Cingular Wireless LLC said it has completed its previously announced merger with AT&T Wireless Services Inc., creating the nation's biggest wireless carrier. The newly combined company will have more than 46 million customers and an extensive nationwide network.
"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.
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."
The combined company will 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.
Customers of both companies will continue to enjoy the benefits of their
current phones, rate plans and features, without any service interruption.
"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."
"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.
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."
The combined company will 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.
Customers of both companies will continue to enjoy the benefits of their
current phones, rate plans and features, without any service interruption.
"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."