The AT&T/T-Mobile deal fell through in December of last year, ending with AT&T giving up 3 billion dollars and 1 billion in spectrum. Today AT&T and T-Mobile have submitted and application to the FCC, to transfer the AWS spectrum over to T-Mobile. This should be the last bit that AT&T has to pay to T-Mobile for the repercussions of the loss of the purchase. T-Mobile has more money now, along with no plans for a future when compared to the other main carriers in the US. Our bet is that they still might be sold in 2012.

(via The Verge)

AT&T announced today that it’s plans to merge with T-Mobile have now been dropped. AT&T will now be paying Deutsche Telekom around 3 billion dollars for their troubles if you will, and about 1 billion in spectrum. The deal will allow each others customers to share their networks.

It is not clear at all how the networks will share the spectrum, they have some different bands and it will take some effort to work out. Who knows, this could help T-Mobile switch over to LTE in the future if they decided to go that route. This saga is still going strong and hopefully it pushes forward to benefit everyone in the future.

(via The Verge)

The T-Mobile and At&t merger saga is still going, but who knows if it will ever take place. If it doesn’t, the CEO of Dish Network, Joseph Clayton has said that he would love to partner with T-Mobile for their spectrum. Dish has already been buying spectrum up this year with a LTE network planned to try to take on Verizon and At&t. They are even looking to Sprint if they have to, either way, the carrier wars keep getting interesting as time rolls by.

(via The Verge)

The Justice Department complaint was filed today in federal court inWashington. The U.S. is seeking a declaration that Dallas-based AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE), would violate U.S. antitrust law and a court order blocking any arrangement implementing the deal.

It would appear that this whole merger could be dead in the water unless AT&T can get creative. Only time will tell.

(via Bloomberg, BGR)

AT&T has announced that they are going to be throttling data (slowing speeds) for their “heavy” unlimited data users, starting October 1st. They claim that their network is already full and they need to allow more smart use of the spectrum for others to benefit with their data connections.

However they do make it very clear that this will not affect the “standard” unlimited data user. What they mean by that is, the common user can use their phone like normal and will not see a change in their network speeds. Only users that use excessive amounts of data, through gaming, and streaming tons of music and video will have to be throttled.

AT&T has had several issues with their network being compacted in the past several years and they want to take any precautionary step they can, to keep the experience a positive one. The amount of spectrum they have will not change any time soon unless the merger with T-Mobile does take place, so this is the first step to freeing up their network.

The amount of people using the excessive data is only 5% of users and they will send notifications letting you know you are getting close to being throttled in the grace period. Every start to the customers billing cycle the speeds will be refreshed back to normal. How do you feel about this? Are you a 5% person or will it not apply to you at all and you think it is a great thing?

Press Release

AT&T hasn’t always been the best carrier when it comes to Android, but now that the iPhone isn’t the big dog they have stepped up their Google game. If you have been anxiously awaiting a Gingerbread update on your Android Device from AT&T, you might not be waiting that much longer. They have publicly promised to upgrade every Android device that has been postpaid in 2011.

The Atrix being their flagship device is expected to be first, then the Inspire 4G to follow, with others coming after. So this is good news for all the customers that have purchased an Android device from the big orange and were wanting to know if their device will get updated, and when. Everyone knows that fragmentation has been an issue with Android and we love to see updates like this push forward to get rid of some of the segmentation. We will keep you posted on the device updates as the roll out.

via (This is my Next)

The official street date for the unofficial “Facebook Phone” is July 17th with pre-orders starting today at att.com for $49.99. This Android 2.3 equipped smartphone comes with a HVGA 2.6-inch touch screen with 480 x 320 resolution, powered by a MSM7227 800 MHz processor, 5 megapixel camera, vga front facing camera, and of course a dedicated Facebook button.

“The Facebook share button allows people to:

–  Post instantly on your wall or a friend’s wall by pressing the Facebook
share button from your home screen.
–  Take a picture or shoot a video and share it instantly with a press of
the Facebook share button. You can also post multiple pictures at one
time and label and tag them before posting.  Or even post photos
automatically as you’re taking them.
–  Check in to Facebook Places by pressing and holding the Facebook share
button from the home screen.
–  Share something cool on the Web with a quick press of the Facebook share
button and be the first with the news.
–  Let your friends in on the music you love with the push of a button by
pressing the Facebook share button to post the song title and other
details.

Wait….where is the G+ button?

Full press release after the jump

HTC Status Offers One-Touch Facebook Sharing for Just $49.99

First Mobile Phone with Dedicated Facebook Share Button Available for Preorder on ATT.com

Arrives in AT&T Stores on July 17

DALLAS, July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ –

Key Facts

–  AT&T* begins presales of the HTC Status today on www.att.com.
–  The first phone with a dedicated Facebook share button, the HTC Status
is exclusive to AT&T customers for $49.99 with a two-year contract.
–  Best Buy stores to offer exclusive color.
–  HTC Status available in time for back-to-school shopping season.

HTC Status

The ultimate phone for customers who love posting on Facebook what they’re doing, seeing or listening to, the HTC Status is the first phone to feature a dedicated Facebook share button.  Not just a link to a mobile Facebook application, the button lets you quickly share what you are doing on Facebook with a simple press.  It is also context aware and lights up when there is an activity to share, such as a song you are listening to, a website you are viewing or a photo you have taken.

The Facebook share button allows people to:

–  Post instantly on your wall or a friend’s wall by pressing the Facebook
share button from your home screen.
–  Take a picture or shoot a video and share it instantly with a press of
the Facebook share button. You can also post multiple pictures at one
time and label and tag them before posting.  Or even post photos
automatically as you’re taking them.
–  Check in to Facebook Places by pressing and holding the Facebook share
button from the home screen.
–  Share something cool on the Web with a quick press of the Facebook share
button and be the first with the news.
–  Let your friends in on the music you love with the push of a button by
pressing the Facebook share button to post the song title and other
details.

The HTC Status runs on the Android 2.3.3 (Gingerbread) platform, AT&T’s first smartphone to do so. It is also the first phone in the US with an enhanced version of HTC Sense(TM) that integrates Facebook into more places than ever before. Facebook content and information is integrated in the clock, dialer, calendar, address book and photo gallery. The HTC Status also features a Facebook chat application that lets you maintain your chat conversations, even when you navigate away to take a call, browse the Web or play a game.  And the Facebook chat widget shows who is available to chat and allows you to initiate a conversation with just a tap.

The HTC Status, with its uni-body design with sleek metal accents, is easy to customize to reflect your style with widgets, shortcuts and wallpapers, and its customizable lock screen lets you open your favorite application quickly when you unlock the screen.

The HTC Status also sports a 5-megapixel camera with auto-focus and LED flash on the back and a front facing camera to easily capture and share self portraits. Above the dedicated physical keyboard, HTC Status has a 2.6-inch touch screen with 480 x 320 resolution and capacitive navigation buttons.

Exclusive custom cases and a screen protector will also be available for sale with the HTC Status at AT&T company-owned retail stores.  Customers can choose from hard- and soft-shell case options from Speck and AGF. The HTC Status will be compatible with a number of universal micro-USB charging options, Bluetooth headsets and corded stereo headsets such as the IFrogz Luxe corded headsets with integrated microphone, which will be available in four colors, black, silver, pink and blue.  Accessories will also be available for sale in AT&T’s online store.

Pricing and Availability

Arriving in stores as the lead device in AT&T’s back to school promotions starting July 17, the HTC Status will be available in AT&T stores and online for $49.99 after a two-year contract. (Minimum $15 data plan required.)  Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile standalone stores will feature an exclusive mauve edition.

Quotes

“We can’t wait to put the HTC Status in the hands of our young customers who will waste no time tapping into Facebook to update their friends,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.  ”We’re also really pleased to offer the hottest new smartphone at an affordable price to this important, socially savvy youth market.”

“HTC Status brings a Facebook experience to people who want to share with their friends faster and easier than ever before,” said Jason Mackenzie, President, HTC Americas. “With a dedicated Facebook share button combined with the hallmark HTC Sense experience, HTC Status makes it easy for people to stay connected to the things that are important to them.”

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Limited-time offer. Mobile broadband coverage and other coverage not available in all areas. See coverage map at store for details. Two year agreement with qualifying voice and smartphone data plan required. Subscriber must live and have a mailing address within AT&T’s owned wireless network coverage area. Up to $36 activation fee applies. Equipment price and availability may vary by market and may not be available from independent retailers. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to $35 restocking fee may apply to returns; thereafter up to $325. Some agents impose additional fees. Smartphones require a DataPlus (200MB) or DataPro (2GB) plan. If you exceed your initial data allowance, you will automatically be charged an additional $10 for each additional 1GB provided on DataPro or an additional $15 for each additional 200MB provided on DataPlus. Other conditions and restrictions apply. See contract for details.  Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment.

We’ve been waiting since January to get more details on the launch of this bad boy, and now we have them! Samsung’s massive 4.5″ Android powered smartphone will launch May 15th for $199 sans rebate. The Infuse packs a super AMOLED Plus screen, 1.2 ghz processor, 8 megapixel rear camera, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera, it’s own special version of Angry Birds and Touchwiz on top of Android 2.2  (WTF Really?). So what do you say guys, is 4.5″ too big?

Key Specifications

Android™ 2.2 platform
4G: HSDPA CAT 14 and HSUPA CAT 6
8.9 mm to 9.24mm thin
UMTS 850/1900/2100
GSM 850/900/1800/1900
1.2 GHz processor
4.5-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus screen
8-megapixel camera with HD 720p video camera and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
Virtual QWERTY keyboard
Expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD card
Text/Picture and Video Messaging support
Samsung Media Hub, U-verse Mobile, U-verse Live TV, and Angry Birds

AT&T* and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S., today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Infuse™ 4G.

Key Facts

Exclusive to AT&T customers, the Samsung Infuse 4G will be the nation’s thinnest 4G smartphone at 8.99mm at its thinnest.
Delivers the largest display in AT&T’s smartphone portfolio with a brilliant 4.5-inch screen featuring next-generation Super AMOLED™ Plus technology.
Powered by a 1.2 GHz processor and the Android™ 2.2 platform, the Samsung Infuse 4G also boasts an 8-megapixel camera, and a $25 credit to download movie content from Samsung Media Hub.
Pre-loaded version of Angry Birds features an exclusive hidden level for Infuse 4G customers.
Samsung Infuse 4G will be available in AT&T company-owned stores and online at http://www.wireless.att.com/ on May 15 and will cost $199.99 with a two-year contract and no mail-in rebate. (Minimum $15 data plan required)
Customer Benefits

The Samsung Infuse 4G will be the thinnest 4G smartphone available in the U.S. and will feature the largest screen — at 4.5 inches — in AT&T’s smartphone lineup, and the largest touch screen on any Samsung phone. Powered by a 1.2 GHz application processor and running the Android 2.2 platform, the device delivers a brilliant display using Samsung’s next-generation Super AMOLED™ Plus technology which features 50 percent more sub-pixels for better contrast. The display also offers unmatched outdoor viewing quality, even in the brightest sunlight.

With the Infuse 4G, Samsung and AT&T are raising the stakes on pre-loaded content that is not available on any other device. In collaboration with Rovio, the Infuse 4G will feature a special edition of Angry Birds pre-loaded on the smartphone. Players can unlock a special “Golden Egg” level of the game, and once the special level is completed, users can register to win Samsung prizes exclusive to Infuse 4G users.**

The smartphone also includes an 8-megapixel camera/camcorder with auto-focus and flash that shoots HD video with incredible detail. A front facing camera is perfect for self portraits or video chat. Customers can also watch hit movies and TV shows from preloaded apps like Samsung Media Hub, U-verse Mobile and U-verse Live TV.

The first 500,000 Infuse 4G units sold will include a $25 voucher for consumers to get started on downloading content from Media Hub. With Media Hub’s progressive downloading feature, users can start watching their content almost immediately as the rest of the file downloads to the Infuse 4G. Plus, all Media Hub content can be shared among five Media Hub-enabled devices on the same account. The Infuse 4G also comes with a 2GB microSD card with preloaded trailers for upcoming summer movies.

Compatible with the Infuse 4G and other devices on the Android 2.2 platform or better, AT&T has also launched a new, fun app called JustUs. The app combines both social media and text activity from five favorite contacts into an animated wallpaper, keeping users better connected with those that matter most. Customers can download the app for free in Android Market today.

Quotes

“The 4.5-inch screen on Infuse 4G is enhanced further with Samsung’s Super AMOLED Plus technology. Colors are rich and bright, even while outdoors in sunlight,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “When you juxtapose that with the fact that it’s the thinnest 4G smartphone out there today, it’s an incredibly compelling choice for our customers.”

“When you combine the powerful 1.2 GHz application processor with AT&T’s advanced 4G network, this device will truly be the fastest smartphone Samsung has ever created with AT&T,” said Omar Khan, chief technology officer & chief product officer for Samsung Mobile. “The Infuse 4G is our latest example of Samsung’s global leadership in Android platform smartphones. With every Android smartphone that we launch, we’re bringing something new and exciting to the market.”

Smartphone Portfolio

AT&T is a pioneer in smartphones and devices and expects to widen its portfolio in 2011. In January, AT&T committed to introducing 20 4G devices and 12 additional Android devices by the end of the year. Samsung Infuse 4G will be one of several new 4G devices that have been offered to AT&T customers in the first half of 2011.

Samsung Infuse 4G Accessories

To prepare for the arrival of the Samsung Infuse 4G in AT&T stores, the company has prepared a robust lineup of 14 fashionable and functional accessories including multiple case options, a vehicle mount and desk mount. All accessories are available in AT&T company-owned stores and online at http://www.wireless.att.com/. For more details on the lineup visit www.att.com/mobilephones-news.

Key Specifications

Android™ 2.2 platform
4G: HSDPA CAT 14 and HSUPA CAT 6
8.9 mm to 9.24mm thin
UMTS 850/1900/2100
GSM 850/900/1800/1900
1.2 GHz processor
4.5-inch Super AMOLED™ Plus screen
8-megapixel camera with HD 720p video camera and 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
Virtual QWERTY keyboard
Expandable memory up to 32GB with microSD card
Text/Picture and Video Messaging support
Samsung Media Hub, U-verse Mobile, U-verse Live TV, and Angry Birds
To learn more about the Samsung Infuse™ 4G, visit www.att.com/mobilephones-news, www.att.com/infuse4G or www.samsung.com/mobile.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

** Restrictions apply. See http://www.trymark.com/STA/Infuse4G/rules.html for Official Rules.

Number one mobile phone provider in the United States claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2011 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.

4G speeds delivered by HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul. Available in limited areas. Availability increasing with ongoing backhaul deployment. Learn more at att.com/network. 4G used in connection with the Samsung Infuse product name refers to the fact that the Infuse is capable of operating on AT&T’s HSPA+ network with enhanced backhaul described herein.

Limited-time offer. Requires 2 year agreement, eligible voice plan and smartphone data plan, and new activation. For voice and smartphone data plans see rep or att.com/cell-phone for voice plans and att.com/dataplans for data plans. Qualified customers only. Geographic restrictions apply. $36 activation fee. Early Termination Fee: None if cancelled in the first 30 days, but up to $35 restocking fee may apply to equipment returns; thereafter up to $175. For complete terms see att.com/wirelessterms. Sales tax calculated based on price of unactivated equipment.

$25 Samsung Media Hub movie credit available to first 500,000 devices.

AT&T U-verse Live TV requires mobile broadband service. Service not available in all areas. Programming subject to blackout restrictions. Download and watch capability available for select content, requires Wi-Fi connection and is available for viewing for limited time periods.

AT&T U-verse® Mobile Pay-per-month download and watch capability available for select shows and requires select smartphones, Wi-Fi connection, and monthly subscription fee. Downloaded shows are available for viewing for limited time periods. Standard data charges may apply.

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT. Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ATT to discover more about our consumer and wireless services or at www.Facebook.com/ATTSmallBiz to discover more about our small business services.

© 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. Mobile broadband not available in all areas. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

The gang over at Droid Life have apparently come across some evidence that wireless carriers may be blocking  tethering apps in the Android Market.  If an Android user accesses the Android Market and searches for tethering applications, no results should be showing up.  Search queries from an AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Android phone showed the same results.

I tried searching on my Verizon Android device and I also came to the same conclusion others have had.

[Droid Life]

Looks like Apple stores have began receiving shipments of the elusive white iPhone 4. All signs point to the end of this month for a release of the Great White Hope. Rumors are stating that AT&T will only carry the 16gb version while Apple will have both 16gb and 32gb. So who is going to pick up this mythical and magical creature?

via [Engadget]