T-Mobile backs Ubuntu smartphone

http://www.zdnet.com/t-mobile-backs-ubuntu-smartphone-7000018916/

by tanglesome • 13 years ago

69 57 13 years ago

zdnet.com

fiatmoney• 13 years ago

Is there now a realistic scenario for them funding Ubuntu Edge?

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ubuntu-edge

thezilch3• 13 years ago

I don't get it; there seems little upside to that venture, when they could fund a designer and manufacturer that has a record (Re: Google and Asus, LG, etc). You should be able to slap the OS in anything.

timdorr• 13 years ago

They will do that if they fail:

If we don’t reach our target then we will focus only on commercially available handsets and there will not be an Ubuntu Edge.

deadmike• 13 years ago

The phone you want, on the network you don't.

CrazedGeek• 13 years ago

AT&T's getting an Ubuntu phone too?

(In all seriousness, T-Mo US's network is fantastic around the OKC area. Only complaint is that LTE can occasionally be a tad slower than HSPA+, but both are still quite fast.)

thezilch3• 13 years ago

The network has been great for me in Nashville, TN; North County, CA; and most anywhere in CA. I haven't used other networks, but I've never been disappointed. I only had issues in Kauai, HI years ago, but their coverage map would suggest that they've developed their network there now.

MatthewPhillips• 13 years ago

I've been with T-Mobile since it existed and it is awful outside of cities. And often even awful in cities if you're surrounding by a lot of buildings.

untog• 13 years ago

Eh, I'm on T-Mobile in NYC. It's not like they are mind blowingly great, but I get unlimited data, unlimited texts and 100mins of calls for $30 a month.

At that price, it's definitely the network I want.

cbhl2• 13 years ago

I was under the impression that the Edge wasn't going to have an AWS-capable GSM chip, which makes this announcement really confusing for me.

kapilvt• 13 years ago

The ubuntu edge phone that's being crowd funded and 3rd party phones running ubuntu mobile os aren't the same thing. Tmobile is joining the CAG for ubuntu mobile OS, not backing a particular hardware phone.

_ea1k• 13 years ago

This isn't talking about the same phone.

Although it would be funnier if it were. The Ubuntu Edge for the network with more EDGE (2G-only areas) than anyone else!

I like T-Mobile, but their network is sadly behind in many areas. It's also suffering from capacity problems in my area now.

scragg• 13 years ago

I love T-mobile and the plans they offer. Their coverage and HSPA & LTE has been excellent in the DFW area.

tsuraan• 13 years ago

T-Mobile's network coverage isn't exactly stunning, but if you have a phone that supports wifi dialing (which I think currently means android and winphone?), then you're on the t-mobile network whenever you have wifi access. That helps to make up for their lack of coverage, especially when travelling abroad.

earlz• 13 years ago

I like T-Mobile because they are strive to put the consumer first. They may not have the widest coverage, or the fastest speeds, but they usually do a good enough job at coverage/speed. Along with this, their customer support is the only cell phone company I've ever had a pleasant experience with. They are also trying to actually advance the cell phone market for the better, unlike most other companies trying to squeeze it for all it's worth and to hell with the future.

dobbsbob• 13 years ago

Is Ubuntu going to accept blackbox baseband stacks and microsd card blobs? Would be nice if they actually made an open phone but I highly doubt that will happen. If this was a completely open project I'd give them all my money but looking pretty feeble. I can just customize android and boot tiny debian whenever I want what's the difference? yet another box full of firmware we can't touch unless it's to reverse engineer and analyze it's frightening insecure writable memory.

wmf• 13 years ago

Ubuntu is going to use the same driver blobs that Android does.

tmzt• 13 years ago

I haven't seen an SoC with a binary driver for the SD card since the Zaurus's 2.4 kernel. What are you referring to here? I'm not even sure that SDMI is supported by all MMC/SD host controllers anymore.

staunch2• 13 years ago

I have a $30/mo unlimited (5GB at 4G) data/messaging (100 min talk time) no-contract plan with T-Mobile and I use Skype for lots of calling. Works great for me in LA. Almost always have LTE access. No problems whatsoever.

http://consumerist.com/2013/06/07/t-mobile-has-a-30-unlimite...

This just makes me like them even more. Competition is forcing them to actually think about ways of making mobile phone/data service not suck.

sillysaurus2• 13 years ago

Wow! How much are you paying each month after fees, taxes, etc? I have the same service with AT&T, except I get 700 minutes a month. But I'm paying about $90/mo.

Your service includes tethering, right?

monkeyfacebag• 13 years ago

I have the same plan. Tethering is an additional $15/month, for a total of $45. Still a far cry from $90. I use it in Portland and the service is great. (Total after taxes is $48.50)

dhawalhs• 13 years ago

If you get a unlocked Nexus 4 from the Play store, then you don't have to pay extra for tethering. 30$ means 30$, there is no additional fees, taxes etc. Thats the benefit of prepaid plans, you know exactly how much you are paying.

Groxx3• 13 years ago

$30. Pay online and there aren't any taxes (yet), and there aren't additional fees because it's prepaid. Additional minutes are 10c and last for 3 months+ depending on how many you buy.

It does not include tethering. I'm trying to find a way around it simply on principle, but you can add it for $15/month. (edit: others mention it seems to be based on user-agent sniffing, this backs up what I've seen so far)

I'm very happy with it so far. Much cheaper, and a bit better customer service overall than I had with Verizon.

grumps• 13 years ago

I also use this plan. So far its been great.... However VoIP calling on a Nexus 4 is horrible. I believe this a codec issue? I just end up buying extra credits when I go over. Even with that it's been significant savings.

Fauntleroy• 13 years ago

I got the same plan when I bought my Nexus 4. It's been pretty great so far, my only problem being that the entire plan will shut down if you go over your 100 minute allotment (so be careful).

rcchen• 13 years ago

It won't shut down, it will just bill you at a rate of 10 cents for each additional minute used. I usually keep some extra money in my T-Mobile balance so this has never been an issue on the rare occasions I go over 100 minutes.

matchu• 13 years ago

I've looked for the terms of the plan, but have never been able to find them. I read $0.10/min overage, but what are the details on that? I almost never use 100 minutes, but I'd like not to be crippled when I do.

ChikkaChiChi• 13 years ago

Has anyone else installed Ubuntu for phones? Am I the only person that finds the interface beautiful but useless? Absolutely nothing about it seemed intuitive.

claudius2• 13 years ago

I haven’t tried it, but there is generally no need for interfaces to be intuitive, as long as we use these interfaces in the long term. On the contrary, it is often preferable to have a less intuitive but more powerful interface which lets you get your stuff done quickly rather than an intuitive interface that forces you to spend longer on trivial tasks; especially if the ‘interface’ in question is the phone you use daily for 2+ years.

Of course, this implies that Ubuntu for phones actually lets you get stuff done quickly (after a while of getting used to it), rather than being unintuitive and useless.

MarcScott3• 13 years ago

I can use it, my wife hasn't a clue. For the first time in my married life I have text message and email privacy.

MarcScott3• 13 years ago

Ubuntu Touch on my Nexus 4 is the only mobile OS I use. The interface takes getting used to and is beautiful. I also like the fact that it over heats so much that, when rested in my jacket pocket, it keeps my left nipple nice and warm.

Seriously though, each week it seems to get better, and there's nothing like having apt-get on your phone. Hopefully Touch will be a success and help introduce more people to Linux. (I know Android is Linux but it doesn't feel like Linux)

jevinskie• 13 years ago

Jailbroken iPhone users and N900 users would definitely agree that apt-get is a must have if you're a dev/geek.

fingerprinter• 13 years ago

Ubuntu Touch on my Nexus 4 here. As a previous user said, takes a bit of getting used to, but it is the only thing I use now. I still have an old Galaxy Nexus with Android lying around, but it hasn't been turned on in weeks. I'll probably flash that to Ubuntu Touch as well and give that to the wife.

lobster_johnson2• 13 years ago

I like T-Mobile as a company, and their prices are great. But their network is ridiculous.

Here in NYC I don't have any service inside many buildings. Many areas are EDGE only. In Williamsburg, where I live, there are lots of holes in their coverage where I have no service; and that is outside on the street. They also have serious service outages occurring surprisingly often. I shudder to think what the coverage is outside metropolitan areas like NYC.

While complaining about data rates is one thing, a side effect of the bad coverage is that my phone spends a huge amount of power just adjusting itself to the signal. In Europe I am used to charging my iPhone a couple of times a week; here, my phone is dead by the end of the day.

rohansingh• 13 years ago

Really? I have great service with T-Mobile in NYC, including Manhattan and Williamsburg. In many places with crowds of people, my friends who have AT&T aren't able to get service while I still get great HSDPA reception.

Just curious, what hardware are you using?

lobster_johnson2• 13 years ago

iPhone 4.

T-Mobile backs Ubuntu smartphone

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