HTCDev.com Adds Unlock Support for T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide, HTC EVO View 4G

Those of you who aren’t keen on using community-developed tools to unlock their HTC devices’ bootloaders have been graced with a great program by HTC. They officially allow you to unlock your bootloader in a safe way, though it may void your warranty as they will know which phones have been unlocked through their tool.
Two new devices join the party today as T-Mobile’s MyTouch 4G Slide and the HTC EVO View 4G (Sprint’s version of the HTC Flyer) are now able to be unlocked. Be sure you know the risks of unlocking your bootloader and it would help if you had a good idea of why you want to unlock it before you go ahead and do that. Head to HTCDev.com to get started. [via The Verge]

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Security hole found in all GSM networks by hacker

During a hacking convention in Berlin conducted by Germany’s Security Research Labs, a hacker discovered a security hole within the GSM mobile network. In Mr. Karsten Nohl’s own words:

We can do it to hundreds of thousands of phones in a short timeframe. None of the networks protects users very well. Mobile network is by far the weakest part of the mobile ecosystem, even when compared to a lot attacked Android or iOS devices.

This is quite disappointing. Though many of us choose to have a tier of texting or data – nearly 100% of us have some sort of voice plan incorporated. In case you don’t know which carriers use GSM networking technology, they include AT&T, T-Mobile, the select states with Cellular One, and many others: Yes this means you guys on Big Red and The Now Network are in the clear!
To make matters worse, compromised phones would be completely under the hacker’s control. Text messages or phone calls can be carried out easily and at any time. And until GSM carriers patch the security vulnerability, subscribers are all at risk. Fortunately, it will only take some updating of outdated software. There is no timeframe advertised to the public, but I’m sure it will be first on their “To-Do” lists (if not done already). We should all thank Mr. Nohl and those at the conference for discovering this vulnerability and restoring security to the airwaves.

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Springboard of T-Mobile spotted with Android 4.0.1 on board

For those who might have gotten their hands on the Huawei MediaPad, or the T-Mobile Springboard as it is better known in the states, it appears that thanks to a leaked screenshot, what we are looking at above is the tablet running on none other than Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich.
The tablet was originally released with Android 3.2 Honeycomb on board and costs a relatively affordable $430 (this was before the Amazon Kindle Fire) with relatively decent hardware specifications to match. The update to Android 4.0.1 doesn’t really surprise us considering that a while back the company released a beta Android 4.0 update for the Honor handset.
No word when the update will arrive, but hopefully based on this screen shot the update should be closed to completion and should start making its way to owners of the Springboard/MediaPad soon.
[Image credit - CNMO]

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T-Mobile rolling out new 3G bands

T-Mobile will be following through with their addition of the 1900MHz frequency bands to their network. They’ll be updating their towers from here on out, and this will make many current T-Mobile customers extremely happy; the 1900MHz bands should allow unlocked and imported devices to finally reach 3G speeds.

Sure Edge speeds let you access the internet, but it’s those with an unlocked speedy smartphone on T-Mobile’s network should at least be able to access 3G signal. There’s no idea where they’ll rollout the updates to the network first, so unlocked iPhone users just keep an eye on your device to see if you finally connect to a 3G network. Maybe we can find an update pattern.
Most future devices from T-Mobile will probably come equipped with capabilities for the new bands – but until then unlocked/international devices will be the only ones compatible. Personally, I was expecting an update to 1900MHz from T-Mobile due to their suggested AT&T buyout deal. Since that has fallen through, hopefully they continue with their plans.
[via TalkAndroid]

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AT&T and T-Mobile call it quits — wont be merging after all

AT&T has just issued a statement today outlining what many probably already saw coming. And that is that they have decided to call it quits and end the bid for a T-Mobile buyout. This was by far one of the biggest corporate deals this year, especially in the mobile industry but at the moment it appears to be dead in the water — and for good. More details and the official statement are below.

Earlier this year AT&T proposed a $39 billion dollar buyout of T-Mobile USA and since the announcement it has been under a heavy amount of scrutiny. This came from all angles by Sprint, and even the US Government. I had a feeling things wouldn’t be ending on a good note and today it appears that is exactly what is happening. Don’t worry though because they still get a big piece of cash at the end of the day. We’ve covered this story so much in the recent past that I had almost stopped reporting the small updates — although today’s new is a bit more important.
Here’s the official statement from AT&T earlier today:

The actions by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice to block this transaction do not change the realities of the U.S. wireless industry. It is one of the most fiercely competitive industries in the world, with a mounting need for more spectrum that has not diminished and must be addressed immediately. The AT&T and T-Mobile USA combination would have offered an interim solution to this spectrum shortage. In the absence of such steps, customers will be harmed and needed investment will be stifled.”

T-Mobile will still cash in on the breakup fee that was discussed earlier this year (around $4-6 billion), but this isn’t good news for either party. AT&T has stated they’ve already set aside the 4 billion they’ll owe T-Mobile USA but we are still slowly getting the details as this entire story is just breaking. Feel free to read up on all the details on this merger from our timeline below. We should be hearing more from both parties sometime soon.

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AT&T reportedly having difficulties selling T-Mobile assets

According to sources reporting to the Wall Street Journal, AT&T has hit yet another snag in its efforts to acquire T-Mobile, as it is now having difficulty selling T-Mobile assets to other carriers. This selling of assets, also known as divesting, is crucial for AT&T, as it may be the only way for it to gain regulatory approval for the purchase.
Earlier reports had said that AT&T was in talks with Leap Wireless, owner of Cricket, to sell some portion of the spectrum and other assets acquired from the purchase of T-Mobile to Leap. Other reports had said that Dish Communications or MetroPCS were also likely suitors for T-Mobile's assets.
Apparently, at this point, all of those negotiations have collapsed, and those involved say that the deals would not have been significant enough to sway the Justice Department's opposition to the purchase.
The Justice Department and AT&T have put their legal fight on hold until next month, in order to give time for AT&T to figure out its next move as to whether or not it will continue pursuing the acquisition. It has also been rumored that AT&T and T-Mobile could form a joint venture should the outright purchase not gain approval from the government.
[Via: Mobile Burn]

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Sprint’s Nexus S 4G gets Android 4.0.3 ROM Ported from T-Mobile’s Nexus S OTA

Android Central forum member beezy has whipped up an Ice Cream Sandwich treat for you folks on Sprint with a Nexus S 4G. The Android 4.0.3 OTA for T-mobile’s Nexus S has been ported to Sprint’s Nexus 4G. You won’t see any wimax (4G), but 3G data, camera, WiFi, and bluetooth are confirmed working. You’ll need to be rooted and you can flash this ROM via Clockwork. You will also need to head over to the AC forums and be registered to download the file and you can do so from the source link below. Happy flashing, but do so at your own risk.

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T-Mobile pits the Amaze 4G against the iPhone 4S, Street Fighter style

It’s a common enough argument: my phone is better than your phone. If you’ve got any friends who are particularly attached to their iPhones, you might hear it a lot. T-Mobile’s out to end the debate, and they’re not above using Scott Pilgrim-grade nostalgia to do it. Their latest anti-iPhone commercial pits their current flagship the HTC Amaze 4G against the iPhone 4S in a one-on-one battle to the death to the end of Round 1.

The 90-second ad is mostly about the phones’ respective cameras: both shoot 8 megapixel stills and 1080p video. T-Mobile argues in favor of the Amaze 4G, with arguments about panoramic views, face recognition and sports-friendly burst modes. And 8-bit robot samurai fists. You can probably guess who emerges victorious, but if you’re in suspense, check out the video embedded below:




Even as a rabid Android supporter, it’s hard to deny that the cameras in the iPhone 4 and 4S are impressive. Better than the iPhone? Well.. no. But given the extra features and the lack of iPhone availability on T-Mobile, it’s definitely the best you can get on the carrier.

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T-Mobile’s White Samsung Galaxy S II Now Available Online for $230

Following news that the T-Mobile Galaxy S II would be getting a software upgrade to add WiFi calling, the white version of that very phone is now available online (or through telesales and customer care). It’s a 4.5 inch Super AMOLED Plus gem with a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and HSPA+ radios. It can be yours for $230. [T-Mobile]

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Orange & T-Mobile invest £1.5bn, UK customers to get better coverage in coming weeks

UK mobile operator Everything Everywhere, the joint-company created after the merger of T-Mobile and Orange, has announced that it plans to invest £1.5bn over the next three years in upgrading its mobile networks, reports Reuters.
Throughout 2012, Everything Everywhere will seek to further integrate the two companies under its stewardship, meaning that more Orange and T-Mobile customers will be able to use the 2G and 3G signals from each network, which we reported back in October.
Everything Everywhere say that the investment and upgrade will help kick-start its preparations for 4G, which will give mobile users faster access to Internet on their mobile devices. Olaf Swantee, Chief Executive at Everything Everywhere, said.

“With mobile data increasing 250 percent over the past two years, we are making these investments so we can deliver on our ambition to provide the UK’s most reliable, biggest and best mobile data network. We believe that the UK requires a 21st century infrastructure and are committed to rolling out 4G as soon as possible to support growing data use, connect parts of the country with little or no mobile broadband, and drive economic growth.”

In the early part of 2012, Everything Everywhere will make moves to improve the signal-sharing across the networks, by letting Orange and T-Mobile customers’ devices automatically tap-in to whichever network has the strongest signal where a user is.
Back in November, we reported that Everything Everywhere had been required by the EU to sell extra spectrum as a result of the merger between T-Mobile and Orange, to help increase competitiveness with its rivals. We speculated that this could well see investment in reinforcing its 3G and HSPA+ networks to increase coverage and signal strength throughout the UK. With a delay in the auction for 4G spectrum, the company wasn’t able to begin a full rollout of 4G services until it was clear what bands it would operate on within the UK.
UK communications regulator Ofcom has yet to publish the final terms for the auction, which is looking like won’t happen until into the new year now.
Everything Everywhere has said that customers of both its networks should see coverage improvements in the coming weeks.

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T-Mobile G2x Gingerbread OTA Update Resumes

After a not-so-smooth attempt at rolling out Android 2.3 Gingerbread for T-Mobile G2X users, experience-breaking bugs ran rampant throughout users’ phones prompting T-Mobile and LG to suspend updates. It took quite a while for them to get things ironed out, actually, as I almost forgot that the T-Mobile G2x even exists. In any case, the Gingerbread rollout is back on for those who are sick of frozen treats. Alongside Gingerbread, you’re also apparently getting improved battery life for your troubles. Yay! Get to the link ahead for the full instructions from LG. [LG via Droid Dog]

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T-Mobile and Sprint Speak Out About Their Carrier IQ Use

T-Mobile and Sprint have recently decided to chime in on the conversation regarding their use of Carrier IQ, a metrics tool used to gather statistical data. Via some internal and unreleased memos regarding Carrier IQ, both carriers have discussed, as expected, its intended use which was to simply log data for troubleshooting and to improve the overall network performance for each respective carrier. Check out their responses below in an interview with The Verge:

To wit:

T-Mobile: ”T-Mobile does not use the tool to obtain the content of text, email or voice messages, or the specific destinations of customers’ Internet activity. It is not used for marketing purposes. T-Mobile uses the Carrier IQ diagnostic tool to gather device data for effective troubleshooting and to increase the overall device and network performance for our customers.
Sprint: ”Sprint uses the Carrier IQ data to only understand device performance on our network so we can identify when issues are occurring. … Even with Carrier IQ, Sprint does not and cannot look at or record contents of messages, photos, videos, etc., nor do we sell or provide a direct feed of Carrier IQ data to anyone outside Sprint.

In addition, T-Mobile also went one step further and listed the devices on its network currently running the Carrier IQ software. Hit the break for the full list of infected handsets.

• HTC Amaze 4G
• Samsung Galaxy S II
• Samsung Exhibit II 4G
• T-Mobile myTouch by LG
• T-Mobile myTouch Q by LG
• LG DoublePlay
• Blackberry 9900
• Blackberry 9360
• Blackberry 9810

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New Carrier IQ Class Action Lawsuit Sues More OEMs, Carriers

As accusations of fouplay within Carrier IQ have turned up due to research work done by Trevor Eckhart – who exposed the company for collecting user information that may be violating the Federal Wiretap Act – some lawsuits shortly followed.
One early class action lawsuit targeted HTC, Samsung and Carrier IQ. A new one filed by three lawfirms in a joint effort is targeted at HTC, Samsung, Apple, Motorola, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile. Strangely enough, Carrier IQ itself isn’t being sued in this particular instance.

Carrier IQ has not been hit with a formal federal investigation yet but these lawsuits and pressure from government bodies all add nicely to a hopeful investigation sometime in the future.
Carrier IQ has admitted that their application may appear to be logging information that should be kept private, but they say it’s a byproduct of trying to send information to carriers and OEMs that is actually useful to helping them improve wireless service.
Saying it is one thing and proving it is another, though. Hopefully more of these lawsuits turn up and a big, bright spotlight will be put on the carriers and OEMs who use this service in order to put immense pressure on Carrier IQ to fully and accurately show what information really is or isn’t being transmitted from our phones.

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T-Mobile UK announces Vivacity smartphone

Gadgets are funny business – the high end models are the most desirable in terms of design as well as functions most of the time, but then again, they do not generate the most sales for a company, since any graph would show that the mid-range and entry-level devices would do far better since the majority of the population would be able to afford them. Well, having said that, I am not opposed to high end devices – I would associate them with Formula 1 racing, pushing the boundaries of mobile technology always so that the masses will benefit in the long run. T-Mobile UK’s latest smartphone would not fall under the high end category, but rather, will be an entry-level participant known as the Vivacity.

The Vivacity smartphone will run on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, bringing along with it a 3.5″ display, tipping the scales at 118 grams (4.16oz) and measuring a rather diminutive 115mm x 58mm x 10.5mm. There is a 5-megapixel camera located at the back, and the screen itself ain’t too shabby with a WVGA (480 x 800 pixel) resolution. A microSD memory card slot is there for expansion purposes, while 512MB RAM ought to be enough for the average user. It is available for 99GBP (US$153) on a Pay As You Go plan, but if you want it for free, then be prepared to assign yourself to a 24 month contract and a 10GBP monthly plan.

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AT&T and T-Mobile withdraw FCC merger application

AT&T and T-Mobile have withdrawn their application to the FCC for their planned merger. Following the FCC’s decision to conduct a hearing on the validity of the proposed merger, the two companies have switched their focus to gaining approval from the Department of Justice. AT&T has also indicated it expects to book a pretax $4 billion charge in the fourth quarter for a break-up fee to T-Mobile should the deal fall through.

"This formal step today is being undertaken by both companies to consolidate their strength and to focus their continuing efforts on obtaining antitrust clearance for the transaction from the Department of Justice," the two companies said in a prepared statement.

The Department of Justice sued to block the merger in August as it believed that the deal posed may violate antitrust laws. The companies believe that they can convince the DOJ that the concessions that they are prepared to offer to make the deal happen will not adversely affect consumers.

Both the DOJ and FCC have contended that the merger is inherently anti-competitive, knocking out a major carrier, and that no amount of concession is likely to change the reduced amount of choice.

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T-Mobile shows off white Galaxy S II on video

For those that love white smartphones and would rather not wander around with an iDevice T-Mobile has you covered. Announced this morning as “coming soon” is the T-Mobile Galaxy S II dressed in white for the holiday and Christmas season. We’ve now spotted a video from T-Mobile themselves showing off just how purdy the SGSII looks in real life.

Featuring the same impressive specs as the original Galaxy S II from T-Mobile the white model will rock that 4.52″ display, Android 2.3 Gingerbread and that powerful 1.5 GHz dual-core processor to speed things along. Not to mention the upgraded HSPA+ 42 Mbps network connection giving it access to T-Mobile’s blazing fast “4G” network. It’s everything we loved about the original, only in white — here’s the video:
T-Mobile Galaxy S II in white




We have already enjoyed the T-Mobile variant of the Galaxy S II for a while now and it’s a great phone. Just like the announcement this morning all we know is this phone is “coming soon” and will be here in time for the holidays. We should be hearing more any day now so if this white thing of beauty interests you be sure and stick around for updates.

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T-Mobile upgrades HSPA+ 4G in 11 more cities

Despite sticking with the older HSPA+ standard with no LTE plans in sight, T-Mobile continues to upgrade its existing network with commendable regularity. Today the carrier announced that 11 new cities will be getting the doubled speed standard that others have been enjoying for some time: Bend, Medford and Corvallis, Oregon, Benton Harbor, Michigan, Bloomington, Champaign–Urbana and Springfield, Illinois, Columbus, Georgia, Hagerstown, Maryland, Montgomery, Alabama and Yuba City, California.

The above cities will now enjoy HSPA+ with a maximum theoretical speed of 42Mbps down. That’s not to be sneezed at, since even on AT&T’s uncontested and relatively tiny LTE network, we could barely get above 20Mbps. T-Mobile says their network now covers 180 million Americans (which I’m sure is a wonderful comfort to the 120 million+ Americans who can’t get a single ever-loving bar). Notably for data-lovers, T-Mobile still offers unlimited data plans for smartphones, though customers are throttled after a certain limit.
T-Mobile has been particularly aggressive in expanding its 4G android lineup, currently lead by HTC’s Amaze 4G and the still solid Samsung Galaxy S II. T-Mobile’s tablet offerings are expanding as well: in addition to the Huawei-made Springboard, the Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is coming soon, both of which have HSPA+ 4G. After the Justice department denied AT&T’s approval to purchase its competitor, the future of T-Mobile is currently somewhat tenuous, but for the foreseeable future it remains an economical choice for those who spend most of their time in urban areas.

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T-Mobile Galaxy S 4G Gets Gingerbread Update

Samsung Galaxy S 4G owners on T-Mobile have been waiting quite a while for the Gingerbread update that was promised by T-Mobile and it’s finally here. Unfortunately the update must be applied OTW (over-the-wire) via Kies Mini on a PC. Unfortunately T-Mobile doesn’t list whether or not the upgrade will be able to be applied in-store, but it couldn’t hurt to call your local store and ask. Take a look at the list below for the changes you can expect and find full instructions and download links at the T-Mobile’s support site.

Devices upgrading to T959VUVKJ6 will benefit from:

• Android 2.3(Gingerbread)
• Google Security Patch
• Camera enhancements
• Wi-Fi enhancements

Note: The upgrade to KJ6 is NOT required. You may opt out of the upgrade and continue using software version T959VUVKD1.

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T-Mobile joins the Google Music Event Wednesday, Live music and more

We’ve just learned that a few invites are going around to join what appears to be an after-party of the Google Music event set for Wednesday. As if the title “These Go to Eleven” from Spinal Tap didn’t give anything away, the invite from T-Mobile does. Mentioning live performances from Drake, Maroon 5, Busta Rhymes and more. If you weren’t convinced this was a musical event, you should be now.

This instantly makes me wonder a few things. Why would T-Mobile be so involved with a Google Music event, wouldn’t that be all Google? Unless maybe they are pushing it to T-Mobile devices first but I can’t see that happening when this should be a Android wide release. Google did this with Google Wallet, so it’s possible, but doubtful. Second if you look the event is actually being pushed by BNC and not T-Mobile. I was immediately hoping that Google would announce their new Google Music Store that we saw earlier today, and then T-Mobile would pop on stage and show off the T-Mobile Galaxy Nexus. Sadly that doesn’t appear to be the case. We can dream right?
While many are thinking we may see some sort of product announcement from T-Mobile, I don’t think this is the case. Instead T-Mobile appears to be sponsoring the after party. Either way we now know this is indeed an event all about music and the Google Music Store is about to get very real. Stay tuned for more details as we’ll have all the information as the event unfolds.

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T-Mobile Announces Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus Pricing And Availability

T-Mobile has just announced that they will be offering the “new and improved” Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus for their 4G network this holiday season. The 7-inch device is running on Android 3.2 Honeycomb and features a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 16GB of internal storage, micro SD slot, 3MP rear/2MP front facing cameras and of course, running on T-Mobile’s insanely fast 4G network. The Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will be available November 16th and can be purchase for $250 (after $50 mail-in rebate) with a 2-year agreement. You can check out the full press release below.

T-Mobile Completes Holiday 4G Tablet Portfolio With the Samsung Galaxy Tab™7.0 PlusT-Mobile’s newest ultra-mobile 4G tablet delivers a rich entertainment experience anywhere on America’s Largest 4G Network. BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Nov. 8, 2011 -- T-Mobile USA, Inc. today unveiled the ultra-mobile Samsung Galaxy Tab™7.0 Plus, the latest to join the company’s portfolio of 7-, 9- and 10-inch 4G-enabled* tablets. Featuring a brilliant 7-inch multitouch display and weighing just 0.77 lbs., less than a can of soda, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is one of the thinnest and lightest 7-inch tablets on the market, making it easy to watch popular TV shows and movies, download full-color magazines, compete in multi-player gaming and more - all while on the go.

"Consumers want a selection of affordable, highly mobile tablets that can deliver the content they want virtually anywhere they go," said Jeremy Korst, vice president of mobile broadband and emerging devices, T-Mobile USA. "The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is a perfectly sized, ultra-thin and lightweight 4G tablet that easily fits in a coat pocket or purse and delivers a rich on-the-go entertainment experience."

Offering a premium, ultra-mobile entertainment experience, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus from T-Mobile comes with a variety of pre-installed premium content, including the Samsung Media Hub so customers can rent or purchase movies and purchase TV programs and share that content on up to five compatible devices on the same account. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus also comes pre-loaded with WildTangent®, so customers can play premium games for free, as well as rent or purchase games.

The Android™ 3.2 (Honeycomb) Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus is equipped with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 16 GB of internal memory and a micro SD card slot that supports up to an additional 32 GB of expandable memory for easy storage of documents, movies, books and more. In addition, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus makes it quick and easy to browse rich Web content with support for Adobe® Flash® Player and read books and magazines though services like Zinio®, which offers more than 5,000 full color magazines to browse, and Blio® eReader, which shows eBooks in full color on the brilliant 7-inch screen.

Equipped with a 3-megapixel rear-facing camera with flash for photo, and Mobile HD video capture and playback in 720p** as well as a 2-megapixel front-facing camera which can be used to connect with friends and family via Video Chat, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus makes it possible to connect and share life’s most important moments while on the go.
 AvailabilityThe Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus will join the recently announced T-Mobile® SpringBoard™ with Google™ and Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1, as well as the T-Mobile G-Slate™ with Google, to offer an affordable and compelling portfolio of 7-, 9- and 10-inch 4G tablets with down payments ranging from $179.99 to $399.99***.

Beginning Nov. 16, customers can purchase the T-Mobile SpringBoard for a $179.99 down payment and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus for a $249.99 down payment at T-Mobile retail stores. Each require a $50 mail-in rebate, with a T-Mobile Value Mobile Broadband plan, two-year service agreement, and 20 interest free monthly payments of $10 on approved credit. Overage-free Mobile Broadband Value plans start at $29.99 per month, and T-Mobile postpaid voice customers enjoy $10 off their monthly mobile broadband service. For more information, visithttp://mobile-broadband.t-mobile.com/tablets.

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