T-Mobile and Tony Hawk have a positive relationship like not many carriers and celebrities do. The pro skateboarder turned media superstar has always been a good friend of Magenta’s, and they’ve never been afraid to give him special treatment. At one point, they even made a Tony Hawk special edition Sidekick. But do they love [...]]]>

T-Mobile and Tony Hawk have a positive relationship like not many carriers and celebrities do. The pro skateboarder turned media superstar has always been a good friend of Magenta’s, and they’ve never been afraid to give him special treatment. At one point, they even made a Tony Hawk special edition Sidekick. But do they love him enough to give him an unreleased phone like a T-Mobile branded Galaxy Nexus?

Mr. Hawk posted a picture on Twitter today (from Instagram no less) that features a close up of a Galaxy Nexus with the text “I love T-Mobile.” How do we know it’s a Galaxy Nexus? For one, it’s the stock Android 4.0 data usage menu from in the settings. And if you compare what’s being displayed in the picture to the same thing on a Nexus S, it’s obvious whatever Tony has sports a bigger display than the Nexus S.

As to why Tony Hawk is posting a picture of a Galaxy Nexus and talking about his love for T-Mobile, we don’t really know. The international Galaxy Nexus works just fine with T-Mobile. He could just be bragging about his data, or the tethering app you can just barely see at the bottom of the Nexus’ display. But he could be talking about a free T-Mobile Galaxy Nexus he was lucky enough to score before it went to retail.

Mind you this is all speculation at this point, but we’re an Android blog, and that’s what Android blogs do. So what do you think, did Tony Hawk just accidentally spoil T-Mobile’s secret plans to sell the Galaxy Nexus? We know quite a few of our readers out there would love that, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed. But not for a Tony Hawk branded Nexus. Please, anything but that.

Thinking of getting something for that special someone, this Valentine’s day? How about a 4G smartphone from T-Mobile? According to these screen shots (and past rumors), T-Mobile will be holding a one-day sale on February 11th, dedicated to all the love birds out there. But this is not just any sale – customers will be [...]]]>

Thinking of getting something for that special someone, this Valentine’s day? How about a 4G smartphone from T-Mobile? According to these screen shots (and past rumors), T-Mobile will be holding a one-day sale on February 11th, dedicated to all the love birds out there. But this is not just any sale – customers will be able to purchase any 4G device for free after mail-in rebate.

This is after signing a 2-year contract, of course. This deal is applicable to both Classic and Value plan subscribers, which happens to be a first for these “All Hands Day” sales. Such sales were only applicable to Value plan subscribers before, making this a much more enticing offer.

According to TmoNews‘ sources, those that pick the Classic rate plans will have to pay for the device’s usual subsidized price and receive the full amount via a mail-in rebate card. Value plan subscribers will get the same treatment after paying the down payment. (Upgrade rules and migration fees apply).

If you have been looking to get a new 4G smartphone from T-Mobile, we suggest you circle February 11th in your calendar. The offer applies to all 4G devices, including tablets like the LG G-Slate and the Huawei Springboard. There is a small catch for some devices, though. It seems like top-tier smartphones, such as the HTC Amaze and Samsung Galaxy S II might require a subscription to a 5 GB data plan.

All T-Mobile retail stores, customer service and authorized dealers will be participating on this offer. If interested, you might want to wait for the official announcement for more details, which is rumored to be as soon as this afternoon (according to the sources).

Let’s sit tight and wait to hear official details. Is anyone taking advantage of this sale? And just out of curiosity – will anyone actually purchase a phone for a Valentine’s day gift?

Gallery

Update: T-Mobile announcement

As expected, T-Mobile has just gone ahead and released information about their Valentine’s one-day sale. The information goes along with most of what we already knew. Among the most important details, though, the press release includes information about the minimum requirements for data plans:

• Voice Phones: 200 MB data plan
• Most smartphones: 2 GB data plan
• 42 Mbps devices: 5 GB data plan

For more information, check out the press release or go to T-Mobile’s official site.

There you go, guys! It is official, so start making your plans!

Freely roaming across the US is great, especially when data roaming is part of the deal. Until now, customers have been able to use data while roaming for free, but it’s not free for T-Mobile. They have to pay fees in order to keep you connected. According to the latest rumors this is all about [...]]]>

Freely roaming across the US is great, especially when data roaming is part of the deal. Until now, customers have been able to use data while roaming for free, but it’s not free for T-Mobile. They have to pay fees in order to keep you connected. According to the latest rumors this is all about to change, and T-Mobile will start putting a cap on data roaming usage.

This is an attempt to lower the costs for Magenta subscribers who roam where T-Mobile data coverage is not available. According to a poster at HowardForums, T-Mobile’s upcoming data roaming limits include a 100 MB cap for 5 GB monthly data subscribers and 200 MB for those enjoying 10 GB per month.

But don’t fret over unknown fees and charges; will not see any extra fees once you exceed your data roaming allowance. Instead, T-Mobile will simply not allow you to use the internet anymore, at least until you reach a T-Mobile tower or WiFi (of course).

Avoiding the extra fees may be a great thing for most of us, but some people rely on data while roaming. According to the source, this roaming policy will not be applicable to everyone. “Certain account types are excluded, such as employee accounts and some business accounts.”

For those who need data while roaming, let’s hope they provide some extra data roaming plans. But if extra fees are not your thing, T-Mobile seems to be estimating that about 10,000 users will be able to break the contract without an ETF (Early Termination Fee). So you just might be able to switch to another carrier.

According to newguy78, T-Mobile subscribers should be receiving a notification about these changes within the next few weeks. This might be in the form of an actual letter or a notification upon signing on to my.tmobile.com.

Surely many of you will be quite unhappy about this. But let’s take a small step back and wait to see what happens. This is not yet confirmed, and as always, we should take it with a grain of salt. For now, tell us what you think! Are you a heavy data roamer? Will you be switching carriers if you can?

T-Mobile has started spring cleaning a little early this year. TmoNews has unveiled a snapshot of T-Mobile’s inventory system which shows six Android powered phones which have been designated as “Nearing EOL.” The list features phones from LG and HTC which include the HTC myTouch 4G Slide, HTC Sensation 4G, HTC Amaze 4G, LG Doubleplay, [...]]]>

T-Mobile has started spring cleaning a little early this year. TmoNews has unveiled a snapshot of T-Mobile’s inventory system which shows six Android powered phones which have been designated as “Nearing EOL.” The list features phones from LG and HTC which include the HTC myTouch 4G Slide, HTC Sensation 4G, HTC Amaze 4G, LG Doubleplay, LG myTouch and the LG myTouch Q.

Since every carrier deals with their end-of-life devices in different ways, it’s hard to say exactly what this designation truly means. For all we know, T-Mobile has enough inventory in stock for all of these devices to keep orders flowing and store shelves stocked for months. We know that all phones eventually get phased out, but it’s truly surprising to see T-Mobile shifting its focus away from these six phones since most of them have only been on the market since last summer. To put that into perspective, Sprint has only recently retired the HTC EVO 4G which  hit the market more than 18 months ago.

The LG phones listed for retirements were not really anything special, but the HTC Sensation, myTouch 4G Slide and Amaze are still considered flagship phones on T-Mobile’s network. The hope is that T-Mobile will have new flagship devices ready to ship before their current supply of devices is completely depleted.

Do you think there’s a good chance we’ll see the HTC Ville or Edge show up in T-Mobile stores this spring?

If there’s something T-Mobile and Walmart are both known for, it’s their pocket-friendly philosophy. Both companies have just announced a new family plan for those who want to step into the smartphone world without hurting their bank accounts. Not only is this offer affordable, but it’s completely unlimited and commitment-free.

This plan [...]]]>

If there’s something T-Mobile and Walmart are both known for, it’s their pocket-friendly philosophy. Both companies have just announced a new family plan for those who want to step into the smartphone world without hurting their bank accounts. Not only is this offer affordable, but it’s completely unlimited and commitment-free.

This plan offers unlimited talk, text and web at the low price of $45 (for the first line) and $35 for each additional line. This would translate to $80 for two lines, $115 for 3 lines and so on. There are no contracts involved, which may be a bit more costly the first month, but it all pays off in the long run.

Don’t run to your nearest Walmart location just yet, though. There are some important details you might want to know. First, the plan only offers 3G speeds. This means that data-hungry 4G users will not be able to keep their high speeds.

If you’re willing to live without 4G data speeds, you might want to hurry and get this plan soon. Those who sign up before March 16 will be able to enjoy 5 GB of 3G data per month, while those who sign up after said date will have to make due with 250 MB. After reaching the data limit, users will be throttled to lower speeds.

There’s also a one-time $25 starter kit per line required. All of this may add up to an inconvenient start (you would need to purchase phones at full price and pay for the bill, as well as the fees), but it will be much cheaper after months start adding up.

We would recommend this plan for those who do not mind lower speeds or the low data cap after March 16. It is very affordable compared to the other 3 major carriers, and having no contracts and limitations is always a plus. It would definitely be a great option for first-time smartphone users or for the kids.

What do you guys say? Signing up for this new family plan? Would you rather keep your 4G speeds?

If you were feeling let down by T-Mobile’s weak showing at CES this year, it’s time to turn that frown upside down. According to Evan Blass of PocketNow, T-Mobile will begin carrying HTC’s thinnest phone ever created, the HTC Ville, this spring.

Expected to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress, rumored specs on [...]]]>

If you were feeling let down by T-Mobile’s weak showing at CES this year, it’s time to turn that frown upside down. According to Evan Blass of PocketNow, T-Mobile will begin carrying HTC’s thinnest phone ever created, the HTC Ville, this spring.

Expected to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress, rumored specs on the HTC Ville have been around since early November, 2011. Along with Android 4.0 and Sense UI 4, the Ville is expected to launch with:

• 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4
• Adreno 225 GPU
• 4.3-inch Super AMOLED qHD display
• Beats Audio
• Backside-illuminated 8 megapixel camera capable of rivaling point-and-shoot quality
• 1650mAh battery

As exciting as the Snapdragon S4, Android 4.0 and Super AMOLED display are, the Ville’s crowning achievement is its sleek metal construction and staggering thinness. At just under 8mm, the Ville will be thinner than both the iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy S II.

Along with information on the Ville, Blass also detailed a new service coming to HTC known as HTC Family. HTC Family will be integrated in the latest version of Sense, and features new ways for families to communicate, along with geolocation tools for staying connected. HTC Family is also rumored to be announced at MWC. Look for the T-Mobile branded Ville to on display at CTIA.

T-Mobile CEO Philipp Humm sat down with Ina Fried of AllThingsD yesterday to discuss LTE, the iPhone and the future of T-Mobile. T-Mobile’s merger with AT&T very publicly failed in recent months, leaving T-Mobile and its customers searching for what’s next.

From Mr. Humm’s interview, it’s very apparent that T-Mobile is still working out all [...]]]>

T-Mobile CEO Philipp Humm sat down with Ina Fried of AllThingsD yesterday to discuss LTE, the iPhone and the future of T-Mobile. T-Mobile’s merger with AT&T very publicly failed in recent months, leaving T-Mobile and its customers searching for what’s next.

From Mr. Humm’s interview, it’s very apparent that T-Mobile is still working out all the details of the post-merger fallout. Mr. Humm first discussed rate plans and indicated that T-Mobile will continue to push “Value Plans,” or plans in which customers trade handset subsidies for reduced monthly phone bills. According to Mr. Humm, these plans are aimed at folks who either need the latest and greatest devices and not so much data or those who don’t need new devices every few years but consume lots of data, ensuring that customers don’t overpay in either scenario.

When it comes to LTE, T-Mobile is taking a wait-and-see approach. Mr. Humm suggests that, although LTE is good over the long term because it reduces congestion by more efficiently utilizing spectrum, congestion isn’t a problem T-Mobile is having just yet. A speedy investment in LTE to respond to what AT&T, Sprint and Verizon are doing would be a poor move on Magenta’s part. With HSPA+ 42 providing much the same speeds T-Mobile’s rivals are offering, the consumer doesn’t really care which technology their phone is using as long as they can stream video and the like.

Finally, though we hate to admit it, the iPhone is the single best selling smartphone in the world, and T-Mobile is the only carrier without it. Mr. Humm chalked this up to T-Mobile using a different band than was used globally, which rendered the iPhone incompatible with T-Mobile’s 3G and HSPA+ networks. T-Mobile is still looking to get the iPhone, but believe the ball is in Apple’s court as to whether or not they’ll allow it.

Though Mr. Humm did not discuss T-Mobile’s plans for Android, we believe that T-Mobile will continue to bring high-powered Android phones to T-Mobile. We don’t think we’ll see any new Android phones out of T-Mobile (other than the Galaxy S Blaze 4G announced yesterday). But with Mobile World Congress and CTIA around the corner, who knows what 2012 has in store for the nation’s #4 carrier?

While Sprint, Verizon and AT&T have all announced and detailed several different handsets coming to their networks, T-Mobile has sat back and watched. Sure, Microsoft keeps talking up the Lumia 710, but details on that device have already been announced several times before. Finally, tonight, T-Mobile has detailed a new Samsung phone set to use [...]]]>

While Sprint, Verizon and AT&T have all announced and detailed several different handsets coming to their networks, T-Mobile has sat back and watched. Sure, Microsoft keeps talking up the Lumia 710, but details on that device have already been announced several times before. Finally, tonight, T-Mobile has detailed a new Samsung phone set to use their 42Mbps HSPA+ network. And it looks like a Galaxy S 4G variant.

It’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on with the Galaxy S Blaze 4G, but we have some speculations after reading the press release. Usually, press releases are very well thought out. They use specific wording for a reason. While the Galaxy S Blaze is pegged as having a 1.5GHz Snapdragon S3 and access to T-Mobile’s 42Mbps HSPA+, those could just be stuffed inside a reworked Galaxy S 4G. It definitely looks different, but the multiple mentions of a “brilliant Super AMOLED touch screen” are the first sign.

No Super AMOLED Plus or HD, just a Super AMOLED. Then there’s the logo and absence of a “II” after that “S.” There’s nothing else said about the device, just that “additional details will be revealed closer to availability.” We’re still holding out hope that it could be an HD variant of the Galaxy S II, something like the Skyrocket HD, but we wouldn’t advise holding your breath.

In brighter T-Mobile related news, the company has doubled the speed of its 4G network in 12 additional markets, blanketing 184 million Americans in 175 markets with HSPA+ 42. They also brought HSPA+ 21 to nine additional markets, now covering 217 markets across the US.

Magenta was sure to mention that “the AT&T breakup concessions give T-Mobile valuable spectrum,” and “pending regulatory approval, a large package of AWS mobile spectrum in 128 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs), including 12 of the top 20 markets.”

To signup for more information on the Blaze 4G once it’s made available, visit the dedicated T-Mobile page now.

Now that the AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile ordeal has ended, many Magenta customers may be wondering what the future holds. We know T-Mobile is not doing too well; that was a major reason their parent company wanted to sell them.

It seems Deutsche Telekom will get pretty much all the money AT&T [...]]]>

Now that the AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile ordeal has ended, many Magenta customers may be wondering what the future holds. We know T-Mobile is not doing too well; that was a major reason their parent company wanted to sell them.

It seems Deutsche Telekom will get pretty much all the money AT&T owes T-Mobile for the breakup fee, and they will be using it for debt payments. Does this mean T-Mobile is out in the dust? Well, not exactly. Both carriers have reached a 7-year roaming agreement. This will allow T-Mobile customers to freely roam on AT&T’s UMTS network. T-Mobile has been future-proofing some devices to run on AT&T’s UMTS network (a bit odd, right?), so the next 7 years should be much better for T-Mo’ users.

According to Deutsche Telekom, this deal will expand T-Mobile USA’s coverage by about 50 million subscribers (from 230 to 280 million). This should give T-Mobile a good boost to get back on its feet, and it seems that is T-Mobile’s plan (unless they’re not telling us everything).

T-Mobile’s Chief Operations Officer Jim Alling has released a statement on the company’s official blog to informs us of what the future will be like for Magenta’s customers.

Dear T-Mobile Customers:

By now I am sure you have seen media reports that AT&T and Deutsche Telekom (DT) have mutually decided to terminate their agreement for AT&T to acquire T-Mobile USA. This announcement effectively ends the acquisition process launched March 20.

What does this mean for T-Mobile USA customers? Our focus is unchanged: make the latest mobile products and services affordable for everyone.

And there are many reasons to choose T-Mobile as your wireless provider:

Great Value. We’re offering our best plan ever – 2 lines for $49.99 each that includes voice, text and data (including 2GB at full-speed) on each line with a new 2-year agreement. We also now offer a Monthly4G no annual contract plan that gives you unlimited talk, text, and web (including 100MB at full-speed) for $50.

Compelling Products. We offer a great line-up of 4G smartphones. We continue to rapidly expand our selection of amazing and affordable 4G smartphones, tablets and other devices that make mobile internet service easy and affordable. This holiday, we have cutting edge smartphones including the 42 Mbps-capable HTC Amaze 4G and the Samsung Galaxy S II. In January, we will begin selling the Lumia 710, the first Windows Phone from Nokia for as low as $49.99 after mail-in rebate with a 2-year agreement on a qualifying plan.

America’s Largest 4G Network – now faster than ever. Whether you need driving instructions that are fast enough to keep up with your car, or want to stream a full-length movie uninterrupted, our 4G network delivers. We have expanded our 4G coverage to more than 200 million people in 208 markets and doubled speeds for nearly 180 million Americans in 163 markets.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you, we appreciate your business and we will continue to focus on earning your loyalty every day.

Regards,

Jim Alling
Chief Operations Officer
T-Mobile USA, Inc.

T-MobileJim AllingCOO of T-Mobile USA

With this, T-Mobile is basically saying “Move along guys, everything will stay the same.” If you have been worrying about the future of T-Mobile, things should stay the same. At least for the near future.

We never know what these companies might be planning in the background. Do you think T-Mobile has some sort of back up plan?

Update

We know Sprint has always been against the AT&T/T-Mobile merger. They made it very clear since the beginning. Such a deal would harm competition, resulting in a worst situation for the consumer.

Sprint has also issued a formal statement, and they are glad to see that this merger did not go through. ^[1]

Earlier today, AT&T terminated its definitive merger agreement with Deutsche Telekom to acquire T-Mobile USA. This is the right decision for consumers, competition and innovation in the wireless industry.

From the beginning, Sprint has stood with consumers who spoke loudly and clearly that AT&T’s proposed takeover of T-Mobile would create an undeniable duopoly that would have resulted in higher prices, less innovation and fewer choices for the American consumer.

Sprint commends the Department of Justice, the Federal Communications Commission and the bi-partisan group of state attorneys general who gave voice to the concerns of consumers across the country. We look forward to competing fiercely in the robust, competitive market that exists today and continuing to deliver the world class service and products that consumers have come to expect from Sprint.Vonya B. McCannSenior Vice President of Government Affairs for Sprint

After several delays, the ITC ruled today that HTC does in fact infringe on Apple’s patent (#5,946,647) and has issued a ban on the importation of certain HTC devices. The ITC ban includes Android phones that run on versions between 1.6 and 2.2 and specifically names the HTC EVO 4G, HTC Aria, T-Mobile G2 [...]]]>

After several delays, the ITC ruled today that HTC does in fact infringe on Apple’s patent (#5,946,647) and has issued a ban on the importation of certain HTC devices. The ITC ban includes Android phones that run on versions between 1.6 and 2.2 and specifically names the HTC EVO 4G, HTC Aria, T-Mobile G2 and the HTC DROID Incredible.

The patent itself is a “system and method [which] causes a computer to detect and perform actions on structures identified in computer data,” which covers how Android interacts with the UI in certain instances. While the ITC’s ruling in Apple’s favor is a hard blow for HTC, things could get a lot worse for other Android OEMs. The patent in question implies that the main offender is Google’s Android OS, not HTC. Apple may use this case against HTC as a precedent and ask the ITC to ban the importation of Android devices that infringe on the same patent from other OEMs as well.

Unlike the recent import bans we have seen in Germany, the ITC ban on HTC’s infringing products does not go into effect until April 19, 2012. The time delay is intended to give HTC an adequate amount of time to make changes to its supply chain or fix the issue in question. There are a few exceptions to the ban that will allow HTC to import the handsets in question for warranty replacements for their customers. The only way around the ban is if the president of the United States chooses to veto the decision by the ITC.

While a specific product ban may sound scary, we’d like to point out that the ITC’s ruling includes an exclusion order. Instead of blocking a fixed list of devices, the exclusion order spreads its wings a bit further, encompassing all HTC devices that may infringe on Apple’s patent. This means we could see more HTC phones added to the import ban list, but we’re not sure if the exclusion order could expand to devices that run on Android 2.3 or higher.

Fortunately, there’s a bit of good news in all of this. HTC’s official statement was released a short while ago:

We are gratified that the Commission affirmed the judge's initial determination on the ‘721 and ‘983 patents, and reversed its decision on the ‘263 patent and partially on the ‘647 patent. We are very pleased with the determination and we respect it. However, the ‘647 patent is a small UI experience and HTC will completely remove it from all of our phones soon.Grace Leigeneral counsel of HTC

From the sound of it, HTC claims they have a software update in the works that will circumvent the issue at hand. We’d love to know what the “small UI experience” is that’s causing so much trouble, but we’ll probably learn more about it once HTC releases the update.

Apple and HTC have been battling things out in the courts for a long time. Now that Apple has a significant victory under its belt, we have a feeling they will continue to throw more patent infringement cases at HTC and other OEMs. HTC was fortunate to have a backup plan in place for this case. Let’s just hope other Android manufacturers will be as lucky.