The View From Space

Recent events (most notably the impending aquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T) have started me rethinking my strategy regarding smartphones.

The T-Mobile /Android combination was, and still is, Nirvana for Geeks.  Cheap plans with soft data caps, easily rooted Android smartphones (like my Vibrant), and stellar customer service makes for one great environment (they even provided tech support when I ran an iPhone on their network).

Now I’m reading that this may all go away in a year or two.  Step in AT&T with their unfriendly, even hostile attitude towards super-users (if you’ve ever rooted an android phone or jailbroken your iPhone you know what I’m talking about) and even unfriendlier data plans.  If the planned acquisition goes through, all Tmo 3G phone users (except those with the new LG Optimus G2x) will eventually have to switch over to ATT 3G phones to get 3G data access on the ATT network.

So now my dilema, once the transition takes place, do I stay with ATT and live with whatever restrictions they place on my geekiness?  Or do I take a hike and see what Verizon, Sprint or even the smaller carriers have to offer?   I’m even looking at the iPhone again.  If I’m going to be locked down I might as well do it with a device that meets most of my needs/wants (note that no phone met ALL my wants, that’s why I rooted my phone in the first place).  I guess going the iPhone route makes my decision WAY easier, choose 1 of 2 carriers.

The upside to all of this is that the takeover isnt envisioned to happen for 12+ months.  In that time I’ll have a chance to look at all the options provided  by the other carriers. 

Besides in another year it’ll be time for a new phone anyway right?