Filed under: Cellphones

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.

As Switched On exemplified in the frenzy of mobile Ts and primary Gs last week, much of the attention focused on the involvement of Google and comparisons to the iPhone. Searching Google for “‘T-Mobile G1′ Apple” yields over 6.7 million results on Google. Searching for “‘T-Mobile G1′ HTC” yields only 3.4 million.

Given that the phone is being branded “T-Mobile G1 with Google,” the temptation is to say that HTC, which has long vowed to step into the white light from behind the white label, has failed to capitalize on one of the best branding opportunities in handset history. However, there would have been limits as to how much spotlight it could have stolen in the wake of media fascination with Google and one can have only so many brands listed in the name of a phone. Wireless carriers are among the biggest television advertisers, and Google is the biggest advertising powerhouse online. Together they will fund the G1 marketing push. The stakes were just too high for HTC to significantly advance its branding status with T-Mobile, which has used its carrier brand for such HTC handsets as the Dash, Wing and Shadow.

But there are more paradoxes in HTC’s first Android handset.

Continue reading Switched On: The T-Mobile G1 — by Google and what’s-their-names

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Filed under: Wireless

3G WiFi routers aren’t anything new at this point, but T-Mobile’s new Mobile Broadband Share Dock is one of the slicker implementations we’ve seen from a carrier — the unit consists of a USB HSDPA modem and a base which shares the connection over WiFi, which means you can unplug the modem and take your access on the road. As long as you don’t need a persistent connection at home and can live with the bandwidth, that makes the £20 / month dock sound like a pretty good deal for someone who lives by themselves, since you’d avoid paying both mobile and fixed data fees — too bad it’s UK only for now. Should be out in the next couple of days, we’re hearing.

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Filed under: Cellphones

Well we see where this is headed. It was nice to catch a few of those quasi-unboxing pics of the T-Mobile G1 the other day, but now the cats and kittens at TmoNews have gone and gotten pretty much the full monty. If you want to get a taste of what’s to come, here’s the perfect chance. You can check out photos of the Android device being wrenched from its packaging, as well as some glamour shots of the bundled accessories — including a bizarrely retro remote on the earbuds and “handsome” carrying pouch. October 22nd, you can’t come soon enough.

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Filed under: Cellphones

Sure, our front page got stacked with news on the launch of the world’s first Android phone — the G1 — but if you missed any of the action (and there was quite a bit), we’ve put together this helpful roundup. Below you’ll find an easy-to-use guide to all the goings-on about the T-Mobile device, complete with galleries and videos that will delight and enthrall any healthy viewer. Keep an eye on this post as we’ll be updating with a few other bits and pieces today that you’ll most definitely want a look at.

Update: We’ve added a link to our initial impressions, a more detailed look at the device and software.

The liveblog:

Live from T-Mobile’s Android event in New York City

Hands-on coverage:

T-Mobile G1 first hands-on (updated)
Video: Android walkthrough on T-Mobile G1

Product announcement:

The T-Mobile G1

In-depth / details:

T-Mobile’s CTO on G1 unlocking and tethering — plus a few details you might have missed
T-Mobile soft capping 3G data at 1GB per month
Confirmed: T-Mobile G1 has no 3.5mm headphone jack
T-Mobile G1 site goes live for real, first ad appears
T-Mobile G1 has push Gmail with Google Talk presence
T-Mobile G1 impressions: what we love, what we don’t

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Filed under: Cellphones

While there was a flurry (actually, a full on snowstorm) of news today about the G1, there’s a few bits of info you might not have heard, largely because no one is reporting them. We had a chance to speak with T-Mobile CTO Cole Brodman after the event today, and he had some illuminating — and frankly refreshing — takes on some of our more pressing questions. When asked about what T-Mobile’s reaction would be to users creating tethering or unlocking apps for the phone, he was surprisingly even-keeled, noting that while the company didn’t encourage the practice, they wouldn’t lock down the OS or update the software to break those applications. Our impression was that as long as their use was relegated to a small percentage of owners, T-Mobile likely wouldn’t take action, though he did voice concerns over tethering apps and their effect on the network, with a clearly guarded eye to letting users have free reign. More interestingly, buyers would be able to have access to a “contract free” G1 (with a price point of $399), and could unlock the device with T-Mobile’s blessing after 90 days. Brodman also said that the company’s policy of unlocking phones for customers in good standing wouldn’t change for this phone.

Continue reading T-Mobile’s CTO on G1 unlocking and tethering — plus a few details you might have missed

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Filed under: Cellphones

The T-Mobile G1 web site went up with a bunch of placeholders late last night, but it’s finally fully live after this morning’s big unveiling, and while it’s not exactly bursting with detailed info, there’s plenty of new pictures and details, including updated 3G coverage information. The first G1 ad has also surfaced — if you were tearing your hair out over Apple’s grammatically-questionable “funnest iPod ever” pitch, wait’ll you get a load of how “smarterer,” “connecteder,” and yes, “funnerer” the “most exciting phone in the history of phones” will make you. Video after the break.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Continue reading T-Mobile G1 site goes live for real, first ad appears

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Filed under: Announcements, Cellphones

Just a reminder, we’re going to be at the Android and T-Mobile event tomorrow morning, so be sure and set your alarms. You can (finally) expect the big unveil of the first commercially available Android device (we don’t want to ruin it, but it’s going to be the G1 — or Dream as we used to call it). We wanted to give you another heads up so you’ll know where and when it’s going down. Pertinent info below.

Where you’ll need to be:

Live from T-Mobile’s Android event in New York City

Time zones:

04:30AM - Hawaii
07:30AM - Pacific
08:30AM - Mountain
09:30AM - Central
10:30AM - Eastern
03:30PM - London
04:30PM - Paris
06:30PM - Moscow
11:30PM - Tokyo

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Filed under: Cellphones

Snap — looks like the Android-powered T-Mobile G1 is peeking out a little early in the form of a non-working pre-registration link on the my.t-mobile.com customer portal. No specs or info, but if you had any doubt this thing was coming on Tuesday we’d say it just got cleared up. Get ready for the Googlephone, kids.

[Thanks, RionSTL and Mike]

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Filed under: Announcements, Cellphones

If you’re feeling those butterflies-in-the-stomach over next Tuesday’s Android and T-Mobile announcement, hold tight. We’re going to be there live, blogging away like you know we do and hopefully handling (or at least seriously photographing) the first official Android phones. We wanted to give you a heads up so you’ll know where to be, so join us at 10:30AM EDT for all the good news!

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Filed under: Cellphones

We don’t have any idea where this information came from, but the Telegraph is reporting today that the HTC Dream will launch on T-Mobile UK sometime in November. That’s the same time frame we’ve heard before, and it certainly seems like El Goog’s first Android phone is close to its debut, so it’s definitely plausible, but we’d still take this one with a grain of salt — even though we want this thing yesterday.

[Via Talk Android; thanks Chris]

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Filed under: Cellphones

We were already pretty sure this would be happening, but it’s looking real now, if 8.5 x 11-inch pieces of paper taped to a window is any indication: T-Mobile is rolling out its 3G service on October 1 to 27 select cities. The above poster was spotted by TmoNews “outside a meeting” and, as you can see, it says, “10.1.08 3G is Coming.” As far as those launch cities, we have a handy little list for you after the break. By the way, it’s entirely possible T-Mobile 3G is already live in your market, though, so don’t let this confuse you too much. It could just mean you’re next, or, at least by October 1.

Continue reading T-Mobile 3G service coming October 1 to 27 markets

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Filed under: Cellphones

According to the overactive internet rumor party line, T-Mobile is planning to take its currently limited 3G service nationwide come October. TmoNews claims — thanks to an anonymous tipster, of course — that on October 1st, the telco will bring speedy service to 27 of its top markets, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Miami, amongst others. Of course, right now this is pure speculation and hearsay, until we get confirmation from T-Mobile (or at least some hard evidence), we’ll just have to keep our fingers and toes crossed.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

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Filed under: Cellphones

According to the overactive internet rumor party line, T-Mobile is planning to take its currently limited 3G service nationwide come October. TmoNews claims — thanks to an anonymous tipster, of course — that on October 1st, the telco will bring speedy service to 27 of its top markets, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and Miami, amongst others. Of course, right now this is pure speculation and hearsay, until we get confirmation from T-Mobile (or at least some hard evidence), we’ll just have to keep our fingers and toes crossed.

[Via Boy Genius Report]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Just when we thought things were kosher between Starbucks, T-Mobile, and AT&T over the Wi-Fi switchover, it turns out that T-Mobile isn’t so happy with how the deal is playing out. They claimed Starbucks secretly colluded with AT&T to offer free WiFi access and left T-Mobile in the lurch. The lawsuit, filed last week in New York state court, alleges that AT&T and Starbucks weren’t sticking to the terms of the original agreement, which would have allowed T-Mobile customers to freely roam on the new AT&T service. Now, it seems, they’ve all entered into a “memorandum of understanding to resolve their disputes and are committed to providing a high quality WiFi experience for customers.” So far, though, we don’t know any details as to what this agreement will mean for T-Mobile WiFi subscribers, but we’ll keep an eye on this.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

T-Mobile’s 3G network started going live today, and it looks like that early word from a company memo may not hold true for all users. Some markets may in fact have a silent soft-launch of faster data rates, we’ve heard from several tipsters who’ve said that they’re already getting faster data service, and now the company itself getting the word out that it’s launching data as well. But company peeps were indeed instructed to make sure customers don’t count on that faster data being present; bottom line is you may have it, you may not (but if you take T-Mobile at its word, you should). NYC is the first market to light up, but others should come online soon — anyone trying it out? How’s it going? Hit us up in comments and let us know!

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Filed under: Cellphones

Our best friends at T-Mobile are getting set to roll out 3G in New York soon — real soon, as was previously expected. New York will launch on May 1, to be exact, according to TmoNews.com. That’s, like, tomorrow. The leaked document promises T-Mobile customers the “great call quality they’ve come to expect…and more network availability”. The rest of the network will be rolled out in 2008 to 20 markets, including Los Angeles, Detroit, San Diego, Austin, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Miami, and several more. As TmoNews.com points out, New Jersey and Long Island are mysteriously off the list. View all the launch cities after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading T-Mobile rolling out 3G tomorrow in New York, sorry New Jersey

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Filed under: Cellphones

The first Android devices were always scheduled to arrive later this year, and while we’ve already seen a couple prototypes and hacked ports floating around, it looks like T-Mobile is the first out of the gate to confirm that it’ll have phones based on Google’s mobile OS. Speaking at the Wireless Innovations 2008 conference, T-Mo’s VP of broadband and new business division Joe Sims said he’d played with an early version of T-Mobile’s first Android phone and that it would ship in the fourth quarter of this year. Sims said that although he was initially skeptical of Android, he’s now “impressed,” and that T-Mobile would eventually have “more than one” Android phone. Now, if someone would just let us know what this magical phone actually is, we’d be happy — HTC Dream, anyone?

[Via IntoMobile]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Yesterday’s surprising-but-not-shocking announcement that Starbucks would be switching to AT&T for WiFi services left a lot of T-Mobile customers in the lurch — although Starbucks said that T-Mo and AT&T had an “agreement” that would let HotSpot users stay connected, there weren’t a ton of details given. Well, it looks like you’ve got a few more years of caffeinated surfing ahead of you, guys — T-Mobile issued a press release today saying it was committed to ensuring “minimum customer impact” during the transition, and that it’s signed a five year “roaming agreement” with AT&T that will kick in when the Starbucks WiFi transition begins later this year. Of course, the ideal roaming agreement would let you use either company’s networks wherever you are, not just AT&T bandwidth in Starbucks — we’ll totally spring for the coffee if these two companies want to meet and sort something like that out.

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Filed under: Cellphones

After a few days of investigation, it looks like Motorola and T-Mobile have figured what was behind that nasty Sidekick Slide bug that caused the devices to shut off when flipped open. According to our friends at Moto, the root cause was “a minor issue relating to the battery contacts,” and a solution is being tested right now and should be available by next week, when Slides are expected to go back on sale at T-Mo stores. A speedy resolution, to be sure, but we’re still amazed a bug like that got through in the first place.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Cellphones

The Gphone rumors have been heating up lately, and things seems like they’re about to come to a boil. The Wall Street Journal, not generally known for wild rumor-mongering, is reporting that Google is in “advanced talks” with Verizon and Sprint and has made “significant progress” with T-Mobile, with an announcement of some kind due within two weeks. The news sent Google stock past $700 today, although it’s still not clear if Google is simply developing its own software or going all out and doing an entire handset. Either way, it looks like Google’s getting ready to make a move sometime soon, and with the amount of chatter we’re hearing, it’ll to be a big one.

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!