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HTC Sensation confirmed for all UK carriers, ready for summer fiesta
As you've probably gathered from our HTC Sensation preview, Vodafone managed to nab a two-week head start (plus a cheeky premature leak) with this dual-core Android across Europe in mid-May. Unsurprisingly, fellow UK carriers were quick to announce that they'll also be picking up said phone afterwards. In fact, this time round all the big players are involved, with Everything Everywhere (Orange and T-Mobile UK) promising a June launch, Three mentioning a vague "summer" release, and O2 only saying it'll sell the Sensation at some point. Yes, you Brits better keep that kettle warm -- it'll be at least a few more weeks for you non-Vodafoners.
T-Mobile UK backs down a bit, limits 500MB fair use policy to new and upgrading customers
Alright, folks -- if you've already got a T-Mobile UK account in your back pocket, you can breathe a sigh of relief, because that ugly new data cap doesn't apply to you. It took the operator just a day to realize that putting a hazy "fair use" restriction of just 500MB per month on existing accounts wasn't going over too well with its customer base, so they've conducted a "further review" and decided that they'll instead only be applying the rule to new and upgrading customers as of February 1 only. We wouldn't call this an outright win by any stretch -- the policy is still enormously restrictive, vague, and a pretty clear-cut disadvantage of the competition-reducing Everything Everywhere hookup, and it looks like they'll still end up tagging you as soon as you try to upgrade your plan or your hardware anyway... but we'll take whatever reprieve we can get. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
T-Mobile UK cuts 'fair use' allowance to 500MB, sends you home to watch online video
In one of the most insensitive announcements in recent PR history, T-Mobile UK is telling its customers who want to download or stream online video to their mobile devices to "save that stuff for [their] home broadband." The carrier, one half of the UK's biggest operator Everything Everywhere, had up until now offered one of the better monthly allowance deals with a 3GB data consumption limit on Android phones. It still is, in fact, since its new changes aren't coming into effect until February 1st, but come that fateful Tuesday, T-Mo's understanding of "fair use" will shrink down to 500MB each month -- after which point you'll still get to browse the web and email for free, but any video content will presumably be subject to an extra charge. It's not clear how "that stuff" will be handled by T-Mobile once you cross the frugal new threshold, nor is it clear whether customers who signed up for big bodacious 3GB of data will be set free once this new lockdown on mobile video is in effect. Godspeed to you all. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: T-Mobile has responded with a clarifying statement we've added after the break. There will be no surcharges for use over 500MB per month, but once you cross that line, any downloading activity will be "restricted." By which the company seems to mean "restricted to whatever WiFi connection you can scrounge up," because its 3G airwaves will be off-limits.
UK iPad subsidy plan to be announced later today
Everything Everywhere is the UK's largest mobile network operator, and it owns the UK telecom brands Orange UK and T-Mobile UK. According to Marketing Week, the two telecom brands are expected to issue a formal announcement on November 22 that they will sell the iPad at their dual-branded stores. Not only will the Everything Everywhere stores be carrying the iPad, but they will also offer a discount plan to consumers who enter a service contract with their telecom brands. The discount plan to Orange and T-Mobile subscribers could mean up to 70 percent off of the iPad price tag if the subscriber signs an 18 month or 2 year contract. This is pretty big news, since this is the first widescale iPad subsidy being offered to consumers. Hopefully, Everything Everywhere is merely leading the charge, and we'll soon see iPad subsidies from other mobile carriers. No further details have been offered yet, although we should expect more contract details with the formal announcement soon.
Orange and T-Mobile set to offer 3G iPad on contract in UK, £200 price rumored
Orange has just dropped a rather enigmatic note in our inbox letting us know that it plans to offer Apple's 3G iPad on "one of [its] great new plans" in the UK, resulting in what the company promises will be "more affordable prices." Current rumors making the rounds place that expenditure at the £200 ($320) mark, should you be willing to commit to a two-year data plan to go with your 10-inch tablet. It's also expected that Orange's new dance partner, T-Mobile, will be making a similar announcement soon, complete with a matching price. We'll keep digging until we know for sure. Full PR after the break. Update: Sure enough, T-Mobile is now also listing the iPad as "coming soon." Thanks, Dilwar!
BlackBerry Bold 9780 starts leaking all over the place (update: video)
Pick your poison: Vodafone Netherlands? T-Mobile UK? A shop associated with Orange? Or heck, how about RIM itself? All of the above have started teasing the BlackBerry Bold 9780 recently, RIM's oft-leaked upcoming replacement for the Bold 9700 -- so it seems like this will be a pretty wide-scale deployment around the globe (as most of RIM's launches tend to be). We've yet to see any leaks via American carriers, but we'd say it's safe to argue that AT&T (and perhaps T-Mobile, too) will be signed up to take delivery of these things before too long. As a refresher, the 9780 is basically a 9700 with a better camera, more RAM, and BlackBerry 6 preloaded... so if you love your 9700, you're probably going to love the 9780 even more. Timing is unclear, but one carrier -- Vodafone Netherlands -- has proclaimed that it'll have 'em in early November. Update: Video review with smooth dutch delivery (subtitled in english) posted after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent these in]
Orange and T-Mobile complete UK network merger
There you have it, boys and girls. Exactly as promised, Orange and T-Mobile have flipped the switch in the UK, allowing subscribers to one carrier to roam onto the network of the other for free. This really is the most important consumer-facing aspect of the Everything Everywhere merger, at least until they figure out how to mix orange and magenta without charring our eyes with the resulting shade of crazy. Don't forget to let us know how your newly expanded network affects your phone's utility -- better, worse, no difference? [Thanks, Lewis]
Windows Phone 7 confirmed for all five major UK mobile operators
This will hardly be the most surprising thing you'll hear today, but Microsoft has officially confirmed that all five major operators in the United Kingdom -- Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile, Orange, and Three -- have signed up to offer its Windows Phone 7 handsets when they make their long-awaited debut in the coming weeks. Additionally, the Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U will also be stocking WP7 devices.
HTC Desire official Froyo rollout commences on T-Mobile UK
We knew it was coming to European carriers, and it's already hit unlocked phones, but if your HTC Desire is bound and chained to T-Mobile UK, you'll be getting a feature-filled Android 2.2 update any day now. The official T-Mobile UK forums announced the news, which has been corroborated by a number of tipsters who say they've already received the download, but if yours doesn't appear, never fear, the frozen yogurt is just being dished out in small, slow-churned batches like usual. "The 2.2 firmware update (FroYo) will be available from today and will be sent over the air (OTA) direct to your phone over the coming weeks" is the official word, for those of you who prefer direct quotes. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Orange, T-Mobile UK start sharing networks on October 5
The first customer-facing fruit of the blockbuster Orange / T-Mobile merger over in Old Blighty becomes available next month, allowing customers of both carriers to roam on whichever network offers the best signal in their location. That's just the first change, though -- the combined venture, Everything Everywhere, is already touting mid-call automatic network switching and "enhanced data and internet coverage" that'll be coming next year. Together, Everything Everywhere accounts for around 30 million subscribers, which means there should be plenty of people enjoying the improved coverage -- at the cost of some amount of competition, of course.
T-Mobile UK quietly retracts Pulse's buggy 2.1 update, Huawei says it was non-final anyway
Remember T-Mobile's money-saving, finger-friendly Pulse? You know, the Huawei Android handset that received a 2.1 update in Hungary back in May? Earlier this month (on the 6th, to be precise), said phone's British counterpart also received its share of cream-filled pastry, but perhaps one with cream gone sour. How so? T-Mobile UK didn't explain when it quietly pulled the plug shortly afterwards, but some users were reporting problems with SMS and 802.11x enterprise WiFi authentication. Pretty serious stuff, especially for the former. A few developers from MoDaCo got in touch with us as they struggled to get a reply from T-Mobile about the retraction, which got us curious. After all, a working 2.1 update would make the Pulse -- now priced at £99 ($153) on pay and go -- a pretty good buy, so we tweeted the carrier on Tuesday for an update. Coincidentally, the next day T-Mobile finally caved in and let loose on what happened: "After receiving feedback on the recent T-Mobile Pulse Android 2.1 software update we've decided to suspend it temporarily. We're working with the phone's makers on an updated version which is expected in October." Yikes. But just you wait -- read on for the juicy part.
HTC Wildfire priced by T-Mobile, coming to UK on June 14
The biggest outstanding question about the Wildfire has now been answered by at least one carrier -- T-Mobile will be delivering HTC's student-friendly handset at the £20 ($29) per month price point on two-year contracts. Frankly, that's a bigger financial commitment than we'd expected to have to make, but it will presumably include unlimited (which in T-Mobile lingo means a 3GB fair use policy) data use and a healthy allowance of calls and texts. If that doesn't rub you up the right way, look out for Virgin Mobile to reveal its pricing in the near term, having announced it'll be carrying the phone via a tweet.
Orange and T-Mobile become Everything Everywhere (in the UK)
We did ponder how you can rename the Orange and T-Mobile coalition (topical word, eh Britain?) without offending either party, and the strategy seems to have been to just go for a name so bombastic that it overshadows all other concerns. Say hello to Everything Everywhere. Such is the strident new moniker attached to the joint venture between the French and German telecoms, with the justification being that the resultant "super-network" will be the biggest in the UK and therefore capable of providing both universal coverage and limitless services. We'll see how that works out, but for now it's important to note that the high street brands won't be changing. T-Mobile and Orange will retain their separate identities (and eye-searing color schemes), while offering you all the synergistic benefits resulting from the scale of the new company. Full PR after the break.
HTC Desire confirmed for March 29 launch on T-Mobile UK
Whatever you've got scheduled for this coming Monday, make sure to leave a slot to visit your nearest T-Mobile store. The UK Deutsche Telekom representative has now officially confirmed that the Desire will be landing in its stores on March 29, supplementing the already available online and telephone ordering availability that comes with a 7-day delivery time. If our time-space telemetry is correct, that means at this point you're probably better off trying to grab one in store than putting your smartphone destiny in the gruff hands of your local delivery man. Check out the price plans for this handset below -- there are a couple of surprisingly affordable options that include 3GB of 3G allowance per month. [Thanks, Jason]
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 finally arrives in UK, T-Mobile will deliver it within 10 days
At long last, the protracted wait for Sony Ericsson's first Android phone is coming to an end. T-Mobile's web store has this morning added the Xperia X10 to its stable of mobile devices, though it requests 10 days' worth of patience before getting the handsets out to their impatient new owners. Pricing is surprisingly higher than that associated with the HTC Desire -- the £15 per month two-year contract that nets you the Nexus One clone for £129 ($194) requires a steeper £191 ($287) for the X10. Mind you, with that delivery delay dragging you into April, you might want to hold out a tiny bit longer to see what propositions Vodafone may have in store for prospective purchasers of the X10. [Thanks, Jay]
HTC Desire hits T-Mobile UK, black prototype spotted online
HTC's new flagship device is now almost certain to officially land on British shores ahead of its Sense-less elder brother, the Nexus One. T-Mobile's official online store is ready to take your order for the Desire right this minute, though it does come with the proviso that delivery may take up to seven days. That meshes almost perfectly with Amazon's April 1 delivery date, though the most exciting news might relate to pricing. At the high end, you can have the phone for free on £35 ($53) per month over two years -- nothing new there -- but at the £15 ($22) a month price point, you can have 300 minutes, 300 texts, unlimited (with an asterisk) internet and the Desire for £129 ($194). With Orange and Vodafone also confirmed as carriers, it's looking like a good time for Android lovers in the UK. In the meantime, a black prototype Desire has been spotted online, following swiftly in the footsteps of the silver Desire we saw setting Dutch hearts aflutter last week. It's not yet clear if or when it'll be making its way into retail, but the video awaits after the break in any case. [Thanks, Steve E. and iacopo73]
Orange and T-Mobile UK merger approved by EU, forms 29.5 million customer juggernaut
The European Commission has decided it doesn't mind the crass splicing of pink (okay, magenta) and orange, and has therefore provided its tastefully hued green light to the UK merger of the two mobile operators. Once the transaction is completed this Spring, we'll still be looking at two delineated entities on the consumer market, but there'll be one back office and one consolidated network servicing the two brands. That'll remain the case for at least the next 18 months, when the joint venture between Deutsche Telecom and France Telecom, the respective parent companies of T-Mobile and Orange, will likely complete the process by rebranding itself into one entity. The press announcement is littered with vague references to synergy leveraging and value generation, but those all-important questions as to what the new operator will eventually be called and what colors it will sport are left unanswered. All that really matters for now is that the UK has a new market share leader and the mobile space became that little bit less competitive. [Thanks, Mitchel]
T-Mobile Pulse Mini does cheap, tiny, prepaid Android for Europe
In the US, the concept of a prepaid Android phone is about as foreign as the concept of an effective high-speed mass transit system, but abroad, T-Mobile is following up its Pulse with a cuter, smaller sibling in the Pulse Mini. Like the original the Pulse is sourced from China's Huawei and offers Euro HSDPA, but the similarities end there: the new model will run Android 2.1 out of the gate, step down from an HVGA to a QVGA display, and sport a Qualcomm MSM7225 core. Look for it to launch in the UK and Germany in April; pricing will vary by market, but Britons can look forward to shelling out £99.99 (about $155) contract-free.
Samsung's Galaxy Spica turns into Galaxy Portal for T-Mobile UK exclusive
A few weeks ago, Britons may not have cared about the rumors that Samsung's cute little Android-powered i5700 Galaxy Spica would be graced with Eclair next month. Then again, a few weeks ago, we didn't know that it'd be coming to the British Isles attached to any carrier in particular, either. Turns out T-Mobile has gone and scored itself a one-month exclusive on the i5700, renaming it the "Galaxy Portal" in the process -- and it'll have the blacked-out version all to itself for a full three months. With a 3.2 megapixel cam, 3.2-inch HVGA display and HSPA, it could make for a decent midrange way to get into the wide world of Android -- especially when (or if) Samsung pushes the 2.0 upgrade -- and it's available now for free to anyone willing to sign away £23 (about $37) a month on an 18-month contract.
ICD's Tegra tablet officially dubbed the Vega, headed to T-Mobile UK
It's been a long, strange trip for this particular tablet, but it looks like ICD's once mysterious Tegra tablet has now finally found a home at T-Mobile UK, where it will soon be offered as the Vega. Somewhat interestingly, T-Mobile is now positioning this one as a tablet for the whole family, and says that the device is designed primarily to sit in the kitchen to let families keep watch on the household calendar and manage their schedules -- although it's also of course still capable of things like 1080p video playback, and just about everything else you'd expect from a 15-inch Android-based tablet. Otherwise, it seems to be mostly unchanged from what we've seen in prototype form, although T-Mobile is still describing it as a concept "in the final stages of development," so some things could still get shaken up before it rolls out sometime before the end of the year.
