Hasta La Gadget!

The big four wireless carriers, Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile, have reached an agreement to enable text-to-911 service in 2014. The agreement has been shipped off to the FCC, which will discuss the matter on December 12. While the agreement won’t bring the ability to text emergency services to all wireless users by 2014, it will give the service a large boost in that direction.

We reported back in May that Verizon was looking at allowing consumers to text 911, something that pleased both the FCC and consumers. Now the big four, in partnership with the NENA 911 Association and the Association for Public Safety Communications Officials International, are seeking to make this a reality over the next year.

NENA’s President Barbara Jaeger offered this statement. “As the public becomes more mobile and embraces new methods for communicating, 9-1-1 has to be ready to answer non-voice requests for assistance. This historic agreement demonstrates the shared commitment of parties to serve the evolving needs of citizens in the digital age.”

The platform needed to enable text-to-911 will be launched in May 2014, with a bounce-back service for those who try to text emergency services in an unsupported area implemented by June 30th of the 2013. The service will allow the deaf and mute to get emergency help, as well as those in a situation where it is dangerous to speak. However, it is being stressed that placing a voice call is still the ideal way to get emergency help and should be used when possible.

Four big carriers plan to roll out text-to-911 by 2014 is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Dish Network reportedly plans to begin selling mobile phones out of Blockbuster’s brick-and-mortar stores. Even more shocking, Blockbuster still has brick-and-mortar stores. More »

If you didn’t get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we’ve opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, another carrier revealed a shift to shared data plans, Sprint introduced new LTE markets with help from a regional partner and a Verizon MVNO debuted a new smartphone plan — if only it could say the same for its phones. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of November 26th, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of November 26th, 2012

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

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For Nextel push-to-talk subs, the writing’s been on the wall for some time now, what with that legacy service destined to sunset on June 30th, 2013. But for those unwilling to heed Sprint’s many early warnings and make the switch to its CDMA-based Direct Connect plan before this coming January, there’ll be an additional monthly penalty fee. Sprint’s confirmed to us that, starting in the new year, (stubborn) iDEN subs who’ve yet to migrate away from the network will incur an extra $10 charge per billing cycle. In lieu of that, the carrier’s advising users to transition now and take advantage of its myriad incentive programs while they last. It’s not a permanent change though, as this recurring fee will last only as long as the Nextel National Network does, at which point that 800MHz spectrum will be rolled over for the carrier’s planned LTE build-out. But PTT holdouts irked by this news won’t have to tie their fates to Sprint — AT&T’s been anticipating this churn and is waiting with open arms.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Sprint

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Via: PhoneScoop

Verizon’s cellphone service has come out top of the pack for major US carriers, with sterling 4G performance the only thing to rescue AT&T from poor ratings across the board. Based on a survey of more than 63,000 subscribers by Consumer Reports, the feedback praised Verizon for its voice and data quality, the knowledge of staff, and how promptly issues were resolved.

In contrast, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint were all given “middling to low marks” in those categories, with voice and text service judged to be particularly disappointing.

However, while Verizon may have got to LTE first, it isn’t deemed the best 4G offering of all the networks. “[AT&T] users reported the fewest problems with that higher-speed service, which most new smart phones now use” Consumer Reports concludes.

It’s prepaid service which gets the biggest nod, however, with Consumer Reports recommending several no-frills and/or regional providers for the individual or family that wants the most for their dollar. US Cellular takes the top recommendation, with Credo Mobile in second place; if you’re not in the coverage of either, Verizon is in third place.

In fact, the organization found, the majority of those who jumped from contract to prepaid made a monthly saving. Two-thirds saved more than $20 per month, helping offset the higher upfront cost of the device.

Verizon lauded by Consumer Reports: Only LTE earns AT&T approval is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.