T-Mobile subscribers wishing for Sony Ericsson phones will finally get their wish. Sony Ericsson announced today that they’ve expanded their carrier channels to now include T-Mobile USA and will launch the TM506 handset starting in early September. The TM506 is Sony Ericsson’s first handset to support T-Mobile’s AWS spectrum (1700/2100).

Features and specs of the Sony Ericsson TM506 include the following:

• Compact clamshell design
• Tri-band GSM (850/1800/1900)
• Dual-band UMTS (1700/2100 & 2100)
• GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA
• 3G networking support
• Removable Memory Stick Micro M2
• 2.0 megapixel camera
• Media Center
• Store favorite music tracks and share music with friends via the Memory Stick Micro
• Built-in GPS navigation feature and TeleNav application from T-Mobile
• Supports RSS feeds
• myFaves enabled
• Audio Postcard
• Mobile Backup support
• Measures 3.7 x 1.9 x 0.69 inches and weighs 3.4 oz
• 9.5 hour talk time for GSM and 3.5 hour talk time for UMTS
• 250 hour standby time for GSM and 250 hour standby time for UMTS
• Available in Chrome with Amber or Emerald highlights with a sleek ebony gloss

The Sony Ericsson TM506  will be available in early September. No word on pricing.

Technorati Tags: Sony Ericsson, TM506, T-Mobile

The N.Y.Times is reporting that T-Mobile will be the first carrier to carry a handset running Google’s Android platform. This phone is being developed and manufactured by HTC and will be coming out before Christmas - possibly even as early as October. The phone, which folks on the net have been calling the “Dream”, will have a touch-screen display and a full slide-out keyboard. A video of a supposed HTC dream handset appeared on YouTube recently - and sources to the NYTimes have confirmed this is indeed the phone coming out for T-Mobile.

Android based handsets (or smartphones) will directly compete against handsets such as the Apple iPhone, Windows Mobile handsets, and Research in Motion BlackBerry devices. Google is making the Android OS free to all companies part of the Open Handset Alliance as it hopes that Android will accelerate its penetration into the mobile market.

T-Mobile’s HTC phone is expected to be the only Android phone available in the U.S. this year. Sprint is also working closely with Google in developing an Android-based handset.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, HTC Dream, N.Y.Times, Google Android

T-Mobile UK announced today that the BlackBerry Bold Smartphone would be available for sale in the UK starting in September. The Bold will be the first BlackBerry smartphone available from T-Mobile UK with support for 3G (HSDPA) networks. Features of the Bold include:

• Quad-band world phone
• Integrated GPS
• Supports 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi
• Tri-Band HSDPA
• Ability to download and edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files
• 2 megapixel camera
• Supports video capture
• Built-in media player
• 1GB of memory
• microSD slot
• Bluetooth 2.0

The BlackBerry Bold will be available to all T-Mobile Business 1-Plan customers though no word on price thus far.

[Check it out via TechDigest]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile UK, BlackBerry Bold

If you’re interested in the new T-Mobile Sidekick which was introduced today, then you should check out these three reviews of the handset from LaptopMag, PC Magazine, and MobileBurn.

LaptopMag had this to say about the new Sidekick:

There’s nothing particularly wrong with the T-Mobile Sidekick, but it feels outdated compared with phones like the identically priced LG Voyager, which offers nearly all of the same features but also a 3G data connection, touchscreen, GPS, TV, and an over-the-air music store.

PC Mag had this to say:

Sometimes it’s what you wear that matters, not what’s on the inside. If that philosophy works for you, then it’s time to buy a Sidekick with some cool customizable cases.

Another interesting note from the PC Mag review was the first line of the article: “If you’re over 30, you might as well stop reading this review now. As a 34-year-old geek, I’ve had trouble getting into the Sidekick mind-set.”

Yeah.. I definitely fall into that category. I’ve always had a hard time enjoying a Sidekick device.. It’s definitely a phone for the younger adults and kids.

Finally, the folks at MobileBurn had this to say from their in-depth coverage:

Fun features like the user designed covers are just going to make the new T-Mobile Sidekick all the more popular. It might not have full smartphone functionality, but it can do most anything that the typical consumer needs. We give it a “Highly Recommended” rating.

Yeah.. they were a bit nicer

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile Sidekick, PC Magazine, LaptopMag, MobileBurn, Review

As expected, T-Mobile launched a new version of their popular Sidekick handset offering customers the ability to create and customize their own shell for the phone. The new Sidekick will ship with two shells - a black shell and a metallic green shell. A variety of pre-designed shells will also be available for customers to purchase at either T-Mobile stores or at the online website. However, customers can also create their own personal skin via SkinIt at http://www.sidekickshells.com. You can upload your own personal photo or graphic design, select your own text, shapes, icons, or logos and then have it all custom-printed onto a shell for the phone. Customers can also share their designs at http://www.sidekick.com.

The new Sidekick is a bit smaller, thinner, and lighter than previous Sidekick models and now features the following:

• Quad-band world phone 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; GSM,GPRS,EDGE
• Video capture and playback
• Integrated Spanish user interface
• IM, text and e-mail support
• Bluetooth 2.0 with stereo Bluetooth support
• 2.0 megapixel camera
• microSD card support
• Horizontal swivel screen
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• 2.6 inch 400 x 240 (WQVGA) screen
• Enhanced web surfing - PC-like, full-size layout or standard Sidekick screen-size layout to scroll and read a page
• Install and use downloads without restarting the device
• Includes 512MB microSD card
• T-Mobile myFaves enabled
• Measures 4.7 x 2.3 x 0.7 inches
• Weighs 5.3 oz
• 1030 mAh Lion battery

The new phone is now available at T-Mobile stores and online at the T-Mobile website. You can purchase it for $149.99 after a $100 instant discount, a $50.00 mail-in rebate, and a new monthly T-Mobile plan.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, Sidekick,

There’s a new Sidekick handset coming from T-Mobile and it’s apparently called the Sidekick 2008 (the former Sidekick Gekko?). According to the Boy Genius Report, the Sidekick 2008 will feature a customizable shell, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support, a 2 megapixel camera, a 2.6 inch WQVGA display, video recording, and Bluetooth stereo support. Customers will receive two shells in the box but can purchase up to 11 other pre-fabricated shells. They’ll also be able to customize their own shell on the sidekick.com website. Nice.. now all the device needs is 3G support. So when is it coming out? According to the snapshots from BGR - July 30th.

[Check it out via MobileBurn]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, Sidekick 2008

If you’re interested in the new T-Mobile 3G network, then you should definitely take a read at this PC Magazine article which talks about the first 3G phones available for the carrier. First off - please remember that while both T-Mobile and AT&T utilize the same radio technology, they use completely different frequencies. Thus, unless your 3G phone supports a variety of frequencies for UMTS/HSDPA, you’re out of luck when it comes to using your T-Mobile phone on other 3G networks. You will be able to use 2G networks of course.

The phones covered in the article include the Nokia 6263, Nokia 3555, Samsung SGH-t819, and Samsung SGH-t639. It looks like the initial phone selection is .. how shall we say it.. sucky? PC Magazine did somewhat like the Nokia 6263.. but again - don’t expect anything awe-inspiring. It’s also important to note that the 3G network is only available right now in New York. Rollout nationwide will proceed as the year goes by.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: PC Magazine, T-Mobile, 3G Network, Nokia 6263, Nokia 3555, Samsung SGH-t819, Samsung SGH-t639

Ah there’s nothing like the good ol rumor mill to fill up the news stories on an otherwise boring Monday. This one isn’t exactly juicy per se.. but it’s interesting nevertheless - at least to T-Mobile users. A number of websites (probably all eventually citing the same source I bet) are reporting that T-Mobile will roll out their 3G service on October 1st in 20+ cities across the country.  To make things even more interesting, some are speculating that the company will also announce their first Android based mobile phone that very same day. And what might that first Android phone be for T-Mobile? Rumors have it that it’s the HTC Dream.

Of course, all this is pure speculation at this point. There’s also speculation that the company will introduce three other phones at the 3G launch including the Sony Ericsson Z780, a Samsung handset, and the Motorola ZINE ZN5. Now what cities might get 3G support? They include Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Birmingham, Ala.; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Memphis,Tenn.; Miami; Minneapolis; Long Island, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; and Washington, D.C.

3G rollout for T-Mobile would definitely be welcome news to the carrier - but how many people would actually care about an Android phone (aside from Google employees!)?

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile, 3G, Android, HTC Dream

Motorola’s new ROKR E8 mobile handset will be exclusively available on T-Mobile starting on July 7th. The E8 is equally adept at being a mobile phone as well as a portable music player thanks to the new Motorola ModeShift technology. ModeShift transforms the device from phone to music player at the touch of a button - providing only the controls that a user needs for the mode at hand. Other key features of the ROKR E8 include:

• Haptics technology for tactile response when a virtual key is pressed
• FastScroll navigation wheel allows for scrolling through thousands of songs with the slide of a thumb
• CrystalTalk technology for call clarity in noisy environments
• Windows Media Player 11 compatibility
• Smooth surface with no visible keys when device is turned off
• Control keys are all virtual which change according to the mode the phone is in
• Built-in FM radio
• Song ID3
• 2GB internal memory
• microSD card support
• USB 2.0 support

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Motorola ROKR E8, T-Mobile

Just a little reminder - T-Mobile is now offering their new nationwide T-Mobile @Home service for $10 dollars a month. This service is basically a Voice over IP (VoIP) plan where your voice signals are carried over the Internet instead of the traditional plain old telephone service otherwise known as POTS. What’s nice about T-Mobile @Home is the fact that you can port your existing home phone # to the service - which means you should experience little or no interruptions in your existing service. All you’ll need to do is purchase a special T-Mobile @Home HiPort Wireless Router with a Home Phone Connection which will cost you $49.99 along with a two-year agreement to the service. You can then plug your existing home phones to the router - there’s no need to get any sort of special phone for this service.

Other features of T-Mobile @Home include unlimited nationwide calling, voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, 3-way conferencing, and hold calls.

There are some other requirements of course - you’ll need a broadband connection and you’ll need an existing T-Mobile wireless service in order to be eligible to T-Mobile @Home.  Qualifying plans include any single line mobile plan $39.99 or higher or any FamilyTime mobile plan $49.99 or higher. Sorry but Postpaid plans under those fees, FlexPaySM, Prepaid, SmartAccess, and kidConnectSM plans are not eligible for this service.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile @Home