Messages

1

Windows Phone 7 / Re: No HTC Titan for T-Mobile?

« on: September 29, 2011, 05:40:09 pm »

Don't you think 4.7" is a bit on the large side?

I'm wondering about an upgrade to the HD7 as well, but I'd prefer something in the same size-range (4" - 4.3").
Haven't seen anything from anyone so far, so I guess you're probably right: wait for Nokia (January ???)

2

Windows Phone 7 / Re: ...and so it begins

« on: September 28, 2011, 07:17:46 pm »

Im surprised you didnt install the leaked rtm few weeks ago.....its been a sweet four weeks, btw how do you like??

Naah, need my phone for work, so no experiments on that device

I really like what I'm seeing so far. The big additions are nice, but it's mostly the little things that impress me most. Things like buttons and UI ribbon placements etc. LinkedIn integration is cool too, but now I'm thinking I could use a feature to seperate the address lists (switchable between all and one of the other lists: email accounts, Facebook, LinkedIn etc).

I think WP7 was already the best, usability wise, but now it's miles ahead of everything else (my personal opinion - no flames pls  ).

Unfortunately my biggest gripe wasn't fixed: having all appointments for the day scroll through the calendar tile.
Maybe Apollo, then ....

3

Windows Phone 7 / Re: ...and so it begins

« on: September 27, 2011, 08:01:19 pm »

You can force the update: http://www.wpcentral.com/force-mango-update-early-through-zune-software

Just completed it on my HD7

4

Windows Phone 7 / TMO Mango rollout

« on: September 17, 2011, 03:15:28 pm »

Anyone have any inside scoop ??

TIA.
M.

5

The Circus (lounge) / Re: G-Mobile (Google)

« on: September 02, 2011, 05:49:24 pm »

Software + Services. That's where the money is in IT.
TelCo Contract + App store + (payable) content + Cloud Services.

They already have three of those pieces. Not saying this will happen. Just speculating what would be a good fit.

Edit: and they even have all the contracts with the device manufacturers in place already.

6

The Circus (lounge) / Re: G-Mobile (Google)

« on: September 02, 2011, 10:21:30 am »

Then why was Vodafone in bidding wars with AT&T over this deal? Why has Vodafone been in 3 bidding wars AT&T Wireless, Cingular & T-Mobile USA? Stake in a company can be bought back easy its no problem really. China doesn't like the USA they'd never buy anything here. Amazon doesn't have enough money and IDK why they'd want a mobile carrier. Apple could but might not. MS would not. Google could but might not. Anywho, this isn't far from over it can still pass.

I wasn't referring to Vodafone being interested or not. I was referring to the likelihood of such a scenario being approved by the DOJ. If the DOJ thinks that an AT&T (#2 in the nation) takeover is anti-competitive, what do you think they'll think of a takeover by a company that owns 45% of Verizon (#1 in the country).

Amazon makes sense to me, since they have the infrastructure and services that could be bundled with a mobile device (Kindle, Cloud, Amazon App Store etc). Also, if the AT&T deal actually falls through (and that's still a big "if"), I don't think the next bidder will be offering 39billion. Amazon's 2010 revenue was 34B, so they could be entering the game.

I sincerely hope you're right on the chinese TelCo's ....

7

The Circus (lounge) / Re: G-Mobile (Google)

« on: September 01, 2011, 08:58:29 am »

Vodaphone's already in bed with Verizon, that would essentially be the same scenario as with AT&T (anti-trust wise).
Don't think Apple is interested in becomming a TelCo, just like MS probably isn't either. Then again, no one knows how Cook ticks yet.
Here's a radical thought: Amazon

Worst case scenario IMHO: some Chinese TelCo with loads of cash gobbles it up :-(

8

HTC HD7 / Re: HTC update for the HD7

« on: August 13, 2011, 02:47:02 am »

Unfortunately, no.....
http://wmpoweruser.com/windows-phone-7-mango-september-1st-release-just-a-rumor/

9

HTC HD7 / Re: HTC update for the HD7

« on: July 29, 2011, 01:38:17 pm »

Got the notification last night and just updated now.
Noticed the update does not change the OS build number (same as before -> 7392). That and the fact that it's labled as "HTC update" makes me think it's HTC specific stuff only (firmware, hardware drivers etc).

It looks to me like the screen is crisper and the device is overall (even more) snappier, but that might just be my imagination.

The HTC converter app is still not fixed, though ...
 

10

The Circus (lounge) / Re: Vodafone tried to purchase T-Mobile; But AT&T made an enormous bid

« on: June 11, 2011, 01:50:42 pm »

http://www.cellular-news.com/story/39579.php

15% of profits get sucked out for the government. You should remember this. Tmonews has said something before but its been along time.

As an owner of stock you don't get to just "skim something off the top". That's not how the stock thing works. The only thing you get from owning stock is the value of the stock itself and maybe a dividend, but even that is at the discretion of the executive management (Oberman and co.) - NOT the shareholders. For example, Apple hasn't paid a dividend since the 90's.

As a stock holder you don't even have any direct influence on day-to-day matters. The only place where you get to "exercise" your influence as a shareholder is in the shareholders meetings and votes.

The German Government's stake in DT used to be 100%. Now it's somewhere around 35% (or so). So what?
Eventually it'll be 0% - that was the privatization plan all along.

Bottom line, DT is a privatly run and owned company. All business decisions are made by Oberman and co, not by any government.

11

The Circus (lounge) / Re: Vodafone tried to purchase T-Mobile; But AT&T made an enormous bid

« on: June 10, 2011, 01:19:23 pm »

The German Government get dividends from their stock and DT as a corporation has to pay federal taxes, just like every other corporation as well.
Other than that the German Government has no legal basis to impose any additional taxes or fees.

I have not heard of any other obligations DT supposedly has (btw: I am from Germany, and I was living in Germany in '94/'95 when DT was privatized).

Would you by any chance have a source for that?

12

The Circus (lounge) / Re: Vodafone tried to purchase T-Mobile; But AT&T made an enormous bid

« on: June 09, 2011, 11:43:24 am »

@Viper: DT is not owned by any Government. It is a publicly traded Corporation where the German Government happens to own some stock (leftover from when the telco stuff was privatized).

13

The Circus (lounge) / Re: Google argues w/ MPAA/RIAA

« on: June 01, 2011, 12:26:18 pm »

"Contribute to the artist" ... yeah, right ... /s
If you think the music industry is giving the actual artists their fair share of the revenue, then I only have one question for you: what planet do you live on?

There are a handful of artists (maybe two hands full) that can demand their adequate share, but the vast majority is just used to make a quick buck and then tossed in the garbage can. The RIAA doesn't care about talent, or art, or performance or anything like that. All they care about is how much $$$ they can make *using* the artist.

I do not condone pirating in any way, but when it comes to the RIAA, my sympathies are extremely limited. If you want to defend the RIAA, fine. But don't use the "artist's fair share" argument. That's just bs.

A few examples (just the tip of the iceberg):

Members of the Canadian Recording Industry Association, including the Big Four (Warner Music Canada, Sony BMG Music Canada, EMI Music Canada, and Universal Music Canada), face the prospect of damages ranging from $50 million up to $6 billion due to their use of artists' music without permission. That's right: $6 billion.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/12/artists-lawsuit-major-record-labels-are-the-real-pirates.ars
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2002-09-15-artists-rights_x.htm
http://news.slashdot.org/story/10/07/13/1737224/RIAA-Accounting-mdash-How-Labels-Avoid-Paying-Musicians?from=rss

14

The Circus (lounge) / Re: Google argues w/ MPAA/RIAA

« on: May 29, 2011, 12:25:26 pm »

A business can care about the consumer but only to make a profit. But they can also just try to make a profit. The bottom line is making money.

It's not black and white.

Generally, yes, a business's purpose is to make money, but there's also that little thing called ethics, that's supposed to distinguish us from - let's say - an ant hill in Africa.

The practice of leveraging your position to charge as much as possible for a service or product is called price skimming, and while some people may think it's debatable whether or not that constitutes actual unethical behaviour, most will probably find it crosses the line.

Simple example: you think you having to pay $5 (or more) for a gallon of gas is fair/appropriate, While the oil companies are raking in more money than they ever have in history?

Oh, and btw: it's not a merger, it's an aquisition (or purchase, or take-over, or whatever word you prefer)

PS: before anyone starts arguing about that, yes I know the situation with gas prices is more complex than that. The emphasis is on *simple*.

15

HTC HD7 / Re: I think the update failed

« on: March 30, 2011, 12:16:00 pm »

Your version is different from my (still stock) HD7 -> 7.0.7004, but if this (http://www.engadget.com/photos/htc-hd7s-hands-on/#3991691) is any indication, you don't have the "big" update yet.

My guess is you got the "pre-update" they were talking about in Jan/Feb (which is included in the package that is being rolled out now).

Did you get an OTA message? The rollout is "staggered", meaning groups of phones are targeted and enabled one at a time. If you didn't get an OTA update message, you won't see the update yet.

16

T-Mobile Services / Re: Where Will T-Mobile Grandfathe​red Preferred Plans Go?

« on: March 23, 2011, 12:56:38 pm »

An interesting read.  According to this synopsis, the iPhone did in T-Mobile:  http://www.cnbc.com/id/42204409

“Without being able to sell the iPhone, T-Mobile was in an unsustainable position and T-Mobile USA became a problem child.”  Theo Kitz, Analyst, Merck Finck

Wow.
I think it's time the so-called analysts got over their fruit infatuation.
Verizon seems to have done pretty good over the past few years. Also T-Mobile UK did/does carry the iphone and they still merged with Orange.

Would the iphone have affected T-Mobiles sales? Probably. But the idea that the whole transaction hinges on/is justified by a single device is just ludicrous.

17

T-Mobile Services / Re: Selling of Magenta and upset customers

« on: March 20, 2011, 10:35:48 pm »

@ amos - ppl are thinkin this deal will go thru because they let the Comcast/NBC merger happen.. plus they say AT&T has lobbyist in their back pocket.. so I have little hope the FTC will do anything to prevent this.

Agreed. But I'm not saying it won't go through, just that it won't be a gimme. I expect the smaller guys to raise hell about their "rental" agreements and drag this thing out for a while. Possibly even to the end of all of our contracts. That would then introduce completely different dynamics and give more leverage to us - the customers.

Then again, that might be wishful thinking on my part ...

Edit: here we go ... http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/sprint-critiques-proposed-atandt-t-mobile-deal-says-buyout-woul/

18

T-Mobile Services / Re: Selling of Magenta and upset customers

« on: March 20, 2011, 06:10:50 pm »

I have been with T-mobile since they bought VoiceStream. I have been a loyal customer for a long time. I am a little disappointed, a lot in shock, appalled, and a little uneasy with the recent events. http://www.tmonews.com/2011/03/t-mobile-releases-internal-email-regarding-att-deal/ We have nine phone lines with T-mobile and I am somewhat at a loss for words. I wonder what will come of this? I also would like to try and understand why they are selling the US market. If, I am reading everything correctly, then it is to bail out Euro Tmobile. If, that is their reason for selling the US portion of Tmobile, why is it our fault that their in debt in Europe? Over 13 billion in debt is our fault how? Maybe they should consider firing everyone in charge of their financial department. I want everyone that is upset and wants Tmobile to know how disappointed we are to vote.

They're not "bailing out Euro TMobile". They're talking about Dt. Telekom which is the parent co.
The reason for Dt. Telekom to sell the US division is probably the same reason why the US companies are not in Europe - it's difficult to be competitive when you don't have the same product portfolio as the other carriers (tv, landlines, Internet etc)

Don't get me wrong though - I'm not happy about this either. But I'd relax for now. The Feds need to approve it first and I don't think that's a gimme. AT&T and T-Mobile together means the new co will be the sole GSM provider in the country and that's the definition of a monopoly. The Feds spent a lot of time and effort breaking up Ma Bell 30 years ago and I don't think they'll just sit by and watch the same thing happen again.

But that's just my opinion - well see ...

19

The Circus (lounge) / Re: ATT JUST BOUGHT T-MOBILE!

« on: March 20, 2011, 05:48:26 pm »

This is awesome news!   Much better than the prospects of getting merged with Sprint with neither company having a clue how to get to LTE and unmatched competing systems.  That would have been a disaster. 

Coverage is going to improve for customers of both companies.  Because all customers have gsm phones, with a flip of a switch they can expand coverage for everyone instantly.

T-Mobile customers will finally have access to the iPhone!  Oh yeah!  No more watching endlessly for when that's going to happen.  With another 34 million customers that will be able to buy that device, Apple's profits will rise to greater heights. 

DT hasn't been able to run this company properly for years.  Now they can take their cash and their 8% equity in the new corporation and stay on the other side of the ocean.

A network with 95% LTE coverage is going to be an incredible network.  Verizon will be millions of subscribers behind with Sprint a very distant third.

ETF's should be waived right?

According to the terms and conditions the ETF is waived if monthly plan costs are increased or if they keep the prices the same but decrease what you get, (minutes or GB's, for example.)  So that means the chances are good, that T-Mobile customers will be able to keep the same plans as we have now because they won't want us jumping ship.  It's too bad they estimate it will take 12 months for the merger to be completed.  I want my iphone sooner!

That is just so wrong on so many levels ....

20

Windows Phone 7 / Re: POLL: Nokia-Soft: Good for Tech and Investors or Not?

« on: February 19, 2011, 02:19:28 pm »

Are you saying that closed source is more profitable???

No, I'm saying there is no correlation between open or closed source and stock value.
It's about the product - not some abstract philosophical/idealistic criteria. Or, as 'Zilla put it, most consumers give a hoot about whether or not their gadget is open or closed source.

I will say this, though: I cannot think of a single Fortune500 tech company that relies **solely** on an open source business model.