AT&T has secured a delay in court proceedings on its proposed takeover of T-Mobile USA while it tries to secure a compromise on regulatory approval for the acquisition. AT&T and Deutsche Telekom asked Judge Ellen Huvelle for a stay in court proceedings until 18 January 2012, to allow the two companies time to "evaluate all options". The US Department of Justice, which brought the court case against AT&T in an attempt to block the merger, agreed to the stay. AT&T said it's "actively considering whether and how to revise" the takeover terms in order to gain regulatory approval. This suggests it may seek a deal with the DoJ on asset disposals in order to avoid the court case. The stay also avoids the judge prematurely throwing out the case. Huvelle had earlier expressed frustration with AT&T's withdrawal of its merger application at the FCC. The case had been scheduled to go to trial on 13 February. The judge scheduled the next hearing for 18 January, according to news wire reports.
