Carriers - 13/218 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Mar

Exclusive: This Is The ZTE Quantum (N8910) Destined For Sprint

Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Exclusives, Leaks, News, Quantum, Sprint, ZTE

Sprint is testing a device from ZTE tentatively called the Quantum with model number N8910, Android Police learned recently. The Quantum has mid to high-end specs with its 5" 720p screen, a dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4, a 13MP camera, NFC, and Sprint's 4G LTE.

The device runs Android 4.1.2, which isn't currently the latest iteration of Android, but in line with most newer devices on the market today outside of the Nexus line and the Galaxy S4.

The lack of 2GB of RAM, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and something like an S4 Pro (or newer) upgrade separate the Pro from the current flagships, but then again - did anyone really expect a ZTE phone on Sprint to suddenly blow everyone else out of the water?

Mar

AT&T Resurrects The LG Thrill 4G From The Dead, Gives It ICS

Posted by Cameron Summerson in AT&T, News

After all these years, two star-crossed lovers have finally found their way back into each others' loving arms. Of course I'm talking about AT&T and the LG Thrill 4G. The two started off as a hot couple, but despite their feelings for each other, they knew it just wouldn't work. After all, one was a major carrier, and the other but a simple smartphone. Still, after months apart, the two rekindled the relationship for a brief fling that resulted in the Thrill getting Gingerbread. Since then, the pair have barely spoken.

Today, AT&T has once again proclaimed its love the Thrill – it's giving it Ice Cream Sandwich.

Mar

Verizon Finally Starts Pushing Android 4.2.2 To The Galaxy Nexus

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy Nexus, News, Verizon Wireless

Oh, Verizon. The company we all love to hate (aside from AT&T). You push updates ridiculously late all the time, have to Droidify every handset that comes your way, and charge ridiculously high prices. Still, we just can't stay away. It's the LTE – you know that, right? We love the LTE coverage, so we deal with all the crap.

When it comes to dealing with Verizon's crap, I can't say that any phone has gotten a worse hand than the Galaxy Nexus. Well, except maybe the Droid Bionic. Or Charge. But I digress – this isn't a contest to see which phone was treated the worst.

Mar

Verizon Approves An Update To... The Droid Charge? Face Unlock And A Photo Editor Come To Gingerbread

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Charge (i510), News, Verizon Wireless

Verizon is just not letting up on the updates. Which is kind of a crazy thing to say about the carrier. Today's is an oddity, though, as the Droid Charge will be getting a mild upgrade. Yes, really. It's not a huge change, though. Unfortunately, it's not Jelly Bean (or even Ice Cream Sandwich), but it does bring a couple of the features from those platforms, including face unlock and a photo editor.

Since it's not coming with Ice Cream Sandwich, we have to assume that either Verizon or Samsung (more likely the latter) added the features in themselves.

Mar

AT&T Offering Free Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, Sonos Play:3, Or Xbox 360 To Customers Packaging U-Verse Internet With TV Or Voice

Posted by Liam Spradlin in Android OS, AT&T, Deals, Kindle Fire, Nexus 7

If you're a new AT&T U-Verse internet customer (or considering becoming one), listen up – the service provider announced yesterday that it is now offering a selection of devices free when new customers package internet service with either U-Verse TV or Voice. Customers can choose between a Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, Sonos Play:3 (with WiFi bridge), or an Xbox 360. What's more, customers will get access to AT&T's WiFi network free of charge.

While a free Android tablet (or Play:3 or Xbox 360) may not be your primary reason in signing up for brand new lines of service, those in the market for new internet, TV, or voice service who also happen to want a new gadget (Android-powered or otherwise) may find this deal appealing, and would be well-advised to mention the offer when ordering.

Mar

[Deal Alert] Amazon Wireless Drops The Optimus G To $50 For New Contracts And Upgrades On AT&T And Sprint

Posted by Cameron Summerson in AT&T, Deals, News, Sprint

When it comes down to pure hardware (and even the basic design), the Optimus G is essentially a non-stock-Android Nexus 4. If that means nothing else to you, it should translate into one thing: the guts are pretty awesome, and if you get the chance to throw stock Android on it, the experience is fantastic.

If you've been considering grabbing this device for yourself – on either AT&T or Sprint – Amazon Wireless just dropped the price to $50 for new contracts and upgrades on both carriers. So, no matter which way you slice it, half a Benjamin lands you a pretty impressive phone that fared quite well in our review:

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064 quad-core at 1.5GHz
GPU: Adreno 320
Network Compatibility: AT&T: GSM quad-band with LTE, Sprint: CDMA with LTE
Operating System: Android 4.0.4 with Optimus UI 3.0
Display: 4.7" TrueHD IPS+ 768x1280 (320DPI, 15:9)
Memory: 2GB RAM / 16/32GB storage (depends on model)
Cameras: 1.3MP front, 8/13MP rear (depends on model)
Battery: 2100mAh, non-removable
NFC: Yes
Ports / Expandable Storage: microUSB / microSD (AT&T model only)
Thickness: 8.45mm
Weight: 145g

Hit the links below to buy.

Mar

AT&T Announces Some New High-Data Plans That You Will Probably Never, Ever Buy

Posted by Cameron Summerson in AT&T, News

When the entire world (read: Verizon and AT&T in the U.S.) switched to tiered data packages instead of unlimited all the things!, at least 64% of customers panicked. Now where will I get my 35GB of data each month?! was a common quandary that needed to be solved. AT&T has the answer with its new plans.

If you're the type who needs umpteen geebees of data from your wireless carrier, you can satisfy this necessity for the low price of $300 for 30GB, $400 for 40GB, or $500 for 50GB, plus applicable smartphone, tablet, or other connected device fees, of course.

Mar

[Update: Really, It's Coming - Don't Listen To HTC] AllThingsD: Verizon Will Get The HTC One... But Not For A Month Or Two After Everyone Else

Posted by David Ruddock in HTC, News, One, Rumors, Verizon Wireless

Update 3/18/13: AllThingsD dismissed the now-deleted claim by HTC's Twitter account that the One would not be coming to Big Red as bogus and reiterated that it is, indeed, in the works. As originally reported (see below), it's scheduled to arrive months after other U.S. carriers.

According to AllThingsD, America's biggest and reddest carrier will be getting HTC's One phone - but not for a while. Yep, Verizon has signed on as a distributor of the handset, but it won't be available for "a month or two" after the three other major wireless providers in the US have it.

Mar

Verizon Approves Droid 4 Jelly Bean (4.1) Update, Will Roll Out 'Soon'

Posted by Eric Ravenscraft in Droid 4, News, Verizon Wireless

Verizon has very surprisingly been killing it lately with Jelly Bean updates for various devices. Today, the Droid 4 is joining the pack with an imminent upgrade to Android 4.1. The rollout hasn't begun just yet, but support docs have shown up on the carriers website indicating that the update will be 'Coming Soon.'

Of course, the major benefits of Android 4.1 are obvious: access to Google Now (which can be updated directly from the Play Store after that), improved voice controls, expandable notifications, and voice transcription even when you don't have a data connection. Verizon has also improved connectivity with the mobile hotspot app and no longer includes Sling and MOG as preloaded applications, so you can remove those if you'd like.

Mar

T-Mobile's Galaxy Note II Gets An LTE-Activating OTA; Amaze 4G Gets Security Fixes

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Amaze 4G (Ruby), Galaxy Note II, News, T-Mobile

Well, T-Mobile just got its first LTE device. It's not the already announced SIII, either – it's the Galaxy Note II. That's right, the first LTE-compatible phone comes to T-Mobile by way of OTA update. Owners of Samsung's massive smartphone should be able to pull the 9MB right now, which also brings "various device improvements" along for the ride. Basically, it makes the already-powerful device faster and less buggy.

For those who are rooted and want in on the LTE action, you can grab both odexed and deodexed versions of the ROM, as well as the new modem and kernel files for your flashing pleasure over at XDA.