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FCC presses pause on review of the T-Mobile and Sprint merger
The FCC just announced it's "pausing the Commission's informal 180-day transaction shot clock" on the merger between Sprint and T-Mobile. The reasoning for this apparently comes from material submitted only recently by the companies, that break down a planned network engineering model, as well as T-Mobile's "Build 9" business model explaining the deal's financial backing. According to the FCC's letter, it didn't get all of the information about this until September 5th and is still awaiting additional economic modeling from T-Mobile, so it needs more time for staff and third parties to review everything. After years on on-and-off talks, in April the two announced their plan to combine forces just as 5G wireless technology takes over. Then, both companies submitted their initial pitch to the FCC back in June. The Justice Department also needs to decide whether it will allow the merge to occur without a challenge, and now it's unclear how long a full review may take. Update: T-Mobile and Sprint have responded, saying they look forward to working with the FCC. You can find the full statement below.
Sacramento Kings use next-gen texting to send tickets and schedules
The Sacramento Kings are still as obsessed with technology as ever, although their latest move could be particularly helpful in the long run. The basketball team has teamed up with Zipwhip to become the first pro sports outfit to use next-gen RCS texting. The richer format lets the Kings send tickets, schedules and other rich info without making you check your email or use a specialized app -- you can just use the same texting app you would to message your friends.
Sprint's newest Unlimited plan includes Amazon, Hulu and Tidal
Virtually every major US carrier offers one or more free services (however temporary) with at least one of its plans, so how is Sprint going to compete? By including more services, naturally. The carrier has launched an Unlimited Premium plan that, for $90 per month, adds Amazon Prime and Lookout Premium Plus security on top of the Hulu and Tidal services you get with the Unlimited Plus plan. You're ostensibly saving about $480 per year versus subscribing to all those extras on your own. The wireless access itself has been upgraded, too.
US carrier promo offers free iCloud storage to iPhone upgraders
Apple isn't known for offering virtually any promos to iPhone buyers, let alone iCloud users, but it's making exceptions for both ahead of the 2018 iPhones. Reddit users have discovered a promo that lets subscribers to the four major US carriers get two months of 200GB of iCloud storage for free. The campaign is clearly aimed at iPhone upgraders -- the offer page touts the extra space as helpful for backing up all your files so that you can be ready "when your new iPhone arrives." The deal is only available for a "limited time" to new iCloud subscribers, and you'll be charged for the 200GB tier if you don't cancel before the two-month period is over.
Sprint security lapse gave access to customer data
Add Sprint to the list of US carriers whose security shortfalls put customer data at risk. TechCrunch has confirmed that the provider was using two sets of easily-guessed logins that let a security researcher access a company portal with access to customer data, including for Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile. There were issues within the portal, too. The researcher would only have needed an account holder's phone number and a four-digit PIN to access their data, change plans or swap devices, and there was no limit on the number of PIN guesses.
Sprint and LG hope to launch the first 5G smartphone next year
Now that 5G has a complete standard for companies to use in rolling out new devices, Sprint and LG have announced their intentions to bring the "first 5G smartphone" to the US in the first half of 2019.
Phones sold by the four major US carriers could have a major security flaw
Customers using devices from four major cell phone carriers could unknowingly be exposing sensitive data to hackers, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Fifth Domain reports that DHS-funded researchers from mobile security firm Kryptowire have found vulnerabilities in phones used by Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. The flaws are built into phones by manufacturers, and include a loophole that could exploit data, emails and text messages.
How 5G makes use of millimeter waves
It took a while, but the first ever 5G spec was finally approved late last year. 5G NR, as it's called, will bring about super fast mobile internet by tapping into new spectrum. We're expecting to see the first 5G-ready phones in the first half of 2019, although most people likely won't experience the full benefits of the new technology until about a year later. Still, 5G NR promises to dramatically improve cellular internet speeds and enable experiences like always connected laptops or livestreaming from VR headsets. The entire mobile industry is excited as hell for it, so here's a little guide to help you make sense of the hype.
FCC opens public comments on T-Mobile-Sprint merger
If you have a strong opinion on the proposed $26 billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, now's your chance to tell the FCC exactly what you think of the plan. The agency is accepting comments as well as formal petitions to deny the merger until August 27th. Following that, the companies and supporters of the deal can file oppositions to those petitions by September 17th, while a final round of replies has a deadline of October 9th, as the schedule currently stands.
Ookla: Minneapolis has the fastest mobile internet among US cities
If you live in or often visit Minneapolis, Ookla has good news for you: the company says that locale tops the list of US cities with the fastest mobile internet, with a mean download speed of 44.92 Mbps. Ookla, which analyzed data from its Speedtest app from the first half of the year, said Minneapolis' Twin Cities brethren Saint Paul was in second place, followed by Fort Wayne, Indiana; San Francisco; and Irvine, California. Atlanta and Pittsburgh followed those cities, while Minnesota was also the fastest state.
Sprint adds an Unlimited plan without high-resolution video
Sprint already has Unlimited plans on offer, but now it's growing those options and making it much easier to choose the one that's best for you. The mobile carrier's most feature-rich offering is called Unlimited Plus, and like its original Freedom tier, it comes with unlimited data, talk and text, as well as a Hulu and Tidal Premium subscription. This option will suit your needs the most if you use your phone a lot on the go: it can stream videos up to 1080p and music up to 1.5 Mbps, and its hotspot connection will only get reduced to 3G speeds after 15GB. It will set you back $42 per month per line, but you can get it for $22 per for a limited time.
LG's G7 and V35 are available for pre-order on Project Fi
You no longer have to spring for a Pixel if you want a high-end smartphone on Project Fi. In the wake of an announcement late last month, Google's wireless service has made LG's G7 ThinQ and V35 ThinQ available for pre-order. The pricing for the devices remains unchanged at a respective $749 and $899, but there's now a sweeter incentive to buy them: you'll get a $100 Fi bill credit if you buy either device no later than July 7th. They're still more expensive than the Pixel 2 line as of this writing (Google is offering a $150 bill credit for those devices as well), but it might be tempting if you want a fast phone on Fi and aren't willing to wait a few months.
T-Mobile and Sprint pitch FCC on the merits of their merger
You've heard T-Mobile and Sprint try to sell you on their proposed merger, but it's now regulators' turn to get an earful. The two carriers have submitted their Public Interest Statement to the FCC outlining the claimed benefits of the union, and it won't surprise you to hear that they've portrayed their move as uniformly positive for the country. They're particularly focused on courting cord-cutters -- they see this as a chance to up-end TV and wired broadband at the same time.
Major US carriers will stop selling customer location data to aggregators (updated)
Last month, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent letters to Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile, asking who they share their customers' location data with and whether those companies obtain customer consent. The move came after reports revealed that a service provided by Securus Technologies -- a company previously reported to have allowed prisons to record calls between inmates and their lawyers -- let a former Mississippi County sheriff track the cellphones of other officers and a judge without court orders. All four carriers have now replied to Wyden and Verizon has pledged to end its practice of selling location data through intermediary companies.
A complete 5G standard is finally here
Last December, the 3GPP -- the international organization that oversees cellular standards -- approved a non-standalone 5G specification that still relied on existing 4G/LTE networks. That move got us closer to an actual, functional 5G network. But now we're even closer because the 3GPP just approved standalone 5G specifications. "Now, the whole industry is taking the final sprint towards 5G commercialization," the 3GPP said in a statement.
Sprint is offering $15 unlimited plans for new customers
If you're looking for an inexpensive phone plan and you're willing to switch carriers to get it, Sprint may be the best option right now. The company just announced a new limited-time deal "Kickstart" that will give you unlimited data, talk and text for $15 a month per line, provided it's new service and you sign up to use AutoPay.
Google's Project Fi lets you add younger kids to your family plan
Google added family plans to Project Fi a long time ago, but it wasn't really built for the younger children in your family. The company is fixing that today -- you can now add kids under 13 to your Fi group plan through a Google account controlled using Family Link. You can track and set alerts for your little ones' data usage, and use Family Link to set time and app limits.
Intel and Sprint team up to sell 5G PCs in 2019
It won't be long until 5G-equipped computers are more than just tradeshow demos. At Computex today, Intel announced that it's partnered with Sprint to sell 5G PCs in its stores next year. There aren't many more details about the arrangement, and Sprint hasn't said much about how it'll roll out 5G following T-Mobile's acquisition. At this point, the two carriers are basically spitting out corporate propaganda.
Sprint will give free data to Snapdragon PCs
It's official. Sprint is definitely giving away free unlimited LTE data through 2018 to those who use laptops packing Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 processor. We first learned of this last month, and the announcement today clarifies which devices qualify. If you own or buy the HP Envy X2, ASUS NovaGo or Lenovo Miix 630, you'll be able to get free unlimited data if you sign up for AutoPay with the carrier. This won't cover devices using the new Snapdragon 850 chipset, although that's not available in an actual computer yet, and we'll possibly hear more later this year.
Project Fi now works with LG's newest phones and Moto's affordable G6
In spite of recent additions, Google's Project Fi hasn't had great device choices. You've hadto buy a Pixel if you want a high-end phone, and the most affordable modern option has been the mid-tier Moto X4. No more -- Project Fi now supports three more third-party phones that fill in some huge gaps in the experimental carrier's roster. You can now use LG's G7 ThinQ and just-unveiled V35 ThinQ, for starters. They're not cheap at $749 and $899 respectively, but they do give you a viable choice if you feel the Pixel 2 is long in the tooth (or just prefer LG's self-branded designs).
