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Ok. let's not get crazy here people! Let's not get excited about an AT&T announcement or rumor only to find out later it was just a human error.
AT&T has 3G in the labs working at a speed of 7.2 megabits per second which is about double the theoretical achievable speed on current networks. By 2009 they want to deliver an amazing 20 megabits per second. That would be really cool and really fast. But is it doable?
3G iPhone anyone? Yes I thought so... After we've seen yet another AT&T blooper, with the carrier advertising the new iPhone black these days it appears that another carrier, the Swisscom is said to have released prices and some details about the upcoming 3G toy.
Is this another rumor? According to Swisscom they are going to sell the 3G iPhone in three colors: black, white and silver. They are cooler than AT&T which has for now, just the black version. Prices you ask? They say 659 Swiss Francs (about $630) for 16GB version and 799 Swiss Francs (about $760). The 16GB will come in black and the 32GB will come in all three colors. According to the same rumor/source.
Following the recent Blackberry Bold announcement, AT&T said they are going to be the first US carrier to deliver this new slim beauty. RIM announced that the Bold will be available later this year from various carriers and this appear to be true as T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon will sell the device too. But AT&T are to lead the way. They are bragging about their 3G support which is supposed to be wider than others. I'd assume that's what RIM wants also for their customers. To take advantage to the fullest of 3G wherever they might be.
Is this another human error like the WiFi teaser from AT&T? We showed you last week an official page screenshot addressing the Starbucks free WiFi thing. That was apparently a mistake from their part although they have reassured us the service is coming sometime soon.
So with all this commotion about the new 3G iPhone. It's here and there, it's going to be released in June or sooner. It's going to replace the depleted stocks of the first generation iPhone. Will it be in black after all? Does AT&T know something we don't? Is that page a beta page? Shouldn't we, as future consumers have seen that yet? Is it just a joke or a rumor?
Is that's what AT&T likes? Teasing their subscribers on and off? Then I don't want to be a part of that. It's like they are mini gods playing with the WiFi-fire towards the masses.
We have showed you how they've started to advertise free WiFi in over 17,000 Starbucks and Barnes and Nobles locations for iPhone users. The we showed you how free WiFi got hacked and canceled for all users. It was only a few days until they have restored access just to cancel it again.
Where is this all going to? Apparently revealing the free WiFi was a human error. AT&T is probably planning (secretly) to have free WiFi for iPhone users in the near future. Hush now, don't tell anyone about that!
So it's official, or at least a little more official. Over at the AT&T/iPhone page, the service plans now detail the on-again/off-again free WiFi at AT&T hotspots feature. It hasn't been officially announced yet as part of their plans, but this must be a step in that direction. Last week, it was inadvertently "test marketed" when several iPhone users found themselves temporarily able to access WiFi for free at such AT&T hotspots as Starbucks and Barnes & Noble. Such access was shortly thereafter removed.
Whether or not this means the service is currently available again, or if it's forthcoming is unclear but it's definitely on the way. Free mobile Internet is inching closer and closer to fully reality. Pretty soon, and that's a very relative term, if you can get a signal you'll be able to get online for no additional charge.
AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, British Telecom or NTT are just a few carriers thinking about VoIP as far as we hear. We all know what Skype is and I bet most of us have had at least one Skype number conversation. It's really simple actually. Get an account, talk for free (mostly)
Apparently AT&T and others will be developing and introducing such a service to their subscribers in order to counteract/compete with Skype's popularity. This new service will be available somewhere in 2009 and it will be introduced to cell phones too. You will be able to talk for free (I'd like to see that) from your smartphone with friends in the same network. Will you have to pay a monthly plan to be able to talk for free?
Anyway, it's a rumor for now, but a rumor AT&T won't comment on. What do you think?
Earlier this week I was telling you guys how iPhone users are favored (of course!) by AT&T. How does did this carrier show his love? By granting free WiFi access at Starbucks or Barnes and Nobles locations to all iPhone. Smart non-iPhone owners have found a way around that for getting that free internet connection. By simply switching their mobile internet browser to Mobile Safari they had at least a couple of days of free access.
AT&T stepped quickly in and now, if you want to go online while drinking your favorite coffee, you will be prompted a user/password page. Apparently nobody, iPhone owners included, will be granted free WiFi for a while. I would assume AT&T will restore it as soon as they've found a better way to implement it.
Starting May 6th you will be able to buy the 8GB Nokia N95 provided you are in Canada. You heard me! Roger Wireless will sell this baby for $399.99 with a three year Rogers Vision Unlimited On-Device Mobile Browsing Plan.
AT&T in your face! Nokia N95 or the 8GB version has come to North-American soil but Rogers snatched it first. Good job to the Canadians behind this move and don't worry everyone, Nokia N95 will be coming to the USA too and we'll tell you when that happens!
How do you like my equation? I'll simply go ahead and explain it. AT&T, and I have covered a lot of AT&T and iPhone stories these days, have reached an agreement both with Starbucks and Barnes and Nobles to offer WiFi hotspots to their customers.
That's nice but you still have had to pay for that. But apparently all iPhone users can have that service for free. You just have to log in with your phone number and you can surf the internet with no additional cost when in a Starbucks coffee shop or in a Barnes and Nobles library.
How fair is that? Well apparently if you don't own an iPhone yet you can simply switch your internet browser to Mobile Safari and you'll surf for free as well. But hey, it's a secret, don't tell anyone! I wonder how long till AT&T will realize and fix it?
We've heard quite a lot about AT&T's marketing ideas these last couple of days. First we had the $40 iPhone plans for deaf people, then we heard AT&T are going to sell the new 3G iPhone for $199 for a two year subscription plan and today we hear that AT&T are launching cell phone TV Plans.
First of all I am the kind of guy that mostly uses his cell phone for, and you will laugh at this, calling people. I know, that's so unusual right? I wouldn't want to take pictures or watch TV on a 3 inch screen.
But there are lots of people who would do those things to a cell phone and this $15/month plan will suit them. AT&T will match Verizon Wireless' V Cast Mobile TV and the service will be delivered via the same company Qualcomm Inc. The plan includes 10 channels. 8 are shared with Verizon: CBS Mobile, Comedy Central, ESPN Mobile TV, Fox Mobile, MTV, NBC 2Go, NBC News 2Go and Nickelodeon and 2 are exclusive: PIX, which screens movies from Sony Pictures, and CNN Mobile Live.
But there's a catch. You will only have to phones on which this service will be available starting Sunday. These are the LG Vu, a touch screen phone for $299.99, and the Samsung Access, a more traditional phone for $199.99. Prices apply after a $100 rebate and only for 2-year plans. The service will be available in more than 58 locations across the USA.
If you are always watching TV and this AT&T plan sounds like a good idea, maybe you should also know that more and more TV stations are considering mobile broadcasting for free. This is a rumor thing just yet and these kind of services will be available in 2009.
Continue reading: AT&T launches TV service on new phones, rivaling Verizon
Coming up with a plan for people with hearing and speech impediments was just a thing waiting to happen. AT&T are offering a Text Accessibility Plan which includes unlimited text messaging, unlimited data usage (internet and e-mail), visual voice-mail and $.40 per minute pay-per-use voice. All that for only $40/month after service activation.
How this works is actually very simple. After signing up for any AT&T iPhone plan, any customer will complete the required application form, and they will switch to the Text Accessibility Plan if they qualify.
I hope more and more carriers will offer plans and services like iPhone has. In our modern world with more sophisticated mobile devices, fast communication is no longer a luxury but a daily necessity which should benefit everyone.
Continue reading: Text Accessibility Plan for iPhone
BlackBerry handsets are especially designed for the professional class. AT&T Inc. recently released the BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone with built-in GPS. The cell phone comes with an integrated AT&T Navigator that offers on-screen directions with colorful 3-D moving maps. The Navigator makes the users aware of traffic speeds and incidents via voice commands and on screen prompts.
"The BlackBerry Pearl 8110's stylish design and consumer features blend well with the productivity features for managing your day while away from home or the office," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Business Voice/Data and Wireless Products, for AT&T's wireless unit.
The New BusinessTalk Plans and BlackBerry Professional Software make it a versatile solution for the high end commercial class. The display of this Smartphone support more than 65,000 colors and comes with the capacity to automatically adjust brightness as per surrounding environment. The BlackBerry Pearl 8110 is the first BlackBerry cellphone to provide free wireless download of YELLOWPAGES.COM Mobile application.
AT&T’s BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone is available for immediate sale at a price of $149.99, with a two-year contract, unlimited data plan and $39.99 voice plan. There are other plans available if you are a globe trotter. Surf up the AT&T’s official website for more details. It is available in two color options glossy titanium or rich red finish.
