TechWay » T-Mobile

AT&T’s customer satisfaction score drops even more

Sina Hamedian — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:19:14 +0000

People who thought that AT&T couldn’t get more terrible in customer satisfaction are probably rubbing their eyes in disbelief right now. According to the Associated Press, AT&T’s customer satisfaction score has actually dropped three points over the past year from 69 out of 100 to a mere 66. In comparison, Verizon and Sprint are tied for the highest spot at 72 while T-Mobile comes in at third place with 70. Sprint’s satisfaction had score increased 16 points over the past three years while Verizon’s has had, more or less, the same score throughout the years. T-Mobile’s score dropped also three points from last year, probably in light of the coming AT&T merger. With AT&T claiming that is trying to improve its network capacity (at least in San Francisco), it should be at least a modest surprise that their satisfaction score has dropped. What’s your experience with AT&T so far? Is the service you’ve been receiving from the blue carrier better or worse than before? Let us know in the comments.

[Source: AP News]

Android passes iPhone in US market share

Sina Hamedian — Tue, 11 May 2010 02:50:29 +0000

After months of companies, like Motorola and HTC, pushing their Android phones in sales and marketing, Android has finally passed Apple’s iPhone in US market share, according to the NPD group. The results were determined by a survey of smartphone owners, which put Android’s 28% share behind RIM’s BlackBerry with a high, but falling, 36% market share. Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD, said, “As in the past, carrier distribution and promotion have played a crucial role in determining smartphone market share. In order to compete with the iPhone, Verizon Wireless has expanded its buy-one-get-one offer beyond RIM devices to now include all of their smartphones.”

Android’s leap forward wasn’t the only thing mentioned in the report. The results showed that AT&T barely beat Verizon, 32% to 30%, for the largest American cellular network and T-Mobile edging out Sprint for the number three spot at 17% and 15% respectively.

Source: NPD

Apple to sell contract-free iPhones at list price

Sina Hamedian — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:45:06 +0000

Taking a step forward, probably in response to CTIA 2010, Apple has now begun selling contract-free iPhones in the United States at list price. List price means $499 for 8GB, $599 for 16GB and $699 for 32GB. The iPhones would still be tied to AT&T and require their SIM cards, but you don’t need to show proof that you have AT&T as your current wireless provider to get them this way. Original report speculated that the phones would be sold unlocked, and proved to be inaccurate minutes before us posting this. Let down, yes, but now you don’t need to lock yourself into AT&T clutches, since “everyone knowns it takes 2 minutes to unlock them”.

At the time of writing, Apple’s online store still requires a two year contract. Customers can pick up one iPhone a day only. Sorry for your multiple impulse buys.

Source: 9to5Mac

HTC HD2 will not get Windows Phone 7 upgrade

Sina Hamedian — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:12:54 +0000

Sad news for anyone who has a HTC HD2 smartphone or plans on picking one up soon: Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore has come right out and confirmed that the Windows Mobile phone will not be getting Windows Phone 7 Series because it is not complaint with hardware specifications required to run the OS. This puts the phone, which has not even yet been released in the US, in shaky grounds. Even more odd enough is that every Microsoft employee at MIX has one with them.

Apple iPad officially announced

Sina Hamedian — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:44:22 +0000

The most anticipated product for seven years – it’s here. More pictures, speculation and others from us below.

At first glance, the iPad (before you had a chance to see anything about it), you think “Holy cow, this will revolutionize everything” or “This is sexy!” Both might be true, but at it’s heart, it is just a 10″ iPod touch give or take 3G support. Internet on the tablet is remarkable, the iPod app is a significant improvement, you can have a wallpaper as your home screen background, and watch HD YouTube videos. But is that it? No. It also features Bluetooth 2.1, 802.11n out of the box support, a ebook reader, iPhone app compatibility, LED screen, Google Street View, 1Ghz Apple A4 processor, among others. What missing really take away from the device, however. No camera, multi-tasking, flash, or other stuff really take away from it.

But why should I go on any farther?

The pricing starts at $499 for a WiFi only 16GB version and goes to $829 for a unlocked 3G + WiFi capable 64GB version of the tablet, meaning you can pop in your SIM and start surfing the internets. In addition, AT&T will offer a no contract $20 per month internet service for the iPad.

On to the nitty and gritty.

Price:
WiFi capable models are:

16GB - $499
32GB – $599
64 GB - $699

3G + WiFi capable models are:
16GB - $629
32GB - $729
64GB - $829

Capacity
16GB, 32GB, 64GB

Processor
1Ghz Apple A4 Processor

App Support:
Most iPhone apps are compatible at a high and low resolution format.

Apps already built in
Safari
Mail
Photos
Video
YouTube
iPod
iTunes
App Store
iBooks
Maps
Notes
Calendar
Contacts

Apps already optimized for iPad
NOVA
Need for Speed: Shift

Launch:
WiFi only models: Late March 2010
3G + WiFi models: April 2010