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Deutsche Telekom to leave UK Market
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Posted by: mobilephonedude

The Register, reports that T-mobile will be leaving the UK market to focus more on their US market. It may be hard for t-mobile to sell, although, cell phone operator 3, might be interested if they have the money.

source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/0...doning_blighty/

What will this mean for us customers in the United States?

Posted by: Scottish Skyedance

the problem is US operation is not better either
they simply don't know what they're doing, and the situation is like Sprint in early 2007

Posted by: reveng101

T-Mobile USA needs to step up. They want everyone to know how good they are, but they don't advertise it well enough. Plus they are very good at pissin' customers off by leaving the US bunch hanging while they announce updates in Europe like crazy. e.g. Cupcake for G1 and the G2 release date.

Posted by: chenelson

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottish Skyedance

the problem is US operation is not better either
they simply don't know what they're doing, and the situation is like Sprint in early 2007

You know, for the first time in a long time, I'm actually feeling bullish on T-Mobile USA. They just peeled off the Customer Care push, which is a huge expense. There's still plenty of time. Don't give up on them just yet.

Posted by: Antenna

I just hope 3G rollout and new phones will be released faster. T-Mobile is still the best out of all the U.S. Carriers just bad at promoting themselves...

Posted by: reveng101

Well the reason they are pulling out of the UK is to focus more on the US market. Deutsche Telekom will most likey buy out Sprint and merge the two. The only way Tmo can grow in the US would be to merge.

Posted by: Caligula

Quote:

Originally Posted by reveng101

Well the reason they are pulling out of the UK is to focus more on the US market. Deutsche Telekom will most likey buy out Sprint and merge the two. The only way Tmo can grow in the US would be to merge.

Merging CDMA and GSM...not easy

Posted by: reveng101

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caligula

Merging CDMA and GSM...not easy

Which is why they will probably run it parallel, while slowly switching the Sprint side to GSM.

Posted by: Evan702

Sorry, still makes little sense.

Posted by: Barciur

Well maybe they will push for LTE?

Posted by: reveng101

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barciur

Well maybe they will push for LTE?

I don't know. It's confusing. I'm pretty sure DT has it all planned out if they do a merger with Sprint.

Posted by: Agent22

Convert Sprint to GSM?, count me in lol

Posted by: reveng101

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent22

Convert Sprint to GSM?, count me in lol

They won't have Sprint GSM version, it will most likely gradually just become T-Mobile when they are done getting people to switch over.

Posted by: aw614

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agent22

Convert Sprint to GSM?, count me in lol

convert that sprint 1900 spectrum to 2100/1900 3g

Posted by: reveng101

Quote:

Originally Posted by aw614

convert that sprint 1900 spectrum to 2100/1900 3g

that would be awesome. i wonder is the japanese phones would work with it? if so I would totally get me one.

Posted by: skippinjack

Quote:

Originally Posted by aw614

convert that sprint 1900 spectrum to 2100/1900 3g

Screw that noise. With all the 1900 that Sprint has, just do a pure WELL BUILT OUT 1900 Network baby!

Posted by: 503ducati

Quote:

Originally Posted by mobilephonedude

The Register, reports that T-mobile will be leaving the UK market to focus more on their US market....

After reading that article, more like "forced out of UK market by German government and Blackstone". This is not by their choice to "focus more on their US market.."

Posted by: metallicpoet

I guarantee you are not going to see a Sprint and T-Mobile merger. Look at how many overlapping markets Verizon had to divest because of the Alltel merger. T-Mobile and Sprint basically overlap one another in almost every market. They have two completely different and incompatible technologies. There is really no benefit for Deutch to buy Sprint. They'd be inheriting a lot of problems and a lot of debt for no prospective return.

Posted by: bigsnake49

Quote:

Originally Posted by metallicpoet

I guarantee you are not going to see a Sprint and T-Mobile merger. Look at how many overlapping markets Verizon had to divest because of the Alltel merger. T-Mobile and Sprint basically overlap one another in almost every market. They have two completely different and incompatible technologies. There is really no benefit for Deutch to buy Sprint. They'd be inheriting a lot of problems and a lot of debt for no prospective return.

I agree with you, but they probably will not have to divest any because the combined entity would not be "dominant" in any market. I think that it would be a great idea for T-Mobile to actually absorb MetroPCS and Cricket. The benefit would be that they eliminate the low cost competitors and use them to fight against Boost.

Posted by: Nodakawa

Quote:

Originally Posted by 503ducati

After reading that article, more like "forced out of UK market by German government and Blackstone". This is not by their choice to "focus more on their US market.."

Right, and that article is more of a highlight. Mobile industry not going, yeah right

Posted by: danska

I would love for them to buy out sprint. Use the spectrum for gsm/edge and expand their footprint a bit. Would be great! And they can put 3g towers in the sprint cell sites. We can have a 3g network that is HUGE compared to now. And while they are at it, lets expand 3g to the entire network! I don't want to have to drive twenty minutes away and be stuck on edge. (and worse if you drive a little further!) Anything less then 3g in all parts of the network is just not acceptable. This is 2009 and i have a 90's network. gprs just isn't acceptable. Get with the times!

If they had 3g in the entire network, i wouldn't have needed to get my sprint evdo rev. a data card! Nothing like getting 900kbps in rural illinois.

Posted by: Scottish Skyedance

Wirelessly posted (HP 211 and SE Z780: SonyEricssonTM506/R3DA Browser/NetFront/3.4 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 JavaPlatform/JP-8.3.2)

I would go against it, because
DT will lose more than gain, can DT stop losing customers during migration? Maybe
Most of spectrum Sprint own is 1900, it doesn't help to enhance reception, even FCC may ask DT to divest some spectrum
everybody is envy about phone selection on UK division, but the phone selection doesn't save them

Posted by: chenelson

I especially enjoyed your last point: There's more to the game than shiny toys; of course, they don't hurt--unless you finance them with debt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottish Skyedance

Wirelessly posted (HP 211 and SE Z780: SonyEricssonTM506/R3DA Browser/NetFront/3.4 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 JavaPlatform/JP-8.3.2)

I would go against it, because
DT will lose more than gain, can DT stop losing customers during migration? Maybe
Most of spectrum Sprint own is 1900, it doesn't help to enhance reception, even FCC may ask DT to divest some spectrum
everybody is envy about phone selection on UK division, but the phone selection doesn't save them

Posted by: Antenna

I hope T-Mobile does not buy up toxic sprint, it would be bad for current T-Mobile customers, new ways to nickle and dime without "raising" current rates. Sprint customers would benefit, at least T-Mobile does better with billing and CS.

4 different techologies (wimax, HSDPA, I-Den, CDMA, GSM) would be too much to integrate at this point.

Posted by: chenelson

To play along... would you spin-off or keep the iDEN network? I'm curious how the write down would play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by skippinjack

Screw that noise. With all the 1900 that Sprint has, just do a pure WELL BUILT OUT 1900 Network baby!

Posted by: Protagonist

You might as well ask if he would rather have a unicorn or a sasquatch for a pet. That is about as likely as a Sprint/T-Mobile merger. It would be a complete disaster for both companies.

T-Mobile making a move for the lower end of the market by acquiring some of the low cost carriers makes more sense, but is still unlikely IMHO.

Posted by: terryjohnson16

If DT bought Sprint, they would merge T-Mobile USA and run the networks as they are, and focus on dropping that stupid WiMax and just running LTE on both 1900/AWS.

Posted by: terryjohnson16

They aren't making money cause they selling high end phones for dirt cheap or even given them free, with contract.

Posted by: 503ducati

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryjohnson16

If DT bought Sprint, they would merge T-Mobile USA and run the networks as they are, and focus on dropping that stupid WiMax and just running LTE on both 1900/AWS.

WiMAX network deployments are approaching 460 in more than 135 countries for fixed, portable, and mobile networks. It is aimed at cost efficient broadband internet access. LTE costs 4-5 times more to construct than WiMAX.

Clearly you are stuck on handsets which is only one segment of the telecom industry. It is much bigger than cell phone hand sets.

*It's LTE and WiMAX not LTE vs. WiMAX

big thanks to bigsnake49 for an excellent explanation here

Sprint Keeping It's Options Open On LTE

I take it you have never used current generation WiMAX @ $50 or less per month?

Posted by: Agent22

Quote:

Originally Posted by 503ducati

Sprint Keeping It's Options Open On LTE

I take it you have never used current generation WiMAX @ $50 or less per month?

i was going to post, but u took my spot

Posted by: reveng101

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnake49

Well if they merge with Sprint, then they would basically control Boost. Although absorbing Metro and Cricket would be a better idea.

I think Tmo would continue with WiMax just to compete with Verizon's upcoming LTE. iDen would probably be last on Tmo's list of things to integrate. Although they would be competing with Verizon's PTT. If Tmo does merge with Sprint, they will basically be competing directly with Verizon in the 4G market and the PTT market. That way they can throw in AT&T's face that they will have 4G before them.

Posted by: terryjohnson16

I don't consider WiMax to be 4G. I think LTE would be better for T-Mobile, since the rest of other carriers will be using it. Meaning they can get phones other carriers have. They won't have to deal with the being isolated like how the AWS bands makes them to be, with them having to get special phones. Just go to LTE, which is the world standard now, and then the OEMs can just put the chipsets in.

Also, T-Mobile buying MetroPCS wouldn't help them. T-Mobile has coverage where Metro doesn't, and not vice versa.

That's just like AT&T trying to buy T-Mobile. No benefit. AT&T has coverage where T-Mobile doesn't, and not vice versa.

Posted by: reveng101

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryjohnson16

I don't consider WiMax to be 4G. I think LTE would be better for T-Mobile, since the rest of other carriers will be using it. Meaning they can get phones other carriers have. They won't have to deal with the being isolated like how the AWS bands makes to be, with them having to get special phones. Just go to LTE, which is the world standard now, and then the OEMs can just put the chipsets in.

Also, T-Mobile buying MetroPCS wouldn't help them. T-Mobile has coverage where Metro doesn't, and not vice versa.

That's just like AT&T trying to buy T-Mobile. No benefit. AT&T has coverage where T-Mobile doesn't, and not vice versa.

Very true.

Posted by: Telekom

Quote:

Originally Posted by aw614

convert that sprint 1900 spectrum to 2100/1900 3g

You can't "convert" spectrum. You use what's yours!

Posted by: aw614

Quote:

Originally Posted by reveng101

that would be awesome. i wonder is the japanese phones would work with it? if so I would totally get me one.

i get 3g on my sh906i on att, but incomming doesnt work, so I am waiting on a hypersim that is "supposed" to work on 3g.

Posted by: Evan702

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryjohnson16

I don't consider WiMax to be 4G.

Really? Why exactly is that?

Posted by: bluecoat

Actually talked to an att shareholder earlier today, they received
Information regarding talks of a possible att aquisition of tmobile.

However, since both are gsm and currently have a roaming agreement on a tower by tower basis, it wouldn't actually be that hard.

Secondly I heard its impossible for tmobile to buy out sprint as the request was
Already denied due to the us governments current presence with sprint. The
Us government doesn't want a german based company running a company their
Accounts are on think about it.

Tmobile recently gave up the uk market to obviously focus on us market.
I don't forsee a merger between att though because coverage is fairly
Overlapping at this point so its not like they would gain a ton of coverage
Expansion.

Posted by: Caligula

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecoat

Actually talked to an att shareholder earlier today, they received
Information regarding talks of a possible att aquisition of tmobile.

However, since both are gsm and currently have a roaming agreement on a tower by tower basis, it wouldn't actually be that hard.

Secondly I heard its impossible for tmobile to buy out sprint as the request was
Already denied due to the us governments current presence with sprint. The
Us government doesn't want a german based company running a company their
Accounts are on think about it.

Tmobile recently gave up the uk market to obviously focus on us market.
I don't forsee a merger between att though because coverage is fairly
Overlapping at this point so its not like they would gain a ton of coverage
Expansion.

I don't know of any federal government accounts with Sprint. I always see Verizon with the Federalies.

Posted by: FL1134

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecoat

Actually talked to an att shareholder earlier today, they received
Information regarding talks of a possible att aquisition of tmobile.
...

No. ATT has already hit the caps in the amount of spectrum to be held.

_________________

Posted by: FL1134

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryjohnson16

I don't consider WiMax to be 4G. I think LTE would be better for T-Mobile, since the rest of other carriers will be using it. Meaning they can get phones other carriers have. They won't have to deal with the being isolated like how the AWS bands makes them to be, with them having to get special phones. Just go to LTE, which is the world standard now, and then the OEMs can just put the chipsets in.

Also, T-Mobile buying MetroPCS wouldn't help them. T-Mobile has coverage where Metro doesn't, and not vice versa.

That's just like AT&T trying to buy T-Mobile. No benefit. AT&T has coverage where T-Mobile doesn't, and not vice versa.

It's not about coverage as it is about spectrum. ATT/VZW have it, Tmobile doesn't. Any purchase that isn't SPCS, makes sense.

Tmobile can lead in the future if they ditch the corporate stores and just become a service provider. Employees can be moved to new/larger call centers for support. Phones are sold at retail stores and customers activate themselves--like buying a modem. ATT seems to be embracing (i)phones more and VZW can't stop offering such services.

Posted by: terryjohnson16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caligula

I don't know of any federal government accounts with Sprint. I always see Verizon with the Federalies.

Not so much the Sprint name, but the Nextel PTT service.

Posted by: pinot

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL1134

But where would customers go for face to face support and sales? That move, as much as I like the sound of parts of it, would kill a significant share of business. Not practical.

Posted by: pinot

Quote:

Originally Posted by terryjohnson16

.... AT&T has coverage where T-Mobile doesn't, and not vice versa.

Myth. On average not true. Practically, needs to be based on specific location and travel pattern.

Posted by: Evan702

Yep, that's about what I thought, tj. Thanx!

Posted by: Antenna

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL1134

No. ATT has already hit the caps in the amount of spectrum to be held.

_________________

Thank goodness, I really don't want to be with AT&T (their CS and coverage is bad here, I have them on a prepaid line)

Posted by: chenelson

That's out-of-the-box thinking--I'll have to chew on that. And I doubt your kindergarden teacher had much love.

As pinot said, I'm not sure that's practical at the moment--although an interesting efficiency play in an artificial market.

The problem I see is that the current model is around 1 million customers per call center to maintain service levels. And, as I recall, corporate store break even is such that you build a store over a tower if given the choice. Without building a model and playing with the numbers I have no idea what any of that means at this time in the morning.

Also, while I am admittedly a customer service before all else cynic (especially call center based), in all respects this a risky proposition and would require significant testing, methinks.

Who knows, though; love to hear some other thoughts. These are some of the best threads I've seen in a while in this forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL1134

Posted by: bigsnake49

What Sprint needs is some investment money. They does not need to merge with anybody. They just needs to finish rebanding and finish putting EVDO on all of their sites. They probably need to aquire iPCS. If they were to merge with anybody they should merge with USCC and Cellular South and aquire some of the divested Alltel/Verizon assets. Move IDEN DC to 900MHz SMR spectrum and start installing LTE on the 800MHz and the PCS band G spectrum in couple of years (2012+). Have hybrid LTE/DC and LTE/CDMA handsets for a while. They do not need any dramatic shifts. Just stay the course and execute.

T-Mobile needs to absorb both MetroPCS & Cricket and become an unlimited provider and low cost leader. MetroPCS & Cricket and Boost are really pressuring T-Mobile on the low end and The big 3 are pressuring them on the high end. My personal opinion is that T-Mobile cannot continue as a full service post-paid provider for much longer.

Posted by: Telekom

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinot

Myth. On average not true. Practically, needs to be based on specific location and travel pattern.

It always depends on a specific location and travel pattern. So you cannot say that the statement is not true. All providers do not have base stations at the same location often.

I've found very few locations where I don't have a usable signal. That's places that I go. I could care less about places I do not go or rarely go. If you want rural coverage you'll know that you more likely will have better coverage with a cellular (850) provider such as AT&T or Verizon. If you're in an urban area pretty much anyone should work.

Posted by: FL1134

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinot

But where would customers go for face to face support and sales? That move, as much as I like the sound of parts of it, would kill a significant share of business. Not practical.

Did you need "face to face" support for signing up for internet?

Buy computer at retail/internet store, sign up for internet service.
Buy phone at retail/internet store, sign up for wireless internet service.

I don't know why there is a disconnect; carriers are even beginning to sell netbooks. Why would you buy a computer from a wireless company (besides the subsidy)? Carriers can't continue to pay commission in a mature, saturated market.

Posted by: chenelson

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsnake49

T-Mobile needs to absorb both MetroPCS & Cricket and become an unlimited provider and low cost leader. MetroPCS & Cricket and Boost are really pressuring T-Mobile on the low end and The big 3 are pressuring them on the high end. My personal opinion is that T-Mobile cannot continue as a full service post-paid provider for much longer.

Don't know about MetroPCS & Cricket but I definitely see the play on low cost. With rebranding and focus on at&t and VZW, T-Mobile found themselves out of position and is unable to compete effectively as they're squeezed between data hungry behemoths and regional flat-rate players.

Apple also took the wind out of their sails and completely shook them to the core; left them scared, acting irrationally and fouling their Retail Strategy. Without their legacy Get More brand and what was left of John Stanton's game, they'd likely have been negative net in Q1 and possibly even earlier.

With Sue Nokes gone, hopefully they can move away from their 1 million customers per call center model and cut expense. With a flat-rate focus, they can go KISS, eliminate billing issues and therefore eliminate much of the scaling challenge of expensive reactive customer experience focus.

I'd really like to see them make a play for Rod Dir, CPA and former COO of Powertel that worked their merger with DT; VP of Retail that built out corporate retail (from 300 to 1200 doors); former COO of Cincinnati Bell; current COO of Firethorn Mobile (Qualcomm) working on leading edge mobile commerce applications. He drove T-Mobile's Distribution Strategy that fed into the Retail Strategy before a headhunter picked him up during utter boredom. He truly gets it--and I've never worked for someone that employed the Socratic Method so effectively. His vision and combination of hard- and soft-skill would inspire confidence in T-Mobile's ability to compete while rebuilding their shaky foundation.

Posted by: FL1134

Quote:

Originally Posted by chenelson

That's out-of-the-box thinking--I'll have to chew on that. And I doubt your kindergarden teacher had much love.

At the moment, to fire all tmobile sales reps and close all corporate stores would only create more problems. Handsets are moving towards one air interface (LTE) and moving towards internet appliances/netbooks/unified software. It just doesn't make business sense to have corporate stores paying commission when all they are doing is selling gloried tiny computers. Other stores are better suited for such services especially when little to no provisioning is needed today.

The market is saturated and mature; people know what they want and how to get it. Unify the software (android/linux) and simply the data billing and you don't need that costly retail presence. That capital can be used for more important things like improving the network vs worrying about securing the next big exclusive phone.

Employees:
36,000 tmobile
66,000 vzw
40,000+ att

Those employees are costly.

Posted by: chenelson

Great points and food for thought.

A large obstacle I see is the 30 minute activation requirement which is mostly talk and not IT intensive. Even though it shouldn't be so darn complicated for consumers, the telecoms (inlcuding cable/satellite) do their best to confuse the heck out of the mainstream. That said, with a flat-rate type approach and a focus on 5-minute activation, in theory, it might even be possible to replace many distribution doors with thousands of self-serve acquisition and payment/service capable kiosks. Not sure how that would play across cross-country cultural; minority, and baby boomer segments.

There are so many challenges facing DT and T-Mobile right now... I don't know how practical any of this talk is. It is hard to be confident with a company that attempted to become something that was so far removed from their core competency.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL1134

Posted by: chenelson

Relevant discussion on the history of internal struggle at T-Mobile: http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?p=12539599

Posted by: Dark Past

Wirelessly posted (Nokia6263/2.0 (05.20) Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

Although t-mobile's numbers have not been great for the past 3 quarters, aren't they still turning a profit? Some of you are acting like they are on the verge of bankruptcy.

Posted by: chenelson

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Past

Although t-mobile's numbers have not been great for the past 3 quarters, aren't they still turning a profit? Some of you are acting like they are on the verge of bankruptcy.

1. T-Mobile USA is trending toward zero growth
2. Prepaid saving them from near or even negative net
3. Churn is extremely high compared to at&t and VZW (behemoths would be negative growth if same churn rate)
4. Their COO just "resigned"
5. They're in middle of what many consider a failed rebranding and company transformation initiative
6. Forced employee turnover has been through the roof for several years
7. Company morale, especially in Sales, is in the gutter
8. Some in Bellevue hoping for packages in next layoff round instead of sticking around
9. They have call center leadership without sales or marketing experience relying on HR backgrounds in Executive Leadership roles
10. DT is getting hit hard financially and under intense competitive and financial pressure on multiple fronts
11. DT on their 3rd CEO in almost as many years.

Wouldn't count them out and they may not be on the verge of bankruptcy, but Blackstone can't be happy.

What are you seeing?

Posted by: Dark Past

Quote:

Originally Posted by chenelson

I agree with 80% of what you said but I want to see if MetroPCS/Cricket/Boost hurts T-Mobile as much as many think they are. At&t and Verizon keep growing despite the economy and despite having higher prices...how the hell do they do it?

Posted by: Antenna

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Past

AT&T and VZW have the perception of having a better/bigger network.

Maybe VZW network is better, but AT&T’s network in So Cal is truly garbage, “circuits busy” static, and no coverage is the problem with them. T-Mobile has better coverage, and call quality than ATT here, but they do little to promote the difference.

Posted by: TheAnnihilator

Is there anymore news on this?

Is it official that they are leaving the UK?

Posted by: camperdown9

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAnnihilator

Is there anymore news on this?

Is it official that they are leaving the UK?

Hi

No its not official.

There has been nothing new on this for a few days. I think the last report was one on the 7th May in the FT stating D. Telecom would rather not sell T-Mobile UK and will make another attempt to keep the operator as an independent company. Then on the 13th D. Telecom brought in a new MD for T-Mobile UK.

There have been lots of rumors about T-Mobile UK and who would buy it.

1) On 6th May Mobiletoday reported that BT were thinking about bidding £3.5b for the operator. BT have been reported a few times over the past 6 months as wanting to get back into the UK mobile market. (BT at one point owned O2)

2) Then there has been the rumors the Orange UK & T-Mobile UK would like to merge. (This would be difficult due to EU laws as the new company would own most of UK market)

3) 3 & T-Mobile have been reported that they could merge. There would be no issue with regards to the EU due to 3 being the smallest of the UK 5 main operators. 3 are also yet to make a profit after 8 years of operation. 3 Australia is due to merge with Vodafone Australia so there is a good chance that the 3 brand could go from the UK and Hutch would be happy with a share in T-Mbl uk.

4) Its also been reported that BT wants both T-Mobile UK and 3 UK.

In other words who knows. The new MD and D. Telecom saying they want to stay could just be a smoke screen to keep the press away and make sure that new sales are not damaged. In my view something is going to happen but I would guess that we might end up with T-Mobile UK and 3 merging under the T-Mobile brand and there being 3 share holders in the new company. D. Telecom, BT and Hutch.

Alex

Posted by: camperdown9

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluecoat

Tmobile recently gave up the uk market to obviously focus on us market.
.

Hi

T-Mobile have not yet given up on the UK market. Currently the official line is that they want to try and keep T-Mobile UK rather than sell or merge, and appointed a new MD.

Alex

Posted by: psionandy

Quote:

Originally Posted by camperdown9

Hi

T-Mobile have not yet given up on the UK market. Currently the official line is that they want to try and keep T-Mobile UK rather than sell or merge, and appointed a new MD.

Alex

Didn't they appoint the new MD just prior to the rumour about them selling/merging?

Posted by: camperdown9

Quote:

Originally Posted by psionandy

Didn't they appoint the new MD just prior to the rumour about them selling/merging?

Hmm not to sure, according to Mobile Today. Richard Moat was rumored to be the new MD in early April. It was not confirmed until 7th May and he will not start until June.

The rumor about T-Mobile UK going to be sold was in the FT on 30 April.