We've been peppering carriers with questions regarding the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 on Oct. 6, and most are pretty mum at this point. But AT&T did drop one little nugget in regards to WiFi, which we've been waiting to hear about for some time now. And it goes a long way toward answering a question we tackled in this week's podcast.

So, here's the deal. We're leaving it in AT&T-speak. Starting Sept. 14:

• AT&T will provide most users access to nearly 20,000 AT&T Hot Spots across the US, including Starbucks.
• Beginning this month, customers with Wi-Fi-enabled Windows Mobile smartphones and unlimited and other qualifying data plans will receive unlimited access to thousands of U.S. AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide.
• Eligible Windows Mobile customers can access AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots at over 20,000 nationwide locations – the majority of customers will be eligible as most have a qualifying data plan.
• At no additional cost, AT&T customers with unlimited personal and enterprise rate plans on Wi-Fi enabled Windows Mobile smartphones can enjoy automatic, fast and secure access to the Internet at AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots.
• AT&T Wi-Fi will be easy to use on Windows Phones because of auto-authentication – if you have Wi-Fi on, you’ll automatically connect
• The service will launch on 9/14 with Samsung smartphones with other devices to follow in the coming weeks, and all 6.5 devices will be supported.

So, while we still don't know what AT&T has up its sleeve in terms of Windows Mobile 6.5 and current or future devices, we now know it's opening up WiFi to the masses. Hit up this link for a map of AT&T's free WiFi locations.

Update: Engadget notes that, in fact, these are just the same old terms we've been living under for a while now. So, nothing new to see here. In other news, the sky is falling.

It's baaaack. Nearly a month after updating and then un-updating its terms of service, AT&T again has put in a clause that could make apps like Slingbox a big no-no.

Here's the section we're interested in, emphasis ours:

... downloading movies using P2P file sharing services, redirecting television signals for viewing on Personal Computers, web broadcasting, and/or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices is prohibited. Furthermore, plans (unless specifically designated for tethering usage) cannot be used for any applications that tether the device (through use of, including without limitation, connection kits, other phone/PDA-to computer accessories, Bluetooth® or any other wireless technology) to Personal Computers (including without limitation, laptops), or other equipment for any purpose.

We're trying to get clarification on the "viewing on Personal Computers" clause. Smartphones certainly could be argued into that category, though the TOS use the word "phone" in a number of other instances. We'll let you know what we find out. In the meantime, you can read the whole TOS for yourself.

DSL Reports via Electronista

Sometimes the cure can be worse than the disease, and that appears to be the case for some Samsung Epix owners. AT&T recently made available a hotfix (you have to call to get it, and then it's pushed to your phone) that fixes the "Slog Dump" problem, which looks like this. That's all fine and good, but apparently people are having major issues with the radio after applying the hotfix.

What about you folks out there in TV Land? Having the same problems?

Via the Boy Genius Report

You've seen our hands-on, you've read our full-on review, and now you can get a Samsung Propel Pro of your very own. It'll cost you $149.99 after contract and rebate. Go and get you some here.

Via Phonescoop

Everyone's favorite smartphone fiend and CrackBerry.com contributor Bla1ze has found a juicy little nugget that points to BlackBerry getting over-the-air OS upgrades from AT&T. And that makes us wonder:

Where the heck are ours?!?!?

Flash back to last September, when Dieter got his hands on the silver Motorola Q9h. We first thought it was merely a new paint scheme, but it turns out the silver Q would be the first to support Firmware Over the Air updates, with the actual push coming from AT&T. But, as we all know, support is far from actual implementation, and we've never actually seen a FOTA update released. (And we can't write this post without mentioning that the Windows Update feature on WinMo phones still does nothing but take up space and fool the noobs.)

What's good for an operating system ultimately is good for a carrier. You wanna see Windows Mobile get a real leg up on everyone else when Windows Mobile 7 is eventually released? Make this happen. And then use it. (Please!)

During all the excitement of the 2009 Mobile World Congress, AT&T has quietly acknowledged that it should have a fully ready Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in 2011. AT&T has pledged in the past to introduce the 4G Network in 2010 but, according to Senior Architecture VP Kris Rinne, will see the first phase limited to trials in 2010, with commercial services available the following year. This will put AT&T's 4G Network about a year behind Verizon's 4G network, which is for trials later this year with commercial services planned for 2010.

AT&T doesn't seem too worried about Verizon's time line, maintaining that it can rely on HSPA+ and have the advanced 3G networks reach 20Mbps sometime later this year through software upgrades. The LTE network theoretically is at least five times as fast in downloads, about 100Mbps and has a lower latency that should make multi-layer games, VoIP, and two way calling more practical than on 3G networks.

Speaking of time lines, it's probably safe to say that Apple's future plans for the iPhone could well be a factor here. On the other hand, it's entirely possible that AT&T has no idea what Apple's plans are.

[Read: Electonista.com]

(Update: We've also posted our Full Review of the Fuze!)

That's right, we have the AT&T Fuze here and are showing it off just a bit. Our initial impression: impressed. The Fuze feels solid, it has a surprising heft for what turns out to be a very small package. Well, small if you don't count the fact that it's about as thick as the AT&T Tilt. Cutting down the width and the height of the device makes a big difference -- though you will have to take our word for it until you can get one in your own hands.

TouchFLO 3D and Opera Mobile both perform much better than they did on the GSM Touch Diamond -- they're about on par with our experience with the Sprint Touch Pro. There's plenty of extra software included in there as well: YouTube, a business card scanner, remote desktop, internet sharing, a bootload of game demos, Jetcet Print, Sprite Backup, a JVM, AT&T GPS, and a few more.

One thing we forgot was coming on the Fuze: Push to Talk. There's a big ol' PTT button on the side (fortunately it can be remapped) next to the volume buttons.

We have lots more to say about the Fuze, on topics ranging from the keyboard (good, but not quite as easy to type on as sliders-past), screen (640x480 FTW), performance (cautiously optimistic), and, well, and everything. We're blocking off our weekend to for this sucker, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, join us after the break for 13ish minutes of Fuze-on-Video goodness and a bootload of photos (including Fuze vs. Tilt and Fuze vs. Diamond)

Read the rest of this entry »

Engadget Mobile is reporting some major AT&T data outages on the east coast, from New York City to St. Louis. AT&T is aware of the reports and working on it, though as the big E notes a perusal of the AT&T forums shows a lot of unhappy 3G and EDGE users.

I'm doing fine down here in my little neck of the woods, where the recent 3G upgrade gets utilized by just a relatively small number of people. How about you big city folk -- emails coming in? Browser working?

A brave chap named Black93300ZX over at xda-developers has dropped $900 on what is almost surely a Touch Pro bound for AT&T. How do we know it's AT&T-bound? Well, note the lack of a front-facing camera, the slightly different keyboard layout, and also that it's working on the US' 850 band for 3G data.

No word on when this will actually arrive, of course, and we're still expecting the CDMA version to land on Sprint first. Still: fans of the slider and owners of the Tilt now have a pretty clear upload path.

Thanks to wmpoweruser for the tip!

You already (should) know that your 'unlimited data' isn't actually unlimited in terms of sheer bandwidth -- every carrier has either official or unofficial data caps. Transfer more than, say, 5 gigs of data and you might be looking at a nasty call and an unceremoniously cancelled account. Add another limitation on to that there 'unlimited' plan: the type of data you're allowed to send or receive:

[AT&T] told the FCC on Friday that if they catch you using their mobile broadband network for P2P, they'll nuke your account. Specifically, senior VP of dealing with the government Robert Quinn said that “AT&T's terms of service for mobile wireless broadband customers prohibit all uses that may cause extreme network capacity issues, and explicitly identify P2P file sharing applications as such a use.” - Gizmodo

Exactly what qualifies as “P2P” is sadly (and expectedly) vague -- just apps on the phone, P2P on your laptop via a tethered connection, all are likely up for grabs. We're guessing that AT&T is feeling the pain of a 3G network that doesn't have the capacity for serious, heavy use by a large population, especially on the upload side of things. Yes, we probably have the iPhone to blame thank for AT&T sudden vulnerable feelings.

Thanks to Rene for the tip!