Hasta La Gadget!

One of the more persistent acquisition rumors as of late has come true: Google just confirmed that it bought Waze. As many expected, the deal will see Waze largely operate independently of its new parent while supplying Google Maps with traffic update features. The stand-alone Waze app, meanwhile, will receive some of Google’s know-how in search. While the two sides haven’t discussed the much ballyhooed (and reportedly $1 billion-plus) purchase price, we suspect it was just large enough to snub Facebook.

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS, Tablets, Internet, Mobile, Google

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Source: Google Official Blog

Softbank and Sprint have been on pins and needles ever since January, when the US Department of Justice asked the FCC to delay the carriers’ merger as it scrutinized the deal over national security concerns. The two networks can breathe a little easier this weekend, as the DOJ just dropped its request for more time. There’s “no objection” to the acquisition following a review, the agency says. Not that the companies are completely out of the woods: the FCC has to approve the buyout, and there’s still the small matters of Dish’s bids for both Sprint and Clearwire. Softbank may not want to drop its backup plan just yet.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint

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Via: Computerworld

Source: FCC (PDF)

T-Mobile has been slowly inching closer to closing its acquisition deal with MetroPCS, and the day for inking that contract is finally here. Less than a week after MetroPCS shareholders approved the merger, which would give them a total cash payment of $1.5 billion, the deal is done, and T-Mo is a publicly traded company. In addition to giving Deutsche Telekom a 74 percent stake in the new company, the deal will bring nine million new prepaid customers to T-Mobile. According to the Uncarrier‘s President and CEO, the network would “continue our legacy of marketplace innovation by tearing up the old playbook and rewriting the rules of wireless to benefit consumers.” T-Mobile plans to keep the MetroPCS brand, holding on to its retail outlets too, pitching to different demographics with the two carriers, according to AllThingsD. MetroPCS broke the news to its customers first through Facebook, although Big Magenta followed swiftly with the official press release — you’ll find that right after the break.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, T-Mobile

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Source: MetroPCS (Facebook), T-Mobile

MetroPCS is once again encouraging its investors to vote in favor of its upcoming merger with T-Mobile, especially now that Deutsche Telekom has improved its offer terms. The improved terms reduces the amount of debt the merged companies would have to pay back by $3.8 billion. It also reduces the debt’s interest rate by 0.5%. DK also promised that it won’t be selling shares of the combined company for at least 1 year.

While several of the concerns that MetroPCS shareholders had were addressed, a couple are still unchanged. If the merger goes through, MetroPCS investors will still only have a 26% stake in the combined company, and its shares will be worth $4 each. However, MetroPCS shareholders may be willing to compromise. MetroPCS pushed back the shareholders meeting from April 12th to the 24th of this month to give shareholders a chance to consider the revised offer.

Analysts believe that DK’s improved offer will drive many shareholders to change their previous mindset and encourage them to vote in favor of the combined company. P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP, one of MetroPCS’s major shareholders who was against the merger, stated that it was pleased with the revised offer and is conferring with its advisers about its position on the merger.

Along with T-Mobile merging with MetroPCS, DISH Network has reportedly spoken with Deutsche Telekom about another possible merger. DK stated that it would consider a merger with DISH when the MetroPCS deal closes. Merging with DISH Network as well would provide T-Mobile the much-needed boost it needs in order to compete with the other 3 major wireless carriers. The merger will also have a higher chance of being approved compared to the failed merger between T-Mobile and AT&T.

[via CNET]

MetroPCS encourages shareholders to vote for amended T-Mobile offer is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

DISH Network Chairman Charlie Ergen had reportedly approached Deutsche Telekom about a possible merger between DISH and T-Mobile USA. According to Bloomberg’s sources, DISH approached the company before it had approved an improved merger offer to MetroPCS. Deutsche Telekom said it might be interested in DISH’s offer, however it will only consider it once its merger with MetroPCS closes.

DT’s improved offer lowers the debt transferred to MetroPCS by $3.8 billion and it also reduces the interest rate of that debt by 0.5%. It also agreed to hold onto its shares for at least 18 months once the deal closes. MetroPCS pushed back Friday’s shareholders meeting to April 24th so that shareholders can consider the revised offer. P. Schoenfeld Asset Management LP, a major shareholder of MetroPCS who had been against the pending merger, was pleased by the new offer and is reconsidering its position.

DISH has wanted to break into the wireless industry for a while. It had conferred with many wireless companies about mergers, and has also considered starting its own wireless service, similar to Radio Shack. DISH even tried to purchase the remaining 49.6% of Clearwire. Now its looking to make a deal with T-Mobile in order to get its “in” in the wireless industry so that it can be more than just a satellite television company.

DISH would offer wireless/digital television bundles if it is able to secure a deal with T-Mobile. Currently, DISH Network has $10 billion in cash, making it the company with the largest cash pile compared to other U.S. television and phone providers, and also making it very capable of merging with T-Mobile. DISH’s potential merger with T-Mobile will be much more acceptable to regulators compared to AT&T’s attempted merger with the company. Unlike AT&T’s merger plans with T-Mobile, DISH merging with the company will not remove the 4th largest wireless carrier in the nation from the wireless industry, but instead reinforce its capabilities.

[via Bloomberg]

DISH reportedly approached Deutsche Telekom about a possible T-Mobile merger is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.