Hasta La Gadget!

Even though T-Mobile plans to go completely prepaid in 2013 and get rid of subsidies altogether, it’s been confirmed that the carrier is launching a separate prepaid brand called GoSmart Mobile, which is currently be tested in “select market”, and could launch sometime next year if the company is happy with the results of the testing.

T-Mobile confirmed the rumors to FierceWireless, but T-Mobile representatives had nothing to say further. Questions about what markets T-Mobile is testing GoSmart Mobile in, and what kind of plans and prices GoSmart Mobile will offer, as well as what kind of devices they’ll support went unanswered.

According to TMoNews, GoSmart Mobile will offer three low-cost mobile plans. A $30 plan will get you unlimited voice and texting, while $5 more will get you unlimited voice, texting, and 2G web service. Springing for the $45 plan will score you unlimited voice, texting and “high-speed” 3G web service.

On top of those three main plans, there will be two add-ons available. Paying $5 will land you unlimited international texting, while an extra $10 will get you unlimited international texting and landline calling. T-Mobile added 365,000 new prepaid customers, and lost 492,000 contract customers, so it’s certainly not surprising that the carrier is aiming its sights more towards the prepaid market.

[via FierceWireless]

T-Mobile begins testing for prepaid mobile brand, could launch next year is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

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.

The Wall Street Journal reports that satellite TV giant Dish Network tried to purchase MetroPCS before T-Mobile stepped up and bought the prepaid cellular carrier. Dish Network reportedly offered $4 billion in August report people familiar with the deal. The four billion dollar offer valued MetroPCS at $11 per share.

Dish Network would’ve paid 30% in cash and 70% in stock according to a MetroPCS SEC filing. Talks between Dish and MetroPCS fell apart in late August, and MetroPCS later announced that it was being purchased by T-Mobile USA in early October. T-Mobile buying MetroPCS meant that the fourth and fifth largest carriers in the US would be combining.

Dish Network is looking intently at entering the wireless phone market. The satellite TV provider has billions of dollars of airwave rights to spectrum to carry wireless phone signals that it has purchased since 2008. Some speculation has hinted that Dish Network might simply sell off its spectrum to turn a tidy profit.

However, the satellite provider’s serious bid for MetroPCS signals that Dish Network wants to become a wireless provider. Dish is also waiting for the FCC to decide whether it can use some of the spectrum it owns for a ground-based cellular network. The FCC is expected to approve Dish Network’s request with a caveat that the satellite provider has to restrict a portion of its airwaves to provide a barrier against interference on neighboring bands.

[via WSJ]

Dish Network tried to buy MetroPCS before T-Mobile is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

T-Mobile USA has turned on HSPA+ in three new metro areas, claiming that in its tests with an unlocked iPhone 4S, it saw 70-percent faster downloads than on AT&T. The new service – in select parts of Washington D.C, Baltimore, and Houston – joins T-Mobile’s existing iPhone-compatible “4G” 1900MHz provision as the carrier tries to remain relevant in the face of LTE services from rivals.

That brings the total number of new markets to five, with Kansas City and Las Vegas already on the list. T-Mobile says it will be equipping several more metro areas before the end of the year, as it transitions old 2G service on the 1900MHz band over to HSPA+ use.

It’s a long process, though for T-Mobile it could be a valuable one if it can coax over iPhone users in those areas to its all-you-can-eat unlimited plans. Subscribers with Apple devices are known to drive significant monthly per-user revenues for AT&T, Verizon, and other carriers, and that’s a pie T-Mobile would desperately like a piece of.

Of course, step outside of the fledgling 1900MHz coverage, and the speed situation gets a whole lot more miserable. The full list of new areas is as follows:

• Washington D.C.: Alexandria, VA; Arlington, VA; Chevy Chase, MD; Falls Church, VA; Laurel, MD; McLean, VA; and Silver Spring, MD.
• Baltimore: Glen Burnie and Towson, MD
• Houston: Cypress, Jersey Village, Humble, Kingwood, and The Woodlands.

T-Mobile USA lights up new HSPA+ and blasts AT&T iPhone speeds is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Today T-Mobile announced their holiday lineup of new devices, and it includes a plethora of different phones from different manufacturers. T-Mobile named off devices such as the Nokia Lumia 810, the HTC Windows Phone 8X, the Google Nexus 4 from LG, and the Samsung Galaxy Note II. These devices and more will be available from T-Mobile during the holiday season.

On top of this, the carrier will also be bringing the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, LG Optimus L9, and Google’s Nexus 7. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Lumia 810, Windows Phone 8X, and the Nexus 4 will be available at T-Mobile starting November 14. The Nexus 7 will be coming November 5, and the Optimus L9 will available on October 31.

The Galaxy Note II has been available on T-Mobile for a few days now, but the carrier is putting it in with their holiday lineup, and the same thing goes for Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S III. Both of these devices will be at the forefront of T-Mobile’s offerings along with the aforementioned devices.

Prices for devices start as low as $79.99 for the Optimus L9, and go as high as $369.99 for the Galaxy Note II. T-Mobile is actually selling the Note II $70 higher than other carriers, who are charging only $299 for the 5.5-inch phablet-style smartphone. If you’re in the market for a new device this holiday season, you may want to look into treating yourself with a brand new smartphone.

T-Mobile unveils holiday lineup with Galaxy Note II, Nexus 4, and Windows Phone 8 devices is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.