In its recently held quarterly meeting, Motorola Mobility disclosed a lot of relevant figures. The company clarified that it has shipped as much as 4.4 million smartphones to a number of retailers in the last three months and sent as many as 440,000 Motorola Xoom tablets around the same period.

The company is now planning to launch its much awaited Motorola Bionic in the month of September. Motorola had introduced the gadget at the CES event and stated that it would serve as a flagship mobile phone for Verizon. However, ever since then rumored launch dates have kept changing until the company disclosed that the gadget would hit the market in September.

Gadget lovers are badly waiting for the phone to hit the mobile phone stores. The reason why the release date for the gadget has been delayed is because Motorola was looking at incorporating changes to its hardware in order to make it more competitive and fit for selling in the market today. Motorola is now focusing on registering growth full of profits and creating and supplying unique LTE based smartphones and tablets.

Motorola Droid Bionic to hit the Shelves in September is a post from: Android News Blog

The latest update also brings along with it some nice and essential upgrades. While the Music apps and Gallery has been enhanced, you will also find the latest version of MotoBlur that comes along with dock and well-arranged application tray. The update also allows users to browse Webtop faster in comparison to what it was like before. Besides, users can also access full 1080p video playback and will be able to dismiss notifications one at a time.

This update to 2.3.4 allows users to sideload applications on stock builds. This implies that users of Atrix will no longer need to root their gadgets in order to be able to use the Amazon App Store or for that matter any other alternative application sources. Those who want to opt for the update manually will have to use their Windows PC and then load it onto their SD card. They can even access a Wi-Fi connection on their device to install the update.

Motorola Atrix 4G Users Can Now Install the Gingerbread Update is a post from: Android News Blog

While rolling out the 4G LTE network, Verizon made it evident that it would be introducing tiered prices. It has recently confirmed what the pricing structure would be, which would come into effect from 7^th July. It even showcased that one would need to pay a premium prices for availing a premium network.

But how much would the users be ready to pay? It seems people would have to forgo their desires for great cameras, dual-core processors and big screens if they sign up for the Verizon’s tiered data plans. Despite the craze for 4G, 65% smartphone users (surveyed by Morpace) said that price is a major determining factor they consider while buying mobiles. 58% said that network compatibly is a critical factor, while 51% voted in favour of touchscreen capabilities. These factors were followed by screen size, brand and current contract.

Only 29% of the participants voted for data plan pricing for being the most important consideration. This is the reason why AT&T and Verizon plan to introduce less consumer-friendly plans.

Users are told to “Listen to Google Music, watch Netflix, and video chat on Skype!”,while the actual message should be “Listen to Google Music for 15 hours a month, watch only 1 Netflix movie, and limit your Skype conversations to Wi-Fi whenever possible, because that’s all your data plan will allow.”

Carriers now intend to make people pay more for more free reign and better network.

Tiered Data was Introduced By Verizon, So Why do Cell Phone Prices Matter? is a post from: Android News Blog

T-Mobile USA has already improved its 4G HSPA+ network, declaring that the speeds are now doubly fast as compared to what it was earlier. Previously, it had a maximum speed of 21 Mbps theoretically, but as of now, the theoretical speed of “America’s largest 4G network” is 42 Mbps across 50 markets in the U.S.

It is indeed “theoretical” as none of the careers reach those speeds in reality. Although T-Mobile 4G boasted of a theoretical max speed of 21Mbps, real-world usages hardly approached such speeds as none of the Android device available in the market is capable of operating at such speeds, Thus, literally speaking, T-Mobile has simply raised the bar without delivering those speeds in reality.

Those currently using the T-Mobile network have experience a difference in download speeds, but that this far from something that you would expect if you carrier claims to have doubled it speeds. The new, thus, is of significance only to those who are planning to buy a T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 laptop data stick or hoping to get an Android gadget or network performance that can work up to the theoretical max.

T-Mobile Has Doubled its Theoretical Speeds is a post from: Android News Blog

Sprint has joined hands with T-mobile and AT&T as United States telecom operators that accept direct billing for Android Market applications to monthly invoices. One of the tipsters had informed AndroidCentral that the option is now available.

With Sprint in the league, Google is very close to achieving its goal of making carrier billing a strong alternative for application buys. Earlier, the Market needed a Google Checkout account bound to a credit card, which many considered to be a hurdle. However, the new process is sure to simplify matters by tacking on the charges to their monthly bills.

The process was first started by T-mobile in December 2009. AT&T joined in a year later; and probably if the trend continues, Verizon too will follow suit in December 2011.

According to a Sprint memo, carrier billing is to be enabled via a Market update silently pushed into the handset. The users won’t have to do anything, it will appear automatically.

Sprint Would Now Accept Android Market Buys To Monthly Bills Directly is a post from: Android News Blog

According to the latest press release issued by AT&T Wireless, they are now the proud owners of T-Mobile USA, Deutsche Telekom’s American arm. A $39 billion deal in cash and stock has been signed.

Some formalities need to be ironed out in the deal and the US regulators might oppose it for fear of competition, but steps have been taken for the deal to carry through. The deal has been approved by the Board of Directors of all the companies, giving the telecom company received a cash amount of $25 billion and 8% interest in AT&T.

The prospect of T-Mobile’s acquisition has been a rumor for a long time, as the falling subscriber numbers of T-Mobile had been earning disapprovals from the parent company. There had been talks about a merger with Sprint, but ultimately AT&T struck the deal, perhaps due to the complementary network technologies they share.

This move has been called “major commitment to strengthen and expand” the American communications industry’s infrastructure by Randall Stephenson, the Chairman of AT&T. The media will be given more information in the press conference scheduled for tomorrow.

There are possibilities of the American government blocking the deal, but there are a few reasons they might not want to do so. There is still a lot of regional competition from carriers like Verizon, Sprint, etc and there isn’t enough market share of AT&T for monopoly formation, and hence there is no threat to the consumer protection.

The deal will enable AT&T to merge assets in order to use a new spectrum, give better data services and call quality even in underserved communities and rural areas. This would ensure more people can access better wireless services.

AT&T shells $39 billion for buying T-Mobile is a post from: Android News Blog

Just like most kids fear Santa Claus as he knows all their naughty actions, the AT&T service seems to know when you are using some mobile hotspot or tethering. According to OSXDaily the usage of MyWi by iPhone owners for launching of wireless hotspots has led to warnings from AT&T for the unauthorized usage. The customers have the option of either signing up for AT&T Mobile Hotspot plan or stop tethering, failing to do which will lead to the automatic switching to the corresponding plan.

According the Seth Bloom, the spokesperson of AT&T, Letters have also been set to some of the smartphone users, meaning that the rule doesn’t apply to the iPhones users alone. Active tethering by Android users has not led to any warnings yet, which may be attributed to the fact that the web access of MyWi instead of mobile gateway is actually through a broadband gateway and not a mobile. This has helped to AT&T discover the people who use the unauthorized hotspot feature.

Android does not have any definitive revealing action for tethering or using the phone as some mobile hotspot. However, heavy or frequent usage and some other factors may arouse suspicions. There are some ways for decreasing the likelihood of discovery but no ways for masking it completely.

Constant use of disproportionate data amount may lead to the discovery of tethering by AT&T. This may fetch you some trouble. Check your inbox regularly and keep a track of whether or not you have been enrolled automatically into Data Pro plan, one that would definitely be more expensive that the one you are using now.

Are Androids next in the line after AT&T’s action about unauthorized tethering of iPhone? is a post from: Android News Blog

• T-Mobile Comet: Also known as the Hauwei Ideos, available Nov. 3 for $9.99 after $50 rebate and two-year contract.
• LG Optimus T: Available Nov. 3 for $29.99 after $50 rebate and contract.
• Motorola Charm: $49.99 after $50 rebate and contract.
• Motorola Defy: $99.99 after $50 contract and rebate.

New Android phones from T-Mobile is a post from: Android News Blog

Very little is known about it at this point, other than the fact that it (according to Bloomberg) will be running Android rather than the upcoming Chrome OS.  No word on size, specs, pricing or availability, though a Verizon spokesman said that they’ll be releasing more information later this week.  We’ll keep you posted.

Verizon is building an Android-powered tablet is a post from: Android News Blog

With a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, a 5 megapixel camera, 720p video recording, Android 2.1 and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, this is looking like another great choice on the Verizon network.

It’s still not official, but BGR is reporting that it’ll be announced in May.  We’ll keep you posted.

LG Aloha coming to Verizon this summer is a post from: Android News Blog