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AT&T announces full acquisition of Edge Wireless

By: , IntoMobile
Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 at 3:16 PM

AT&T acquires Edge WirelessNo, this has nothing to do with AT&T’s EDGE data network. It seems that AT&T has decided to pull the trigger and fully take over Pacific Northwest wireless carrier Edge Wireless. Now, AT&T already had a minority (35.7%) stake in the small-time network operator, but that just wasn’t enough for the nation’s largest carrier.

Continuing the No. 1 US carrier’s spending spree (they just plunked down $2.8 billion to buy Dobson Communications), AT&T presumably wanted access to Edge Wireless’s 172,00-strong subscriber base by folding Edge’s operations under the Big Blue umbrella. The move, if approved by the Feds, will give AT&T a wider GSM network to push its flagship handset – the iPhone.

AT&T must have some massive cash on hand. They’re going through greenbacks like there’s no tomorrow – and the 700Mhz frequency auction is still on the horizon. We’re sure AT&T’s already considered their maximum bid and set aside a healthy chunk of change for the auction, but it’s still amazing to see just how much money the carrier has been spending recently.

[Via: Electronista]

About The Author

Will Park

Will hails from The City of Angels - Los Angeles, California. He spends his time playing with his numerous gadgets and looking forward to seeing what future holds for mobile technology. An avid promoter of a fully "digital" life, he promotes the widespread adoption of truly mobile, paper-less living. He dreams of the day when he can go completely digital. No more snail mail, paper receipts, bound books, notepads/spiral notebooks, credit cards, hard currency. He's a digital warrior - fighting for the converged life. He is an idealist and a realist - he has a perfect view of what the world should be but knows that the world is not perfect. Can we ever hope to see Will's dream become reality? We'll see...

  • lost in oregon

    Im sad to hear that Edge Wireless is going away. I have been a cusotmer for 5 years. They are really nice people. I still think it will be cool to get the Iphone.

  • Sayge Mack

    Their is no part of me that is mad or sad about AT&T buying Edge Wireless! Edge does not have a good choice of phones at all. I can’t wait. :neutral:
    Finnaly!!