Preparing Network Throughout Hurricane-Prone Locations Including Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- T-Mobile USA, Inc. is preparing for the 2012 hurricane season, which officially started June 1, 2012. The company has implemented frequent engineering drills coupled with network fortification and crisis management coordination focused on the locations where hurricanes have the greatest propensity of making landfall, including the entire Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast areas of the United States.
“T-Mobile has a long history of moving swiftly in emergency situations to ensure our customers can stay connected when they need it most,” said Bentley Alexander, vice president, South Region Engineering, T-Mobile USA. “We have made significant investments in supplemental cell site backup generators, microwave technology equipment and cell-on-wheels (COWs), along with other tools and equipment to enhance the stability and, when necessary, the recovery of our network operations. At the same time, our engineers and our cross-functional crisis management teams — our people — play the most critical role for network and service continuity and recovery. We continue to focus on emergency response procedures and drills that will ensure we are ready for the 2012 Hurricane season.”
The company’s National Engineering Response and Crisis Management teams constantly monitor weather patterns and potential storms. In advance of any major hurricane forecasted to make U.S. landfall, T-Mobile establishes an engineering Command Center near the area where the storm’s impact is expected, creating a home base for engineers and rapid response teams, and a staging area for equipment and supplies that may be needed during the aftermath of the storm. As soon as it is safe, T-Mobile technicians and engineers are mobilized to support and assist any network restoration.
T-Mobile Network Operation Centers (NOCs) manage network traffic during any event, and the company has redundant support in place for each NOC.
T-Mobile takes the following additional steps to prepare the company’s network for major weather-related events:
- In the event of widespread power outages, T-Mobile has access to additional fuel to supply generators and company repair and transport vehicles, and for other emergency circumstances.
- Backup generators and fuel tanks for regional network switch operations are put in place and tested, and fuel is topped off for all generators in the potential path of a storm. T-Mobile recently purchased 1,000 additional small mobile generators to assist with backup power when needed. These units are now being delivered to local markets and regional depots.
- To further supplement fixed and portable backup generators, T-Mobile is prepared to place dozens more portable generators, ready to be transported to impacted areas.
- Microwave radio equipment is readied to be trucked into affected areas to facilitate back-haul or data communication from the cell sites to T-Mobile's network switches, as backup, in the event that fixed-line service fails.
- T-Mobile pre-stages COWs in neighboring markets to move in and provide additional wireless communications capacity in the hardest-hit areas.
- T-Mobile monitors evacuation efforts and routes, and takes steps to increase wireless capacity in those areas as customers move inland.
- The company also coordinates closely with the recovery efforts of local, state and federal agencies.
- T-Mobile has crisis plans in place for employees who may also be in the path of a storm, and responds quickly to help safeguard our employees and our facilities.
For business and government customers, T-Mobile’s Persistent Communications solution combines the company’s Wi-Fi Calling for Business or Wi-Fi Calling for Government solutions with access to satellite services for back-haul connectivity. During an emergency, this allows first responders or incident commanders to stay connected using the same Wi-Fi-enabled phone they use every day even when commercial wireless networks are out of service. A full suite of partner technologies means that the T-Mobile Persistent Communications solution can also help emergency response agencies to coordinate communication and track responders via a dashboard.
In addition to network and service preparations and recovery, T-Mobile also has a track record of helping customers in as many ways as possible. This often includes setting up free mobile charging stations if commercial power has been affected; providing free Wi-Fi access if cellular service has been affected; and facilitating mobile giving campaigns and supporting disaster relief organizations, including the American Red Cross and many others.
T-Mobile Customer Tips
To better facilitate communication between families and loved ones, and to alleviate anticipated network congestion before, during and after any storm, T-Mobile recommends its customers follow these important tips:
- Utilize text messaging to communicate instead of voice calls. Text messaging has a greater success rate in getting through the network during high-usage periods versus voice calls.
- Keep your voice calls short in duration.
- Make sure your phone is fully charged before the storm. Consider obtaining a vehicle charger in the event of power loss.
- For T-Mobile Customer Care assistance, please visit http://my.t-mobile.com, call 611 from your T-Mobile handset or dial 1-800-937-8997.
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (OTCQX: DTEGY). By the end of the first quarter of 2012, approximately 129 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.4 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS and additionally HSPA+ 21/HSPA+ 42. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.
For more information about T-Mobile’s 4G products, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.
Media Contact:T-Mobile Media Relations+1-425-378-4002mediarelations@t-mobile.com
Source: T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Galaxy S III Arrives at T-Mobile on June 21st - Softpedia
The flagship Android smartphone from Samsung will be released at T-Mobile with support for the carrier’s 4G (HSPA+ 42) network, to offer great data transfer speeds to all users.
The new device hits the market with an intuitive design, while offering a great experience on the go on its large 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen that can deliver an HD resolution.
These features provide users with the possibility to watch HD movies while on the go, play demanding games, or download and enjoy content on the carrier’s 4G Network.
“We have a tremendous history of working with Samsung to bring cutting-edge devices to market, and we know our customers are excited to get their hands on the Galaxy S III,” said Brad Duea, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA.
“As we continue to aggressively compete, this device is yet another example of how T-Mobile delivers amazing devices and 4G experiences to our customers.”
Galaxy S III also comes with 16 GB or 32 GB of internal memory, while offering the option to expand the available storage space through microSD memory card slot, so that users can carry with them their favorite games, photos, movies or music.
The smartphone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Processor with 1.5 GHz Dual-Core CPUs and 2GB of RAM, it sports a 2100mAh battery inside, and it is powered by Google’s Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.
Samsung Galaxy S III will arrive on shelves at T-Mobile in two color flavors, namely metallic blue and ceramic white, and it will be available through all T-Mobile retail stores around the country, online on the carrier’s website, and via select retailers starting with June 21st.
The wireless carrier has already published a coming soon page for the smartphone, offering users the possibility to register for updates on its availability. No info on pricing was made available, but we can expect Galaxy S III to go for $199, just as Samsung unveiled several hours ago.
You Must Pay Your T-Mobile Bill In Person, In Cash, Forever - Consumerist.com
I've been a customer for over 7 years and had easy-pay set up the entire time. Thus, I have never missed a payment, nor have I been late on a payment.Sadly, this past year I have gone through a divorce. This can obviously be chaotic when it comes to finances. My ex cancelled the credit card that was set up on easy-pay and several months worth of phone bills were reversed.
I had no idea until my March bill was hundreds of dollars and many times higher than any phone bill I've ever paid. I immediately called T-Mobile and got the bad news.
Ok, well, not their fault right? So I paid for most of the bill over the phone. The rep told me the date the remaining balance was due. On that date, I tried to pay online and the payment was rejected. I called in again and was told I was set to "cash only" status due to my billing issues.
According to the rep, this is a permanent status. As in, you can never, ever earn back their trust, no matter how long you are a customer. That sounded wrong, but I accepted it.
I made two payments in person at the T-mobile store (annoying and inconvenient) and figured, what's the harm in asking again?
So I called back on May 17th. The rep put me on hold several times and told me that after the end of the current month, I would be able to set up easy-pay again. Hooray!
Today is June 1st. I called in and spoke to a helpful and apologetic rep who confirmed what the first rep had told me: Cash only. Forever.
There was no person or department I could talk to to change this issue. Once you are marked a credit risk, that's it.
This is insane! I just want to register a DEBIT card that allows them to reach into my bank account and take the money at whatever time is convenient to them. Beyond that, I am leaving the country for nearly a month and will therefore have no way to pay my bill.
I just want them to let me register for easy pay. If they won't, I want to cancel and take my business elsewhere. But I'm under contract for 13 more months!
In summary:
- Charge reversals: no fault of T-Mobile
- Initial rep who took my back payments made no mention of "cash only" status
- 2nd rep I spoke to apparently lied to get me off the phone
- T-Mobile has no review process in place for situations like this. You just get a black mark on your record forever
Vodafone Smart II budget handset launched - Tech Watch
Vodafone has launched a new budget Android handset, as part of the ever increasing cost cutting which is helping to drive smartphone adoption.
The Smart II phone is an “unprecedented combination of high performance and low cost”, the firm boasts, with that price tag being £70, to rival some of the cheap blowers Orange has in its range.
Vodafone compares the Smart II to the top end handsets of three years ago, with the spec including a 3.2 inch HVGA touchscreen, 800MHz processor, 512MB of Ram, along with a 3.2 megapixel camera with LED flash.
The handset also has 3G and Wi-Fi, plus assisted GPS technology, and interchangeable back plates for 16 different colour variations. It comes with Facebook and Twitter on board.
However, as you might have guessed, you don’t get Ice Cream Sandwich as the OS, rather Gingerbread. Though that’s better than some of those aforementioned cheapies from Orange, such as the similarly priced Barcelona which comes with Froyo.
The San Francisco 2 is, of course, Orange’s king budget smartphone, but that costs a bit more than the Smart II.
Patrick Chomet, Group Terminals Director, commented: “The Smart II is one of the most important devices we have ever introduced. It delivers a level of performance, functionality and quality that is traditionally the preserve of high-end smartphones but at an exceptionally affordable price.”
“We believe the Smart II could represent a tipping point in the evolution of the market, bringing a new wave of consumers to the supermobile world for the first time.”
So when is this budget wonder due out? You can grab one right now, down at the Vodafone online store.
Vodafone Unveils Smart II Smartphone - Itproportal
UK mobile phone operator Vodafone has announced the launched of the Smart II which, the company says, provides with "twice the processing power of the most expensive and sought-after smartphones available just three years ago, but at a fraction of the price".
At its core, the phone uses the Broadcom BCM21552 processor clocked at 832MHz. That processor appears to have been launched two years ago (which would contradict Vodafone's statement that it is brand new) and is based on an ARM11 architecture. Note that it is not the BCM21552G which was launched earlier this year at CES 2012.
It runs on Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread and features 512MB RAM, 3G HSDPA and Wi-Fi, a 3.2-megapixel camera, a 3.2in 480 x 320 pixels capacitive touchscreen display, 150MB onboard storage and a microSD card slot, FM radio with RDS, AGPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and a 1150mAh battery.
Other features include Vouchercloud as well as a number of Vodafone apps. The phone - which is listed as coming soon - will compete against the likes of the HTC Explorer or the Motorola Defy Mini. It will cost £70 in the UK on PAYG and excluding any topup.
Source : Vodafone
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