T-Mobile intros first 42 Mbps smartphones and hotspot

T-Mobile announced on Monday its first two smartphones capable of fully utilizing the operator’s 42 Mbps mobile broadband network. The carrier’s version of the Samsung Galaxy S II and the HTC Amaze 4G, both Android phones, were introduced at GigaOM’s Mobilize event in San Francisco. A new 42 Mbps MiFi, the T-Mobile Sonic 4G Mobile Hotspot was also launched.

The new devices come at a time when the no. 4 U.S. carrier has spent much of this year upgrading its mobile broadband data network. In 2010, T-Mobile boosted the network to 21 Mbps speeds and wasted little time in doubling the network speeds in 2011 with HSPA+ 42 wireless capability and additional backhaul to cell sites. That’s because the carrier is seeing data consumption double every six months.

The increased speeds are helping to quickly transition T-Mobile customers to smartphones that generate increased data revenues. In a phone conversation with Cole Brodman, T-Mobile’s Chief Marketing Office, he told me that “75 percent of the phones T-Mobile sells this year will be smartphones, and of those, 90 percent are Android.”

Without an Apple iPhone, the Android figure makes sense and the overall percent of smartphones sold is higher than the industry, which is estimated to be around 55 percent of all phones sold in the U.S. this year, according to Chetan Sharma, an independent telecom analyst.

As far as the new phones themselves, the Galaxy S II will look familiar as both Sprint and AT&T have introduced their versions. One immediate difference in T-Mobile’s Galaxy S II, aside from the 42 Mbps radio, is a larger, 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus display.

The phone also has NFC capability, although Brodman told me the feature won’t be used at launch. Most other specifications are similar or the same: a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor (from Qualcomm, not Samsung), 16 GB of storage capacity with expansion up to 48 GB, an 8-megapixel rear camera, 2-megapixel front camera and HDMI output.

The new HTC Amaze 4G with Sense 3.0 is also a powerful smartphone, using the same 1.5 GHz dual-core CPU but with a 4.3-inch qHD (960×540 resolution) Super LCD screen. However, the HTC Amaze 4G is positioned as a top-notch camera device with simple sharing on the fast HSPA+ network.

The wide aperture f/2.2 camera — good for low-light conditions — uses an 8-megapixel sensor. A few new scene modes, similar to those found on T-Mobile’s HTC Sensation 4G, are included to enhance the image-taking experience:

The phone also boasts zero-shutter lag, face detection, 1080p HD video capture and a five-image BurstMode. Images can be shared natively to Facebook, Picasa and Flickr.

Those who prefer to use laptops and tablets on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network may be interested in the Sonic 4G Mobile Hotspot. The 3.88 ounce device shares its mobile broadband connection with up to five devices over Wi-Fi and has a 32 GB microSD card slot to save and share data across the personal hotspot network. A small OLED display shows the number of connected devices, signal strength and battery life, which is estimated at 4.5 hours of continuous use.

Both new handsets will be available for online orders starting Oct. 10 with widespread retail availability two days later. T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy S II, is priced at $229.99 with contract and after a $50 mail-in rebate, while the HTC Amaze 4G will cost $259.99 with contract and after the same $50 mail-in rebate. T-Mobile hasn’t set a price for the Sonic 4G but expects it to be available in stores before the end of October.

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Android this week: Galaxy S II first look; Amazon tablet soon; more Hulu Plus devices

Since launching in May, Samsung’s Galaxy S II has been the company’s fastest selling smartphone, even without availability in the smartphone-crazed U.S. That situation is changing as Samsung announced a version for Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile earlier this month. Sprint’s edition is already for sale while T-Mobile hasn’t yet announced availability and AT&T is launching the Galaxy S II on Oct. 2.

I nabbed an early review unit of AT&T’s Galaxy S II yesterday afternoon and immediately gave the handset a once over with a photo gallery. My general first impression: If you like Google Android and have or want an AT&T account, this smartphone should be at the top of your list.

The 4.3-inch display is so vibrant that I tweeted this last night: “Super AMOLED Plus gives new life to old “Cheers” episodes on Netflix.” Samsung’s dual-core processor makes this phone one of the fastest Android devices I’ve ever used. And even in my rural area where mobile broadband coverage is sketchy, I saw HSPA+ download speeds nearing 5 Mbps. I’ll have a full review forthcoming, but so far, I’m very impressed.

Also forthcoming is Amazon’s tablet entry, which will be based on Google Android. Amazon is expected to launch the device in the fourth quarter and it’s likely that next week will see the tablet introduced, due to a planned press event for an unknown product. Amazon has reportedly ordered monthly production of 800,000 such tablets; if true, the company should have plenty on hand after launch, even if the Kindle tablet proves extremely popular.

Based on an early hands-on look at a prototype, it’s pretty much a given that those familiar with Android won’t see a trace of it on Amazon’s tablet. The slate will use a heavily customized user interface that may limit what the device can, and can’t, do as compared to other tablets on the market. Surely it will support Amazon media offerings such as Kindle books, Amazon’s MP3 store, and likely Amazon’s Unbox video service. One open question I have is if Amazon’s AppStore will be supported for third-party Android software; my suspicion is yes, either at launch or through a future software update.

One app that received an update this week was Hulu Plus. The video subscription client was previously supported on just a handful of Android smartphones, but the list of compatible devices was updated this week. The HTC Flyer tablet in addition to the LG’s GX2 and Revolution, plus Motorola’s Bionic, Droid X2 and Droid 3 have all been added to the support list. The software is free but requires a monthly service fee of $7.99 to watch television programming on your Android smartphone or tablet.

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Android this week: $29 smartphones; Droid Bionic arrives; Netflix updated

This week saw both a $29 and a $299 Android phone launch, showing the extreme range of handsets that run Google’s mobile platform; something that’s helping it grow smartphone market share. Although there’s a wide variance in the price between the two, both are capable of connecting consumers to fast mobile broadband networks, a large app store, and social networks. The difference is in the experience.

Huawei’s Impulse 4G for AT&T is aimed at current feature phone users looking to step up to the smartphone world. At $29 with contract, you wouldn’t expect much in the way of hardware, but the device has some hardware features that were standard on more expensive phones last year: A 3.8-inch 800×480 touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera with HD recording capability, and GPS to name a few. The 800 MHz processor won’t set any speed records, but should be good enough for most tasks on a first-time smartphone.

At the other end of the spectrum is Verizon’s new Droid Bionic, made by Motorola. For $299 with contract, the handset is generally considered to be cutting-edge; at least for a few months, given the fast paced mobile technology cycle, particularly with Android phones. The phone’s 4.3-inch display uses a 960×540 resolution display, is powered by a 1 GHz dual-core processor with a full gigabyte of memory, has 32 GB of storage out of the box and connects to Verizon’s LTE network.

I’ve only spent a short time using a review unit of the Bionic, so I can only share some initial impressions for now. Overall, the phone is fast and responsive. The camera may be the best yet in Motorola smartphone. And so far, the Bionic handles network transitions reasonably well: it has switched between 3G and 4G networks (due to coverage) faster than other LTE devices I’ve used in the past.

The Bionic has a number of docking accessories, including the one that looks like a laptop but is powered by the phone, offering expansion options. I’ll have more thoughts in a detailed review soon, but for now, I’m generally impressed with the Bionic.

I’m also impressed with Netflix for Android, but the problem for many has been one of device support. When Netflix finally launched in May of this year for Android phones, it was only available for a half-dozen handsets. At that time, the company said it would have to test the software on each individual phone model.

That seems to have changed this past week as Netflix updated the application, saying it can now run on any Android 2.2 or 2.3 device. At last check, 81.9 percent of Android devices hitting the Android Market ran those two versions, meaning around 4 of every 5 current Android phones and small tablets can enjoy Netflix on the go.

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Huawei’s $29 Android aims at AT&T feature phone users

Huawei, the Chinese company I soon expect to be a household name in the U.S. has a new handset targeted at first-time smartphone buyers. AT&T introduced Huawei’s Impulse 4G on Wednesday, with a Sept. 18 launch date. The Impulse 4G offers all the basics — and then some — of an Android-powered smartphone and will cost just $29.99 with contract.

So what kind of smartphone does $30 get you? The Impulse 4G won’t compare to the new Droid Bionic, but it costs one-tenth of the price. The phone has a reasonably sized 3.8-inch touchscreen with 800×480 resolution, 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with flash and 720p video recording, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. An 800 MHz Qualcomm chip powers the Impulse 4G; no that won’t set any speed records, but it should keep Android 2.2 humming along nicely.

The Impulse 4G supports AT&T’s HSPA+ mobile broadband at speeds up to 14.4 Mbps and in keeping with the target audience, the carrier is pushing its $15 monthly plan that offers 200 MB of data. That’s surely not enough for a heavy smartphone user, but for a user upgrading from a feature phone and just getting started with mobile email, web and apps, it’s a good starting point. And there are always the options of upgrading to AT&T’s 2 GB plan for another $10 per month, or taking advantage of AT&T’s Wi-Fi hotspot network.

The phone isn’t the latest or greatest. In fact, it appears to be an older Huawei model — the Ideos X5 — that’s been branded for AT&T. But when roughlysix out of 10 Americans still don’t have a smartphone, the Impulse 4G has a solid chance of living up to its name: A $29 impulse upgrade from an older feature phone.

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MyTouch 4G Slide impresses as a phone and camera

T-Mobile customers seeking an Android smartphone with keyboard and support for the carrier’s 4G network have a new choice: The myTouch 4G Slide launched on Wednesday for $199 after a two-year contract. In many ways, the smartphone is similar to its predecessor, the myTouch 3G Slide. HTC builds both phones, so that’s not too surprising. But the new model boasts several improvements, such as a faster processor and what T-Mobile calls the “most advanced camera of any smartphone.”

MyTouch 4G Slide Highlights and Specs
3.7″ touchscreen with 800×480 resolution
1.2 GHz dual-core CPU, 1 GB (user accessible) internal memory, microSD slot (8 GB card included)
1080p video recording, 8 megapixel camera, autofocus, dual flash, front-facing camera
Google Android 2.3.4
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, BT 3.0, GPS, Quad-band GSM/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, Tri-band UMTS/HSPA+ (21 Mbps)
2.4″ x 4.8″ x 0.52″, weight of 6.5 ounces

I’ve been using a review unit that T-Mobile loaned me for the past few weeks. Overall, the new myTouch 4G Slide improves upon an already solid design and offers easier-to-use software, plus better overall performance. And while I’ve seen a few cameras on phones that produce better results, images from the myTouch 4G Slide are far and away better than any prior T-Mobile-branded phone I’ve used.

Hardware

This isn’t the thinnest phone on the market, but that’s due to the slide-out QWERTY keypad. It has four rows and is backlit when needed. The slide mechanism is smooth and solid. I like the very light touch of the hardware keyboard, but others I showed the phone to felt it to be “sponge-like” and “soft.” Of course, you can always choose between the two included software keyboards: Swype and a standard keyboard.

The 3.7-inch display uses what I’d call the minimum resolution for a high-end Android phone, 800×840, but the Super LCD screen looks sharp and bright, both indoors and out. Instead of capacitive touch buttons under the display, the phone has physical buttons for home, menu, back and the Genius feature, which is used to place calls, search, send text messages and more through voice commands powered by Nuance. Between the buttons is an optical trackpad. I’m generally not a fan of these, but I like how you can wake the phone with the trackpad button. For a full overview of the hardware, see my recent video look.

Like most currently available smartphones at this price point, the myTouch 4G Slide is powered by a dual-core processor. A 1.2 GHz Qualcomm chip is the main engine, and T-Mobile says the handset has 768 MB of memory to run programs. I recently reviewed the HTC Sensation 4G which has very similar components but the new myTouch feels slightly faster: No matter how many applications I ran, the phone kept up admirably.

Perhaps the biggest hardware upgrade, and the centerpiece of the new phone, is the 8-megapixel camera. HTC isn’t known for using the highest quality camera sensors, but if all of their future phones use this one, that perception will change quickly. I’ll talk more about the camera software later, but the images I captured with the myTouch 4G Slide were impressive. The phone has two LED flashes next to the camera, but in many cases you won’t need them.

The camera uses a wide aperture lens of f/2.2, which brings in more light, even in dim situations. That means better pictures at night and indoors. There is a dedicated hardware button for the camera shutter: Tap to focus if needed, and press to capture an image. Pressing the camera button at any time will quickly fire up the camera software as well.

Another key feature is the 21 Mbps mobile broadband radio that supports T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network. Various speedtests averaged around 6 Mbps download speeds and nearly 2 Mbps back up in my area. I had expected slightly higher speeds, because I live near a network area that now supports 42 Mbps speeds and the phone’s radio should gain some advantage in terms of bandwidth speeds. However, for a phone, I find 6 Mbps more than adequate for most tasks.

The phone runs on a 1520 mAh battery, which will last a day for all but the highest of power users. The only time I could run the phone battery down in a single day was after watching many videos and relying on the device more than my laptop or tablet for email and browsing tasks. As a phone, the new myTouch works well with callers hearing me loudly and clearly, even in a hands-free setting.

Software

T-Mobile is shipping the myTouch 4G Slide with the most recent version of Google’s software: Android 2.3.4. That means unlike many other smartphones, there’s no waiting months and months for the upgrade. I did notice, however, that the phone doesn’t support video calls on Google Talk, which is available for Android 2.3.4. Instead, Qik is pre-loaded for video calling through the front-facing camera.

Instead of the bland look of Android, HTC Sense 3.0 is used, making for a simple but effective user interface. This adds custom HTC widgets, five home screens that float around a 3-D-like carousel, more intuitive interfaces and smart customizations to the standard Android notification system. I’ve been impressed with HTC Sense 3.0 on other devices, and it works just as well on the new myTouch. One feature I really liked in the software, however, is missing on this phone. Called the Active Lockscreen, it allows you to add up to four shortcuts to the lock screen. Dragging any one of these into a ringed area quickly unlocks the phone and opens up the application. I first saw this on the HTC Sensation 4G and wish it was on the myTouch 4G Slide.

While the standard camera software was always adequate on HTC’s phones, the myTouch adds several new functions that take full advantage of the 8-megapixel camera sensor. SweepShot is useful for taking wide panoramic images: Simply press the shutter button one time and then sweep across your image as if you were taking a video. The software processes the image into a wide view. ClearShot HDR snaps several images in a range of exposures to create high-definition-range (HDR) pictures, beautiful for outdoors where the sun can overpower the foreground. And BurstShot takes five images in succession to make sure you capture the picture you want. I found it useful for fast-moving objects.

For those interested in “crapware,” or the software that carriers often pre-load on handsets, T-Mobile seems to be reducing the amount; and the software it does include is fairly useful. KidZone allows for a custom configuration so that kids can’t mess up the apps and widget setup on your handset, for example. Netflix is on the phone for movie and television programming, and the new Zinio Reader app is there for magazines.

Aside from the Wi-Fi calling app — the phone supports voice over Wi-Fi without the use of voice minutes — there’s very little T-Mobile software on the device. Suprisingly, I actually liked the new Name ID service, which is like the old Caller ID of yesteryear. Smartphones can tell you who’s calling if you have the caller as a contact on your phone. But Name ID shows most every other caller name too, which I found helpful when using the phone.

Conclusion

Android fans that crave a keyboard should consider the T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide, but they should test the keypad to see if they like the light touch. The phone offers solid overall performance, and the camera is much improved. At 6.5 ounces, some will find the handset to be bulky or heavy, but that’s often the price one pays for a hardware keyboard. And even those that aren’t fans of HTC’s user interface could be swayed by the new Sense 3.0 software.

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