myTouch 3G with 3.5mm headphone jack hits T-Mobile's store, now with less Fender

No offense meant to Eric Clapton, but not everybody wants a faux wood phone. And yet, it seems like there are many folks in this subset scattered across this fruited plain who'd like a real 3.5mm headphone jack on their phone, and for those crazy people there's at last the T-Mobile myTouch 3G to suit them. The phone has just been listed in white and black versions on T-Mobile's store, and lack all the fancy app and content frills of the Fender Limited Edition, and have even been consigned to mere 8GB microSD cards (while Fender jams away on a 16GB slice). So far T-Mobile makes no mention of price, but with the original myTouch 3G (which we're guessing isn't long for this earth) still at $150 and the Fender edition at $180, we're not expecting these phones to land at a price that matches the age of this handset -- namely, between $99 and free. Sure, that incoming 2.1 update will be nice, but there's a lot of good phone to be had out there for $150.

Update: There's official PR out now. The handset will be replacing the current myTouch at the same $150 pricepoint and is available today. Other tweaks include a couple of minor pre-loaded apps, 288MB of RAM and Swype for text input instead of the standard Android QWERTY. Full PR is after the break.

Show full PR text

Today, T-Mobile unveiled a new version of the popular T-Mobile® myTouch® 3G. The new device will simply be called the T-Mobile myTouch 3G and will replace the original T-Mobile myTouch 3G, while offering new features including:
· A built-in 3.5mm headset jack and updated music player

· Additional memory with 288 MB of RAM and an 8GB microSD card

· Swype, an innovative text input technology, providing a faster and more intuitive text input on the touch screen

· Preloaded applications, including Barcode Scanner, Music Player, myAccount and Visual Voicemail


The new myTouch also offers the popular features of the original T-Mobile myTouch 3G, including:
· A highly personalized experience, with home screen customization, accessories and more than 20,000 applications available for download from Android™ Market.

· One-touch access to the Google™ services millions use everyday, including Google Search by voice, Google Maps™ Street View, YouTube® and Picasa®.


The new T-Mobile myTouch 3G is available starting today nationwide at select T-Mobile retail locations and online at www.T-MobilemyTouch.com. The device will cost $149.99 (plus taxes and fees) with a new two-year service agreement and qualifying voice and data plan. See www.T-Mobile.com for offer details. Additional information on Swype can be found in the press release below.

Cheers –
Lori


Press Contact:
Debra Benson, Illume Public Relations
Debra@illumepr.com, (310) 786-4706


SWYPE'S INNOVATIVE TEXT INPUT TECHNOLOGY
INTEGRATED INTO T-MOBILE USA PRODUCTS

Swype Expands to Android™ platform with new T-Mobile® myTouch® 3G


Seattle -- February 10, 2010 –Swype, an innovative text input technology, and T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced the integration of Swype's intuitive text input solution into T-Mobile touch screen devices, starting with the new version of the popular T-Mobile myTouch 3G, the company's latest Android-powered device, which is available beginning today. T-Mobile also plans to integrate Swype into a number of future devices including the HTC HD2, an upcoming Windows Mobile® Phone from T-Mobile, which is expected to be available this spring.

"T-Mobile has always been on the forefront of introducing new devices and ground breaking technologies and now has embraced Swype's stunningly responsive text input for its touch screen lineup," said Mike McSherry, CEO, Swype. "Launching on the Android platform is a major milestone for Swype as we continue to expand to new touch screen devices and platforms."

George Harrison, vice president, marketing product innovation, T-Mobile USA said, "Consumers have been vocal in their demand for a more intuitive and efficient way to use a virtual keyboard on touch screen devices. As T-Mobile continues to drive innovation for the benefit of our customers, the addition of Swype to T-Mobile products places our customers at the forefront of this new solution."

Swype's software allows for a high degree of error tolerance and provides a
faster and more intuitive way to input text on touch screens. The touch screen market for mobile phones continues to grow rapidly in the US and Swype is poised to revolutionize this space with its ease of use and intuitive technology across multiple platforms.

Swype is designed to work across a variety of operating systems and devices such as phones, tablets, game consoles, televisions, and GPS units among others. Its impressive multi-lingual vocabulary currently supports over 30 languages and Swype's adaptive function allows it to learn new words, phone numbers and more data unique to its owner.

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myTouch is a registered trademark of T-Mobile USA. Google and Android are trademarks of Google Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated

About Swype
Swype's patented technology provides a faster and more intuitive way to input text on touch-screens. With one continuous finger or stylus motion across the keyboard, users can enter text at over 40 words per minute. Swype was developed by experts in computing and mobile phone text input technologies. Cliff Kushler, founder and CTO, is a co-inventor of the T9 text input software installed on over 4 billion mobile phones. Co-founder Randy Marsden, developed the on-screen keyboard software that has shipped on over 1 billion copies of Microsoft Windows. For more information visit: www.swypeinc.com.

About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the third quarter of 2009, almost 151 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group - 33.4 million by T-Mobile USA - all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world's most widely used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project" and "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place too much reliance on them. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom's control, including, without limitation, those factors set forth in "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" contained in Deutsche Telekom's annual report. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche Telekom's actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.