Hasta La Gadget!

If you were wondering whether or not the ZTE Grand X would cross the oceans to launch in the US, there’s a good chance the mystery is over. An unusually detailed FCC filing has uncovered a V970T variant that’s destined for T-Mobile USA, complete with the carrier branding, Wi-Fi calling and AWS-based 3G data to match. Other details of the Android 4.0 phone are lacking despite the presence of a manual, although the V970 edition we’ve seen elsewhere runs on a dual-core, 1GHz MediaTek MT6577 chip alongside the more familiar 4.3-inch screen and 5-megapixel rear camera. T-Mobile’s release plan is about all that’s left to ponder; knowing the entry-level components, though, any possible launch should come with a low price tag.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, T-Mobile

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Source: FCC

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, new phones from HTC landed in the US and Canada (along with Europe and China), and T-Mobile flipped the HSPA+ switch for its 1900MHz network in three more cities — perfect for that newly available unlocked iPhone 5. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of December 3rd, 2012.

Continue reading Mobile Miscellany: week of December 3rd, 2012

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, HTC

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Word on the street about T-Mobile’s mysterious new prepaid brand popped out earlier this week. TMoNews first published details about T-Mobile’s new brand earlier this week. Leaked documents reveal the moniker “GoSmart Mobile” and it looks like the carrier is planning to re-position itself as a premier value postpaid brand in the U.S. The documents also hints that GoSmart Mobile will offer three main, low-cost plans – a $30 plan for unlimited voice and texting, a $35 plan for unlimited voice, texting and 2G web service, and a $45 plan for unlimited voice, texting, and high-speed web service. But with no word from T-Mobile, everything seems hazy. Meanwhile, FierceWireless claims that T-Mobile has confirmed that it is testing a new prepaid brand called GoSmart Mobile in a few selected markets, thereby supporting previous rumors. T-Mobile reportedly said that it plans to launch the service next year.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Asus PadFone 2 Gets Android 4.1 Jelly Bean Update, Snapseed finally makes its way onto Android, iOS version now free of charge,

Folks, if you love how you could pick up a relatively inexpensive phone from T-Mobile thanks to the carrier offering a subsidy for the device, come 2013 it looks like that will no longer be happening. According to the folks at Fierce Wireless, they are reporting that T-Mobile will be removing device subsidies from their rate plans starting in 2013. This does not mean that you will have to pay full retail price – well actually you will, but  T-Mobile has structured it in such a way that your upfront payment would basically be the equivalent of a subsidized device, i.e. $99 with a two-year contract, but on top of that customers are expected to make repayments for the phone over the duration of the contract in the form of installments. T-Mobile’s CEO John Legere also stated that the carrier will not be adversely affected by these changes. What do you guys think? Will this affect your decision to sign on with T-Mobile for your next device?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Windows Phone 8 Portico OS Update, Galaxy S3 Premium Suite Features Fleshed Out,

T-Mobile is often in the business of explaining to its customers why it doesn’t offer the iPhone, but today the company said via a release on its financials that it will actually be working with Apple to “bring products to market together in 2013″ through an agreement with the iPhone maker. T-Mobile CEO Rene Obermann also confirmed the news in an analyst press conference.

There isn’t yet any further info about the specifics of the arrangement between Apple and T-Mobile, but it could involve either selling the iPhone, the iPad, or a combination of both, similar to the agreements other U.S. carriers have with Apple. T-Mobile now offers 3G speeds for customers using iPhone devices unlocked in some major metropolitan areas like New York City, and it is building out an LTE network that will be compatible with the iPhone 5 (AT&T/Canadian edition) as soon as next year.

We’ve reached out to T-Mobile directly for more information, and will update if the carrier makes and further details about its plans available. Update: T-Mobile provided us the following statement, which reiterates what it said in the release and adds some non-info regarding specifics:

T-Mobile has entered into an agreement with Apple to bring products to market together next year. Additional details will be made available at a later date.

Update 2: Apple now has also confirmed to The Loop that T-Mobile will be getting some of its products to offer, but they added nothing in terms of details on which would be available.