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Samsung Galaxy Note with T-Mobile-ready 3G swings by the FCC (update: demo units?)
A T-Mobile-capable version of the Samsung Galaxy Note has been floating around in pictures, but official evidence has been hard to come by. Imagine our surprise when it saunters by the FCC with few disguises: going under a hinted-at SGH-T879 codename, the giant smartphone has passed through the agency with the needed 1,700MHz HSPA band for T-Mobile 3G while also supporting 850MHz and 1,900MHz 3G in the same breath. The wireless support leaves the possibility that the unit we're seeing here is for 1,700MHz Canadian carriers like Mobilicity or Wind Mobile, but earlier photos of T-Mobile branding and a browser user agent profile allude to the American provider having at least toyed with the idea of a Galaxy Note on its network. Fans of supersized phones have reason to cheer, then, although we have doubts revolving mostly around the T879's absence on a leaked roadmap for mid-2012 and the lateness of the arrival. It might be hard for T-Mobile to steer customers to a 2011-era Samsung phone when the Galaxy S III is on the doorstep. Update: Some more fuel for the fire: an inventory sheet reportedly leaked to TmoNews has more explicitly made the link between the T879 name and the Galaxy Note along with suggesting that demo units are in the queue. Although we wouldn't count on the rumored July 11th release being solid, there's enough to suggest T-Mobile is serious about getting its first phablet.
Samsung Galaxy S III for T-Mobile hits FCC, brings future-proofed HSPA+ for good measure
There's been hints of it coming as early as February, but we now have a smoking gun at the FCC: the Galaxy S III is coming to T-Mobile. A Samsung SGH-T999 has popped up at the agency sporting newly added 1,700MHz AWS support that's the telltale sign of a T-Mobile device, along with the T999 name itself (the T989 is the network's Galaxy S II). It also totes 850MHz and 1,900MHz WCDMA bands being used for HSPA+ data rather than just voice, a clue that the phone is ready for refarmed GSM spectrum. Just in case there was any remaining doubt, we've further spotted a related T999V entry at the Bluetooth SIG with a rather familiar-looking image as well as a Samsung-hosted T999 user agent profile on the web that matches what we know about the Android 4.0 hardware. We have yet to get a look at whether or not the T-Mobile version is any different on the outside, but with the FCC's help, there's not much left to know before the expected summer US launch.
GameStop Mobile launches as AT&T virtual carrier, gives us rare bring-your-own GSM in US (update)
Here's an expansion of mobile competition in the US that comes out of left field, even for us: GameStop as a cellular provider. GameStop Mobile, as it's called, is that rare bird of an AT&T-based MVNO that relies on a bring-your-own-device strategy. As long as your hardware works on AT&T's 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands and isn't locked to another carrier, you can bring any GSM- and HSPA-based phone (or data-only device) and use it contract-free: rates start at anything from a strictly pay-as-you-go $5 through to a $55 monthly plan with unlimited voice and text, if just an anemic 500MB of data. Tablet owners and other data-only fans can pay the same $55 for 1GB per month -- a bit stiff considering that those on AT&T proper can get 5GB of data for slightly less. No doubt this is to take advantage of iPad and iPhone trade-ins, PlayStation Vitas and the overall rise of unlocked devices. We're just wondering whether GameStop will catch a few customers subscribing as they pick up their Diablo III pre-orders or else face the uncertain future that befalls many MVNOs. Update: As our friends at Joystiq have pointed out, the GameStop Mobile website is no longer publicly accessible. Looks like someone may have pulled the switch a bit too early.
AT&T says New York 850MHz 3G upgrade is complete, voice quality improved 47 percent
AT&T's service in New York City has long been decried as some of the worst in the nation -- we've heard people claim 30 percent of iPhone calls drop on average -- but hopefully things are about to get a lot better, as Ma Bell's just finished its 850MHz 3G upgrade in the city. That means the carrier should have more capacity in all five boroughs, and we're told voice quality has improved 47 percent since last quarter. Of course, the proof is in the pudding, so we'll see how things go -- hit us up in comments, won't you?
Unofficial Touch Diamond ROM magically unlocks GSM 850
We'd given up any hope of the Touch Diamonds out in the field ever being completely function on North American networks; the lack of 3G sucks enough as it is, but the mysterious absence of GSM 850 was the final slap in the face. xda-developers has taken its usual no-mountain-too-high approach, though, and has somehow managed to uncover and enable GSM 850 capability lying dormant in the Touch Diamond's circuitry. Granted, you'll still be poking along at EDGE speeds at best, but at least you'll be doing so in a wider swath of the colonies.[Via wmpoweruser.com]
More details surface on Sony Ericsson's W890i
The new Sony Ericsson W890i we saw late last month is getting a bit more fleshed out as the weeks trickle by. If you believe the spec sheet, it'll be available in maroon as well as the black pictured above, comes packing quad-band GSM, UMTS, and, wait for it, HSDPA at 850 MHz. How can this be? A Sony Ericsson handset with HSDPA that'll work on AT&T in the US and Rogers Wireless in Canada is a like a cellular dream come true. Sadly, internal memory disappoints at only 40 MB, though it can be bolstered by shelling out for some Memory Stick Micro (M2). Not much else new can be gleaned but we're hoping for pricing and a launch date soon.
