AT&T Removes T-Mobile Application From FCC

Following the FCC’s decision to request a formal administrative hearing into AT&T’s planned acquisition of T-Mobile, AT&T has announced that they are withdrawing their pending approval applications with the FCC. They are not giving up hope on the deal as they specifically say that they are “continuing to pursue the sale” of T-Mobile.

In case of failure, AT&T has decided to take a $4 billion pretax charge on its 4th Quarter 2011 accountancy sheet. This includes a $3 billion pay out to Deutsche Telekom in the event that the sale doesn’t go through.

AT&T Purchasing T-Mobile

AT&T announced that it would be acquiring T-Mobile USA for $39 billion. This will further improve network quality for both AT&T and T-Mobile customers as well as bring a wide variety of phone selection in the future like the iPhone for current T-Mobile customers.

Nir Schneider

Editor-in-Chief

iPhone 4 Coming to T-Mobile USA?

 

Since for ever, people have wanted the iPhone to be on a different carrier in the US rather than AT&T, mainly Verizon. We probably won't see the iPhone on Verizon until they launch their LTE network and Sprint seems to be not interested in the iPhone. But what about T-Mobile? Well, like AT&T, T-Mobile's network is GSM so Apple will not need to put a CDMA radio in the iPhone. But they will need to change the 3G bands so it will work on T-Mobile's network. 

Well on to the rumour. Cult of Mac is reporting that a "highly placed source" at T-Mobile told them that there is a 80% chance of T-Mobile getting the iPhone in Q3! I know, a weird time for Apple to release a T-Mobile version of the iPhone, and we don't know if this source is even credible or what it is based on. The biggest evidence of this actually happening, is the statement from Deutsche Telekom's CEO in March, saying that "the USA branch is hoping to get the iPhone later this year".

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Source Cult of Mac

Samsung Vibrant Launching on 15th July

 

A couple of weeks ago, Samsung announced its latest Android phone, the Samsung Galaxy S. It is going to be released on all the major carriers in the US, and to make it just a bit more complicated, the Samsung Galaxy S has different names on each carrier. But the T-Mobile version, the Samsung Vibrant is going to be released on July 15th, the same day as the Droid X launch. Yesterday, AT&T also announced their version that the Samsung Galaxy S, the Samsung Captivate and this is launching on the 18th three days after T-Mobile's Vibrant launch on the 15th.

The features of the Samsung Vibrant are a 4" Super AMOLED capacitive touchscree display, 1GHz Hummingbird Processor, 2GB included SD card and a 5MP camera. It is running Android 2.1 with Samsung's custom skin.

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Source Phonedog

Motorola Charm Announced with MOTOBLUR

 

Today, Motorola and T-Mobile have officially announced the latest phone, the Motorola Charm. It is has a portrait QWERTY which is running Android 2.1 with MOTOBLUR. Other features include a 3Mp camera and 2.8" touch screen with backtrack Navigation, much like seen on the Backflip. But if you are not familiar with the backtrack navigation, watch the video below for more details. 

Press Release:

Motorola Announces its Newest Device with MOTOBLUR™: Motorola CHARM™ 
Exclusively for T-Mobile USA, Motorola CHARM packs smartphone features and social graces into a pocketable design with Android™ 2.1 and MOTOBLURTM enhancements 

July 07, 2010 

Libertyville, Ill. — July 7, 2010 —Motorola (NYSE: MOT) today announced the upcoming availability of Motorola CHARM™, a touch screen smartphone that packs a social networking punch with Android™ 2.1, MOTOBLURTM enhancements, a compact design and a BACKTRACK™ feature that makes screen navigation even more intuitive. 

Motorola CHARM is expected to be available this summer exclusively in the U.S. for customers of T-Mobile USA, Inc. 

“Motorola strives to provide an increased customizable user experience, which is enabled by our latest enhancements to MOTOBLUR and featured on the new Motorola CHARM,” said Jean Pierre Le Cannellier, vice president, Americas Marketing, Motorola Mobile Devices. “Combine that with a compact design, easy handling and all the features you would expect from a smartphone, and we believe that CHARM with MOTOBLUR adds the social ability and workability consumers are looking for.” 

Motorola CHARM provides consumers all the features of a smartphone with the intuitive navigation of a 2.8 inch touch screen – all in a compact, pocketable design that makes messaging a snap using the combination of a full QWERTY keyboard and touch screen. The BACKTRACK navigation pad, located on the back of the smartphone directly behind the home screen, is similar to a laptop touch panel and enables an unobstructed view of the Web, texts, e-mails and news feeds. Plus, with Android 2.1 and enhanced MOTOBLUR features, CHARM offers new customization and filtering options. 

“Being social with friends and family comes naturally for T-Mobile customers, and we think mobilizing their social experiences should be effortless,” said Saj Sahay, director of product management, T-Mobile USA. “With the new Motorola CHARM and enhancements to the Android and MOTOBLUR experience, we’re bringing more social skills to our broad portfolio of Android-powered smartphones.” 

Motorola CHARM will be the first device in the U.S. to feature an enhanced version of MOTOBLUR built on Android 2.1, which syncs contacts, posts, messages, photos and much more in easy to manage streams — from sources such as Facebook®, MySpace, Twitter™, Gmail™, work and personal e-mail. MOTOBLUR now allows for even greater customization, providing users more options to follow who and what really matters. 


MOTOBLUR filters can be selected from a single social networking account, contacts, group or messaging account so that users can select only the information they want to stream live to the Happenings and Messages widgets. Users can move and resize pre-loaded home screen widgets to personalize up to seven home screen panels for an even more custom experience. Lastly, consumers can manage their phone’s battery consumption by selecting different power modes to conserve battery. 


Contacts in MOTOBLUR are automatically synced to the phone from personal and work e-mail and social network accounts. MOTOBLUR will continue to provide convenience and peace of mind, as lost devices can be located from a secure personal information portal and even remotely erased if necessary. In addition, one user name and password brings back contacts, messages and connectivity to previously configured networks and e-mail providers. 

Last, but not least, Moto Phone Portal enables you to access and manage your phone’s data from any browser through a USB or Wi-Fi connection. Edit content and view important phone information while at home or on-the-go. Leave pictures on a friend’s PC, share a video at the local Internet café or share a presentation during an important business meeting. 

Additional features on Motorola CHARM include: 

-Adobe® Flash® enabled Web browsing experience to view most of today’s content-rich sites 
-Full suite of Google™ services including: Google Search™, Google Maps™, Gmail™ and access to thousands of apps on Android Market™ 
-Pinch to zoom functionality and two-finger swipe to easily surf the Web and sort through photos 
-Capture sharp photos with a 3MP camera and KODAK PERFECT TOUCH technology for better, brighter pictures 
-One-touch social media uploads to Facebook®, MySpace, PicasaTM and PhotoBucket® 
-CrystalTalkTM PLUS for enhanced audio and call quality with a second microphone for increased voice quality while filtering out background noise 
-Corporate email pushed immediately to the device for instant inbox updates 

Availability 
Motorola CHARM with MOTOBLUR is expected to be available exclusively to T-Mobile USA customers this summer.

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Source Motorola

T-Mobile Next iPhone Carrier?

Ever since the original iPhone, users have complained about the iPhone being on AT&T's network in the US. Many people where expecting that the "one more thing" on Monday's WWDC keynote was going to be the iPhone on a different carriers, hopefully Verizon. However the "one more thing" was video calling which made a lot Verizon customers who whated the iPhone very disappointed. 

The iPhone 4 only has a GSM 3G radio which rules out Sprint and Verizon as they us CDMA, but what about T-Mobile? Well, the Kaufman Brothers investment analyst Shaw Wu, thinks that the next iPhone carrier in the US will be T-Mobile. Steve Jobs announced on Monday that the iPhone 4 will be capable of Quad-Band HSDPA/HSUPA 7.2Mbs down and 5.8Mbs up 3G speeds. The same as what T-Mobile uses, which could mean the next carrier could be T-Mobile. If you look at the sales data, Android always beats the iPhone when it is not available. But if the iPhone was available on multiple carriers that would dramatically change.

However, most analysts are saying that it would be in Apple's best interest to release the iPhone on the 2 biggest carriers in the US, Verizon and AT&T, rather than the 4th largest T-Mobile and At&T. But T-Mobile does operate around the world and it is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom in Germany and Apple could work out a deal to allow T-Mobile to sell the iPhone worldwide.

So will we ever see a Verizon iPhone? Probably in 2011 when the networks go along the upgrade path to 4G networks, specifically LTE which runs on GSM. In fact Verizon says that later this year it will have a LTE network up and running. Also T-Mobile is going along the LTE road while Sprint is already releasing Wimax 4G.

So what do you think? Will Verizon ever get the iPhone and will T-Mobile be the next US iPhone Carrier?

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Source: Computerworld