Good article...finally a mention of the actual plans: "The NYSE and Archipelago have said they want to keep both markets separate -- Archipelago's electronic exchange and the NYSE's own market, which is centered on a physical trading floor but that is expected to become more automated as the Big Board rolls out a planned "hybrid market" platform."
The major issue at hand is the complexity of fragmented markets... Both the legal and exchange physical trading aspects can be addressed by consolidating all of the US major exchanges to a singular exchange which the ARCA/NYSE will readily address... After the US exchanges are far less fragmented..then the acquisition/merger/blending of the world´s major exchanges will take place... The future exchange will more handily ready the funds for capital needs worldwide...more efficiently/effectively than it does today... This is the underlying focus of this deal... The world´s public will want this,,and it is going to happen.... This consolidation is not entirely different from any other major industry consolidation..ie electronic brokerages...etc...