Just as browser makers and laws start to crack down on the abuse and misuse of ads, one major US network operator might be daring to stir up the hornet's nest in about a year's time. AT&T CEO John Stankey revealed the company's thoughts on how it could offer cheaper mobile subscriptions and, as you might expect, it involves serving customers targeted ads.
AT&T is launching a new 5G mobile hotspot, promising higher-speed data for your laptop, tablet, Nintendo Switch or whatever else while on the move. The Netgear Nighthawk 5G Mobile Hotspot Pro will be compatible with both AT&T's sub-6 GHz 5G and the faster millimeter wave service it brands "5G+" in a number of locations.
When the first smart speakers, led by the Amazon Echo, appeared, there was some confusion at what they'd really be good for. These devices eventually became commonplace inside more modern homes but they initially lacked one feature people presumed they would have: making and taking phone calls. That also eventually arrived in one form or another but now Amazon and AT&T are making it easier by linking subscribers' accounts with their Echo speakers for convenient hands-free calls.
It's definitely Samsung's day today but it isn't just because it finally announced the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Although they were already revealed last month, it's only now that Samsung is making public the details for its Galaxy Tab S7 slates. They are, unsurprisingly, one of the most expensive Android tablets you'll see in the market, especially when you consider that it practically needs the keyboard case, which is also probably why you'll want to take advantage of the pre-order deal it has to offer.
Microsoft's dual-screen phone is arguably one of the more interesting pieces of tech to come this year but there are also many reservations about a phone that no one has seen yet outside of press releases. It would definitely help if Microsoft could show that the Surface Duo is truly ready for action and worthy of the price it's asking for. If you're one of the lucky few to live near a Best Buy store, you might actually get that chance now that Surface Duo displays are available in some but not all of these outlets.
The Samsung Galaxy A51 isn't the device most people think of when they think of the most popular phones on earth. The Samsung Galaxy S20 is the newest line of top-tier phones from Samsung, and the next Galaxy Note is right around the corner. So what's the big deal with this "top" 5G Galaxy phone of which you've likely never heard?
Internal communications at T-Mobile USA revealed this week show how customers will require VoLTE tech in their phone in the near future. T-Mobile USA is evolving to the newest in new mobile network and cell connectivity, and the oldest still-active tech is about to be retired. This information was revealed not long after AT&T sent out notification to some customers about a similar update and requirement for new phones.
This week AT&T started sending out emails about how users will need a new smartphone if they want to continue "receiving service." AT&T's message does not suggest that users will lose service instantly - but they DO suggest that some users will NEED to upgrade to a new phone if they plan on continuing to get phone calls by the time the countdown is done.
On the afternoon of June 15, 2020, T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint appeared to be having issues with connectivity. Phone voice calls and data connections seemed to be extremely slow and/or broken entirely for several hours. At 3:18 PM Central Time, CEO Neville Ray posted a Twitter message suggesting the network was being fixed.
AT&T has rolled out a couple of new prepaid wireless options akin to the multi-month plans long offered by companies like Mint Mobile. Under these new deals, AT&T Prepaid customers have the option of pre-paying for multiple months at a time, ultimately scoring a discount on a per-month basis compared to paying monthly. The wireless company currently has two multi-month plans available.
HBO Max went live at the tail end of last month, and if you're an AT&T subscriber, you'll find that streaming content from the new service doesn't count against your data cap. Specifically, streaming HBO Max over AT&T's network won't count against typical data caps for those who are metered connections, and it also won't count against the quasi-data caps on unlimited plans, where crossing a certain data usage threshold will lead to a throttled connection but not a halt to data access entirely.
5G has been the battle cry of many network operators and device makers so it wasn't surprising to see carriers scrambling to promote their network as the 5G network to beat. More than two years ago, however, AT&T ruffled no small amount of feathers when it rolled out its "5G Evolution" advertising campaign and its accompanying "5G E" icon on phones. That has lead to formal complaints and now AT&T is being given a slap on the wrist though that decision may come too little too late to make a difference anyway.