T-Mobile Going LTE In 2013

Today T-Mobile USA executives officially announced that Americas Largest 4G wireless carrier will be making the switch to LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology in 2013. T-Mobile CEO Phillip Humm and CTO Neville Ray outlined a strategy to cure subscriber churn and incorporate new wireless technology to turn the heat up on competitors Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. The news was a welcomed positive among less than stellar fourth quarter 2011 operating results. T-Mobile stated that it suffered the loss of around 802,000 contract customers in the final quarter of 2011 and gained nearly 220,000 prepaid customers. This loss was due mostly to uncertainty over the proposed AT&T merger and lack of an iPhone built for T-Mobile which all other major carriers currently have.

T-Mobile made it clear that they are here to stay and have a clear plan to turn things around quickly. The carrier seems poised for a strong future as they re-launch their brand and make network upgrades that will significantly enhance coverage and performance for their subscribers. This plan is outlined in the press statement in full detail below. What do you think about T-Mobile's game plan and move to LTE technology? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.



T-Mobile USA Announces Reinvigorated Challenger Strategy

Begins Major Network Transformation in 2012 with LTE Launch Planned for 2013

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Feb. 23, 2012 — Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. CEO and President Philipp Humm outlined the company’s reinvigorated challenger strategy focused on making amazing 4G services affordable. T-Mobile will invest in strategic initiatives to get the business back to growth. The most significant investment is a $4 billion network modernization and 4G evolution effort, which will improve existing voice and data coverage and pave the way for long term evolution (LTE) service in 2013.1

“We want to be known for delivering the best value in wireless because of the advanced technology we deliver at an affordable price,” said Philipp Humm CEO and President of T-Mobile USA. “Over the next two years, we’re prioritizing and investing in initiatives designed to get T-Mobile back to growth in the years ahead — beginning with the transformation of our network.”

Additional investment areas core to the company’s challenger strategy include aggressively pursuing the B2B segment, expanding the sales force by 1,000; ramping up advertising spending; and attracting new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) partners with an efficient platform for getting to market. T-Mobile will also continue to remodel its retail stores and expand distribution.

T-Mobile Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray detailed the company’s network strategy, which includes installing new equipment at 37,000 cell sites and refarming spectrum to launch LTE in 2013.1 The key catalyst of refarming is the additional spectrum T-Mobile will receive as a result of the termination of the AT&T transaction. Also, other enablers are faster adoption of 3G and 4G services and improved device performance.

T-Mobile will invest a total of $4 billion over time into network modernization and LTE deployment. Over the next two years, this represents approximately $1.4 billion in incremental network investment. T-Mobile expects to reach broad deployment of LTE, with service in the vast majority of the top 50 markets and 20 MHz service in 75 percent of the top 25 markets.

“Today, we operate America’s Largest 4G Network delivering a fast and reliable 4G data experience with HSPA+,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA. “Launching LTE next year lets us take advantage of technology infrastructure advancements and benefit from a more mature LTE device ecosystem while continuing to meet the growing demand for data with a powerful 4G experience.”

T-Mobile expects to be the first carrier in North America to modernize its 4G network infrastructure with new antenna integrated radios on many of its cell towers, which will deliver higher performance and strengthen coverage.

More than 90 percent of T-Mobile device sales in the fourth quarter were 3G and 4G smartphones. As data usage and smartphone adoption accelerate, fewer customers are utilizing 2G services. This enables T-Mobile to refarm existing spectrum holdings, reducing the amount of 1900 MHz PCS spectrum being used for GSM; to deploy HSPA+ 4G services in the PCS band; and to make room in the AWS band for LTE. In addition to creating capacity for LTE in AWS spectrum, deploying HSPA+ in the PCS band will harmonize T-Mobile’s spectrum bands with the US market and international carriers. As the company refarms spectrum, T-Mobile will continue to support its 2G customers.

T-Mobile’s 4G HSPA+ network, which currently covers well over 200 million people, will continue to deliver a competitive 4G experience. T-Mobile will continue to expand its HSPA+ 4G footprint and its innovative 4G product and service offerings. For example, the recently announced Samsung Galaxy S®Blaze™ 4G, launching in March, is the newest smartphone in T-Mobile’s portfolio to support the faster speeds offered by the HSPA+ 42 network.

It's Note Time: Samsung Galaxy Note

AT&T announced that the Samsung Galaxy Note will be available in the US for $300 on February 19 with pre-orders set to arrive on February 17. The Galaxy Note is perhaps the most talked about smartphone at CES this year. Samsung has blended the best qualities of a smartphone with the functionality and screen real estate of a tablet. Some are saying that it may usher in a new phone/tablet mobile device category simply called "phablet".

The Galaxy Note touts Android 2.3.6 with a dual core 1.5 Ghz processor, a stunning true HD 5.3 inch Super AMOLED screen (1280 x 800 resolution) and AT&T 4G LTE connectivity. It features a stylus like instrument that Samsung calls the S Pen that is designed to measure 256 levels of pressure sensitivity that delivers an experience differing from any other mobile device to date. Users will be able to write, sketch, scribble and jot notes down in free form handwriting throughout many different on-screen functions. Most impressive is the Galaxy Note has the ability to decipher handwriting and convert it to standard text. Oh, and did I mention that it also makes phone calls!

What do you think about the Galaxy Note? Is it a smaller sized tablet or a really big phone? The specs are undeniably impressive for a smartphone, but do you think that it merits creating another category of mobile technology? Please share you thoughts and comments below.



 

4G LTE LG Optimus 2x w/ Unlimited Talk Text & Web $45 per Month NO Contract?

Yes, your eyes are just fine. You are reading that correctly! It appears that Straight Talk Wireless (Walmart's exclusive offering by TracFone Wireless) is getting in on the 4G LTE game with a little help from an unnamed network provider to offer its customers an UNLIMITED talk, text and 4G LTE web plan. They are offering  this plan  for $45 per month, NO Contract on an LG Optimus 2x Android smartphone.

The Straight Talk website reserve.straighttalkandroid.com is live and is taking information for customers to reserve their device order or get notification as soon as it is available to buy online or in Walmart stores. The company has traditionally  offered low-end feature phones over the last two years with a $30 plan that includes 1000 talk minutes, 1000 text messages and 30 Mb of data or a $45 unlimited plan with unlimited talk, text and data. This is the first time that a pre-paid carrier has offered a 4G LTE phone and service.

What do you think about Straight Talk offering 4G LTE phones and service? Do you think that this will be a game changer or another failed attempt to appeal to and lure post paid contract customers to a smaller carrier offering? I guess we will have to wait and see how this all works out. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Via: Straight Talk

Verizon Suffers More Outage Issues

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Verizon Wireless prides themselves in how advanced and reliable their 3G and 4G LTE wireless coverage is. They are known to tout this reliable reputation as the reason why they are not only the largest US wireless carrier but according to them they are also the best US wireless carrier. As of late they have faced some technical challenges that have resulted in uncharacteristic outages in some of their major wireless markets over the past month or so. Many users reported some small network interruptions in November that only affected a small number of service areas, but the more recent and widespread outages have all occurred in December affecting both 3G and 4G networks and affecting more subscribers. Verizon's VP of Network Engineering Mike Haberman offered an explanation today to shed light on what occurred. (Full statement below)

Haberman explained that the outages were all due to (IMS) IP Multimedia Systems not responding correctly on their 4G LTE network. He also noted that LTE customers were rerouted to their 3G connection during the outage to insure that those subscribers had active data connections and that they are making software upgrades while working closely with those who provide their network infrastructure to resolve the issues quickly.
 

Verizon 12/29/11 Statement: 

In light of recent events, Verizon Wireless shared the following statement about its 4GLTE Network:

The Verizon Wireless 4GLTE Network is BY FAR the largest and the most advanced 4GLTE wireless network in the world. It is available in 190 US markets and covers more than 200 million people, providing the fastest 4G Network in the US.

Being a pioneer comes with growing pains. The recent issues that affected our customers’ 4GLTE service were unforeseen despite careful, diligent planning, deployment and ongoing upgrade programs.

Problems customers experienced affected connectivity to the 4GLTE Network and data service. Several times, we have proactively “moved” 4GLTE customers onto our 3G Network to ensure all would have a data connection. For brief periods, such as on Wednesday (12/28), 4GLTE customers could not connect to the 3G Network as quickly as we would have liked.

Nonetheless, we estimate that 4GLTE connectivity has been available approximately 99 percent of the time this year.

Why have these issues occurred with our 4GLTE Network? Each incident has been different from a technical standpoint. Our engineers have successfully diagnosed those past triggering events, and they have not re-occurred. We also work diligently to rectify technical problems in the Network before they affect any customers.

Our 3G and 1X Networks continue to reliably process calls, texts and data for customers with 3G devices and, when necessary, 4GLTE devices. It continues to perform at the high level that established it as the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G Network.

We are taking a number of steps, working closely with our network suppliers, to ensure the integrity of our 4GLTE Network. We continue to fortify and improve its performance, and our goal is that our 4GLTE Network meets the same high standards that our 3G Network has set for performance and reliability.

Among the numerous measures we have taken or will take are: geographic segmentation, which enables us to isolate, contain and rectify network performance issues, and maintain service to the majority of customers when an issue does develop; and software fixes that we have developed, tested and applied regularly – and will continue to do so. Both will improve performance and reliability.

And finally, we are learning from these issues and applying the same gold standard to our 4GLTE Network that make our 3G Network the nation’s largest and most reliable.

Verizon Wireless is a leader and pioneer in this cutting edge technology that provides very fast wireless data speeds, enabling customers to enjoy the best experience in video and other wireless data usage. Clear unbuffered streaming video, super fast file downloads and wide availability are among the advantages we offer to customers. The capabilities of 4GLTE have exceeded many expectations.

We will not rest until our 4GLTE network performs at the very highest levels that our customers have come to expect from us.

Source: Gigaom

The Verizon Galaxy Nexus is Official

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Verizon and Samsung confirm that the Galaxy Nexus will finally hit stores Thursday 12/15/11. This news is music to the ears of many who have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first smartphone to feature Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0).

Samsung's Facebook page states that the 4G LTE Galaxy Nexus will sell for $299.99 in Verizon Stores and online starting December 15th. This news comes fresh on the heels of a pretty vague statement earlier today by Verizon stating "The Galaxy Nexus was on track to launch this year". This statement basically echos what was said in October. Now, just hours later the device is official and will be available tomorrow. Verizon's statement can be read below.

I find it hard to believe that the first smartphone featuring Android 4.0, a High Definition 4.65" Super AMOLED curved glass display, Facial Recognition capabilities, a dual-core 1.2Ghz TI OMAP processor, a high capacity1850 mAh battery and 4G LTE data speed isn't worth a descent launch. I have not seen one TV spot advertising this device, but I lost count of how many iPhone 4S and Droid RAZR commercials I saw during "The X Factor" show broadcast on FOX! Why is this happening this way? It just seems wrong to me.

The Galaxy Nexus is indeed going on sale tomorrow, but is it landing with a BANG? It's a high end premium smartphone that brings a lot of "firsts" with it to the telecom world. What do you think about the Verizon Galaxy Nexus? Is this what you expected the launch to be like? Share your comments and thoughts on this subject below.

The Galaxy Nexus is still on track to launch this year. We will definitely send a press release to announce availability. Feel free to visit www.verizonwireless.com/galaxynexus to sign up for email alerts to be one of the first to know.
Via: Verizon Wireless PR , Samsung Facebook , AndroidAndMe

The Missing Galaxy Nexus...

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Where is the Galaxy Nexus? Google's first Android 4.0 smartphone is missing and no one seems to have any answers as to where it is and when its going to land on a US carrier. The latest news and rumors on the Galaxy Nexus are nothing short of a roller coaster ride. Samsung and Google told the world in October that the device was going to land in the US by December. This obviously didn't happen, instead we saw the UK get theirs, but the rumor mill hasn't slowed either. This weeks rumored US launch date was December 9th, todays online buzz suggests a December 13th launch, but that seams unlikely because Google, Samsung and Verizon are completely quiet.

So, what is really going on with the Galaxy Nexus and why has Verizon still not announced a release date for this highly anticipated smartphone? Is it still a work in progress with Verizon's LTE connection issues of late? Are Google and Big Red (Verizon) working on an agreement for the NFC features (Google Wallet) for the phone? Maybe they are just having some differing opinions on the direction of how to market the phone (DROID or No DROID). We really don't know!

The folks at phonedog.com are reporting that despite the fact that previous Nexus phones were pure Android, the Verizon Galaxy Nexus will likely include some pre-instaled bloatware apps as well as Verizon branding on the device. This is a big deal because previous Nexus phones have pridefully offered a pure Android OS experience without carrier branding, custom UI influences or apps outside of stock Google Android.

I for one have been excited about the upcoming Galaxy Nexus even before the big Hong Kong announcement in October and I'm obviously not alone in saying "Come on already!" In my opinion, it seems that Google may be tragically allowing Verizon to fumble a game changing touchdown! This is not just another smartphone, its the king of all Android phones and the first Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) device ever. This should be handled with quick and decisive action on the part of all parties directly involved and with the consumer moral high during the holiday season shopping season, there is no time like the present.

What do you think? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below. Tell us what you think of how the Galaxy Nexus launch is being handled or mishandled and when you think it will actually arrive in the US.


[ Via PhoneDog  ]