Verizon buying Cincinnati Bell Wireless

[NightAngel79]

Started this thread in Cincy Bell section but is dead over there

Cincinnati Bell selling wireless business to Verizon | Local News - WLWT Home

Interesting news... Cincy Bell is piggie backed on T-mobile towers, and is a GSM (obviously) provider. Curious as to how the transition will work.

Any one else from Cincy area have thoughts on this? Thoughts in general on VZW's acquisition of a small local carrier? I believe I heard Cincy Bell has/had 400,000 subscibers maybe?? Can't be sure about the number though.... We (Cincinnati) are not a GIANT city, but fairly large in its own right. plus they service the tri-state area which is Indiana and Kentucky as well.)

 

[Rukbat]

I'm guessing one of two things:

1) They leave things as they are (since Cincy Bell has a contract with TM, and Verizon could have bought the contract as well as the rest of the company, so TM would have to honor it).

2) They transition their customers in stages. Next time you come in to upgrade your phone, there will only be Verizon CDMA phones. Eventually, almost everyone will have gotten tired of their old, old phones and be on CDMA. Then Verizon lets the contract lapse.

Or ... well, you know the company called AT&T Wireless? Or rather, did you know that there's no company called AT&T Wireless? That it's a trademark of Cingular? (They bought the right to use the AT&T part.) Verizon might just keep the stores labeled Cincy Bell Wireless, or some such thing, and the customers will never realize that they're Verizon customers - like almost no "AT&T Wireless" customers know that they're Cingular customers.

 

[kate]

2) They transition their customers in stages. Next time you come in to upgrade your phone, there will only be Verizon CDMA phones. Eventually, almost everyone will have gotten tired of their old, old phones and be on CDMA. Then Verizon lets the contract lapse.

Looks like they're going to transition everyone after about one year.

Cincinnati Bell expects to continue operating its wireless network for the next 8-12 months. Cincinnati Bell will not waive termination fees and unlock devices at this time.

Once the agreement is approved and closed, we will notify you and assist you with transition of your wireless service to Verizon Wireless or other carrier of your choice. Of course, we will waive any applicable contract termination fees at that time.

They will also be providing their customers with unlock codes so they can take their phones to AT&T, T-Mobile, and the GSM prepaid networks if they want to keep their phone.