T-Mobile

More mobile makers join Android

Paul Mah — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:36:32 -0500

News came in earlier this week that another 14 companies have elected to join the Open Handset Alliance (OHA), a Google-led consortium dedicated to the Android open-sourced mobile operating system. Consisting mostly of manufacturers and a couple of Telcos, some of the new members include ARM, Asustek, Garmin, Huawei Technologies, Sony-Ericsson and Toshiba. Most notable would be the inclusion of Vodafone, with its 280 million customers worldwide.

The official statement is that the "New members will either deploy compatible Android devices, contribute significant code to the Android Open Source Project, or support the ecosystem through products and services that will accelerate the availability of Android-based devices."

Certainly, having the members coming on board does not mean that they have decided to forsake other platforms. Manufacturers like Sony Ericsson or existing member like HTC Corporation will continue making devices based on other platforms. What it does mean is that the sales of the only Android-based phone to date--the T-Mobile G1--must have been exceptional, if not outright phenomenal. Once dismissed by Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, Android's future is certainly more certain now than ever.

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from the Register
- check out this article from BusinessWeek

Carriers respond to uproar over price of text messages

Paul Mah — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:31:06 -0500

Remember the report we had a few months back about the increasing cost of text messaging? Well, it appears that Senator Herb Kohl sent a letter last month to the heads of the four largest wireless carriers in the United States on precisely this matter. In his letter, Kohl noted that at 160 characters per message, text messages are very small and costs little to transmit. Referring to the increasing prices for text messages, he wrote "What is particularly alarming about this industry-wide rate increase is that it does not appear to be justified by rising costs in delivering text messages."

T-Mobile didn't agree with the senator's assessment on pricing though, with president and CEO Robert Dotson contesting that the prices for text messages have actually fallen. This is because the majority of text messages are purchased as part of texting packages, which have fallen by half. Well, the validity of his claims will probably be revealed in a court of law, eventually--given the multiple lawsuits filed over the last few months over this.

For more information about the story:
- check out the article at InformationWeek

Startup to launch new email-only gadget

Paul Mah — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:44:48 -0400

A wireless startup by the name of Peek has unveiled a device that allows users to wirelessly check their email for up to three separate accounts. The unique selling point of the Peek lies in the fact that it is really a dedicated hardware for checking email and nothing more. Emails are delivered via T-Mobile's network for $19.95 monthly, with no minimum contract period. The Peek retails at just $99, and beyond its color display and a QWERTY keyboard, the selling point will probably be its slimmer-than-iPhone profile and a usable battery life counted in days rather than hours. The Peek will be available September 14.

For more information on the Peek:
- check out the Peek blog

T-Mobile USA to start its own Apple-style App store

Paul Mah — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:32:15 -0400

It appears that starting this Fall, T-Mobile USA will ditch its traditional stack of pre-installed applications on the phone. Instead, T-Mobile will be replacing it with a platform that will be open to any developer, for any platform. That's right, supported platforms would include the likes of Windows Mobile, or even include the currently nowhere-to-be-found Android.

Love it or hate it, no one can doubt the success of Apple's application store concept. But that's just 10 million Apple iPhone (well, 10 million is the target for end-2008 anyway, versus T-Mobile's 31.5 million subscribers). A number of details aren't clear at the moment, including how free applications will be handled. Still, it looks like T-Mobile will adopt a revenue-sharing model, with the carrier getting a higher percentage of the cut for applications that consume network resources.

For more about T-Mobile's plan for an application store:
- check out the article from the Washington Post

BlackBerry KickStart: RIM's first flip phone

Mehan Jayasuriya — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:35:09 -0400

You may have thought that it would never happen. Well, it looks like you were wrong. RIM has gone and done the unthinkable: The company has developed a clamshell "flip phone" version of the BlackBerry. Known as the KickStart, the device looks somewhat like a regular clamshell device on the outside, though it sports the distinctive BlackBerry keypad and Pearl on the inside. Unfortunately, it's only got EDGE, but rounds out that package with a 2-megapixel camera, WiFi and internal and external QVGA displays. According to the Boy Genius Report, which is usually right on the money, we can expect to see the KickStart on T-Mobile around September.

For more on the KickStart:
- see this Boy Genius Report story

T-Mobile launches 3G network

Mehan Jayasuriya — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:49:23 -0400

As expected, T-Mobile USA's 3G network has finally gone live in New York City. Despite the rumors, the 3G service does include data in addition to voice, though it looks like it's only UMTS at the moment--HSDPA and "compelling data-centric, all-in-one devices" are promised "[i]n the coming months."Currently, the 3G service is only available in New York City, though "T-Mobile expects its high-speed data network will be available in those cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services" by the end of the year.

For more on the rollout:
- see this FierceWireless article
- and this Q&A with T-Mobile's Neville Ray

T-Mobile to launch 3G tomorrow

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:59:57 -0400

It seems like we've been waiting for this for ages: according to the latest rumors and leaked documents, T-Mobile USA will finally launch its oft-delayed 3G network in New York City tomorrow, with 20 more markets set to launch before the end of 2008. Now here's the rub: it's not going to be a data network, at least, not at first. The leaked document promises that the new network will deliver the "great call quality [customers have] come to expect...and more network availability." This seems to fit, given that all of the 3G phones we've seen on T-Mobile so far aren't exactly data crunchers but one would assume that if the company is rolling out 3G voice service, 3G-enabled smartphones and data plans can't be far behind.

For more on the rumors:
- see this story from Tmonews

ALSO NOTED: WiMAX Nokia N810 goes on sale; T-Mobile confirms an Android phone in '08;

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:59:50 -0400

> AT&T gets GPS-enabled Blackberry Pearl 8110. Article
> Acer to launch Windows Mobile device. Article
> WiMAX Nokia N810 goes on sale but there's still no WiMAX. Article
> Helio adds push Gmail support. Article
> T-Mobile confirms that it will have an Android phone this year. Article

And Finally... Comcast launching wireless service? Article

Microsoft announces Windows Mobile 6.1

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:59:58 -0400

While Windows Mobile 6.1's existence hasn't exactly been kept secret, it's still nice to see it out in the open: During his CTIA keynote yesterday, Microsoft President of Entertainment and Devices Robert Bach (pictured above, more photos here), officially announced the coming update to the company's mobile operating system. Among the improvements that you can expect are a more streamlined home screen, threaded SMS and easier device setup. And no, you won't have to buy a new device or resort to hackery to get Windows Mobile 6.1 in your pocket: Carriers like Alltel, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile and device manufacturers including HTC, Samsung, Motorola and Pantech have announced that there will be an officially-supported upgrade path for many of their most popular devices. This is good news for owners of handsets such as the AT&T Tilt, the Sprint Mogul and the Pantech Duo, all of which will see upgrades starting this quarter.

For more on the upgrade:
- see this Engadget article

ALSO NOTED: Verizon, T-Mobile grab more BlackBerrys; Palm 800w coming to Sprint?;

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:59:50 -0400

> Verizon's lackluster CTIA phone lineup. Article
> Motorola Q9 gets lime green on Alltel, U.S. Cellular. Article
> BlackBerry 8330 coming to Verizon in May. Press Release
> A first look at the iPhone firmware 2.0 beta. Article
> Palm 800w coming to Sprint? Article
> BlackBerry Pearl 8120 coming to T-Mobile this month. Press Release

And Finally... Yet another BlackBerry 9000 sighting. Article