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T-Mobile 7.2Mbps HSPA rolling out now?

by Ross Miller posted Nov 4th 2009 @ 11:27PM

Reports are coming in, by and large it seems via Android and Me, that T-Mobile's begun its rollout of its 7.2Mbps HSPA network for some extra speedy mobile browsing. We've done some testing in the listed cities, notably Chicago and New York, but so far are coming up with the usual, mundane speeds. It'd certainly make up for yesterday's snafu (almost), but at this point we're classifying as unconfirmed. Anyone else having better luck?

Read - 1MB mobile speed test
Read - Android and Me's report

T-Mobile officially unveils $99 Even More, $79 Even More Plus plans and equipment installment option

by Ross Miller posted Oct 25th 2009 @ 11:14AM

Right on schedule with the whispers, T-Mobile lifted the veil off of its new price plan tier structure, Even More and Even More Plus, and from the looks of it all those leaks were pretty much spot-on. The traditional Even More plan is a two-year commitment and discounted phone, with unlimited individual prices starting at $59 per month and going up to $99 if you want unlimited messaging and text, too. Even More Plus scrapes the device discount but offers unlimited individual prices at $49 for voice / $79 for everything. It looks like the only major differentiator is the subsidized handset, but here's where the numbers don't add up: even with the steep $350 discount on myTouch 3G, factoring in that $20 premium would pay for the phone during the 18th month, leaving six months and $120 of extra payments left that have no obvious justification to us. Additionally the FlexPay / equipment installment plan is now available, letting you break up the cost of your phone into interest-free monthly bills. It seems Even More's subsidized phones are offered over four installments (e.g. $37 per month for the $150 MyTouch 3G) while Even More Plus' is two installments (e.g. $25 per month for the same device at the $500 full price). Our initial takeaway from the price tiers is that T-Mobile is doing what it can to drive its consumers away from the traditional and over to the non-traditional (for US, at least) Even More Plus plan, but hey, we're not gonna argue over a beneficial contract-free plan, even if monthly phone payments keep us paying the company for at least 20 months. So T-Mo, any other Project Dark surprises in the cards? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

T-Mobile's Project Dark includes option for buying phones in monthly installments?

by Ross Miller posted Oct 18th 2009 @ 4:59PM

Still no confirmation on any all-you-can-eat data plans, but Boy Genius Report has some convincing screens that seem to reveal some other precepts of T-Mobile's enigmatic (and purportedly company-saving) Project Dark. Two new plans have emerged, Even More and Even More Plus. The former is the traditional two-year contract, along with options to do data only and get a subsidized phone. Even More Plus doesn't require a contract, going month-to-monthly instead, and subsequently the phone is full price. However, what's gonna be interesting to see is the FlexPay option, which allows you to pay for a device in monthly installments instead of upfront, a plan we've seen before in markets like Germany and Japan. In the example above, a $400 G1 on the non-contractual Even More Plus plan is divvied out to an initial $170 payment and 19 subsequent installments of $12.10, or $33.33 over three months after the related upfront cost. It's no game-changer on its own, but it's certainly an intriguing prospect that's gonna make some (initially) cash-strapped individuals very happy to be able to walk out with a decent Android device.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

T-Mobile Pulse now available in UK

by Ross Miller posted Oct 2nd 2009 @ 3:19AM

See that pink, embossed "Buy now" button in the lower right corner of the above pic? It's a beacon of hope to UK Android lovers who want more choices, and who for whatever reason aren't happy with the current selection. As previously discussed, the 3.5-inch Huawei-made T-Mobile Pulse is now available to our friends across the pond, for the unenviable price of nada on contract, or £176.16 (about $282 in US) with pay as you go, VAT included. Still looking for the ultimate mobile Gmail experience and a slightly larger than usual display? It's just a click away below.

Read - With contract
Read - Pay as you go

[Thanks, Liam H]

T-Mobile negotiating to expand 4G service, Catherine Zeta-Jones going door-to-door

by Laura June posted Sep 23rd 2009 @ 3:24PM

Word is that Deutsche Telekom (the parent company of T-Mobile) is now actively engaged in talks with Clearwire and MetroPCS to expand its 4G network. This isn't terribly shocking to hear, considering that most other providers (including AT&T, Verizon and Sprint) are already either heavy into negotiations or in the process of upgrading their infrastructure. Though the company hasn't yet said anything about planned expansions, word is its looking for the most "cost-effective" way to build nationwide networks capable of higher speeds.

Motorola CLIQ's November launch revealed in T-Mobile roadmap leak? (Update: new info points to October)

by Ross Miller posted Sep 12th 2009 @ 3:56PM

T-Mobile and Motorola weren't too forthcoming with a US launch date for the CLIQ, given only a ballpark estimate of "holiday." However, this supposed carrier roadmap pinpoints a November release for the social-equipped Android handset. No clue how long ago this slide was made or how valid the information is -- note the placeholder image and non-capitalized title -- but we can't imagine T-Mo would wait too close to Christmas to unleash it on the willing masses. Mum's still the word on price, but that previous $0.00 figure is probably too good to be true.

Update: Boy Genius has clarified that the source who gave him this chart is claiming it to be an outdated roadmap, and that a newer, not yet seen one shows it for October. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

David Pogue launches all-out war on canned voicemail messages

by Joshua Topolsky posted Jul 30th 2009 @ 1:04PM

You know, we love fighting the good fight -- especially if it means calling out corporations on their untoward business practices. Today we're joining David Pogue of the New York Times in calling foul on cellphone carriers' insistence that users be forced to listen to those maddening, pointless 15-second canned carrier messages. In case you've held off on owning a cellphone or calling anyone who has one, they go a little something like this:

At the tone, please record your message. When you have finished recording, you may hang up, or press 1 for more options. To leave a callback number, press 5. (Beep)

Not only is Pogue mad-as-hell-and-not-going-to-take-it about the ridiculous idea that we still need to be told how to use voicemail, it turns out those additional messages are actually costing you cold, hard cash. He estimates that Verizon, for instance, is netting around $620 million a year thanks to these little annoyances. So what's to be done? Well Pogue wants the citizens of the internet to take up virtual arms... and complain like nobody's business. He's wrangled together all the best contact points for the four largest carriers in the US (included for your convenience after the break). Let them know you know don't want to pay for voicemail instructions. And hey, while you're at it, tell them the price-gouging on text messages needs to go, too.

Continue reading David Pogue launches all-out war on canned voicemail messages

Motorola Morrisson with T-Mobile 3G and UMA hits the FCC

by Nilay Patel posted Jul 29th 2009 @ 7:44PM

Well well, what's this? Seems a certain Uncle Sam's been poking around the lab with the Android-powered Motorola Morrison, and published his findings to the "World Wide Web." And hey -- are those T-Mobile 3G bands with UMA support we see in these action-packed RF reports? Why yes, they are -- too bad Sam didn't see fit to include any actual pictures of his new toy. Still, we've got a feeling this is one unreleased Motorola we'll be getting our hands on real soon.

[Via CellPhoneSignal; thanks William]

iPhone 3G S processor specs: 600MHz CPU, 256MB of RAM

by Nilay Patel posted Jun 10th 2009 @ 1:03PM

Apple's being pretty cagey with the hard specs of the iPhone 3G S, but apparently T-Mobile Netherlands didn't get the message -- it's just posted up a specs page listing 256MB of RAM and a 600MHz CPU. That's up from 128MB and 412MHz in the first-gen and the 3G, and it's basically exactly what was rumored. Of course, the 3G S also has that new PowerVR SGX graphics chip that supports OpenGL ES 2.0, so the total speed boost is probably more than just pure clock speed, but we'll find out for sure when we get our hands on one.

[Via iLounge]

Pharos Traveller 137 now available, can use both AT&T and T-Mobile 3G

by Nilay Patel posted Jun 4th 2009 @ 4:02PM

We're not sure what kind of wilded-out party people need a single phone that can use both AT&T and T-Mobile 3G in the States, but your dreams have finally come true: the Pharos Traveller 137 is finally available. Hope you like Windows Mobile 6.1, cause that's what you're getting for your $350 on two-year T-Mo contract or $600 unlocked. Expensive, yes, but you're basically getting every feature you can think of and Pharos says the 137 is WinMo 6.5-ready, so there's an upgrade path here -- too bad no firmware will ever make that resistive touchscreen feel good.

[Via PhoneScoop]

Motorola's first Android phone to be the T-Mobile G1 v2?

by Nilay Patel posted May 11th 2009 @ 6:07PM

Okay, so T-Mobile confirmed on Saturday that it's launching "multiple" Android devices from "three partners" later this year, and since most people assume the HTC Magic / Sapphire / myTouch / whatever and the Samsung I7500 are pretty much locked in, speculation has generally centered around that mysterious G1 v2 and the identity of the third partner -- and it looks like it's going to be Motorola. Not only did commenter Someperson notice that the button labels on the alleged G1 v2 are basically identical to those on other recently-launched Moto phones, Boy Genius Report says today that they can "more or less confirm" the v2 will be Schaumburg's first Android set -- a development that lines up perfectly with last month's rumors of a slider QWERTY piece. Yep, it all fits together nicely, except for the fact that HTC is oddly out of the loop on the sequel to the G1 -- but since T-Mobile owns that particular trademark, it can do whatever it wants, you know? Hopefully we'll find out more soon -- if that sketchy leaked roadmap is correct, we'll be seeing this guy in the fall.

Update: Or... the G1 v2 could really be the Samsung Bigfoot. It's a mystery for now, we'll let you know.

T-Mobile to release "multiple" Android devices this year

by Nilay Patel posted May 9th 2009 @ 7:11PM

It's no secret that T-Mobile has some grand Android-based plans after the million-selling success of the G1, and although we've heard sketchy reports of future devices to come, it sounds like things are starting to firm up: CTO Cole Brodman told GigaOm yesterday that the carrier is planning to launch "multiple" Android devices from "three partners" later this year. One of those is pretty obviously the HTC Magic / Sapphire / myTouch, but that's just the tip of the potential iceberg here -- we've got a feeling that the Samsung I7500 "Houdini" will be involved, the G1 v2 is certainly interesting, there's that mysterious Huawei set we saw at MWC, and hell, we've even got reports of netbooks, tablets, and home phones in the mix. That's a lot of directions Timmy-O can go, any predictions?

T-Mobile UK apparently being pressured to merge or bust

by Donald Melanson posted May 1st 2009 @ 4:04PM

There's not exactly a ton of details on this one, but it looks like Deutsche Telekom CFO Timotheus Hoettges caused a bit of a stir at the company's recently shareholder meeting, where he reportedly suggested that T-Mobile UK would likely have to merge with another carrier or face the possibility of going bust. Specifically, Hoettges said that "in our view consolidation is a means to take excess capabilities out of the market," adding somewhat ominously that "nothing is unthinkable on our side." Of course, that immediately brings up the question of which carrier T-Mobile might merge with, and MarketingWeek suggests that one of the most likely suitors would be 3, which it currently ranked fifth in the UK market right behind T-Mobile, although O2, Orange, and Vodafone would no doubt also be in the running.

[Via Electronista]

T-Mobile announces tiny new "embedded SIM" for connected devices

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 23rd 2009 @ 4:28PM

Sure, SIM cards are small, but they're not tiny, and fitting the entire assembly into an embedded device requires a lot of space -- so T-Mobile's new embedded SIM system should make it possible to build even smaller connected devices like hospital monitors and smart energy meters that can report back to a server. The new SIMs are the size of a pinhead and made of silicon instead of plastic, which allows them to be coded at the factory and hard-mounted directly to a device, skipping the provisioning and installation steps that would come with regular SIMs. Devices with the new SIMs are expected to be out and sending data over T-Mo's network in as little as six months -- the first is an energy meter from Echelon that should hit soon.

T-Mobile sells a million G1s in the US

by Nilay Patel posted Apr 23rd 2009 @ 12:47PM

We don't know why T-Mobile isn't trumpeting this, but Deutsche Telekom's Q1 results are out, and the multinational carrier says that over one million G1s have been sold in the US, making up a majority of the 1.5 million 3G devices currently active on T-Mo's network. That's quite an accomplishment in just six months, considering the Android handset launched without nationwide 3G coverage -- it's better now, but we're talking just 21 cities back in October. Of course, a million's just a drop in the bucked compared to the number of Blackberrys, iPhones, and Windows Mobile devices out there, but we've got enough of a soft spot for Android to overlook it -- now let's get some more devices out the door and really boost that marketshare number, shall we?

[Via Electronista]