Category: AT&T / Cingular

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iPad Coming to at&T and Verizon Stores October 28

iPad - Star Trek

iPad showing Star Trek movie

Both Verizon Wireless and AT&T have announced today that they will begin selling the iPad in stores starting October 28.

Verizon whose network is not compatible with the current WiFi + 3G iPad will be bundling iPads that it sells with its own MiFi 2200. Verizon will be selling the iPad in over 2000 stores across the U.S. for $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB + MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB + MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB + MiFi.

“This is the perfect pairing for holiday travels,” said John Stratton, chief operating officer for Verizon Wireless. “iPad together with the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G data network allows customers to easily connect on the go wherever they are.”

“We’re thrilled to be working with Verizon Wireless to get iPad into the hands of even more customers this holiday season,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “iPad allows users to connect with their apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before, and together with Verizon Wireless we’re offering an easy way to stay connected wherever you go.”

AT&T also announced the availability of the iPad in its brick and mortar stores on October 28. AT&T will be selling the WiFi + 3G iPad in 2200 of its stores for $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.

“We can’t wait to showcase the amazing features of iPad Wi-Fi + 3G in our stores across the country just in time for the holidays,” said Glenn Lurie, AT&T President of Emerging Devices, Resale and Partnerships, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “With our breakthrough iPad data plans starting at just $14.99 and access to AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots around the country at no extra cost, our customers will have the best of both worlds.”

“We look forward to expanding the reach of iPad, allowing even more customers to experience the magic of iPad for themselves,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s COO. “As we approach the holiday season, we are very happy that customers will now be able to buy iPad Wi-Fi + 3G at AT&T Stores.”

At&T Adjusts iPhone and iPad Data Plans

AT&T the current official carrier of the iPhone in the U.S. has updated their smartphone data plans. The two new plans replace the existing unlimited plans. The original iPhone unlimited plan was technically limited to 5GB but the iPad unlimited plan was described as truly unlimited.

AT&T’s two new plans are:

  • DataPlus: 200 MB of data a month for $15
  • DataPro: 2 GB of data a month for $25

Those customers who are currently on the old unlimited plans can remain on those plans even when upgrading handsets but will not be able to add AT&T’s new iPhone tethering option which will be available June 7 alongside the new plans.

ATT Reportedly Holds iPhone Exclusivity Through 2010

Broadpoint AmTech analyst Brian Marshall when speaking to AppleInsider said today that AT&T the official carrier of the iPhone in the U.S. has gained another six months of iPhone exclusivity until the end of 2010.

AT&T reportedly gained the extra six months by offering half-price data rates for Apple’s iPad which was released for sale last month.

Analyst Brian Marshall with Broadpoint AmTech told AppleInsider Thursday that it’s likely AT&T had to get something in return for offering “such attractive 3G data pricing.” AT&T’s $30-per-month unlimited data-only plan is half the price of its competitors.

Marshall was one of the key analysts pushing the idea that Verizon would pick up the iPhone this year and also before the iPad release said that it was “a certainty” that the iPad would be available on Verizon.

At&T Earnings Fall, Activates 2.7 Million iPhones

Yesterday Apple announced that during its second fiscal quarter of 2010 it had sold 8.75 million units worldwide, today the official US carrier of the iPhone AT&T announced that it had activated 2.7 million of those.

In the carriers earnings report the company said that signups of wireless customers under contracts dropped 43 percent year-over-year to 512,000. If you were to exclude iPhone signups that figure would have been negative.

AT&T says that it activated about 900,000 iPhones for new customers and 1.8 million iPhones were activated for customers who were already part of the carrier.

AT&T’s consolidated revenues totaled $30.6 billion, up $78 million, or 0.3 percent, versus the year-earlier quarter; operating expenses were $24.6 billion versus $24.8 billion; operating income was $6.0 billion, up from $5.7 billion in the first quarter of 2009; and AT&T’s operating income margin was 19.6 percent, up from 18.8 percent in the year-earlier quarter.

First-quarter 2010 net income attributable to AT&T totaled $2.5 billion, or $0.42 per diluted share, reflecting a previously disclosed noncash charge of $995 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, related to recently enacted changes in the tax treatment for the Medicare Part D subsidy. Excluding this charge, first-quarter earnings would have been $3.5 billion, or $0.59 per diluted share. These results compare with net income of $3.1 billion, or $0.53 per diluted share, in the year-earlier first quarter.

At&T Activates 3.1 Million iPhones Q409

Yesterday AT&T released an earnings report for its fourth quarter of 2009. In the report the official carrier of the iPhone in the U.S. reported that it had activated 3.1 million iPhones during the quarter, just shy of last quarters record of 3.2 million.

AT&T added another 2.7 million subscribers in the fourth quarter, with a 2009 total of 7.3 million bringing the carrier to 85.1 million subscribers in total.

“We had a solid 2009 and led the industry in the biggest growth driver — mobile broadband,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive officer. “Looking ahead, customer demand for connectivity, particularly mobile broadband and IP data, continues to be strong, and AT&T is well positioned at the center of this growth. Our fundamental outlook for the business is quite positive.

“Our significant investments in IP infrastructure — both mobile and fixed — provide the next-generation growth platforms for us,” Stephenson said. “Our leadership in mobile broadband will continue to set us apart as we roll out even faster 3G speeds this year and begin deploying 4G capabilities in 2011. Our IP-based U-verse service continues to scale nicely, improving our consumer revenue profile. And we continue to see solid growth from mobile broadband and IP data services in the business segment.”

AT&T’s revenue for the quarter was actually down on the previous years coming in at $30.9 billion compared with $31.1 billion in the year-ago quarter.

In Brief: Apple to Release $99 8GB iPhone 3GS

Boy Genius Report has today briefly noted that AT&T and Apple are “contemplating” launching an 8GB iPhone 3GS for just $99.

AT&T and Apple currently offer an older 8GB iPhone 3G but this move would represent a complete departure from the iPhone 3G.

At&T Reports 3.2 Million iPhone Activations During Quarter

During today’s third quarter 2009 earnings report from official iPhone carrier AT&T the company revealed that 3.2 million iPhones were activated during the quarter. This figure represents the highest quarterly total of iPhone activations with the carrier.

AT&T’s third-quarter integrated device growth included 3.2 million iPhone activations, also the company’s largest quarterly total to date, with nearly 40 percent of the activations for customers who were new to AT&T.

AT&T also reported that iPhoned accounted for 74% of total postpaid activations of “integrated devices” offering either a physical or virtual keyboard in addition to voice capabilities. 40% of iPhone activations were from customers who were new to AT&T.

AT&T received two million subscribers during the quarter, the highest third quarter in the carriers history.

At&T to Roll Out MMS Today

AT&T will today begin rolling about MMS for iPhone customers in the U.S., the patch which will enable the service will be available from iTunes and will allow iPhone users to begin sending and receiving photos and videos.

The rollout will begin late on Friday morning, Pacific time.

MMS Update: We know you’ve been eager for this service so we wanted to offer a quick update on the launch plans for MMS on Friday, Sept. 25. Late morning, Pacific Time, on Friday, the new carrier settings update enabling MMS should be live and ready to download through iTunes. We’ll provide the steps and all of the details you need right here at that time.

Additional reports earlier this week suggest that AT&T is nervous about the launch of MMS having done some preliminary testing the carrier is said to have suffered strain on servers and infrastructure.

At&T Bringing MMS to iPhone September 25th

AT&T has announced that MMS will finally be available to US iPhone owners on September 25th, the official news comes after a report that Apple could release iPhone OS 3.1 next week. Despite the announcement of MMS availability AT&T still has no news on tethering support only saying that it will be offered “in the future”.

MMS will be enabled for iPhone 3G and 3GS owners on that day via a software update.

In the press release AT&T also makes mention that it is constantly striving to improve network capacity.

ATT and Google Respond to FCC Enquiry

In addition to Apple answering the FCC’s questions regarding the supposed rejection of Google Voice apps from the iPhone app store.

In Apple’s response the company said that it has not rejected the official Google Voice app but “continues to study it”. Apple’s main concerns lie with how the app contrasts with “the iPhone’s distinctive user experience” and “disables Apple’s Visual Voicemail.”

AT&T’s (below) response clearly states that the official iPhone carrier had no role in Apple’s consideration of Google Voice or related applications. The Apple and AT&T deal prohibits the operation of VoIP calls on AT&T’s network, but AT&T plans to “take a fresh look” at authorizing VoIP apps that run on 3G.

Google’s response is strange completely redacted as seen below.

(more…)

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