This morning’s bombshell news that AT&T would be buying T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion has left a lot of questions. T-Mobile customers want to know what it means for them? AT&T customers want to know what it means for them? Would-be iPhone buyers want to know what it means for them? T-Mobile and AT&T have started addressing those already. One thing not addressed yet: what does this mean for Sprint, the nation’s third-largest carrier?
And it’s an especially poignant question for Sprint because as of last week, many at that company believed they would be merging with T-Mobile, we’ve heard. → Read More
As we reported yesterday, U.S. carriers AT&T and Verizon both announced that they would be waiving calling and texting fees for their users who were calling Japan, in the wake of the devasting earthquake and tsunami in the region. Since then a number of other smaller carriers are joining the mix.
T-Mobile USA is allowing postpaid customers to make calls to Japan without charges through March 31, 2011. Text messaging will also be free to and from Japan until the sale date and customers can make Wi-Fi calls to and from Japan free of charge as well. → Read More
Well well well, lookie here. In just 5 days, Sprint’s first Windows Phone 7 handset, the HTC Arrive, will… erm, arrive. Thanks to a surprise visit from Mr. FedEx this morning, though, we’ve got one a bit early. I’ll be taking it through the paces over the next few days, and should have a few review up in time for the launch — but in the mean time, be sure to check out our unboxing and hands-on gallery below. (Oh, and for those wanting to hear our impressions so far, I’ve only got one: Oh my God, this keyboard seems nice.) → Read More
The Evo 4G is a beautiful, if large, phone, and it just got better: Amazon is selling it for $99 with contract on Sprint where it happens to be the retailer’s top-selling phone. → Read More
Sprint has only had the Samsung Galaxy Tab out since November 14th, yet is already slashing its price. Perhaps the huge amount of tablets announced at CES has something to do with the price adjustment. That or the fact that when Honeycomb comes out, the Tab will be obsolete. Besides it’s not that much to make. → Read More
At this point, the HTC EVO Shift for Sprint is about as secret as… what would you call the exact opposite of a secret? How is it that there’s no proper antonym for secret? Whatever — make one up, and that’s how secret it was. Still, it’s always fun to see things get their official unveiling, as the EVO Shift 4G has. → Read More
CNNMoney published an interesting piece by David Goldman this morning entitled, Google: Your new phone carrier? In it, Goldman lays out what he sees as the preliminary steps Google has taken to become a wireless carrier themselves down the road. He also gives some reasons for why they would and would not want to do that. In my mind, the concept is much more straightforward. Goldman ends the title of his piece with a question mark — but it should be a period.
It’s not a question of “if” Google will try to become a carrier. It’s just a matter of “when” they’ll try to.
Now, to be clear, that doesn’t mean I think they’ll actually be able to become a carrier. The biggest hurdle there has nothing to do with the technology needed, the money needed, or the expertise. Rather, the major issue would be the government. Would they allow Google, already one of the biggest corporations in the United States, to enter a new area that could extend their control (particularly in the advertising space)? Probably not. Actually, I have a feeling it might have more to do with Verizon and AT&T lobbying dollars influencing the government to block Google in such a cause. → Read More
Remember a few days ago, when Sprint announced that they’d be firing up their 4G towers around the Bay Area come December 28th? Check those calendars, folks; it’s go time. If you’re in San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, make sure you’ve got a 4G-enabled handset (like the Evo, or the Epic 4G), check to ensure that the 4G radio is toggled on, and give it a quick reboot for good measure. If you’re in one of the nearby cities, cross your fingers and hope for the best. Lemme know how those speeds are, won’t you? → Read More
Even if all you Samsung Epic 4G owners out there were particularly naughty this year, Sprint will give you some festive love the day after Christmas: a much anticipated Froyo update for your favourite toy.
Of course, Froyo is by now getting a little stale, with the much fresher (and festively themed) Gingerbread on the scene, but that doesn’t mean you guys won’t enjoy the extra speed that the Just-In-Time compiler brings, or the ability to install applications to the external memory. → Read More
If there’s anything that my cold, black heart loves, it’s slide-out phone keyboards (and fluffy bunny wabbits). So, despite its enormous name, and fact that I’ll never see it in my home country of Australia, I like the HTC EVO Shift 4G.
So, I’m happy to report news today of some more spy shots of the HTC E-S-4 emerging over at Phone Arena. And not just spy shots, mind you, also information. And if there’s anything I love more than than slide-out phone keyboards and fluffy bunny wabbits, it’s information.
So, on with it then! → Read More
In a tweet published today, Sprint spokesperson Stephanie Vinge announced that Colorado’s favourite capital, Denver, will soon receive the honour of becoming Sprint’s 66th market to receive their 4G WiMAX signals.
“And when will it receive the title?” I hear you ask.
“Why, December 19th!” I reply! → Read More
Sprint has quietly announced plans for a 4G tablet to be released some time in 2011. In an interview cited but not quoted at Forbes, Paget Alves, Sprint’s President of Business Markets, said that they were planning on expanding their 4G and tablet portfolio and embrace more operating systems than Android. What device she means by this is not clear, but somehow I doubt they’re getting the iPad. → Read More
It’s a sad day for all of the contractors, cable guys, and plumbers of the nation today; this morning, Sprint put a time frame on the impending death of the iDEN network that currently powers its Push-To-Talk network, which so many handy-folk rely on on a daily basis. With the service bleeding customers at a critical rate ever since Sprint snatched up Nextel, we knew it was coming — but now we know when it’ll start… → Read More
Tired of having to stare at three refrigerator-sized metal boxes whenever you look at one of Sprint’s cellular base stations? Oh, you’ve never seen one? That’s okay. Neither have we. But if we ever do, at least we’ll know that it’s a lot prettier now: Sprint’s taking those three big ol’ boxes (which contain the radio equipment for their their 800 Mhz, 1.9 Ghz, and 2.5 Ghz [WiMax] networks) and slimming things down, replacing the whole shebang with just one box. So, what does this mean for you? → Read More
If you own either a Sprint Epic 4G or Evo 4G, and love to game (not necessarily as much as this guy) then you should listen up, as Gameloft are now offering a buy-one-get-one-free deal for Sprint customers.
Announced on their blog today, Gameloft are offering the deal throughout the holidays on all of their “HD” titles.
Follow me through the jump to see a list of titles, as well as instructions on how to get in on the deal. → Read More
Poor Andy Rubin. As the head of Android development for Google he has what seems to be the best job in the world and the worst job in the world at the same time. It’s the best job because Android is exploding in popularity and he can leverage the power of Google to do some really great things in the mobile space. But at the same time, it’s the worst job because all that innovation he comes up with is clearly under the thumb of the carriers and OEMs that Google has partnered with for Android. Don’t believe me? Just read Rubin breathlessly apologizing for the carriers and OEMs in his interview with PC Magazine.
When asked why some OEMs are still releasing phones with Android 1.6 on them, Rubin says: → Read More
About two and a half years ago after “losing” (but really winning, because it was forced open) the FCC’s 700Mhz spectrum auction, Google set its sights on another goal: the opening of the so-called “white space” (which Google had actually been working on alongside the spectrum opening). White space is the name given to the vacant airwaves between television channels, airwaves which are increasingly open as people move to cable and other methods of getting television. These airwaves have the potential to carry wireless data at speeds and distances that would make today’s WiFi seem antiquated. That’s why the white space has earned the nickname “WiFi 2.0″ or “WiFi on steroids”. And after an FCC vote today, it’s finally a go.
The FCC voted unanimously (5-0) to adopt rules for using the white space. This means that companies like Google can start getting to work coming up with ways on how they want to use them. Of course, you can bet they’ve already been thinking about that for the past two and a half years, and probably longer. So now it’s time to execute. → Read More
“Your mobile phone should be free.”
That was Google CEO Eric Schmidt talking to Reuters in November of 2006. It was just about a year before the Android project was first unveiled. It was also just a few months before the iPhone was introduced (Schmidt was a member of Apple’s Board at the time). At that point, Schmidt had to know that both Google and Apple were on the verge of changing the mobile industry. Or, at least, that’s what he thought was going to happen.
There’s no question that the situation in the mobile industry (particularly in the U.S.) is better than it was in 2006 from a consumer perspective. And yes, that’s largely thanks to Apple and Google. But free phones? We’re nowhere close to that. But last year we were. And then Google’s dream turned into a nightmare. → Read More
The midwife who pulled the Evo 4G and the Epic 4G through the mobile birth canal, Kevin Packingham, is leaving Sprint effective Monday. He is starting a new, unnamed company. → Read More
