uscellular
Latest
US Cellular's Wi-Fi Now for Android hops automatically to partner hotspots, saves cellular strain
We've seen a paradoxical trend among carriers determined to get users off their networks as often as possible -- they'd rather grant access to sea of public Wi-Fi than push their 3G or 4G networks a step too far. US Cellular isn't immune to peer pressure and has launched Wi-Fi Now, its own take on streamlining hotspot access. Android phones with the app lurking in the background will automatically latch on to the hotspots run by partners, no sign-in required, as well as factor in both the owner's home network and other hotspot accounts. Provided you're a customer, it's an easy decision to start a download from the source link and alleviate US Cellular's burden.
LG Splendor now available at US Cellular for $80 after rebate, it's the Optimus L7 all over again
After having previously leaked, the LG Splendor is now officially available at US Cellular. A retooled version of the Optimus L7, it combines Android 4.0 with a single-core 1GHz CPU, a 4.3-inch WVGA display and a 5-megapixel camera that'll capture video at 720p. The phone also sports a front-facing VGA camera, 2GB of internal storage, a 4GB microSD card and a 1,700mAh battery. Unfortunately, its heritage means purchasers must deal with sluggish performance and forego basic amenities such as an ambient light sensor. Given its $80 price tag -- after a $100 mail-in rebate, mind you -- it's positioned as a poor alternative to the Galaxy S II, which is also available for $80 from US Cellular. Don't say we never warned you.
Mobile Miscellany: week of September 3rd, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, AT&T revealed grand plans for LTE expansion that'll continue through the end of the year and the Galaxy Reverb for Virgin Mobile officially went up for preorder. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of September 3rd, 2012.
LG teases Splendor for US Cellular, brings Optimus L7 to American shores
We've wondered if LG's L-series style phones, like the Optimus L7, would ever reach the US; we just didn't think LG would be the one to leak its own plans. Astute watchers at Smartphenom caught both a since-pulled LG product page and a brochure that have inadvertently confirmed the bigger (though not biggest) model in the Android 4.0 budget line arriving on US Cellular as the Splendor. The American voyage doesn't involve much of an overhaul, mind you -- the switch to the CDMA network and a conspicuous carrier logo are the biggest changes to the 4.3-inch handset. No word has emerged as to just how soon the Splendor will appear or how much it will cost, although the official documents and the L7's budget nature could put it in stores relatively soon with a low price tag.
Samsung Galaxy Metrix 4G hits US Cellular this Friday for $180
There are plenty of (terribly named) stars in Samsung's Galaxy, but despite the overcrowding, its stateside constellation's showing no signs of slowing. Joining US Cellular's lineup as early as this Friday, the Metrix 4G packs a mix of yesteryear's specs for a budget LTE alternative to the GS III. The 4-inch handset, outfitted with the OEM's preferred Super AMOLED display tech, runs the incredibly stale Android 2.3 Gingerbread atop a single-core 1GHz processor and packs a dual 1.3-megapixel front facing / 5-megapixel rear camera setup into a slide-out QWERTY form factor. If you happen to live within the operator's 4G footprint, you'll be able to snag this handset for $130 with a mail-in rebate, otherwise outliers will have to chalk up an additional $50. Skip on past the break to check out the company's official PR.
Editorial: Carriers, let customers choose their own phones
Remember what the experience of shopping for a gadget was like at big-box stores years ago? Whatever your actual needs were, the store clerks would invariably steer you towards whatever they were getting a commission to sell, or whatever scratched their personal itch. Why would you even go to a store if you knew you would never get an honest answer? The problem was bad enough for Apple in the 1990s, when Macs were often relegated to a dark corner alongside the Ethernet cables, that the company started up its own retail chain. It didn't get better for most of us until outlets like Best Buy backed off and sometimes made it a point to advertise commission-free staff. Today, while it's tough to completely escape personal bias and the occasional exception to the rule, it's more likely than not that a modern general electronics store will give you a decent shot at buying what you really want. But just try buying a cellphone at a carrier store today.
Engadget's back to school guide 2012: smartphones
Welcome to Engadget's back to school guide! The end of summer vacation isn't nearly as much fun as the weeks that come before, but a chance to update your tech tools likely helps to ease the pain. Today, we're tapping away on our brand-new smartphones -- and you can head to the back to school hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of August we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- you can hit up the hub page right here! It's a good time to be a student. Last year, there were some solid picks, but it was still very clear that those willing to scrimp and save a little longer had a much better experience. This year, it's a people's revolution. Thanks to cutthroat competition, there are some exceptional phones out there, even for those of you hoping to avoid eating ramen noodles for a month. Software has taken a leap forward too, with many phones now offering a vital way to remember when that term paper is due... or to procrastinate at the pub. We have nine choices of phones in our shortlist, spread out across three categories to serve everyone from the I-just-need-a-phone freshman to the overloaded doctoral candidate. While you're eying the selection, don't forget to enter our giveaway and potentially ease the burden -- who knows, you may get a phone you want rather than the one dictated by your student loan.
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 30th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, the Galaxy Nexus for Sprint and Verizon Wireless each became available for free, while in the MVNO world, Simple Mobile dropped the price of its high-speed unlimited smartphone plan to $50. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of July 30th, 2012.
US Cellular launches Motorola Electrify 2 today for $180, Defy XT on August 3rd
With the launch of the Atrix HD a couple weeks ago, Motorola's looking to continue building momentum by launching two new devices on US Cellular this week. First up is the Electrify 2, the obvious followup to the regional carrier's version of the Photon 4G. Available online beginning today and in stores tomorrow, the new Electrify will feature Ice Cream Sandwich, a 4.3-inch ColorBoost panel, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, Kevlar backing, an 8MP rear camera capable of taking 1080p video capture, decently thin profile (8.4mm) and a splash guard similar to what we saw on the Atrix HD and Droid RAZR. While USCC's site tells us that pricing may vary by location, it looks like the Electrify 2 is going for $180 after a $100 mail-in rebate and the obligatory two-year commitment. The second device in Moto's arsenal is the Defy XT, due to launch on August 3rd. We've seen this model land in other parts of the world, but this is the first time it's hit a major mobile operator in the US (unless you count Republic Wireless as a contender). The Defy XT is a bit more on the rugged side, featuring an IP67 durability rating, a 3.7-inch FWVGA (854 x 480) display with Gorilla Glass, Android 2.3, a 1,700mAh battery, 5MP camera with 720p video record, 1GHz CPU and 512MB RAM. We're still waiting to hear back from US Cellular on the pricing, but we anticipate it to be in the mid-range. In the meantime, the press release is below for your general perusal.
Engadget's smartphone buyer's guide: summer 2012 edition
Despite the sweltering heat waves, our spirits are high at Engadget, and for good reason: it's time for our summer edition of the smartphone buyer's guide. Here, you'll find our top recommendations for the best smartphones across several US carriers, along with the best QWERTY and budget alternatives. In many ways, it's now easier than ever to find a world-class smartphone, but unless you've developed a strong brand preference, choosing one is likely more difficult than ever before. It's no secret that the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III have firmly cemented themselves as the premier smartphones of the day, but if you're torn between the two, we'll reveal our preference in this latest installment. Summertime also brought a bit of a shock, as Microsoft revealed that Windows Phone 8 apps won't be compatible with the current generation of Windows Phone hardware. For this reason, we've excluded all Windows Phone handsets from consideration in the latest buyer's guide. While the future of Microsoft's mobile platform looks incredibly bright, a purchase now would guarantee obsolescence in the short-term. Instead, all prospective Windows Phone purchasers must wait for the next generation of handsets to become available -- you'll regret it otherwise. Naturally, there is no shortage of rumors surrounding the next Apple iPhone, and given the handset's current lack of LTE connectivity, the iPhone 4S is certainly showing its age. While cautious purchasers may choose to bide their time, the iPhone remains top-notch in many other respects, and its arrival at a number of prepaid carriers brought a breath of fresh air to an otherwise stagnant environment. If you're curious to see how it all unfolded -- and we know you are -- join us after the break, where we round up the very best smartphones of the season.
Sprint Epic 4G Touch (Update: but not US Cellular Galaxy S II) ICS update is official, start rolling out today
Just as the leak last night indicated, Samsung is finally ready to deliver Ice Cream Sandwich to Sprint's Galaxy S II Epic 4G Touch. Samsung also announced today that US Cellular's similar but WiMAX-less SCH-R760 Galaxy S II is getting the same (Update: an entirely different) FF18 update as well. The changelogs are available at the source links below, interestingly Android Beam is mentioned since these devices lack NFC, it's hard to see how that could be on the list. US Cellular users can download and install the update right now using a SimpleDL tool on a Windows PC, however unfortunately there's no support for any other operating systems at this time. On Sprint the update is coming out OTA and will slowly arrive on devices over the next few days, but if you're impatient then we'd keep an eye on the thread at XDA Developers for reports on how well it works as well as some sideloaded workarounds. Update: So sorry for US Cellular folks, it appears your wait will continue. While sharing a tag, the update for your phone resolves an issue with getting GPS lock... and that's it. There's always CyanogenMod or AOKP, right? Also, while we're at it, check out the updated ZDA Developers link to download ICS for the Epic 4G Touch directly, plus a quick how-to install video (embedded after the break.) [Thanks @jbro456]
Samsung Galaxy S III available on US Cellular's website tomorrow, in stores by end of week
The Samsung Galaxy S III is currently being enjoyed by customers on each of the four national networks in the United States, but what about the regionals? US Cellular, the first of the smaller folks to announce that it's carrying the flagship, confirmed to us today that the 16GB version of the device will be available online beginning tomorrow and should get stocked on retail shelves by the end of the week. The 32GB model is coming, but no exact dates have been announced yet. The price? $200 for 16GB and $250 for 32GB, both after $100 mail-in rebates. Rejoice, ye USCC users, for your turn to ravish in the glory of the GS III is finally here.
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 2nd, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, the HTC One V marked its debut at US Cellular and Verizon announced a dumb phone with a surprisingly handy feature. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of July 2nd, 2012.
U.S. Cellular pledges to carry Windows Phone 8 devices in the fall
U.S. Cellular has confirmed to PC Mag that it's "excited" by the prospect of carrying Windows Phone 8 handsets when they land later this year. A PR person even went as far as saying that WP8 "will be an important part of our lineup." The move leaves Sprint, Cricket and MetroPCS as the only major-league holdouts for the new platform -- or perhaps their PR departments just aren't as bubbly.
Samsung Galaxy S III gets enterprise-friendly version in the US, wears a Pebble Blue business suit
When Samsung launches its all-out blitz on the US with the Galaxy S III, it'll be targeting boardrooms as well as pockets: the Android 4.0 flagship will be the company's first American phone certified for its SAFE (Samsung Approved for Enterprise) program. Regardless of the carrier, the American Galaxy S III will handle 256-bit AES encryption as well as offer better support for Exchange, remote management and VPNs than what you'd normally find coming from a Google-powered device. Samsung describes it as a way to "defragment" Android for companies that want consistent guarantees of how the OS will behave in the office, and the firm is confident enough that it's offering trade-in discounts for those who want to swap an older device for the secure phone, whether or not it's part of a corporate deal. SAFE-ready examples should be arriving by July and could save you from having to bring an ancient company-supplied phone on summer vacation.
US Cellular announces Galaxy S III pricing, starts at $200
US Cellular made it known that it would be accepting pre-orders of the Samsung Galaxy S III this upcoming Tuesday (with the device shipping sometime in July), but it left the pricing a mystery to keep us all in suspense for at least a few days. As it turns out, USCC will be offering the 16GB GS3 for $200, while the 32GB flavor will cost you an extra $50. Here's the kicker, though: these prices can be yours -- after a $100 mail-in rebate. But hey, it's hard for us to complain too much, considering it's not too often a regional carrier gets a flagship device around the same time as any of the major national players.
PSA: Get your Samsung Galaxy S III pre-orders right here
The phone companies have begun accepting your money in exchange for a place in the queue for a Galaxy S III. If you've yet to splash the cash, then you've got a choice between AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile and US Cellular. We've included links to the pre-order and sign-up lists for each company below, including what arrival information we have. Not that we'd suggest you base your purchasing decisions on that alone since like all things, they're liable to change. Read - AT&T - (June 18th) Read - Verizon ("by" July 9th, make of that what you will) Read - Sprint (Officially set for June 21st) Read - T-Mobile (Officially set for June 21st) Read - US Cellular (pre-orders begin June 12th)
US Cellular announces its Galaxy S III plans, pre-orders begin June 12, retail availability in July
The flood continues. We knew as of early this morning that regional carrier US Cellular would be carrying the Samsung Galaxy S III, and we now have a few more details to add to our interest. The flagship device will be available for pre-order June 12th and is going to be in stores and online sometime in July. The pricing hasn't been announced yet, but US Cellular mentions that this will be known as soon as the presale begins, and we wouldn't be shocked if it fell right inline with Sprint's price points ($199 for 16GB and $249 for 32GB). Once the purchasing magic begins, you'll have your choice of a 16GB model in Marble White or Pebble Blue, or a 32GB version in only the paler shade. The carrier also plans to start pushing its fledgling LTE network into new areas to support its latest handset coup. For a few more details, most of which will probably sound pretty familiar at this point, check out the PR after the break.
Samsung Galaxy S III coming to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and US Cellular this month
Official is as official does... right? In a bid to one-up the Galaxy S II's launch here in the States, Samsung has just announced that five carriers will soon have their own customized versions of the Galaxy S III. And by "soon," we mean "beginning in June." AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless and US Cellular are all in line to take part, with exact pricing and availability to be announced by each of the five carriers in the coming weeks. We are, however, told to expect on-contract prices as low as $199, and it sounds as if all five variants will keep the same 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED display. Naturally, S-Beam, S-Voice, Smart Stay and Android 4.0 (with TouchWiz) will be onboard, with Qualcomm's 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 at the heart of each matter. We're told to expect 2GB of RAM across the board, with Gorilla Glass 2.0 guarding against your clumsiness. Moreover, we're reminded of the mythical Pebble Blue hue (which will be available alongside Marble White), with a removable 2,100mAh battery and 16GB / 32GB capacity options. Looking to learn more? There's a bit left just beyond the break, but the real deets will be pouring out in the weeks ahead from the carriers themselves. Update: AT&T has added a preview page; check the more coverage link for details.
US Cellular reduces prepaid plan prices, increases costs for new smartphone owners
US Cellular has shuffled around its prepaid plans once again, and unfortunately, it's a bit of a mixed bag for those without a contract. As it stands, customers may choose between three plans that range between $35 and $65 per month. Unfortunately for smartphone users, the most expensive plan is now a requirement, which really stinks. The $65 plan (which used to cost $70), brings unlimited voice and messaging, along with 2GB of data usage. The mid-tier plan has seen a similar reduction from $60 to $50, and now brings unlimited voice, messaging and 1GB of data usage. Unfortunately, it only applies to feature phones, even for those who tend to use WiFi on their smartphones. Meanwhile, the entry level plan now stands at $35, and it'll be useful for those who keep their phone turned off most of the time: it includes 400 voice minutes, along with a 400 / 400 allotment for text and picture messages. If it's any solace for US Cellular's current prepaid customers with smartphones, just know that you may keep your current plan, as you aren't required to switch to the new tier.
