Will T-Mobile ever get a good Android phone?

[PhoKingGuy]

I currently have a blackberry 8900 on T-Mo and while I love it (former iPhone user) I really like the new things coming out from the Android factory. Problem is most of them go to Sprint or verizon or even ATT.

I like the droid a lot but there isnt even a GSM version of it out (physical keyboard is important for me, I hate touchscreen keyboards)

Will T-mo ever get something like this or do I have to jump ship to another carrier. Ive been with T-mo since they first started in the US so I've got no real reason to change as they offer me mega discounts for loyalty.

 

[Trader05]

Nexus One?

 

[BigSmooth]

The upcoming MyTouch Slide that is coming in June looks decent, but it does not have the fast processor or large high res screen of the top Android phones. I don't know what else with a physical keyboard is coming down the pike, but I am sure there will be something eventually. It just depends on how long you want to wait.

 

[SunnyD]

I like the droid a lot but there isnt even a GSM version of it out (physical keyboard is important for me, I hate touchscreen keyboards)

Moto Milestone = Droid GSM iirc. Though it likely won't be T-Mo USA GSM 3G compatible.

 

[preslove]

The mytouch slide is coming out soon and will be $400 off contract. T-mobile still has 35% bing cashback, so it will be $260.

There are rumors of an HTC branded next gen phone coming out for them in a couple months, too.

 

[zerocool84]

All the top of the line phones now-a-days will be keyboard-less. It's just how it is. The MyTouch Slide isn't state of the art at all.

 

[preslove]

"Project Emerald" is the T-mobile rumor. It supposedly will be a SideKick successor and will have a keyboard.

http://www.mobilemag.com/2010/05/18/project-emerald-htc-t-mobile-sidekick-android/

 

[BigSmooth]

All the top of the line phones now-a-days will be keyboard-less. It's just how it is. The MyTouch Slide isn't state of the art at all.

I don't think anyone is claiming it's state of the art compared to the N1/Evo/Incredible or the Droid, but for some people form factor (including a keyboard) is very important. The CLIQ is one of the bestselling Android phones available right now, and it appears that the MyTouch Slide will trump it in most respects. It's not going to be crazy fast, but it's also cheaper than the big dogs because it's aimed at a different market. If the OP wants to stick with T-Mo it could be a viable option.

 

[Raduque]

The mytouch slide is coming out soon and will be $400 off contract. T-mobile still has 35% bing cashback, so it will be $260.

There are rumors of an HTC branded next gen phone coming out for them in a couple months, too.

Can you explain how this works? Because $260 is a hell of a lot easier to swallow than $400 (and really, the MT Slide is not a $400 phone).

 

[PhoKingGuy]

The only reason I hate touchscreen was that I hated the iPhone one, I haven't tried the android one yet so I might be swayed if its any good.

The nexus one has 3G reception problems right? Specifically I'm talking about powerful phones like the EVO/Incredible/Desire, etc. It seems like T-Mo gets these (if they ever do) like 5-6 months after everyone else does.

For my next phone id only really consider something with snapdragon or equivalent, i'm kind of tired of lag on smartphones.

 

[BigSmooth]

The only reason I hate touchscreen was that I hated the iPhone one, I haven't tried the android one yet so I might be swayed if its any good.

The nexus one has 3G reception problems right? Specifically I'm talking about powerful phones like the EVO/Incredible/Desire, etc. It seems like T-Mo gets these (if they ever do) like 5-6 months after everyone else does.

N1 reception problems are pretty mixed, from what I can tell. I have no serious problems with mine or my wife's; the EDGE reception is actually far better than my old BlackBerry's, but it didn't have 3G so I can't compare that. I have decent 3G signal at work and very good signal at home, so I don't have a problem, personally. However, it does seem to be a problem for some people. Overall, my wife and I both love our N1s.

If you are looking for a really powerful slider phone, there are only rumors at this point. There's the Motorola Shadow prototype, but that looks to me like it could be a direct Droid replacement (i.e. Verizon-exclusive). There's also a mystery HTC slider that has come through the FCC that looks like it's high end, but who knows what that is. So right now there is nothing that immediately comes to mind, but that doesn't mean something couldn't show up suddenly. I do think physical keyboards will become increasingly rare over the next few years.

If you do decide to go touchscreen-only, there are a number of good virtual keyboards available for Android. I am using Swype and once you learn how to use it there is nothing better, IMHO.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Even though I have a physical keyboard on my Samsung Moment, I still find myself using Swype and the HTC keyboard regularly. I think what I like most about the physical keyboard is the arrow keys or D-pad. But that's not a huge deal since the N1 and most other phones have a trackball or trackpad you can use for fine cursor control. The other benefit I noticed today is that it's easier to text while walking with a physical keyboard since your phone will bounce around a bit otherwise.

I can see wanting a physical keyboard, but I don't think having one is enough of a benefit to be worth passing up on your preferred carrier. They're going away anyway - in a few years there will be very few physical keyboards, probably mostly on feature phones and entry level smartphones.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Yes.

 

[tdawg]

In my opinion, if you didn't like the iphone keyboard, you won't like the keyboard on the nexus one, even with the HTC keyboard installed (I haven't tried Swype or any other keyboard besides the HTC one).

If you're going to switch carriers for an Android phone, I'd think the EVO 4g should be the top of the list (does the screen equate to the HD2 screen? I'm not sure exactly). 4.3" screen should really be a great size for a very good virtual keyboard.

 

[zerocool84]

In my opinion, if you didn't like the iphone keyboard, you won't like the keyboard on the nexus one, even with the HTC keyboard installed (I haven't tried Swype or any other keyboard besides the HTC one).

If you're going to switch carriers for an Android phone, I'd think the EVO 4g should be the top of the list (does the screen equate to the HD2 screen? I'm not sure exactly). 4.3" screen should really be a great size for a very good virtual keyboard.

Yea the iPhone keyboard is the best and the HTC is the second best out there. The Evo's bigger screen should help people with fatter fingers like me.

 

[preslove]

Can you explain how this works? Because $260 is a hell of a lot easier to swallow than $400 (and really, the MT Slide is not a $400 phone).

Well, it's going to be $149 with a contract in store, and probably less at third party retailers. The point of paying $400 (-35%) is that it gives you a $20 discount on your monthly rate.

http://www.bing.com/shopping/pages/howtouse.aspx?FORM=R5FD31
Basically Microsoft is running a rebate program to drive traffic to Bing. You search for a store or an item, click on the Bing cash back sponsored link and whatever you buy during that browser session will get you a return of the state %. It usually takes around 6 weeks to get it, and you can send it directly to your bank account or paypal.

For this situation, you just search for "t-mobile" in bing, and its the top sponsored link.

 

[preslove]

The only reason I hate touchscreen was that I hated the iPhone one, I haven't tried the android one yet so I might be swayed if its any good.

The nexus one has 3G reception problems right? Specifically I'm talking about powerful phones like the EVO/Incredible/Desire, etc. It seems like T-Mo gets these (if they ever do) like 5-6 months after everyone else does.

For my next phone id only really consider something with snapdragon or equivalent, i'm kind of tired of lag on smartphones.

Well, t-mobile was the first to get a snapdragon android with the N1 and then it got the HD2, which may just have Windows mobile, but it's an awesome piece of hardware. It's not their fault that the N1 has nagging issues.

Look up "project emerald." If the rumors are true, then it's exactly what you're looking for.

 

[zerocool84]

Well, t-mobile was the first to get a snapdragon android with the N1 and then it got the HD2, which may just have Windows mobile, but it's an awesome piece of hardware. It's not their fault that the N1 has nagging issues.

Look up "project emerald." If the rumors are true, then it's exactly what you're looking for.

Plus they got the first Android phone. It's not like they haven 't gotten good phones.

 

[sonoma1993]

The samsung behold II phone, which is for tmobile, could be a really good android phone if samsung/tmobile would support it better. This phone is stuck on android version 1.5 Supposely samsung/tmobile is releasing an update to bring it up to android version 1.6 From what i've been reading on the internet, the chance of it to receive android 2.1 is slim to none.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Moto Milestone = Droid GSM iirc. Though it likely won't be T-Mo USA GSM 3G compatible.

Problem is no one in this world uses AWS. Just T-Mo IIRC. With AT&T at least you have carriers like Telstra, Fido, Rogers, Telus (all of Canada essentially), other carriers in countries like Thailand, Brazil, other LATAM countries, etc that utilize 850/1900.

There's the Euro/Asia Milestone which uses 900/2100 3G frequencies or the NAM one which uses 1900/850. Typically you get the Telus if you want NAM, and you get one of the Europe/Asia imports otherwise.

The Telus one is especially costly. $600+. More than a N1. Ask yourself if you want to spend that much

The N1 is a perfectly good phone though!

Yea the iPhone keyboard is the best and the HTC is the second best out there. The Evo's bigger screen should help people with fatter fingers like me.

Try SmartKeyboard PRO. It costs money but it has true multitouch implemented. The HTC one uses a pseudo multitouch implementation. Both are infinitely better than stock Android, but not all the way there with the iPhone yet. Smartkeyboard is probably more responsive, but the HTC Mod one from XDA has a lot of nifty features like swiping and smilies and is VERY customizable in general.

 

[Deeko]

T-Mobile is quite frequently ahead of the Android curve, with other carriers playing "catch up", see the G1, and Nexus One, for references to this fact.

 

[Fox5]

Problem is no one in this world uses AWS. Just T-Mo IIRC. With AT&T at least you have carriers like Telstra, Fido, Rogers, Telus (all of Canada essentially), other carriers in countries like Thailand, Brazil, other LATAM countries, etc that utilize 850/1900.

There's the Euro/Asia Milestone which uses 900/2100 3G frequencies or the NAM one which uses 1900/850. Typically you get the Telus if you want NAM, and you get one of the Europe/Asia imports otherwise.

The Telus one is especially costly. $600+. More than a N1. Ask yourself if you want to spend that much

The N1 is a perfectly good phone though!



Try SmartKeyboard PRO. It costs money but it has true multitouch implemented. The HTC one uses a pseudo multitouch implementation. Both are infinitely better than stock Android, but not all the way there with the iPhone yet. Smartkeyboard is probably more responsive, but the HTC Mod one from XDA has a lot of nifty features like swiping and smilies and is VERY customizable in general.

I think Wind in Canada uses the same frequency, and some carriers in Japan.

Tmobile does seem to get decent phone support though, so I guess it's not that hard to add in the required frequencies? I can't see anyone making a high end phone JUST for tmobile's user base.

 

[Raduque]

Well, it's going to be $149 with a contract in store, and probably less at third party retailers. The point of paying $400 (-35%) is that it gives you a $20 discount on your monthly rate.

Oh I know that part, I'm on an EM+ plan, so my only choice is $400 or the EIP ($200 up front, $200 spread across 20 months in my bill).

http://www.bing.com/shopping/pages/howtouse.aspx?FORM=R5FD31
Basically Microsoft is running a rebate program to drive traffic to Bing. You search for a store or an item, click on the Bing cash back sponsored link and whatever you buy during that browser session will get you a return of the state %. It usually takes around 6 weeks to get it, and you can send it directly to your bank account or paypal.

For this situation, you just search for "t-mobile" in bing, and its the top sponsored link.

This is really what I was looking for, because I didn't know anything about how the Bing cashback worked.

And when I said the MTSlide isn't a $400 phone, I meant it wasn't really worth $400.