Is Verizon encouraging AT&T users to partake in Operation Chokehold?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi

My pal Matt Hickey from over at Crave has seemingly connected a few dots as it pertains to the battle between AT&T and Verizon, and this whole Fake Steve Jobs “Operation Chokehold” stunt aimed at taking down the AT&T Wireless data network this Friday afternoon. In case you are unfamiliar, Fake Steve proposed that AT&T customers load up bandwidth-intensive apps on Friday at noon, all at the same time, to saturate the AT&T network to a point of failure as a way of expressing they they are fed up with the horrible performance of the network. Thing is, one of my other pals, John Czwartacki, who just happens to be a contributor to the Verizon Policy Blog and a prolific Verizon personality on Twitter, linked to the movement via a tweet. Some are seeing this as a Verizon official condoning, or possibly even encouraging, the whole “Operation Chokehold” act.

Personally? We think that this is more of a finger pointing statement. It’s John saying “Haha - look at AT&T - their users are so fed up that they want to crush the service that they pay for! Tee hee! Verizon customers wouldn’t do that to us!” What do you think? Was John, and thusly Verizon, out of line here? Either way, we can stomach the rivalry that is happening in the television commercials…but let’s keep the battle outside of our Twitter streams, okay guys?

Edit: John Czwartacki just hit me with an email, pointing out that he certainly doesn’t condone this behavior at all, and even said as much in a few tweets that followed. He was simply linking to industry news, as he normally does. He thinks that if customers are fed up with AT&T, they should vote with their wallets. We agree.

Read More | Crave

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AT&T selling refurbished 16GB iPhone 3G for $149

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Hot Deals

Well, lookie here. If you’ve been jonesing for an iPhone 3G, but thought it was a big too expensive, you’ve gotta see what AT&T is selling refurbished iPhone for. You ready for this? You can grab a refurbished 16GB iPhone 3G for $149.99. You are saving $150 off the regular price of $299.99 - that’s 50% off. It really doesn’t get much better than this.

Read More | Refurbished 16GB iPhone 3G

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Pantech Matrix Pro unboxing gallery

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Features, Galleries, GPS, Handhelds

We were able to spend some quality time with the latest dual slider Windows Mobile smartphone from AT&T, that being the Pantech Matrix Pro. If you are unfamiliar with dual slider phones, what this means is that if you slide the phone vertically, you get a number pad—but if you turn it horizontally and slide up, you get a QWERTY keyboard. Very slick. The Pantech Matrix Pro runs Windows Mobile 6.1, and is Video Share capable, which means you can beam video to and from the phone to other handsets, a feature that we think is the hotness, along with turn-by-turn navigation via aGPS. We will be doing more with the Matrix Pro, but for now, we’ve put together a nice Pantech Matrix Pro unboxing gallery, featuring 31 images of the new smartphone.

You can pick up the Pantech Matrix Pro now for $179.99 with two-year contract. We’ve got all the specs for you, after the break.

Click to continue reading Pantech Matrix Pro unboxing gallery

Read More | Pantech Matrix Pro unboxing gallery

Gallery: Pantech Matrix Pro unboxing gallery

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Video: How AT&T is getting “iReady” for iPhone 3G launch

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Corporate News, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video, Videos

Alright, we’ve given you details on the iPhone 3G pricing scheme, let you know that the iPhone 3G launches at 8:00 AM on July 11, and even hit you with the iPhone 3G Guided Tour. Not enough for you? Well, AT&T put together a video showing how they are preparing for the iPhone 3G launch, and even what you can do beforehand, and on launch day, to speed up your purchase. They are calling it being “iReady.” Yeah, they went there.

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iPhone 3G US pricing finally revealed

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Cell Phones, Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video

A few days ago we tried to make sense of the iPhone 3G pricing confusion that people have been going through. Well, we are happy to report that Apple and AT&T have finally provided all the answers we need on this front. Pricing for the iPhone 3G will be as follows:

$199 8GB model, $299 16GB model:

• New customers who activate a new line of service with AT&T
• iPhone customer who purchased their phone before July 11
• Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount

$399 8GB model, $499 16GB model:

• Existing AT&T customers who are not currently eligible for an upgrade discount.

$599 8GB model, $699 16GB model:

• Customers who want to purchase an iPhone 3G without signing a contract
• Customers who enjoy getting royally screwed

Click to continue reading iPhone 3G US pricing finally revealed

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