This has been a tough year for T-Mobile, bleeding customers because of the possible merger with AT&T this year, not having the iPhone, and the lack of LTE, when compared to the other carriers. Recently, they announced that they are building a LTE network to compete with the other carriers, which is a big part of the rebuild.

After losing almost 1000 employees in March due to cut backs, another warning memo was issued to employees today. With their new structure, there will be some difficult decisions. They will be notifying some employees this week that they will be laid off in this second round of layoffs. CEO Phillip Humm says that additional details on the matter will come this following week. Hopefully T-Mobile can refocus and get back on track this year for a solid 2013 year, allowing them to get back in the competition strongly.

Source The Verge

It has been up in the air on where T-Mobile was headed after the merger with AT&T was denied. They claimed they still have a good 4G network, but everyone knows that LTE is the wave of the future in wireless technology. Today, T-Mobile has announced they are upgrading to a 4 billion dollar LTE network.

With agreements of Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks, they will be installing new equipment in 37,000 of T-Mobiles current 4G towers. T-Mobile finally secured the AWS spectrum that they ended up with in the AT&T fallout and this will help allow them to get their LTE up and running in 75% of the top 25 markets.

The rollout is going to start later this year and is planned to be fully nationwide in 2013. It is very good to know that T-Mobile is not laying down and giving up. After Sprint has announced LTE coming for their network, it only makes sense for T-Mobile to head down the same road to stay competitive with the other carriers to date.

Source T-Mobile

After the fallout of the AT&T merger, T-mobile is looking to shred it’s bubbly persona in exchange for one that’s more serious. Carly Foulkes, aka “The T-mobile Girl”, is losing the little dresses in exchange for black biker leather. T-Mobile is launching a new ad campaign, internally dubbed “No More Mr. Nice Girl.”, which will hit via TV, Hulu, Internet ads, YouTube and even print. After an extremely tough fourth quarter, T-Mobile is looking to rebuild and come out of the dust swinging. Hopefully they can get a plan going for LTE, because a new ad campaign will only take them so far. Plus, we kinda liked nice Carly.

“Clearly 2012 is a rebuilding year for T-Mobile,” said Peter DeLuca, senior-VP brand, advertising and communications. “We need to get the brand back out there and get consumers to take another look.”

via [Advertising Age]

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)

T-Mobile has also announced the expansion of their HSPA+ 42Mbps to an additional 12 markets and the expansion of their HSPA+ 21Mbps nine additional markets. T-Mobile stated that their 4G network now covers 217 markets, reaching more than 200 million people across the country.

You can check out the press release after the break.

T-Mobile Expands America’s Largest 4G Network And Showcases 4G Experiences at 2012 CES

T-Mobile Unveils Samsung Galaxy S^® Blaze^™ 4G and Launches New Bobsled™ Messaging Application

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Jan. 10, 2012 — Today, at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), T-Mobile USA executives, including CEO and President Philipp Humm, outlined the company’s ongoing efforts to drive consumer adoption of mobile data through the continued expansion of America’s Largest 4G Network®, rate plans that make mobile data more affordable, and new devices and services that take advantage of the company’s faster 4G network.

“Last year, T-Mobile made solid progress during uncertain times, doubling our 4G network speeds and launching 25 new 4G devices,” said Philipp Humm, CEO and President, T-Mobile USA. “We are here, in fighting shape, and we will compete aggressively to win and retain customers by delivering compelling 4G services — all at a great value.”

The company also announced the expansion of its 4G network; unveiled its next 4G smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G; and demonstrated free, premium services built into smartphones and tablets that bring amazing 4G experiences to life for customers.

T-Mobile also announced an extension of its Bobsled^™ by T-Mobile^® platform, which launches today. The new IP-based group messaging application, Bobsled Messaging, is another example of T-Mobile bringing simple, affordable branded communication solutions to other platforms, beyond traditional wireless services, and to consumers who aren’t currently T-Mobile subscribers.

Strengthening America’s Largest 4G Network:

T-Mobile announced the company has doubled the speed of its 4G network in 12 additional markets, offering faster 4G (HSPA+ 42) to 184 million Americans in 175 markets. In addition, T-Mobile expanded the reach of its nationwide 4G (HSPA+ 21) network to nine additional markets, now covering 217 markets across the country and reaching more than 200 million people.

The AT&T breakup concessions give T-Mobile valuable spectrum. T-Mobile will receive, pending regulatory approval, a large package of AWS mobile spectrum in 128 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs), including 12 of the top 20 markets.

“Our 4G network is better than ever heading into 2012,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA. “HSPA+ will continue to deliver a competitive mobile broadband experience for our customers in the coming years as we evaluate our options for continued investment and evolution of our 4G network.” 

Expanding T-Mobile’s 4G Device Portfolio with Two New 4G Smartphones:

T-Mobile continues to expand its 4G product portfolio, today announcing the upcoming availability of the Samsung Galaxy S^® Blaze^™ 4G and celebrating the January 11^th retail availability of the 4G-capable Nokia Lumia 710.

The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G will be the third smartphone to take advantage of 4G HSPA+ 42 technology running on America’s Largest 4G Network^™.  Featuring a Qualcomm^® Snapdragon^™ S3 processor with 1.5 GHz dual CPUs, a brilliant Super AMOLED^™ touch screen and a variety of pre-loaded entertainment, the Galaxy S Blaze 4G provides fast access to the things consumers want most. The Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G is expected to be available later this year. Additional details will be revealed closer to availability. For more information, visit http://www.t-mobile.com/GalaxySBLAZE4G.

While Android powers the majority of T-Mobile smartphones, the company expects Windows Phone to also play an important role in its 2012 portfolio, beginning with the Nokia Lumia 710.  The first Windows Phone from Nokia in the U.S., the Lumia 710 will be available starting tomorrow, Jan. 11, at T-Mobile retail stores, select dealers and retailers nationwide, and online at http://www.t-mobile.com.The Nokia Lumia 710 is expected to cost $49.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate card, with a two-year service agreement and qualifying Classic voice and data plan. For more information, visit http://www.t-mobile.com/lumia.

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)

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One of T-Mobile’s best phones right now is the Galaxy S II, and just announced was the white version that will be available in the next coming weeks. Samsung says that it will be available just in time for the holidays. So if you are thinking about picking one up and don’t really want the black one, hold of for the white version, Santa just might leave it under the tree.

(via Samsung Mobile)