t-mobile usa

T-Mobile tries out $50 unlimited wireless plan

T-Mobile USA, the fourth-largest cell phone operator in the U.S., is launching new service promotions in an effort to keep long-term customers and attract new ones.

The company plans to offer a special $50 per month unlimited voice plan to longtime customers in San Francisco, initially. It will also offer new customers who switch from a competitor a $135 rebate, Reuters reported Thursday.

T-Mobile's new plan will only be available to San Francisco customers who have used its service for 22 months or more, according to a T-Mobile representative who spoke to Reuters. An analyst told the wire … Read more

T-Mobile USA faces stiff competition

Correction, 4:03 p.m. PST: This story misstated the day the company announced subscriber figures. It was Thursday.

Competition is heating up in the wireless market and it looks like T-Mobile USA is getting singed.

Deutsche Telekom, which owns the wireless company T-Mobile International and T-Mobile USA, reported earnings on Thursday citing slower subscriber growth for its U.S. wireless entity.

During the fourth quarter, T-Mobile USA, which is the fourth largest wireless operator in the U.S., added 621,000 new customers. This was down from the previous quarter when the company added 670,000 new subscribers. And … Read more

T-Mobile USA teams up with Yahoo

T-Mobile USA, which is currently rolling out its 3G wireless network across the country, is turning to Yahoo to power its search and mobile Web portal in an effort to boost data usage.

On Thursday T-Mobile said it would use Yahoo's OneSearch as the default search tool on its phones. T-Mobile is rebranding its mobile Web service and calling it Web2go. This service is supposed to provide a better Web browsing experience and easier navigation through a home page on T-Mobile's mobile phones. And it integrates Yahoo's OneSearch tool into it.

Also as part of the deal, … Read more

For Google's Android phone, it's what's inside that counts

NEW YORK--Google's first Android phone may not win any beauty contests, but the smartphone's software and advanced Web browsing will give today's current crop of smartphones, including the iPhone, a run for their money.

T-Mobile USA and Google unveiled the first Google Android phone Tuesday at an event here. The phone, previously code-named the HTC Dream, is now called the T-Mobile G1. And it goes on sale in the U.S. on T-Mobile's network starting October 22 for $179 with a two-year service contract.

T-Mobile USA's parent company Deutsche Telekom will also be selling the device starting in November in the United Kingdom through its T-Mobile service. And the phone will be available throughout the rest of Europe via T-Mobile starting in the first quarter of 2009.

From a hardware perspective, the G1 isn't a game changer. The device, which has a full QWERTY keyboard that slides out from a touch-screen exterior, looks similar to other devices on the market, such as the T-Mobile Sidekick or Verizon's LG Voyager.

But under the hood, the Google Android software greatly improves the mobile Web experience for users, making it a compelling competitor to the Apple iPhone and a hands-down winner when compared with other smartphones like Research In Motion's BlackBerry or phones running Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system.… Read more

Google Android phone launch: Live blog at 7:30 a.m. PDT

Tuesday is G-day for T-Mobile USA as it introduces the world to the first ever Google Android phone.

To keep up with the news as it happens, check out the CNET News live blog from the press conference held by T-Mobile at 10:30 a.m. EDT (7:30 a.m. PDT) in New York City.

T-Mobile USA will be the first mobile operator to offer a phone that uses the open-source Google Android operating system. The device made by HTC has been widely anticipated. And on Tuesday morning, T-Mobile and Google will finally unveil the phone, which is expected … Read more

T-Mobile expands its 3G network

T-Mobile USA plans to have more than 20 markets lit with 3G coverage when it begins selling the first ever Google Android phone in October. But will it be enough to entice smartphone consumers to choose the HTC Dream over the iPhone 3G or even the BlackBerry Bold?

The verdict is still out on that one.

Even though the Android-based HTC Dream hasn't been officially announced, most people believe it will support 3G speeds when T-Mobile unveils it next week. And given the fact that it will compete head-to-head with Apple's iPhone 3G and newer versions of Research … Read more

How much for a Google Android phone?

The soon-to-be announced, first-ever Google Android phone will be priced at $200 with a two-year contract, according to a blog post on TechCrunch.

The tech blog said an "insider" had confirmed the $200 price tag, which is reasonable considering that AT&T is selling the iPhone 3G for the subsidized price of $199. That said, it's still about $50 more than what we had expected. Earlier reports were that the phone would cost $150 with a two-year contract and $399 without a contract.

The HTC Dream will be the first phone that uses Google's open-source … Read more

Hype builds for Android phone launch

Correction made September 17 at 9:05 a.m. PDT: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Google had not officially launched an application marketplace. Google has announced an application Web site called Android Market.

The launch of the new Google Android phone on T-Mobile USA's network is fast approaching, but will the phone live up to its hype?

T-Mobile USA is expected to announce the new phone, called the Dream, on September 23. And it is expected to start selling the device, which is made by Taiwanese manufacturer HTC, sometime in October.

The Wall Street JournalRead more

Mobile carrier CEOs still want network control

SAN FRANCISCO--The wireless Web has prompted mobile operators to change their tune about open networks, but don't expect the mobile market to be as open as the PC Internet anytime soon.

CEOs from three of the big four wireless operators in the U.S. took the stage during a keynote panel at the CTIA Fall 2008 trade show here Wednesday to discuss what they envision for open cell phone networks. While Robert Dotson of T-Mobile USA, Dan Hesse of Sprint Nextel, and Lowell McAdam of Verizon Wireless all agree on the importance of opening their networks to developers and … Read more

Could Sprint ditch Nextel? Makes sense

Is Sprint Nextel getting ready for a fire sale?

It sure looks that way following speculation around Wall Street on Monday of a possible sale or breakup of the beleaguered wireless operator. First, The Wall Street Journal reported that German phone company Deutsche Telekom was considering buying the company. Later the same day, another Wall Street Journal article cited sources who said Sprint Nextel is considering unloading its Nextel assets, a move that might make the $22.3 billion wireless operator more attractive to potential buyers.

While a Deutsche Telekom sale seems like a long shot, it's not surprising … Read more