zcallingcard.com

Frontier Airlines flight attendants represented by the AFA-CWA have ratified a first contract with strong job security language, a grievance procedure and other protections.
CWA Union News

TracFone’s flat-rate Straight Talk service will launch its first smartphone running Google’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android platform in September, according to BTIG Research analyst Walter Piecyk.

Samsung Galaxy Precedent

According to Piecyk, the carrier will launch the Straight Talk Galaxy Precedent, made by Samsung, which is expected to be priced at 0. The analyst noted that the smartphone is strikingly similar to the Samsung Prevail, which Sprint Nextel’s (NYSE:S) prepaid brand Boost Mobile sells for 0. The Prevail runs Android 2.2, has a 3.2-inch touchscreen display, and a 2-megapixel camera. Representatives from TracFone, Sprint and Samsung did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A blog post on Straight Talk’s website promises the Android-powered Galaxy Precedent is “coming soon,” but the post does not provide details, including a launch date and a price.

The device could represent a threat to flat-rate players MetroPCS (NASDAQ:PCS) and Leap Wireless’ (NASDAQ:LEAP) Cricket, which have bet heavily on Android and are trying to attract new smartphone customers. Thus far, Straight Talk’s smartphone offerings have been confined to the likes of the Nokia (NYSE:NOK) 6970 and E71.

“We believe Straight Talk, which is owned by América Móvil, has negotiated a new data wholesale agreement with a major wireless carrier in order to offer these data hungry products,” Piecyk wrote in a blog post. TracFone currently operates as an MVNO using Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ), AT&T Mobility (NYSE:T), and T-Mobile USA’s networks. TracFone’s Straight Talk brand is primarily sold through Walmart.

Piecyk wrote that Straight Talk’s unlimited plan for voice, texting and Web access compares favorably with more expensive plans from Boost, Leap and MetroPCS, which he said, along with T-Mobile, could all feel more pressure. 

“When Straight Talk first entered the unlimited prepaid market, they had a pretty quick impact on the market even though it took time to roll out distribution,” he wrote. “This time around the distribution is already in place and the brand is well known. It could be a tough Q4 for their competitors.”

América Móvil’s U.S. TracFone unit added close to 236,000 net subscribers in the second quarter, significantly lower than the first quarter and the year-ago period. The company blamed the slowdown in subscriber adds on higher churn.

For more:
- see this BTIG blog post (reg. req.)
- see this Straight Talk post

Special Report: Tier 2 wireless carriers clamoring for more smartphones

Related Articles:
Straight Talk drives TracFone’s 236K Q2 net adds
TracFone’s Straight Talk pulls back on Nokia smartphones
TracFone: No plans for postpaid offering
TracFone’s Straight Talk launches Nokia 6790, E71 smartphones
TracFone finishes Q1 with 18.5 million subs

FierceWireless

T-Mobile technicians in Connecticut became the company’s first U.S. workers with union representation, voting this week to join CWA-TU.
CWA Union News

Research assistants at Stony Brook University in New York stood tough for 10 years, organizing, mobilizing and calling out management for trying to get rid of their union. Now, RAs have ratified their first contract.
CWA Union News

Mobilicity launched their service on May 14th – only about a month ago. Their first price drop has happened and it’s their own branded “Totem” device (it’s actually made by a company called Longcheer). It was was released at but has dipped by to . All the other devices stayed at the same [...]

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2. CRTC starts ownership review of Dave Wireless (Mobilicity) Mobilicity (formally Dave Wireless) invested 3.1-million for 10 licenses…
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MobileSyrup.com

Sprint Nextel Corp.’
RCR Wireless News

In an article over at Chinitech.com, it is being reported that the television set pictured to the left is the fist set in the world to have the Android platform built into it.  Chinese electronics manufacturer TCL has reportedly been working in their labs since 2008 to integrate Android with one of their displays, with this unit being the product of their efforts.

According to the article this set can connect to the internet, video chat, make purchases online and install Android apps from the Market.

To be clear, this is NOT a Google TV unit, but a independent effort to use Android to converge your television with the internet in much the same way that Google is working on now with Sony and Logitech.

The downside of this TV is that China will most likely cripple much of the functionality since they censor everything but air to breathe over there, but rest assured, TCL will work to find some sort of workaround to the laws and rules they have to abide by.

It is interesting to see a proof of concept like this, and makes me want Google TV to release NOW.

Win one of seven Motorola droid handsets being given out! Click here to see how it works!

NOTE: First Android Based TV Unveiled originally appeared on AndroidGuys. If you are reading this elsewhere, it was done without the consent of the author.

• Bloomberg: Sony to Announce Android-Based Dragonpoint TV at Google I/O
• Samsung Considering Google TV with Android
• People of Lava’s Android-Based TV

AndroidGuys

The first problem on iPad is already here and a solution too

iphone news

Since the start of sales of the iPad, consumers began to complain of the Wi-Fi module of the device. So far, however, no official statement from Apple about the problem.

Most of the users complained about poor Wi-Fi signal. Others have reported frequent loss of signal. Then, when trying to connect to that network users have no success.

Since Apple has released information indicating that the fault is in the routers, which operate simultaneously in several frequency ranges. IPad clearly a problem with the maintenance of this type of routers.

The company advised users to update software on their routers to factory restore network settings of your tablet (Settings> General> Reset> Reset Network Settings).

Safest solution is, however, while setting up the router for all ranges are given different names. This will avoid conflicts hindering the smooth operation of the iPad.

According to recent rumors, iPad will be placed on the international market on 24 April. By how true this will understand soon.

iPhone & iPad News