The intrigues that characterize mergers in the information technology market have not spared mega service providers AT&T and T-Mobile as their merger bid ended abruptly on Thursday last week, at least for now.
 The companies issued a surprise Thanksgiving announcement that they have withdrawn their application to the Federal Communications Commission for approval of the $39 billion wireless mega-marriage.
As is typical of mergers in the industry, reports in Washington D.C  say  the companies aren’t throwing in the towel just yet.
Politico reports that  making what critics describe as a shrewd tactical move, the companies said in a statement that they will continue to pursue the sale of T-Mobile’s wireless assets to AT&T by focusing on winning approval from the Department of Justice — either at trial or through settlement.
According to the report, AT&T, which until now has exuded confidence in the deal’s prospects, made its first public concession that its massive campaign to secure approval could end in defeat. It said it’s taking a $4 billion charge to cover a “breakup fee” it negotiated upfront with T-Mobile’s parent company, Deutsche Telekom “in the event the transaction does not receive regulatory approval.”
Supporters of the deal said this could open the door for more serious settlement talks.
“This is a smart move by AT&T/T-Mobile that will hopefully place emphasis on reaching a settlement that assures the benefits of the deal while addressing the challenges,” Dean Garfield, president and CEO of The Information Technology Industry Council, told POLITICO Thursday.