T-Mobile

Cell phone operators cautiously embrace Wi-Fi

U.S. cell phone operators are starting to embrace Wi-Fi in order to extend the reach of their high-speed wireless networks without breaking the bank, but some are being more cautious than others.

T-Mobile USA was the first major U.S. wireless carrier to see the merits of using Wi-Fi. Last year, the German-owned phone company, which is the fourth largest mobile operator in the U.S., launched its Hotspot @Home service that automatically switches between subscribers' home Wi-Fi networks and its cellular network. For $10 more a month, subscribers are able to talk as much as they like while … Read more

T-Mobile sues Starbucks over Wi-Fi deal

T-Mobile USA is suing Starbucks, accusing the coffee behemoth of a breach of contract by allowing AT&T to provide customers with free Wi-Fi access in its cafes.

In a complaint filed Thursday in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, T-Mobile says Starbucks "secretly" developed a plan with AT&T to provide Wi-Fi at its cafes, despite an exclusive partnership with T-Mobile. T-Mobile, which is seeking unspecified damages, alleges the companies broke an agreement over how Starbucks should transition the service from T-Mobile to AT&T, according to Reuters.

T-Mobile said that, under the … Read more

EIC Squared: Wireless mergers, Apple alert, and the battle for Yahoo's soul

On this week's EIC Squared podcast, ZDNet's Larry Dignan and I discuss the latest moves in carving up the wireless world as Verizon Wireless announced plans to acquire Alltel for $28.1 billion. It won't be long before the U.S. wireless industry shakes out into AT&T, Verizon, and a Sprint/T-Mobile merger. We also discuss the latest news in the travails of Yahoo as it tries to keep Carl Icahn from taking over the board.

Plus, we speculate about the Steve Jobs' keynote at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday.

Limited Edition Tony Hawk T-Mobile Sidekick LX hitting the streets

What do Dwyane Wade, Diane von Furstenberg, and LRG have in common? Give up? They all have their own special edition T-Mobile Sidekick model, and now you can add professional skateboarder Tony Hawk to that list. Today, T-Mobile and Hawk introduced the T-Mobile Sidekick LX Tony Hawk Edition, which not only boasts new design elements but also new features.

Hawk, who says he's been a "loyal Sidekick user since the first model" had a hand in designing the special edition model and builds off the Sidekick LX with a slate gray shell, blue-and-white accents, and the skater'… Read more

AT&T offers free Wi-Fi at Starbucks

AT&T's free Wi-Fi access for Starbucks coffee shops is finally here.

Starting Tuesday, Starbucks coffee shops across the country are offering two hours of free Wi-Fi Internet service through AT&T. In order to get the free service, customers must buy a Starbucks Reward Card with a minimum of $5 credit on it. Customers also must sign up for the free Wi-Fi online at Starbucks.com. To keep the card active, customers must also use their Starbucks Card at least once a month.

The free service is only for two hours and must be used in … Read more

On Call: Can my carrier cut me off?

Kent German, CNET's cell phones guru, answers your questions about cell phones, services, and accessories and reports on the state of the industry. Send him a question!

Starting with this edition of On Call, I've transitioned to a blog format. On Call will continue to run every two weeks, alternating between answering your questions and discussing hot-button issues for cell phone users.

Q: I would like to know how secure conversations on cell phones are? Can your office IT department tap into your calls on your company cell phone? - Lor

A: Unlike with the older analog cell … Read more

Google denies report of Android phone delay

Update 3 p.m. PT: T-Mobile confirmed its Android phone is still on track, too.

Google denied a report Monday that phones using its Android software have been delayed to 2009.

The Street reported the delay, citing an unnamed source. But Google denied the report.

"We're still on track to announce Android-powered phones this year. Some of our partners are publicly stating that they plan to ship Android phones in the fourth quarter," Google said in a statement.

That's little surprise, given that Android leader Andy Rubin last week said phones using the soon-to-be-mostly-open-source software will … Read more

HTC Touch Diamond gets a keyboard

The Touch Diamond hasn't even gone on sale in most countries and already, another new version has been announced. T-Mobile Germany launched three new MDA phones (its name for the HTC devices) and one of them is the MDA Vario IV, which is the rumored HTC Raphael. The other two are variants of the Diamond and Advantage.

This PDA-phone is largely similar to the HTC Touch Diamond but comes with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard like the TyTN II. According to Netherlands-based site Mobile Phone Helpdesk, the Vario IV has all the features of the Diamond but comes with 256MB … Read more

Dialed In 32: An iPhone Wish List

We give our wish list of what we want out of the upcoming iPhone, plus chat about the FCC maybe ending early termination fees, new phones from T-Mobile and Sprint, a possible Treo comeback, and much more. Listen now: Download today's podcast NewsFCC may limit early termination fees http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9949465-1.htmlPalm Treo 800w/850 rumors http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9946211-1.html http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9949410-1.htmlT-Mobile Debuts new music phone http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9949156-1.htmlVirgin Mobile offers first Samsung phone http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9947411-1.htmlT-Mobile Sidekick Slide Scarlet http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9946039-1.html… Read more

T-Mobile debuts new Nokia music phone

NEW YORK--Nearly six months after its next generation of music phones hit the market in Europe, Nokia is finally bringing the latest XpressMusic phones to the United States.

T-Mobile USA on Tuesday unveiled the Nokia 5310 XpressMusic phone, a slim, music-playing handset, at a party here that featured specialty cocktails with names like Disco Lemonade and Purple Rain, and performances by up-and-coming artists K.i.D Cudi, Chester French, and the DJ Kid Capri.

T-Mobile is the first and only wireless operator in the States to sell the new 5310 Xpress Music phone and its big brother, the 5610 Xpress … Read more