AT&T will install 35 new cell sites in the Chicago area to increase network coverage as part of the company’s $19 billion nationwide investment plan. The company will dedicate $160 million in improvements in metropolitan Chicago. Get the full story »
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FCC orders ‘reasonable’ data roaming rates
U.S. regulators on Thursday adopted data roaming rules that would allow smartphones to access the Internet in areas across the country not covered by their wireless carrier. The rules set by the Federal Communications Commission in a 3-2 vote would force wireless carriers like AT&T Inc. and Verizon Wireless to offer “reasonable” roaming rates. Get the full story »
Consumer Reports: AT&T U-verse, Verizon FiOS tops
A new Consumer Reports survey rates AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS as the top choices for customers looking to buy bundled telecom services. Get the full story »
N.Y. promises hard look at AT&T/T-Mobile deal
An AT&T store in New York. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)
AT&T Inc.s $39 billion bid to buy Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile USA came under scrutiny from New York’s attorney general, who said he is looking into its possible anticompetitive impact.
Citing a potential “near duopoly” as a result of the proposed deal, Atty. Gen. Eric Schneiderman said he wants to ensure the acquisition does not reduce access to low-cost cell phone options. Get the full story »
Sprint formally objects to AT&T/T-Mobile deal
Sprint Nextel urged regulators to block AT&T Inc.’s $39 billion bid to buy Deutsche Telekom AG’s T-Mobile USA.
Sprint, the No. 3 U.S. mobile carrier, said in a statement Monday that the transaction would harm consumers and competition. Get the full story »
Ill. broadband connections outnumber landlines
The number of broadband Internet connections in Illinois has exceeded the number of phone landlines for the first time, a sign that the use of traditional phone service continues to decline. Get the full story »
AT&T: T-Mobile 3G phones will need to be replaced
AT&T says that if its deal to buy T-Mobile USA goes through, T-Mobile subscribers with “3G” phones will need to replace those to keep their wireless broadband service working. Get the full story »
March 21 at 5:35 a.m.
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Filed under: Cell phones, Consumer electronics, Consumer news, M&A, Wireless AT&T, T-Mobile deal may mean higher prices
AT&T’s surprise $39-billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA Inc. could lead to more consolidation in the U.S wireless industry, leaving the market with just two dominant providers — and the prospect of higher rates and fewer choices for consumers.
If approved by regulators, the newly expanded AT&T Inc. would have 130 million subscribers, allowing it to leapfrog arch-rival Verizon Wireless and its 94 million customers to become by far the nation’s largest wireless carrier. Sprint Nextel Corp. would be a distant third.
AT&T to cap data usage for DSL customers
AT&T Inc. said it would begin to cap DSL data usage for its customers and begin to implement charges for anyone who goes over the limit.
The Dallas telecommunications giant said that customers who went over a limit of 150 gigabytes of data a month three times would be charged $10 for every extra 50 gigabytes of data they consume. Customers on its higher-end U-Verse Internet service have a limit of 250 gigabytes. AT&T will impose the new limit on May 2. Get the full story »
Antenna problem fixed on Verizon iPhones
Gadget analysis group AnandTech, which was the first to diagnose the iPhone 4 antenna issue, ran a thorough test of the new Verizon iPhone 4 and found that the “death grip“ problem has been mitigated.
“Apple fixed the problem,“ said Brian Klug, author of AnandTech’s report. “You can use the Verizon Wireless iPhone with no case without any concern for losing signal because of how it’s held.“ Get the full story »
AT&T plans flagship store in Arlington Heights
From The Daily Herald | AT&T, which has its Midwest headquarters in Hoffman Estates, is expected to open a new flagship store for wireless products in Arlington Heights this summer or fall.
Feb. 28 at 2:17 p.m.
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Filed under: Cell phones, Computers, Internet, Technology, Wireless Motorola touts wide rollout of phone/laptop tech
Motorola Mobility is planning to make its webtop application, which connects a smart phone with a laptop dock to simulate a desktop experience, a common feature on most of its high-end devices by year-end, Chief Executive Sanjay Jha said Monday.
Motorola introduced the webtop functionality at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, when it unveiled the Atrix, a smart phone running Google’s Android operating system. The Atrix, which will go on sale at AT&T stores next week, nestles into a thin laptop dock with an 11.6-inch display and full keyboard. The phone powers the set-up, which gives the user full PC capabilities, including Web-based desktop applications. Get the full story »
Feb. 28 at 2:09 p.m.
Filed under: Advertising/Marketing, Cell phones, Technology, Telecommunications, Wireless AT&T to start sending phones location-based ads
In a first for a wireless carrier, AT&T Inc. said Monday that it will use its phones’ location-sensing ability to target text ads with coupons and other offers to participating subscribers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.
Kmart, part of Sears Holdings Corp., is one of the chains that have signed up for ShopAlerts by AT&T. That means AT&T could send discount offers to subscribers who are close to a Kmart store. Get the full story »
Kindle 3G to come to AT&T stores Sunday
AT&T will begin selling Amazon’s Kindle 3G March 6 as it looks toward other gadgets to increase its customer base outside of cell phones.
The Kindle 3G will sell for $189 at AT&T’s retail stores, the same price at which Amazon sells the e-reader online. Amazon has said that the Kindle is the most popular item sold on its gigantic retail Web site — though the company has never said how many it has sold.
AT&T to push Motorola Mobility’s Atrix 4G
AT&T Inc. is cozying up to Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. as the carrier seeks to bulk up its smartphone portfolio running on Google Inc.’s Android operating system in the wake of losing its exclusive hold on Apple Inc.’s iPhone.
AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega said the coming Motorola Atrix 4G will be the carrier’s leading device in its portfolio. Mr. de la Vega wouldn’t say how much money the carrier will spend on marketing the device, but he said it would receive amounts similar to campaigns for the iPhone. Get the full story »
