WebProNews

Tag: T-Mobile

  • Android Messages Will Be Default Verizon Messaging App Next Year

    Android Messages Will Be Default Verizon Messaging App Next Year

    Verizon has announced it will begin preloading Android messages as the default messaging app on its Android phones starting next year.

    Google has been working to speed up adoption of the RCS messaging standard. Default text messaging on Android is basic SMS, with minimal security and none of the advanced features Apple iMessage users enjoy.

    RCS is Android’s answer, adding group chats, read receipts, file transfers, end-to-end encryption and more. After years of waiting for carriers to adopt the protocol, Google finally started implementing it in Android themselves, and the carriers soon got on board.

    Verizon is now the third major US carrier, behind T-Mobile and AT&T to announce adoption. Beginning next year, all Android phones will come preloaded with the new Android app, Messages by Google.

    “Our customers depend on us to provide a reliable, advanced and simple messaging platform to stay in touch with the people that matter the most in their lives,” said Ronan Dunne, executive vice president and CEO of Verizon Consumer Group. “By working with Google, Verizon will offer our Android users a robust messaging experience that allows them to engage with loved ones, brands and businesses in new and innovative ways.”

    “Verizon and Google have been working together on Android since the early days of smartphones, and we’re excited to be working with Verizon today to bring a modern-messaging experience to our users,” said Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s senior vice president of Platforms & Ecosystems.

  • Dish Moving From T-Mobile to AT&T for Network Coverage

    Dish Moving From T-Mobile to AT&T for Network Coverage

    Dish Network has reach an agreement for AT&T to provide network coverage to its customers for the next ten years, at the cost of $5 billion.

    Dish Network played a pivotal role in the T-Mobile/Sprint merger. Regulators were concerned about going from four to three major wireless carriers, and wanted Dish to move into the role of fourth. To assist it, regulators worked out a deal whereby T-Mobile would provide network coverage and resources to Dish’s customers.

    It appears Dish is looking to make its own deals, with it pursuing a $5 billion 10-year deal with AT&T, according to an SEC filing. According to The Wall Street Journal, it’s estimated T-Mobile was receiving $1.5 to $2 billion a year, so the price tag for AT&T’s service could be substantially cheaper.

    In addition, Dish has accused T-Mobile of unfairly planning on shutting down its 3G network the beginning of 2022, potentially leaving many of Dish’s customers without service. While AT&T also plans on shutting down its 3G network in early 2022, it’s possible the acrimony with T-Mobile over its 3G plans may have reached the point that Dish simply didn’t want to continue working with the Magenta carrier. Add in a potentially large financial savings, and Dish may have viewed the AT&T deal as too good to pass up.

    Regulators will undoubtably be interested in reviewing the deal, especially since they worked so hard to establish the one Dish wants out of.

  • T-Mobile Once Again Has Fastest, Most Available 5G

    T-Mobile Once Again Has Fastest, Most Available 5G

    Ookla has released its latest report and T-Mobile has once again come out on top in the 5G race.

    Ookla is the maker of the popular Speedtest.net. As a result, the company is in a unique position to offer insights into the state of the US wireless industry, based on real-world data.

    T-Mobile had the fastest wireless speeds, with a median speed of 54.13 Mbps, while AT&T took second place with 47.96 Mbps, and Verizon third with 40.02. When looking solely at 5G speeds, however, T-Mobile pulled even further ahead. The company’s median 5G speed was 99.84 Mbps. Verizon came in second with 78.33 Mbps and AT&T came in third with 75.61.

    T-Mobile also had the best 5G availability at 69%. AT&T was a distant second at 38.4% and Verizon brought up the rear with 35.3%

    “T-Mobile customers are the clear winners coming out of these network reports, with unmatched 5G coverage and 5G speeds that keep getting faster,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “Our differentiated 5G strategy of first building a foundation of coverage and then adding a deep layer of speed with Ultra Capacity 5G focuses on what matters most for customers – coverage and speed. This is how you build a 5G network the right way and this is why T-Mobile is the leader in 5G.”

  • AT&T Unveils Unlimited Plans With No Throttling

    AT&T Unveils Unlimited Plans With No Throttling

    AT&T is taking a page from T-Mobile’s book, updating its high-end unlimited plan to include no throttling.

    All the major wireless carriers in the US offer plans with unlimited data. Unfortunately, they reserve the right to throttle speeds if a user crosses a certain usage threshold. T-Mobile was the first to offer a plan with no throttling, Magenta Max, and now AT&T is following suit.

    The company has announced its high-end Unlimited Elite plan will no longer throttle speeds, regardless of how much data a person uses.

    It’s now full speed ahead for Elite customers. Everyone on this plan will now enjoy AT&T’s high-speed data regardless of how much data they’ve used. We’ll start rolling out this enhancement this week and Elite customers everywhere will soon receive a text notifying them when the benefit has been added.

    The company is also adding additional perks, including more hotspot data and 4K video streaming.

    We’re also increasing the mobile hotspot data to 40GB – that’s 10GBs more at no additional cost. And since HBO Max already comes included, we want to make sure you’re watching it in the best quality. Now, you can catch the latest shows and movies in crystal clear 4K UHD resolution where available. Don’t forget, our fast, reliable and secure AT&T 5G already comes included in this plan and it’s available nationwide.

  • Verizon Doubles LTE Home Internet Coverage

    Verizon Doubles LTE Home Internet Coverage

    Verizon has announced a major expansion of its LTE Home Internet coverage, doubling its footprint, in addition to bringing 5G Home Internet to 7 new cities.

    Like T-Mobile, Verizon is working to bring its network to bear on the home internet market, providing LTE and 5G solutions. The company says it has brought its 5G Home Internet to 7 additional cities, including:

    • Akron, OH
    • Ann Arbor, MI
    • Columbia, SC
    • Durham, NC
    • Fresno, CA
    • Spokane, WA
    • St. Petersburg, FL

    In addition, Verizon’s LTE Home Internet has now doubled its coverage area.

    “With the expansion of LTE Home Internet and 5G Home Internet to more and more customers across the country, the options for fast, reliable internet have never been better. We continue to lead the industry by expanding broadband options for our customers. And with the new Verizon Internet Gateway device, our customers will have a head start to take advantage of a new era of experiences in the comfort of their home,” said Frank Boulben, Chief Revenue Officer, Verizon Consumer Group.

    5G and LTE home internet options are increasingly important resources for families in under-served areas and communities. Especially as remote work and education has become more common during the pandemic, wireless home internet has provided viable options to help people stay connected in areas where traditional broadband is not available.

  • T-Mobile Verizon and AT&T Complete STIR/SHAKEN Implementation

    T-Mobile Verizon and AT&T Complete STIR/SHAKEN Implementation

    T-Mobile and Verizon have both announced they have fully implemented the STIR/SHAKEN protocol to combat scams, meeting the FCC’s deadline.

    The Federal Communications Commission set June 30th as the deadline to implement the STIR/SHAKEN protocols for the largest wireless carriers. The protocols provide a framework for a carrier to verify the authenticity of a call, pass that on to the next carrier(s) for verification, and then pass on the verification to the recipient phone. When the call comes through, the recipient will see whether the number is verified or suspect.

    The protocols are designed to help fight scammers and robocallers that often mask their phone number to make it appear as if they’re calling from the same area code or exchange as the recipient. This can create a false sense of security, as the recipient believes the call is local.

    T-Mobile and Verizon have both fully implemented STIR/SHAKEN, providing their customers an extra layer of protection.

    “Number Verification, along with Caller ID, and the scam identification and blocking tools in Scam Shield, gives our customers the industry’s most comprehensive free scam and spam protection,” said Jon Freier, Executive Vice President, T-Mobile Consumer Group at T-Mobile​. “We were first to implement number verification in 2019 and today, all calls originating on the T-Mobile network are 100% STIR/SHAKEN compliant, giving our customers peace of mind that their calls are protected against scammers and spammers.”

    While not issuing a press release, as T-Mobile and Verizon did, AT&T did confirm to The Verge that it has also met the FCC’s deadline.

  • Dish Network Launches Site to Notify You When 5G is Available

    Dish Network Launches Site to Notify You When 5G is Available

    Dish Network is gearing up to launch its 5G network, launching a website to inform users when it’s available.

    Dish Network is preparing to be the fourth nationwide carrier, thanks in large part to the T-Mobile buyout of Sprint. While Sprint was in dire shape financially, regulators weren’t entirely onboard with letting T-Mobile buy it unless another company could replace it as a fourth nationwide option. T-Mobile and Sprint were required to offload some of their assets to help Dish get established.

    Over the last year, Dish has been aggressively working to deploy its new network, striking deals with equipment and software makers. The company has now set up a new website, giving users the ability to be notified when the new network is available.

    It remains to be seen if Dish Network will succeed in being a viable, standalone 5G carrier. Those interested in seeing what they have to offer, when it’s available, should head on over to the site and sign up.

  • Telecom Companies Win Injunction Against NY Affordable Broadband Act

    Telecom Companies Win Injunction Against NY Affordable Broadband Act

    Telecom companies have won a last-minute injunction against New York’s Affordable Broadband Act, putting the law’s future in jeopardy.

    Governor Cuomo signed the Affordable Broadband Act in April, with it slated to go into effect next week. New York’s Eastern District Judge Dennis R. Hurley has sided with the telecom industry, acknowledging the law could cause “irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted.”

    When Cuomo signed the law in April, former Alphabet CEO Eric Schmidt was present, lending his support. The law has been opposed from the very beginning, however, by some of the biggest names in the telecom industry, including Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T.

    It remains to be seen if the law will survive the current challenge but, so far, it’s not looking good. Judge Hurley seemed especially concerned with the impact that law would have on smaller companies.

    “While a telecommunications giant like Verizon may be able to absorb such a loss, others may not: the Champlain Telephone Company, for example, ‘estimates that nearly half [approximately 48%] of [its] existing broadband customers will qualify for discounted rates,” with each such customer ‘caus[ing] a monetary loss.’”

  • Employees Would Forgo $30,000 Raise to Work From Home

    Employees Would Forgo $30,000 Raise to Work From Home

    A new survey has qualified just how much employees want to continue working from home (WFM), to the tune of $30,000.

    As restrictions lift and companies begin opening their doors, many employees are faced with the prospect of going back into the office for the first time in more than a year. While many companies are working on permanent remote or hybrid options, some are insisting on a complete return to in-office normality.

    According to a new survey by Blind, an anonymous network of professionals, a Goldman Sachs professional posed the question: “Would you rather make $30k more switching to a new job that requires you to work in the office, or would you rather keep your current salary but WFH anywhere after covid?”

    An average of 64% of professionals indicated they would prefer WFM, although the number for some specific companies was much higher. For example, 100% of Zillow, 70% of T-Mobile, 89% of Twitter, 71% of Walmart, 69% of Apple, 76% of Salesforce and 73% of Oracle employees would all choose WFM. In fact, Cisco, JPMorgan Chase and Qualcomm were the only companies that fell below the 50% mark.

    The survey is just the latest, and most striking, indication of just how popular WFH really is.

  • T-Mobile Reports Quarterly Results, Smashes Estimates

    T-Mobile Reports Quarterly Results, Smashes Estimates

    T-Mobile has reported its quarterly results, beating analysts’ estimates and reporting strong subscriber growth.

    T-Mobile is known for large gains in the subscriber department, and this quarter was no exception. The company posted 1.4 million net additions, beating both AT&T and Verizon.

    The company also posted $19.76 billion in revenue, up from $11.11 billion in the year-ago quarter, a 78% increase. Net profit came in at $933 million, or $0.74 a share. In contrast, analysts were expecting $0.54 a share.

    T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint is moving ahead, with roughly 20% of Sprint customers already moved over to the T-Mobile network. In addition, 50% of Sprint customer traffic is now on the T-Mobile network.

    “T-Mobile puts customers at the center of everything we do by giving them the best network, value and experience all at once – and this quarter’s stellar, industry-leading results prove that they’re noticing,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “We just keep pushing further ahead of the competition. Our network leadership is fueling customer momentum, delivering merger synergies and expanding our addressable markets for growth. We have so much confidence that we are raising 2021 guidance just one quarter into the year. Our mission is to be the very best at connecting customers to their world and we’re delivering on it.”

  • T-Mobile Joins FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

    T-Mobile Joins FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit Program

    T-Mobile has announced it is joining the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, to provide low-cost service.

    The FCC announced its Emergency Broadband Benefit program will start on May 12. The program is designed to provide a discount of up to $50 ($75 on tribal lands) to help low-income families have access to broadband internet. High-speed internet access is more important than ever, as countless individuals work from home and engage in remote learning.

    T-Mobile has joined the FCC’s program, making its services available under its main brand, as well as subsidiaries.

    When enrollment opens on May 12, qualified T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Assurance Wireless and Sprint brand consumer and government customers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands may be eligible for an up to $50 discount (up to $75 on tribal lands) per household on service each month on qualified plans for the duration of the program.

  • T-Mobile and Zyter Partner on Telehealth

    T-Mobile and Zyter Partner on Telehealth

    T-Mobile has announced it is partnering with Zyter to provide telehealth options.

    Telehealth and telemedicine are growing in popularity as a result of the pandemic. As regions were in quarantine and lockdown, many turned to telehealth for their healthcare. Many viewed telehealth as a safer alternative than in-person doctor’s visits for non-critical medical needs.

    Unfortunately, successful deployment and use of telehealth programs requires quality internet access, specifically internet that allows videoconferencing. To help address this, T-Mobile has partnered with Zyter, a leading provider of software as a service (SaaS) digital health products.

    “We believe that every American has the right to quality healthcare that is safe and secure,” said Mike Katz, EVP, T-Mobile. “By partnering with Zyter, we can outfit healthcare organizations of all sizes with solutions that reach more people and enable faster and more reliable virtual care through familiar devices like smartphones and tablets.”

    The two companies will work together to help healthcare companies care for their patients remotely, using 4G LTE and 5G.

    “This is a significant agreement for Zyter as it enables us to leverage the vast resources and footprint of T-Mobile to make our digital health solutions more accessible to more patients,” said Sanjay Govil, founder and CEO of Zyter, Inc. “By working together, we can help organizations improve patient satisfaction while maintaining care quality and lowering costs.”

  • Dish Network Partners With AWS for Its 5G Network

    Dish Network Partners With AWS for Its 5G Network

    Dish Network and AWS have announced a partnership, the first of its kind in the telecom industry, with Dish using AWS for its 5G deployment.

    Dish Network is working to roll out its 5G network. The company is trying to diversify from its traditional satellite TV service, and become the fourth nationwide wireless carrier. Dish received a major boost thanks to the T-Mobile/Sprint merger, with the terms of the agreement requiring T-Mobile to sell off some of its wireless assets to Dish.

    As part of its rollout, Dish is building its network around Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN). O-RAN is a specification that allows a carrier to use equipment from multiple vendors, rather than being locked in to a single one.

    Dish has chosen AWS as its cloud provider, and will build its 5G network on AWS.

    “Through this collaboration with AWS, we will operate not just as a communications services provider, but as a digital services provider harnessing the combined power of 5G connectivity and the cloud. Together, we will enable our customers to take full advantage of the potential of 5G. Our approach will revolutionize wireless connectivity by giving customers the ability to customize and scale their network experience on-demand,” said Charlie Ergen, DISH co-founder and chairman. “As a new carrier, leveraging AWS and its extensive network of partners enables us to differentiate ourselves by operating our 5G network with a high degree of automation, utilizing the talent of AWS-trained developers and helping our customers bring new 5G applications to market faster than ever before.”

    “DISH’s cloud-native and truly virtualized 5G network is a clear example of how AWS customers can use our proven infrastructure and unparalleled portfolio of services to reinvent industries,” said Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon Web Services, Inc. “This collaboration means DISH and its customers can bring new consumer- and enterprise-centric services to the market as quickly as they’re created to deliver on the promise of 5G. Together, we’re opening the door to new technologies that will transform factories, workplaces, entertainment, and transportation in ways people have only dreamed.”

  • Ookla Releases Latest Wireless Report, T-Mobile Comes Out on Top

    Ookla Releases Latest Wireless Report, T-Mobile Comes Out on Top

    Ookla, the maker of the popular Speedtest app, has released its latest report and T-Mobile has come out as the big winner in wireless.

    Thanks to its Speedtest app, Ookla is in a unique position to compile reports based on organic user data, rather than rigid, pre-defined studies. The company gives each provider a “Speed Score,” which is based on the provider’s upload and download speeds. Because download speed has a far greater impact on a user’s experience, 90% of the score is attributed to download speed, with the remaining 10% attributed to upload.

    Its latest report covers Q1 2021, and T-Mobile has come out on top in almost every category.

    Overall Speed

    In terms of overall speed, T-Mobile scored first place with a score of 50.21. AT&T came in second with 48.38 and Verizon came in third with 41.25.

    Consistency

    Ookla’s Consistency test measures providers’ ability to deliver consistent speeds. T-Mobile came in first, providing download speeds of at least 5 Mbps and upload speeds of at least 1 Mbps 84.8% of the time. AT&T came in second at 83.5% and Verizon came in third at 81.6% of the time.

    5G Speed

    When looking exclusively at 5G speed, T-Mobile was again the clear winner, with an average download speed of 82.35 Mbps. AT&T was again second with 76.60 Mbps, and Verizon came in third at 67.24 Mbps.

    5G Time Spent (5G Availability)

    Ookla’s Time Spent test measures how much time phones are connected to 5G, giving a look into a provider’s 5G coverage and availability. T-Mobile came in first with 65.4%. Verizon came in second with 36.2% and AT&T was third with 31.0%.

    Latency

    Latency tests were the only tests were T-Mobile didn’t score first place. AT&T and Verizon tied at 32 ms, while T-Mobile had 33 ms.

    T-Mobile touted the results as validation of its 5G strategy, one that has helped it become the company to beat in the 5G race.

    “Ookla’s report is just the latest to prove T-Mobile is America’s leader in 5G, with real customer data showing T-Mobile delivers the fastest 5G speeds and a 5G signal more often,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “While the other networks play catch up, T-Mobile 5G will keep layering on even more capacity and speed to the nation’s largest 5G network.”

  • T-Mobile Unveils 5G Home Internet

    T-Mobile Unveils 5G Home Internet

    T-Mobile has unveiled its next Un-carrier move, #5GforAll, including 5G home internet.

    T-Mobile has been rolling out its home internet service for some time, although it has primarily been deployed on the company’s 4G LTE network.

    The company is now significantly upgrading the service, providing 5G home internet for $60 per month. Like all T-Mobile’s wireless services, that price includes taxes and fees. Some 30 million households are eligible for the service, which the company is quick to point out is more than Verizon hopes to cover by the end of 2023.

    T-Mobile is especially positioning the service as an option for addressing the “digital divide,” the term for the huge disparity in internet service available in the US. While cities and urban areas have ready access to high-speed broadband, many rural areas have few, if any, good options. Such options are especially important now, at a time when remote work has become the new normal.

    “Since the beginning of the digital age, connectivity for rural America has been an afterthought,” said T-Mobile Senior Vice President Edwige Robinson. “One of our most important goals is to ensure that small town America is not left behind during the transition to 5G. This is why 5G for All will span across the country — small towns as well as big cities, rural communities as well as the suburbs.”

    Customers can expect an average of 100 Mbps download, along with unlimited data and no data caps.

  • T-Mobile Takes ‘Most Reliable 5G Network’ Title in Latest Report

    T-Mobile Takes ‘Most Reliable 5G Network’ Title in Latest Report

    T-Mobile continues to be the carrier to beat in the US 5G race, adding “most reliable 5G” to its list of accolades.

    The magenta carrier established an early lead in 5G coverage, thanks to being the first company to roll out a nationwide 5G network. T-Mobile used its 600 MHz spectrum to power the nationwide network, spectrum that gives it excellent range and penetration.

    In contrast, Verizon focused almost exclusively on high-band mmWave spectrum in its initial rollout. mmWave offers spectacular speed, but very poor coverage and penetration. As a result, Verizon was the undisputed king of 5G speed in the early days of the rollout.

    In January, however, T-Mobile took the 5G speed crown from Verizon, and now the company’s network has been named the most reliable 5G as well.

    Independent research firm umlaut examined 35 million data samples from more than 55,000 5G users. According to umlaut’s research, T-Mobile ranks first in 5G overall in 44 states. In addition, the company earned top marks for 5G coverage, reliability and speed.

    “Time and time again, the independent network benchmarking reports prove there’s one clear leader in 5G, and that’s T-Mobile,” said Neville Ray, President of Technology at T-Mobile. “With the largest, fastest and now most reliable 5G network in the country, our sights are firmly set on what’s next in 5G, while the competition plays catch-up!!”

  • T-Mobile First Carrier to Embrace Messages by Google

    T-Mobile First Carrier to Embrace Messages by Google

    T-Mobile expanded its partnership with Google, becoming the first US carrier to make Messages by Google the default SMS choice on its Android phones.

    Messages by Google is the company’s attempt to grow beyond basic text messaging. Messages implements the RCS protocol, bringing SMS more on par with Apple’s iMessage or Facebook’s WhatsApp. RCS allows for group chats, read receipts, file attachments, encryption and more.

    Unfortunately for Google, the company has had difficulty getting carriers to make the jump to the new protocol. T-Mobile has now become the first carrier to make Messages the default SMS app on Android and Pixel phones the carrier ships.

    “This is a win for Android users and an even greater win for the Android ecosystem,” said Hiroshi Lockheimer, Senior Vice President of Platforms and Ecosystems at Google. “T-Mobile and Google have been working together to champion Android since the very beginning with the launch of the T-Mobile G1 in 2008. We’re taking what has already been a long and very successful relationship, and building on it to bring Android customers even more features and services.”

    The news follows T-Mobile’s announcement it would be ending its in-house TVision streaming TV service, in favor of its customers receiving a $10 per month discount on YouTube TV.

    “We’re building on our decade-long relationship with Google to give customers an even better experience with the world’s very best products and services offered by Android, Pixel and YouTube,” said Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile. “The world’s most popular smartphone platform with Android, a broad range of premium Pixel devices, an upgraded, modern messaging experience on Android and a robust entertainment offering with YouTube TV — it’s the best of Google, combined with the nation’s largest and fastest 5G network on T-Mobile.”

  • T-Mobile Kills TVision, Customers Receive YouTube TV and Philo Discount

    T-Mobile Kills TVision, Customers Receive YouTube TV and Philo Discount

    T-Mobile has announced it is effectively killing off its TVision streaming service, less than a year after its debut, steering customers towards YouTube TV.

    T-Mobile unveiled TVision in October 2020, promising to revolutionize the streaming TV industry. The company’s foray into television, while not quite as revolutionary as T-Mobile promised, was nonetheless a competitive offering. TVision offered a wealth of channels at a price that was among the cheapest options available.

    Unfortunately, T-Mobile’s efforts to offer customers what they want quickly raised the ire of its broadcasting partners, especially with its cheapest Vibe package. Vibe included over 30 lifestyle and entertainment channels for $10 per month. As a result of the disputes, T-Mobile decided to bundle all 30+ of its Vibe channels with its more expensive Live packages for free.

    The resistance T-Mobile faced forced the company to reconsider its entire position in the streaming TV industry, and it appears a graceful exit is what it has decided on, effective April 29. The company has partnered with Google and Philo to give its customers a $10 per month discount.

    That means T-Mobile customers get exclusive access to the best pricing on the highest-rated streaming service, YouTube TV, starting at just $54.99 per month. And, access to streaming TV through Philo starting at just $10 per month for a limited time.

    The company emphasized that, in many ways, this is an upgrade over TVision. YouTube currently offers more than twice as many channels as TVision, while Philo has some of the most popular entertainment and lifestyle channels, much like the Vibe package. Customers who purchased the TVision Hub streaming device will be able to access both services on it.

    The company acknowledges this is an unexpected change of direction, saying “innovation seldom follows a straight line.” However, T-Mobile emphasizes it will continue to advocate for customers in the TV industry, an industry that is widely viewed as one of the most hated and consumer-unfriendly in America.

    Our mission hasn’t changed and is more relevant and important than ever. This TVision initiative is only getting stronger with these changes, and our new TVision partner offerings will give customers more choices as we wind down TVision LIVE and VIBE services on April 29. Our experience has shown us consumers need an advocate in this space. They don’t want more streaming services – they want help buying and navigating the services that already exist. And they want exclusive deals and special access. We’ll continue to play that role, giving our customers the best value with the best streaming services. So millions can cut the cord with the Cableopoly once and for all.

    With this latest flexing of its muscles, the TV broadcasting industry has given customers another big reason to hate it. Hopefully, T-Mobile will be able to deliver on its promise to continue fighting for the consumer…even if it no longer has its own TV service.

  • Verizon and T-Mobile Complete STIR/SHAKEN Rollout

    Verizon and T-Mobile Complete STIR/SHAKEN Rollout

    T-Mobile and Verizon announced they have both rolled out the STIR/SHAKEN protocols in an effort to fight robocalls and spam.

    The STIR/SHAKEN protocols are designed to provide a way for carriers to verify the origin and authenticity of a call, and then pass that verification on to the carrier on the receiving end of the call, who then verifies it again. If the call is verified by all carriers involved, the recipient phone will display a “Caller Verified” badge.

    The first and second largest carriers announced they have both completed their STIR/SHAKEN implementation, offering an additional layer of protection to their customers.

    “This latest STIR/SHAKEN milestone is a key part of our overall efforts to combat these unwanted calls,” said Ronan Dunne, EVP and CEO of Verizon Consumer Group. “There is always more to be done, but this is yet another important step for the industry and customers should rest assured that we remain vigilant in our efforts to take down the bad guys and protect them.”

    “T-Mobile was first to implement number verification in 2019 because protecting customers against scammers and spammers is one of the most important things we can do as an industry,” said Mike Sievert, CEO T-Mobile. “To date, T-Mobile has protected over 80 million customers from more than 33 billion suspect calls – and counting. With the combination of Number Verification, free Caller ID and the scam blocking tools in Scam Shield, and by working with network providers of all sizes, we are providing the industry’s most comprehensive scam and spam protection for free to all our customers and working every day to make scammers jobs impossible.”

    The implementation of the protocol is good news for consumers.

  • T-Mobile Will Get Access to Enhanced Pandora Service Free

    T-Mobile Will Get Access to Enhanced Pandora Service Free

    T-Mobile has announced it is partnering with SiriusXM to offer access to an enhanced Pandora music experience for its wireless customers.

    Starting next week, as part of its T-Mobile Tuesdays deals, the wireless carrier is offering free access to an enhanced version of Pandora’s streaming music service, exclusive to T-Mobile customers. The new enhanced service will include:

    • Ad-free stations each weekend.
    • Special “Top Tracks” stations powered by Pandora’s parent company SiriusXM. The stations will feature songs curated from popular SiriusXM channels.
    • Exclusive access to SiriusXM original podcasts.
    • Early access to SiriusXM podcasts on Pandora.

    “Pandora and T-Mobile have built on our longstanding relationship to create a unique new way for T-Mobile customers to discover, share, and listen to the music and podcasts they love most,” said Denise Karkos, CMO of SiriusXM. “We’ve combined Pandora’s personalized listening experience with access to a special selection of must-hear SiriusXM audio entertainment, along with ad-free radio weekends, to deliver even more for T-Mobile customers.”

    “We’re rolling out the magenta carpet once again for T-Mobile customers giving more free benefits and even more value through partnerships with today’s best brands,” said T-Mobile CMO Matt Staneff. “Now more than ever, we recognize the power that music has to connect communities. Today marks another exciting step in our relationship with Pandora, offering T-Mobile customers a new, supercharged version of a brand they already love. At T-Mobile, it’s about getting more value on us — just for being with us.”

  • T-Mobile CEO: Our Competitors Spent $80 Billion To Catch Up and They Fell Short

    T-Mobile CEO: Our Competitors Spent $80 Billion To Catch Up and They Fell Short

    “Our competitors just spent a combined $80 billion trying to catch up and match us and they fell short,” says T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. “We didn’t just leave this auction with the most mid-band spectrum, we left the auction with the best mid-band spectrum. Our two and a half gigahertz spectrum is more than 50 percent better in most use cases and we have more of it than anybody else. It’s going to make us famous for network in the 5G era.”

    Mike Sievert, CEO of T-Mobile, says that despite AT&T and Verizon spending $80 billion in the c-band auction trying to catch up and match them, they fell short:

    Our Competitors Spent $80 Billion To Catch Up and They Fell Short

    What the c-band auction shows is the extraordinary value of what T-Mobile has. Our competitors just spent a combined $80 billion trying to catch up and match us and they fell short. They spent $80 billion dollars and are still falling short. We didn’t just leave this auction with the most mid-band spectrum, we left the auction with the best mid-band spectrum. Our two and a half gigahertz spectrum is more than 50 percent better in most use cases. Yet we have more of it than anybody else. It’s really terrific because we’ve taken it and run ahead by about two years with the best asset base in the industry. It’s going to make us famous for network in the 5G era.

    As we sit here today we’re more than a million square miles ahead of AT&T and Verizon on deployment. We have more 5G geographic coverage out there than AT&T and Verizon combined. We’re also adding coverage at a record pace, at a pace no one company in this industry has ever done. We started ramping up this engine two years ago and now it’s running at pace. While our competitors just seized some assets, they didn’t catch up, but they just seized some assets that they’re going to get after, but they’re way behind.

    We Will Unlock Massive Cashflow From This Business

    Yesterday we announced a business plan where we demonstrated massive cash flow potential from this business with very reasonable assumptions. These are assumptions that don’t require us to catch any unicorns. We just have to go do what we’ve already demonstrated we know how to do and we’ll unlock massive cash flow potential in this business. We have everything we need to deliver that business plan right now.

    Last week we announced our Work From Home solution. We just started our rollout of home broadband for business home office workers. That’s across more than 50 million of the US population and it will rapidly expand to nationwide. It’s such an exciting thing. Now, work from home workers no longer have to share the WiFiwith their kids. That’s so important.

    They also don’t have to worry about security if they are enterprises, they can get their home office workers a secure connection. Later this month, as we unveiled yesterday, we’ll be announcing our consumer launch plans across a wide swath of this country with rate plans, go to market plans. etc. We’re really excited about what’s ahead in home broadband. From a timing standpoint, we’re way ahead of the other new entrants.

    Starlink Is Not A Broadband Competitor

    SpaceX Starlink Constellation (and other satellite broadband provider) could be a compliment or a future collaborator. Ultimately, for the core mainstream broadband connection, it’s going to come down to capacity. Those emerging technologies won’t be able to match on capacity but they’ll be really great augments for places that macro networks don’t reach. Capacity will be the game. Nobody has the ability to deliver more capacity to more places than T-Mobile.

    That’s just so great. This is a company that used to be a scrappy upstart and now we’re the number two provider but with demonstrably the best asset base in this industry.

    T-Mobile CEO: Our Competitors Spent $80 Billion To Catch Up and They Fell Short