If AT&T can't purchase T-Mobile, who should?

I agree with Brian. These organizations are allowed to grow too large for the benefit of anyone except the bankers and some shareholders.

Everyone else (customers, employees) and the overall economy suffers.

The question is ‘Who should’ purchase T-Mobile, not if someone should. I agree that unless a new entrant into the market would be preferable to one of the existing three, AT&T Verizon and Sprint. However, what other companies have the financial strength to do so and be successful. Perhaps some consortium that includes Lightsquared and Clearwire might attract enough investment capital to pull this off, with a strong push from Wall Street.

Steve Olson

AT&T seems to be in this perpetual cycle of buying properties, running into antitrust issues and then shedding skin. I haven't been impressed with AT&T on ANY front for some time now and generally avoid them.

But they obviously have to do something with their wireless offerings, they took a big hit after showing an embarrassing lack of commitment to their wireless services and Verizon acquiring the iphone.

To get back to the question, who should buy them… Why should anybody? They are successful in their own right. And to echo Brian and Andrew, the competition is good for everyone.

To be fair, I would think the DOJ would challenge Verizon or Sprint if they made an offer as well.

I kind of agree, kind of not. If they're struggling to stand on their own, merging into a larger or more stable competitor is a good move for everyone. Far better than rounds of layoffs and a death spiral.

As to who should, the traditional market has gotten pretty small. I'd say AT&T is their best option - though that does sound like a non-starter. Someone non-traditional like Vonage would be interesting, but they don't have the funds.

Don.