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Bringing phones to T-Mobile's LTE network: The devil's in the details

Today, T-Mobile hyped how much easier bringing phones to its new network will be. As it turns out, however, it isn't as simple as you'd think.

Here's the deal. T-Mobile is in the middle of three major wireless transitions. Besides ripping up mandatory two-year contracts, the carrier is building a new 4G LTE network. If that wasn't enough, T-Mobile also is migrating its older 3.5G data service from the AWS band (1700/2100) where it currently lives over to the 1,900MHz GSM band.

But that's not all. T-Mobile is using that freed-up AWS … Read more

Testing T-Mobile's 4G LTE

T-Mobile just took a bold, new step by shredding the contracts for its plans plus launching its new 4G LTE data network. But what kind of speeds can you really expect to see on the carrier's hot, new devices? Judging from what I observed at T-Mobile's splashy press event in New York, apparently quite a bit. … Read more

Three T-Mobile phones worth waiting for (roundup)

Now that T-Mobile has done away with its two-year contract model, we take a look at the three hottest handsets that are destined for the carrier.

Based on its new options, you will be able to get these phones alongside a monthly $50 unlimited talk and text plan (and 500MB of data thrown in for good measure). If you want unlimited data, you'll need to pay $20 more, totaling up to a reasonable $70 per month.

For more on what the carrier has in store, join CNET tomorrow at 8 a.m. PT as we live blog its "… Read more

T-Mobile's new twist on monthly plans

CNET Update can spare some change:

T-Mobile is ditching the typical contract and smartphone subsidy for a new plan. Pay full price for a phone, or pay it off over time with monthly payments -- and data plans start at $50 a month for 500 MB. Expect T-Mobile to release more details at a press announcement Tuesday morning.

Other stories featured in Monday's tech roundup:

- Barnes & Noble is working on incorporating in-app purchases for apps on the Nook tablets. And for those seeking an e-reader for their Easter basket, Barnes & Noble is giving a free Nook Simple Touch e-reader with the purchase of the Nook HD+ tablet. … Read more

HTC One launch delay: Blame camera shortfall, HTC says

The launch of the HTC One has been stymied by a limited supply of cameras.

HTC chief marketing officer Benjamin Ho confirmed the component shortage in an interview with the Wall Street Journal yesterday.

"Our friends in the media have been asking why there has been a delay in shipments for the new HTC One, whether there is a component shortage," Ho said. "There is some shortage, because the phone's camera was designed specifically for us, and production cannot be ramped up so quickly."

Ho's comments echoed those of an "unnamed HTC executive,&… Read more

Hulk-strong screens, IR blasters, NFC-everything: Your future phone (Smartphones Unlocked)

Here's the smartphone of your short-term future: it has a 5-inch, 1080p HD screen, an 8-core application processor, and a 13-megapixel camera that does crazy things like simultaneously record through both front and rear lenses. You can use it to change your TV channel, tap it to play songs on your car, and control it without ever touching the screen.

The smartphone of your near future takes your pulse, synchronizes to your scale, and tumbles from your hands without a scratch. Oh yeah, and did I mention that it'll last two days on a single charge?

New production … Read more

HTC One lands in U.K. next week, U.S., Europe, and Asia in April

After a delay that's stalled HTC's sale of its flagship HTC One, the company has now announced the phone's availability for several markets.

HTC will start stocking shelves with the One in the U.K., Germany, and Taiwan next week. Most other markets in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region will follow by the end of April.

HTC acknowledged the shipping delay in a statement, saying: "We appreciate our customers' patience, and believe that once they have the phone in their hands they will agree that it has been worth the wait."

CNET editor … Read more

Google Keep geared for Google Glass

This week, Google quietly launched Keep, a simple, note-taking mobile app. It's not as full-featured or multiplatform as Evernote, the leader in the revived personal organizer or "external brain" category, and currently only works on Android and Google Drive. Google will likely make Keep available on Apple's iOS, as it has with its other apps, and add features, such as the ability to attach files and embed video. Nonetheless, the press and other observers are questioning the company's commitment to its apps after the recent notice that Google Reader would cease to exist.

The reality … Read more

HTC One delay due to diss by suppliers

This morning we learned a little more about why the HTC One, the last (or at least the latest) great hope for a onetime ascendant titan of the smartphone world, has been delayed. Put simply, HTC has been seriously dissed by its own suppliers.

An unnamed HTC executive told The Wall Street Journal that availability of its pretty new flagship phone has been pushed back because of component shortages:

The company has a problem managing its component suppliers as it has changed its order forecasts drastically and frequently following last year's unexpected slump in shipments.... HTC has had difficulty in securing adequate camera components as it is no longer a tier-one customer.… Read more