Rene, Georgia, and Mickey Papillon, the Cell Phone Junkie, discuss more iPhone 5 rumors, iOS 4.3.1 bug fixes, the AT&T T-Mobile buyout and what it means for iPhone, when will we get LTE, AT&T's war on Jailbreak tethering, lawsuits, Google, #dickbar, and more! This is iPhone Live!
Show notes and all the week's iPhone news after the break!
AT&T has confirmed they'll be using their newly announced T-Mobile US acquisition -- more specifically T-Mo's 1700MHz AWS spectrum (currently providing 3G and "4G" HSPA+) -- for a bigger, better LTE rollout ("4GS?"). See the slide above for details.
Apple hasn't announced any plans for an LTE iPhone or iPad yet but as the technology matures and coverage improves they almost certainly will. Meanwhile we can hope for better HSPA+ support in iPhone 5, as current iPhone and iPad radios max out at 7.2Mbps.
T-Mobile is burning a lot of ad dollars lately telling us our AT&T and Verizon iPhones -- running on HPSA 7.2 and EVDO Rev A respectively -- are slower than the Android phones they have running on their HSPA+ network.
Take a look at what you get from Android™ phones vs iPhone®. The full web experience, with fast uploads, downloads, and streaming entertainment, all on the fastest 4G smartphones running on America’s Largest 4G Network™ with the most affordable 4G data.*
UK mobile networks, T-Mobile and Orange have slashed the price of the iPad which could mean the iPad 2 is right around the corner. Both networks currently offer the iPad at a subsidized price when you sign up for a 24 month data contract.
Are you switching to the Verizon iPhone and if so what smartphone or feature phone are you switching from? We know some AT&T iPhone users are making the big switch as are some Verizon BlackBerry and Android/Droid users but also a lot of feature phone users might be making the smartphone plunge for the first time. (buh
Let us know where you're coming from in the poll above and tell us your story in the comment below!
A new survey from ChangeWave takes a closer look at how the Verizon iPhone may shake up the mobile market, revealing the highest churn rate AT&T has seen since ChangeWave began surveying mobile subscribers. A total of 4,050 subscribers were surveyed, with 15% of AT&T and T-Mobile users saying they were likely to switch carriers in the next 90 days, compared to only 4% from Verizon.
T-Mobile has a new ad that pokes fun at the iPhone 4 on both AT&T and Verizon. It has the same flavor as the "I'm a Mac" commercials and the man playing the part as the iPhone 4 has both Verizon and AT&T with him, but he can't tell them apart because he is slow on both networks - they don't have "nationwide 4G" like T-Mobile.
We have all heard the rumors of the iPhone going to Verizon in early 2011 but today we are hearing word from Analyst Shaw Wu with Kaufman Bros., that Verizon is not only interested in obtaining Apple's widely popular iPhone but they may be willing to pay a price to keep it out of the hands of Sprint and T-Mobile.
We are hearing that (Verizon) does not want iPhone, the hottest selling smartphone, available on T-Mobile USA and/or Sprint and may be willing to pay for exclusivity to itself and AT&T," Wu wrote. "For these reasons, (Verizon) could be more willing to give in to Apple's terms.
Germany's Deutsche Telekom AG reported yesterday that profits for the September quarter beat expectations but said that poor performance in their U.S. business is due to its lack of ability to carry the iPhone. Chief Executive Rene Obermann said:
Consumers like T-Mobile but they also want to have the iPhone," which T-Mobile USA "has no chance of getting in the short term.
In Europe, Deutsche Telekom, had exclusivity with the iPhone but they have recently lost that perk. With rumors of the iPhone coming to Verizon, things aren't looking good for T-Mobiles future in the U.S.
