T-Mobile

378 'T-Mobile' stories May 2011 - June 2012

T-Mobile signs AWS spectrum agreement with Verizon

Jordan Kahn Jun 25 2012 - 8:26 am PT

T-Mobile just announced plans to exchange and purchase spectrum from Verizon Wireless in a deal the carrier claimed would improve its “spectrum position in 15 of the top 25 markets” that covers 60 million people. T-Mobile said the spectrum would help enhance its 4G network and advance the rollout of its LTE service. The agreement includes spectrum that Verizon planned to acquire from several cable companies, so T-Mobile will first have to wait for the Federal Communications Commission and U.S. Department of Justice to approve the deal:

“This agreement will provide T-Mobile with critical AWS spectrum, enhancing both network capacity and performance and allowing us to meet the growing consumer demand for 4G mobile broadband,” T-Mobile CEO and President Philipp Humm said. “This is good for T-Mobile and good for consumers because it will enable T-Mobile to compete even more vigorously with other wireless carriers. We anticipate FCC approval later this summer, in time for us to incorporate this new spectrum into our network modernization and the rollout of LTE services next year.”

T-Mobile mentioned a few of the cities that would benefit if the agreement goes through:

T-Mobile will gain spectrum covering 60 million people — notably in Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Detroit; Minneapolis; Seattle; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee; Charlotte, N.C.; Raleigh-Durham, N.C.; Greensboro, N.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Rochester, N.Y

Samsung predicts Galaxy S III sales of over 10M units for July

Jordan Kahn Jun 25 2012 - 6:51 am PT

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JK Shin, head of Samsung’s mobile division, told reporters today (via Reuters) that the company expects to sell over 10 million units of the recently launched Galaxy S III during July. Despite concerns of component shortages for the flagship device, the company is expecting higher earnings for its current quarter compared to the $3.6 billion profit generated from January to March:

Samsung kicked off global sales of its Galaxy S III on May 29, but shipments have been affected by the tight supply of parts such as the handset casing for the pebble-blue model… In the United States, where sales were launched last Thursday, major carriers including Sprint Nextel Corp, T-Mobile and AT&T have not been able to offer the Galaxy with 32 gigabytes of memory, partly due to tight supply… “Due to overwhelming demand for the Galaxy S III worldwide, Samsung has informed us they will not be able to deliver enough inventory of Galaxy S III for Sprint to begin selling the device on June 21.”

Shin assured reporters that the company is not worried about the shortages affecting second quarter results. Shin noted “supply simply can’t meet soaring demand,” but he claimed, “things will get better from next week”:

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Samsung announces dual-core Galaxy S3 for five US carriers starting this month

Seth Weintraub Jun 4 2012 - 3:00 am PT

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Qualcomm seems to have the lock on U.S. processors for high-end phones. Just like the HTC Ones before it, Samsung also uses the dual-core Qualcomm S4 processors in its U.S. versions of the Galaxy S3 phones—trading out its own Exynos quad-core processor. Qualcomm dual-core S4 processors have the LTE and 42MB HSPA+ speeds that U.S. smartphone owners expect while keeping up with quad-core processors.

There are no other real surprises in the announcement. Samsung said S3s would deliver starting at $199 later this month on Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile, and US Cellular. Capacities will vary between 16GB to 32GB of expandable storage, a whopping 2GB of RAM, and a 2100mAh battery. Each will also have that lovely 4.8-inch 720P Super AMOLED display.

The press release follows:

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T-Mobile announces no-contract broadband passes starting at $15

Jordan Kahn May 17 2012 - 1:44 pm PT

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T-Mobile announced new “worry-free No Annual Contracts” today for its mobile broadband service that is expected to launch through T-Mobile retail stores and online May 20. The plans start at $15 per one-week pass capped at 300MB and $25 per one-moth pass capped at 1.5GB. The carrier is also offering 3.5GB and 5GB one-month passes at $35 and $50, respectively.

T-Mobile’s website currently lists no-annual contract broadband plans at $100 for a 100MB week pass, $30 for a 1 GB month pass, or $50 for a 3GB month pass. We are assuming the new plans will replace the old ones on May 20.

Starting at just $15, T-Mobile’s lineup of No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes delivers a pay-in-advance, overage-free solution that offers an allotment of mobile data, making it possible for customers to choose a pass that best fits their data needs without committing to a two-year contract.

The full press release from T-Mobile is below:

T-Mobile Introduces New No Annual Contract

Mobile Broadband Service Passes

New Passes, Available May 20, Offer Flexible, More Affordable Access to High-Speed Internet on the Go on an Advanced Lineup of 4G Tablets, Mobile Hotspots and Laptop Sticks

Bellevue, Wash. — May 17, 2012 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that its new, flexible and worry-free No Annual Contract mobile broadband service passes will debut May 20, making it easier for customers to enjoy access to high-speed Internet on the gowhenever they want. With T-Mobile’s new, more affordable No Annual Contract data passes, customers can experience T-Mobile’s blazing-fast 4G network speeds across a variety of mobile broadband devices including tablets, mobile hotspots and laptop sticks – with no strings attached.

Starting at just $15, T-Mobile’s lineup of No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes delivers a pay-in-advance, overage-free solution that offers an allotment of mobile data, making it possible for customers to choose a pass that best fits their data needs without committing to a two-year contract:

300MB 1-week pass for $15
1.5GB 1-month pass for $25
3.5GB 1-month pass for $35
5GB 1-month pass for $50

“Although most of our mobile broadband customers choose postpaid rate plans for the best device prices and data rates, we know that many of our customers want the flexibility to be able to experience mobile broadband without committing to an annual contract up front,” said Jeremy Korst, vice president of marketing, T-Mobile USA. “With better pricing and new features like an auto-refill option and a simpler purchase experience, T-Mobile’s No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes make it easier and more affordable than ever to experience high-speed Internet on the go on a range of devices.”

T-Mobile^® offers a variety of 4G mobile broadband devices that, when connected to T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network, offer customers fast access to the Web, e-mail, gaming, movies and more, while on-the-go.

T-Mobile’s lineup of mobile, connected tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab^™ 10.1, the Samsung Galaxy Tab^™ 7.0 Plus and the T-Mobile^® SpringBoard^™with Google^™, deliver a premium on-the-go entertainment and Web experience, making it possible to stream movies on a road trip or shop online while the kids play at the park.
The T-Mobile^® Sonic^™ 4G Mobile Hotspot and the T-Mobile 4G Mobile Hotspot are ideal for staying connected on-the-go with colleagues and clients or providing Internet on the go for the family on vacation. Providing simultaneous access to T-Mobile’s 4G network for up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices, customers can use their mobile hotspots to connect their iPad^® devices, laptops, music players, portable gaming devices and e-readers, among other devices, to T-Mobile’s high-speed 4G network.
T-Mobile’s laptop sticks, including the HSPA+ 42-enabled Rocket^™ 3.0 USB Laptop Stick, are perfect for customers looking for a blazing-fast mobile Internet connection on their laptop.

Availability

T-Mobile’s new No Annual Contract mobile broadband passes are expected to be available beginning May 20 at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers, national retailers and online at http://www.t-mobile.com. More information on T-Mobile’s mobile broadband offerings is available at http://mobile-broadband.t-mobile.com.

A ‘First Look’ at the HTC Desire C [Video]

Élyse Betters May 15 2012 - 8:27 am PT

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[youtube=http://youtu.be/yJFsC08IZoQ]

Smartphone manufacturer HTC unveiled its latest mobile market contribution, the HTC Desire C, along with an official promotion video this morning.

The reel, dubbed “First Look,” only gave a brief glimpse of the device’s HTC Sense 4.0 interface, while this morning’s presser and website addressed a few of the informational gaps. The handset highlights Beats Audio technology, Sense integrated with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and a “powerful battery.” It also boasts a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera, and 25GB of Dropbox for two years, and will sell alongside a second, NFC-capable variant.

The HTC Desire C will debut in red, white, and black through T-Mobile, Virgin Media, Three, Vodafone, Orange, O2, Phones4U, The Carphone Warehouse, and Tesco Mobile in the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Engadget got ahold of T-Mobile UK to confirm pricing details: Pay-monthly users can have the handset free as long as they pay £15.50 a month for two years, and Pay-As-You-Go users can get the Android smartphone for £169.99. Both options become available in early June.

The full press release is after the break.

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AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson says that Google prevents updates to Android devices

Seth Weintraub May 6 2012 - 2:19 pm PT

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During the Q&A of a recent interview, AT&T’s CEO Randall Stephenson said some interesting things about the Android ecosystem.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Q3drI4yyiVw&start=2675]

His statements are confusing, because we have been— up to this point—lead to believe that there is a straightforward way this works:

Google open sources the Android OS.
After that, manufacturers get the OS working on their devices with drivers and (gawdforsaken) overlays.
Finally, the carriers certify the OS on those devices (and add a bunch of crapware).

In a response to the questioner, Stephenson blamed Google, saying, “Google determines what platform gets the newest releases and when. A lot of times, that’s a negotiated arrangement and that’s something we work at hard. We know that’s important to our customers. That’s kind of an ambiguous answer because I can’t give you a direct answer in this setting.”

He then goes on to explain how great Windows is and how he has been using it for a month. He also said Android needs to work on security.

While the questioner is speaking in the broader sense about getting his older Android device updated, it is possible that he is referring to the recent Galaxy Nexus that hit Verizon first in December. The GSM version of the Galaxy Nexus was available on AT&T before the release on Verizon (I was an early user) if you bought the phone without a plan.
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Google Play rolling out direct carrier billing for movies, music, and books

Jordan Kahn May 2 2012 - 11:24 am PT

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For quite a while, Android users on many carriers in a handful of countries have had access to direct carrier billing for apps. Google is rolling out the option today to all content available through Google Play including music, movies, and books to certain carriers in the United States and Japan. While direct carrier billing is available to AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile (everyone but Verizon who operates its own Android store), Google’s announcement seems to indicate the expanded service will launch first on T-Mobile in the United States with Sprint coming soon. It will also roll out to Softbank, DoCoMo, and KDDI customers in Japan. You can check out a full list of countries and carriers that support direct billing here.

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Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 comparison outshines Kindle Fire, Nook

Élyse Betters Apr 26 2012 - 12:21 pm PT

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Public relations firm MWW Group just released a series of charts comparing Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 to the Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook tablet.

Needless to say, the Galaxy Tab 2 comes out on top across the board in its eReader comparison. Take a look at the charts above, or download the PDF.

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Google vs Oracle bits: Original Google Phone, Android revs, and $10 data plan

Jordan Kahn Apr 25 2012 - 1:59 pm PT

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There is a lot of interesting news coming out of the Google v. Oracle Java trial today. Yesterday, former CEO Eric Schmidt gave his testimony to the court, and today Andy Rubin took the stand where he revealed a slide deck with Google’s ambitions to sell 10 million Android tablets during 2011 and other pieces of information related to Android revenue.

On-hand reports from The Verge point us to a few of the more intriguing statements made by Rubin and others today:

Google Phone:

The image above is of the “original Google phone” concept presented to carriers almost two years before Google finally launched the first Android handset, the T-Mobile G1. The images of the device came up in the trial due to references to Java in the designs. A year later, in May 2007, almost a year after iPhone, Google was still designing Android with a physical keyboard in mind—as noted in Android specification documents during the trial.

Android Revenue:

First, we get a close look at Android revenue numbers for the first time. The numbers come from a quarterly report given by Rubin and others in 2010 that show the company expected revenue from Android to reach $278.1 million during the year.

The forecast was based on increasing the roughly 20 million Android phones in the market at the time to 40 million by the end of the year. Google was also expecting to pull in $158.9 million in Android ad revenue and just $3.8 million from its 30 percent cut of app sales. According to the report, Google forecasted bringing in $840.2 million from Android ads and $35.9m from app sales in 2012.

Subsidized unlimited data plans:

Another interesting document that emerged from the trial shows Google suggested to T-Mobile in 2006 that it would give up its finder’s fee commission for new customers in order to provide Android phones with $10 monthly unlimited data plans. Of course, that plan was never carried out, and the original Android T-Mobile G1 launched with the conventional $25+ plans.

T-Mobile HTC One goes on sale today. Go buy it (for fee with a trade in?)

Seth Weintraub Apr 25 2012 - 1:53 pm PT

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I’ve had my HTC One S review unit for a week and can say that what I found before still stands. Without a doubt (O.K., one little one), this is the phone to get if you are on T-Mobile. In fact, there are few phones available from any carriers that can stand with this device. Here’s why:

The screen is beautiful. The not too big, not too small, 4.3-inch diagonally 540-by-960 display is not the monster that most high-end Androids tout today, but it is well big enough for just about anything you could throw at it. It is bright, vibrant and stands its ground to direct sunlight. Pixels are not discernable in normal use.
The phone is thin, light, and strong. At under 8mm thin, you will not find a thinner phone anywhere. At the same time, it has a beautiful unibody aluminum construction. It feels great in the hand and is relatively unnoticeable in the pocket.
Sense 4.0, while still an overlay, is an improvement from HTC. I really liked the camera software, as well as the some of the little weather, Stock, Sense Widgets, etc. I also like T-MobileTV, which broadcasts some good live and other content over the mobile network or Wi-Fi.
The experience is polished all around. Fast processor, ample battery time and great Beats sound.

To make the deal sweeter, T-Mobile started trade-ins today, which means you could get the One S free. Get the HTC One S for $199 on a two-year plan now.

HTC One S landing on T-Mobile April 25 for $199 (9to5google.com)
Review: T-Mobile’s HTC One – 2012 is a whole new ballgame (9to5google.com)

Review: T-Mobile’s HTC One S – 2012 is a whole new ballgame

Seth Weintraub Apr 18 2012 - 10:08 pm PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZZzn4EPN9Q]

T-Mobile’s launch of the HTC One S should be seen as the first real phone benchmark for 2012. That is good because 2011 was a bad year for both T-Mobile and HTC.

We have a bold new generation of devices from a beaten up manufacturer on a carrier that is just now emerging from the AT&T merger/breakup.

Without even turning the One S on, you will immediately marvel at the hardware. It is an incredible 7.8mm thin, which is significantly thinner than the thinnest Galaxy S2 or iPhone 4S. It is also 118g light, yet it is a metallic solid, owing to its unibody aluminum construction. With angular/rounded corners, it feels great in the hand and the dark Gorilla Glass on metal look is as nice of a design as you will find on any device. It has three capacitive buttons on the bottom, which we owe to the new Ice Cream Sandwich user-interface.

It is hard for me to imagine someone going into a T-Mobile store and coming out with anything else but this phone. Sure, the new Galaxies have slightly bigger screens, but this feels much more solid and has the same resolution. Moreover, last year’s HTC Sensation and Amaze feel like a grenades compared to the svelte HTC One S.

Let’s dig in:

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T-Mobile Test Drives 4G vs 3G in unfair network comparison

Jordan Kahn Apr 18 2012 - 8:03 am PT

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Following the launch of its new Alter Ego ad campaign yesterday, T-Mobile just made its new “Test Drive” tool available for comparing the speed of “American’s Largest 4G Network” to other guys— Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon. Unfortunately, as pointed out by TMONews, the carrier is comparing 4G LTE Android handsets, such as the Galaxy S II, to the 3G speeds of the iPhone 4S. This is obviously not a fair comparison of LTE network speeds…

T-Mobile’s TestDrive website is now live and I will say at first glance, I’m disappointed. I’ll just get right to it — T-Mobile, I’m really puzzled by this. The idea that you claim “America’s largest 4G network” and design a new commercial campaign around speed and then compare your “4G” network against “3G” smartphones is a questionable act. Speed should no longer be the focus of T-Mobile’s marketing campaign, Value and Technology should. Speed should be a secondary thought. If you can’t win on speed, highlight where you can, Value, Value, Value.

Report: Four carriers fight for fastest 3G and 4G speeds, only two debut on top (9to5google.com)

Report: Four carriers fight for fastest 3G and 4G speeds, only two debut on top

Élyse Betters Apr 17 2012 - 11:56 am PT

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PC World tested 3G and 4G wireless data transfer speeds for the top four carriers —both indoors and outside with multiple devices across 13 major cities in 130 testing locations— and discovered some surprising results.

During average wireless speed tests for 3G networks with the smartphones pictured above, T-Mobile took home the fastest download and upload speed prize at 3.84 Mbps and 1.44 Mbps, respectively. AT&T landed the No. 2 spot with its 2.62 Mbps download speed and 0.85-Mbps upload speed.

The slower 3G network provider reclaimed its pride and rose to fame with its 4G wireless speeds, however. AT&T garnered 9.56 Mbps while downloading and 5.15 Mbps for uploads. Verizon debuted at second with its 7.35 Mbps download speed and 5.86 Mbps upload speed.

The overall winners are named below.

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T-Mobile unveils new ‘Alter Ego’ ad campaign

Jordan Kahn Apr 17 2012 - 9:38 am PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OIWfmjnJPs&list=UUJWjiXxsH7Nb2354JHI4q0Q&feature=plcp]

After yesterday’s teaser advertisement, T-Mobile unveiled its brand new “Alter Ego” ad campaign today that reveals “another side of our popular brand ambassador, Carly.” The video does away with the magenta outfit that Carly is known for–in exchange for black leather and a 1000 cc Ducati motorcycle.

Entitled “Alter Ego,” the ad is a metaphor for what T-Mobile is all about – challenging the status quo and taking bold steps in the marketplace as a challenger brand. The makeover from the girl-next-door to an edgier, more tech-savvy and spirited Carly is synonymous with the evolution of the T-Mobile brand as we continue to push the envelope with device and service innovation to deliver amazing 4G experiences at an affordable price.

T-Mobile posts teaser video for new (probably) Android handset

Jake Smith Apr 16 2012 - 7:20 pm PT

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MMJVWNYqLRk

T-Mobile posted a new teaser this evening on its YouTube account, presumably for a new Android handset. The company also plans to kick-off its new marketing campaign tomorrow, according to TmoNews.

Ninety percent of the handsets on T-Mobile are currently running Android—and hey, this may be for the upcoming HTC One S.

T-Mobile talks reinvigorated challenger strategy: 4G LTE in 2013, network improvements, ramped up advertising spending, hiring spree, brand relaunch

9to5 Staff Feb 23 2012 - 10:34 am PT

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T-Mobile USA today reported holiday-quarter earnings. Among the highlights: The carrier lost 802,000 contract customers because it did not get to carry the iPhone, thus contributing to its 3.3-percent quarterly revenue decline down to $20.6 billion. The Deutsche Telekom-owned carrier also said it would embark on a major network transformation this year and promised to launch 4G LTE network sometime in 2013.

The Bellevue, Wash.-headquartered firm hoped the failed AT&T merger would solve capital expenditure issues, so it did not invest in network infrastructure. The strategy backfired as T-Mobile USA is the last major United States carrier to begin 4G LTE deployment. The company’s CEO & president Philipp Humm talked his reinvigorated challenger strategy for getting the business back to growth in a conference call with Wall Street analyst.

The initiative includes a $4 billion investment over time into network modernization and LTE deployment, representing approximately $1.4 billion in incremental network investment over the next two years. The company expects to reach broad deployment of LTE with service in the majority of the top 50 markets and 20 MHz service in 75 percent of the top 25 markets.

More highlights are after the break.

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Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G lands on T-Mobile for $150 in March

Jordan Kahn Feb 22 2012 - 10:29 am PT

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T-Mobile made things official today for the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, a 3.97-inch device with a high-end camera and processor specs with an entry-level price. Landing in late March on T-Mobile for $149.99 (after $50 mail-in rebate and a two-year commitment), the Galaxy S Blaze 4G packs a 3.97-inch Super AMOLED display, 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S3 processor, and 5-megapixel camera (1.3mp front camera) with flash, “advanced shooting modes,” and 4x digital zoom.

Its 4G capabilities means 42Mbps HSPA+ support, and it will run Android 2.3 out of the box. We will most likely see even more of the device following Mobile World Congress kicking off later this month in Barcelona. The Galaxy S Blaze 4G is definitely looking like a decent option for those wanting a powerful Android device under $150 (or likely much cheaper at Amazon).

The full press release and a gallery are below:

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T-Mobile offers its whole 4G phone selection for free Feb. 11 to spread the love

Jake Smith Feb 7 2012 - 8:26 pm PT

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As our hearts prepare for Valentine’s Day, T-Mobile announced today a new sale happening this Saturday, Feb. 11. T-Mobile will offer its entire 4G selection free on a two-year contract. T-Mobile’s Android offerings include the popular Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Amaze 4G, HTC Wildfire 4G, Springboard tablet, HTC Sensation 4G, and more. (via TmoNews)

Will you be skipping down to the T-Mobile store—with the spirit of love in your heart– to purchase a device? You can read T-Mobile’s press release after the break.

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Verizon Galaxy Nexus Review: Bigger, faster, cheaper and less Google

Seth Weintraub Dec 16 2011 - 1:07 pm PT

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LTE makes Ice Cream Sandwich all the more tasty…

The biggest difference philisophically is demonstrated in the logos above. No longer a Google phone, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus is a Verizon LTE phone – for all that is worth.

After 24 hours with the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, I am not going to say something that hasn’t already been guessed, so refer to the previous Galaxy Nexus Review for most of my original thoughts. However, here’s what is different:

The Verizon GN is slightly thicker to house the LTE Radios/antenna and the larger battery required. It’s also slightly heavier, but you will not notice or care about the size difference. Five people, who I’ve given blind tests to, could hardly determine one from the other. Battery life differences will matter more, though, as I have not run through my initial full charge on Verizon. So, that’s a good sign for the LTE version, but I still believe people will be able to go longer on HSPA+. By perhaps saving a little bit of space, Verizon/Samsung opted for an LTE Micro-SIM rather than a full sized one. This is interesting, especially when the International version is a full sized GSM variant.
Bigger also means 32 GB on Verizon’s LTE vs. 16 GB on HSPA+
LTE is faaaast (shocker!) and adds to an already lightning quick phone. Browsing is silly fast here: You have the fastest browser, coupled with one of the fastest processors, and an LTE connection to boot. We’re talking about desktop speeds here folks. Honestly, when I’m on a good LTE connection, it is as fast as Wifi on a Cable broadband connection… almost indistinguishable.
GPS is still a bit laggy compared to other manufacturers; however, since GPS is often tied to the Baseband, I was hoping for improvement. Both versions are the same.
They feel the same processor/GPU wise. There might be some differences, but real world – you won’t notice much.
Verizon Backup Assistant and My Verizon Mobile come on the device. You can delete these from Manage apps, and I’m sure many will.
For $149 on a Verizon LTE plan vs. purchasing the International version for $700+ and getting on an HSPA+ plan from T-Mobile or AT&T, I am going to wager that it is going to sell much faster than the international/unsubsidized (and the lines seem to bear this out). Whatever Verizon did to get the exclusive here was worth it (for them, not for us Google/Samsung customers).
While there are no VCast Apps or navigation apps, it would appear that Google relented in putting its Wallet on the Verizon device. Verizon’s line needs more testing. I anticipate it will be allowed on the device around the time Verizon’s ISIS service arrives in 2012, if ever.

[slideshow]

Bottom line: If you are cool with Verizon and their 4G plans, missing out on Google Wallet and battery life isn’t the dominating factor in choosing a phone, so go grab one of these now. This is by far the best Android device on the market (by the way, Verizon is offering a bigger battery pack for $25).

However, if you want to roam internationally, hope to use Google Wallet or want some carrier/plan freedom or need to be on AT&T/T-Mobile, you are going to want the International version. So, pick up another device or wait it out.

Anyway…we’ll have a more in-depth look at this device when we’ve had more time to play.

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T-Mobile USA updating Samsung Galaxy SII software with battery, WiFi and Caller ID enhancements

9to5 Staff Dec 14 2011 - 12:00 pm PT

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A software update for T-Mobile’s Galaxy SII is dropping today, bringing several enhancements pertaining to the handset’s battery performance, wireless network issues and Caller ID problems. According to a support page over at the T-Mobile USA web site, an over-the-air firmware update will upgrade the device to Android 2.3.5 (build T989VUVKL1).

The software update will also be available via Kies mini and is not required so you can opt out of the upgrade and continue using the previous software version. The company also tweeted that the white version of the Galaxy SII smartphone is available today via their online store.

According to their Facebook page, “a new white color option that will be available for T-Mobile customers just in time for the holidays”. The carrier also reiterated in the post comments that “we do not have any new information regarding the iPhone coming to T-Mobile”, instead pointing folks to their September 26 blog post on the prospect of T-Mobile iPhone.

The carrier also aired an interesting commercial pitting Apple’s iPhone 4S against HTC’s Amaze 4G in an arcade fight.

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Flagship phones from three big US carriers go free at Amazon this week

Seth Weintraub Nov 21 2011 - 8:55 am PT

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From 9to5Toys.com:

Amazon has some truly remarkable phones for free with a plan in its current penny pincher sale.

For the first time ever, AmazonWireless is offering ALL AT&T, Sprint and Verizon phones for a penny. The promotion is live now and runs through 11:59 PM on Cyber Monday (Nov 28^th) and only applies to new activations (with a two-year contract).

Additionally, AmazonWireless’ $100 Hotspot Holidays deal can be quite a savings incentive. If you activate the hotspot feature on your new phone at the time of purchase, you will receive a $100 Amazon.com credit. Not a bad way to make some extra spending money for apps…or holiday gifts.

Standouts on each carrier include:

Droid RAZR, Bionic, Incredible 2, X2 and others on Verizon: FREE

Samsung Galaxy SII, Skyrocket and Amaze 4G, Atrix 2 and others on AT&T: FREE

Samsung Galaxy SII Epic Touch, Nexus S, EVO 3D and others on Sprint: FREE

T-Mobile sends out invites to Google’s Music event on Wednesday, confirming their presence

Jake Smith Nov 14 2011 - 4:17 pm PT

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T-Mobile has begun sending out invites to the press this afternoon (via TechCrunch), inviting them to Google’s upcoming event on Wednesday. T-Mobile’s presence was already hinted at in Google’s invite last week, but today’s invite confirms that T-Mobile most likely has a big involvement in what’s coming up.

The event is most definitely looking to be the launch of Google Music. Look at all of those music artists (for the after party) in the invite: Drake, Maroon 5, Busta Rhymes, Dirty South, and R3hab are certainly some big names. However, it’s not clear what T-Mobile’s roll will be, but a Galaxy Nexus version could certainly be possible.

Check out last week’s invite after the break:

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Galaxy Nexus listed with 7 carriers on signup page

Jake Smith Oct 19 2011 - 8:25 pm PT

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On the product page for the Galaxy Nexus that was released yesterday there is a signup form to get more information on the device before it is available in November. The signup form hints to seven new carriers that the Galaxy Nexus will be listed on.

We already know that Verizon will probably be the exclusive carrier of the Nexus, but also listed are AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, MetroPCS, Cellular South (C Spire), and U.S. Cellular. It is not clear which carriers will be available at first.

This is fantastic news, giving users more choice — especially with those pre-paid carriers. If you haven’t seen the Galaxy Nexus you’re sure to want to check it out.

T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II gets official with support for 4G HSPA+ 42 Mbps network

Jordan Kahn Sep 26 2011 - 2:19 pm PT

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After Samsung this morning announced they have sold 10 million Galaxy S II’s into retail channels, T-Mobile has made their own variant official with an October 10th pre-order date and $229 price tag.

While the majority of the specs on the device mirror other Galaxy S II variations, the real story here is support for T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ 42 Mbps network thanks to the switch from Samsung’s Exnos processor to a 1.5GHz Qualcom dual-core Snapdragon chip.

Other features are similar to the Epic 4G and other variants including a 4.52-inch Super AMOLED display, 8-megapixel main camera, NFC capabilities, 16GB internal storage, and Android 2.3.4.

The device will officially hit retail stores on October 12th. The $229 price point will of course require the usual two-year agreement in addition to a $50 rebate.

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