T-Mobile USA launches an LTE-enabled Alcatel Pop Astro

Did you wake up this morning feeling like you want a Moto E (2015), but made by Alcatel? You're in luck! T-Mobile USA just revealed the Alcatel One Touch Pop Astro, which is available at $180 on pre-paid and at $150 ($6.24 a month really) on contract.

The phone is built around a 4.5" qHD screen and runs Android 4.4 KitKat on a quad-core 1.5HGz processor with 1GB of RAM (MediaTek MT6732 chipset). It has LTE connectivity with HD voice, Voice over LTE, plus Wi-Fi calling. Those are rare (though not unheard of) in this price range.

    

Alcatel One Touch Pop Astro

The Alcatel Pop Astro also comes with a 5MP camera, 0.3MP selfie snapper. You get only 4GB of storage out of the box, plus whatever you add in the microSD card slot (up to 32GB). The phone has a 2,000mAh battery that promises 11 hours of talk time.

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T-Mobile launches G4 preview program

T-Mobile has announced a new LG G4 preview program for the US based users to try out the flagship smartphone and share their experiences. The purpose of this program is to let users have a hands-on experience with the G4 before it is available for purchase in the US.

Along with that, T-Mobile noted to bring the phablet LG G Stylo LTE and LG Leon LTE smartphones later this year. The LG G Stylo was previously rumored as a stylus-enabled G4 version but later introduced as a mid-range phablet with a stylus.

G Stylo features a 5.7” HD IPS display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC with quad-core 1.2GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB expandable storage, 13MP rear snapper with OIS and LED flash as well as a 5MP front camera. It runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop, and has a 3,000 mAh battery along with 4G LTE support. Highlight of this phablet is the capacitive stylus that works in harmony with LG UX.

Meanwhile the LG Leon LTE offers 4.5” FWVGA display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC with quad-core 1.2GHz CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB expandable, 5MP rear camera, VGA front camera, Android 5.0.1 Lollipop, and a 1,900 mAh battery.

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Alcatel Pop Astro will be launched by T-Mobile, leak reveals

Not long ago Alcatel started taking pre-orders for its 5.5-inch Idol 3 smartphone, which is a decently specced device at a very affordable price. That, however, is sold unlocked. Alcatel has partnered up with US carriers in the past, and it now looks to be doing the same with T-Mobile.

Unfortunately for lovers of at least midrange mobile devices, the upcoming handset that Alcatel will make and T-Mobile will sell will be a cheap low-end one basically.

It's going to be called Alcatel Pop Astro, as you can see from the image above, which is purported to be a shot of an internal leaflet from the magenta carrier.

The Pop Astro will boast a 4.5-inch 540x960 touchscreen, a 5 MP rear camera, a VGA front-facing shooter, a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor (of unknown origin), 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of built-in (hopefully expandable) storage.

It will run Android 4.4 KitKat, and will come with support for 4G LTE as well as Wi-Fi Calling and voice over LTE (VoLTE).

Unfortunately no details about exact pricing or a release date are known right now. That said, given the specs we don't expect the Pop Astro to cost more than $100 to $150.

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T-Mobile's Galaxy Note 4 finally gets Lollipop update too

T-Mobile is the last of the 'big four' carriers in the US to push out the Lollipop update for its Galaxy Note 4 units, but it's finally done so today. This follows similar rollouts already commenced by Sprint,AT&T, as well as Verizon - many weeks ago.

Yet if you bought your Samsung Galaxy Note 4 from the magenta carrier you've been patiently waiting to get a taste of Lollipop, until now that is.

The update comes over-the-air in the form of a 1.1GB download, so you'll have to get it via Wi-Fi. Other prerequisites to perform the update are at least 50% battery life at the start of the procedure, and 3GB of free storage.

Once it gets going, the download should take around half an hour to complete, while the installation itself may take up to an hour, depending on the number of apps you have. After everything's finished, you'll be running Android 5.0.1, software version N910TUVU1COD6.

If you haven't yet received the update notification, you can manually check through the About phone Settings menu, or use Kies, Samsung's desktop PC software, to install the new bits.

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Sony Xperia Z3 is surprisingly back in stock at T-Mobile

Earlier this month T-Mobile decided to discontinue the Sony Xperia Z3, after less than six months since its debut at the magenta carrier. At that point, there was no explanation given - the phone simply vanished from TMo's website.

Today, though, the exact opposite has happened. Namely, the Xperia Z3 is once again up for grabs from T-Mobile. Again, there's no explanation for these moves, the handset just showed up in the carrier's online store.

Furthermore, it's now a lot cheaper than it used to be. So that will be good news for prospective buyers. The full price you need to pay for the Xperia Z3 is $499.92, down from the previous level of $630.

If you choose to use T-Mobile's installment plan, then you pay nothing upfront, followed by 24 monthly payments of $20.83. As always, if you cancel wireless service the remaining balance on the phone becomes due.

Sony has already announced the Xperia Z4, but that device may only be launched in the Japanese market. And it's not even a huge upgrade compared to its predecessor, so the Z3 is still a pretty good buy.

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T-Mobile doubles LTE data on Walmart plan

T-Mobile has good news for customers who use the Walmart Family Mobile plans that it powers. The carrier on Friday announced that it’s now boosting the amount of data those customers get each month, without increasing the price.

Typically, the entry-level Walmart Family Mobile plan came with 500MB of 4G LTEdata for $29.88 per month. Now those customers will get a full 1GB of LTE data for the same price. The more expensive plan, which costs $39.88 and used to provide 2.5GB of LTE data, now provides a 3GB of data. That’s not as significant of a jump as the doubling on the lower-end plan, but extra data is extra data, right?

T-Mobile said the new plans will go into effect on Saturday, April 18, and the bonus data will automatically filter into existing plans.

Walmart Family Mobile Powered by T-Mobile doubles the 4G LTE data What: Walmart Family Mobile Powered by T-Mobile already delivers Walmart’s lowest-priced wireless plans with unlimited talk, text and data on T-Mobile’s nationwide network, and starting tomorrow, April 18, those deals are getting a lot sweeter.  Customers will get up to 500MB more 4G LTE data for the same low price – that’s double the 4G LTE data on the company’s entry-level plan.  And, even better, existing customers will automatically get the extra data without lifting a finger. The updated plans are as follows: $29.88/month – Unlimited Talk, Text & Data with up to 1GB of 4G LTE data (up from 500MB) $39.88/month – Unlimited Talk, Text & Data with up to 3GB of 4G LTE data (up from 2.5GB) These plans are free from restrictions like forcing customers to sign up for auto-pay or jump through other ridiculous hoops. And as usual, customers who sign up for multiple lines can save $5 off each additional line. When: The updated plans are available starting Saturday, April 18. Background: Walmart Family Mobile Powered by T-Mobile is a postpaid, no annual contract wireless service available only at Walmart stores nationwide and throughWalmart.com, featuring 4G LTE data speeds on T-Mobile’s nationwide network. Featuring plans with unlimited talk, text and data at an everyday low price, Walmart Family Mobile Powered by T-Mobile has devices for everyone, ranging from entry level phones to high-end smartphones. Capable device required for 4G LTE speeds. Limited time offers; subject to change. Taxes & fees additional. Domestic use only. No data roaming. Starter Kit purchase per line required. Full data speeds available up to monthly allotment; then slowed to 2G speeds for rest of billing cycle. Limit five lines per account. Coverage not available in some areas. See Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) & details. Walmart, the Spark Design and Family Mobile are trademarks of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. T-Mobile and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG. (c) 2015 T-Mobile USA, Inc.

T-Mobile Targets Smaller Businesses With New Plans, Offers

T-Mobile wants to change how businesses buy phones and wireless services — two years after it changed how consumers do so in abolishing long-term contracts.

T-Mobile says its new business plans are about simplicity — with rates determined based on how many lines and how much data the company needs. Traditionally, these rates are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. T-Mobile says that puts smaller and medium-sized businesses at a disadvantage. The company believes its new plans will be particularly attractive to them.

"Anybody can figure out the cost," John Legere, T-Mobile's CEO, told The Associated Press. "At the counter, on the phone, in two minutes, we can tell you exactly how much it's going to cost, how to get you over, what we can do for your family."

T-Mobile is also offering new deals for families of employees, along with a pledge to pay the balance of phone-installment plans for those switching from other rivals.

Two years ago this month, T-Mobile shattered a long-standing industry practice of tying consumers to two-year service contracts in exchange for phone discounts. Customers now pay full price for phones in installments, and the company no longer inflates rates for voice, text and data services to make up for those phone discounts. Verizon, AT&T and Sprint soon followed with their own no-contract plans.

Since then, T-Mobile also has introduced free data roaming abroad and programs for upgrading phones more frequently.

The programs have helped T-Mobile gain more than 4 million phone customers in the lucrative "postpaid" plans last year. T-Mobile US Inc., the nation's No. 4 wireless carrier, has its headquarters in Bellevue, Washington.

Although Wednesday's announcements in New York were aimed at businesses, many of the provisions will affect consumers.

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TARGETING BUSINESSES

By T-Mobile's own admission, the company doesn't have a lot of business customers today in part because its network has historically lagged those of Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile's network is improving, and the company believes it can draw many of those business customers with simplified plans.

The first 19 lines are $16 each, and there's a 10-line minimum. Those needing 20 to 1,000 pay $15 each for all lines, including the first 19. Those needing more pay $10 per line on their entire plan.

Each line gets unlimited voice and text and 1 gigabyte of data. Companies can buy more data per line or as a pool that can be shared, or any combination of the two. T-Mobile won't charge overage fees, so companies can pay only for what they need and use, though there are some minimums.

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EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Many carriers now offer discounts for families of employees, but T-Mobile says that's typically done as a percentage off the most expensive rate for the first phone. Legere says the company will offer steeper discounts not by offering percentages but by applying cheaper, multiple-line rates more quickly. T-Mobile is treating the employee's work phone as the first phone in its family plans.

Currently, T-Mobile's rates start at $50 for the first line, $30 for the second and $10 for each line after that. So instead of offering 10 percent or 15 percent off the $50 rate on the first phone, T-Mobile will charge the second-line rate of $30, a discount of 40 percent. The second line will be charged $10 instead of $30, a discount of 67 percent.