Motorola On Verizon, AT&T Still Sucks, Stick to T-Mobile and Sprint - http://clapway.com/2016/01/14/motorola-on-verizon-and-att-still-sucks-stick-to-t-mobile-and-sprint-123/

Motorola announced that Android 6 Marshmallow will not be on Verizon or AT&T versions of the Moto X. Maybe it’s why T-Mobile and Sprint don’t sell it. Verizon, at least, is handing out codes that can unlock the phone to install custom ROMs, but other carriers are still on the same boat.

Why Does Motorola Not Have Android OS on Moto X?

Only owners of the ‘Pure Edition’ upgraded Moto X get access to newer OS support. Many people are suspecting that there is a problem among the carriers, but AT&T, Verizon of Motorola haven’t made any statements. If people really want the latest Android OS, you can unlock the phone. However, doing so will void the phone’s warranty and wipe it clean. The company is nevertheless giving users a guide to how to bootload their phones. T-Mobile and Sprint currently don’t carry these phones, but you’re better off with them than with an out of date OS.

Meanwhile, The Moto G and Moto E Are Still Alive!

A representative has declared that though Motorola is rebranding itself, it will not give up on the G and E phones. In addition, representatives announced that every handset released in 2016 will have a screen size minimum of 5″, which confused many, but these two specific series will remain on the market.

New phones will be dubbed as ‘Moto by Lenovo‘, and along with the Vibe series, will completely change the brand. The OEM wants to make things simpler, more elegant and more functional while still remaining fresh. There’s buzz saying that future Motorola phones are going to play with the big boys, featuring even fingerprint sensors, which is only featured by Samsung and the iPhone. Motorola also announced a new user interface that will be revealed in 2016.

What Does this Mean for Apple and Samsung?

Motorola makes parts for most electronics in the mainstream. If they’re serious about re-entering the market, Apple and Samsung can be prepared for a lot of fun competition. It’s been a while since Motorola was buzzing around in the media, and it’s safe to say it’s about time they made a comeback. Though Motorola has not confirmed any rumors, we can expect a great year in electronics thanks to them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5tgDB9e6LI

Motorola On Verizon, AT&T Still Sucks, Stick to T-Mobile and Sprint

AT&T Fights Back Against T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint With Unlimited Data Plan - http://clapway.com/2016/01/11/att-fights-back-against-t-mobile-verizoin-and-sprint-123/

After years in hiding, AT&T’s Unlimited Data Plan is making a comeback. The carrier, number two in the country, is taking a stab at AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. This comes after Sprint announced the extension of their half-off offer.

AT&T Joins Hands with DirecTV and U-verse For New Unlimited Data Plan Offer

As part of the partnership with these two services, the offer gives users unlimited data for $100 per month for one smartphone. If users decide to bring in four smartphones on one plan, they get a credit that makes that fourth line free. That makes for $180 per month for unlimited data, talk, and text on four lines. There are a few catches, though. For starters, users still have to pay a full $220 for the first two months for the credit to come in.

The Unlimited Data Plan Isn’t Perfect

This offer is only applicable to DirecTV and U-verse subscribers that have AT&T plans. Otherwise, the best option would be the Mobile Share Plan. If users get DirecTV and U-verse after setting up aj AT&T plan, they can get an extra $10 off their bills.

The point is to promote AT&T’s acquisition of DirecTV. Streaming on the go is the latest trend, hence the partnership with U-verse. Since video streaming also eats up a lot of data, AT&T is encouraging the use of U-verse for people who stream video outside of their home or office.

Unlike Verizon and Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T Offer Unlimited Plans

AT&T’s previous unlimited data plan capped at 5GB, and the new one allows access to 22GB to be shared between up to four lines. Connectivity might get slower if there’s heavy network congestion. Not Verizon nor Sprint offer any kind of unlimited plan. The only other carrier that offers a similar plan is T-Mobile, though at $95 for one smartphone. There’s also the BingeOn option, but it doesn’t support certain video streams for free data.

AT&T has big plans for 2016, apparently. The carrier declared that this Unlimited Data Plan offer is only ‘the first of many integrated video and mobility offers’ they have planned for the year. Naturally, the company is looking to keep their #2 as close as possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyz8fCERAGg

AT&T Fights Back Against T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint With Unlimited Data Plan

Sprint Declares War Against T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon - http://clapway.com/2016/01/09/sprint-declares-war-against-t-mobile-att-and-verizon-123/

Sprint is extending the half-off rate plan offer to anyone wanting to switch out of T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T. This is hopeful news after T-Mobile took its spot as 3rd most popular carrier.

T-Mobile is Destroying Its Competition

Sprint has a lot of catching up to do. T-Mobile added 1 million or more subscribers to their services even in the slower months of 2015. It’s subscriber count increased by 2.06 million from October through December. Although final quarter results aren’t out yet, T-Mobile likely excelled.

In fact, earnings on T-Mobile’s fourth quarter included 917,000 phone customers with higher credit standards. This means they got more customers that paid for service as opposed to getting a pre-paid plan. This kind of customer is highly valuable. They are often give companies the highest and safest revenue. T-Mobile subscribers grew by 8.3 million in 2015 in total, which means it has 63.28 million in total. That’s 23,000 new customers per day.

Verizon and AT&T have equally overwhelming numbers, but they have been getting these kinds of figures for years now. The fact that Sprint got kicked out of their spot is what is bringing on this competition.

Sprint’s Half-Off Offer Extended to February 11

Probably in an attempt at catching up, Sprint announced the extension of their half-off rate plan offer. The offer is now ending on February 11. Black Friday treated them awfully well, giving the carrier a record in most sales in a single day. They hope to improve performance even further. Sprint has even been getting more positive responses to their wireless network. Sprint may not have the crown yet, but it has the tools to get there.

Can This Carrier Catch Up to AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile?

Sprint didn’t release any subscriber totals on the fourth quarter, but details on customer count and financial statistics will be coming in the next few weeks. Although gains are coming primarily from AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, analysts expect good results from Sprint. The company sported a great 58.58 million subscribers by the end of September.

The truth is, they are not doing terribly. The company is facing many losses, and it is struggling to keep up. Analysts still have faith in the company, and they will surely step their game up to get back what T-Mobile has taken from them.

Sprint Declares War Against T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon

Verizon and Sprint Are Paying Customers Back for Scam - http://clapway.com/2015/12/28/verizon-and-sprint-are-paying-customers-back-for-scam/

Current Verizon or Sprint customers have until December 31 to file a claim regarding unauthorized charges for premium texts. The practice, known as ‘cramming’, allows customers to file claims as part of the company’s multi-million settlement issued by the Federal Communications Commission.

Sprint and Verizon Agreed to Pay $158 million in Settlements

These premium texts often surround ringtones, cell phone wallpapers, or text messages about sports scores, celebrity gossip or tabloid news, and daily horoscopes. As it turns out, customers from these two carriers had allowed third parties to make unauthorized charges to certain accounts.

The Carriers Will Give Customers Their Money Back, Guaranteed

Victims of these charges can file a claim to get real cash money back from the carriers, but this is only viable until December 31. These charges may be $9.99 in average though it ranged between 99 cents and $14 for some customers. These cramming incidents date between 2010 and 2014.

AT&T Were Victims of This in the Past

Last year, AT&T and T-Mobile suffered the same incident, and the carriers paid more than $100 million in settlements. AT&T managed to settle with the FCC in mid-October, agreeing to pay $150 million with $80 million going back to wronged customers. As for T-Mobile, they were fined $112.5 million by the Federal Trade Commission. From this figure, the carrier agreed to pay$90 million in consumer refunds, $18 million in fines and $4.5 million to the FCC.

The holidays are a very stressful time, but things could be looking up for certain customers. If you’ve been wronged by Sprint or Verizon and see unauthorized charges, you can now make your holiday season a lot sweeter.

Filing A Claim to Sprint or Verizon is Easily Done

Victims of having these charges can go into Sprint’s refund website and Verizon’s settlement website. Anyone with additional questions or looking to see if they’re eligible can contact Sprint’s Legal/Regulatory and Consumer Resources (1-877-389-8787) or Verizon’s Wireless Premium SMS Refund Program (1-888-726-7063).

$50 million of Sprint’s settlement money is going back to customers, and $70 million of Verizon’s is for settlements. Both companies were reported to have made huge profits by allowing these third party services to cram customer’s phones. Verizon was earning about 30% in commissions, and Sprint was earning about 35%.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Esrckega-6U

Verizon and Sprint Are Paying Customers Back for Scam

Sprint Will Pay Your Bills Until 2018 - http://clapway.com/2015/11/19/sprint-will-pay-your-bills-until-2018123/

Sprint is hoping to haul in as many AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile customers by offering to cut clients’ current bills in half and let them keep their current phones. In order to qualify, all customers have to do is transfer at least one active line, and even pay a discounted rate if they’re looking for more data.

This Sprint Promotion Will Last Through 2018

This Sprint Promotion Will Last Through 2018

Sprint is hoping to recover from their merge with Nextel, which made them the weakest of the four major telecommunication companies in the United States. T-Mobile has gained favorable rates since introducing the Simple Choice plan and their Un-Carrier campaign, and it looks like this is Sprint’s time to catch up.

This new promotion was announced via a press release. Customers will have four weeks to decide if they enjoy the switch, and if they don’t they’re free to return the device for full credit, no questions asked.

New Sprint Customers Can Even Pick Up A Tablet on the Way!

New Sprint customers will be able to pick up an Alcatel OneTouch PIXI 7 tablet as they switch, though this offer has a limited supply. All of these promotions are likely a step to get Sprint back in the game again, and with these attractive offers, it is likely that they will achieve it.

 

Sprint Will Pay Your Bills Until 2018

No more two year #mobile contracts on #Sprint - http://clapway.com/2015/08/18/are-two-year-contracts-a-thing-of-the-past-sprint-to-replace-outdated-system-234/

In a sign of the changing times, Sprint has just announced that they will be putting an end to their two-year contracts and replacing that system with better options that do not require customers to be committed to a binding contract. This makes Sprint the third of the four major mobile phone networks (Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile) to do away with the outdated system.

The Last Survivor

Earlier this month, Verizon announced that it was getting rid of its two-year contracts and replacing them with more user-friendly month-to-month payment plan options. T-Mobile did away with its two-year contracts over two years ago, leading the charge against the unfriendly and often frustrating system.

Sprint’s announcement that it, too, is getting rid of contracts means that AT&T is now the sole major mobile phone network to still have two-year contract plans for their phones. However, the sole survivor has shown signs that it, too, could eventually be getting rid of the outdated system eventually. Many AT&T users are now opting to buy their phones outright in a payment system rather than be locked down by the two-year contract process.

Two-Year Contracts Face Extinction

With Sprint bidding farewell to the two-year contract process of phone ownership, and AT&T customers preferring to pay for their phone directly instead of going the contract route, one has to wonder just how much longer two-year contracts will still be around. Someday, the notion of the two-year contract system will become just another thing that separates the generations, as parents will have to tell their phone-seeking kids something along the lines of, “When I was your age and I wanted a new phone, we had to sign a contract that bound us to that carrier for two whole years!”

What is Replacing Sprint’s Two-Year Contracts?

Instead of having to sign a contract, Sprint customers will now have to buy their phone at full price on the spot, set up a payment plan that spans two years, or lease their phone from the company. This makes it easier for customers to know exactly how much they are paying every month for their phone and for their service. Abandoning contracts enables customers to compare prices across the networks much easier, making the whole experience of shopping around for a new phone a much less complicated process.

In light of this growing trend of abandoning two-year contracts, carriers are now trying to outdo each other on the deals they offer to potential customers. For instance, Sprint currently offers the cheapest plan for iPhones out of the top four mobile phone networks, and it has offered to cut customers’ bills in half if they switch to Sprint from AT&T or Verizon. When the new iPhone comes out, Sprint has said that customers will be able to grab one with unlimited data for just $75 a month after they trade in an old smartphone.

With this latest announcement from Sprint, it’s only a matter of time before AT&T also does away with two-year contracts altogether and the outdated system goes the way of the dinosaur.

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Are Two-Year Contracts a Thing of the Past? Sprint to Replace Outdated System

T-Mobile Denied Reserved Spectrum By FCC - http://clapway.com/2015/08/07/t-mobile-shot-down-by-fcc-101/

T-Mobile lost a significant bid with the FCC to increase the amount of reserved spectrum to be set aside for the smaller cellular providers in next year’s FCC spectrum auction this week.

The auction, to begin on March 29th of 2016, will distribute the spectrum equally in order to provide valuable broadband for both big and small providers to compete with on equal footing. This comes years after smaller providers have repeatedly requested that the FCC set aside a section of spectrum prohibited to major businesses (e.g., Verizon and AT&T). These restrictions are necessary for for smaller companies like T-Mobile and Sprint to have a shot at outbidding the larger and wealthier rival companies.

FCC ALLOTTED FOR THE 30 MHZ SPECTRUM ALREADY, T-MOBILE SHAFTED

The FCC agreed to save 30 megahertz of spectrum per market for the purposes of giving smaller businesses that necessary shot at sustained competition. T-Mobile had previously been lobbying for 40 megahertz, but this week the commission denied that request, arguing that T-Mobile should be satisfied with 30 MHz.

In a recent statement, FCC chairmen explained that 30 MHz is a happy medium for all parties. This seems to be more of a statistical mean than matter of fact. Some parties are lobbying for the Commission to increase the size of the allotted spectrum, while others are lobbying for it to be eliminated completely, but the FCC is going to leave the reserve right where it already is.

THE 30MHZ ALLOTMENT ALLOWS FOR PROTECTION

The 30 MHz option guarantees protection for bidders who’ve thus far gone without good portions of low-band spectrum access. To be allowed to bid on the 30 MHz, the entity or company will need to hold at least one-third less of the available high quality, low-band spectrum in any given license area.

T-MOBILE WANTED THE RESERVE IN ORDER TO OWN MARKET BETTER

T-Mobile wanted to increase the low-band reserve because the 30 MHz plan would only let carriers that are bidding on that spectrum to get one 10×10 configuration. This is technically a way of predicting how much bandwidth that spectrum will also actually provide for other, higher quality options (e.g. higher-bandwidth).

Many of the other rival companies, like AT&T, believe the FCC was right to deny T-Mobile’s request. The carriers, however, still have concerns as to the details of the auction. Last year, AT&T threatened non-participation in the auction if the FCC enforced restrictions deemed to be onerous or logistically uncouth.

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T-Mobile Denied Reserved Spectrum By FCC

T-Mobile Customers Can Use Phones in Canada and Mexico at No Charge - http://clapway.com/2015/07/10/t-mobile-customers-can-use-phones-in-canada-and-mexico-at-no-charge654/

One of T-Mobile’s latest moves was to add more services to its customers without adding any other charges to customer bills. The mobile carrier will now include texting, calling, and 4G LTE data to and from Mexico and Canada for all customers who have Simple Choice calling plans with the carrier.

SIMPLE CHOICE PLANS WITH T-MOBILE NOW COVERS NORTH AMERICA

This news was all released in a July 9 announcement by T-Mobile. The “no extra charge” initiative for no roaming charges is called “Mobile without Borders” and will begin on July 15th for all T-Mobile customers. The plan covers both sending and receiving calls or texts between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico on T-Mobile phones.

All T-Mobile Simple Choice plan members, regardless if they have a prepaid or billed account, will automatically receive the new calling features at no extra charge as a part of their calling plans. Current Simple Choice customers can join online, in store, or by phone. Business customers can add coverage and calling across North America to their Simple Choice plans at no extra cost for the first 10 lines and only $1 a month for each line beyond that.

IN 2014, THERE WERE OVER $10 BILLION IN GLOBAL ROAMING CHARGES

This is great for customers who frequently make and receive calls and texts from Canada and Mexico, especially when they are traveling between the three countries. Around 55 percent of all international travel and 35 percent of international calls from the United States involved Canada and Mexico. This led to nearly $10 billion in global roaming charges at over 90 percent higher rates for mobile carriers in 2014.

T-MOBILE ACTS 4 MONTHS AFTER AT&T BOUGHT NEXTEL MEXICO

This latest T-Mobile announcement arrives shortly after AT&T, one of T-Mobile’s competitors, announced that it was acquiring the assets of Nextel Mexico for over $1 billion. The AT&T and Nextel Mexico deal was described by AT&T as a step towards the creation of the first North American Mobile Service.

John Legere, CEO and President of T-Mobile mentioned the AT&T acquisition when he discussed the new T-Mobile ‘Mobile without Borders’ services. Legere said that they beat AT&T to the punch and, are doing so in the better way because they are providing these services to and from Canada as well without charging customers more money for them.

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T-Mobile Customers Can Use Phones in Canada and Mexico at No Charge

CEOs of Sprint and T-Mobile Have It Out on Twitter and the Whole World Watches - http://clapway.com/2015/07/05/ceos-of-sprint-and-t-mobile-have-it-out-on-twitter-and-the-whole-tech-world-watches223/

CEOs of Sprint and T-Mobile have had truly a confrontation one a popular social media platform, Twitter this past week. John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile and Marcelo Claure, CEO of Sprint.

LEGERE SHAMELESSLY PROMOTES T-MOBILE

John Legere, CEO of T-Mobile, has truly made a name for himself for shamelessly advertising in attempts to advance T-Mobile’s services without any consideration of his rival phone carriers. This, without a doubt rubbed off on the CEO of another wireless phone carrier. Late on Twitter Wednesday night, Legere scrutinized “All In”. This is another pricing plan that Sprint has come out with. Claure, Sprint’s CEO, reacted to Legere’s feedback with a series of tweets calling the pricing plans of T-Mobile to be misleading to the customer.

This is not the first time Legere has made remarks about different wireless phone carriers. He has made remarks to the two biggest carriers In the United States: Verizon and AT&T.

ceos of sprint and t-mobile BOTH PETITIONED THE FCC FOR MARKET SHARING

This past spring, T-Mobile and Sprint requested of the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, to grow the pool of wireless transmissions be sold to the smaller carriers like T-Mobile and Sprint in the next year. Verizon and AT&T have considerable larger amounts of market sharing in the market shares. Their amount of market sharing is currently a lot larger than the other two carriers.

CLAUDE says t-mobile ‘WORSE THAN THE OTHER TWO CARRIERS TOGETHER’

Claude made a remark on Twitter that Legere and T-Mobile were “worse than the other two carriers together”. He then stated that Sprint’s new “All In” is a ‘hit and miss’. He then compared Sprint to the two bigger carriers, Verizon and T-Mobile. In addition to these tweets, there was very colorful language accessorizing his tweets. To top it all off, Claure tweeted at John Legere that he was tired of him and his “uncarrier *expletive* and ended his tweet with #Tmobilelikehell. This was in response to Legere’s earlier #Sprintlikehll remark.

Claure reacted to these remarks by stating that imitation is a joke. He then says that T- Mobile tricks people into thinking that they have a 15 dollar iPhone lease when it isn’t true. He also says that they let their customers believe that they can update their phones up to three times, but fail to tell them that the bill goes up $27 when they do. He then ends his tweet with #Tmobilelikehell.

Legere finished this session of the fight hours after the fact saying, “you mad bro?” The T-Mobile advertising office has declined to make any official remarks, saying that Legere represents himself. This fight between the CEOs of sprint and t-mobile is a spicy one for sure.

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CEOs of Sprint and T-Mobile Have It Out on Twitter and the Whole World Watches