Entries tagged with “carriers” from WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

T-Mobile's plan to charge $1.50 a month for paper bills has been trashed, due to complaints from consumers regulating agencies.

The charge that could have netted T-Mobile millions a month, raised concerned from consumer groups who claimed that seniors, disabled, and the poor could not pay their bills. It also caused privacy concerns from people who don't like to give out email and banking information.

Yesterday, AT&T announced their A-List and Sprint answered the call, with Any Mobile, Anytime.. WithAny Mobile, Anytime, Sprint customers get unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling from the Sprint Network to any wireless phone on any U.S. wireless carrier network at any time.

The Sprint news release claims wireless-centric families will find Everything Data Family plans with Any Mobile, Anytime especially beneficial. For example, at $42.50 per person, a family of four can get unlimited wireless for each family member. That means unlimited messaging and data, and now unlimited calling, to any of the more than 250 million wireless customers in the United States at any time, for each member of the family.

AT&T is will offer A-List with Rollover with unlimited mobile calling to and from five "VIP" domestic phone numbers at no additional cost.  Families can join in the savings too with unlimited calling to up to 10 lines with FamilyTalk.

GreatCall and Verizon Wireless, that GreatCall's Jitterbug will now run on the Verizon Wireless network through the wireless leader's open development program.

Qwest Wireless customers started receiving notifications that they have 60 days to switch their Qwest Wireless service to another wireless provider. In 2008, QWEST announced it was quitting the wireless business and began offering Verizon Wireless service to Qwest customers. Currently they are offering a $50 QWEST card for customers who switch to Verizon.

• Qwest will discontinue all Qwest Wireless service on Oct. 31, 2009.
• There is no early termination fee when disconnecting Qwest Wireless service.
• Qwest Wireless phone numbers are portable. Customers who switch to a new service provider, prior to Oct. 31, 2009, will be able to transfer their wireless phone numbers to the new service provider.
• Qwest is an authorized agent for Verizon Wireless. Qwest Wireless customers who select Verizon Wireless as their provider can take advantage of combined billing and exclusive handset offers from Verizon Wireless.
• In September and October, when Qwest Wireless customers who have not changed wireless service providers make a call, they will be routed to a live Qwest service representative, who will remind customers that Qwest is discontinuing Qwest Wireless service and a new service provider needs to be selected. Once the customer service communication is complete, calls will be connected as dialed.
• For more information about switching from Qwest Wireless service, visit www.qwest.com/wirelessfaq, or call 1 800-516-0669, or visit one of the many Qwest Solution Centers www.qwest.com/stores.

Sprint announced a unique wireless and wireline network services outsourcing agreement with Ericsson.

The seven-year agreement with Ericsson expands Ericsson's network services business in North America. The agreement, with an option for renewal, will result in payments for services valued at between $4.5 billion and $5 billion (USD) over the seven-year term of the contract.

The deal will have about 6,000 Sprint employees to begin performing their network functions as Ericsson employees sometime in the 3rd quarter.

How the Ericsson Network Advantage Will Work:

• Sprint retains full ownership and control of its network assets, and solely owns network strategy and investment decisions.
• Customers will continue to work directly with Sprint employees as their primary contact, as Sprint retains full control of the customer experience, customer technical support and services review.
• Sprint retains technology and vendor selections.
• Ericsson assumes responsibility for the day-to-day services, provisioning and maintenance for the Sprint-owned CDMA, iDEN and wireline networks.
• Ericsson will optimize Sprint's multi-vendor inventory of assets such as spare parts and transmission equipment, and provide processes and tools for managing the national network platforms and operational support systems.
• The transferred employees will become part of Ericsson Services Inc., a wholly-owned Ericsson subsidiary based in Overland Park, KS, a move that retains jobs in the United States. No force reductions are currently contemplated as a result of this agreement.

Sprint expects to immediately benefit from Ericsson's leadership and best-in-class economies of scale in network services. 

ChangeWave Research surveys show that the U.S. cellular service provider market remains a two-horse race between AT&T  and Verizon - with the former leading in terms of future demand and the latter in terms of customer satisfaction and fewest dropped calls.

The March ChangeWave survey of 4,292 consumers also show a small group that might switch, AT&T has great future demand and Verizon has a fewest dropped calls.


When asked how likely they were to change service providers in the next 6 months, 13% of consumers said they were very or somewhat likely to switch.

Among that group, only 9% of current AT&T customers said they're likely to switch compared to 11% of Verizon customers - giving AT&T a slight edge in customer loyalty. But where do those consumers who are switching say they're headed?

A full third (33%) say they'll go with AT&T - a huge 6-pt jump from December to the highest level since we began asking this question back in 2005. Verizon (24%; up 2-pts), while still competitive, continues to lag behind.

Note that dating back to the period just before the original Apple (AAPL) iPhone rollout, AT&T has managed to stay in first place in terms of future demand

The gap in call quality performance between the highest- and lowest-ranked carriers is smaller compared with previous years,  reports the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Wireless Call Quality Performance Study. Verizon ranked highest and

For a ninth consecutive reporting period, Verizon Wireless ranks highest in both the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and achieves fewer customer-reported problems in dropped calls, initial connections and late text notifications, compared with the regional averages. Verizon Wireless also leads in the Southwest region and ties with Sprint Nextel to rank highest in the West region. Sprint Nextel customers, in particular, report fewer problems regarding echoes compared with the region average.

In the North Central region, U.S. Cellular ranks highest for a seventh consecutive reporting period. U.S. Cellular has fewer customer-reported problems in dropped calls; initial connections; static/interference; voice distortion; and late text message notifications, compared with the region average.

Consumer confidence in wireless phones has increased in 2009, as 27 percent of customers report having replaced their traditional landline phones with wireless phones. This marks an increase from 25 percent in the 2008 Vol. 1 study.

The study also finds that wireless customers receive 98 text message notifications per month, compared with just 47 notifications in the 2008 Vol. 1 study. Wireless carriers have handled this boom in text messaging particularly well by increasing the capacity of their networks, and the number of problems associated with late or failed text messages has remained stable over time.

The New York Daily News asked advertising agencies to create ads for President-Elect Barack Obama to keep his beloved BlackBerry.

They are now asking readers to vote on their favorite humorous ad.  They call the feature “Bam Loves the Berry.”

The BlackBerry Partners Fund LP, announced  that the Fund has invested in buzzd, Digby and WorldMate.

 

buzzd, a location-sensitive city guide and social network for mobile devices, has raised $3.2 million in a Series A Preferred Stock financing with BlackBerry Partners Fund, Greycroft Partners, Monitor Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures.
                                                                                                                                                                 Digby, Digby,  a leading mobile commerce service provider, has raised $5.5 million Series B Preferred Stock with the BlackBerry Partners Fund and existing shareholders.

WorldMate, a company that has paved the way for mobile travel innovation and serves over one million frequent flyers and road warriors around the world, has raised $8 million in a Series C Preferred Stock financing with BlackBerry Partners Fund, Motorola Ventures and AMC Communications.

The BlackBerry Partners announced that Poynt, Strands Social Player and Nobex Radio Companion are the Best in Show Grand Prize Winners of the BlackBerry Partners Fund(TM) Developer Challenge.

ETRADE Securities LLC introduced ETRADE Mobile Pro, a first-of-its-kind, integrated mobile software solution offering customers quick and easy wireless access to their E*TRADE accounts. The service is avaailable exclusively on BlackBerry smartphones from Research In Motion.

E*TRADE Mobile Pro gives customers many of the same interface, security, trading and banking features available on their desktops - with the added capability and convenience of accessing real-time information and transacting any time, anywhere, from their BlackBerry smartphones.

Research In Motion introduced the admirable BlackBerry Bold smartphone. It is the first BlackBerry smartphone to support tri-band HSDPA high-speed networks around the world and comes with integrated GPS and Wi-Fi, as well as a rich set of multimedia capabilities in a 480x320 half-VGA display.

“The new BlackBerry Bold represents a tremendous step forward in business-grade smartphones and lives up to its name with incredible speed, power and functionality, all wrapped in a beautiful and confident design,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO, Research In Motion.

AVAILABILITY The BlackBerry Bold smartphone (model number: 9000) is scheduled to be available from wireless carriers around the world beginning this summer. It expected to sell between $300 and $400 and be offered from AT&T

For more information please visit: www.BlackBerryBold.com.

Last minute business meetings, fast-paced work environments and frequent travel can be harsh on your delicate BlackBerry and if you haven't experienced it, you can certainly imagine the terror of a broken device-- inaccessibility, lost contacts, missed calls and no email. The  OtterBox Defender Series protects your BlackBerry and serenity.

"Our new Defender Series case line provides recognized protection for all BlackBerry enthusiasts," said Curt Richardson, CEO of Otter Products, LLC. "Because BlackBerry devices are so small, we knew users wanted something slim-fit yet protective, and these cases definitely exceed expectations."

Available for the BlackBerry 8800, Pearl 8100, Pearl 8120 & 8130 and the Curve, the recently launched OtterBox Defender Series provides a sophisticated design in three distinguished layers of bump, scratch and drop protection.

• Layer 1: Slide on the thermal formed protective clear membrane to safeguard screen and keyboard against scratching as well as dust and dirt* (layer optional depending on the level of ruggedization desired)
  
• Layer 2: Snap together the hi-impact polycarbonate shell
  
• Layer 3: Wrap the silicone skin over the device to absorb bump and shock

Cases provide use of trackball, keypad and access to sync/charge jack through a silicone plug. Depending on the model, USB and camera functions are also accessible through the case. Three acoustically approved, semi-permeable membrane vents protect the headset and speaker phone openings while still allowing clear sound transmission.

All cases include a holster-style, swivel belt clip for convenient carrying. BlackBerry smartphones also feature a magnet proximity sensor to automatically shut off the display to maximize battery life when stored in a holster or case, and this feature is supported with the OtterBox.

T-Mobile and Research In Motion announced the national availability of the BlackBerry 8820 smartphone, featuring built-in GPS and support for T-Mobile’s HotSpoHome( service for Wi-F calling. hone.

The BlackBerry 8820 helps people stay connected to business associates, colleagues, family and friends by offering Wi-Fi connectivity for voice and data, access to location-based applications and services, and a superior mobile experience for personal and corporate e-mail.

With the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home mobile add-on plan, customers can enjoy the freedom of unlimited, nationwide calling over any Wi-Fi network at home, across accessible corporate Wi-Fi networks or at T-Mobile HotSpot locations nationwide.(i) When connected through Wi-Fi, access to information continues to include all of the BlackBerry platform’s security features. Customers can also enjoy faster Web browsing at Wi-Fi speeds.

The BlackBerry 8820 is available at select T-Mobile retail stores, select authorized dealers, online at www.t-mobile.com, or by calling 1-800-T-MOBILE.

For more information about the BlackBerry 8820 from T-Mobile, please visit www.blackberry8820.com or www.t-mobile.com. The smartphone is currently selling for $349.99 with a discount and plan.

Nokia announced that it's model  6301 will be able to make Internet calls over Wi-Fi networks when in range.

While AT&T  releases the BlackBerry 8820 today .The BlackBerry 8820 is packed with incredible new features, such as built-in GPS, Wi-Fi support, BlackBerry® Maps, a multi-media player, expandable memory, Voice-Activated Dialing and trackball navigation. It also offers email and text messaging (SMS and MMS), instant messaging, organizer, web browser and advanced phone features. This smartphone sells for $300 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate

According to MarketWatch:  T-Mobile U.S.A. announced a $9.99 monthly plan for unlimited email service on all BlackBerry smartphones they sell. Analysts predict that the competition will spur a drop in prices for data services from other carriers.  Web browsing is not included in the price.