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TS2R Wireless News from Wireless and Mobile News

Full news stories today include a comparison of T-Mobile vs Virgin Mobile deals, BlackBerry Messenger use by London rioters, the European ban of the Samsung  Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet, HTC Status deals and new leaked  BlackBerry Bold/Torch release dates.

Here’s the news that’s too short to report:

• MetroPS Helps Military Families -  Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift and other stars   autographed personal
  messages to U.S. military families with loved ones oversees. Along with
  the messages, MetroPCS Communications, Inc. donated ,000
  worth of international long distance calling cards to the USO’s
  Military Family Care Package program, helping to connect families who
  are separated by deployments.
• Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich Octobered - An unnamed source reported that Android 4.0 Ice Cream sandwich smartphones and tablets may be released as early as October of this year.
• HTC Bliss with New HTC Sense - The HTC Bliss is now rumored to ship with a new version of HTC Sense – Sense 3.5.

WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

MetroPCS has officially launched the Huawei Ascend.  An entry-level smartphone that’s powered by the Android 2.1 (Eclair)
operating system (OS), the Huawei Ascend features a 3.5-inch HVGA touchscreen, 3.2MP camera, microSD card slot, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

MetroPCS states that the Huawei Ascend is priced at
9 for smartphone plans starting at per month with no annual contract.  What a great value for an Android device offering key features, such as:

• Access
  to more than 100,000 apps in the Android Market, in addition to
  games, ringtones and wallpapers available through the metro App Store.
• A 3.5-inch HVGA auto-rotate touchscreen with onscreen QWERTY keyboard for easy text input.
• 3.2MP camera and camcorder to shoot and share images and video with friends and family.
• Easy Wi-Fi connectivity – automatically connect to Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide.

“Our customers
desire more choices and are looking for the latest handsets and services
that fit their personalities, lifestyles and budgets,” said Tom Keys,
chief operating officer of MetroPCS.  “With the addition of this device,
we are again expanding our portfolio to provide our customers with a
chance to experience the latest technology with the value of affordable,
flexible and predictable no-annual-contract wireless services.”

MetroPCS customers can also enjoy Metro USA with nationwide unlimited talk,
text and web services and no-annual-contract service plans with taxes
and regulatory fees included.

MetroPCS recently expanded its LTE 4G network to San Francisco and launched the Samsung Craft.

WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS

News from around the Web

@FierceWireless: RT @jonfingas: Explained: why a CDMA-only iPhone for Verizon would still need a SIM card slot. Article | Follow @FierceWireless

> Verizon Wireless said it will start selling Samsung’s GalaxyTab Tablet Nov. 11 for 0. Release

> MetroPCS launched LTE service in Detroit, its third LTE market. Article

> Nokia may report its lowest third-quarter profit since 2001 when it posts earnings. Article

> ZTE said it will launch up to six more tablets next year. Article

> Nokia Siemens Networks and Qualcomm collaborated on a solution to increase phone battery life. Article

Mobile Content News

> Yahoo Mobile’s David Katz became the latest high-ranking mobile executive to exit the beleaguered digital services provider. Article

> Amazon.com issued an early preview of its latest Kindle ereader software, requesting that consumers trial the update and provide feedback prior to its official launch. Article

> Mobile barcode scanning solutions provider NeoMedia Technologies named Laura Marriott as acting CEO. Article

And finally… The 11 most useless iPhone apps.  Article

FierceWireless

Leap Wireless (NASDAQ:LEAP) and larger rival MetroPCS (NASDAQ:PCS) are at an impasse over a potential merger, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

The report, citing unnamed sources familiar with the discussions, said the two prepaid unlimited carriers opened talks in February, but are now deadlocked over the relative value of each company. Coming to a consensus on that issue will allow Leap shareholders to determine the exchange ratio for trading their shares for MetroPCS shares, the report said.

Representatives for Leap and MetroPCS declined to comment.

Any deal would be similar to the stock-for-stock deal No. 5 carrier MetroPCS proposed for Leap in 2007, the report added. Leap, the nation’s seventh-largest carrier, rejected that .7 billion takeover bid. Since then, speculation has continued to swirl that the two should merge. Reports in February indicated the two carriers had hired outside advisers to explore the possibility of a deal.

Last month, MetroPCS CEO Roger Linquist predicted mergers in the crowded prepaid wireless market soon. Speaking at the Reuters Global Technology Summit, Linquist said ideally there should be three prepaid wireless players. Today there are seemingly dozens beyond MetroPCS and Leap, including the four distinct brands offered by Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S)–Boost Mobile, the recently relaunched Virgin Mobile brand and Common Cents Mobile–as well as TracFone Wireless’ Straight Talk service, running on Verizon Wireless’ (NYSE:VZ) network.

For more:
- see this WSJ article (sub. req.)

Related Articles:
MetroPCS chief sees prepaid consolidation
Carving up the prepaid market
Sprint launches multi-pronged prepaid wireless strategy
MetroPCS surges on revenue, subscriber growth
Report: MetroPCS hires advisers for possible Leap purchase
Report: Leap looking for a buyer

FierceWireless

Metro PCS is rumoured to be getting a new Motorola [MOT] smartphone that runs the Google [GOOG] Android 2.1 operating system.
The Android handset has a slide out QWERTY keyboard that has four rows of keys with the addition of a .com button to the left of the space bar. On the front of the device [...]
Android Mobile News

MetroPCS (NYSE:PCS) is preparing to enter into the Android game with the launch of a smartphone made by Motorola (NYSE:MOT), according to leaked pictures and descriptions from the blog AndroidGuys.

The unnamed device is reported to run on Android 2.1 and Motorola’s MotoBLUR user interface. The device has a slide-out Qwerty keyboard and a 3-megapixel camera. There is no rumored price or release date. A MetroPCS spokesman declined to comment and a Motorola spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

If confirmed, it would be the latest example of Google’s mobile platform moving to smaller, regional carriers. Last month regional wireless operator Cincinnati Bell introduced its new Android-powered Blaze smartphone for after a rebate and with a two-year service contract. Additionally, Cellular South said yesterday it will be launching the Motorola Milestone (better known as the Motorola Droid in the United States) later this summer.

MetroPCS’ chief prepaid rival, Leap Wireless (NASDAQ:LEAP), has not formally announced its first Android phone, but the carrier is expected to support the Kyocera Zio M6000 later this year.

For more:
- see this AndroidGuys post
- see this Electronista post
- see this Cellular South page

Related Articles:
Cincinnati Bell takes Android local with Blaze, Nexus One
Sprint may join Leap in offering Kyocera’s Android phone

FierceWireless