a management team with unmatched wireless
experience," continued Sigman. "We have taken some of the best talent from
both companies and brought them together to drive the next wave of innovation
and growth in the wireless industry."

ABOUT CINGULAR WIRELESS
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States,
serving more than 46 million customers. Cingular, a joint venture between SBC
Communications (NYSE: SBC) and BellSouth (NYSE: BLS), has the largest digital
voice and data network in the nation. Cingular is the only U.S. wireless
carrier to offer Rollover(SM), the wireless plan that lets customers keep
their unused monthly minutes. Details of the company are available
at http://www.cingular.com . Get Cingular Wireless press releases e-mailed to
you automatically. Sign up at http://www.cingular.com/newsroom .

CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
In addition to historical information, this press release contains
forward-looking statements regarding matters that may affect our future
operating results, financial position and cash flows. These statements are
based on assumptions and estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties.
There are possible developments that could cause our actual results to
differ materially from those forecasted or implied by our forward-looking
statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-
looking statements, which are current only as of the date of this press
release. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
While the below list of cautionary statements is not exhaustive, some
factors that could affect future operating results, financial position and
cash flows and could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements are:
- the pervasive and intensifying competition in all markets where we
operate;
- failure to quickly realize capital and expense synergies from, and
possible dispositions associated with, the acquisition of AT&T Wireless
as a result of technical, logistical, regulatory, business and other
factors;
- problems associated with the transition of our network to higher speed
technologies;
- slow growth of our data services due to lack of popular applications,
terminal equipment, advanced technology and other factors;
- sluggish economic and employment conditions in the markets we serve;
- the final outcome of FCC proceedings, including rulemakings, and
judicial review, if any, of such proceedings;
- enactment and impact of state and federal laws, regulations and
requirements pertaining to our operations; and
- the outcome of pending or threatened complaints and litigation.

kensteele

That how we got our first biggest carrier, Verizon. Merger of a lot of smaller companies that couldn't make it, I mean, couldn't compete on their own.

Now they're going to brag about how it is obvious that customers think Cingular is the best wireless carrier, after all, more customers choose to do business with us.

Same tired line Verizon use to use and now can't use anymore. Like Sprint, why don't carriers attract and retain customers on their own merits without purchasing them outright?

mikeymobiles

soon verizon is going to have to be like sprint and not charge a deposit when getting a phone!! just to get customers!!

VeeralS05

Cingular still isnt that great....

1. They constantly have billing errors and they know that.
2. Many customers have had problems with rollover minutes, cause they didnt recieve all the minutes they are suppose to.

YuppieCL

wasn't sprintpcs looking at leasing its towers to other providers like a week ago which made some industry analyst wonder about the state of their business?? whats the reasoning behind that? what is sprints merit by the way?

k... so cingular will have the largest customer base.... not the largest network... verizon still does...

mikeymobiles

i got a text about this last week...and ken said he didnt know anything about it

kensteele

It's a rumor folks.

C'mon.

suXor

Just becaused they merged, doesn't mean their service is any better. It's still TDMA (GSM).

dallison

att or T will be reselling sprint service under the att wireless brand

Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

where do you get this information?

these could be problems, but also can be adjusted rather easily.

Raheel

GSM and TDMA are both different Technologies, :WTF: are you talking about

mt6forlife

GSM is a form of TDMA and AT&T and Cingular both have both GSM and (IS-95?) TDMA networks. The problem I had with Cingular GSM, asside from the network being so overloaded that 1/2 my incoming calls never rang and it took three tries to make an outgoing call, was that unless the signal strength was at least 3/4 bars, the call sounded like crap. 2 bars was pretty choppy. 1 bar: fugetaboutit.

Chopsie

FAWK!!! I hate cingular now I am one

Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

wait for the 64k sim card to come out. no more tower problems.

mt6forlife

Explain.

Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

Issue/Volume number:
The Cingular 64K smartchip™ is the next generation Cingular SIM that will be available in all markets and is designed to replace the current Cingular 32K smartchip™ once current 32K inventory is depleted. As Day 1 nears, Supply Chain Management will play an increasing role in managing the local market inventory transition from 32K to 64K.



The new 64K Cingular smartchip™ will be easily distinguishable from the existing Cingular 32K smartchip™ via new artwork and the Cingular smartchip™ branding. The new Cingular 64K smartchip™ is the first smartchip™ to contain very sophisticated smartchip™ applications that will enable us to service our customers better on the Cingular network. One of the new applications on the Cingular 64K smartchip™ is:

Enhanced Network Selection (ENS)
When used in combination with an Enhanced Network Selection capable GSM handset, this application will make the handset treat any Cingular network like it is the home network, depending upon the settings on the 64K Cingular smartchip™. Our customers benefit by getting the best possible Cingular rates and service available even as they roam from coast to coast since they will be consistently “homed” to the Cingular network (when available) rather than a third party network.

ill give more info on it monday when i get into work

mt6forlife

Ok but how does that make any difference when the network is oversold and the signal can't get past my apartment wall?

Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

the chip is supposed to help the phone choose the tower with less volume. If reception is your problem, that's totally different.

kensteele

The new sim-card is not going to do anything for you if you live in a Cingular service where there is no ATT service.

Now that ATT/Cingular are together, your city that use to have 25 Cingular towers for you to use might now have 25 Cingular towers AND 20 ATT towers.

More towers could improve your phones performance in challenged areas.

Also when you travel outside a Cingular city, your phone will allow you to talk on Cingular roaming partners. I'm pretty sure Cingular HAD chosen roaming partner other than ATT in some areas...now it would be a good idea to force you to talk on ATT (now Cingular) and stay on HOME.

So Cingular can say they have a bigger network now.

FYI, the info in CDMA phones is able to be updated over-the-air....a distinct advantage over the sim-card with GSM.

Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

OTA is available with GSM. What type of info are you speaking about? Firmware updates across the network?

kensteele

I am referring to two things. The phone's software (firmware) and the PRL (the preferred roaming list).

Some Sprint phones you can upgrade the software OTA and all Sprint phones you can update the PRL OTA.

Are all GSM phones OTA capable? If so I'm guessing the roaming list that now includes ATT is now too big for the older 32k cards and that's why they are upgrading the cards. Otherwise, why not just OTA the new list?

Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

Firmware is defiantely not OTA for Cingular. The phones in general do not need to be OTA compatible, the system just searches for the specific SIM. The IRDB's are downloaded to the SIM. Cingular can OTA the new list, but I think you are right the chip is too tiny. The larger chip is just not so the IRDB list can be downloaded, there is more to it than that. There will be applications that will help choose in between which tower to locate/work on.

Its rather interesting, I will test a 64k smartchip out as soon as we get one in the store.

Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

64k chip does store more preferred networks

mikeymobiles

so when is everything offically merged? where everyone is using each other networks ? and the new chips come out?

Slooo97CL

iTrader: (1)

its merged already. 64k chips will be out shortly, next couple weeks.

kensteele

Marketing ploy.

Nothing smart about that chip. Just more memory.

Unfortunately (and I'm just going off the cuff on this one), some of those [older] Cingular phones will not be to read a 64k chip properly.

Smitty

so interesting...

so should i stay with ATT?

GSM or TDMA?