Apple iPad — model A1337 — phreaks the FCC

Apple iPad -- model A1337 -- phreaks the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCategories: Uncategorized Tags: Apple iPad, Engadget, FCC, fcc approval, fcc filings, fri, gsm 850, launch window, model, nbsp, pair, sitch, System
Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Google all respond to FCC’s ETF inquiry
All of the players roped into the FCC's early termination fee inquiry -- T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, and Google -- have met the Fed's February 23 deadline for responding, and needless to say, you could destroy a small forest with the amount of paperwork that's been sent back to Washington. The majority of the inquiry focused on carriers' ETF pricing structure and whether there are different ETFs involved based on the device a customer chooses, and the subtleties in the differences between answers from different carriers are pretty fascinating.
T-Mobile seems resolute that a single $200 ETF is the way to go and emphasizes that its customers can avoid the fee altogether by going with an Even More Plus plan, while Sprint says that it "continue[s] to evaluate the market" with regard to a multiple ETF setup. Google, meanwhile, is quick to note that it's just dropped its $350 Equipment Recovery Fee down to $150, though that amount still effectively represents the only device in T-Mobile's subsidized lineup that commands a grand total ETF greater than $200 upon cancellation -- but it gets even better later on when they get snippy for being lumped in with carriers on the inquiry and remind the FCC that the ERF reduction had been in the planning stages prior to the inquiry being issued. At any rate, they note that the ERF isn't intended as a revenue stream -- rather, it's a way to recoup the losses Google incurs when T-Mobile asks for its commission back if a customer cancels within 120 days (as you might imagine, T-Mobile conveniently fails to mention this point in its own reply).
Verizon -- which effectively triggered this whole mess by introducing its two-tier ETF -- basically echoes much of what it said in its last response, a surprising move considering the Commission's general displeasure with it, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of reaction it garners this time around. AT&T takes perhaps the most pragmatic approach through most of its response, answering the FCC's questions very matter-of-factly, but goes into a great deal of depth rationalizing early termination fees at the tail end and takes the opportunity to remind everyone that they've offered both commitment-free month-to-month and prepaid service for many years.
Something tells us this isn't the last we've heard on the subject, but for the time being, check out everyone's responses in the galleries below (more after the break).
[Thanks, Dan P.]
Continue reading Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Google all respond to FCC's ETF inquiry
Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Google all respond to FCC's ETF inquiry originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCategories: Uncategorized Tags: Dan, displeasure, etf, FCC, google, grand total, inquiry, planning stages, pragmatic approach, revenue stream, T-Mobile, termination fee, Washington
Microsoft’s PB10ZU (turtle) and PB20ZU Project Pink phones outed by FCC?
Oops. Those two pics looks similar, eh? And if we're not mistaken, Microsoft's Pink phone is rumored to be made by Sharp. This wireframe for model PB10ZU just hit the FCC looking every bit the "Turtle" device that was leaked last year. Of course, seeing Sharp behind Pink is only natural since it was one of Danger's manufacturers of choice for the Sidekick -- a team wholly ingested by Microsoft a few years ago. Looking through the FCC docs we see that it's a slider with dual-band CDMA, EVDO Rev. A, Bluetooth, and 802.11b/g WiFi. We also see reference to a second model, the PB20ZU (aka, "pure"?), although that model is lacking any detail whatsoever. The tastiest of FCC docs are being withheld by request until March 29th -- right in line with a rumored spring launch. Hopefully Microsoft will have more to say about Project Pink and Windows 7 devices here in Barcelona so stay tuned.[Thanks, Jeremy F.]
Microsoft's PB10ZU (turtle) and PB20ZU Project Pink phones outed by FCC? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCategories: Uncategorized Tags: Barcelona, Bluetooth, dual band, evdo, FCC, Jeremy, launch, Microsoft, model, nbsp, pink, Rev. A, Sidekick, slider, turtle, wireframe
Toshiba TG02 lives, drops by the FCC
Before the Nexus One and the HD2, there was the Toshiba TG01, sprinting along with a 1GHz Snapdragon in its belly and a 4.1-inch front end. Alas, that phone was hamstrung by a resistive touchscreen and a poorly thought-out skin atop an even worse OS (WinMo 6.1), but even by today's standards its hardware spec is top notch. Color us intrigued, then, to find its successor finally making its FCC debut -- with Bluetooth, GPS and WiFi (802.11b/g) connectivity in tow and a case outline suggesting some earlier leaked shots might still be accurate. It's a quad-band GSM handset, though from the tests we've seen it appears to sadly lack 3G frequencies for the US. The marketing name has also been confirmed as the TG02 and with MWC 2010 fast approaching, who's to say we're not going to have a brand new Toshiba handset to fawn over? Go past the break for more.Continue reading Toshiba TG02 lives, drops by the FCC
Toshiba TG02 lives, drops by the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCategories: Uncategorized Tags: case outline, Engadget, FCC, fri, handset, hardware spec, hd2, mwc, nbsp, nexus, quad band, resistive touchscreen, snapdragon, Toshiba, US
FCC expands ETF inquiry, fires off letters to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Google
Verizon might be getting picked on for introducing its whopper $350 "advanced device" ETF, but the FCC has decided that it wants answers from everyone on concerns that "there is no standard framework for structuring and applying ETFs throughout the wireless industry." The commission has sent letters (via fancy certified mail, in case you're wondering) to all of the other biggies -- AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile -- along with Google, asking a series of questions probing how each carrier's ETFs are determined and applied. Google gets roped in for its nasty equipment recovery fee, but all of the recipients share a common dubious distinction: the frickin' FCC -- a bureaucracy filled to the brim with lawyers and... well, bureaucrats -- can't figure out terms that everyday customers are expected to understand. Of course, most customers don't have the distinction of being able to send a certified letter to their carrier probing fees and require a prompt and complete response, so we're happy to see the feds get to the bottom of this. Sure, ETFs may ultimately prove to be completely justified in their current form considering the expense that carriers put up to subsidize hot hardware, it's true -- but regardless, it's in everyone's best interest to make sure they're spelled out in ways even FCC commissioners (and Engadget editors) can appreciate.
FCC expands ETF inquiry, fires off letters to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Google originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCategories: Uncategorized Tags: biggies, certified mail, dubious distinction, Engadget, etf, ETFs, everyday customers, FCC, fcc commissioners, google, nbsp, T-Mobile


