Posted at 11:09 am EDT, March 31st, 2009 by David, Managing Editor. Tags: G2, sidekick 2009, Touchpro2
So this week marks CTIA, the wireless trade show that previews future happenings of the American wireless industry.
Phonearena did a preview of what to expect for all the carriers and while we aren’t expecting any surprises, we do hope for confirmation on a few devices. First off, the
Sidekick 2009, a device we’ve already had some CTIA thoughts about courtesy of
Noah from Phonedog. The sidekick line hasn’t seen a whole lot of love in recent months and an overhaul would be a most welcome change to a T-mobile staple device.
Next, we’re talking G2/Magic/Dream/Sapphire, quite possibly the most anticipated T-mobile device in recent months. Having recently
passed the FCC, and causing quite the stir,
the rumor mill continues to churn out hope for a CTIA release. We’re not banking money on this one, but we’re pulling for an announcement. Personally, I’d like to see this announced over any of the other possibles we can hope to hear from T-mobile or its manufacturer partners this week.
Next up, the TouchPro2, a phone more than a few of you have been asking about ever
since a screen shot of possible T-mobile USA software popped up last week.
Twitter and my inbox have been out of control with questions regarding the possible launch of this for T-mobile. Desparate to replace your outdated wings, more than a few of you are definitely looking for a possible announcement of this device in T-mobile magenta markings.
Well those are, courtesy of the guys from Phonearena, the 3 devices we most hope to see from T-mobile this week. The real question is, what else do you guys want to see? Sound off in the comments!
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Posted in Anticipated T-mobile Phones/Devices, G2, Sidekick Blade/LX 2009, Touch Pro2
Posted at 11:23 am EDT, March 30th, 2009 by David, Managing Editor. Tags: Android, Huawei
We’ve been hearing some rumblings about Huawei bringing Android phones to T-mobile in Q3 of this year since MWC earlier this year. A trusted source has confirmed that these phones or at least a specific model is in testing right now and is still on track for a 3rd quarter release. Details were sparse, as were specs, but we did get 5mp camera, 3.5mm headset jack, cupcake (hopefully, course!) and wifi, but no mention of UMA from what the source could find. I wouldn’t count UMA out though as the most recent round of news regarding the Sapphire, shows UMA may be available for Android phones. Not to mention, the test model was blue. We’re hoping to get a blurrycam shot in the coming weeks so stay tuned for more details!
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Posted in Android, Huawei
Posted at 5:11 pm EDT, March 27th, 2009 by David, Managing Editor. Tags: Staff Posts
Dearest Tmonews readers, a number of you have taken note both publicly on the blog/forum and via email regarding the new ad content appearing on the site. Obviously this is of some concern to you considering ad content has been sparse and hardly intrusive. However, Tmonews has grown to the point, (thanks to all of you!) ad content is now a necessity in order to sustain the websites momentum. In order for us to continue to bring the best possible content, the very best groundbreaking news on T-mobile, I needs me some cash flow.
Obviously we would prefer if T-mobile themselves were to show interest in advertising on Tmonews, but I tend to think they don’t particularly like what we do. Therefore, ads have to come from elsewhere and frankly, I’m not putting ads for Shamwow on the site. So while Sprint ads or the like may be particularly odd, they are there for good reason and I expect, no I hope that you, the readers, will understand why. However strange it may seem, they are there so I can continue to do what you expect of me.
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Posted in Staff Posts
Posted at 9:57 am EDT, March 27th, 2009 by David, Managing Editor. Tags: Open comment
Well my fine readers, its that time again, Open Comment Friday. Time to talk about anything and everything wireless, your Friday night plans or
that girl you met on the train and chickened out when it came time to ask her number. Just kidding. Seriously though, I imagine one particular story which could easily be called one of the most anticipated stories/devices in some time for T-mobile fans would be the
FCC approval of a T-mobile branded HTC Magic/Dream/Sapphire. While I know not everyone supports the design of the hardware, the anticipation of another Android device to magenta easily outweighs any design flaws some might be disappointed in. Of course, if its more 3G device news you want, look no further than the introduction (finally, about time, hooray!) of w
ebconnect, T-mobile’s first entry in the 3G data card broadband speed market. Of course,
not everyone sees this card as the grand poomba it was meant to be, and we support parts of their argument and I suspect our readers do as well. However, T-mobile did right for its G1 customers by introducing via the
Android Market an application giving customers direct access to My Account services and its been met with parades and parties. Hopefully, the possible introduction of the Touch Pro2 to T-mobile would be met with the same eagerness and party like atmosphere that the Android App has seen and
judging by a ROM floating around the internets we might just see this device pop up on magenta sometime. Last but not least of course were the
videos used to introduce the newsweek, they are funny and entertaining and clearly destined never to have “official” T-mobile sponsorship. Regardless, they do a much better job than the current G1 advertising and they are definitely worth a look if you haven’t already done so!
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Posted in Open Comment Friday
Posted at 12:28 am EDT, March 27th, 2009 by David, Managing Editor. Tags: Android, G2, Magic
Certainly a great deal of you have been waiting for further word regarding the device codename “Sapphire.” Looks like this mornings news is going to bring some joy to those of who have been waiting for a little more official word on whether or not this device would make it stateside. Having already been teased with T-mobile markings, compliments of the FCC we have better word, or should I say better pictures that indicate T-mobile USA, our beloved magenta will indeed receive this Android device sometime later this year. We’ve been calling this one for a while, and now it looks just that much safer to say its really true, its really real and its coming. Soon.
More pics after the jump!
Want more info? Try and decipher all this FCC stuff
Don’t forget to follow Tmonews on twitter @ #tmonews
Read the full story
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Posted in G2, HTC Magic
Posted at 1:10 pm EDT, March 25th, 2009 by David, Managing Editor.
Already noted this morning was the launch of the webconnect 3G and the hopeful impact it will have on showcasing T-mobile as a true 3G power. However, Sascha Segan over at Gearlog has some thoughts on how T-mobile may have just bungled this launch. He is dead on (in my opinion) that T-mobile is not focusing this data card on those with whom its wireless services depend so much on, families, students and people who want to save money. Instead, by placing its price point directly in line with the competition, its attempting to capture the road warrior market with whom they have struggled to connect with.
- The wrong pricing. T-Mobile’s 3G network only covers about 100 million people – less than half the coverage of Verizon Wireless’s. Yet they’re charging the same as Verizon, $60/month, with the same 5 GB monthly data cap. So why not pick the carrier with the better coverage? Meanwhile, Cricket remains the only innovator pushing 3G
- The wrong target market. With a $60/month price point, a 5GB cap and a $200/GB overage charge, T-Mobile is clearly going for the road warrior, occasional business traveler market. But that’s not T-Mobile’s market. T-Mobile’s greatest strength is among families, students, and individuals who like low prices, cute phones and great customer service. T-Mobile isn’t likely to win many businesses over from the other three carriers with a combination of poor coverage and high rates.
- Awful roaming policies. T-Mobile’s Huawei E181 modem is a quad-band UMTS device, able to roam on AT&T’s network here in the US and on many foreign networks. T-Mobile completely bungles roaming. First, they turned off AT&T roaming in the US. Then, they offered no international roaming bucket plans – only an option to be charged $15 per megabyte. That’s $15,000 per gigabyte. Who wants to roam at $15,000 per gigabyte?
- No synergy. T-Mobile’s greatest strength is their network of 10,000 Wi-Fi hotspots. The Huawei E181 comes with GPS functionality, so you’d think T-Mobile would make it easy to find a hotspot near you. Not so – the webConnect stick comes with the GPS disabled. Fortunately, T-Mobile says they’re working on this one.
- No tethering. T-Mobile still doesn’t have any official plans for tethering mobile phones to PCs. You can tether without permission, but your access may get cut off at any time. The three other big carriers permit tethering, and they even make some money off the practice.
Having read his thoughts over, what do you think? Did T-mobile bungle this launch?
Gearlog
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Posted in webconnect
Posted at 9:36 am EDT, March 25th, 2009 by David, Managing Editor. Tags: Android
G1 users can now easily access remaining minutes, messages, billing details and more right from the comfort of their very own Android app. T-mobile has released their very first Android market application in the form of a “My Account” app which while not different from the My Account internet page still offers up: current activity, bill summary, plan information, online payment, help guides, forums, battery info, storage info, and more.
I think its safe to say that this download belongs on every G1 user’s handset as tracking minutes and other usage details is probably standard monthly practice anyway, this app just makes it that much easier. Bravo for T-mobile for releasing their very own application especially with regards to Android and showing a level of commitment to a platform few carriers ever demonstrate.
Have you tried this yet? Sound off in the comments!
Thanks Taylor, Androidandme
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Posted in Android
Posted at 9:21 am EDT, March 25th, 2009 by David, Managing Editor. Tags: webconnect
As originally thought, as originally detailed, T-mobile’s first entrance into the data broadband data card world launched this morning. Webconnect, starting at $99.99 for a 1 year contract and as show above, $49.99 for a 2 year contract will offer you up to 5GB of 3G speeds per month for $59.99. Priced right in line with the competition, this is T-mobile’s first data card release to take advantage of their 3G network and first reports show that T-mobile is ready to roll with their young network. Check out Crunchgearand Gizmodo for quick rundowns on how this little USB stick performed during its first speed runs. Still no word on Mac connectivity, only that its expected in the “coming months,” so PC users, this is all yours for now.
Pick up Webconnect @ T-mobile.com
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Posted in webconnect
Posted at 8:12 pm EDT, March 24th, 2009 by David, Managing Editor. Tags: Touch Pro2
I’ve been working on this for a few days now, ever since the very same tipster who has been passing this around brought it to my attention via this xda-developer thread. Apparently, a ROM has surfaced and with the above picture as evidence, offers proof that the HTC Touch Pro2 is headed to our beloved magenta. Now I have to ask and wonder if this is a variant of, or a separate device from the Rhodium, AKA Tungsten which we already believe is headed to T-mobile sometime this summer.
The guys over at Pocketnow have kindly explained that the part circled in red, with a focus on “T-MOB010″ is identification for T-mobile and its country code. Also, on the following line, the language is identified as “USA” giving further credence to the theory that this is heading to T-mobile sometime in the future.
Now, I’m usually one to remain skeptical about things like this, especially since I understand ROM’s about as much as I understand the Large Hadron Collider. That being said, perhaps some of the Wing aficionados familiar with ROM’s and their inner workings would like to take a stab at this xda-developer thread and see if they n make any more sense out of the above picture.
Head over to AllShadow for a run down on specs for the Touch Pro2.
Pocketnow
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Posted in Touch Pro2
Posted at 5:54 pm EDT, March 23rd, 2009 by David, Managing Editor.
Actually its not so much news as it is just a simple update. I think by now we’ve already covered enough of the webconnect details that can possibly be said. So here is what we are looking at, $49.99 for the webconnect data card on a 2 year agreement and $99.99 on a 1 year. Unfortunately, I can’t verify if its before/after rebate but I’d be betting on the latter. Still, its not a bad price…what is bad however is that it looks to be PC only. No word on when or if Mac connectivity is going to be available in the future but I think its a safe bet to say that Mac users won’t be ignored for long. Either way, two days remain before T-mobile finally joins the ranks of the big boys with their very own 3G data card and its about time.
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Posted in webconnect
