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T-Mobile details LTE plans, HSPA+ 84 also a possibility
A while back we mentioned that T-Mobile would finally be joining the list of carriers that provide 4G LTE, although that particular service is only expected to be made available come 2013. Admittedly they are a bit late to the party, but T-Mobile’s CTO, Neville Ray, did not seem particularly concerned in a statement the carrier issued:
“Not at all. As we roll out LTE in 2013, we have the advantage of coming to market at a time when the price points on LTE devices and network infrastructure will be coming down and the performance of LTE devices and network infrastructure will be improving. We plan to deploy LTE release 10 compatible equipment, so we’ll be well-positioned and ready to move to LTE Advanced.”
So what will become of T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network? For subscribers who might be worried that the carrier would abandon the HSPA+ network, fret not as it seems that T-Mobile has no such plans and could eventually upgrade their HSPA+ network to a HSPA+ 84 network in the future, although they have not confirmed anything at the moment.
“The evolution of HSPA+ is still an opportunity for us and offering HSPA+ 84 (84Mbps theoretical download speeds) is something we’ll continue to evaluate because the capability is there in the network. That said, our priority now is preparing our network for LTE in 2013. But, in the long run, I would like to see both technologies advance.”
So, what do you guys think? Will this help to boost T-Mobile’s standing?
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]