Since its launch last year, the Gear S2 has gained new features, watchfaces, and hardware variants. Beginning next month, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon will sell a 3G/4G cellular version of the Samsung Gear S2 Classic.
Verizon today has announced the return of its popular promo that offers users an extra 24GB of data per year for free. The deal is available to users who activate or upgrade to a new phone with a device payment plan on XL or larger Verizon agreements. Verizon’s XL plan starts at $80 per month with 12GB of data (14GB if you include the promo), while the XXL plan runs $100 per month for 18GB of data (20GB with the promo).
Verizon began lab-testing its 5G network last year, aiming to carry out the first real-world tests this year, and and AT&T has now announced that it will be doing the same. The company seems even more optimistic than Verizon, which estimated 5G speeds some 30-50 times faster than LTE.
We expect 5G to deliver speeds 10-100 times faster than today’s average 4G LTE connections. Customers will see speeds measured in gigabits per second, not megabits. For reference, at one gigabit per second, you can download a TV show in less than 3 seconds.
Don’t get too excited just yet, though, as there are a couple of small hurdles to be overcome first …
A lot more users are finally going to see the benefits of Android 6.0 Marshmallow. With T-Mobile LG G4s getting the update last week, it is now time for AT&T variants of the device to see the latest version of Android.
If you’re feeling jealous of any friends grandfathered into an existing AT&T unlimited data plan (especially since ‘unlimited’ was redefined from ‘5GB before throttling kicks in’ to ’22GB before throttling if congested’), the company has good news: it is launching a brand new version of unlimited data tomorrow.
Pricing starts at $100/month for a single line, plus $40 for each individual line. Unfortunately, there’s bad news too. As The Verge notes, there are some pretty big catches – the biggest of which is that you need to be a DirecTV or U-Verse subscriber to be eligible, which of course adds to the cost if you don’t already have a subscription …
The trend of carriers ending contract pricing continues today. According to an internal leaked document obtained by Android Central, Sprint smartphone subsidy options are now limited to customers who wish to add a line to an existing account or upgrade their existing phone. This move follows AT&T’s announcement that it will stop offering two-year contracts this week, as well as Verizon, who simplified its offerings last August.
AT&T and Kyocera have today taken the wraps off of two new Android devices coming to AT&T and Cricket this month. Both of the devices are built with surviving the elements in mind, while also offering specs that lead to optimal performance.
AT&T first announced its new NumberSync feature back in October and said it’d come first to Samsung’s Gear S2 which launched on the network last month.
Today AT&T says NumberSync is rolling out through an update to Gear S2 smartwatches, marking the first product to pick up the new feature which lets you share your real smartphone phone number with other connected devices to make calls and texts simple.
Existing customers can get NumberSync on Gear S2 through a software update. New customers can enjoy NumberSync upon initial setup.
NumberSync lets you send and receive texts1, as well as make and receive calls, from your smartwatch2 using the same mobile number that your family, friends and colleagues already recognize.
NumberSync operates on the AT&T wireless network and is not dependent on a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone. You can even use it when your smartphone is off or disconnected from the network.
AT&T is also temporarily offering the Gear S2 for $99 on a two-year contract, $100 off the regular contact price. Check out our Gear S2 unboxing and review video here.
AT&T subscribers who previously had unlimited data plans back in the iPhone 3G era and have managed to hang onto that plan are in for their first price increase in seven years, a source with knowledge of the matter has informed 9to5Google.
Update: AT&T has now publicly announced the change. Additional information has been added below.
T-Mobile has announced its latest “un-carrier” initiative, dubbed “Un-carrier Unwrapped.” Rather than a permanent addition to the company’s offerings, Un-carrier Unwrapped is a month-long event during which the carrier will gift its subscribers and new customers with special deals and benefits.
The first of those was announced today: unlimited LTE data for all subscribers on Simple Choice post-paid plans for the next three months.
Update: LG has now acknowledged the issue and says that it is canceling the rollout of the device worldwide. It also is unsure if it will be available at any point in the future.
AT&T today appears to have started notifying customers that a quality issue has occurred with the recently launched LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition. According to sources, AT&T has notified its retail stores and customers that those who purchased the latest Watch Urbane are eligible for a refund due to the “quality issue.”
Samsung’s new Galaxy View tablet was announced a few weeks ago, and now we have word that the gigantic device is going to be available at AT&T starting November 20th. AT&T is also announcing a promotion with DIRECTV that can land you a View for just $100.
The Galaxy View is a behemoth of a tablet, so much so that some are referring to it as a TV. I have to agree with this sentiment, because even compared to Apple’s very-large 12.9-inch iPad Pro, this thing is just plain massive.
The Galaxy View has an 18.4-inch Full HD 1080p display, a 2.1-megapixel camera on the front, and is powered by a 1.6 Ghz octa-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, and a 5,700mAh battery. There are two 4W speakers on the back, and a MicroSD card slot to go with 32GB or 64GB internal storage.
Keep reading for the details on the DIRECTV deal…
WALK OUT WATCHING DIRECTV® WITH THE ONE OF A KIND SAMSUNG GALAXY VIEW FOR $99.99, ONLY AT AT&T
Built for streaming entertainment on your terms, you can walk out watching DIRECTV
DALLAS, NOV. 16, 2015 – Available first from AT&T on Nov. 20, experience the latest LTE device from Samsung with the entertainment-centric Samsung Galaxy View. The Galaxy View is more than a tablet. It combines the entertainment features of a TV with the mobility and engaging design of a tablet. You can buy the Galaxy View in retail stores nationwide and online at www.att.com. DIRECTV customers can walk out watching over 100 live channels.d For a limited time, customers that sign up for new DIRECTV service (24-month agreement required) can buy the Samsung Galaxy View for $99.99, with a two-year wireless agreement.3 Existing DIRECTV customers that activate a new line with a smartphone on AT&T Next can also get the Galaxy View for $99.99, with a two-year wireless agreement.4
Additional key features on the Galaxy View tablet include:
• Display: Streaming video is brought to life on the Galaxy View’s 18.4 inch, Full HD 1080p screen.5
• Storage: AT&T’s Galaxy View comes with 64GB6 of storage, with expandable memory up to 128GB7, so you can download your favorite videos, music and more.
• Portability: Use the Galaxy View’s built-in kickstand in TV-mode to watch the game while you grill, or stand upright into Lap-mode to read comfortably. Turn up your music’s volume while its powerful speakers provide serious sound.
• Long-lasting Battery: With up to 8 hours of continuous play or watch time8, you can binge-watch, game and browse for hours without having to pause the action.
Samsung Galaxy View will be available in Black from AT&T for $0 down for well-qualified customers and $30 per month for 20 months with an AT&T Tablet Installment Plan9 or $499.99 with a two-year agreement.10 Add the Galaxy View to a new or existing Mobile Share Value Plan for an additional $10 per month access charge.11
“The Samsung Galaxy View is the best parts of a TV and tablet, designed with entertainment as its primary focus,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Device Marketing and Developer Services, AT&T Mobility. “We know our customers are watching video in ways they never used to, and with this tablet you can shift where and when content is consumed. No other Samsung device provides this combination of integrated entertainment experience and value.”
The Samsung Galaxy View earned 4 of 5 stars, on AT&T’s Eco-Rating 2.0 system. The 2.0 system rates the social and environmental factors of AT&T branded handset devices and tablets. AT&T created the Eco-Rating 2.0 system to empower consumers to make better informed decisions when selecting a device. For more information about this device’s rating, AT&T’s Eco-Rating 2.0 System, and how you can join AT&T in making a difference, please visit http://att.com/ecospace.
For more information on the Samsung Galaxy View, check out this Mobile Minute video and visit: att.com/GalaxyView. Follow the conversation on social media by using #GalaxyView.
Over recent weeks and months we’ve read numerous reports regarding the Galaxy S7 and its dual-curve sibling. Most recently, the rumors have suggested the device will see an earlier-than-normal release, perhaps indicating that Samsung will unveil its next hot flagship before MWC in Barcelona. Some speculate we might even see an announcement as soon as January. A tweet from well-known leakster, Evan Blass, does nothing to discredit those rumors:
[tweet https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/665279918633295872 align=’center’]
Blass believes that with testing already happening at AT&T, we could see the phones land in the early part of Q1 2016. In other words: Between the beginning of January and mid-February. While the tweet alone doesn’t confirm anything, it certainly adds credibility to those previous launch timeframe rumors.
In recent years, Samsung has used MWC in Barcelona as the platform to announce the Galaxy S lineup. But it hasn’t always been that way. With MWC scheduled for 22-25 February in 2016, and big press events normally occurring before the conference officially kicks off, Samsung could once again use the Barcelona event to show off its next flagship phones. If it did, it would certainly (just about) fit in with Evan’s early-to-mid Q1 launch timeframe. Or Sammy could do what it did with the Galaxy Note 5 launch and decide to steal a march on a major conference by announcing its devices at a separate event beforehand.
It’s been reported in the past that Samsung will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 820 processor in the Galaxy S7 (at least in some markets). The powerful quad-core chips has just been officially outed by Qualcomm, and looks like it’ll be next year’s processor to beat. Saying that, it’ll be interesting to see how it compares performance-wise with Samsung’s own recently-announced Exynos 8890. If rumors are to be believed, the Snapdragon models will go for sale in China and the US, while the Exynos-equipped phones will be sold in Europe and other international markets.
Earlier this fall, LG announced the second generation version of its stylish round Android Wear watch. The LG Watch Urbane 2nd generation was sleeker and more attractive than its predecessor, and also the first Android Wear device to come with an LTE-equipped model. Both AT&T and Verizon will be accepting orders for the LTE model from this week…
A few weeks ago AT&T announced an upcoming network-level feature called NumberSync, which will allow customers to use one phone number on multiple connected devices like smartwatches, tablets, and connected cars. As promised, the carrier is unveiling the first two devices that will work with NumberSync: the Samsung Gear S2 and LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE.
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Blackberry’s first Android-powered smartphone, the PRIV, is coming to the United States this Friday on November 6 through AT&T. The carrier revealed that it will be the first in the US to carry the privacy and productivity focused BlackBerry. AT&T will offer the BlackBerry PRIV both online and in stores at the end of the week from $249.99 on a traditional two-year contract or from $24.67/month on a financing plan.
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Just a couple of weeks ago, LG announced the phone which will surely make any LG G4 owner ever-so-slightly envious. The V10 is, in many ways, what the G4 could, and should have been. Just in case you were holding on to find out where and when you can purchase LG’s latest flagship phablet, you’ll be glad to know that both AT&T and T-Mobile have announced plans to launch the phone this week.
AT&T confirmed on Twitter that it will begin selling the V10 from tomorrow, October 27:
[tweet https://twitter.com/ATT/status/658636376536125440 align=’center’]
According to the press release, you’ll be able to snag an ATT-flavored V10 for $249 on a 2-year contract from ATT.com. If a 24-month commitment isn’t what you’re after, you can also purchase the device on one of AT&T’s Next financing plans, starting at $23.34 per month.
T-Mobile, on the other hand, has announced that right from the off, it will be offering the V10 with a $100 discount. Starting on October 28 (Wednesday), T-Mobile will be opening online sales for the device at a full retail price of $599. On interest-free financing, that works out at $0 down and 24 monthly payments of $25. It’s the same deal on the company’s phone leasing program, JUMP! on Demand. Those interested can pre-register to be told when it’s available to buy, or just remember to hit the LG V10 page on T-Mobile’s site this Wednesday.
AT&T is announcing a new network-level advancement called NumberSync capable of sharing one phone number with all connected devices. With NumberSync, AT&T customers will soon be able to use what’s called mobile twinning to share a single phone number with multiple SIM cards in smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and other connected devices. The goal is to let you send and receive phone calls or messages from all your connected devices without relying on a specific app or operating system feature.
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Samsung’s gigantic upcoming tablet has cropped up online more than once in recent times. The most recent rumor indicated that the device, code-named ‘Tahoe’, will be released as the Samsung Galaxy View and sport whopping 18.4-inch display. An FCC filing reveals more about the as-yet-unreleased tablet from Samsung, including its dimensions, some previously unknown features and which carrier it’s likely heading to…
In a press release published earlier today, ZTE has announced that it’s releasing a second generation ZMAX. Unlike last year, this model isn’t going to be a T-Mobile device. Instead, the prepaid phone will be sold by AT&T and will go on sale for $149.99 on September 25.
Google may have promised to keep its Nexus devices updated once a month, and was one of the first to push fixes for the vulnerability in Stagefright, but that doesn’t mean owners of other phones will see such prompt updates. Today, weeks since Nexus devices were patched, AT&T’s HTC One M9 and M8 are receiving over-the-air updates to keep you safe when sending MMS messages.
You can find information about both the HTC One M9 update and that for the HTC One M8 over at AT&T’s website. The OTA for the M9 comes in at just 55.53 MB, while the M8 update is 28 MB. These are pretty tiny numbers for OTA updates, so you shouldn’t expect much more from this update than the patch for Stagefright. It goes without saying that it’s still important to update though.
Head over to the Settings app and mash that refresh button, or just wait until your device tells you that you’re ready to go.
National carriers across the US have been adding features that make it easier to use their service in Mexico and Canada as a growing trend, and today AT&T has announced enhancements to its pre-paid GoPhone plans to include 4GB of high speed data use in Canada and Mexico as well as the United States. The new AT&T GoPhone feature goes into effect on August 21st and is supported on the carrier’s $60 pre-paid plan without making any changes.
In addition to 4GB of data for use across North America, the GoPhone plans include unlimited talk and text in the US, Canada, and Mexico as well. AT&T’s $60 GoPhone plan is reduced to $55/month for customers using the carrier’s Auto Refill automatic payment feature. Important to note, though, is that AT&T’s GoPhone plans specifically mean data speeds up to 3G, not faster 4G LTE speeds, when mentioning high speed data.
For post-paid subscribers, AT&T supports international calling and texting to Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands on its 15GB and 20GB Mobile Share Value plans that it simplified over the weekend. More similarly, T-Mobile enhanced its own plans last month to support 4G LTE data use in addition to text and calls in Canada and Mexico without international roaming fees.
Starting tomorrow, AT&T will be revamping its Mobile Share Value plans by adjusting data tiers and plan prices for new and current subscribers. At the low end, AT&T is consolidating a few data tiers into just two options with different price points. Meanwhile, AT&T’s double digit data tiers are also being reduced, and some subscribers can potentially end up with more data at no extra cost per month or get a better rate on even higher data tiers.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ have just been announced and carriers aren’t holding back in letting us know when and where we can get hold of these new devices. The US is going to be one of the first countries to get the latest flagship phablets. Here’s where you can get them and when…
