at&t

Choosing an iPhone 5 carrier

One of the most important aspects of a handset's overall user experience is which carrier it's operating on.

Now that T-Mobile is offering the device, the iPhone 5 is finally available on all four major U.S. carriers. (Regional networks like U.S. Cellular, Cricket Wireless, and C Spire sell the handset as well.)

Each of these four networks -- AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile -- have different plans, prices, and bundles. In addition, T-Mobile's iPhone in particular comes with a number of differences compared to the others. However, with all the little nuanced phone … Read more

HTC's 'Facebook' First will be front and center at AT&T

The Facebook-powered HTC First can count on at least one close friend: AT&T.

The Dallas-based wireless carrier, which is the exclusive partner to Facebook and HTC for the First, is promising to give the device its most prominent position in stores when it launches on Friday. That's because AT&T considers the HTC First its flagship smartphone for the spring, Claudia Knop, a device executive with the carrier, told CNET.

It's a curious decision by AT&T, which also has the HTC One and Galaxy S4 waiting in the wings. While AT&T … Read more

T-Mobile's 4G LTE impresses in real-world tests (hands-on)

Two weeks ago, when T-Mobile announced that its 4G LTE had launched, CNET's own Brian Bennett gave the network a test run in New York across three handsets: the iPhone 5, the HTC One, and the BlackBerry Z10.

But as most of us know, the carrier's 4G LTE isn't actually live now in New York; it was turned on temporarily just for the press conference. Currently, if you want to experience T-Mobile's fledgling 4G LTE, you'll need to be in Baltimore; Houston; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas; Phoenix; San Jose, Calif.; or Washington, D.C.… Read more

AT&T adds six LTE markets, unveils plan for 77 more

Six more AT&T markets have access to its 4G LTE network, bringing its total to 182, the carrier said today.

Meanwhile, seven existing AT&T markets have snagged expanded LTE coverage. The company also unveiled plans to bring the super-fast wireless connection to 77 additional markets by the end of summer.

AT&T is racing to catch up to market leader Verizon Wireless, which offers LTE in nearly 500 markets and plans to wrap up its deployment by the middle of the year. With the increasing consumer awareness over 4G LTE and the need for a … Read more

AT&T follows Google with gigabit network plans for Austin

Austin, you've got high-speed options.

Just hours after Google announced that it was bringing its gigabit Google Fiber Internet and TV service to Austinites by mid 2014, AT&T said that it too will build a fast fiber-optic infrastructure for comparable high-speed access in the techie Texas city.

As an expansion to the company's Project VIP, AT&T will deliver Internet speeds of up to 1Gbps through the just-announced Austin infrastructure, the company said. AT&T did not reveal pricing or its rollout plans, which makes the reveal seem like an in-your-face move designed to … Read more

Virgin Mobile fires salvo at T-Mobile, offers $100 to switch

Virgin Mobile wants consumers to know that it's a major player in the no-contract wireless game too, and isn't afraid to spend a little money to show it.

Virgin set its sights directly on T-Mobile, offering $100 to T-Mobile customers willing to switch their number over and buy a smartphone before May 31.

Carriers will often provide incentives to switch, but rarely do they target a specific company. T-Mobile has made a lot of noise about its move to abolish contracts and subsidies, and Virgin Mobile, a business built on prepaid service and a unit of Sprint Nextel, … Read more

AT&T partners with Scanbuy for mobile bar code services

AT&T is making it easier for businesses to launch new mobile marketing campaigns using QR code technology.

The telecom giant is partnering with Scanbuy to allow businesses to create campaigns that can trigger actions such as linking to a video or generating an e-mail, as well as help expand brand awareness using designer QR codes. AT&T Mobile Barcode Services also will enable businesses to give consumers access to product information, promotions, coupons, and other items after the consumers scan a bar code.

"AT&T Mobile Barcode Services can help a business to execute, monitor, … Read more

iRadio could be better for music labels

CNET Update requires an Internet connection:

Not only is Apple on a mission to launch iRadio this summer, but CNET's Paul Sloan reports that iRadio could be a better payoff for music labels than Pandora.

Also in Friday's tech rundown, get a glimpse of future tech coming from the research team at AT&T Labs. I got to demo a few of the company's latest projects, including a device that blocks calls when you're deep in thought.

If you don't like the idea of an Xbox that requires an Internet connection, a Microsoft games … Read more

AT&T's 4G LTE hits 175 markets

LTE coverage bragging rights are usually a numbers game, and with the rollout of fast 4G in 14 new markets, AT&T has brought its total numbers up to 175.

Alphabetically, the new markets are:

Beaumont, Texas Binghamton, N.Y. Carbondale-Marion, Ill. Fort Pierce, Fla. Fort Smith, Ark. Fresno, Calif. Houma, La. Jefferson City, Mo. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla. Las Cruces, N.M. Montgomery, Ala. Mount Vernon, Wash. Palm Coast, Fla. Temple-Killeen, Texas

Verizon, meanwhile, covers 486 markets with 4G LTE.

In terms of absolute population coverage, AT&T expects to supply fast 4G to 250 million people by … Read more