With AT&T buying T-Mobile, only one question matters...

With the somewhat surprising weekend announcement that AT&T will buy T-Mobile for $39 billion in cash and stock, many, many questions are raised: What happens to those who unlock their iPhones to get on the T-Mobile network rather than AT&T? Will the government allow a single GSM provider for the entire country? Does this speed the way for a 4G-enabled iPhone?

All valid questions, but I think the most important question is... What's to become of the T-Mobile girl from all those ads against AT&T and the iPhone!? We're working our sources...

Apple Fantasy Merger of the Month: Chumby Industries

First thanks for the feedback and reminder that we neglected our fantasy merger duties in December. For those who might be new here, each month we propose a fantasy merger, just in case Apple would like some suggestions as to what to buy with their growing cash reserves. Bear in mind these are fantasy mergers, so the logic and/or merit of the merger should always be taken lightly.

With that said, this week's merger proposal could probably be bought by Apple from the change in the corporate couch, relative to their billions on hand. Chumby Industries is the company behind the Chumby. If you're not familiar, the Chumby is a standalone device allowing for the creation of channels of apps/widgets. (Look for our review of the new "chumby one" this week. Here's our review of the last generation.) Why on earth would Apple want such a product? The short answer is, they wouldn't.

The real value of Chumby is the people in the company. From the product design, to whimsical "feel" of the device, and the unique packaging (including Chumby charms), it's clear that the small but mighty team at Chumby get industrial design and the importance of user experience. I can tell you the Chumby is the only piece of non-Apple tech here at TDL HQ that people have built a bond with, and feel a great deal of attachment. 

We almost hate to suggest this fantasy merger because it would almost certainly mean the end of the Chumby device. It would also mean more smart minds making even better Apple products.

Comcast and NBC... Only Apple Can Stop It

image: NewLaunches.comIt hasn't been nearly the news story it should be, but Comcast has been in talks to buy NBC for quite some time now. About a month ago, it looked like the whole thing fell through, but lately, rumblings of a purchase have re-surfaced.

This isn't like Disney owning ABC, or News Corp owning Fox. As we all know, Comcast is the tv and cable pipeline for a large portion of the country. Put yourself in the shoes of CBS, or any of the other networks. Imagine relying on your own competitor to beam your channel into millions of homes. Comcast could decide it's not worth it to carry Lifetime, or ABC Family (both parts of ABC) in favor of two new NBC channels. Your future as a broadcaster/network would lie squarely in the hands of the enemy.

Maybe that's why Apple has chosen this time to start shopping around monthly subscription options for television. You wouldn't expect the other networks to get on board, but in the face of the looming Comcast/NBC merger potential, it would make sense to find another distribution method.

While I said Apple could stop it, on their own, they wouldn't stop it as much as offer another option for consumers and other networks. They could lobby the FCC though, to keep the deal from going through. Would that be in Apple's best interest though? Would they be better served by being an alternative to the NBC/Comcast coalition? What about consumers?

Let us know what you think in the comments...

Geek News: Disney Buys Marvel for $4 Billion

Wow. This story really came out of left field. It was announced earlier today that Disney is buying Marvel for $4billion. Disney will get the rights to over 5,000 characters, including the Spiderman, x-Men, and Ironman franchises.

Early reaction from Marvel fans is mixed, but long-term, this opens up all kinds of potential. John Lasseter and the team at Pixar for example, have a whole new universe to play in, and given their track record, I would trust them to do a far better job than some of the Marvel movies of the last decade.

Additionally, while overlaying Marvel characters into the Disney theme parks could be awkward and/or difficult, imagine a superhero theme park all its own.

Interesting news, indeed.

Five Reasons Apple Should Buy Sprint

Each month we take a look at Apple fantasy mergers: Mergers intended to be funny, or sometimes serious, but almost always unlikely to happen. Today though, it's a merger/acquisition that would actually make a lot of sense: Sprint. Sprint? Here's Five reasons why this makes sense:

1. Apple would control the whole "widget." What does Apple like above all else? Control over how their products are marketed and viewed. What better way to do that with the iPhone and future devices than to own the network too. The cell phone service provider space could use the same kind of shakeup the iPhone brought to the hardware manufacturers.

2. It's a bargain. Relative to the other networks, Sprint would represent a decent buy. And while their coverage might be lacking in current generations, the 4G space looks like it could be a different story.

3. Revenue, revenue, revenue. Sure, the $300 subsidy from AT&T on each phone is nice, but how about the net revenue from every U.S. customer over the course of their contract? It remains to be seen how becoming a U.S. provider could affect relationships with carriers in other parts of the world.

4. A rising tide lifts all ships. Imagine the new opportunities across Apple's products, from MobileMe to MacBooks if Apple could integrate wireless service into more devices, and use a networked streamlined for data rather than voice.

5. Make AT&T call your bluff. Admittedly, this one doesn't require buying Sprint, but merely talking about it. If Apple let it be known that they weren't afraid to go into the cell provider business themselves, maybe AT&T would make more attractive concessions not just for Apple, but also iPhone customers. Things like last week's contract wording "mistake" could be a thing of the past.