Category: T-Mobile

Give credit to T-Mobile.  Usually the question of if a device on a particular carrier will see a major Android update is a mystery at best and a frustration at worst.  T-Mobile is working to eliminate that for their customers.  The carrier has published a list of all the devices that are on their network that will see the Android Nougat update.  Now let’s be clear:  This isn’t going to happen overnight.  Customers are likely weeks or months away, depending on the device, from seeing the update.  Further, the carrier points out that the update has to come from the manufacture first, then they will release it.  If the manufacture doesn’t release it, then that device won’t get the update.

As expected, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has become available as a pre-order from the four major carriers here in the United States this morning.  AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon all have the phone available to order today through various payment options with delivery of the device expected to start happening on August 19th, the day the device becomes generally available.  Generally speaking, if you want to buy it outright, it is going to be at least $850 regardless of the carrier you go with but many are offering accessories when you pre-order your Note 7 (subject to availability).

AT&T

Outright, the Note 7 is $879 from the carrier or you can do one of the AT&T Next programs.  The 30 payment option is $29.34 while the 24 payment option is $36.67.  Along with this, the carrier is offering a $695 in credits when you buy one Note 7 and want to get a second one.  It’s pretty close to BOGO.  Or, if you sign up for a 2-year contract with the carrier, they will give you a free Samsung Gear S2.  Lastly, you can pick up a Galaxy Tab 3 for .99 Cents with the purchase of a Galaxy Note 7.

Following in the footsteps of Verizon, T-Mobile has now released the Android Marshmallow update for the Galaxy Note 4 on the carrier’s network.  The update brings Android 6.0.1 to the Note 4 as well the June security update.  It is about as fresh a version of Android as you can get.  The update is a hefty 1.5GB so you will certainly have to be on Wi-Fi in order to download it.  Once you do have it downloaded, you can expect a 20-30 minute install time and reboot of your device.  As always, I recommend you make sure that you have any local documents or photos backed up to the cloud or your PC prior to starting the update – just in case.

Today is a good day Blackberry Priv owners on T-Mobile.  The carrier has just updated their support page for the device and the OTA update to Android Marshmallow is starting to roll out to devices today.  The update you are looking for is build AAF153 and users will be prompted to update to this build between now and Friday, June 17th.  Once the update is available to you, you will need to make sure you are connected to Wi-Fi to download the 1.3GB update and you can expect the install time to take 20-30 minutes including a reboot in the process.

T-Mobile has announced an agreement with Leap Licenseco, an AT&T subsidiary, to acquire a section of A-Block 700 MHz band for extended LTE in the greater Chicago area.  Although the deal has to be approved by regulators, once it is complete, it will give the carrier extended LTE bandwidth in the top 10 major metro areas in the United States.  For those not familiar with the 700 MHz block, it is what allows the carrier to get LTE into remote places as well as into buildings in urban areas.  This is represented by Band 12 on their network when you access it on your phone.

Good news Samsung Galaxy S5 users who are on T-Mobile:  Android Marshmallow is coming your way.  T-Mobile has updated the Software support page for the Galaxy S5 on their support site and have indicated that the update to the latest version of Android is starting to roll out to devices today.  The builds you are looking for are G900T3UVU1GPE1 OR G900TUVU1GPE1 depending on your device model and when you update, you will be moved to Marshmallow 6.0.1.  You will also need to download the update over Wi-Fi as it weighs in at just over 1GB in size.