What do you think about the AT&T T-Mobile merger?
As the new work week opens up, AT&T and T-Mobile USA customers have plenty to say about the proposed merger. Yesterday, Deutsche Telekom agreed to sell T-Mobile USA to AT&T for $39 billion -- $25 billion of it in cash. Last night I posted a long analysis about what the merger could mean to subscribers of both carriers, also asking Betanews readers: What do you think of the merger? Whoa, did you answer.
"I have been a loyal customer of T-Mobile for over nine years," Reese Burton writes by email. "Even with Verizon getting the iPhone I did not want to change from T-Mobile. However, if everything in your blog comes about, I will change from AT&T to Verizon. I don't know what Verizon's plans are, but they have to be better than AT&T."
How will the AT&T T-Mobile USA merger affect you?
Surely there are easier ways for T-Mobile USA to get iPhone than to sell out to AT&T. Or for AT&T to dramatically improve the reach of its high-speed network or to increase its cache of Android handsets. Kidding aside, today's merger announcement between AT&T and T-Mobile is simply stunning. It's an atomic blast occurring right before one of the biggest wireless tradeshows of the year -- CTIA, which officially opens on March 22nd.
The real question: What does it mean for you the AT&T or T-Mobile customer?
AT&T to acquire T-Mobile USA for $39 billion
In a stunning development that likely surprised many, AT&T announced Sunday that it had entered into an agreement to acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom in an agreement valued at some $39 billion USD. The combined entity would have approximately 130 million subscribers, far surpassing rival Verizon and becoming the nation's largest cellular provider.
AT&T has committed to pay Deutsche Telekom $25 billion in cash, with the remainder being paid in stock according to a statement by the company. The board of directors of both companies have already approved the deal, and it is expected to close within 12 months.
What if Amazon released Android Kindle tablet?
If you're not asking the question, you should. It makes sense out of Amazon imminently launching an app store to rival Google's Android Marketplace. Why else does Amazon need its own Android app store? Well, there's an answer to that question, too. Read on.
Firstly, in the short term, any Android-based Kindle isn't about Amazon competing with iPad or other Apple iOS devices. Amazon's ambitions are much larger: Capitalizing on the enormous Android ecosystem of applications and devices and extending its core competency as a retailer. Amazon already does this on Android and other mobile operating systems with the Kindle app. But Amazon sells more digital content than just ebooks. Android Kindle -- as device or app -- would allow Amazon to better bundle other digitally downloaded products, like movies, music and TV shows.
The Tech Convention Survival Kit
Tim Conneally is headed to CTIA Wireless, March 21-24. What's in his bag and what should be in yours, other than the obligatory computer and camera?
This time of year is packed with tech industry trade shows. DEMO, GDC, CeBIT, PAX East, SXSWi, and CTIA all butt up against one another and stimulate activity and interest across many different tech sectors. These events may not exactly be the lifeblood of our high-tech economy, but they're serious business and they generate...well, serious business.
AT&T slashes 64GB 1st-gen iPad 3G price by $300
Well, holy wholesale pricing, Batman. AT&T is having a fire sale on first-generation iPads. Pricing is sure to tempt someone and the discounts even cut below Apple's sale pricing. What? Is sold-out iPad 2 so much in demand that AT&T practically has to give away older 3G models?
When iPad 2 went on sale one week ago -- gasp, it feels so much longer because of shortages -- Apple and AT&T cut prices of the older model by $100. After the discount: $529, $629 and $729 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, respectively, with 3G and WiFi.
iSuppli: iPad 2 shortages may become worse due to Japan quake
With supplies of the iPad 2 already tight, the ongoing disaster in Japan could make things even worse according to a prominent research firm. IHS iSuppli -- most known for its teardown analyses -- said it had identified at least five parts in the tablet device that are manufactured in the country.
So far the company has identified NAND flash chips from Toshiba, DRAM chips produced by Elpida Memory, an electronic compass from AKM Semiconductor, touchscreen glass overlay believed to be from Asahi Glass, and the system battery produced by Apple Japan.
Who will pay $600 for XOOM with WiFi?
Motorola's hot, Android 3.0 "Honeycomb" tablet goes on sale next week -- heck, some retailers are already taking preorders. Amazon has it for $599, Costco $589.99 and Staples $599.98. Surprisingly, BestBuy only lists the $799.99 unsubsidized XOOM with WiFi and Verizon 3G.
In my story two days ago about the official March 27 release, I asked Betanews readers if they would buy the $600 Wi-Fi-only XOOM. Yes, I also asked in February, but that was before iPad 2 was specked, priced, launched and sold out. Unfortunately, I asked the question again before another development. For a second time, AT&T has dropped the price on the original 3G iPad to $429, $529 and $629 for 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, respectively. As I write the 32GB iPad 3G is sold out. There is no carrier comment. Now to those responses:
LTE at one year: 19 networks, 6 smartphones, 7 tablets
This week, the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) and 4G Americas released ecosystem reports that illustrate the progress of the 4G network technology LTE a little more than one year after the first commercial networks went live in Norway and Sweden.
Currently, there are 19 LTE networks up and running out of the 173-180 that network operators have committed to, or just about 10% of its eventual worldwide footprint. These networks are run by 17 different operators in 12 different countries: Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Norway, Poland, Sweden, USA, and Uzbekistan.
Unauthorized tetherers on AT&T being told to pay up
AT&T has begun cracking down on those subscribers who are tethering their laptops or other Wi-Fi enabled devices to their smart phones for Internet access. The company began sending texts and e-mails to those it suspects are doing so without subscribing to the carrier's $45 per month DataPro plan.
For an additional $20 above the standard 2GB smart phone data plan, subscribers are permitted to use their phones as hotspots to connect Wi-Fi devices to AT&T's 3G data network, and given an extra 2GB data allotment. Some have balked at the extra charge, opting instead to tinker with their phones to allow tethering without the necessary plan.
In light of new data caps, Netgear acquires AT&T's DSL equipment provider
Network hardware manufacturer Netgear on Friday announced it will be acquiring all the assets of Westell Technologies' customer broadband networking equipment division for $33.5 million in cash.
Netgear will acquire a "select" team of Westell employees (including the CNS engineering and testing team,) most of its customer base, 19 patents and patent applications, as well as all its products completed or in development.
IObit Smart Defrag 2.0 promises faster performance
IObit has released version 2 of its freeware defragmentation tool for Windows. Smart Defrag 2.0 includes one major new feature -- a boot-time defrag option -- as well as a redesigned user interface and numerous performance improvements to speed up the analysis and defrag processes.
Smart Defrag 2.0 is one of a growing number of free defrag tools that aim to replace the inadequate defragmentation tools built into Windows. By offering such options as automatic defrag, boot-time defrag and defragging on a schedule, Smart Defrag is able to keep a user's files from fragmenting, which noticeably slows performance and can also reduce the lifespan of a hard drive due to the extra work it has to perform in reading and writing to a fragmented drive.
Tip: Use CD or USB stick to clean up malware-infected PCs
Everyone should have layered protection when it comes to malware. Unfortunately, different antivirus and antispyware programs aren't designed to sit side-by-side and play nice with each other due to the always-on nature of their protection, but that doesn't mean you can't beef up your security with the help of some free scan-and-remove tools.
The only downside with this approach is that it helps to have these installed before you become infected. The nature of malware is to make it as difficult as possible to install any new software after infection, so what can you do if you've already been infected? If you have access to another, uninfected computer and a blank CD or USB flash drive, then read on for a potential solution.
Apple must stop iPad 2 scalpers NOW
One week ago today, iPad 2 went on sale. There are shortages, for which scalpers play no small part. Profiteers buying iPad 2s for resale on Craigslist, eBay or export to other countries are making it difficult for genuine buyers to get the tablets. It's time Apple put people who want to buy and use iPad 2 ahead of those who want to profit from shortages they help create. It's really simple: Put customers before profits.
From the profit perspective, a sale is a sale. Apple can let the scalpers buy up big chunks of tight inventory, knowing that genuine buyers will wait; there is no real tablet competition, so people will come back. That's more revenue, long term anyway, for Apple. From the customer service perspective, Apple would aggressively seek to deter scalping, while working even harder to make sure genuine buyers get their iPad 2s. Scalpers are technically customers, too, from the profit perspective. But the customers Apple should want more are those who buy iPad 2 now for personal or professional use and come back to buy more stuff later. These genuine buyers have potentially longer-term value to Apple than scalpers buying iPad 2s to ship to markets like China and Russia, where the tablet isn't yet available.
Apple, supporters claim iPhone browser test flawed
A study on the loading times of websites on both Android and the iPhone came under fire late Thursday, with Apple supporters calling its results flawed and the company behind the study defending its findings amid questions on the methods used to test the iPhone's performance.
Blaze Software, a website optimization company found that on average Android loaded web pages 52 percent faster than the iPhone 4. It also said that it saw no noticeable performance increase due to the optimizations of the JavaScript engine included in iOS 4.3.
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