Sprint Might be Winner If ATT Occupation of T-Mobile

If you didn't already know by now, ATT made a surprised bid to gobble up T-Mobile for $39 billion. And after a couple for bloggers, tech pundits, and myself to digest all the information, here is where many stand.

Regulators will have to look at this very carefully. Competitors will make demands. Politicians will chime in with their usual buffoon-ish manners. Consumer advocates will have their day that is like going to be ignored.

Right now, the meat is fresh and bloody and everyone will wait a piece of this in the morning. Dozens of blog posts and online newspaper articles have already been written about this.

And Sprint had already had its say. But let me offer this opinion about the deal with respect to Sprint.

Earlier, as I sat thinking about this, I said to myself that if ATT takes away from me the better deals and options that T-Mobile now has, regardless of whether I am taking advantage of it or not, I'll head on over to Sprint.

So there. If ATT does bungle this deal by alienating current T-Mobile customers like myself who have been happy with things the way they are, we will head on over to the no. 3 mobile provider who offers WiMax and competitive plans/options.

In the end, Sprint may benefit to some extent. Sprint has to continue to be aggressive and now may be a great time for it to launch an offensive campaign for the hearts and minds of confused (betrayed) T-Mobile subscribers.

However, keep in mind that no one knows just how this deal, when and not if it will go through, is going to look like when it is finally wrapped up. Though I am not hopeful, one such as myself hopes that T-Mobile will have a better influence on ATT and not all the bad things and worst case scenarios will come to pass.

More important than regulators, it will be the bloggers with legions of readers who can shape how this deal takes place. And we will work hard to make sure that if politicians allow themselves to be bought and a bigger badder ATT is looking out to screw more users, we will point to other options as best as we can.

EVIL ATT To Start Capping DSL Services In May

This post from Electonista says it all.

Starting in May, ATT will start capping DSL use at 150 GB. A $10 fee will be assess for an additional 50 GB.

Does this affect you and how you use the Internet?

Let me do some simple math on this. This comes to 4.93 GB a day. Frankly, I think this is so bogus.

We are increasingly relying on our Internet services for streaming media and to get pertinent information. Heck, I don't even own a TV.

This just isn't right. Unfortunately, I think ATT will get away with this given the political atmosphere in Washington and the GOP not want the FCC to do anything at all.

Make no mistake about this. This is about GREED. And this can potentially destroy the Internet and innovation.

If there was ever a time for anyone in Washington to show some backbone, coming out against this would be an easy win.

More here.

Atrix: Tweets and If Netbook Dock Will Change Mobile Computing (Android)

This is a post of my tweets regarding the upcoming Atrix with a laptop dock that will be available on AT&T:

#Atrix: The success of Atrix (or not) will determine whether #Android kills off #Chrome OS faster. #AT&T #Google #motorola (Part 1)

#Atrix: If successful, it might establish #Android as the default OS for future netbooks #AT&T #Android #motorola (Part 2)

#Atrix: It can move Nvidia out of just graphics and into mainstream CPU – Intel/AMD could lose out #AT&T #Android #motorola (Part 3)

#Atrix: This will accelerate #microsoft’s Windows for #arm chip even more if it happens. #AT&T #Android #motorola (Part 4)

#Atrix: Without need for storage, CPU, or others parts in a regular netbook, battery life sould be better. #AT&T #Android #motorola (Part 5)

#Atrix: A new mobile way of working – take your smartphone with you and plug it into any terminal #AT&T #Android #motorola (part 6)

#Atrix: Too bad it’s on #AT&T because it no longer offers unlimited 3G access #AT&T #Android #motorola (part 7)

#Atrix: $500 is a lot. #XOOM may offer better value as a tablet. No need for dock to have larger screen #AT&T #Google #motorola (part 8)

#Atrix: with Atrix & #Xoom, Motorola has a foundation for changing mobile life & computing #AT&T #Google #motorola (part 9)

#Atrix: will be available for pre-order with AT&T on Feb 13 - $199, $499 with netbook dock #AT&T #Google #motorola (part 10)

#Atrix: Impact on mobile computing depends on battery, enterprise, and #iPhone competition #AT&T #Google #motorola (part 11)

#Atrix: #AT&T just push netbook dock combo or else, it’ll just be another #Android phone #motorola (part 12)


Bottom-line: The Atrix is an incredible product on paper and promises to deliver based on the videos I’ve seen.

Motorla has a truly added a new dynamic to the mobile market. I look for a lot of copycats in 2012 if Atrix sales explodes. But like I said in the tweets, there could be things holding it back.

Pricing is one. AT&T is making users sign up for a bunch of services that they don’t need if they want to have the Atrix-dock combo.

Second, data plans. I’m not talking about the cost but the limited data access AT&T has. Seriously, as a mobile user, I want unlimited use. I don’t want to be restricted to 2GB or the limitation put on the tethering plan.

Rather than just AT&T, Motorola should have made the dock available to other networks that provide unlimited 3G access.

As it is now, it’s a very enticing product. We’ll just have to see if this is the magic bullet AT&T is looking for to replace its lost of iPhone exclusivity and if this will usher in an new era of mobile computing.

Xoom's Superbowl Commerical - 15 Sec Preview - References 1984 Apple Ad

Here is a sneak peak at the Xoom commercial for the Superbowl this sunday. I am sure a lot of folks will be talking about this Sunday night and the next couple of days because there is a reference to Apple's 1984 Superbowl Mac commercial.

It's only 15 seconds that we get to see but it looks pretty effective. It'll have folks talking about it. Question is: will it drive people to take a look at the Xoom and buy it?



Source: Phone Arena.

Are the Days of Unlimited Wireless Internet Over?

Those of us who are fortunately enough to have relatively unlimited wireless Internet, and I say relative because our definition of unlimited is not the same as those of wireless providers, we need to remember these days when we tell our grandchildren about them. Because like ATT, Verizon Wireless (VW) is looking to rid themselves of us freeloaders and institute a similar pricing and limitation on data like Ma Bell.

How will this play out?

More at Onxo.

T-Mobile Needs To Allows Folks To Upgrade Early

A strange thing just happened. It's business as usual over at T-Mobile USA. I just tried to see if I can upgrade a month early. See my contract ends next month but I'm trying to see if I can get the Samsung Vibrant, T-Mobile's version of the Galaxy S. No go.

Meanwhile, ATT and Verizon Wireless are allow users whose contracts are up between now and the end of December to upgrade early. As the number 4 mobile provider in the US, T-Mobile needs to be more flexible.

As Android fans, things don't get better than the last few months with tons of high-end HTC devices coming to the market. Motorola is getting a second wind with Droid X and Droid 2. But Samsung is covering the whole market from top to bottom with its flagship Galaxy S.

So with plenty of Android competitions, not to mention Apple's iPhone 4 juggernaut, T-Mobile needs to do all it can to stay competitive. As the originator of the Android platform with the HTC G1, I like to see them do more. Since the G1, all the Android attention has been on Verizon. And for my fellow Android users who are with Verizon, I'm sure things are pretty good there.

But since then, I can't get T-Mobile has really gone the extra mile. What's going for it is the new HPSA+ network that it is trying to complete. Now, all T-Mobile needs are more power users like myself with a lot more high end Android phones.

It also helps if T-Mobile is more flexible with the two-year contract deadlines and upgrades. Especially someone who has been with them for six years. Just saying...

For now, I'll wait. Either way, I'll be getting an Android device or tablet this year. Maybe not necessarily with T-Mobile. At the end of the day, I'm first and forth-most a mobile fan.

I Want An Android Tablet But...

By now, you're very excited about the pending Google-Verizon hatched tablet based on Android.  After all, it can't be just a rumor if it came straight from Verizon Wireless' CEO, right?

Here are some thoughts about it that I had throughout the day about it.  A bit more after these tweets:

• Android Tablet:  I already have an iPad but also want an Android tablet.  But… (part 1)
• Android Tablet:  I don’t want a Dell, HTC, or someone else’s tablet because support is probably spotty (part 2)
• Android Tablet:  I don’t want Verizon’s tablet (or whoever else’s) because updates will suck big time (part 3)
• Android Tablet:  I want a Google backed tablet.  A gTablet.  But I want to make sure Google has the right customer support in place (part 4)
• Android Tablet:  I was about to get a Nexus One when Google said it would stop working on the 3G problems with it…seriously, WTF (part 5)
• Android Tablet:  However, with the right support, an Android tablet from Google will totally rock! (part 6)
• Android Tablet:  Imagine a 7-10” tablet with Nvdia’s Tegra 2 support with Flash for hulu playback (part 7)
• Android Tablet:  For naysayers, Sprint & VW didn’t reject Nexus One.  Sprint has Evo and VW has Incredible.  ‘Nuff said. (part 8)
• Android Tablet:  Google needs to sell the tablet direct as well as subsidized.  (part 9)
• Android Tablet:  Needs to support 4G wireless Internet.  WiMax & LTE verson as well. (part 10)

Just one more thing.  The wireless plan for the Android tablet.  Needs to at least match what AT&T is offering for the iPad. Anything less could just derail what might possibly be the best tablet ever.

Our Favorite Wireless Provider T-Mobile Set To Take Speed Crown

T-Mobile is by far the best wireless provider if you take it as a whole package.  I don't want to start some Android sibling rivalry here but our Droid cousins over at Verizon Wireless might have better coverage but you can't call and surf the Web at the same time on a CDMA network.

And to show that T-Mobile is committed to a wireless future, Android And Me is reporting that T-Mobile will flip on the HSPA 7.2 switch by year's end.  What does that mean for T-Mobile and , more specifically, Android subscribers?

Speed, speed, speed!  That's right.  This is the response Android and Me received from T-Mobile:

Thanks for checking in on this. HSPA 7.2 will be enabled across T-Mobile’s entire 3G network by year-end.

• T-Mobile’s 3G network currently covers 250 U.S. cities, reaching approximately 180 million people. T-Mobile will continue to strengthen and grow its 3G network to reach approximately two-thirds of the U.S. population by the end of the year (more than 200 million POPs).
• T-Mobile will integrate HSPA+ into its 3G network in the next several months with broad national deployment anticipate for mid-2010. With HSPA+, customers will experience network throughput speeds that are three to five times faster than today’s 3G networks – with theoretical peak download speeds of 21Mbps (depending on device and other factors).

You read it right.  Speed of 21Mbps.  And more than that, it also mean better coverage.  VW can't make this claim today nor can ATT.  For the Android platform, T-Mobile has been a godsend.  It was not VW who first endorsed Android.  It's only after years of being pummeled by ATT and the iPhone did VW decide it needs something viable.

But back to T-Mobile's HSPA 7.2.  Currently, we're at HSPA 3.6, which is very good considering that T-Mobile only launched its 3G service a little more than a year ago.

However, T-Mobile has to continue working hard.  LTE should be coming online for VW in late 2010 and ATT in 2011.  Regardless, Android now has three of the four major US carriers supporting it.  Yup, Android's future looks secured.

Whether it's the iPhone or Android, I've got both and I'm loving it!

More at Tmo-News and Android And Me.

Note:  For some reason, Android And Me's post has 2008 but the date in the post specifically mentioned 2009.

WiMax And Android

Did you know that Google was part of a group of companies that invested $3.2 billion in Clearwire, company that is bring WiMax to the markets?

So, it stands to reason that perhaps there is more in stored for Android in 2010 as Spring and Clearwire bring deployment to more than 50 cities.

Oh, you're probably wondering what what Wimax is?  Essentially, it's a 4G network that competes directly with the future LTE network from ATT and Verizon Wireless.

More on WiMax and LTE comparison at Onxo Mobile Society, including a video and some highlighted information that Android phones should know about.