Carriers - 19/218 - Android Police - Android News, Apps, Games, Phones, Tablets

Feb

Sprint Updates The LG Viper 4G To Version LS840ZVK For Better LTE Reception

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in LG, News, Sprint, Viper

Quick note, LG Viper owners: If you're getting an update request this afternoon, don't get too excited. The newest software addition isn't any flavor of Jelly Bean. It's just a small update that addresses "LTE network acquisition improvements", which probably means it'll help you when transitioning from Sprint's old and busted 3G network to the new LTE hotness.

LS840ZVK 2/7/2013

- LTE network acquisition improvements

Check your Settings menu, then System Update to get the latest download. If you aren't seeing it right away, remember that carriers tend to deploy these things in waves. You might want to sit this one out if you're rooted, especially if you're not one of the lucky few within Sprint's LTE service area.

Feb

AT&T MiFi Liberate Hotspot Review: It Has LTE, A Touchscreen, And Amazing Battery Life - Any More Questions?

Posted by David Ruddock in 4G, Accessories, AT&T, Other Reviews

Mobile data hotspots aren't the world's most exciting products, though if you travel consistently, they can be an absolute lifesaver. But let's be brutally honest: the average mobile data consumer really doesn't care about the hotspot itself - as long as it works. They care about the network, and the monthly pricing. That's really it.

The hotspot is basically just a tiny little Wi-Fi router with a cellular modem and a lithium-ion battery inside. If it functions properly, you only remember it exists when the battery dies. If it doesn't, it's the worst thing in the universe, and you actively contemplate just how many pieces it would shatter into after a fall from the 4th story window of Homewood Suites.

Feb

[Update: Rollout Starts Feb. 12th] Motorola Begins Jelly Bean (Android 4.1.2) Rollout For The Electrify M On US Cellular

Posted by David Ruddock in Device Updates, Electrify M, Jelly Bean 4.1, News, US Cellular

Last Updated: February 8th, 2013

Update: We've heard from US Cellular that the rollout will begin on February 12th - apparently someone jumped the gun on the update page.

After promising to do so in Q1 2013 back in December, Motorola has officially begun rolling out Android 4.1.2 to the Electrify M on US Cellular. The Electrify M is basically a de-Verizoned RAZR M, so it makes sense that the Electrify's update follows after its DROID kin's.

You can find a link to the standard Motorola Jelly Bean upgrade overview on US Cellular's website. The build number is 9.8.2Q-50_SLS-7. The OTA update will probably be rolling out in stages, so keep hitting that 'System Updates' button over the next week or two.

Feb

ZTE Launches The Blade III With Virgin Media In The UK For £79.99 PAYG Or £18 On Contract

Posted by John Thompson in News, Virgin Mobile, ZTE

The ZTE Blade III has been available outside of the UK since September of last year, but it's only just making its official appearance on British shores now, as a Virgin Media exclusive, for now at least.

The budget smartphone, which comes with a 4-inch capacitive display, 1GHz CPU, 512MB of RAM and 2.5GB of internal storage, is available for just £79.99 through Virgin Media on pay-as-you-go. If you'd prefer to be on a monthly contract, prices start at £18 for non-Virgin customers, whilst those who have an existing Virgin Media package can get it for £13 a month.

On the lowest monthly tariff, you'll receive 500MB of data, 200 minutes and 500 texts.

Feb

Best Buy's "Phone Freedom" $50 Gift Card Promo Returns – Sign Up By Feb 9th And Redeem Through The End Of 2013

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in AT&T, Carriers, News, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless

If you're going to be getting a phone upgrade in 2013, Best Buy has your number. Or rather, it wants your number. Last year's Phone Freedom promotion is back, and that means you can get a $50 gift card with a new phone purchase just for registering with your email address and phone number before February 9th at 11:59PM.

So here's the deal: hit the Best Buy promo page and sign up with your email and phone number. Once that's done, keep an eye out for the one device that makes your heart sing in 2013 and buy it from Best Buy or Best Buy Mobile (on or after February 10th).

Feb

Samsung Galaxy S III Mini Coming To T-Mobile As The Galaxy Exhibit 4G... Again

Posted by Jeremiah Rice in Galaxy S III Mini, News, Samsung, T-Mobile

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That seems to be the attitude that T-Mobile is taking with its domestic variations of budget-friendly Samsung smartphones. The Galaxy S III Mini (which has its own misnomer issues) is headed to T-Mobile as the Samsung Galaxy Exhibit, according to UnwiredView. The only difference from the international version appears to be an admittedly snazzy grey and teal trim makeover.

If you'll recall, this is far from T-Mobile's first Exhibit. The first Exhibit 4G was a shrunken-down version of Samsung's first Galaxy generation from mid 2011, and the Exhibit II 4G followed a couple of months later as the first Tmo phone to be sold off-contract through Wal-Mart.

Feb

T-Mobile Galaxy S III LTE Tipped For Late March / Early April Release

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy S III, Leaks, News, T-Mobile

If you've been waiting on more information about T-Mobile's up-and-coming LTE-powered Galaxy S III – like, you know, a potential release date – wait no more. TMoNews has gotten its hands on a leaked image of an internal T-Mobile slide that shows what could be a probable release time frame for the device:

As you can see, way down at the bottom, it clearly reads Samsung T999L Galaxy S III LTE, with a launch date of either March 27th or April 3rd. Of course, leaks like this shouldn't be taken as gospel, as they are subject to change at any time.

Feb

T-Mobile Sending Small OTA Updates To The Galaxy Note And Relay 4G, Android 4.0 To The Blaze 4G

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Galaxy Note (GT-N7000), Galaxy S Blaze 4G, Galaxy S Relay 4G, News, T-Mobile

Last Updated: February 5th, 2013

Looks like it's OTA Monday for T-Mobile! The carrier just updated its support docs for three different handsets – the Galaxy Note, Relay 4G, and Blaze 4G – with details of incoming updates. While the first two devices are just receiving minor security enhancements, the latter is getting a major bump from Gingerbread to ICS. Here's a brief rundown of what to expect from each OTA:

Galaxy Note (T879UVMA1) – Security Enhancements
Galaxy S Relay 4G (T699UVMA2) – Security Enhancements
Galaxy S Blaze 4G (T769UVLF5) – Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, Mobile Hotspot Icon location fix, Add Email option fix

For all the Blaze owners out there, this may look all too familiar.

Feb

PSA: Straight Talk And Net10 Sold Out Of AT&T SIM Cards Online – Don't Panic

Posted by Ryan Whitwam in Carriers, News

We've been hearing for the past few days that users have been unable to get new AT&T-compatible SIM cards from Straight Talk and Net10 websites. The only option seems to be the T-Mobile SIM. This was causing quite a bit of consternation as the Nexus 4 is finally starting to ship again. The complete absence of AT&T SIMs from both sites led many to wonder if AT&T service was no longer being sold by these Tracfon-owned entities. Well, we've investigated and there appears to be no cause for alarm.

Straight Talk and Net10 are mobile virtual network operators (MVNO). That means that neither company runs its own towers – they just buy access from the big carriers.

Feb

[Deal Alert] Verizon's Titanium Gray Galaxy Note II Only $149 For New Accounts From Amazon Wireless

Posted by Cameron Summerson in Deals, Galaxy Note II, News, Verizon Wireless

Want a behemoth phone on Verizon, but don't feel like shelling out three-hundred dollars for it? Look no further than Amazon Wireless for your solution – it just dropped the price of the Note II on Big Red to $150 for new customers. That's half of what Verizon is asking. For the same phone. Existing customers can snag one for $190, so it's still a savings of over $100.

There's only one catch here: this deal is only for the Titanium Gray version of the massive handset. If you're dead-set on getting the white one, you'll be stock paying $200.