*By Jeffrey Marcus*
T-Mobile announced Wednesday it had its best second quarter ever, booking earnings of $0.92 per share on $10.6 billion in total revenueーincluding a record $7.9 billion from services.
The wireless provider also added 1.6 million new customers, the 21st consecutive quarter in which subscribers grew by more than 1 million, the company said. T-Mobile also increased its target for branded postpaid customers to 3.6 million by the end of the year.
T-Mobile U.S. president and COO Mike Sievert said Wednesday in an interview with Cheddar that the company's growth would strengthen its hand in a proposed merger with rival Sprint. After several failed attempts which spanned a couple years, the companies announced an agreement to merge in April and have been working to earn government approval on the promise of increased competition from fewer, stronger rivals.
"The capacity of this network will create competition," Sievert said. "When we get this network built, it is going to have seven times the capacity of today's Sprint and T-Mobile combined. That's going to create a level of competition that AT&T, Verizon, and Comcast have never seen."
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/t-mobile-president-reacts-to-q2-earnings-and-merger-with-sprint).
Samsung reported better-than-expected operating profits in the third quarter.
Apple's latest event announced new Mac products and new chips and the company's latest line of Macbook Pros and iMacs were unveiled.
Stocks fell in the opening session Tuesday as earnings reports continued to pour in and as investors brace for the Federal Reserve's interest-rate decision on Wednesday.
What to Know About Open Enrollment
A flow of recent data from the U.S. government has made one thing strikingly clear: A surge in consumer spending is fueling strong growth, demonstrating a resilience that has confounded economists, Federal Reserve officials and even the sour sentiments that Americans themselves have expressed in opinion polls.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning parents and caregivers not to buy or serve certain pureed fruit pouches marketed to toddlers and young children because the food might contain dangerous levels of lead.
Some pumpkin farmers in the West, particularly wholesalers in places like Colorado and New Mexico, are feeling the pinching effects of drought.
General Motors and the United Auto Workers union have reached a tentative contract agreement that could end a six-week-old strike against Detroit automakers, three people briefed on the deal said.
Apple's 8pm ET event Monday will revolve around its iMAC computer lineup of products which are expected to contain its new faster and three next-generation silicon chip.
McDonald's reported better-than-expected profit and sales in the third quarter.
