Sprint's early upgrade program to launch on September 20

Sprint is reportedly preparing to launch an early upgrade program for smartphones in the wake of similar offerings from AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Known as Sprint One Up, the glorified handset rental service is expected to debut on September 20. Better late than never, right?

One Up is said to allow customers select a smartphone with no money down and spread the cost of the device over 24 monthly payments. For example, a handset that sells for $649.99 would be around $27 each month on top of the monthly rate plan. After one year, the customer can elect to trade in the original device and start making payments on a new phone.

Sprint will allow existing customers that have been on contract for at least a year to sign up for One UP although they will need to trade in their current phone unless they are eligible for a full upgrade. Prepaid customers aren’t eligible for the program.

Sprint’s plan seems more in line with T-Mobile’s Jump plan in that a break is given in exchange for the monthly installment plan. Programs from AT&T and Verizon continue to charge the same monthly rate plan on top of having to also pay extra for a new device.

Of course, once you do the math, you’ll quickly realize that all of these early upgrade plans are a complete sham. Assuming you take the upgrade as often as possible (either once or twice a year), you’re basically renting a phone at a premium and will never have anything to show for it (a phone you own).

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Pantech's Element is a waterproof 8-inch Android tablet, hands-on

We got some hands-on time with the just-announced Pantech Elementtablet for AT&T here at CES 2012. The Element is a unique Android tablet that features an 8-inch display and waterproof construction.

Oh, where to start. There are a lot of cool, different things to like about the Pantech Element. For starters, I really like the size and more square'ish aspect ratio of the 8-inch, 1024 x 768 pixel touchscreen display. It offers an obviously larger amount of screen real estate than competing 7-inch tablets, but is still worlds easier to handle than the 10-inch monsters we see all the time. I like that.

I also like the fact that this low-cost, LTE tablet comes with a solid performing dual-core, 1.5GHz processor. In my quick test runs on the tablet, everything performed very smoothly. I didn't have access to data, though, so I can't say how well it performs when it comes to download speeds. I can say that you can spill your drink on it with no ill effects, though, since it is fully water-proof for up to 30 minutes in 3 feet of water. I don't really see people taking tablets out in the rain often, but it's nice to know that it's perfectly safe on your desk. Coffee be damned.

AT&T will offer the Pantech Element on January 22 for $299 with a new two-year data plan commitment. For a limited time, buyers can get the Element along with the Pantech Burst smartphone in a bundle for $249.99.

AT&T talks to sell assets go cold, merger with T-Mobile looking less likely

Talks to sell some T-Mobile USA assets as a precondition to closing a merger deal with AT&T have "gone cold,"according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. Citing people familiar with the matter, the newspaper says the companies no longer believe such a deal would help persuade regulators into letting the merger go forward. They are not ruling out an acquisition yet, but AT&T is apparently already looking at other options, such as a partial takeover or a joint venture with the Deutsche Telekom-owned carrier.

Companies involved in the talks reportedly included small wireless operator Leap and Dish Network, which has shown serious interest in diversifying their business beyond pay television in the last year.

AT&T is currently the second largest wireless operator in the U.S. Should its planned $39 billion cash-and-stock acquisition of T-Mobile USA  go through it would add around 34 million customers and effectively vault them into the leading position in the U.S. wireless market, overtaking Verizon Wireless.

But the companies are having a hard time convincing the FCC and the Department of Justice that a merger will not hinder competition for wireless services across the country. AT&T withdrew its merger application with the FCC in late November just days after the latter hinted it would not back the planned acquisition. They subsequently recorded a $4 billion charge against earnings this quarter to cover the $3 billion in cash and $1 billion in spectrum licenses it agreed to turn over to Deutsche Telekom if the deal faltered.

Dish Network interested in T-Mobile deal if AT&T acquisition fails

Dish Network may be the next in line to strike a deal with T-Mobile should the acquisition by AT&T fail. Dish CEO Joe Clayton said in an interview with Reuters that the company is serious about getting into the wireless space but that a few conditions must first be met.


Before anything could happen, the FCC must first issue Dish a wireless license. At that point, it would be a waiting game to see what happens between AT&T and T-Mobile. The judge overseeing that case has granted a request by both parties to postpone the proceedings until January 18, giving AT&T more time to evaluate all options.


According to reports, Dish has spent over $3 billion on wireless spectrum and assets in the last year in preparation to diversity their business beyond pay television. Dish lost nearly 250,000 subscribers in the past two quarters, citing a weak economy as the primary reason.


AT&T withdrew their merger application with T-Mobile in late November just days after the FCC hinted it would not back the planned acquisition. AT&T subsequently recorded a $4 billion charge against earnings this quarter to cover the $3 billion in cash and $1 billion in spectrum licenses it agreed to turn over to Deutsche Telekom if the deal faltered. The company still insists that the deal isn’t dead and they are exploring all options.  


Regardless of the outcome, Dish would either need to find a partner or acquire a wireless company to move forward. A deal with other carriers including Clearwire, Sprint, LightSquared, MetroPCS or Leap wasn’t ruled out.