Posted by: Christopher Meinck
on May 7, 2009
If you wander into a T-Mobile store, you will not be able to purchase an iPhone, but that doesn't necessarily mean they do not have much love for Apple's iPhone. A recent report on The Consumerist notes how a recent system update caused system failures and bugs in unlocked phones on T-Mobile's network. This caused a surge in emails from iPhone owners using an unlocked model on T-Mobile's network. Not only did T-Mobile correct the issue, but they also offered a service credit for the inconvenience. Great customer support considering the iPhone is exclusive to AT&T.
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Oct 28, 2008
There's some great news today for AT&T iPhone users - AT&T is now offering free Wi-Fi access to iPhone users, and has an official announcement about this new offering up on their site. If this news sounds familiar to you, it's because AT&T has previously slipped and then renounced this offering in the past. More than once, in fact. Hopefully, this isn't another slip that will be retracted!
In order to get free Wi-Fi access at an AT&T hotspot, you must first turn Wi-Fi on in your iPhone's Settings and select the AT&T Wi-Fi network. When you go to Safari, you'll be brought to a screen that will prompt you to enter your 10-digit cell phone number and to accept the terms and conditions of use. You'll then be sent a text message, at no charge, that will contain a secure link to the Wi-Fi hotspot. When you receive this SMS, clicking on the enclosed link will get you access to the hotspot.
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Sep 23, 2008
With much fanfare, though not nearly the level of showmanship we see from a Steve Jobs keynote, T-Mobile, HTC, and Google execs formally announced the first Android-driven device yesterday. What did we learn about the T-Mobile G1? Let’s recap:
- Touchscreen (NOT multi-touch) device with slide-out keyboard (exactly as pictured in previous spy shots)
- Quad-band GSM and 3G capable on T-Mobile’s network, currently live in 16 markets in the U.S.
- Includes WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3-megapixel camera
- 1GB microSD card included, unknown internal memory
- SIM-locked to T-Mobile, can be unlocked for users in good standing after 90 days
- No headphone jack (requires a proprietary adapter to use headphones)
- Can download apps from the Android Marketplace (developers can produce and distribute any type of software with no restrictions)
- Pre-loaded music player, web browser, and other software. No built-in video player.
- Amazon music store software pre-loaded
- Copy & paste (though limited to editable text boxes)
- Integrates seamlessly with Google apps and syncs with online counterparts
- Google Maps has compass function to automatically adjust street view
- No desktop synchronization software
- No Exchange server synchronization capability
- Push email only with GMail accounts (all others are pull)
- Camera records still photos only, no video
- $179 with a 2-year contract, two data plans at $25 and $35, available starting October 22
W
Posted by: Marianne Schultz
on Sep 21, 2008
From the start, the iPhone grabbed headlines and mindshare of cell phone junkies, Apple fans, and even many non-tech-heads, and it continues to do so with the explosion of the App Store. With literally thousands of apps available that can help iPhone owners do everything from learn a foreign language to nap on the train without missing their stop, the pressure is on other smartphone makers to keep up. Last winter, Google stepped up to join the fray and announced its own open-source mobile platform and gained the participation of a number of smartphone hardware manufacturers and mobile service providers. Google’s bold plan is coming to fruition tomorrow with the announcement of the first Android handset that will be available through T-Mobile.
How will this impact Apple and the iPhone platform? It’s far too early to tell yet, but it will definitely offer some competition, and free market theory indicates that this should push improvements in quality and price among competitors over time. The important thing to note is that Android is open source and there’s no NDA governing its use, nor will there be an approval process governing the release of apps. This is in stark contrast to Apple, who has come under fire lately because of their decisions to reject some apps recently (PodCaster and MailWrangler), while other, arguably less useful, apps were approved and available from day one. Also, Android’s app distribution will not be limited to their app store, the Android Marketplace - developers will also be able to distribute their Android apps directly to users, compared to the iPhone’s App Store that acts as the only distribution point for 3rd party apps to users, period.
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