Department of Justice Files to Block T-Mobile Buyout, AT&T Responds

The U.S. Government and the Department of Justice apparently aren’t up for allowing AT&T to acquire T-Mobile. Today the DOJ has filed a formal complaint and anti-trust case against AT&T in the acquisition in an attempt to stop it from moving forward. AT&T was quick to respond so check out more details below.

Today AT&T received some bad news and apparently they weren’t expecting this once bit according to statements already made by AT&T this morning. The DOJ antri-trust complain clearly states that they do not agree on this union and here’s a quote from the filing:

AT&T’s elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low- priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market,” the U.S. said.

While we knew many were opposed to the idea I don’t think anyone was expecting this. We recently saw the FCC looking for users to comment and share their opinion and even other carriers were quick to oppose the deal. While this is a huge blow and will add some serious delay, the deal isn’t completely a lost cause but it didn’t get any easier that is for sure.
AT&T has since released a statement and they don’t sound too happy, but they do seem a bit confident still.

We are surprised and disappointed by today’s action, particularly since we have met repeatedly with the Department of Justice and there was no indication from the DOJ that this action was being contemplated.
We plan to ask for an expedited hearing so the enormous benefits of this merger can be fully reviewed. The DOJ has the burden of proving alleged anti-competitive affects and we intend to vigorously contest this matter in court.
At the end of the day, we believe facts will guide any final decision and the facts are clear. This merger will:
Help solve our nation’s spectrum exhaust situation and improve wireless service for millions.
Allow AT&T to expand 4G LTE mobile broadband to another 55 million Americans, or 97% of the population;
Result in billions of additional investment and tens of thousands of jobs, at a time when our nation needs them most.
We remain confident that this merger is in the best interest of consumers and our country, and the facts will prevail in court.

We have heard many government officials and senators comment on this acquisition I don’t think many were expecting the DOJ to come out like this, either way this entire story is still developing so stay tuned as more details trickle in.
[via Bloomberg]
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U.S. government sues to block AT&T, T-Mobile merger

The U.S. government sued to block AT&T Inc. (T)’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA Inc., saying the deal would “substantially lessen competition” in the wireless market. AT&T shares fell as much as 5 percent.
In the complaint filed today in federal court in Washington, the U.S. is seeking a declaration that Dallas-based AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE), would violate U.S. antitrust law. The U.S. also asked for a court order blocking any arrangement implementing the deal.
“AT&T’s elimination of T-Mobile as an independent, low- priced rival would remove a significant competitive force from the market,” the U.S. said in its filing.
Should regulators reject the deal, which would create the biggest U.S. wireless carrier, AT&T would have to pay Deutsche Telekom $3 billion in cash. It would also provide T-Mobile USA with wireless spectrum in some regions and reduced charges for calls into AT&T’s network, for a total package valued at as much as $7 billion, Deutsche Telekom said this month.
Philipp Schindera, a spokesman at Bonn-based Deutsche Telekom, declined to immediately comment on the filing. Jessica Smith, a Justice Department spokeswoman, declined to comment on the suit. Michael Balmoris, an AT&T spokesman, didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail and phone calls seeking comment.

Shares Drop

AT&T fell $1.02, or 3.4 percent, to $28.60 at 10:55 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading after declining as much as $1.49. Deutsche Telekom American depositary receipts dropped as much as 6.4 percent, to $12.93.
The purchase of Bellevue, Washington-based T-Mobile would combine the second- and fourth-largest carriers to create a new market leader ahead of No. 1 Verizon Wireless. The new company would have dwarfed current No. 3 carrier Sprint Nextel Corp., which argued against the deal. Overland Park, Kansas-based Sprint’s shares jumped as much as 9.9 percent.
Some U.S. lawmakers have said the deal may reduce competition and raise consumer costs. The Federal Communications Commission has given itself more time to study new data presented by AT&T.

Economic Models

AT&T in a July 25 filing at the FCC submitted new economic models that it said showed the merger would lower prices and increase service in large metropolitan markets. The models offer “further detailed support” for arguments that the merger will lessen strains on the company’s wireless network, lower costs and increase quality, AT&T said in the filing.
“Given the size of the cancellation fee that was negotiated into his agreement, AT&T has the incentive to fight,” said Andrew Gavil, a law professor at Howard University in Washington. “The fact that the Justice Department is challenging the deal doesn’t mean they won’t negotiate a resolution at some point.”
The case is U.S. v. AT&T Inc., 11-01560, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington).

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Motorola announces PRO+ Android phone; likely headed to AT&T, T-Mobile [video]

Motorola on Tuesday unveiled a new Android smartphone that is likely soon headed to both AT&T and T-Mobile here in the U.S. The Motorola PRO+ runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread and features a candy bar form factor with a full QWERTY keypad. The BlackBerry-like QWERTY sits beneath a 3.1-inch VGA touchscreen display, and spec highlights include a 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera, 4GB of internal storage, microSDHC support, 512MB of RAM and a 1,600 mAh battery. “The Motorola PRO+ is built for people who want to take the pressure off and consolidate their work and personal lives with an efficient smartphone that acts like your personal assistant,” said Alain Mutricy, Motorola’s senior vice president, portfolio and device product management, in a statement. “Today, with our demanding 24/7 lifestyles your smartphone should make your complex life easier and give you an edge at work and at play.” Pricing and availability have not yet been announced for AT&T or T-Mobile. Motorola’s full press release follows below along with a video.

Motorola Mobility Delivers the Smartphone that Works and Plays as Hard as You Do: Motorola PRO+
A powerful smartphone optimized for business but fun enough to use for your personal life – Motorola PRO+ is your personal assistant and best friend
LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – Aug. 30, 2011 – Life is full of demands, and we all could use a little extra help. With the sleek and sophisticated Motorola PRO+, brought to you by Motorola Mobility Inc., you can have your own personal assistant that fits right in your pocket. Motorola PRO+ gives you the power to edit important documents on the go, multitask when every second counts, and encrypt sensitive work information so your IT manager can sleep at night. This supreme blend of touch screen, full QWERTY keyboard and Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) makes this smartphone ready for anything. The Motorola PRO+ will be available in Asia and Europe starting in October.
Motorola PRO+ has a super quick 1GHz processor and physical QWERTY keyboard for more efficient typing and texting when you need to update a client on the fly, for browsing for really important information, or multitasking as necessity demands. The device is also packed with productivity features to make your life easier and to help you impress your boss or your friends, including the pre-loaded Quickoffice Connect for accessing, creating and editing documents on-the-go. We know that in a fast paced world, going in and out of apps wastes precious time, so now key apps such as your calendar and email are scrollable direct from your home screen.
Motorola PRO+ merges all of your personal and business information for you in a convenient system designed to make your life easier. Take the pressure off knowing Motorola PRO+ syncs services from multiple sources, so all your contacts are viewable the way you want them, calendar options are available to arrange, edit, and respond to meeting invites, there are direct dial conference options, and intuitive email solutions that can anticipate who you may be sending an email to before you do. Its 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities enables you to connect multiple devices, such as a laptop or tablet, for quick access to the Web, corporate email and calendar syncing. Plus, it features scratch resistant Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass so tossing your phone in your bag or pocket doesn’t have to be a disaster.
“The Motorola PRO+ is built for people who want to take the pressure off and consolidate their work and personal lives with an efficient smartphone that acts like your personal assistant,” said Alain Mutricy, senior vice president, portfolio and device product management, Motorola Mobility. “Today, with our demanding 24/7 lifestyles your smartphone should make your complex life easier and give you an edge at work and at play.”
Motorola PRO+ knows how to have fun too – it is ready for full customization to bring you the games and applications most important to you. With Music, Motorola’s unique music player you have a dashboard for music discovery. You have easy access to all your favorite artists and song lyrics. Plus, you receive live, personalized recommendations for songs and videos as well as news and event updates from the world of music. With Gallery, you can aggregate all your photos from social networking and photo sharing sites like Facebook and Picasa for easy viewing. Plus, with Adobe^® Flash^® Player 10.3, you’ll be able to access the online content you love. Motorola PRO+ is also preloaded with the latest *Google mobile services including Google Maps™ 5.0, Google Talk™ and more than 250,000 apps from Android Market^™.
Motorola PRO+ is a smartphone that you and your IT department can agree upon. Nothing says business ready better than the leading security features; whether it’s remote wipe of your device and SD card, password expiration and history, or full encryption, your IT manager will breathe a sigh of relief. Motorola PRO+ comes loaded with 25 Exchange ActiveSync security policies – including PIN lock, auto-discovery of Exchange Servers, Extended Device Management API’s and 3LM integration. Your sensitive information – your career – is guarded in this virtual vault with Motorola PRO+. It’s fully loaded with support for Exchange and Gmail for business, including corporate directory options. With these leading features your IT manager just might give you a smile.
Smart Accessories
A suite of smart accessories ensures users get the most from the Motorola Pro+. Available accessories include a Bluetooth® headset, Bluetooth car kit, portable power, and car charger.

Motorola PRO+ Features and Specifications
Form Factor	Touch Screen, QWERTY
OS	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Size	62 x 119.50 x 11.65mm
Display	3.1” VGA, 640 x 480 pixels, scratch resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass
Weight	113g
Processor	1GHz
Battery	1600mAh
Talk and Standby Time1	Up to 8 hours of talktime and 13 days in standby
Bands/Modes	Dual-band WCDMA 850/1900/2100, 850/1700/2100, 900/2100 Quadband GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 2Mbps, EDGE Class 12, GPRS Class 12
Connectivity	3.5mm headset jack, USB 2.0 HS, BOTA, PC Sync 3G Mobile HotSpot capabilities – Allows customers to connect up to five other Wi-Fi®-enabled devices and laptops
Messaging/Web/Apps	MMS, SMS, Email, IM (Dwnld Java, Embedded)
Camera	5MP auto focus with LED flash
Audio	FM Radio Receive, AAC, AAC+, AAC+ Enhanced, AMR NB, MIDI, MP3, RA, WAV, WMA
Video	Capture/Playback/Streaming, H.264, MPEG4
Storage & Memory	4G internal storage, expandable up to 32GB 512 RAM
Location Services	aGPS (assisted)
Pre-loaded Applications	Access to Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Talk™and Web browsing
Sensors	eCompass, Accelerometer, Light and Proximity Sensor

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Samsung Galaxy S II Gets Official on T-Mobile this Fall

The long wait is finally over and today at the event in NYC Samsung is just about set to start announcing what we have all been waiting for. The Samsung Galaxy S II here in the US. T-Mobile has quickly jumped out and has just pinged us to inform everyone and our readers that they will be carrying the Galaxy S II. We aren’t sure if this is the rumored Hercules or not but either way it’s good news.

The Galaxy S II event in NYC is just getting started and we have exciting news coming out already. We are expecting to hear about all three major carriers except for Verizon today, but we will report it as we hear it as we are LIVE in NYC. T-Mobile will be launching the Galaxy S II shown above coming this fall and just as we have heard from numerous rumors T-Mobile confirmed it will sport an upgraded 4.52″ Super AMOLED Plus display rather than the 4.3″ on most SGSII’s. It will also feature the same 1.2 Ghz dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8 MP rear camera with full 1080p video and a 2MP front camera for amazing quality video chat. Comes with 16GB internal storage and will run on T-Mobile 4G speeds.

These same details were also leaked earlier by Samsung for the WiMAX version of the Galaxy S II headed to the now network and you can see that here. As soon as Samsung gets rolling and some phones are in the wild we will be sure to update with plenty of pictures and hands-on video so don’t forget to check back shortly. Again we are live at the NYC Samsung Galaxy S II event and will be bringing all the details shortly.

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AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint Galaxy S II Models Revealed

After the tragic news broke yesterday that Verizon would not receive a Samsung Galaxy S II proper, a new image is revealing the look of the three versions of the handset slated to be unveiled on August 29th for the other major US carriers. AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint variants of the Galaxy S II are pictured. Samsung has kept the designs more similar this time around, seemingly avoiding the drastic differences of the US carrier variants of the original Galaxy S. Verizon will very likely receive a handset with almost identical specs with the addition of a 4G ration (and possibly a 4.5-inch screen). The carrier is also rumored to be in the running for Samsung built Nexus Prime with Ice Cream Sandwich.
[via PocketNow]

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Virgin Mobile takes on T-Mobile with another Ad Campaign [Video]

I don’t know about you reader but I personally like the T-Mobile Carly commercials as of late. A nice replacement for Catherine Zeta Jones if you ask me. Over at Virgin Mobile they feel differently about those commercials and that magenta colored dress and have a few of their own ad campaigns to prove it. Recently we’ve seen a few attacks come out of Virgin Mobile aimed directly at T-Mobile and their pricing.

Virgin Mobile most recently used the advertisement to promote their unlimited web, data, messaging, and email plan at $35 a month while poking fun at everyone else in the biz but mainly T-Mobile while daring them to offer the same prices. I’ll post both videos below for your viewing pleasure but first we’ll do the newest one. This last video from Virgin is basically more of the same, not as hilarious as the last one but still manages to make T-Mobile look pretty dumb in the process. Showing that their expensive unlimited data plans are no good, and over on Virgin Mobile users can live like celebrities because of all the savings.



While this most recent video is still pretty awesome and funny it doesn’t quite do it for me like the last one did. Calling T-Mobile and their set “cheap” is pretty funny though, causing “Carly” to come out and say that T-Mobile isn’t cheap at all. Here is the other video as promised, I wont explain it and rather just let you watch and enjoy it for yourself.



Mimicking the white background and Magenta dress commercials from T-Mobile clearly shows Virgin is going for the throat with these ad campaigns. If AT&T and T-Mo do end up merging this could give Virgin Mobile a nice and comfy seat at #4 for top carrier here in the US. What do you guys think? Clever ad campaign or just a cheap shot? 
[via YouTube]

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T-Mobile LG G-Slate 3.1 Honeycomb Update Brings a Locked Bootloader

Sadly we have some bad news for you modders that happen to own the LG G-Slate. While recent devices like the G2x, Optimus 3D and even the G-Slate itself have shipped with unlocked bootloaders and were easy to hack, root, and mod. It appears LG has shifted positions and will now start locking bootloaders, a change we are not thrilled to see that is for sure.

While many tablets have been updated to 3.2 Honeycomb already the G-Slate is still way behind and currently rocking the original 3.0 until just recently. Early last week the G-Slate 3.1 OTA started rolling out and most likely many of you have already accepted the update but if not, you might want to wait a few days to see what the developer community comes up with.
New information suggests that along with the 3.1 update the bootloader will also be locked. Making the option to root and flash custom roms, kernels or anything else your heart desires all but impossible until the device is hacked and unlocked. Could this be a new direction LG will be taking with their android offerings, or is this just for the tablet market? I sure hope we don’t get another HTC situation on our hands.

Device Specifications and Information

Device Info

Device Name : G-Slate

Manufactuer : LG

Carrier : T-Mobile

Announced Date : January 05, 2011

Release Date : April 20, 2011

Also Known As : LG Optimus Pad, Optimus Pad, LG G-Slate, T-Mobile G-Slate

Display

• Screen Size : 8.9 Inch


• Resolution : 1280x768


• Screen Type : IPS LCD

Dimension & Weight

• Height : 9.56 Inch


• Width : 5.88 Inch


• Depth : 0.49 Inch


• Weight : 620 Grams

Battery & Power

• Battery Type:


• Lithium Ion

• Battery Capacity : 6400 mAh


• Talk Time : NA


• Stand By Time : 237 hours

Software

• Android OS:


• 3.0.x

• Audio Playback:


• AAC


• AAC+


• AMR


• MP3

• Video Playback:


• h.263


• h.264 / AVC


• MPEG-4 (MP4)

Hardware

CPU : Tegra 2

CPU Clock Speed : 1000 Mhz

Core : 2

Ram : 1000 MB

Internal Storage : 32 GB

Front Facing Camera :

Camera Resolution :5 MP

• Camera Features:


• 1080p Video Recording


• 720p Video Recording

• Sensors:


• Accelerometer


• Ambient light


• Proximity

QWERTY :

Cellular Network

• Network Technology:


• GSM

• GSM Band:


• 850


• 900


• 1800


• 1900

Device Connectivity

• Wi-Fi:


• 802.11b


• 802.11g


• 802.11n

• Bluetooth:


• Bluetooth 2.0

• Location Features:


• Compass


• GPS


• Cellular location


• Wi-Fi location

FM Radio :

[via Phandroid]

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HTC Ruby will be named the HTC Amaze 4G on T-Mobile

New sources are claiming the HTC Ruby will be announced as the HTC Amaze 4G when it hits T-Mobile come October. The HTC Ruby was originally leaked a few times and even the first leak revealed it was headed for T-Mobile. Sources from PocketNow are claiming it will get the Amaze 4G name which is among the long list of names HTC has recently filed trademarks for.

The Amaze 4G will be one of two new flagship phones headed to T-Mobile and it has some impressive specs to back it up.we now know it will be powered by an impressive 1.5 Ghz dual-core processor, a 4.3″ display and be a pretty powerful phone. With 1GB of RAM and an 8MP camera on the rear this should impress everyone over at T-Mobile looking for their next purchase.
Sadly we heard late last night that the HTC Ruby (aka Amaze 4G) as well as the Samsung Hercules wont be released until very late October. The leak suggests an October 26th launch date which seems so far away at this point. We were hoping for something a little sooner but then good things come to those who wait.
[via PocketNow]

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AT&T Claims they only need $3.8 Billion to rollout 4G LTE, Not T-Mobile

This entire story is just a bit odd but after reading over a few details I just had to write it up. Basically AT&T isn’t helping their case one bit regarding the AT&T T-Mobile merger. Apparently a statement was spotted in the FCC filing that had a portion redacted by AT&T and now we look over things it just doesn’t make any sense.

It seems AT&T stated they only need $3.8 billion to bring 4G LTE to 97% of their subscribers based the current state and progress of things. Now I know $3.8 Billion is a pretty big hunk of change but not for them, especially when you consider what they offered T-Mobile for the buyout — does anyone remember? $39 Billion, yea a huge difference.
AT&T is stating in their case for the T-Mobile buyout that they absolutely need the merger to go through. Basically saying they need the available spectrum’s and infrastructure in place via T-Mobile to help them rollout and continue to build their 4G LTE network. So if you step back and look at that, the FCC filing states they only need $3.8 billion in funding to complete the rollout and fully build up their LTE network. All the while they are also saying it is crucial that they buy T-Mobile for the whopping $39 billion that was agreed upon. Wouldn’t it be much easier to just spend the $3.8 billion — just a thought.
So in a round about way everything they have been saying regarding the need for T-Mobile was completely undercut with the leaked documents from the FCC filing and the $3.8 billion statement. Unless there is much more details that we don’t know, it appears they think everyone doesn’t know basic math. While I only briefly read into AT&T’s official statement things just seem a bit off and don’t really make any sense. For more details hit the source link and check out AT&T’s complete response.
[via SlashGear]

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T-Mobile Rolling Out 3.1 OTA Update for the LG G-Slate Starting Today

For all you crazy kids with an LG G-Slate from T-Mobile, you’ll be happy to know that the Android 3.1 update for the device is being rolled out starting today. You will be notified when the update is ready for your device or if you want to receive the update as soon as possible you can do so by manually checking for the update in your Settings. Here’s all the great new features you have to look forward to in Android 3.1:

• Google Videos – A new Videos app has been added that allows you to buy and rent movies.

• Recent apps list expanded – The recent apps list has been expanded to show all apps recently used. After opening the apps list, touch one of the apps to access it.


• Home screen resizable widgets – Widgets built-in to Android 3.0 (Calendar, Email, Gmail, etc.) can now be resized vertically or horizontally on any one of the five home screens.


• USB accessory support – Customers can now attach a keyboard, pointing device, or gamepad to the G-Slate for use with typing, gaming, etc.

Also, in addition to those typical 3.1 features users can also look forward to bug fixes and enhancements like force closes when using Google Talk and Music apps and improved browser and widget responsiveness. Let us know when you get the update!
[Via T-Mobile]

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T-Mobile Makes a Startling Shift From Unlimited To Overages On Their 200MB Data Plan

This could be the end of an era, folks. According to this leaked pic TmoNews managed to get their hands on today, it seems starting August 13th, T-Mobile may be shifting away from their unlimited (but throttled) data on their most affordable 200MB plans. Ironically, this is T-Mobile’s most popular plan and it’s because of this that T-Mobile is forced to move to overages to “remain competitive.” I was able to get my whole family onto the Android bandwagon thanks to this plan’s small $10 price tag.
But not all is doom and gloom. I mean, the overages cap out at around $30 dollars and if you’re currently an unlimited user, your plan should remain the same providing you don’t cancel your line. For everyone else, customers who near their 200MB limit will receive a warning from T-Mobile alerting them to upgrade their plan or face extra charges.
Even if this only affects their 200MB plan, it’s still a little scary seeing this shift from T-Mobile’s much touted unlimited data to overages based upon a plan’s popularity. I know most Android users are data hungry but are any of our readers currently on the 200MB plan? Will this change force you to upgrade your plan, or will you take your money and go elsewhere?
[Via TmoNews]

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HTC Marvel coming to T-Mobile after the Sensation and Doubleshot

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This is some fresh news from our friends over at TmoNews. According to some recent photo’s that have been found, T-Mobile plans to bring a nice mid-range device in the HTC Marvel, better known as the Wildfire S. You can see our hands-on here. It should come looking pretty similar to the Wildfire S, only with T-Mobile branding and the rest of the goodies assuming T-Mobile doesn’t become AT&T anytime soon.

The HTC Marvel is a nice mid-range phone with a 3.2″ display and sporting a 800 Mhz Snapdragon processor like all other HTC phones. According to the sources it will be coming after the HTC Sensation, and the HTC Doubleshot. Yes they mention it will be after the Doubleshot, a device we still don’t know much about. There is confirmation that the Doubleshot will be the MyTouch 4G Slide. We are unsure if that will be dual-core like the Sensation, but we have already seen a leaked 2.3 Gingerbread build for the MyTouch4G Slide so that is good news.

The HTC Marvel looks very similar to its much bigger and powerful brother pictured above, the HTC Sensation we have heard so much about lately. So for those that don’t need the beastly 4.3″ dual-core goodness that will be the Sensation, feel free to save that upgrade that is coming soon and get the HTC Marvel. As always, it will have that solid HTC build quality, and it looks like the always attractive Nexus One. Will you be getting the Marvel? Or will you hold out for the Doubleshot with its keyboard? Tell us below.
[via TmoNews]
 

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T-Mobile grows 21Mbps HSPA+ by 3 markets

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T-Mobile announced, via Twitter, that Fort Myers, Florida; Pueblo, Colorado; and Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Pennsylvania have been added to the list of markets that have 21Mbps HSPA+. This adds about 210,000 subscribers that now have access to their 4G network.
T-Mobile plans on doubling the bandwidth for their HSPA+ to 42Mbps later this year. They are the fourth-largest mobile operator and plan on delivering 25 4G-capable devices this year.
 

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T-Mobile G2x Android 2.3 Gingerbread Preview

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Well what do you know? Looks like someone got their hands on an early build of Android 2.3 Gingerbread for T-Mobile’s G2x. It’s Chris Ziegler of This is My Next and by the looks of it, there’s not a whole heck of a lot of surprises, but increased enjoyability nonetheless. Have a look and let us know if you’ll be backing out of Cyanogen long enough to get yourself the official real deal Gingerbread when the time comes.

As you may already be aware, the G2x comes stocked with Android 2.2 Froyo in a vanilla flavoring. This tasty combination means that aside from a few apps here and there, this version of Android is in the original Google-made state. There’s no custom user interface sitting on top of it – you know what that means? It means a much easier path to getting an update to the next version of Android. This means that the device will have Android 2.3 Gingerbread sooner than later.
Now you’re already essentially able to get Gingerbread if you’re the hacking type by heading over to the CyanogenMod 7 for G2x post from a few days ago. If you’re into the real deal from Google, do press on:
Factoids gleaned from Ziegler at TIMN:

• This update will be Android 2.3.3, not Android 2.3.4 with Google Talk Video Calling.
• Scrolling and touch sensitivity appear to be notably improved.
• Gingerbread keyboard, improved text highlighting
• No Tags app, Nexus S Gingerbread system sounds not present
• Gingerbread UI in menus, status bar, dialer, and in glow at the end of lists – buzz!
• Stock Gingerbread camera app (replacing LG’s custom Froyo camera app)
[Source :Androidcommunity]

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Android 2.3.3 Allegedly Previewed on T-Mobile G2x [Video]

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T-Mobile confirmed that their newest phone – the T-Mobile G2X – would be getting Gingerbread “very soon”. If this preview build acquired by This Is My Next is anything to go by then it would appear T-Mobile wasn’t the least bit bluffing. They bring us 7 minutes of footage but it really isn’t anything we haven’t seen on other Gingerbread devices. Just know that it’s pretty damn stable and expect T-Mobile to roll it out sometime this month (hopefully within the next two weeks).
PS: I say “allegedly” in the article title because of how easy it is to theme deodexed Android ROMs and change build.prop files. We trust the folks at This Is My Next (some very trusted names in technology media), though, and we’re fairly certain they wouldn’t go through the trouble of faking this just for content’s sake.
 

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Take Screen Shots With Your T-Mobile G2X Without Rooting Your Phone

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Some of you may already know this, especially if you have recently purchased T-Mobile’s G2X and have researched the device beforehand.  However, I figured it can’t hurt to cover the feature again for those who might have missed it.  One of the most sought out and coveted pieces of functionality iPhone users have benefited from for years has now made its way to Android and could possibly be here to stay for future devices.  That’s right, screenshots!  To take a quick screen shot with your T-Mobile G2X all you have to do is simply hold down the power button + home button and wallah!  A full screen shot of your Angry Birds high score has been saved to your photo gallery.  As a blogger and one who performs app reviews, I can’t tell you how convenient this feature will be.  Previously, one had to root their device to obtain the feature and frankly, it just seemed a little redundant for such a small and single feature.  So, there you have it.  It doesn’t get any easier than that.  Let us know what you think of the feature in the comments below.  Do you think it’s a highly coveted function or could you care less?  We want to know.
 

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AT&T & T-Mobile, Want To Add Your 2 Cents Worth? FCC Says Ok

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As you’re already aware, not everyone is happy with the AT&T&T-Mobile buy-out.  It appears that the FCC wants to know what you think about the whole acquisition, which is looking to be finalized about this time next year.  Have you had an opinion or thought on the matter?  The FCC has provided a place on their electronic comment filing page for you to chime in.  Now is the time to take advantage if you’ve been looking to get something off of your chest.  Head on over to their site via the source link and look for file number 147, proceeding number 11-65 and feel free to fire away in the comment box.  While you’re at it, paste that rant or blessing in our comments section first before pasting it over at their site.  We’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.  Dan Hesse, there’s even a spot for you too my friend!  As a T-Mobile employee myself, I have much to say on the matter, but I think I’ll save that jazz for another post.  I’ll just suffice it to say this, I shiver at the thought of Android being solely left in the hands of AT&T.
I think our friend Zak Stinson, over at Android Police sums it up well as to what we should be worried about:

• A lack of competition resulting from fewer, larger carriers may result in less innovation and increased prices.
• Both carriers’ 4G HSPA+ bands are incompatible, risking loss of coverage for T-Mobile handsets once AT&T LTE starts rolling out
• Only one major carrier will be buying GSM handsets, meaning they will have the lion’s share of control over the GSM devices that make it to the U.S. market

 

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T-Mobile pokes fun at Verizon for their LTE outage

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Who doesn’t love some friendly competition, a little “anything you can do, I can do better”? It looks like T-Mobile likes it just fine. As we all know, Verizon’s LTE network suffered some serious downtime recently. In a tweet released by T-Mo, the carrier stated:
“@VerizonWireless In the time your network was out, we downloaded 22 million photos, 17 million eBooks and 1 million apps on our 4G network.”
Sound a little snarky? Of course it does! What do you think of T-Mo’s attitude in this? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
 

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T-Mobile: We Downloaded a Crap Ton of Stuff While Verizon’s 4G Network Was Down

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T-Mobile wasn’t going to let this juicy opportunity slip away. In what has to be a very gutsy blow to the – well – gut, T-Mobile has tweeted Verizon to let them know that they were able to get stuff done on their 4G network while Verizon’s 4G network was down. Here’s the full tweet for your consideration:

And with that I leave you to talk amongst yourselves because I don’t think I can follow that statement with anything worthy enough of being said.
 

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Leaked ROM Reveals Full Specs for T-Mobile Mytouch 4G Slide

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Earlier today Quentyn reported some fun little leaks of upcoming HTC devices thanks to 911sniper and briefly mentioned the HTC Double Shot (now known as the Mytouch 4G Slide). The guys over at PocketNow were able to crack open the ROM and what came pouring out were rainbows, kitten whiskers and an impressive list of specs. According the build.prop found inside the ROM,  T-Mobile may have something really great in store for the sequel to the Mytouch 3G Slide.
The QWERTY slider will be coming equipped with one of Qualcomm’s dual-core Snapdragon processors and a not too shabby 768MB of RAM. The screen will come in at 3.7-inches and feature an 800×480 resolution (which I’d say is perfect for a QWERTY slider). Another interesting tidbit is the fact that phone supports the codec for 3D video playback indicating the possibility of a 3D screen? And just like the screen, the 8MP camera will also support 3D video recording. The handset will also have a .3MP front facing camera, perfect for video calling seeing how the phone supports HSDPA category 10, capable of 14.4Mbps down on T-Mobile’s network.
Honestly, I am quite impressed with the list of specs on this phone. If you guys remember not too long ago it was rumored that T-Mobile was going to receive a dual-core, 3D qwerty phone nicknamed the Sidekick Twist (Project Emerald anyone?) but it never came to fruition. Although a little late, maybe those rumors weren’t too far off after all. One thing is for certain, if this phone has the same keyboard as the HTC Arrive, you can slap my face and call me jealous.
What do you guys think of this possible HTC QWERTY superphone? Are you second guessing upgrading to the Sensation after seeing this spec list?
[Via PocketNow]
 

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