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T-Mobile’s version of the Sony Xperia Z seems to have passed through the FCC according to multiple documents and pictures.  Internal and external pictures are included, as well as a detailed user manual which gives away the model, carrier association, and also points out that the phone will feature WiFi calling.  The documents show that there will be an inclusion of AWS LTE (band 4) and pentaband HSPA+.

It won’t be long before T-Mobile officially announces the phone’s release to the public.

Check the pictures and documents out for yourself at the source link below.

Source: FCC
Via: Engadget

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile Sony Xperia Z with LTE passes through FCC

Back on January 8th at T-Mobile’s CES press event, the company announced a new partnership with Major League Baseball.  Until now, the two companies were relatively quiet about what this deal would come to mean for customers.  Today, T-Mobile proudly announced that it will be offering MLB.com At Bat 2013 for free in the Google Play Store through June 30th.

The well-known app features all-season access to a free MLB.TV streaming Game of the Day, access to live home and away radio broadcasts of games, highlights, scores, and other updates.

Unfortunately, there is no refund available for users who purchased the app before May 1, and the app isn’t available to Windows Phone and Blackberry (who?) customers.  Die-hard and casual fans alike should dive in a take the opportunity— the total value of the promotion is a whopping $19.99.

Check out the link to the app in the Play Store after the break.

Play Store Download Link

Here’s the full press release from T-Mobile:

MLB.com At Bat App Free Beginning May 1

To celebrate T-Mobile as the Official Wireless Sponsor of Major League Baseball, we are offering FREE access to the official app of Major League Baseball, MLB.com At Bat® 13 ($19.99 value). Beginning May 1 to June 30 T-Mobile customers can download the MLB.com At Bat 13 application from Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. This season-long access will provide customers with:

Free live MLB.TV streaming Game of the Day
Access to live home and away radio broadcasts from around the league
Highlights, scores, and more from the day’s games around the league

Offer Requirements

Offer only available May 1 – June 30.
Offer is available to new and existing customers.
Must be on the T-Mobile network to initially download the app to meet validation requirements.
Offer is available for download from Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Compatible devices include:
Android phones and tablets (OS 2.2 or later).
iPhones and iPads 3GS/4/4S/5, (iOS 5.0 or later).
MLB.com At Bat is released every year for the new baseball season. This offer provides full access to the 2013 MLB season only.

Restrictions

App is not available for Windows Phone devices; Offer is not available for Blackberry devices.
Offer not available to customers who previously purchased the MLB.com At Bat app prior to May 1.
Not available for download on Wi-Fi or while roaming.
After download and registration, you may access the app over Wi-Fi.
MLB.TV and/or additional in-app purchases are not included in this offer

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile offers MLB.com At Bat 2013 for free through June 30th

Earlier today, AT&T and LG announced the Optimus G Pro smartphone, the next great flagship device to battle for true supremacy. So it’s only fitting that LG showcases its newest toy at its Share The Genius event here in New York City, where it is giving an opportunity for a handful of folks to test drive the newest device before it arrives in stores next week. With an incredibly thin profile, stunning 5.5-inch HD display, Snapdragon quad-core processor clocked at a whopping 1.7GHz and a customized version of Android 4.1.2— the Optimus G Pro certainly looks the part of a topnotch device. But alas, as we all know— it’s not about how the device looks— it’s all about how the device operates and feels during real-time usage. So hit the break to check out or hands-on and get a feel of the Optimus G Pro in action.

This is LG’s second attempt at a phablet-type device. The first one which was Verizon’s Intuition, had a fairly bulky profile, uninspired corners and was not comfortable to hold in the hand. LG realizes that the 5-inch+ device market is certainly growing at a rapid pace, so it had its designers and engineers go back to the drawing board in order to conjure up a more aesthetically appealing design for a new and improved device. Despite the Optimus G Pro being an evolved version of the original Optimus G smartphone, there are some noteworthy improvements to mention. The Optimus G Pro features a plastic-type of material that is not only smooth, but has a nice shiny finish throughout the device, while the front of the device allows the gorgeous IPS HD display to steal the show as it takes over much of the bezel real estate and all. The front of the device features the standard back and multitasking buttons, while there is a also large home button crammed in between the soft buttons, taking a cue from Samsung’s Galaxy line of devices. Around the device, there are the usual assortment of ports and outputs like the headphone-out and microSD-out.

Software-wise, LG is certainly taking some steps to show that it is out to ensure a better and more personalized smartphone experience by implementing an improved UI. Slightly disappointing is the inclusion of Android 4.1.2, but LG does does in the latest version of its UI software, which operates in a buttery-smooth manner. While the device includes standard Jelly Bean goodies like Google Now— the real kicker is the inclusion of custom LG software like QSlide, which allows you to watch a video while operating another app and VuTalk, which allows for a collaboration of notetaking between multiple Optimus G Pro users. All-in-all, this looks to be the start of a major turnaround from a seemingly underwhelming brand and who knows, maybe the Optimus G Pro will give the upcoming Galaxy Note III a run for its money.

The device is available for pre-order from this Friday, May 3rd and will be available for $199.99. Additionally, it will be available in all stores on May 10th.

Come comment on this article: Hands on with the AT&T Optimus G Pro smartphone

At last, the T-Mobile/MetroPCS marriage is officially complete. After seeing a few signs that the merger was closer to being finalized, Deutsche Telekom AG and T-Mobile US, Inc. announced the newly-formed T-Mobile USA entity— which officially began public trading under the NYSE ticker TMUS as of today. With the new company fully established, Deutsche Telekom AG will effectively hold a majority stake in the company (at 74%), while the combined subscriber base grows to over 40 million. Additionally, the completed merger also expands the total 4G footprint as 228 million are currently served with 4G, with an additional 200 million expected to be covered with 4G LTE by the end of 2013.

You’ll find more details once you hit the break and check out the full presser.

T-Mobile and MetroPCS Combination Complete-Wireless Revolution Just Beginning

T-Mobile US to Ring NYSE Opening Bell as Trading Begins Today Under Ticker “TMUS”

BONN, Germany & BELLEVUE, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May. 1, 2013– Deutsche Telekom AG (XETRA: DTE; “Deutsche Telekom”) and T-Mobile US, Inc. today announced the completion of the combination of T-Mobile USA, Inc. and MetroPCS Communications, Inc., uniting two wireless innovators with one common vision: to bring wireless consumers exciting new choices while delivering an exceptional experience. The combined company, T-Mobile US, Inc., will begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange today under the ticker “TMUS.”
“The combination of T-Mobile and MetroPCS creates an even stronger disruptive force in the U.S. wireless market,” said John Legere, President & Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile US, Inc. “Together, as America’s Un-carrier, we’ll continue our legacy of marketplace innovation by tearing up the old playbook and rewriting the rules of wireless to benefit consumers.”

As previously announced, the Board of Directors of the combined company will have 11 members, including two directors of MetroPCS who will continue with the combined company. Tim Höttges, currently Deputy Chief

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger is complete, new company now known as T-Mobile US

We already knew that tonight’s LG party was all about the Optimus G Pro for AT&T so they decided to just go ahead and make it official. The Optimus G Pro will finally land in the U.S. with AT&T on May 10. It will be priced at $199 and pre-orders start this Friday, May 3. This is the same phone that has already been available internationally and features a 5.5-inch 1080p IPS display, a 1.7 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600, 2 GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory, microSD slot for expanded memory, 13MP rear camera, 2.1MP front facing camera, 3,140mAh battery, and IR blaster. Let’s not forget the Value Pack update as well.

One thing I will say is kudos to AT&T as they now offer the three best phones on the market, the Galaxy S 4, the HTC One, and now the Optimus G Pro. On the other hand, Verizon Wireless will only offer the Galaxy S 4, and that won’t be out until the end of May. Full presser and video after the break.

Click here to view the embedded video.

AT&T and LG Unveil Powerful, Full HD Optimus G Pro

LG Optimus G Pro(TM) Enables Users to Connect and Share Like a Pro; Suite of Sharing, Multitasking Capabilities Enrich Users’ Demanding Lives

New York, New York, May 01, 2013

AT&T* and LG Electronics USA announced today the LG Optimus G Pro, available exclusively from AT&T, for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement beginning May 10. LG Optimus G Pro is a powerful smartphone offering innovative solutions designed to help users creatively and more deeply connect, express and share their lives while providing the superior power and performance required to manage life on-the-go. Customers excited to reserve their Optimus G Pro can pre-order the device beginning May 3 at www.att.com/optimusgpro. While supplies last, anyone who pre-orders will receive a free Quick Cover black folio case.

The LG Optimus G Pro comes packed with a host of high-performance features that refine mobile communication and help users better organize their lives. Backed by the powerful Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 1.7GHz quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM, users can access content and complete tasks faster than ever:

The brilliant 5.5-inch, 1920 X 1080 Full HD IPS display (400ppi) gives users more pixels and screen real estate to view and show off content.
The 13 MP Full HD rear-facing camera and 2.1 MP Full HD front-facing camera let users zoom in on even the most intricate of details and its unique Dual Recording feature allows simultaneous recording with both cameras for an amazing dimensional perspective.
The LG Optimus G Pro runs on AT&T 4G LTE, which currently covers nearly 200 million people; with plans to expand to cover 300 million people by the end of 2014. In a report**** by independent testing organization RootMetrics, AT&T’s 4G LTE network was called “blazing fast.” The report found AT&T’s 4G LTE network delivered the fastest pure LTE speeds in markets where AT&T provided 4G LTE.

“From engagements to weddings, to newborns to family gatherings and work to vacation, active and involved people require robust mobile technology designed specifically to support and enrich their lives,” said James Fishler, senior vice president, marketing, LG Electronics USA. “LG Optimus G Pro is the ultimate device for creating, viewing and sharing media content, whether it be HD video in full 1080p or high-resolution photos. This device offers a vast collection of features and capabilities for those who want and need the best multitasking functionality.”

“The LG Optimus G Pro gives AT&T customers the ability to create and share rich content easily,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president – Devices, AT&T. “There’s no better place to experience that content than exclusively on our 4G LTE network, the nation’s fastest.”

Whether users are multitasking industry professionals who require powerful recording and viewing capabilities or just want great mobile technology, LG Optimus G Pro provides the tools to capture important moments and share them with family, friends and co-workers.

With Dual Recording, users capture special and productive moments from both sides of life, all simultaneously on a single screen. The combination of a powerful quad-core processor and 13 MP video camera lets you zoom in tight on the finest of details when viewing your recordings and helps maintain video playback quality and image resolution.

LG Optimus G Pro features a stylish ergonomic design with a narrow screen bezel delivering a more comfortable in-hand experience and great “pocketability.” Hardware features enhance productivity while providing fun, entertaining moments. QuickRemote is a universal remote application that utilizes the built-in Infrared (IR) sensor, turns the device into a Universal Remote Control for use with compatible TVs, Blu-Ray players, cable provider set-top boxes and more.

The LG Optimus G Pro also comes packed with features designed to enhance and simplify your experience. With VuTalk™, users can draw and share fun and productive notes in real time*** between compatible devices, creating new ways for to express your creativity beyond traditional text-based communication*****. Using QSlide 2.0, you can also overlay up to two application windows on an existing open application, adjusting size and transparency as needed, for advanced yet convenient multitasking. For spur-of-the-moment thoughts or just to add some fun commentary to photos or screenshots, QuickMemo™ lets you take screenshots and add personalized notes, drawings and messages, then share them via social media, text or email.

Key Features

- Powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor with 2 GB RAM

- Expansive 5.5″ 1080p Full HD IPS Screen (400 ppi resolution)

- Long-Lasting 3,140 mAh Battery

- Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)

- Advanced 13 MP Full HD Camera with Dual Recording

- 2.1 MP Full HD Front-Facing Camera for Dual Recording and Video Conferencing

- Visually and Audibly Collaborate in Real Time with VuTalk

- QSlide 2.0 for Advanced and Convenient Multitasking

- Audio Zoom to enhance audio quality during video capture by focusing audio mics on the video target

- QuickRemote for Universal Remote Control

- Pocketable Ergonomic Design with Narrow Bezel

- Internal Storage: 32 GB on-board, support for up to 64 GB of expandable memory for a total of 96 GB

- Bluetooth® Version 4.0

Pricing and Availability

LG Optimus G Pro will be available for preorder online May 3 at www.att.com/optimusgpro and in AT&T retail stores May 10 for $199.99 with a two-year service agreement.

Come comment on this article: AT&T and LG make the Optimus G Pro official, pre-orders start May 3

Smartphones with physical QWERTY keyboards are a dying breed, especially the ones with portrait keyboards. Despite that, AT&T appears to be planning on releasing the NEC Terrain to the masses, which is a candy bar style phone, complete with an unspecified Android version and a physical keyboard. It’s not exactly a visually appealing device, and there’s no official specs for it, but I could definitely see it as a cheap gateway phone for old Blackberry holdouts. (Believe it or not, they still exist)

We’ll just have to wait for NEC or AT&T to make this device official.

source: evleaks

Come comment on this article: NEC Terrain leaks, headed to AT&T with Android and QWERTY keyboard

If you’re the tinkering type and you’ve been eyeing the Galaxy S 4 on AT&T, you may want to rethink your options. According to Cyanogenmod founder Steve Kondik, AT&T’s S 4 does indeed have a locked bootloader out of the box. While the locked bootloader doesn’t necessarily mean custom ROMs and kernels won’t come eventually, it’s going to take a little longer than usual. Of course, with the inevitable popularity of the S 4, there’s likely going to be a crazy amount of dev work being done on the device right out of the gate, so an unlocking method will likely come along sooner or later.

I don’t expect this to make a huge impact on S 4 sales on AT&T, but for the modding community, it’s a bit of a let down.

source: Google Plus

Come comment on this article: Steve Kondik of Cyanogenmod confirms AT&T Galaxy S 4 ships with a locked bootloader

Verizon is looking to bring its customers an enhanced cloud storage solution by introducing its Verizon Cloud app. Also known as a revamped and improved version of its VCast Media Manager, the Verizon Cloud app allows users to choose specific files (think text/MMS messages, images & videos or music, etc.) to be backed-up and synced automatically on Verizon’s unique server. For some added flexibility, Verizon will even allow users of its app to access the files through a traditional PC computer or any other supported smartphone as well.  Sweet.

As of now, there are some flexible options for select Verizon customers now. Customers with supported devices have the option of starting out with 500MB of storage for free, though there is the option of moving up to 25GB for $2.99/month, 75GB for $5.99/month and 125GB for $9.99/month. Of course not all Android owners will have the luxury of using the service as of this time as the following devices are supported at this time: Motorola DROID X, DROID X2, DROID 2 Global, HTC Thunderbolt, Incredible, Incredible 2, Samsung DROID Charge, Fascinate, Motorola DROID XYBOARD 8.2″ and 10.1″, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Tab 2 10.1 and Galaxy Note 10.1.

Verizon confirms that additional devices will see support for the cloud storage solution at a later date.

source: Verizon Wireless

Come comment on this article: Verizon introduces its Cloud service for customers, includes 500MB for free to start

Well I guess Samsung didn’t have all their ducks in a row like they thought they did. Back in March, analysts were concerned that Samsung could have production issues that would cause a loss of sales during the first month after launch. Last year’s issue with the Galaxy S III was from a defect, but we are not sure what is going on this year. It seems to be delayed all over and now it appears that customers who pre-ordered the Sprint version at Best Buy are going to have to wait another 2 to 3 weeks. Below is an email sent to customers:

“We’re sorry, but the fulfillment of your recent pre-order is taking longer than expected. We expect it to arrive between May 9 and May 20. To keep you informed of its delivery, we’ll send tracking information once the item has shipped.

If you prefer, you can cancel this order at any time. To do so, please call us at 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289). If possible, please have your order number handy.

If we don’t hear from you before the order is shipped, we’ll assume you still want this item and accept this delay.

Once again, we’re sorry for this inconvenience, and we’ll do our best to make things right.”

Sales of the Galaxy S 4 were expected to hit 10 million during the first month, but with delays like this, don’t expect that target to be reached.

source: PhoneArena

Come comment on this article: Sprint Samsung Galaxy S 4 pre-orders now delayed 2 to 3 weeks at Best Buy

Kantar released their U.S. smartphone market share numbers for the 1st quarter 2013, and other than Android’s continued domination, there was some interesting news regarding carriers. It’s no surprise that the majority of smartphones are either on Verizon or AT&T. Verizon’s share is at 37.2%, while AT&T was at 27.9%. That’s a combined total of 65.1%. Sprint came in third at 12.3%, but the biggest news is T-Mobile’s decline of 3.2% down to 9.5%. In fact, T-Mobile was the only carrier to show a decline.

T-Mobile recently launched their UnCarrier plans that probably won’t change things for them since it doesn’t deliver what they are promising. The prices themselves are fine for those that bring their own phone, but the promise of buying phones off contract is simply not true. All they did was spread out the payments of the full retail price which you are obligated to pay, and is just another form of the traditional subsidized contracts that Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint offer.

source: Kantar

Come comment on this article: T-Mobile loses market share while Verizon and AT&T continue to dominate