contract - 3/6 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Feb

[Deal Alert] Amazon Wireless Offering AT&T's Samsung Galaxy Note For Just $249.99 (That's $50 Off)

Posted by Liam Spradlin in AT&T, Deals, Galaxy Note

It looks like those still anxious to get their hands on Samsung's new phablet – The Galaxy Note – are in luck - Amazon Wireless is offering the Note for just $249.99 when customers upgrade or agree to a new 2 year contract. That's about $50 less than AT&T's price.

Even better, Amazon Wireless is giving customers the option of a white or black version of the Note (though the color selections are officially known as ceramic and carbon).

For those who may have already forgotten, the Note has some undoubtedly competitive specs among current devices (including its luxuriously huge screen):

5.3" 800 x 1280 HD super AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass
1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor
1GB of ram
16GB of internal memory, expandable via microSD
8MP camera with 1080p HD video capability
2MP front-facing camera
2,500 mAh battery
Android 2.3.6 with Samsung's latest TouchWiz UX
4G-LTE capable
802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi

If you've been awaiting the Note and haven't already picked one up from AT&T, click through either of the links below to grab one at a nice discount.

Feb

AT&T To Increase Handset Upgrade Fee To $36 From $18, Citing Increased Costs For New Handsets, Starting February 12

Posted by David Ruddock in AT&T, Carriers, News

In a move that is likely to upset every single AT&T customer to some degree, the nation's number two carrier has decided that its current upgrade fee (a cost tacked on whenever a current customer renews their contract and gets a new phone) isn't covering the rising cost of subsidized smartphones. The current upgrade fee is $18, and will soon be doubled to $36, matching the current fee at Sprint.

At T-Mobile, the current cost is $18. At Verizon, there isn't one. Certainly puts things into perspective. Of course, the one thing to remember about fees is that a little sweet talking to a customer representative can often help you avoid them in the first place.

Feb

[Update: It's Official] ZTE Optik: 3G Honeycomb 7" Budget Tablet Coming To Sprint For $99 In February Online, March In Stores

Posted by David Ruddock in Honeycomb 3.0/3.1/3.2, News, Optik, Sprint, Tablets, ZTE

A new tablet is coming to the Sprint network next month, though it's definitely on the budget-minded side of things. The ZTE Optik will be available to Sprint customers starting February 5th through Sprint's online store, with a brick and mortar appearance to follow on March 11th. Here's a quick breakdown on the need-to-know specs for the Optik:

1.2GHz dual-core processor (we'd expect TI OMAP 4430, but that's a guess - yours is as good as ours)
7" display (resolution unknown - we're predicting 1280x800)
1 GB RAM / 16GB internal storage
MicroSD card slot
5MP rear / 2MP front camera
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 3G connectivity
4000mAh battery
Android 3.2 Honeycomb
$99 w/ 2 year agreement, $349 off-contract

Check it out, below:

Thanks, Captain Anonymous!

Oct

Samsung Stratosphere Officially Launches On Verizon On October 13th For $149

Posted by Abhiroop Basu in News, Stratosphere, Verizon Wireless, Videos

Early rumours indicated that the Samsung Stratosphere would be released in September, and there were even leaked press shots of the device. However, here we are in October, and Verizon has just now taken the wraps off of the Stratosphere.

Billed as the "first 4G LTE smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard," the Samsung Stratosphere packs a hefty package, including:

Android 2.3 Gingerbread
1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor
4-inch (800x480) WVGA Super AMOLED display
4G LTE
5-row slide-out QWERTY keyboard
512MB RAM
4GB on-board memory
4GB pre-installed microSD card (up to 32GB supported)
5MP rear camera, 1.3MP front camera (720p HD playback and 480p recording)
Bluetooth 3.0
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n

The Stratosphere is clearly targeted towards the business user as alongside the QWERTY keyboard, the device will also have "enhanced B2B-enabled connectivity services from Cisco, the most comprehensive mobile implementation of Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) and support for secure remote device management from Sybase Afaria." Additionally, the device will support "Samsung’s Enterprise Platform enhancements such as VPN, encryption and Mobile Device Management (MDM)." This is a powerful phone that looks to attack RIM's enterprise stronghold and take-away market share from the BlackBerry by offering support for features corporate users find essential.

Sep

[Weekend Poll] Tablet Fight: 3G/4G Vs. Wi-Fi Only?

Posted by Aaron Gingrich in Devices By Manufacturer, Polls

This is the latest in our Weekend Poll series. For last week's, see What Is Your Maximum Screen Size For A Phone?

Tablets come in two flavors: either Wi-Fi only, or packing 3G/4G from a carrier. In the former, it can be purchased without a contract and usually for a lower price. The 3G/4G model typically costs more (although it may be cheaper thanks to a carrier subsidy, which is offset by the cost of the plan), and comes on contract. The benefit of that added radio and contract is fairly obvious - you have access to data nearly anywhere you go.

Sep

[Update: Now $120 Off] Deal Alert: Droid Bionic Available For $179.99 ($120 off) From Amazon Wireless

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Bionic, Deals, Motorola, News

With Verizon's Droid Bionic page having just gone live, it is inevitable that deals will begin springing up. Well, the first one didn't take long.

Update: The price just dropped even further by another $20 - to $179.99. Amazon is turning up the heat!

Amazon Wireless is now offering the Bionic on a new 2-year contract for ~~$199.99~~ $179.99. That's a cool ~~$100~~ $120 off the price that Verizon is offering direct from their website. The catch is you may have to wait a few days, as the phone is currently listed as backordered, but it'll likely change very soon (the Bionic did just get released officially minutes ago).

Aug

Sprint Changing Early Termination Policy, Upgrade Fee, And Dropping One-Year Contracts

Posted by Cameron Summerson in News, Sprint

It looks like Sprint is changing the way things are done in order to keep up with the competition, which doesn't always translate into good news for the consumer. The early termination fee (ETF) is getting an overhaul that will go into effect on September 9th, which will bump the ETF on "advanced devices" (read: smartphones, tablets, netbooks, and notebooks) up to a maximum of $350, putting The Now Network's policy in line with that of VZW and AT&T. If you're in mid-contract and are thinking of jumping ship, just take the remaining amount of months left in your agreement and multiply by $20 to figure out your exact ETF -- if you have less than 4 months left, though, you'll be spending a minimum of $100.

Jun

Verizon Galaxy Tab 10.1 4G LTE Pre-Order Up, Starts At $529.99 With New 2-Year Enslavement

Posted by David Ruddock in 4G, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Honeycomb 3.0/3.1/3.2, News, Tips & Tutorials, Verizon Wireless

I'm not sure how well this 4G-ified Tab 10.1 is going to do in terms of sales, but it's coming nonetheless. And in four flavors! And by that, I mean there's two storage options (16GB or 32GB) and two color options (grey or white):

These prices are, of course, subsidized with a new 2-year data contract. How subsidized? Try $100 off (yes, that's all). Sounds like Verizon is super confident about this thing, too. I think we can all agree, until carriers actually start giving these mobile data-enabled tablets meaningful contract discounts (or better data plans), there's next to no incentive for consumers to purchase them.

Jun

[Deal Alert 3D] Get The HTC EVO 3D For Just $150 At AmazonWireless

Posted by David Ruddock in Deals, EVO 3D (Shooter), HTC, Sprint

AmazonWireless has gone slashing more prices today - this time on the EVO 3D. You can pick up the 3D on a new 2-year agreement or line addition to your existing Sprint account for just $150 right now. That's $30 less than it was yesterday, so if you've been waiting for the right price to pick up your 3D, now seems like the time to do it. Those looking to upgrade from their current Sprint handsets will still have to pay the old price ($180).

Curious about the EVO 3D? Check out our review roundup before you make your decision.

Jun

[Deal Alert 2] EVO Shift 4G Now Free At Wirefly On New 2-Year Agreement

Posted by David Ruddock in Deals, EVO Shift 4G (Speedy), News, Sprint, Tips & Tutorials

Last week, I listed the EVO Shift 4G in my roundup of the best Android phones under $50, but that was when it was priced at $40 on AmazonWireless. Wirefly has now gone and beaten that price silly, offering the QWERTY-keyboard slider phone for the low, low price of "free" if you open a new Sprint account, or add a new line to your existing plan.

The EVO Shift 4G does have a tiny 3.6" display, but it's also packing a next-gen single core Snapdragon processor and a big 1530mAh battery - along with a fresh update to Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread.