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T-Mobile to roll out 4G LTE network in 2013
Out of the four major carriers, both AT&T and Verizon already have 4G LTE networks established, and Sprint has announced plans to roll out an LTE network of their own as well. This leaves T-Mobile as the only major carrier who sports a HSPA+ network as their fastest possible connection, but the good news for T-Mobile subscribers is that the carrier has announced their plans to roll out an LTE network of their own for 2013. Granted it’s still quite a way to go, but it’s still progress!
This is possible thanks to the additional spectrum that T-Mobile managed to get thanks to the deal with AT&T falling through. For those who aren’t familiar, part of AT&T and T-Mobile’s agreement was if the merger should fall through, AT&T would pay T-Mobile a sum of money (breakup fee if you want to call it that), and at the same time provide them with AWS spectrum. We guess something good came out of the deal falling through, so T-Mobile subscribers, you guys have an LTE network to look forward to in 2013! No word on when exactly the network will roll out, but we will be keeping our eyes peeled, so stay tuned!
Patience is a virtue, or so it seems. If you have been rocking with T-Mobile all this while, and are in possession of the HTC One M9, then you would be pleased to know that this particular handset is starting to receive the Android 5.1 Lollipop update. Better late than never, especially when you take into consideration how the unlocked HTC One M9, its developer edition, and the AT&T model has already picked up this update.
The update will come in the form of build 2.7.531.6 via Over The Air (OTA), and it will be a rather hefty 833MB download, which means you would be better off connected to a fast Wi-Fi network to get the job done as opposed to relying on your data. If you haven’t yet received Android 5.1 Lollipop, just head on to the About > Software updates menu from time to time until you pick up the download prompt.
If you are rocking with T-Mobile as your mobile carrier of choice, listen up! Both the LG G Stylo and LG Leon have arrived in the US, and this means you can now get your hands on these highly affordable handsets if you think it is time to change that aging phone of yours. For instance, postpaid customers of T-Mobile who are interested in the LG G Stylo will not have to fork out a single cent at first, but over the course of the next 24 months, you will have to pay a monthly installment of $12.08, resulting in a grand total of $289.92 for the smartphone.
As for the LG Leon, if you are willing to take a similar route, then you will need to agree to 24 equal monthly payments of $6.24, and after wiping off the dust from our calculators, that adds up to a full retail price of $149.76. T-Mobile is also said to be offering the Leon for free after a rebate to its prepaid customers who want to settle for a plan that costs a minimum of $40 each month.
Peace of mind is something that everyone is looking for, and I would suppose that those who are insanely rich would find it rather difficult to attain such a state of mind, taking into consideration just how much that they have to lose should their fortune get wiped out. Then again, those who are not too well off, too, have plenty to worry about, ranging from where to get the next meal to whether one can meet the rent at the end of the month. Not only that, we also have to worry about our privacy in this digital age, and it was not too long ago that a report which touted that documents leaked by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden did show off how the American NSA and the British GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) hacked into a major SIM card manufacturer’s systems in order to obtain encryption keys half a decade ago. Dutch SIM card manufacturer Gemalto wants to assuage fears among its customers that their SIM cards are secure despite the reported security breach.
It is nice to see Gemalto step forward and make such an announcement, since they happen to be one of the biggest SIM manufacturers in the world, with their efforts resulting in supplying more than two billion SIM cards annually, even catering for all four major US carriers not to mention hundreds of other mobile service providers. [Press Release]