At&t
”Rumor Smashed: AT&T's iPhone Black Reference Just Placeholder Text
An AT&T spokesperson just told us that the iPhone Black dropdown reference on the AT&T Wireless website is just a temporary placeholder. The spokesperson says that it was used over the weekend for a "scheduled catalog update," distinguishing the various iPhone models (4GB, 8GB and 16GB). Sorry dudes, the 3G iPhone is probably not called the iPhone Black. Unless, of course, the spokesperson was just covering AT&T's butt, which could always be possible.Sprint Loses 1 Million Customers While Everyone Else Gains
Two weeks ago we told you that Verizon and AT&T had added millions of customers in the first quarter of 2008, and that T-Mobile was also on the up. Today Sprint reported that, as expected, it was not part of this trend, instead losing 1 million customers in the same period. CEO Dan Hesse told Reuters that recovery would take "many quarters." Sprint was working hard to reduce customer cancellations and return to profit, but it was "still far from where we need to be." Our theory: Sprint is throwing a Hail Mary pass with the Samsung Instinct, whose marketing costs alone are rumored to cost $100 million—or more. If that doesn't work, I think we might see some towel throwing. [Reuters]AT&T Confirms First Dibs on BlackBerry Bold
AT&T told our friend Sascha at PC Mag that it would be the first carrier to sell the new BlackBerry Bold. Others may very well follow this year, and judging from the fact that the hardware specs include room for T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon, they most certainly will. AT&T also said that it's got exclusivity on international 3G usage—Sprint/Verizon's EV-DO isn't as universal as AT&T's HSDPA—and the ability to use the BB in Japan and South Korea. [Gearlog]AT&T Says Free Wi-Fi for iPhones Will Come... Someday
All AT&T's flip-flopping between offering free wireless at Starbucks and then taking it away—turns out it was some peon screwing up after all. An spokesperson for the company told the New York Times that the confusion was due to a "human error." But the day when iPhone users can definitively access the internet while sipping on frappuccinos will come, the PR flack assures, AT&T is just refusing to say when. Oh, come off it, AT&T. The cat's out of the bag already, you might as well roll out the service now. I'm sure there will be plenty of secrets you can accidentally release before deadline in the future. [New York Times]AT&T Changes its Mind Again, No Hotspot Access for iPhone Users
Free AT&T iPhone Wi-Fi Is Officially Back
Sprint Spending $100 Million to Kick iPhone in the Nuts (iPhone Wearing Cup)
Starting May 9th, Sprint will begin a massive, $100 million marketing campaign aimed straight at the iPhone's nether regions. Stacking its 3G Instinct against the iPhone, Sprint hopes to show that EVDO and GPS make their product way better than anything coming out of Cupertino. The problem isn't that the Instinct is necessarily a bad phone, or that Sprint is a worse service than AT&T. It's that Sprint's series of commercials will cost the company $100 million to promote a message that will most probably be a moot point in one month if/when Apple announces their 3G iPhone. Here's their second commercial: More »Unlocked iPhones Putting Gadget Activation Company Out of Business
Rumor: AT&T Says No Employee Vacations Between June 15 and July 12 For the 3G iPhone
According to cellpassion, AT&T's pulling a similar move as Apple did last year, disallowing any employee vacations for a period from June 15 to July 12. If this is true, there's only one reason why AT&T would do this: the 3G iPhone. Why did they pick June 15 when the keynote for WWDC is June 9? Beats me. It seems more and more likely that the phone is coming, however, so don't buy anything until after June unless you want to be a sad sack. [Cellpassion]BlackBerry 9000 To Offer 3G-Less "Niagara"
While most of us are addicted to high speed data, The Boy Genius Report is saying that the awaited AT&T exclusive BlackBerry 9000 will come in a version without 3G called the "Niagara." So what's the point, beyond watching geeks grab their testicles in sympathy pain? The Niagara will probably drive down the price of the 9000 for BlackBerry enthusiasts who are just looking for a newer phone to push their email. Also, we're wondering if the completely different back case may be a bit thinner in the pocket (or holster...sigh). [TheBoyGeniusReport]






