Subsidies Archive

  • Google changes Nexus One plans, will stop selling handsets online

    Google changes Nexus One plans, will stop selling handsets online

    Posted on May 14, 2010 | No Comments
    digg_url = 'http://digg.com/hardware/Google_to_stop_selling_Nexus_One_online'; Although Google launched the Nexus One with grand plans to radically change the way consumers purchased phones and service, it looks like the experiment has fizzled to an end -- the company just announced that will eventually stop selling handsets online and instead partner with carriers to sell the N1 in-store while using its website to promote "a variety of Android phones available globally." Google says customers simply want a hands-on experience before buying a phone, but we'd say the lack of subsidies from any carrier except T-Mobile and some serious customer service issues probably played in killing Google's original sales strategy -- and of course, both Verizon and Sprint essentially refused the N1 in favor of the bespoke Incredible and EVO 4G. We'd also say that Android as a whole will remain unaffected, since the Nexus One was never a huge seller, but it's still rare that a company simply gives up a business model like this, and we don't know if Google will ever follow up with a successor to the Nexus One. The Google Phone is dead, people -- long live the Google Phone.

    Update: We just asked Google about future devices and support for current Nexus One owners, here's what they said:
    On the future: We will continue working with our partners to bring cutting-edge new Android handsets to market, but we have nothing to announce right now.

    On support: This announcement doesn't have any immediate impact on support for consumers who purchase Nexus One through the web store.

    Google changes Nexus One plans, will stop selling handsets online originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 May 2010 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon break down ETFs for the FCC

    AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon break down ETFs for the FCC

    Posted on February 24, 2010 | No Comments
    Early termination fees. No one likes them but they can sometimes be a necessary evil. If you become unhappy with your service provider or you are overwhelmed with lust for a new gadget on a different carrier, you pay the price. Carriers say that these termination fees, or ETFs, allow them to subsidize handsets and recover those costs over the course of a contract. Should a contract be broken, a carrier recovers those subsidies with an ETF. The FCC recently decided something was amiss with ETFs and probed carriers into explaining the rhyme and reason behind the fees. The carriers have finally spoken, albeit a little unconvincingly. Most of you are already familiar with why ETFs exist, but it is interesting to see the canned and obvious responses from the carriers.

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  • One part Android, One part Pre: Alcatel’s upcoming Android slider caught on video

    One part Android, One part Pre: Alcatel’s upcoming Android slider caught on video

    Posted on February 1, 2010 | No Comments
    Take the Palm Pre. Smash Android on to it, add a few buttons, and maybe tone things down in the “Good looks” department a bit. Know what you’d get? Probably not – because this is the first time we’ve seen it. We’re not sure where they were lurking when they found it, but the gents over [...]

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  • Rumor: LG Cookie to be followed up by the LG Muffin?

    Rumor: LG Cookie to be followed up by the LG Muffin?

    Posted on December 21, 2009 | No Comments
    Man, that was a surreal headline to write. Two baked goods in one sentence, and we’re not even talking about Android. With over 10 million units pushed, the Cookie is LG’s best selling device ever. It should come as no surprise, then, that it’s getting a sequel. According to information leaked to PhoneArena, the second coming [...]

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  • Nokia X6 Comes with Music and capacitive touchscreen: shipping now

    Nokia X6 Comes with Music and capacitive touchscreen: shipping now

    Posted on November 26, 2009 | No Comments
    What are you thankful for today? If you live in Finland or the UK and pre-ordered a X6 then you might be obliged to Nokia for having just set your new handset free. That's right pilgrims, Nokia's new flagship Comes with Music handset is now shipping. The X6 you'll recall, introduces S60 5th to a 3.2-inch capacitive touchscreen riding 32GB of storage, a 5 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, TV-out, and tweaked homescreen with a media/social-centric layout. The X6 lists for €450 (pre-tax and pre-carrier subsidies) -- a price that ultimately includes the cost of Nokia's struggling "all-you-can-eat" music service. Perhaps this is the device that finally gives the service legs? Maybe, but we'd start by following through on plans to strip the DRM.

    Nokia X6 Comes with Music and capacitive touchscreen: shipping now originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Nokia N900 drops to $480 on Amazon

    Nokia N900 drops to $480 on Amazon

    Posted on November 20, 2009 | No Comments
    The N900's US retail price of $649 is a steep barrier to cross without the carrier subsidies negotiated in Europe. But what if we told you that Amazon has cut the price to $530 minus another $50 (after mail-in rebate) for a $480 take home price? Not bad for an unlocked ARM Cortex-A8 handset with excellent browser, 32GB of flash, 5 megapixel camera and an enthusiastic Maemo development community hellbent on making this the greatest device ever known to mankind. No, not by ship date (which is presumably any day now) but by 2012 if things go according to plan.

    [Thanks, Samuel]

    Nokia N900 drops to $480 on Amazon originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Nokia E72 in stores now, somewhere

    Nokia E72 in stores now, somewhere

    Posted on November 16, 2009 | No Comments

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    Amazon's US pre-order site hasn't heard the news yet nor has Nokia USA's on-line store. Nevertheless, Nokia assures us that the E72 is "in stores now" and should cost €350 (as announced) before taxes and carrier subsidies are applied. Remember, this S60-powered followup to the much loved E71 sports a new 5 megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5-mm headphone jack, microSD slot (4GB included in the box), A-GPS and integrated compass, 10.2Mbps HSDPA, and new optical navigation pad right where a thumb would like it. The E72 also packs the latest version of Ovi Maps and Nokia Messaging with homescreen access to your IM accounts. Now scram buster and let us know if your pre-orders have been filled -- this baby's not going to unbox itself.

    Nokia E72 in stores now, somewhere originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • T-Mobile’s Project Dark: $99.99 unlimited on Even More, $79.99 on Even More Plus?

    T-Mobile’s Project Dark: $99.99 unlimited on Even More, $79.99 on Even More Plus?

    Posted on October 21, 2009 | No Comments

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    The details of T-Mobile's mysterious Project Dark definitely seem to be congealing around retooled handset billing and a set of new plans, and it looks like TmoNews might have the first word here on the all-important subject of plan pricing. Even More Plus, which would be contract-free and offer new handset FlexPay over four installments, is apparently tracking for a $79.99 all-you-can-eat package, $69.99 with 1,000 voice minutes, or $49.99 with unlimited voice and no data. Even More meanwhile, which basically amounts to new contract plan branding with traditional hardware subsidies, will come in at $99.99 for unlimited everything (mirroring Sprint's pricing) or $59.99 for unlimited voice alone. It seems strange that the contract pricing is higher than the prepaid, especially since Even More Plus apparently won't offer any hardware subsidies whatsoever, but we're sure we're going to find out how this all shakes out soon enough. Follow the break for another shot of the pricing grids.

    Continue reading T-Mobile's Project Dark: $99.99 unlimited on Even More, $79.99 on Even More Plus?

    T-Mobile's Project Dark: $99.99 unlimited on Even More, $79.99 on Even More Plus? originally appeared on Engadget Mobile on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Japanese company sells solar-powered apartments

    Japanese company sells solar-powered apartments

    Posted on September 23, 2009 | No Comments
    Japan has all kinds of solar-powered stuff: cell phones, cars, ships, and even carports and satellites. And now Tokyo-based Sekisui House plans to sell apartments fitted with sophisticated solar energy generation and control systems, which will not only power rooms but also allow residents to sell surplus electricity directly to utilities.

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  • Nokia N900 gets official, hitting Europe in October.

    Nokia N900 gets official, hitting Europe in October.

    Posted on August 27, 2009 | No Comments
    Waaaay back in May, we put up just shy of 750 words jam-packed with details on Nokia’s unannounced N900 Internet Tablet. This morning, Nokia finally pulled back the curtains on the device - and man, we absolutely nailed it. Though we would have expected Nokia to announce this at next week’s Nokia World event, they’ve gone [...]

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  • Rumor: Sprint Touch Pro 2 shipping September 8th?

    Rumor: Sprint Touch Pro 2 shipping September 8th?

    Posted on August 26, 2009 | No Comments
    While past rumors indicated that Sprint's Touch Pro 2 would be shipping out beginning September 3rd, a just leaked document makes it seem like things have slipped back a bit.

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  • The Nokia 5230 is like a 5800 Lite

    The Nokia 5230 is like a 5800 Lite

    Posted on August 25, 2009 | No Comments
    So, lets say that, despite the snags during its North American launch, you’ve got a soft spot in your heart for the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic phone. But that price.. without any US carriers eating the up front costs, the cheapest you’ll find this thing is 400 bucks. Fear not, though, friend - you’ve got options. If [...]

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  • Rumor: T-Mobile Pulse (Huawei 8220) details revealed?

    Rumor: T-Mobile Pulse (Huawei 8220) details revealed?

    Posted on August 21, 2009 | No Comments
    Oh, Internet. You give it a little bit of information and a reason to dig, and some super sleuth will uncover all there is to know. Such is the case with the Huawei 8220 Android phone; once it was given a name and a carrier by the Wi-Fi Alliance’s filing for the “T-mobile Pulse”, the [...]

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