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Dish will pay AT&T $5 billion to serve its mobile customers
AT&T is set to handle voice calls, data and messaging for Boost Mobile, Ting and Republic Wireless.
Ting made its pay-for-what-you-use data rates cheaper yet
Folks looking to save a few bucks on their cellphone bill might want to take a look at Ting. It's an alternative to the likes of pre-paid offerings from the big carriers and the company's approach might be enough to sway you. Ting operates on a pay-what-you-use basis, and it recently announced drops in rates ranging from $2 to $10 for its data plans. Specifically, using less than 500 MB per month will run $10 rather than $12, below 1 GB is $16 versus $19 and up to 2 GB will cost $20. Should you need more than that, each additional gigabyte will be $10.
Ting lets you bring your iPhone 5 to its pay-for-what-you-use cellular service
You haven't had many choices for non-Android phones if you've wanted to switch to Ting, where you only pay for the cellular service you use -- aside from the since-vanished HTC 8XT, you've had to bring over an aging iPhone 4 or 4S from Sprint. Your options just got a little better, though, as Ting now lets you activate a Sprint-compatible iPhone 5. That still leaves the modern iPhone 5s sadly out of reach, but Ting says that Sprint's device restrictions are keeping Apple's latest handset off-limits until September at the earliest. Even so, the newly expanded support is big news for eligible iPhone fans eager to trim their cellphone bills.
Mobile carrier Ting turns two, celebrates by lowering data prices
What would a birthday be without presents? Instead of receiving gifts, wireless provider Ting is celebrating its second birthday this week unwrapping lower data prices. Most data "buckets" on the service are now a bit cheaper, with the deepest discounts happening for its heaviest users. While traditional carriers are looking at new and different takes on mobile phone contracts, Ting ditches the idea of having a phone plan entirely. Instead of picking a plan, Ting bills you at the end of the month based on how much (and how) you use your phone. Usage is divided up like shirt sizes (from S-XL); and you're charged for messages, minutes and data based on your monthly usage. That could equal savings if your mobile mileage varies from month to month and there's decent Ting coverage in your area. XL data users already rocking one of the handsets on Ting's fairly impressive list of supported devices will see the most benefits from Monday's drop, scoring 100 more minutes and 800 additional messages each month for the same amount. New pricing automatically kicks off for existing customers on their next billing cycle, or for new customers starting today. Check out all the deets after the break.
Select Ting customers can now enjoy Sprint's Spark LTE
Wireless service provider Ting is launching four devices that support Sprint's Spark enhanced LTE service. Ting, an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that runs on Sprint's nationwide network, will offer Spark support for the LG G2, Samsung Galaxy Mega and Samsung Galaxy S4 mini, along with the Netgear ZING mobile hotspot. As of now, the Mega and mini are available, with the G2 coming soon. According to the company, it's the first MVNO to offer devices compatible with the Spark network. Sprint's tri-band Spark LTE is currently available for carrier customers using the LG G2, Galaxy Mega or Galaxy S 4 mini (see a pattern here?) -- provided they're in one of a few select markets including Chicago, Los Angeles and New York.
MVNO Ting joins the Windows Phone crowd with launch of HTC 8XT
Sprint just recently announced that it will be offering the HTC 8XT on July 19th, but it turns out it's not the only option for those interested the phone. Upstart Ting has just announced that it is now taking pre-orders for the device, making it the first Windows Phone device available on the MVNO. Not many surprises beyond that, as you might expect -- the device is available off-contract per usual (running $373), and the phone itself is the same as you'll find on Sprint, including a 4.3-inch WVGA display, 1.4GHz dual-core Snapdragon 400 CPU, 8 megapixel camera and HTC's trademark "BoomSound." Those looking for a different take on Windows Phone can also look for an unspecified Samsung ATIV device to be available on Ting sometime soon.
Mobile Miscellany: week of June 17th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, Ting went rogue and all but confirmed the HTC Tiara, Boost Mobile did the obvious and announced a phone that's long been rumored in its pipeline and Wind welcomed a new, compact Samsung handset into the fold. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of June 17th, 2013.
Mobile Miscellany: week of May 20th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought hints of a revitalized Galaxy Exhibit for T-Mobile, news of two additions to the lineup at Cricket and a peek at the next GoPhone for AT&T. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of May 20th, 2013.
Ting gets serious: Samsung Galaxy S IV, HTC One and LTE devices incoming
Yearning for a contract-free option for cellular service? Ting's certainly a compelling one, but to date, the limited device options have kept it from becoming a standout alternative. That, however, is about to change. The MVNO -- which leans on Sprint's network here in the US -- has just announced plans to sell contract-free Galaxy S IV "for around the full unlocked price" as soon as it can. Specifically, you'll see it hit the Ting device page as a pre-order in around six to eight weeks. If that's a little large for your blood, HTC's drop-dead gorgeous One will also be making its way over, with pre-orders to start in around 30 days. Inching ever smaller, the Galaxy S III Mini will join the carrier's lineup about the time the GS IV does, though there's no mention of pricing there. As for other nuggets? Ting's expecting to offer up its first LTE device for pre-order "within six weeks," and yes, it's still working on a way to support Apple's iPhone as well as the entire range of Windows Phone 8 products.
Ting announces $100,000 ETF payout fund, will reimburse switchers up to $350 per line
If the only thing keeping you from making a switch to low-cost mobile provider Ting is the pain of early termination fees, we've got a bit of good news: come February 1st, you can tell your current carrier to get lost. Ting has just announced that it's set aside $100,000 for all those willing to call it quits with their current provider. For every cancelled line, Ting will reimburse switchers with up to $350 in non-expiring credits, which will be applied to all future service with the contract-free provider. This means that, depending on your usage -- and the amount of your ETF -- you could effectively score more than a year of free mobile service from Ting. You'll find all the details at the source link, but here's the important bit to commit to memory: "Anyone that activates within the month of February and that submits their final bill within 30 days of their activation date is eligible for the ETF payout." Now, the only question that remains is whether you're willing to tell your current provider, "It's not me. It's you."
Ting begins 'bring your Sprint phone' program, lures you to the contract-free side
Ting, a curiously structured MVNO utilizing Sprint's network, has a pretty interesting pricing structure. For ridiculously light users, it's bound to save some dough, but heavier users may not fare so well. For those who've yet to hop on the myriad other MNVO networks that tap into Sprint's infrastructure, Ting is now inviting those with Sprint handsets to give their service a try. The "Bring a Sprint device to Ting" initiative launched today, supporting seven handsets in total: HTC's Evo 3D, 4G and Shift; Samsung's Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch and Epic 4G; LG's Optimus S; and Motorola's Photon 4G. BlackBerry phones, the iPhone, LTE and push-to-talk phones aren't supported, so you can go ahead and toss those dreams aside. That said, those of you who are still in the mix after that blow can find out more on the transition process by visiting the source link. Godspeed, network jumpers.
Ting becomes first US MVNO to hop the Galaxy S III bandwagon, outlines its device roadmap
Ting has drawn a lot of attention among MVNOs for its unique mix-and-match approach to contract-free plans, but it's had to contend with some rather middling phones inherited from its network partner Sprint. That gap in high-end phones will narrow before the summer's up: Ting plans to carry the Galaxy S III within three to six weeks, becoming the first virtual carrier in the US to tout Samsung's flagship. Its version is identical to the Sprint model and will even cost $20 less when you skip Sprint's two-year term, at $529 for a 16GB edition and $579 for its 32GB cousin. If that doesn't satisfy the appetite, Ting is also giving a peek at its menu for the months ahead. Along with adopting LTE this year to make that Galaxy S III hum, the carrier expects to bring in a more moderately-priced LTE phone, a hotspot, an accessible phone and a budget slider. We wouldn't base any carrier switches around an iPhone or Windows Phone option, though. There's only "some progress" coaxing a deal out of Apple, and a Windows Phone is most likely to wait until the first quarter of 2013.
Tucows launches Ting, a contract-free mobile service on Sprint's network
Harken back to the days of Windows 95, and you may remember downloading a few shareware titles to your Compaq or Packard Bell courtesy of Tucows and its network of mirror sites. While the company is no longer of much relevance in the software arena, it's recently launched a mobile service called Ting that operates on Sprint's network, and like many of its competitors (think Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile), no contract is needed. That's not to suggest everything is the same, however, as unlike other carriers, Ting offers to reimburse you for your unused voice, text and data allotments -- think of it as rollover to your wallet. Curious to know more? We've laid out and explained the full spread of Ting's phones and plans after the break.
Mobile Miscellany: week of December 5, 2011
This week was packed with news on the mobile front, so it was easy to miss a few stories here and there. Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of wireless for the week of December 5, 2011: C Spire announced this week that it's launching the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play. The device is currently available for purchase for $50 with a two-year commitment and after a $50 mail-in rebate. [AndroidCentral] Images and specs of Philips' first Android device, the W920, surfaced this week, and its spec sheet doesn't look very good: Froyo, a 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 CPU, 512MB of RAM, a 4.3-inch WVGA display, a 5MP camera, 10.5mm thin frame and it has a 1,280mAh battery. The fun part is the rumored price tag: £400 ($627). [LandofDroid] Ting is a new Sprint MVNO that'll launch mid-2012. It'll be prepaid and use a bump-up and bump-down model for pricing -- in other words, going over your minutes will just bump you into the next higher plan, while using fewer minutes can bump you to a lower plan. [Cnet] Another prepaid provider in the news this week is PrepaYd Wireless, which launched this week. It offers a "Y Pay More" plan that will give you unlimited talk, text and 3G data for $40 per month. If you don't need data, you can get all-you-can-eat talk and text for $35. Much like Ting, PrepaYd Wireless utilizes the Sprint network. [MobileTechNews] If you use a BlackBerry OS 7 device on AT&T, the carrier is offering you two free months of BBM Music. Normally you need to pay $5 a month to store 50 songs. [Crackberry] While we're on the subject of BlackBerry phones, Twitter for BlackBerry just got updated to version 2.1 and now offers multi-account support. In addition to being able to view up to five accounts in the same feed, it also includes the ability to tweet one thing to more than one account simultaneously. [BlackBerry] Pandora and Windows Phone may never mix well, but at least the radio service can be enjoyed now through an unofficial Pandora app called MetroRadio. It's free, and is finally available in the Windows Phone Marketplace. [WPCentral]
China's Baidu licenses music from major US record labels for streaming and downloads
In a move suggesting they might be ready to accept the realities of the internet era, major US record labels have reached a deal with Chinese search engine company Baidu. The agreement between the search giant and One-Stop China, a joint venture of Universal, Warner and Sony BMG, will result in licensed tracks popping up in searches instead of pirated ones and resolve years of legal wrangling between the two sides. Baidu launched its ting! social music service earlier this year with support from local labels and EMI, while this new deal will see labels paid per-play, per-download and from advertising. Between this and the recent launch of Spotify in the US the cheap and easy fun of music piracy is slipping away rapidly, if record labels continue to act sensibly then illegal downloads will soon be limited to hipsters ironically cracking open vintage editions of Soulseek.
The Soloist: Why I do it
After this post, I had it in mind to think through why I prefer to solo, and whether the reasons why are valid ones, given that I'm playing in a genre meant to provide a social experience. I'm going to try to list as many reasons as I can think of in favor of grouping and playing with buddies, and provide a counter-argument if I can. Bear in mind, this is not me telling you that you should go solo; this is just me trying to 1) explain why I do it, and 2) understand for myself whether my reasons hold water.Enough said; excelsior!
