Yesterday, I gave out the Magentees! Kind of like the Dundees on The Office, the Magentees recognize the best and worst of the last year. And, it was a pretty amazing year for some cringeworthy carrier BS and some incredible progress in our fight on behalf of customers.
Now, I'm looking forward to the year ahead, and I've gotta say one thing: 2019 will be epic. There's so much on the horizon and so much change that will shape the future will begin in 2019.
So, in keeping with tradition…. here are my top 10 Predictions for the year ahead:
1. We’ll see real, live 5G.
Not the 5G* Verizon and AT&T are touting, but real, mobile, standards-based 5G. And T-Mobile will continue to be the only company with a real plan for nationwide 5G. And if the Sprint deal is approved, buckle up. The New T-Mobile will bring 5G to everyone, everywhere!
2. No Verizon 5G* coverage map.
Verizon - the people who practically invented the coverage map - REFUSE to publish a coverage map for their 5G* (note: Verizon 5G* contains no actual 5G because it isn't standards-based or mobile) … because their multi-billion dollar 5G* network covers blocks and blocks. And by the end of 2019, it's not going to get that much better because it's built on millimeter wave spectrum only. I predict at the end of 2019, Verizon will still be trying to hide how limited their 5G* is, and we will STILL not see a Verizon 5G* coverage map.
3. More AT&T 5G BS.
I predict media will use the words "AT&T" and "5G" and "BS" at least a dozen times in the same sentence in 2019 - maybe more. AT&T is trying to pull some straight up BS - showing a "5G"-ish indicator on the phone when it's on LTE. They'll basically be lying to their customers, and I and the rest of our team will continue to call them on it … and any other BS they try to pull. (Oh, and if you want to talk about 4G and HSPA+, try checking in with the standards bodies that classified HSPA+ as 4G. Then, let's talk.)
4. T-Mobile will go beyond mobile.
In 2019, we'll take our first steps to take on another stupid, broken, arrogant industry - maybe the stupidest, brokenest, arrogantest industry of all: Cable and Satellite TV. We'll start to take on the Cableopoly on all fronts - TV AND broadband … all backed by the same Un-carrier approach of listening to customers and solving their pain points. But it's not just about wireless, TV and broadband. I see a lot of other industries that need to be disrupted too - and the New T-Mobile, if approved by regulators, will have the ability to do just that! Wherever there are big corporations getting in the way of consumers, look out. Good chance we're coming for you!
5. …and Big Cable’s walls will begin crumbling.
The Cableopoly doesn’t know how to treat customers or how to compete. And when they face competition, things will go to hell. That’s what will start to happen to Big Cable in 2019. You thought the Q3 TV subscriber loss was massive? Just wait. Once consumers have real choices – for both TV and home broadband, we’ll start to see cable businesses *really* erode. And with the New T-Mobile, it’ll only get worse for them next year and beyond.
6. Comcast and Charter will be even worse to their customers.
The Cableopoly is America’s most hated industry. No seriously, out of 64 industries tracked, ACSI ranks subscription TV lowest in customer satisfaction. They even got worse last year. Comcast and Charter are SO BAD they actually bring the average down. I predict things are going to get even worse for their customers. They’ll continue to screw them with hidden fees and deceptive billing, as they struggle with new competitors (ahem) in both TV and broadband.
7. At least one other major brand will adopt Team of Experts.
Earlier this year, we launched Team of Experts - no bots, no bouncing, no BS. Just real help from real people. Then, we hosted more than 150 companies - including 40 in the Fortune 500- to share how TEX works. I predict that in 2019, we'll truly see other brands adopt TEX - because why wouldn't they? It's good for customers, employees and shareholders! #CUSTOMERSFIRST
8. Verizon will win most ironic Super Bowl ad two years in a row.
I’m just going to leave this one right here.
February 2018: Verizon Highlights First Responders in Super Bowl Spot
August 2018: Verizon admits 'throttling' data to Calif. firefighters amid blaze
It’ll be hard – even for Verizon – to top this, but I’ve learned to never overestimate them.
9. Verizon will sell Oath.
Ok, this one is a lay-up, and we all know it. After spending $10 billion - money they made from their customers - they just admitted Oath is worth roughly $0. In 2019, they'll finally give up. And Oath will go the way of Go90 … and Sugarstring … and the Redbox JV … and VCAST apps. I'll be sad because it's been a fun dumpster-fire to watch, but Verizon is a HUGE company so I'm confident they're already well on their way to screwing something else up. So, the Oath fire sale is right around the corner. Who wants Tumblr?
10. Hans Vestberg will launch his own cooking show – it’ll be called SlowER Cooker Sunday.
After losing the speed crown to T-Mobile for 5 years, Verizon will finally embrace their position as most-congested & not-fastest network in the country, and because they have so many fresh ideas over there, they’ll launch SlowER-Cooker Sunday to celebrate. The recipes will taste like ash … and, of course, they’ll make you pay overages if you watch too long. Mike Sievert and I will live-stream our watching party.
And one more thing…. I can't call this a prediction, because I respect the process too much for that. But I am optimistic that regulators will finish reviewing our merger with Sprint - and they will see that the New T-Mobile will be a positive change for consumers and the country. And the New T-Mobile will bring more competition, more choices, lower prices - and the best damn 5G network in the world… to consumers across the country. It is going to be AMAZING!
Here’s to a legendary 2018 and an epic 2019!
John
Información adicional importante
In connection with the proposed transaction, T-Mobile US, Inc. (“T-Mobile”) has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-226435), which contains a joint consent solicitation statement of T-Mobile and Sprint Corporation (“Sprint”), that also constitutes a prospectus of T-Mobile (the “joint consent solicitation statement/prospectus”), and each party will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The registration statement on Form S-4 was declared effective by the SEC on October 29, 2018, and T-Mobile and Sprint commenced mailing the joint consent solicitation statement/prospectus to their respective stockholders on October 29, 2018. SE INSTA A LOS INVERSIONISTAS Y TITULARES DE VALORES A QUE LEAN LA DECLARACIÓN/PROSPECTO DE SOLICITUD DE CONSENTIMIENTO CONJUNTO Y OTRA DOCUMENTACIÓN PERTINENTE PRESENTADA ANTE LA SEC CUANDO ESTÉ DISPONIBLE YA QUE CONTENDRÁ INFORMACIÓN IMPORTANTE. Los inversionistas y titulares de valores pueden obtener esta documentación sin cargo en el sitio web de la SEC o en T-Mobile o Sprint. The documents filed by T-Mobile may be obtained free of charge at T-Mobile’s website, at www.t-mobile.com, or at the SEC’s website, at www.sec.gov, or from T-Mobile by requesting them by mail at T-Mobile US, Inc., Investor Relations, 1 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10016, or by telephone at 212-358-3210. The documents filed by Sprint may be obtained free of charge at Sprint’s website, at www.sprint.com, or at the SEC’s website, at www.sec.gov, or from Sprint by requesting them by mail at Sprint Corporation, Shareholder Relations, 6200 Sprint Parkway, Mailstop KSOPHF0302-3B679, Overland Park, Kansas 66251, or by telephone at 913-794-1091.
Quiénes realizan la solicitud
T-Mobile y Sprint y sus respectivos directores, ejecutivos y otros miembros de la administración y empleados pueden considerarse participantes en la solicitud de consentimiento en relación con la transacción propuesta. La información sobre los directores y ejecutivos de T-Mobile está disponible en la declaración de representación de T-Mobile del 26 de abril de 2018, para su Asamblea anual de accionistas de 2018. La información sobre los directores y ejecutivos de Sprint está disponible en el informe para los accionistas de Sprint del 26 de junio de 2018, para su Asamblea anual de accionistas de 2018, y en los informes subsiguientes de Sprint en el formulario 8-K presentado ante la SEC el 2 de julio de 2018. Other information regarding the participants in the consent solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the joint consent solicitation statement/prospectus. Los inversionistas deben leer detenidamente la declaración de solicitud de consentimiento conjunto/prospecto antes de emitir un voto o de tomar decisiones de inversión. Se pueden obtener copias sin cargo de estos documentos en T-Mobile o Sprint según se indica arriba.
No es oferta ni propuesta comercial
Esta comunicación no constituye una oferta para vender ni una propuesta comercial de una oferta de compra de valores, ni habrá venta de valores en ninguna jurisdicción en la que dicha oferta, propuesta comercial o venta se considere ilegal con anterioridad a la inscripción o calificación, conforme a la legislación sobre valores vigente en dicha jurisdicción. No se podrán ofrecer valores, excepto por medio de un prospecto que cumpla con los requisitos de la sección 10 de la Ley de Valores de EE.UU. de 1933, y sus posteriores enmiendas.
Advertencia en relación con las declaraciones a futuro
Esta comunicación contiene ciertas declaraciones a futuro con respecto a T-Mobile, Sprint y la transacción propuesta entre T-Mobile y Sprint. Todas las declaraciones que no sean declaraciones de hecho, incluida la información sobre resultados futuros, son declaraciones a futuro. Estas declaraciones a futuro generalmente se identifican mediante las palabras “anticipar”, “creer”, “estimar”, “suponer”, “pretender”, “puede”, “podría” o expresiones similares. Dichas declaraciones a futuro incluyen, entre otras, declaraciones sobre los beneficios de la transacción propuesta, incluidos futuros resultados financieros y operativos previstos, sinergias, tasas de aumento y crecimiento, los planes, objetivos, expectativas e intenciones de T-Mobile, de Sprint y de la compañía combinada, y el plazo previsto para completar la transacción propuesta. Existen varios factores que podrían ocasionar que los planes y resultados reales difieran de manera sustancial de los expresados o implícitos en las declaraciones a futuro. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the failure to obtain, or delays in obtaining, required regulatory approvals, and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed transaction, or the failure to satisfy any of the other conditions to the proposed transaction on a timely basis or at all; the occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or both of the parties to terminate the business combination agreement; adverse effects on the market price of T-Mobile’s or Sprint’s common stock and on T-Mobile’s or Sprint’s operating results because of a failure to complete the proposed transaction in the anticipated timeframe or at all; inability to obtain the financing contemplated to be obtained in connection with the proposed transaction on the expected terms or timing or at all; the ability of T-Mobile, Sprint and the combined company to make payments on debt or to repay existing or future indebtedness when due or to comply with the covenants contained therein; adverse changes in the ratings of T-Mobile’s or Sprint’s debt securities or adverse conditions in the credit markets; negative effects of the announcement, pendency or consummation of the transaction on the market price of T-Mobile’s or Sprint’s common stock and on T-Mobile’s or Sprint’s operating results, including as a result of changes in key customer, supplier, employee or other business relationships; significant transaction costs, including financing costs, and unknown liabilities; failure to realize the expected benefits and synergies of the proposed transaction in the expected timeframes or at all; costs or difficulties related to the integration of Sprint’s network and operations into T-Mobile; the risk of litigation or regulatory actions; the inability of T-Mobile, Sprint or the combined company to retain and hire key personnel; the risk that certain contractual restrictions contained in the business combination agreement during the pendency of the proposed transaction could adversely affect T-Mobile’s or Sprint’s ability to pursue business opportunities or strategic transactions; effects of changes in the regulatory environment in which T-Mobile and Sprint operate; changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive and market conditions; changes in tax and other laws and regulations; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Form S-4, as well as in T-Mobile’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov and www.t-mobile.com, and in Sprint’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned “Risk Factors” and “MD&A — Forward-Looking Statements,” as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov and www.sprint.com. Las declaraciones a futuro se basan en expectativas y suposiciones actuales, que están sujetas a riesgos e incertidumbres que pueden ocasionar que los resultados reales sean sustancialmente diferentes de los expresados o implícitos en dichas declaraciones a futuro. En virtud de estos riesgos e incertidumbres, se exhorta a los lectores de esta comunicación a no basarse indebidamente en dichas declaraciones a futuro. T-Mobile y Sprint no asumen ningún tipo de obligación de actualizar o modificar la información contenida en esta comunicación (ya sea como resultado de la nueva información, acontecimientos futuros o algún otro factor), a menos que así lo exija la legislación vigente.