There’s a new open-source phone running on GNU/Linux: Openmoko. This looks like a European release, though it does support the U.S. band of GSM. It comes with basic features, and developers are free to create their own software plugins. Sounds like a great concept, and it’s something we’d like to get into over the next few months.

Looks like Best Buy is getting a new slew of Sidekicks from T-Mobile. These include the Gekko and the Tony Hawk edition.

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

“The commission cannot responsibly reach a decision on the proposal advanced … without gathering empirical data concerning the interference risks that have been identified,” T-Mobile USA told the FCC. “TDD proponents have not provided any evidence whatsoever to meet their burden, and adjacent licensees concerned about the TDD proposal have not had adequate time to comprehensively finish their own interference analyses because they had no notice that the commission would shift the burden to them to provide affirmative evidence of interference. Even when it became clear that the commission was leaning toward a TDD proposal, the commission failed to take up T-Mobile’s repeated invitation to participate in joint testing of AWS-1 devices and those devices vulnerability to interference from TDD operations in the AWS-3 band.”

The spectrum, 25 megahertz, would have to offer 25 percent of its capacity for free wireless Internet. Free Internet? And the government approves of this? What gives? Anyway, it would also include an obscene-content filter, which users could opt-out of.

Any delay would likely push the decision to the next administration. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin stands in favor of the move, in opposition to GOP lawmakers and the wireless industry. They argue that such provisions will drive auction proceeds down. Yet a similar group said the same thing about the Canadian AWS auction, and that’s going along better than anyone imagined.

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

Largest carrier in America?

At the end of the first quarter of 2008, Sprint had 52.8 million subscribers. Add that to T-Mobile’s current 30 million subscribers, and you get over 80 million. AT&T ended the first quarter with 71.4 million subscribers. Verizon had 67.2 million, and Alltel had 13 million. So when you smush everything together, it looks like T-Mobile/Sprint would come out ahead.

However, that doesn’t take into consideration a number of factors. For instance, it seems unlikely that the merged company would hold onto three different networks. Sprint has had a hard enough time managing a CDMA/iDEN network combination, so adding GSM to that would only make things tougher on the new owners. This would play into rumors that Sprint might want to sell off Nextel. Sounds like an interesting proposition.

How many customers would that mean? It’s tough to find data on Nextel subscribers, but back in 2004 they were estimated at 15 million. I haven’t a clue how to figure their numbers now, but if we just take that 15 million and subtract it, well, it would seem that T-Mo/Sprint would slide back into third place, though they’d be a bit closer to Verizon and AT&T than they had been separately. Plus, with Sprint’s Qchat, maybe they could lure some of the Nextel customers who use the service just for Direct Connect.

Combining the GSM/CDMA networks

Even if Sprint does drop Nextel and the iDEN network, how would a T-Mo/Sprint team handle CDMA and GSM? This becomes even more complicated when you factor in T-Mobile’s AWS licenses and Sprint’s WiMAX project. Engadget Mobile might have put it best: “…and did we mention the infrastructure would be GSM with AWS, PCS CDMA, and iDEN, all competing for spectrum and handset allocation? Good luck guys.”

Many familiar with the cellular industry have proposed solutions to this. The most common opinion I’ve seen is that the new company work towards a gradual merger towards a GMS platform. This would mean the phasing out of Sprint and their CDMA network. The problem, of course, is getting all customers onto new compatible handsets. In essence, that might be a two-year process, and even then you’ll have stragglers who don’t want to sign a new contract and take a subsidy on a new phone.

The most likely solution is that they merged company retains both platforms, at least for the time being. There might be some re-allocation, as to satisfy demand in certain areas. For instance, if there is an area heavy with T-Mobile subscribers but light on Sprint subscribers, they could convert some of those towers to GSM, strengthening the needed T-Mobile signal. However, this strategy would also require the company to pick which platform to use going forward. They would then only sell new handsets with that radio, likely GSM. As more and more customers buy the new handsets, the company could begin converting towers.

This does leave in question Sprint’s WiMAX project. If the company is going the way of GSM, then LTE makes the most sense for the 4G network. Considering the rest of the country is headed in that direction, it might be a necessity. Any way they would choose to do it, though, they would have to learn from the grave mistakes made during the Nextel integration.

Competing on price?

When we looked at the advantages of each major U.S. carrier last week, both T-Mobile and Sprint displayed their advantages in the pricing department. Specifically, Sprint’s Simply Everything plan and T-Mobile’s Hotspot @Home service makes them attractive to prospective customers. So they could certainly compete with Verizon and AT&T based on the pricing of features.

To start, Hotspot @Home could be invaluable to the combined company. While Verizon and AT&T are trying to hold onto their dying landline business, T-Mo/Sprint could go ahead and completely undersell them with Hotspot. Customers would get to keep their home phone number, as well as keep it in the home where it can remain private. Since it only costs $10 per month, about a third of typical landline service, T-Mo/Sprint would also completely undercut landline pricing.

Sprint’s Simply Everything might cost as much as the unlimited plans from the other major carriers, but they offer far, far more in terms of features. Unlimited calling, texting, MMS, mobile Web, Sprint TV, and Sprint Navigation, all for the price you get for just voice with AT&T and Verizon. Offer this across the board to 70-million some-odd subscribers, and you’re going to make some waves. Plus, if you add $10 per month to that, you can add Hotspot. So for $110 plus fees and taxes per month, your wireless and home calling plans are completely taken care of.

Then again, since this would further reduce the number of major carriers in the U.S., it could cause stagnation in pricing. With fewer entities competing, there’s less of an incentive to be the one who stirs the pot and reduces prices. This has to be the largest concern of consumers with a possible merger. No one wants less competition. Oligopolies usually don’t serve the people as well as free and robust markets.

(Incidentally, this merger and the Verizon/Alltel one would leave U.S. Cellular as the No. 4 provider in America. Crazy, huh?)

Can it happen?

It’s tough to say whether this is feasible or not. Many people think it is, and further think that it’s the best way for Sprint to stay above water. Others think that the network integration would be too much of a hassle and cost the entity far too much capital. Both have points, which makes it difficult to make a solid judgment.

However, the competition factor might make this deal a necessity. Sprint is sitting in the 50 million subscriber range, T-Mobile in the 30s. Without a merger, it’s unlikely, possibly impossible, for either of them to catch up to Verizon and AT&T, which are in the 70 million range. It depends, then, on their want to compete at the higher level, of their level of content playing at a lower level.

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

The ACLE and the EFF, two American civil liberties watch dogs, have filed suit against the U.S. government. They want to find out what kind of information the government has regarding cell phone tracking, and how it used it without probable cause.

Want an iPhone without a contract? Don’t buy the $599 or $600 models. Instead pay an early termination fee. It’ll come out about a hundred bucks cheaper. You just have to do it after the first month, as AT&T requires you to return the device if you cancel within that period. So at least that’s some good news regarding the iPhone pricing.

Speaking on the iPhone, there’s this rumor at The Register, via Crave, that Apple might have a slider iPhone in the works for next year. Could we be seeing the start of a line of iPhones, like the iPod?

If you have an unlimited AT&T data plan, don’t go assuming it’s really unlimited. Yeah, you read that right. It appears they charge an insane rate for roaming. Yet another reason to read every word of the fine print.

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

The idea is similar to Hotspot. The router acts as a signal booster, using your broadband connection as an aide. Calls made within the router’s range will be free. However, there’s a catch or two that makes it somewhat less than attractive.

First, it will cost $15 per month for an individual account, or $30 per month for a family. As previously mentioned, a typical landline — or commercial VoIP — will cost around $30 per month, so it doesn’t stand to save you much. Second, and this is just a rumor, but it might only work with a Simply Unlimited plan. Ouch, Sprint, ouch.

It will work with any handset, though, not just WiFi enabled ones like T-Mobile. The Airave unit will run $99.

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

Looks like UTStarcom won’t be in the mobile business anymore. The company is divesting their handset business in a sell-off for $240 million. The new company, Personal Communications Devices, will feature many UTStarcom mobile execs.

Yesterday, we talked about the HTC Touch pro. Now we find out that it might be headed for CDMA carriers. Brilliant. HTC is doing a knock-up job of creating and hyping some quality PDAs.

Are you someone who was clamoring for a messaging plan to go along with Alltel’s My Circle? You’re in luck. They’ve added two bundles which both give you unlimited texting and picture messaging to your circle. The $7.99 plan gives you 400 messages to people outside your circle, and the $12.99 plan gives you 1,000. Something tells me it’ll be tough to go over the $12.99 plan.

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

These rumors are spreading just a week after we found out that the Instinct is Sprint’s fastest selling phone ever. This led the stock to rise over the past week, while the rest of the market has been on a downtrend. So while it doesn’t represent a complete turnaround, it appears that investors are becoming more comfortable with Sprint.

Still, it’s going to be a long summer for Sprint. July 11 still stares in their faces, as they could lose a number of customers to the iPhone. They also have to do something about prorated ETFs, as their major competitors all have. A favorable customer service ranking in the next J.D. Power & Associates survey wouldn’t hurt, either, especially if they topped AT&T.

Over the next few months, we can expect to hear a lot more from Sprint about WiMax, which should help the company out. We should also hear, though not directly from them, about the possible dumping of Nextel, and of a possible acquisition by T-Mobile. We’ll keep our eyes peeled.

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

Live in Tennessee? Well, then you live in the textiest state, according to Verizon. This means that they send and receive the most text message per month. The “Big City Wireless Use Study,” formed by Verizon in 2006, shows that Tennessee has seen a 520 percent increase in text usage since then.

HTC makes a mean cell pone. Check out IntoMobile for a review of the HTC Touch Pro, which we used to refer to as Raphael. It honestly looks awesome.

And finally, if you’re in college and have an opinion on the future of smartphones, check out Symbian’s essay contest. They’re looking for a vision of the industry in four to seven years. This runs until the end of September, and will handsomely reward the winner with nearly two grand. Via IntoMobile

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

When downloading over the air, you’ll be charged $2. This comes with a version for your phone, as well as an MP3 version, which you can download to your computer using VCAST/Rhapsody software. And, if you happen to be sitting at home, you can save $1 by downloading the song right to your computer, DRM free, and then sideloading it to your handset.

This Verizon partnership with Rhapsody will also give its customers access to a $15/month, all you can eat music subscription. This is excellent for people who digest a ton of music, since you’ll always have access to whatever your heart desires. Ownership is overrated, anyway.

Look for availability on the LG Decoy, LG Dare, Motorola W755, Samsung u550, Samsung Glyde, Samsung Juke, and soon to be the LG Chocolate 3.

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.

One of the biggest concerns I heard about the iPhone, coming from computer-savvy folk, was that you couldn’t completely wipe the data from the phone. Or, rather, that it was a very involved process that didn’t necessarily get everything. Good news: The new firmware will include wiping capabilities. Just to make sure all your personal data is completely gone.

Alltel and Boingo have launched their WiFi service on a nationwide level. They have over 25,000 of them, and you can see your local hotspots here. It’ll cost $19.99 per month, or $3.99 per day. Alltel customers with current broadband access plans can add WiFi to their plan and pay a combined $69.98 per month. They’ve got it at a couple of McDonalds by me.

Sony might not be teaming with Ericsson for the PSP phone. The device would probably just be the regular PSP with a radio chip. IntoMobile puts it best: “holding a PSP up to your head would look like you are trying to make a phonecall on a shoe!”

This post was originally written by GoingCellular.com which also authors cell phone reviews of providers like AT&T and T-Mobile Wireless.