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Google Fi just removed US Cellular as its ‘official’ network
The MVNO has so far relied on both T-Mobile and US Cellular to provide its services
Google Fi has long been a better — and cheaper — way to improve your cellular network experience on some of the top Android phones that are compatible with Fi. That has been possible because the MVNO has so far relied on two network providers, T-Mobile and US Cellular, to get you a strong signal wherever you are. It now looks like Google Fi is dropping US Cellular, at least as its official partner, but you have little to worry about.
The FCC shows you where the data's at with new nationwide LTE map
"Nationwide" unless you're a T-Mobile user in Nebraska, apparently
Carriers and phone manufacturers might be talking about nothing but 5G lately, but when it comes to the infrastructure that keeps most of us online, day-in and day-out, the US still very much runs on LTE. While such 4G coverage is fantastically strong in many places, that's still far from the case everywhere, and it hasn't always been easy to get straight answers from the carriers about exactly what kind of reception you can expect, and where. Thankfully, the FCC has just taken a big step towards fixing that, publishing its first standardized nationwide map of 4G coverage.
Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra: Best deals, pricing, trade-in values, and availability
You can get an S21 for as low as $99 with a valid trade-in
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Samsung's new Galaxy S21 series is now shipping to buyers, and just like last year, there are three models to choose from. Even though all of them — the S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra — are cheaper than their S20 counterparts, they can still cost you up to $1,200. Finding the best deal possible could save you hundreds of dollars.
Google Pixel 5 and 4a 5G: Best deals, pricing, trade-in values, and availability
Here's where to buy the newest Pixels
Google has finally revealed the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G today, following months of leaks and rumors. Both phones are available for pre-order starting today, and while the pricing is the same no matter where you get them from, some stores offer bonuses and trade-in promotions that sweeten the deal.Here are all the different places you can get Google's new phones from, with all the information you need to get the best deal.
US carriers forgiving late payments, continue to bolster benefits during coronavirus fallout
Latest: T-Mobile and Verizon extend their pledge to June 30, U.S. Cellular to July 31
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Cellular carriers have earned many negative impressions over the years for poor billing practices, unfair contracts, and some dubious attempts to insert themselves where they might not belong; but there's no denying that they have a good track record for giving a little back in times of crisis. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, carriers in the U.S. have committed to not terminate customers' lines and provide more data and cheaper plans to those who need them.
Galaxy S20 sales are here: Here are the best release-day deals from carriers, retailers, and Samsung
Things have changed quite a bit from the pre-order stage
Samsung put out its phones. We've put out our review. You've yet to make a purchase decision. It's okay. If you didn't pre-order a Galaxy S20, S20+, or S20 Ultra, don't worry: depending on which retailer your prefer, you may have greater incentive to buy a shiny new 5G phone today. We've got the details on all the sweeteners these brands are offering to get a shiny new slab in your hands.
When you live in a remote area, carrier coverage maps are supposed to help you choose the best service for your location so you don't end up with no signal at all. To no one's surprise, a test conducted by the FCC brings to light that some mobile internet providers tend to overestimate the speed and reach of their network — you could even conclude that they're outright lying about their coverage about 40% of the time. The carriers blame the FCC for their inaccurate maps and claim that they just followed the agency's instructions on how to submit coverage data, which they say led to the overestimates, understandably.
The Pixel 4 and 4 XL have been announced and already, the masses have flocked to online retail outlets to make their pre-orders. Over time, more carriers will sign on with their own sales. So, we're gonna help you keep track of where you can buy the latest Google phones and what you'll be getting for your money with this handy-dandy post right here, which will be updated when necessary.
Congress has told voice service providers to shut down robocallers and instate call blocking by default. The FCC has mandated just the same. Now, 12 voice service providers have agreed to a series of principles drawn by attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia that include offering that call blocking to consumers for free, implementing STIR/SHAKEN across their networks, and cooperating in investigations.
Samsung's Galaxy Note10, Note10+, and Note10+ 5G are all official. Following that long and leaky wait, you can now pre-order the latest stylus-equipped Note series flagship. And whether you're already locked into a specific carrier, or hoping to shop around for a deal, you can save quite a bit of cash taking advantage of the right pre-order promotions.
The rise of 5G is exciting, but taking full advantage of its potential is going to require carriers to expand their coverage into new parts of the RF spectrum. The FCC has been auctioning off the rights to some of these frequencies and has just completed the process for the 24GHz band while also announcing the winners of its 28GHz band auction. As was expected from the outset, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon were the largest bidders and winners of the processes.
The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL have just been announced at Google I/O 2019 and will be on the most carriers in the United States than any other generation of Pixel phone. Google Fi, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, Verizon, and Visible are pegged to sell the phones as early as today for about $400 and $480, respectively. We've got all you need to know about any deals and quirks you should watch for.
If you've got $1,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you're in luck. Samsung's latest smartphones are launching today. You can mosey down to your local carrier store or electronics retailer and buy a Samsung Galaxy S10e, S10, or S10+. You can also order them online for shipping in (probably) a couple of days.
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- Just a little over a week from the V40's debut, your chance has finally arrived to get a pre-order in for LG's latest flagship. As we noted when initially sharing these pre-order dates with you, Verizon couldn't control its enthusiasm and got things started a day early, accepting pre-orders beginning yesterday.
LG has just taken the wraps off the V40 ThinQ, its follow-up to the almost continual V30/V30S ThinQ/V35 ThinQ refreshes. The latest iteration in the V series brings real change in design, though, with a new notched and significantly improved OLED display, triple rear camera configuration, and a $900-1000 price tag to go with it.
We all know that the supposed "unlimited" plans offered by US carriers actually impose a large number of limits. So, you might as well get something for putting up with them. US Cellular's new Unlimited with Payback plan comes with an interesting offer. Use as much data as you want, but you can get $10 back on your next bill if you keep your usage lower.
The Galaxy Note9 was officially announced today, and you might be wondering where and how you can buy one. Don't worry, we have all the details right here.
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LG's latest mainstream device is the G7 ThinQ, a phone that was subject to months of rumors before the official announcement. The G7 isn't particularly special, but it's not necessarily bad either. If you've been wanting to buy it, you can now order the G7 from all major US carriers (except AT&T, who wants to sell you the V35 instead) and several retail stores.Sprint has the G7 for $792 full price, or $33/month for 18 months on Sprint Flex. T-Mobile has it for the slightly-lower price of $750, or $30/month for two years (with a $30 down payment). U.S. Cellular is selling the G7 for $749.70, or $14.99/month for 30 months. Verizon has it for $27.08/month for 24 months, or $750 full price. Finally, the phone is supposed to be available on Project Fi, but the carrier still says it's coming soon.Moving onto retailers, Best Buy has the Sprint and Verizon models, but not an unlocked version. B&H is selling the Platinum and Black colors unlocked. LG says the G7 will also be sold on Amazon, but the listing doesn't appear to be live yet.
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LG has finally revealed its next flagship phone: The G7 ThinQ. Although we have a good idea of the specs and capabilities packed inside LG's latest flagship—including its AI-powered camera and "Super Bright" screen—some unresolved particulars still remain. For a more detailed assessment of the hardware and software experience, you'll have to wait for our full review. But the question of carrier availability is one that can be answered now.
Securus Technologies is a Texas-based company, specializing in providing and monitoring calls to prison inmates. Securus came into the spotlight earlier this month, when a former Missouri sheriff was found using the company's service to repeatedly track people without a warrant. The New York Times reports that between 2014 and 2017, former sheriff Cory Hutcheson used the service at least 11 times, allegedly tracking a judge and members of the State Highway Patrol.