AT&T Kevorkians 2G Customers

Imagine you just bought a first generation iPhone, RAZR, BlackBerry or another phone with 2G connection speeds and your first 30 days proved to be just dandy. Then, all of a sudden, your cell signal is permanently average and frequently missing. Don’t worry, AT&T knows its happening… only they’re doing it on purpose!

As reported by Open For Business, AT&T has shifted access of these 2G devices from their 850 MHz band to the 1900 MHz band in some areas. The 850 MHz spectrum is notoriously more robust and the shift has caused some customers - many of who purchased their phones over 30 days ago - to be lacking a vibrant enough signal to sustain their normal, day-to-day cellular activity.

So why, AT&T? Why?

Because the 2G network is old, frail and needs to die… so AT&T is voluntarily killing access to it in order to usher in the new 3G era. Are you an iPhone 2G customer who no longer has decent signal strength? Welcome to mobile euthanasia. I’m Signal Kevorkian and I’ll be your tour guide. Please eat the $400 price of your old device, buy a new device that works on our life-worthy 3G network and then pay us more money for data fees since you are now better off whether you like it or not.

The information above is sent in by real customers facing this exact problem. While AT&T execs are denying that users are being forced to upgrade to 3G… that’s arguing semantics, and more specifically, the definition of the word “force”:

AT&T’s executive director of analyst relations, Mark Siegel, “categorically” denied to OFB that AT&T was advising customers to dump 2G equipment such as the iPhone for 3G versions. In a follow-up message, Siegel added that the company was not requiring anyone to switch to 3G equipment. Although that is technically true, customers in affected areas are all but required to upgrade due to the dramatic signal strength drop over the last few months.

I understand that AT&T needs to ramp up their 3G network. Afterall, whenever a manufacturer creates a 2G phone we all complain. In this case, the carrier is killing 2G and we’re complaining. The fact is there needs to be a middleground. There should be contingency plans in action so customers don’t get left in the dust. This is the duty of the carrier and I think AT&T will read posts like these and realize that something has to be done.

It’s hard to predict or plan for side effects like this, but once the diagnosis has been made, Doctor mobile has to prescribe something and it can’t be a simple Kevorkian solution.

Nokia Supernova Headed To T-Mobile

Although it hasn’t been announced, T-Mobile will soon be launching their own version of the Nokia 7510 Supernova. It’s a fashiony phone and will be avilable in red, aquamarine and brown. Unfortunately the phone doesn’t have 3G but the flip does come with a 2MP shooter with LED flash, microSD slot, FM radio, and a QVGA screen.

So if it’s not yet out, hasn’t been announced and nothing official has come down the pipe, how do can we be so sure of this? Because T-Mobile put the phone live on its website albeit briefly before taking it down:

We’re guessing the phone will see an official launch at CES so you only have to wait a few days until you see how right we are… and we’ll make sure to remind you!

By the way, props to Nokia for their sense of humor: the original location of the Supernova Minisite is now a 404 Error Not Found document with the accompanying picture:

Oh, Nokia… how you make us laugh. Just don’t make us laugh at your 2009 CES offerings… give us something to smile about!

[Via 7510 Supernova on Nokia.com]

BlackBerry Curve Hitting T-Mobile February 11th

The BlackBerry Curve 8900 was initially thought to be hitting T-Mobile on February 18th. It seems as though cupid has shot his arrow into the butt of a someone’s calendar and that date has, to the delight of MagentaBerries, been corrected and/or  moved up to February 11th.

Seeing as how these date changes are usually delayed, nobody can complain. And the list of features you ask? You receive:

[Via TMONews]

Verizon/Alltel Deal Closes January 9th

Verizon Wireless’ acquisition of Alltel is almost complete and will likely conclude on January 9th, helping them leapfrog AT&T to become the largest Mobile Carrier in the United States based on number of subscribers with 78 Million. The deal was expected to close last month but regulation procedures have dragged on.

To push the legislation through, Verizon agreed to sell off its assets in markets where the two companies overlapped, assuring Verizon didn’t acquire a monopoly in any given market. Many folks are wondering how this will affect the competitive mobile landscape and others have looked at the stock market fluctuations since the announcement - Verizon is up nearly 74 cents or 2.2% according to BusinessWeek.

But what about jobs? When companies merge, there is inevitable duplication of jobs and positions that must be dealt with. Alltel is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas and while Verizon says they will keep a call center there, it is probably that many jobs will be lost. VZW CEO Lowell McAdams has said it will take up to a year after the closing to identify which jobs to keep or cut… a sigh of relief for many of the 3,000 Little Rockers which Alltel employs.

Verizon paid only $5.9 Billion for Alltel but in the process assumed $22.2 Billion in debt. Despite the hard economic times, Verizon was able to find financiers for the acquisition and the company will likely be one of the more stable mobile tech companies in 2009.

[Via BusinessWeek]

Sprint Getting BlackBerry Bold, Orange Dropping It

We’ve got a couple of very divergent pieces of news about the BlackBerry Bold concerning Sprint’s network in the USA and Orange in Europe. Rumor has it from a reliable Engadget tipster that Sprint will soon be adding a CDMA version of the BlackBerry Bold. On the flip side of the coin, and other side of the Atlantic Ocean, European Carrier - Orange - is considering dropping the BlackBerry Bold from its lineup for good.

Orange carried and temporarily dropped the Bold once before. The software was buggy and laggy, prompting some of the highest return rates ever experienced from its customers. The device has been “refreshed” with OS updates and was re-welcomed to the Orange lineup but it appears it may have overstayed that welcome as unexplained crashes, poor reception and irregular call dropping as reportedly pursued.

The loss of Orange’s support of the BlackBerry Bold would hurt from a couple standpoints. First of all, the economy isn’t exactly on the sunny side and losing the biggest carrier in a huge market could really hurt. Add the fact that BlackBerry has been somewhat abused by critics for subpar launches and the picture ain’t too pretty for Research In Motion.

Sprint, on the other hand, is looking for a way to boost its offerings. Sure, they got the Instinct and the Touch Pro on their lineup but it never hurts to have a BlackBerry to please their loyal supporters. Based on the troubles faced by Orange, is Sprint taking a gamble on a phone that has proved to displease?

At this point, the addition of the Bold to Sprint’s lineup can’t be seen as anything but an improvement. The company is struggling and the more offerings they can import to differentiate from the competition the better. Unfortunately for them, its likely that Verizon will follow suit with their own CDMA version of the BlackBerry Bold.

Two very different experiences from two different continents has us wondering… what is the fate of the BlackBerry Bold?

Rumor: Bold Coming to Sprint?

Rumor has it that the venerable 8830 currently serving as Sprint’s grand pooh-bah of business phones will soon be replaced by a CDMA version of the Blackberry Bold. Details are fuzzy and limited but it appears that the device will feature more memory and a new UI to better reflect Sprint’s visual language (read: there will be yellow). If past models are any indication, this new version of the Bold might also be a world phone as well.

[Source: Engadget]

T-Mobile upcoming release dates get pictured

Woah! BoyGenius seems to have gotten their hands on some seriously exciting blurry pics for those on T-Mobile or those wanting to join up. Most exciting is the RIM Curve 8900 and Samsung Memoir that show up for Feb. 18 release.

Excitement surrounding the 8900 is a bit self-explanatory given the previous Curve’s success, but the Memoir is a powerful beast itself, packing a 8 megapixel camera.

The full list is:

•    January 21: Sony Ericsson TM506 in scarlett (red, clearly, would not have sufficed)
•    January 21: Nokia 7510
•    January 28: T-Mobile Shadow
•    February 4: Motorola Renew and Samsung t119
•    February 18: Curve 8900 and Samsung Memoir

[Via BoyGeniusReport]

Samsung Innov8 Through FCC, On Amazon, Soon AT&T

If you want one of the most amazing digicam phones on the planet and happen to live in North America your options are expanding rapidly. The Samsung Innov8 is an 8 megapixel powerhouse that has just popped up on Amazon and unlocked for $799.

Fret not frugal folks, the phone also passed through the FCC with a 850/1900MHhz model that is likely to hit AT&T with those subsidized discounts we all love so much. It could also be used on Rogers 3G network in Canada but that - at least at the moment - seems less likely.

Some of the Samsung Innov8 key features:

This is looking REALLY good. With Casio’s Exilim Phone hitting Verizon in the near future as well, its only a matter of time before your phone replaces your digital camera as the technologies converge.

[Via Symbian Guru]

Pics Of Verizon Casio Exilim Phone Leaked

A member of an internet forum posted a leaked picture of Verizon’s upcoming camera phone that is sure turn some heads - the Casio Exilim phone. When the word (and picture) started to spread, the member deleted their post but not before the pictures were recorded in the permanent archives of interwebz glory.

Looks pretty good to us, how about you? These pics are said to be of the NX9250, a Verizon bound Casio Exilim sporing a 5.1MP camera and possibly a WVGA screen. It probably won’t be too long before these this snapper sees the light of day.

[Via kangrk]

BlackBerry Storm 4.7.0.85 Firmware Leaked

The first ever touchscreen BlackBerry was supposed to take the world by Storm. Instead, many felt it took their expectations hostage. Fortunately, some things can be improved with a good old OTA update or firmware update and thats just what is happening with the latest Storm improvements.

The update isn’t official by ANY means so those taking the plunge might accidentally force their Storm down the toilet. It might also work perfectly but hey, the more crude our warning the less chance you’ll blame us.

Go ahead and visit CrackBerry.com for the download link.

Hack Unlocks GPS on VZW Touch Pro

Feeling daring? Don’t want to wait for the first half of 2009 for Verizon to unlock GPS on their mobile devices? There are detailed instructions on PPC Geeks that will help you unlock GPS on your Verizon Touch Pro right now with the install of a few cabs, running PPST, a soft reset and some other little customizations.

A number of people are reporting success with the method, so if you’re feeling technically able enough… be my guest.

Here is an excerpt of the insturctions. Visit PPC Geeks for the full instructions and to download associated files:

Please read completely. I really don’t want to have posts asking about things stated in this post.

First and foremost…. This fix is to be considered beta at the present time. I WILL NOT be held responsible for any damage to your device or any charges from you carrier if you happen to be in roaming because of this.

I have successfully unlocked VZW’s TP GPS. Please realise I’m still testing and tweaking the PRI to get the last little bugs out.

Here we go

1. download lllboredlll VZW GPS Fix.cab and put on your storage card
2. install cab but don’t soft reset after
3. use gsfinder or total commander to navigate to windowsppst.exe
4. execute ppst.exe and go thru the prompts
5. reset your device as needed
6. make sure you location is turned on and enjoy

AT THIS PRESENT TIME I’D SUGGEST NOT DIALING *228 AFTER THIS FIX IS APPLIED. IT WILL UPDATE THE MODIFIED PRL AND SHOW THAT YOU ARE ROAMING.
IF YOU DO YOU CAN SIMPLY REAPPLY THE FIX TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

All navigation software might not work so you may need to open the port with HTC GPS tool that I attached. Settings are Q7500 chip 4800 buad and cold start. I don’t have AGPS configured because this thing locks in 2 seconds. There is no need for a data connection to assist when the results are that dang fast.

If you need to go back to the OEM PRI I have attached it aswell. Just go thru the same steps as far as installing and then ppst.exe

If you take my research and improve on it all I ask is that you atleast give me credit for the discovery. I’ve spent a ton of hours working with NV files and PRI’s.

Hope everyone enjoys…..

A special thanks goes out to GC14 for his roaming fix. Thank you very much.

UPDATED FOR BANNER FIX 12/22/08 - Fixed link/Port issue

This will instruct you on how to fix the banner back to Verizon or anything of your liking.

1. Download QPST Pack linked below.
2. Unzip to it’s own folder.
3. Install WModemDriver
4. Install QPST
5. Plug your VZW TP to your pc and get activesync connected
6. Depending on your ROM dail ##3424# or ##3424 to execute DMRouter
7. Open QPST Configuration from Start/Program Files/QPST/QPST Configuration
8. If it don’t show your device on Active Phones tab then goto Ports tab and add QC/Diagnostic to whatever port it shows.
9. Click Start Client at top of window, then Service Programming
10. Click OK on Phone Selection Dialog once SURF7500A is selected
11. Click Read from Phone at bottom of window.
12. Click on Display tab and enter name of your choice to the banner box. Stay away from AMPS tab or you will have to close out and start over again
13. You can also do GC’s AGPS Fix on the gpsOne tab. Just navigate to the gpsOne tab. Click on the grayed out boxes to the left and the reselect them all. Enter this info into corresponding boxes

PDE IP Address: 66.174.95.132
PDE Port Number: 8888
PDE Transport: IP
Position Calculation: PDE

http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index…VerizonAGPSFix
For further information if needed.

14. Click Write to Phone and then soft reset.
15. Download and install Verizon AGPS Provisioning cab that is attached and soft reset. Thanks to GC14 for cab file.

DO NOT mess with anything else in Service Programming or you could very well regret it….

Also make sure that your device settings are right.

Settings >> SYSTEM >> External GPS
Programs Tab- GPS Program Port: Com4
Hardware Tab- GPS Hardware Port: None, Baud Rate: 4800
Access Tab- Checkmark on “Manage GPS automatically”

Make sure you turn your location on thru your phone settings. Some ROM’s do not have it enabled by default.

Enjoy

We haven’t tried it, the hack is listed as beta and regardless of whether or not others are having success, if you’re nervous you might brick your phone, don’t do it. And if you DO… don’t blame us. But if it works we’ll take the credit, k?

[Via PPC Geeks]

AT&T Samsung Propel Review By Unwired View

UnwiredView was right when they said AT&T had a gaping hole in its mobile phone lineup - where were the teen oriented texters? And as they mention, the lightbulb went off and the hole was plugged with a whopping FOUR devices in that category: AT&T Quickfire, Pantech Slate, Pantech Matrix and Samsung Propel.

They took a few minutes to review the Samsung Propel which if you don’t THINK you know about… you probably do. And by that I mean, have you seen this commercial before?

Ozzy Osbourne fits the bill for reaching young people with this clever little tie in with the Prince of Darkness. But it all comes down to the phone… is it worth it?

Here are some of the key comments from Unwired View’s Review:




Basically, the Samsung Propel accomplishes exactly what it set out to do - text very well - and everything else is an added (and limited) bonus.

Check out Unwired View for the full review.

iPhone 3G Cheapest at BestBuy, 2 Weeks Only

If  you’re only going to pick 2 weeks of the entire year to have the iPhone 3G in stock - not to mention cheaper than any other place in the United States - BestBuy picked a pretty good two weeks to do it. Between now and January 3rd, BestBuy will be offering the iPhone 3G for $189.99 - $10 less than everywhere else.

Some might say “meh, it’s only $10,” but in these economic times, $10 is $10. Well, it is in any other economic time too, but you know what we mean.

We thought to ourselves, if YOU were BestBuy would you have picked a 2-week window that started a little earlier, perhaps December 6th to December 20th or so? Possibly, but there are two factors that might make THIS two week period a bit more logical:

Any way you look at it, it’s a pretty big deal for BestBuy - kind of odd that I haven’t heard it advertised around town. Could there be a reason for that?

[Via BGR]

Samsung Android Headed To Sprint & T-Mobile

If you have an appetite for Android and think the Samsung Omnia and Samsung Instinct were pretty hot, then you’re in for a treat. By June 2009, Samsung plans on releasing a compareable Android device on T-Mobile and Sprint, according to an article by Korea IT News.

Its actually quite amazing that T-Mobile will go so long without competition for their Android Phone. But whatever Samsung is cooking up, we’re eager to feast our eyes on it. Samsung released some amazing handsets in 2008 and we fully expect their first Android handset to follow that path of success.

To get the job done - and hopefully done right - Samsung has added 30 more developers to their existing 50+ man/woman/person/robot team and we’re praying that they can meet or beat any timelines they’ve set.

If you’re a Spint customer, there’s a good chance you’re playing the air guitar or celebrating in similar fashion - Sprint has been a member of the Open Handset Alliance since Day 1 but this is the first we’re hearing about an actual phone from a specific manufacturer with a speciifc timeline.

[Via Phandroid]

HTC Touch HD Headed To AT&T?

How happy would you be if the HTC Touch HD was available in the United States? Arguably the most amazing touch screen phone in the world, it is constantly lauded by tech bloggers the world over yet demonized by the same group who happen to be American. Why? Because the can’t have it.

HTC has said that the Touch HD will not come to America because it would simply take too much time and energy to prepare the device for US standards, rendering it outdated by the time it was ready. But the story may not be over: an HTC Touch HD service manual shows that the device may already be equipped with American 3G bands that would make it usable on AT&T.

This doesn’t PROVE anything at all. In fact, its more likely that the service manual featured an early adaptation of the Touch HD and that an American 3G model was never - and never will be - made. But that small glimmer of hope still exists until the folks at HTC tell us otherwise.

And when/if they do… there is a 67% chance we will cry.

[Via WMPowerUser, Service Manual PDF]

Moto’s Rollin With 3 More 2009 Verizon Phones

Perhaps it isn’t Motorola that’s on a roll… perhaps it’s BGR for scooping pics of all these dandies. But any way you look at it, after we got pics of 4 hot Moto phones headed to VZW yesterday, we now have 3 more to gaze upon.

Introducing the Niagara, Fairbanks and Harmony whose details are all still mysterious. The Niagara looks to be in the RAZR family and while it looks like a noteworthy design/stylistic upgrade, its attempted coupling of retro futurism leaves me with a bleh kind of feeling. But mostly everyone else seems to like it. To each their own.

The bottom 2 phones - the Fairbanks and Harmony - look to be singing the song of freedom as they march in. They appear to basic to be anything more than freebies but every lineup needs some role players, right?

[Via BGR]

Moto VZW: 2009 Phone Pics Leaked

It’s been awhile since we’ve had some juicy phone leakage to feast our eyes on, but the wait is over. Motorola NEEDS to have a big year in 2009 and it seems like they’re off to a decent start based on the pictures of the 4 handsets upcoming.

Motorola Flash. Umm… holy smokes this thing is TEH HOTNESS:

Motorola Rush 2. Does it come with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan? This thing is supposedly dropping in 1st quarter 2009.

Motorola Calgary.

Motorola Inferno

As far as we know, these are all codenames. This is leaked info and should be taken as a rumor, but the pictures themselves look pretty legit and BGR is usually on point. Watch me as I greedily rub my hands together, scrooge/mr. burns style.

[Via BGR]

Walmart iPhone Coming December 28th

Remember all those claims about the $99 iPhone coming to Walmart? Yeah, no… not gonna happen. The same thing happened with claims of the G1 at ridiculously low prices - they never materialized. But what IS materializing is the existence of the iPhone at Walmart.

The iPhone will be available in 488 Walmarts starting December 28th at 9AM. Please note the first bullet point in this confidential internal memo and note the irony of this entire article existing:

So if you don’t feel like buying an iPhone in an AT&T, Apple or Online store brings the same money-saving nostalgia as a Wal-Mart, feel free to stand in line super early on the morning of 12/28. You’ll be the only one in line.

[Via Engadget]

Motorola i9 Pics Leak, Announcement Forthcoming

It seems that official press quality photos of the Motorola i9 have been leaked, an iDEN phone that is likely to first launch on the Sprint-Nextel network. With a 3.1 megapixel camera that features both auto-focus and flash, it immediately becomes one of the most attractive iDEN phones spec-wise.

Couple that with its attractive looks and this seems like a pretty nice offering:

With the leaking of these pictures, we can only imagine that an official statement will come out later this week. As always, the sooner the better!

[Via Unwired View]

Sprint in January: Pink Instinct, Treo Pro

A leaked document shows what Sprint has planned for the month of January and the two highlights are a Pink version of the Samsung Instinct and the Palm Treo Pro. Neither are exactly show stoppers but both are admirable additions in style and substance on Sprint’s lineup.

Others devices listed are a modem, Samsung Rant and Motorola i365IS which is a rugged, military grade device. So Sprint fans… do any of these additions pique your interest?

[Via Engadget Mobile]

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