Combining cingular with ATTWS would be a *far* bigger company than
cingular combining with T-Mobile.  T-Mobile also is not "awash" with
lots of extra cash to go buying another wireless operator at the
moment.  Its parent company Deutsche Telekom has lots of debt that
they'd probably like to retire before they go on a buying spree.  Also
whether the FTC would approve of a foreign government/company have
major control of US mobile telephone infrastructure might bring lots
of scrutiny from regulatory bodies.  Just as Canada has limits to how
much foreign ownership is permissible the US has such rules as well.

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          remove NO from .NOcom to reply

I think there is something in the GSM association that requires GSM
companies that are members to offer roaming agreements to other countries.

I recall early on ATT and Rogers were avoiding joining the GSM
association because membership imposed certain obligations in dealing
with roaming. IIRC one of those requirements is that rates offered to
one carrier must be offered to all. Don't forget that a lot of the
success of GSM was that it forced europe to avoid national barriers to
phone use. Imagine if Vancouver Island had a different and incompatible
standard from Vancouver. Likely the GSM association requires that they
treat Microcell fairly.

Andrew