AT&T Locks Down the Motorola Backflip
AT&T Face Plant
AT&T’s jump into the Android market doesn’t appear to be very friendly to Google. Last week, AT&T was announced that they were replacing the market-leading, Google search on the Google Android-powered Motorola Backflip with Yahoo’s search. Today we’re finding out they’ve locked down the Backflip.
AT&T, of course, spins this as being customer friendly:
“We like the Android as an operating system on its own, but we want to make sure that we have, and customers have the option, to put applications on that device that are not just Google applications. And we want to give customers the choice of other applications on that device, not just the same Google applications.” –Ralph de la Vega, CEO AT&T Wireless
Early adopters, reviewers and hackers have notice the option to install non-market applications isn’t just turned off it’s missing all together. Doesn’t this action contradict what Mr. de la Vega stated above? What happened to giving customers their “choice of other applications?” Want to tether? Forget about it. Want to join a beta program? Forget about it.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Categories: ATT Tags: Android, Android 1.5, ATT, Google, Motorola, Motorola Backflip, Motorola Blur
AT&T’s First Android Phone The Motorola Backflip Now Available
Now Available on AT&T
Here are some specs:
- 3.1-inch HVGA 320 x 480 pixel touchscreen
- Mobile broadband
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth
- GPS
- microSD memory card slot
- 5-megapixel camera
- 3.5mm headset jack
- Motorola Blur software
Popularity: 4% [?]
Categories: ATT Tags: Android, Android 1.5, ATT, Google, Motorola, Motorola Backflip, Motorola Blur
AT&T and Verizon Wireless Announce Plan Price Changes
Well it’s been a busy day for carriers, both AT&T and Verizon are dropping prices on their rate plans, still not nearly as good as Sprint or T-Mobile’s offerings.
AT&T:
AT&T announced today that effective Monday it’s changing the cost of its smartphone plans. Here’s the scoop:
All smartphone customers, including iPhone customers, may now buy unlimited voice and data for $99.99. For smartphone customers with Family Talk plans (prices assume 2 smartphones), unlimited voice and data is now available for $179.99. Don’t get too excited AT&T’s texting plans remain unchanged at $20 for unlimited plans for individuals, $30 for Family Talk Plans.
Verizon Wireless:
The new calling plans, which take effect January 18th, will be renamed “Nationwide Talk” and “Nationwide Talk and Text.” Family options will be available as well, with unlimited talk and unlimited talk and text. As always with Verizon you’ll pay extra for data and e-mail. Overall, we’re not sure if non-unlimited, smartphone users will actually be affected. The details, as we see them:
- Current Basic plan is re-named Nationwide Talk
- Current Select plan is re-named Nationwide Talk & Text
- Unlimited plans will drop 30%, $69.99 for unlimited voice, $89.99 for unlimited voice+text
- Unlimited Family (2 lines) $119.99 for unlimited voice, $149.99 for unlimited voice+text, additional lines will ring in at $49.99 each
- $29.99 for unlimited data, $9.99 for 25MB
- 3G Smartphones will require $29.99 data, 3G Multimedia phones (dumbphones) will require $9.99 or higher data
Anytime a carrier reduces their plans it’s a good thing, not sure these reductions are enough to make a Sprint or T-Mobile customer jump shit for price alone. As always when selecting a carrier you should look at coverage and reliability first and foremost, cost and phone selection are interchangeable. What good is the latest and greatest phone if you can’t use it in the areas your travel.
Popularity: 9% [?]
Categories: ATT, Verizon Wireless Tags: ATT, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, Wireless Plans
AT&T Announces Five Android Devices for 2010
AT&T surprised us all today at CES by basically announcing a huge overhaul of its smartphone and mid-range phone offerings. The new line-up will position AT&T nicely for moving beyond Apple’s iPhone—which has been one of its only cutting edge smartphone offerings to date.
In the next six months, it will release five new Android devices from Motorola, Dell and HTC and two running Palm’s WebOS. As part of that, AT&T is beefing up its applications offerings by creating new partnerships with Google’s Android Market and Palm’s OS app store.
The five Android devices will be coming from Motorola (an exclusive device based on its Blur technology), Dell (which is releasing its first phone on the platform), and HTC (no details were offered). HTC’s CEO Peter Chou:
“AT&T and HTC has had a close and productive relationship for the past five years, and we are pleased to expand it even further by announcing new Android products to AT&T customers. AT&T has been very focused on innovation, and we have a lead Android development.”
Popularity: 10% [?]
Washington D.C. Sues AT&T
Reuters is reporting that the Attorney General for Washington D.C. has filed a lawsuit against AT&T over unused calling card minutes.
“AT&T’s prepaid calling cards must be treated as unclaimed property under district law,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement.
According to the District Attorney AT&T balances are Washington D.C.’s property if they have not been used for 3 years and the customer’s last known address was in Washington D.C.
This could be a major drain on AT&T’s bankroll, unused balances account for perhaps 5 to 20 percent of the calling card market. I wonder if they have an app for that?
[via reuters]
Popularity: 6% [?]
Categories: ATT Tags: ATT, Calling Cards, Washington D.C.
Rumor: A Nexus One for AT&T?
With Google’s big press conference only days away the rumors are flying around the interwebbage. It appears we weren’t that far off when we speculated that Google might be making more than one announcement at its press conference Tuesday.
Now this is purely rumor, but BoyGeniusReport (rumor to reality; they have a pretty good conversion rate), claims that the Google Nexus One will be made available as an unlocked version compatible with AT&T’s 3G network:
…we’ve heard from a source that there will be an AT&T 3G-compatible version of the Google Nexus One. Our connect described it as being a “second” unlocked model, with the T-Mobile-subsidized unit being locked to T-Mobile. Our tipster was so impressed by a Nexus One in person, they said they would 100% give up their T-Mobile BlackBerry 9700 for one when it’s available.
My thought on the release of the Nexus One has always been this: Unlike Apple Google isn’t going to lock the Nexus One to a single carrier, especially if they’re attempting to steal market share from the iPhone. With that being said, if Google is going to announce that the Nexus One will be available for each carrier, than the answer to our earlier question is yes, the Nexus One may be enough to take market share away from Apple and the iPhone!
Looks like the only thing to do now is sit back, relax and wait.
Popularity: 5% [?]
HTC Offers $100 Incentive for New Smartphone Purchases
HTC is offering a $100 check (via mail) to anyone that purchases an eligible HTC smartphone from Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile. The Tilt, Touch Pro2, Imagio, and Ozone (all WinMo Devices), are all eligible handsets.
Once purchased, enter the promotional code at the carrier-specific website:
Verizon: Here
AT&T: Here
T-Mobile: Here
Print out the shipping label (HTC provides free shipping)
Once HTC receives the device, they’ll mail you the check for $100.
Sure, you don’t get the cash right away, but you’ll be $100 richer in the long run. What’s more, the device itself doesn’t have to be over $100 – if the device is $50, then you pocket $50 after all is said and done. Let the shopping begin!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Categories: ATT, HTC, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless Tags: ATT, HTC, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless
AT&T’s Lost Request for Injunction; Releases Anti-Verizon Commercial
Magnet board + empty warehouse + Luke Wilson = effective commercial? You be the judge.
Early Wednesday, AT&T’s request for an immediate injunction on the Verizon “There’s a Map for That” commercials was denied, though the judge referred to the ads as “sneaky.” Apparently, most people are so zoned out when they’re watching TV that they may not notice that Verizon is targeting AT&T’s 3G coverage (or so the judge thinks).
One thing is perfectly clear: this “war” is far from over. Check out the commercial and sound off below!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Categories: ATT, News, Verizon Wireless Tags:
AT&T Doesn’t Want to Play Any More, Sues Verizon
It was only a matter of time before AT&T got their feelings hurt and decided to sue Verizon for their “There’s A Map for That” comparison advertisement, seen all over television as of late due to the upcoming launch of the Motorola Droid.
Here’s the real kicker: according to AT&T, Verizon is misleading the public by comparing the two 3G coverage areas. Instead, AT&T proposes that Verizon include their EDGE coverage. Not quite sure how the nation’s second largest wireless carrier justifies that request, as EDGE most definitely isn’t 3G (and shouldn’t be compared as such), but since it covers 1.75 million square miles, it would fill in their blue map shown in the picture above (thus making it more visually appealing to customers watching at home, pondering a switch to Big Red).
Instead of trying to sue Verizon for a claim that is largely true, I’m thinking that continuing the investment in 7.2 Mbps HSPA is a better way to spend money. What’s more, it will quell complaints about coverage, thus killing two birds with one stone. What do you think?
{Via: BGR}
Popularity: 1% [?]
Categories: ATT, News, Verizon Wireless Tags: ATT, ATT Coverage Map, ATT Sues Verizon, Verizon, Verizon Coverage Map
AT&T Encourages Employees to Cry About Net Neutrality to FCC
Gizmodo is reporting that AT&T sent out a letter to employees encouraging them, along with their families, to protest the FCC’s net neutrality rules. It was said the letter even encouraged the use of the employees private email instead of their company email. For them to stoop this low makes it pretty obvious they are not hip to the idea of net neutrality. Gizmodo later updated their post with the following:
AT&T says that the letter was sent to “U.S. managers only” and that they “were providing important information to our employees, and it was up to them to respond personally. If they use their company email that is fine, too.”
Their reply is pretty laughable as if sending this letter to “U.S. managers only” makes it any better. Their antics really are mind boggling.
Have thoughts regarding this news? Please share in the comments below!
[Via Gizmodo]
Popularity: -0% [?]
Categories: ATT Tags: ATT, FCC, Net Neutrality
