A gain in prepaid customers offset a loss in T-Mobile’s postpaid subscriber base, bringing a branded net add of customers for the first time since early 2009. But the iPhone and LTE network is more likely to help in the future. Read more »
The carrier didn’t specify which Apple devices, but the iPhone seems a safe bet, in addition to possible LTE-capable iPads. Read more »
The LTE radio in the Chromebook Pixel is great, provided you’re in an LTE coverage area on Verizon’s network: There’s no 3G fall back. Turns out the modem actually supports various 3G technologies that perhaps could be enabled in the future. Read more »
We’d have to go all the way back to 2010 to find the last rumored merger between Verizon and Vodafone, but the latest crop of rumors are taking speculation to a new extreme. Read more »
EE is doubling the amount of 1800MHz capacity it is dedicating to LTE, meaning many customers will get real-world speeds of over 20Mbps. The move comes as EE’s rivals prepare to launch 4G services. Read more »
In Summly we trust, Flipping the magazines, Math Madness, Say no to contracts & iPhone comes to T-Mobile, plus cable cuts slow down the Internet and links to web-world greatness. A look back at the week in tech Read more »
AT&T may be the first in the U.S. to offer Samsung’s Galaxy S 4 phone, but it won’t come cheaply: The carrier starts taking pre-orders on April 16 for the $249.99 (with contract) handset. Read more »
On this week’s mobile call in podcast, we recap all of the T-Mobile news: no contracts, the iPhone 5 and a new LTE network. Then we hit your questions about running Linux on a Chromebook and which is the best keyboard for Android. Read more »
GigaOM’s coverage of T-Mobile’s “uncarrier” event can be found here. Read more »
T-Mobile may have focused on finally getting the iPhone 5 at its UnCarrier press event, but the company also let slip that the Galaxy S 4 is coming around May 1 for the same $99 down plus monthly payments over time. Read more »
After building up its HSPA+ network for several years, T-Mobile has finally lit up its LTE network, with initial service offerings in 7 markets, along with several devices that can use it: Including the iPhone 5. Read more »
The wait is over for Google’s Chromebook Pixel with LTE: According to the Google Play store, April 8 is the date of shipment for the LTE model. Here’s a look at the LTE pricing options. Read more »
Looking for a Windows 8 slate with mobile broadband? Samsung has added an LTE radio in its Ativ Smart PC Pro 700 tablet, but it will cost you quite a bit up front for the privilege. Read more »
FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said he was stepping down from the role today. Let’s take a look back and see how he did against our hopes for him back in 2009. Read more »
The government is hoping that making a band of unlicensed spectrum available as part of the upcoming incentive auctions will help build a nationwide wireless network. Is that the best use of that spectrum? Read more »
Samsung appears poised to strengthen its position in the highly populous nation of India if reports of a low-cost LTE handset and possible joint venture with an LTE operator are accurate. Read more »
Austin has pretty fast cellular network speeds normally, but how will SXSW crowds affect the experience. GigaOM and RootMetrics want to find out, and we need your help. Read more »
Want LTE service in the U.S.? You’ll likely need a contract with your smartphone. Unless you want to use Sprint’s LTE network through Boost Mobile that is. Here’s why it’s a smart play from Sprint’s prepaid brand. Read more »
EE, Vodafone, Three, O2 and BT have all won spectrum in the auction, which the regulator Ofcom says will lead to full 4G coverage by the end of 2017. Read more »
There is reason to suspect EE’s premium LTE pricing has hurt takeup, but the UK operator’s silence at this early stage could have other reasons behind it. Read more »
The increase will have been partly down to LTE taking off in 2012, but also due to massive subscription growth in China, other emerging Asian economies and Africa. Read more »
LTE adoption is really just getting started but Broadcom isn’t waiting for the next big thing. It has a new chip that can bring super-fast mobile broadband speeds to tablets and phones. Read more »
Now that Verizon is quickly moving customers to its LTE network, what can it do with the older 3G airwaves? Use them for two new prepaid plans and make a little new money on old resources. Read more »
The much-delayed UK spectrum auction is underway. It remains to be seen how EE’s decision to cut its premium 4G pricing yesterday, just months after launching the service, affects the outcome. Read more »
Delivering and managing the web experience isn’t just about mobile. Companies are also faced with new challenges in the desktop environment, including browser fragmentation, network evolution, and client-side technologies. They must invest in both the desktop environment as well as to create an optimized experience for mobile. Read more »
Instead of spending $100,000 on advertising that may or may not get new customers, Ting is spending that money to get people to switch to its cellular service. The company will pay your ETF to make the move. Read more »
Straight Talk, the $45 a month no-contract provider that resells wireless service from major U.S. carriers, has finally embraced the iPhone 5. Walmart is selling the phone with Straight Talk service and $25 a month no-interest financing. But there’s one major caveat to the deal. Read more »
Touring Verizon’s booth wasn’t quite what I expected, but that’s not a bad thing. Instead of focusing on new consumer devices, the company is using the venue to show off partner products from its Innovations Center, illustrating the benefits of connectivity where you’d least expect. Read more »
In an SEC filing, Verizon reported that it sold 9.8 million smartphones during the fourth quarter, which includes the all-important holiday season. The company specifically noted it saw a “higher mix of Apple smartphones” — similar to news from AT&T a day earlier. Read more »
Signaling traffic growth is outstripping mobile data traffic by 30 percent to 50 percent and threatening the stability of mobile networks. However, the growth in signaling traffic is not only an indicator of success but also shows that mobile data has come of age. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Samsung’s Galaxy Camera with Android 4.1 debuts in Verizon’s online store on Dec. 13. If you want a 16 megapixel sensor, 21x optical zoom and integrated LTE radio, this is the camera for you. But beyond the $549 price tag, expect to pay $5 monthly.. Read more »
Sprint plans to shutter its old Nextel iDEN systems for good next summer, but before it can do so it needs to migrate millions of customers still using the network. In January, Sprint will start charing a $10 monthly fee to Nextel iDEN customers. Read more »
About that Nexus 4 with no LTE. Turns out it has LTE, but only on a single band. Android owners got a Skype update this week and can expect to see more AirPlay-like features in the future from Google for media and apps. Read more »
The demand for mobile data continues to rise: Doubling in the past 12 months according to a new report for Ericsson. Smartphones are obviously part of the equation, but so too are tablets; particularly video consumption, which accounts for 40 percent of data use on tablets. Read more »
Some AT&T iPhone customers with older unlimited data plans report that they have access to FaceTime over cellular. This would be yet another step in the evolution of its stance, since the service was supposed to be available only to shared and tiered plan customers. Read more »
Japanese youth are choosing LTE over fiber to the home connections, which has forced NTT to drop prices for its wireline service. Will the possibility of that kind of cost cutting inspire applications developers to build must-have services for wireline too? Read more »
Samsung’s newest Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet features an LTE radio inside. That alone isn’t unique — Apple’s iPad offers an LTE option, for example — but this Samsung slate supports VoLTE, or Voice over LTE. Don’t get too excited; this model is launching in Korea for now. Read more »
According to the WSJ, Dish Network and Google have been in talks about launching an LTE network. Google would bring cash, while Dish would bring spectrum, but neither company has the infrastructure or expertise to run a mobile carrier. Maybe that’s why Google is interested. Read more »
Two new LTE handsets running Windows Phone 8 are heading to Verizon with pre-orders beginning tomorrow. The Nokia Lumia 822, a mid-range handset, will cost $99.99 after rebate while HTC’s Windows Phone 8X is $199.99. Both handset prices are with a new two-year agreement. Read more »
According to Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom, increasing speeds of the mobile app experience immediately encourages people to use the apps more. When mobile broadband speeds inhibit speed, app makers have to speed things up on their end. Read more »
