You can't really compare this to the Sprint-Nextel merger. Sprint and Nextel were on different wireless networks (CDMA and iDEN), and Nextel's specialized network had a feature that Sprint has had a ton of trouble duplicating ... but can't ignore because it was Nextel's key feature (their version of the push-to-talk concept). Between that and the emergency services contract(s), Sprint has 2 huge albatrosses around its neck in the Nextel acquisition.
Verizon-Alltel, on the other hand, is all one protocol (the CDMA family). It may be as simple for them as adding the Alltel customer base's ESN numbers to Verizon's database, and then making similar integrations for the Alltel field equipment. No real heavy lifting required, just timing of changes.
And, frankly, I think Sprint needs to be more worried about this than AT&T does. Sprint gave up their data plan advantage by adopting a 5GB monthly cap. Verizon beats them on just about any other level (except maybe pricing) ... and Verizon is now, or will soon, be accepting other CDMA carrier's phones onto their network ... making it easy for Sprint customers to jump ship.
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You can't really compare this to the Sprint-Nextel merger. Sprint and Nextel were on different wireless networks (CDMA and iDEN), and Nextel's specialized network had a feature that Sprint has had a ton of trouble duplicating ... but can't ignore because it was Nextel's key feature (their version of the push-to-talk concept). Between that and the emergency services contract(s), Sprint has 2 huge albatrosses around its neck in the Nextel acquisition.
Verizon-Alltel, on the other hand, is all one protocol (the CDMA family). It may be as simple for them as adding the Alltel customer base's ESN numbers to Verizon's database, and then making similar integrations for the Alltel field equipment. No real heavy lifting required, just timing of changes.
And, frankly, I think Sprint needs to be more worried about this than AT&T does. Sprint gave up their data plan advantage by adopting a 5GB monthly cap. Verizon beats them on just about any other level (except maybe pricing) ... and Verizon is now, or will soon, be accepting other CDMA carrier's phones onto their network ... making it easy for Sprint customers to jump ship.