The proposed merger between SBC and AT&T could lead to a bout of deal-making involving competitors such as Verizon, says the New York Times: "The reunion of two players in the old Bell system could set off another round of mergers in the rapidly consolidating phone industry." The time to act is now for Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg: "A merger of the two companies would pose a threat to Verizon, the largest local phone company... A merger of AT&T and SBC would create the nation's largest phone company and Verizon would be left hobbled, without a significant position in the business services market."