Filed by VoiceStream Wireless
Corporation
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the
Securities Act of 1933
and deemed to be filed pursuant to
Rule 14a-12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Powertel, Inc.
Exchange Act File Number 000-231022
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY WAS FIRST PROVIDED OR USED BY
VOICESTREAM WIRELESS CORPORATION ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2000
September 18, 2000
VOICESTREAM LICENSE TRANSFER FILING SUMMARY
On September 18, 2000, VoiceStream Wireless Corporation and Deustche
Telekom jointly filed an application at the Federal Communications Commission
for the transfer of wireless licenses from VoiceStream to Deutsche Telekom as
part of the companies' definitive merger agreement announced on July 24, 2000.
The filing at the FCC outlines how the merger serves the public interest
by enabling VoiceStream to complete its transition to a truly national wireless
competitor, build out its existing licenses, acquire new licenses, and
strengthen its network to the direct benefit of American consumers.
Highlights from the filing include the following.
o "The merger will result in more choice, improved services, and better prices
for all wireless consumers."
o "In contrast to a transaction that eliminates an existing wireless
competitor, these substantial procompetitive benefits will not be offset by
any reduction in competition. The merging parties have no overlapping
wireless operations...."
o "The merger will give VoiceStream the resources it needs to compete more
effectively with its much larger and better capitalized competitors, and to
complete its transition from a regional U.S. wireless competitor to a truly
national one. In particular, VoiceStream will have the resources to expand
and strengthen its existing networks, to acquire additional licenses in
upcoming spectrum auctions or through other possible acquisitions, and to
invest in delivering next-generation wireless services to consumers. The
merger also will give
VoiceStream the scale necessary to purchase infrastructure equipment and
handsets at lower prices, which in turn could result in lower prices for its
customers."
o The filing details how wireless competition has driven prices down by nearly
60 percent since 1993. "Adding VoiceStream as a competitor in many new
markets and strengthening VoiceStream as a competitor will continue this
process of lowering consumer prices."
o "..., the combination of VoiceStream's network with DT's extensive systems in
Europe will create new service options for international travelers by
offering them such features as worldwide voicemail access and transferable
prepaid calling plans."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Separately, Powertel and Deutsche Telekom filed at the FCC for a transfer
of Powertel's wireless licenses to Deutsche Telekom. Powertel and VoiceStream
also filed a contingent application for the transfer of Powertel's licenses to
VoiceStream.
VoiceStream is one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. wireless
industry. It provides all-digital service and is the only national provider in
the United States using the global wireless standard (GSM), which is the most
widely used standard worldwide.
The merger of VoiceStream and Deutsche Telekom is subject to U.S.
regulatory approvals and clearances, including by the Federal Communications
Commission, and the multi-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United
States, approval by VoiceStream shareholders, and customary closing conditions.
ABOUT VOICESTREAM
Based in Bellevue, WA, VoiceStream Wireless is a leading provider of wireless
communications services in the United States. Nearly three out of every four
people in the United States live in areas currently licensed to be served by
VoiceStream or its affiliates. VoiceStream is the largest provider of personal
communication services using the globally accepted GSM technology in the United
States. VoiceStream is a member of the North American GSM Alliance LLC, a group
of U.S. and Canadian digital wireless PCS carriers. The GSM Alliance helps
provide GSM wireless communications for their customers in more than 5,500 U.S.
and Canadian cities and towns as well as international service. Adopted by 149
countries, GSM is the most widely used
digital wireless standard in the world with more than 330 million subscribers on
six continents, which offers an unprecedented roaming advantage to GSM wireless
consumers. VoiceStream has roaming agreements with more than 125 of the major
operators worldwide providing service in 55 countries. Visit the VoiceStream web
site at www.voicestream.com.
ABOUT DEUTSCHE TELEKOM
Deutsche Telekom is Europe's largest telecommunications company and the fourth
largest carrier worldwide, with 1999 revenues of EUR 35.5 billion ($ 35.7
billion). Deutsche Telekom offers its customers a complete range of products and
services through more than 48 million telephone lines. It is a leading provider
of high-speed digital access lines, with more than 15.3 million marketed ISDN
channels, and new ADSL services that will be available in 60 percent of Germany
by the end of 2000 and 90 percent of the country by the end of 2001. In online
services, Deutsche Telekom's subsidiary T-Online is Europe's largest Internet
provider with more than 6.0 million customers. Via its mobile subsidiary
T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom serves approximately 21.3 million mobile telephony
customers in Europe through majority-controlled operations. Deutsche Telekom
will become the second largest European provider of information technology
solutions to multinational companies worldwide upon regulatory approval of its
majority investment in debis Systemhaus. Visit the Deutsche Telekom web site at:
www.telekom.de/international.
Investors and security holders are advised to read the proxy
statement/prospectus regarding the VoiceStream-Deutsche Telekom merger
referenced in this summary statement, when it becomes available, because it will
contain important information. The proxy statement/prospectus will be filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission by VoiceStream and Deutsche Telekom.
Security holders may obtain a free copy of the proxy statement/prospectus (when
available) and other related documents filed by VoiceStream and Deutsche Telekom
at the Commission's website at www.sec.gov or at the Commission's public
reference room located at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington D.C 20549 or at one
of the Commission's other public reference rooms in New York, New York and
Chicago, Illinois. Please call the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information of the public reference rooms. When available, the proxy
statement/prospectus and the other documents may also be obtained from Deutsche
Telekom by contacting Deutsche Telekom, Attention: Petra Michalscheck, Investor
Relations, 140 Friedrich-Ebert-Allee, 53113 Bonn, Germany and/or Deutsche
Telekom, Inc., Attention: Brigitte Weniger, 280 Park Avenue, 26th Floor, New
York, New York 10017; and VoiceStream Wireless Corporation by contacting
VoiceStream Wireless Corporation, Attention: Ken Prussing, Executive Director,
Investor Relations, 3650 131st Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98006.
VoiceStream and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of
VoiceStream management and employees may be soliciting proxies from VoiceStream
stockholders in favor of the merger. Information regarding the identity of the
persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of stockholders of VoiceStream in connection with the Deutsche
Telekom and/or Powertel mergers, and their interests in the solicitations, are
set forth in a Schedule 14A filed on July 25, 2000, and additional information
will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the
SEC.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Summary Statement from VoiceStream's Washington D.C. Government Relations
Office
Government Relations: Brian O'Connor, 202-204-3099
Media: Kim Thompson, 425-653-5027
Shandwick: Mark Day, 202-585-2104
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