T-Mobile USA is working to both promote the breadth and depth of its current network while it concurrently is encouraging subscribers to move from its 2G network to its 3G network in certain locations.
T-Mobile's latest TV commercial highlights the number of towers T-Mobile operates across the country (35,000). The ad is likely a response to similar marketing campaigns from AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T) and Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) highlighting their respective wireless coverage areas.
Meantime, T-Mobile is also working to free space on its 2G GSM network by offering upgrades to customers that purchase new 3G HSPA devices. TmoNews reported that the carrier is offering an upgrade program to select customers in Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Miami.
A T-Mobile spokeswoman confirmed the news: "T-Mobile recently launched a pilot program in Los Angeles, Boston, New York City, DC, and Miami to encourage 2G customers to step up to 4G devices. These cities were selected because they're large, geographically diverse and representative of T-Mobile's customer base."
T-Mobile is in the midst of a $4 billion network upgrade program that will allow it to deploy LTE on its 1700 MHz spectrum while retooling its 1900 PCS spectrum for 2G GSM and HSPA+ services. By deploying HSPA+ in the 1900 MHz, T-Mobile is making its network compatible for more devices, including the iPhone.
T-Mobile also is working desperately to stem subscriber defections. As part of its effort to entice new customers and placate existing ones, T-Mobile also announced the new T-Mobile myTouch and myTouch Q. Both devices feature Android 4.0 and a 4-inch screen; the myTouch Q features a Qwerty keyboard. The devices are "ideal for customers who are looking for a straightforward, seamless smartphone experience," according to the carrier.
Separately, T-Mobile also announced a buy-one, get-one-free promotion around the Samsung Galaxy 4G.
For more:
- see these two T-Mobile releases
- see these two TMoNews articles
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O2 mobile users suffer network problems across UK - BBC News
Tens of thousands of O2 customers have lost voice and data services across the UK due to a problem with the network.
The mobile firm said that it had begun experiencing issues "at lunchtime" on Wednesday.
GiffGaff and Tesco Mobile subscribers - who also make use of O2's masts - have also been affected.
O2 said the problem is not based on geography. Some subscribers still have connections at the same location as others who do not.
"We can confirm that the problem with our mobile service is due to a fault with one of our network systems, which has meant some mobile phone numbers are not registering correctly on our network," a service update published about 12 hours after the problems had emerged said.
"As a result, some customers are having difficulty making or receiving calls, sending texts or using data.
"We, and our central supplier, have deployed all possible resources and are working through the night to restore service as soon as possible. We apologise again to customers affected and will provide further updates as soon as we can"
Many users have sent messages via Twitter to complain about the issue.
"Starting to get silly now, six hours without service isn't good enough in this day and age," wrote Coronation Street actor Chris Fountain.
"Leaving you the first chance I get," messaged another of the firm's customers.
One user joked: "What did one O2 customer say to the other? Nothing!"
But others said they were unaffected.
"Everyone's complaining about O2 reception, mine's been working fine all day," said one tweet.
Customers have been told they can keep track of developments via O2's service status page.
Some have complained that the page is slow to load and sometimes fails to appear. A spokeswoman for O2 apologised and said the site was facing high demand.
Anger As O2 Mobile Outage Enters Second Day - Sky.com
Thousands of O2 customers are unable to use their mobile phones for a second day after overnight repair teams failed to fix a fault with the network.
The problems first developed yesterday afternoon at around 1pm and O2 cannot say exactly how many of its 23 million customers are affected.
Customers reported problems with making and receiving phone calls and text messages as well as accessing data services such as the internet.
An O2 spokesperson said overnight: "We can confirm that the problem with our mobile service is due to a fault with one of our network systems, which has meant some mobile phone numbers are not registering correctly on our network
"We, and our central supplier, have deployed all possible resources and are working through the night to restore service as soon as possible."
The network had earlier issued an apology.
The O2 technical glitch was one of the most talked about topics on Twitter, with customers venting their frustration.
Tweets included:
@mandakal: Thanks o2 for leaving me stranded in a freezing station #nosignal to call my lift. Gonna take alot of priority freebies to make up for this!
@glynhumphries89: "@O2 getting a joke now. Can't wait to see what you offer your customers as a goodwill gesture for your lack of service.
@bangsaidthegun: Some string and two paper cups work better than O2 #alexandragrahambell
@Paulnjan120: Come on @o2 my missus had to stand in the rain for half an hour as she finished work early couldnt get hold of me #nosignal !!
O2 is the UK's second largest mobile network and is also used to provide mobile coverage for Tesco Mobile and GiffGaff.
The company said there is no link between this service disruption and another in June when thousands of customers were unable to send texts for one day.
In 2010, O2 also had to apologise for revealing customers' numbers to websites they had visited on their smartphones.
Paddy Smith from Stuff magazine told Sky News: "Any major event like this will do some damage to the network and their customers will feel it very, very keenly."
"I have no doubt that they will look elsewhere but let's not forget that a lot of people are locked into long contracts that they cannot get out of without paying a lot of money."
T-Mobile USA unlikely to get iPhone until 2013 - Phones Review
There has been speculation for longer than we can remember regarding when T-Mobile may finally get to carry the Apple iPhone. As the only major mobile operator in the US to still not carry the phone we recently told how it seems T-Mobile is edging closer to 4G LTE and also carrying the iPhone. However news today suggests that T-Mobile USA is unlikely to get the iPhone before 2013.
Not having the iPhone has hit T-Mobile hard and in Q1 this year T-Mobile has lost 510,000 monthly subscribers and had a hard job holding on to contract customers. With more than half of the smartphones being purchased from Verizon and AT&T over that same period being iPhone’s, it’s not hard to see where the custom has been lost. Therefore gaining the iPhone would help T-Mobile to reduce contract losses.
New York analyst Craig Moffett of Sanford C. Bernstein wrote in a research note yesterday that T-Mobile USA could use parent company Deutsche Telekom’s agreement with Apple in order to offer the iPhone from 2013. This would help not only T-Mobile but could also help Deutsch Telekom’s to achieve a net revenue growth position earlier than anticipated. Moffett believes it is “increasingly likely” that Deutsche Telekom and Apple will agree that T-Mobile can carry the iPhone next year, according to a report on Businessweek. As you might expect both T-Mobile and Apple have so far declined to comment on this.
Apple has certainly extended iPhone agreements this year with regional PAYG carriers climbing on board and also Virgin Mobile USA selling the iPhone with prepaid plans so it does seem inevitable that the iPhone eventually makes it way to T-Mobile. However news that this is not likely until 2013 may perturb some T-Mobile customers. One of the drawbacks for T-Mobile has been that its current networks have been incompatible with the iPhone but Deutsche Telekom has already committed to spending over $1 billion on U.S. network upgrades and we previously mentioned T-Mobile is busy developing its 4G LTE network that would accommodate the iPhone 5 if (as many people expect) it has LTE connectivity.
T-Mobile’s Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray certainly made the company’s intentions clear when he said back in March, “our 4G network will be compatible with a broader range of devices, including the iPhone.” For another take on this you may be interested in an iDownload Blog article that also talks of the iPhone on T-Mobile not coming until 2013. The report points out that it’s rather ironic that T-Mobile still issues ads knocking AT&T’s iPhone when some feel that T-Mobile describing it’s glorified 3G HSPA+ network as 4G is really false advertising. You can see the video below our story as an example of what they mean.
What are your thoughts on the T-Mobile and iPhone saga? Maybe you’ve stuck with T-Mobile and patiently waited for the iPhone but are now considering jumping ship? Maybe you think Apple should just hurry up and make an agreement with T-Mobile to fill the rather ominous carrier gap? Let us know with your comments.
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