It appears that Clearwire Corporation is giving iSpot customers less than 72 hours to sign up for new service.

The carrier quietly let customers who have iSpot accounts in suspended animation (or inactive status) know that they have until February 10th to reactivate their service, otherwise their accounts will be terminated. The more shocking news in the email to customers is that after the 10th, any lapse in service will make it impossible to reactivate the iSpot in the future.

The Clear iSpot was Clearwire’s attempt to draw in Apple iOS customers, many of whom were facing metered data on carriers such as AT&T. The device was a firmware-modified version of the original Clear Spot, which featured an unlimited $25 per month 4G WiMAX plan, running at 6 mbps down, and 1 mbps up.

However, Clearwire faced several challenges that ultimately forced them to pull the product from the market. Apple, not having certified the device, began randomizing the MAC (network serial number) address ranges of iOS devices, and used ranges previously reserved for Macintosh computers. This left Clearwire in a bind, many iOS customers could not use iSpot.

For Clearwire to have allowed all iOS devices under the new MAC addresses, would have also required Clearwire to let Mac users have unlimited data for $25/month. Worse, some Mac models were already able to access the iSpot’s data plans, having MAC addresses close enough to the original iOS range, and were hampering the Clearwire network excessively.

To add to Clearwire’s woes, hackers quickly rooted the Linux-based iSpot, and removed the MAC address restrictions. Web sites even rolled out one-click rooting processes. Even if Clearwire were able to patch these firmware loopholes, it would not fully fix the problem. Jailbreakers had figured out how to use an $80 first-generation iPod touch as a relay router, feeding iSpot’s Internet to any computer, which could in-turn power a whole household with Internet for $25 per month.

The company did make clear though that anyone who keeps a Clear iSpot active going forward will be grandfathered into the $25/month plan, provided they maintain continuous service going forward. This will likely remain until Clearwire shuts down the Clear WiMAX network, expected by outsiders sometime within the next 12 to 72 months. Clearwire has not yet given any timeframe for when they plan to roll out their LTE network fully, and when they plan to dismantle their WiMAX network.

Clearwire is clearly trying to close the door on iSpot. We have emergency calls into Clearwire as to if fully-deactivated iSpots can be reactivated at this late time, or if only those on hibernation plans can reactivate. We’ll update this report when we hear back from Clear.

Update: Clearwire has confirmed our initial report, which we have expanded on in a follow-up article.

Apple has created a PR nightmare for itself after threatening bloggers with legal action. The situation stems from Apple’s communication with a customer, where they are attempting to enforce a non-legally-binding email footer, demanding confidentiality to the email’s communication.

The problem lies in the fact that in one of the email messages sent from Apple’s support team, the legal disclaimer usually reserved for PR communication is appended to the message spelling out the steps to resolve the customer’s issue which has to do with the transfer of AppleCare from one device to another after repairs, a usually trivial affair that hit a snag and resulted in the customer posting about the experience on another blog in order to inform others and to try and see if any other Apple customers had gone through a similar situation.

While the original situation was ultimately resolved with AppleCare and subsequent follow up emails detail the resolution, the customer was sent another email from Apple’s legal department demanding that the customer delete the original post containing text from the email detailing AppleCare’s response to the original AppleCare transfer situation on the grounds that the text in the email was not meant for public consumption. The threatening email in question follows below:

Hello,

I am one of the policy representatives here at Apple. It came to our concern that our policy was broken. It is illegal to transmit information from voicemails, e-mails, transactions, etc, into public or private blogs and forums, vlogs, as well as documentation onto the internet, except for the proper authorities.
We have been informed that a conversation with a member of our Agreement Administration team has been posted on a blogging website.
We do view all e-mails that are sent to our departments for security reasons. “This transmission may be privileged and may contain confidential information intended only for the person(s) named above.
Any other distribution, retransmission, copying, or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please delete this message from your system.” This is a very strict policy that we enforce, and that the government is under watch of. We do ask that you take down the posting of the conversation that you had which was posted on
“http://goinside.com/2012/01/26/warning-check-your-applecare-support-profile/” . If no compliance is made, further action will have to be forced upon.
You will have 24 hours to take the post down.

Typically, such legal disclaimers regarding dissemination of company information are applied to PR in order to pressure journalists into going along with the companies’ particular wishes concerning information on new products, services and events meant for press.

As the communication from Apple’s support was posted on the blog in order to add context to the situation and not meant to slander or libel the company, Apple has no legal standing to issue the takedown notice, especially as all other correspondence did not feature the legal disclaimer, making the initial communique an anomaly. Legal experts also agree that such legal boilerplate isn’t binding due to the fact that only one side set terms regarding the nature of the information presented and does not allow for negotiation.

With Apple attempting to intimidate bloggers into silence, this only adds to the bad PR the company has received in recent weeks stemming from factory audits and its responsibility as a corporate citizen coming into question after statements made regarding its position on American jobs.

It’s been a busy week for T-Mobile. After refusing to comment to PhoneNews.com on T-Mobile testing 1900 MHz UMTS service in select markets, a direct effort to support unlocked iPhones, the carrier has made more depressing internal moves.

It appears that the carrier has aborted plans to offer 3G on 1900 MHz, as the carrier earlier this month began instructing customer service to suggest iPhone users on the network upgrade to a 4G Android smartphone, compatible with their network frequencies. T-Mobile offered customer support representatives a series of talking points on why iPhone is limited to 2G, or EDGE speeds on the T-Mobile network.

While it is possible that these are simply two different hands of a company not talking to one another, the timeline does indicate that T-Mobile wants iPhone off its network, rather than embrace the 1900 MHz band for UMTS. With no possibility of an AT&T merger, the carrier has to decide to use 1900 MHz for UMTS, or save it for LTE.

The carrier also has to decide when to wind down its GSM/EDGE services, which would leave iPhone customers in the dark. Other handsets that are GSM-only could be upgraded for free with UMTS handsets at marginal cost to T-Mobile. AT&T had to undergo the same effort when it wound down its TDMA and AMPS networks, and will likely have to do the same with GSM in order to re-use the spectrum.

Following criticism from many, T-Mobile does now appear to be pulling at least a temporary about-face with the public. The carrier has published memos internally, confirmed by PhoneNews.com, that they will begin to provide basic technical support for iPhone on the T-Mobile network.

Support will be limited to basic compatibility configuration, the T-Mobile APN (needed to enable data services), as well as T-Mobile’s email and MMS gateways.

In addition, T-Mobile will also provide support for iPhone usage and navigation, but only at a basic level. Services like the App Store and iTunes or iPod will not be supported, T-Mobile representatives are directed to tell customers to contact Apple for further technical support.

T-Mobile is the only of the major four carriers to not carry an iPhone currently. This partially stemmed from AT&T’s intention to purchase/merge with T-Mobile, and T-Mobile refusing to pay Apple’s higher device subsidies. T-Mobile executives have commented that the next iPhone will support T-Mobile’s network, prompting T-Mobile public relations to perform damage control, having announced an Apple product prior to Apple confirming it.

Microsoft has been discovered to have changed its requirements for the upcoming ARM version of Windows 8. The change essentially will prohibit ARM devices, including PCs, from running operating systems other than Windows 8 after they ship to customers.

Specifically, Microsoft recently amended its requirements for ARM Windows 8 System Builders. Unlike Windows 8 for Intel-compatible (x86 & x64) machines, the ARM version of Windows 8 will not be sold to the public. To purchase an ARM version of Windows 8, you will have to purchase a device with it pre-loaded (similar to Windows CE devices today, such as Windows Phone). The new requirement calls for utilizing UEFI Secure Boot, a technology that forces manufacturers to instruct devices to boot code certified by the manufacturer for the device.

For consumers, this is similar to locking the bootloader on a smartphone. This is a common practice on mobile phones that secures the device, but blocks running modified or alternative operating systems. Many manufacturers now allow consumers to bypass (or “unlock”) the bootloader lock on select devices (and at times, wireless providers).

In settlements with the Department of Justice during the mid 1990s, Microsoft agreed to not block or prevent PCs from running alternative operating systems, such as Linux. If Microsoft allows Windows 8 for ARM to ship on any device that could be considered a Personal Computer, they could be in violation of this. Such settlements called for other, more trivial actions, such as Microsoft agreeing to laughable acts such as giving away copies of Linux software.

This move even comes after Microsoft specifically noted in the Windows 8 ARM announcements that they would not provide any interruption of ARM’s hardware to boot and access other platforms. Manufacturers are still free to do so if they choose, and often do on embedded devices.

Still, the consumer has been free to make the decision to purchase such a device or not. In the enthusiast community, it is commonplace to replace ARM-based Windows Mobile 6 with Google’s Android.

It is quite likely even without the PC requirement that Microsoft would still be in violation of the United States v. Microsoft settlement. The requirement of UEFI Secure Boot would require Linux and other operating systems to be securely signed by the device’s manufacturer, making them complicit with Microsoft in helping the company maintain its monopoly on UEFI based hardware. The only other EFI machines common in the industry today, are Apple Macintosh computers, which hold a small fraction of the marketplace, arguably below ten percent.

Fears of Microsoft demanding UEFI Secure Boot had persisted since the announcement that Windows 8 ARM would utilize UEFI, a technology pioneered by Intel and first used in mainstream computing by Apple. Repudiation of the move by consumer groups has been almost instantaneous, but if the move is actually a form of antitrust or settlement-breach has been less consistent.

Some argue that Windows 8 ARM does not, at this point, present itself as a solution for mainstream personal computing. These arguments are similar with those that Apple’s iPad, and other ARM tablets, are not personal computers, but rather complimentary to the PC ecosystem.

Apple, which now holds the largest single-manufacturer share of the smartphone market, does lock its bootloader on ARM devices, prohibiting users from selecting another operating system. On the Mac, it’s a different story, the company embraces users installing, or even replacing Mac OS X with Windows, via the Boot Camp initiative. Hackers have also managed to install Android on many Apple iOS devices, however Apple routinely thwarts exploits which enable the process, resulting in a continual cat-and-mouse game.

For Microsoft to comply with the rules of UEFI Secure Boot, and allow for compliance with US v. Microsoft settlements, Windows 8 for ARM would have to provide its own ability in its bootloader to allow for other operating systems to load. Such a move is highly unlikely, and would require complex and major modifications to other’s operating systems… possibly including utilizing open technologies that Microsoft has repeatedly claim infringe on their patents. Microsoft has demanded royalties for using the FAT file system on Android devices, as well as Google Chrome OS devices, for example.

Many, if not all of the terms of the settlement expire this year at the latest. This could indicate that Microsoft was waiting until the expiration of the settlement terms to make such a move. However, Microsoft is clearly aware of the antitrust ramifications that prompted such a settlement, and refusing to allow a PC-like device to boot other operating systems could create for a second wave of breaches of the same antitrust statutes.

Securing bootloaders, UEFI Secure Boot aside, remains controversial. Many in the technology industry insists it is necessary to secure machines from rootkits and other low-level hacking tools that undermine device security. Others however view it as security through obscurity, citing vulnerabilities in bootloaders, and planned obsolescence in hardware’s firmware. UEFI Secure Boot does allow for manufactures to sign multiple operating systems, but updates or other modifications that are common can break such security, leading to a perpetual need for firmware updates, testing, and certification of software.

In the Linux world, software is maintained in a free, open source state, making such certification nearly impossible to offer on a widespread basis. Solutions that rely on Linux, such as Google’s Android and Canonical’s Ubuntu, provide managed/customized versions of these open platforms, but mandating UEFI Secure Boot would prevent up-and-coming platforms from starting up altogether. This stifles innovation, and applied globally, would make building a Linux startup nearly impossible as the world moves to a primarily a two-architecture universe (x86 and ARM).

Windows 8 will mark the first version of the operating system where Microsoft will have a single, monolithic kernel that spans nearly all device form factors. It is all but assured that at least some form of Windows 8 Phone will share the Windows 8 kernel, but will likely not be released until mid or even late 2013. Less clear is the future for Windows Embedded Compact (aka Windows CE), the embedded alternative to mainstream Windows, which will likely continue to exist for lower-end hardware and embedded solutions.

It’s no surprise that everyone at PhoneNews.com opposes the demand for Secure Boot in Windows 8. Manufacturers have always been free to require Secure Boot on devices, based on the clients wants, needs, and requests when ordering them. There is no need from an architectural standpoint that we can see for this demand.

Not long after all of the pomp and fanfare surrounding the long awaited announcement of the Nokia Lumia 900 earlier this week, the mailing list for Windows Phone developers has confirmed that AT&T’s flagship Nokia Windows Phone smartphone will be launching in March, sooner than originally expected taking into account AT&T’s own vague Spring timeline. Windows commentator Paul Thurrott previously confirmed that the phone would launch on March 18th when it was known as the Nokia ACE.

As previously confirmed, the Lumia 900 is exclusive to AT&T and features either improvements or additions to the Lumia 800 in a larger 4.3 inch ClearBlack AMOLED display, LTE radio, Windows Phone Tango for LTE support, front facing camera, 1.4 GHz processor,  8.0 megapixel camera with 1080p video capture and dual LED flash, 16GB internal memory and Bluetooth.

The phone was designed with both AT&T and the US market in mind as it features a front facing camera and LTE support while the 800 features neither of those and Nokia expects it to drive Windows Phone sales in the US to drive its own comeback in the US market, where the brand has suffered significant marketshare loss after the launch of the iPhone in 2007. For historical context, the last Nokia phone to have significant sales and attention in the US market was the N95 sold in the months before the June 2007 launch of the Apple iPhone.

Not long after the launch, Nokia tried to court US carriers again with branded versions of its international models such as the E71 and E73 in an ultimately futile effort to compete with Apple before suffering another blow in the form of Android, which pushed Nokia’s smartphones aside in the wider US market, save for dedicated fans of Symbian.

Now with the attention given to Nokia and Windows Phone after this week, both Nokia and Microsoft are expecting the new partnership to payoff in a big way. Judging by the positive reception during CES, the Lumia 900 may turn the fortunes around of both Nokia and Windows Phone, provided the actual phone lives up to the initial critical praise.

Google has taken to stealth updating Search and Maps for Android while attention is squarely placed on CES this week. The updates for Maps for Android center on improved battery life with Latitude now featuring faster refreshes for locations and adds the ability to guess location based on vehicle speed if the GPS signal is lost during a drive and offers more public transportation route options for supported public transit systems.

Google has also updated its Search for Android to feature faster, smoother performance, with an updated and simplified user interface. Suggestions for search are now grouped by type, with web suggestions at the top as well as country-specific suggestions and search results for all countries with Google domains with long press capability added to remove history items.

Some additional tips from Google on the new Search for Android:

• Tap the arrow to the right of a search suggestion or history item to add it to your search term before searching.
• Get suggestions from other apps on your phone – check out searchable items in Search settings.
• Long press on home screen to add the Google Search widget, if you don’t have it already, to access search faster.

With the latest update to Maps, Google is seeking to address the biggest issue with the application in battery life compared to previous versions as well as adding additional features for users of public transport while Search being updated for Gingerbread and earlier versions for Android is Google’s attempt to continually maintain the Search app for those versions of Android while gradually transitioning to the newly merged Ice Cream Sandwich.

We have some of the first Samsung Galaxy Nexus photos on the web, hands-on with Sprint’s first LTE phone, in the highest resolution of any member of the mobile media.

Hit read more to see the live shots.

Sprint did caution that these were prototypes of their form of the Galaxy Nexus, which will be only offered in its 32 GB version at launch. The phone was missing references to Google Wallet, but we were able to confirm that NFC and Google Wallet were intact on the device as of the prototypes shown.

Stay tuned later for the first live shots of the LG Viper, Sprint’s second LTE smartphone.

We do apologize for the quality of some of these photos, the lighting at Sprint’s CES aftershow is extremely poor, and Sprint is not making units available for behind-the-scenes access (such as, with proper lighting).

Update: Sprint confirmed to us that their version of the Galaxy Nexus LTE will indeed include NFC and Google Wallet support at-launch.

Welcome to PhoneNews.com’s continuing coverage of CES 2012. Up next on the keynote list is Intel’s, with CEO Paul Ortellini detailing the manufacturer’s goals for 2012 and beyond on PCs and mobile. Particular focus is expected on the chipmaker’s initatives in mobile with Medfield as well as Android on x86 along with more potential announcements.

4:25 – Ready to go
4:30 – Gary Shapiro hits the stage to introduce Paul Ortellini
4:34 – Running through video montage of intel’s marketing goals with emphasis on computing across form factors
4:35 – Paul Ortellini hits the stage
4:38 – Runs through history of personal computers and transition to computing, mentions consistent experiences across devices as the goal, with a focus on information security
4:40 – Running down Moore’s Law in the context of the current state of consumer electronics advancing quickly. Mentions Ivy Bridge manufactured on 32nm process with the next series running on 14nm process
4:42 – Going on to talk about phones and mentions Intel chips in more than 400 million mobile devices in 2011
4:44 Ortellini announces debut of Intel’s mobile processor in China beginning with Lenovo with Lenovo CEO Liu Jun onstage
4:46 – Jun announces Lenovo K800 powered by Intel’s Atom processor with a 4.5 inch display
4:47 – Lenovo K800 to ship on China Unicom in the second quarter, also mentions 10-inch tablet powered by Atom
4:49 – Ortellini shows off Intel Smartphone Reference Design built on Android with 1080p playback, HDMI out, 8 hours talk time,  Mike Bell onstage to show off reference design and mentions NFC capability. Demo of web browsing over HDMI out, gaming with accelerometer demo
4:53 – Security with McAfee on Android mentioned and available on Android Market, now showing off 1080p video playback, timelapse demo against competitor, mentions optimization and cross-platform work with Angry Birds demo with full performance despite ARM coding
4:57 – Camera demo with burst shot demo, 10 shots in one second
4:58 – Ortellini states better performance than shipping phones, introduces CEO Sanjay Jha of Motorola Mobility
4:59 – Jha announces a multi year partnership centered around smartphones based on Intel, also announces final carrier approvals this Summer with launches afterward
5:01 – Ortellini talking about shopping  and the changes caused by online shopping. Brings in Chris Aubrey of Adidas to demo the Adidas product wall
5:04 – Product wall powered by intel and demonstrates integration of video and shopping carts to streamline sales, also integrated with tablets for credit card sales, mentions fivefold sales increase after testing  in flagship store
5:06 – Ortellini shows off new reference tablet running  Windows 8 and 32nm processor
5:07 – Touting Windows 8 on x86, now runs through PCs with Ultrabook category; video montage demonstrating Ultrabooks
5:10 –  Jeff Clark, Vice Chair of Dell onstage
5:16 – Announces Dell XPS 13 ultrabook with 6mm depth, aluminium and carbon fiber base, edge to edge Gorilla Glass display, full-size keyboard and Smart Connect/Rapid Start capable with constant connection with 9 hours of battery life, Core i5 and i7 options with TPM and Dell Pro support for enterprise IT. Pre-orders start in February
5:17 – Demonstrates prototype with sliding keyboard and collapsible hinge to convert into tablet, ultrabook team onstage to demo Ivy Bridge prototypes
5:19 – Call of Duty demo on Ivy Bridge ultrabook with no discrete graphics
5:20 – Ultrabook game demo with smartphone connected as controller as well as integrated touch controls
5:22 – touch control for video demoed as well as video transfer from external storage via Thunderbolt
5:23 – Announces partnerships with Technicolor and Dreamworks as MGO app in Intel’s AppUp center for first run HD movies, WiDi demo with LG also demoed with MGO app and information retrieval
5:26 – NFC demo on ultrabook uses NFC with reference smartphone and instant verification to complete awkward checkout demo
5:28 – Demo of Windows 8 x86 applications closes out this round of ultrabook demos
5:30 – Video of will.i.am demonstrating ultrabook capabilities and Ultrabook Project initiative. Will.i.am on stage to detail the project.
5:37 – Poor guy looks uncomfortable when sticking to a script.  Compares ultrabooks to ghetto blasters. Ortellini looks caught off guard
5:38 – That’s a wrap. 

To end the day’s CES on floor coverage, we now turn to both the last keynote of the evening and Microsoft’s last CES keynote after participating at the event for nearly 17 years. The keynote is expected to feature announcements regarding Windows 8 and Windows Phone as well as additional announcements related to the rest of Microsoft’s product family.

6:28: Seated and ready to go.
6:32 – Gary Shapiro onstage greeting attendees
6:36 – Going over the reasons for Microsoft’s exit from CES
6:37 – Ballmer takes the stage. Shapiro presents photo collage to Ballmer
6:39 – Autotuned Microsoft video montage. Thank god it wasn’t set to dubstep.
6:40 – Ryan Seacrest from American Idol onstage
6:41 – Looks like the keynote will take more of an interview slant
6:42 – Ballmer running down how the Metro user interface will tie together Microsoft hardware and software, with a bad Metro joke
6:43 – Ballmer dancing around Windows Phone’s lack of success and pointing towards its focus on people, pulls out Nokia Lumia 800.
6:46 – Derek Snyder, Sr. Product Manager of Windows Phone onstage
6:47 – Demos Windows Phone People Hub
6:49 – Demos Windows Phone’s Contact page with conversation logs and threads with images and real-time voice to text
6:52 – Demoing Bing Local Scout on second phone, with technical difficulties in displaying the demo
6:54 – Seacrest back on stage with Ballmer detailing hardware partnerships
6:55 – Ballmer confirms Nokia Lumia 710/800 for Canada and the 710 for T-Mobile while once again demoing Lumia 900 for AT&T. Also confirms unlocked Lumia 800 being sold via Microsoft Stores in the next few months
6:57 – HTC Titan 2 with LTE also confirmed and demoed. Now discussing Windows PCs
6:58 – 1.9 billion Windows PCs in use worldwide according to Ballmer, now discussing current Windows 7 hardware with a video montage of thin and light Windows 7 ultrabooks
7:02 – Chief Marketing Officer for Windows Tami Reller now onstage
7:03 – Now demoing the Windows 8 lockscreen with personalization down to customizing the password type with Picture Password and the new Start homescreen
7:05 – Now demoing Charms, program interconnects and Metro style apps that will take over the entire display.
7:06 – Eeiterates compatibility with both ARM and X86 by using reference prototype hardware running Tegra 3, now demoing Windows Store. Windows Store will open in late February according to Reller and available in 100 languages and 200 markets
7:11 – Demos Windows  8 touch gestures and universal search with semantic zoom
7:13 – Demos App Contract and Charms to share information between apps
7:14 – Demos Metro style Internet Explorer for full-screen browsing with gesture support
7:16 – Demos HTML 5 video with hardware graphics acceleration
7:17 – Next Milestone release in February
7:18 – Demos HP Envy 18 Spectra with an all glass design along with the Samsung Series 9
7:19 – Ryan and Ballmer back onstage
7:20 – “TweetChoir” onstage grabbing keynote reactions from Twitter
7:23 – Ballmer and Seacrest back onstage talking about Xbox
7:26 – Metro being demoed on Xbox 360 with Kinect
7:29 – Bing search being demoed with Kinect on Xbox 360
7:32 – News Corp and Comcast partnerships for content on Xbox along with Live TV later in the year
7:34 – Sesame Street TV being demoed as a two way experience with Kinect
7:39 – Ballmer and Seacrest back on stage now, Kinect on Windows officially launches February 1st
7:41 – Ballmer running down Ford Sync and Office 2010 milestones
7:44 – Ballmer touting 2012 as the year of Metro and Windows
7:45 – That’s a wrap, folks 

Lenovo announces their first PC designed for Windows 8. The ultrabook, called the IdeaPad YOGA, will ship alongside Windows 8, featuring the ability to change between four discreet modes of form-factor.

The device will use an unspecified processor (ARM or x86 wasn’t specified), but judging by its design and “ultrabook” phrasing, the device is likely powered using a ULV Core i5 processor. The key to the YOGA however is, as its name implies, its ability to rotate around into four form-factors.

The device supports laptop, tablet, “stand” and “tent” positions, powered by a 13.3-inch touch screen that features ten points of articulation. It also will be capable of running for up to eight hours on a single charge.

Lenovo claims that Windows 8 will be essential to launching the product, and that it will launch simultaneously with Windows 8. While it is unlikely that an ARM CPU would be utilized, the only major difference from Windows 8, this is likely more an exercise in marketing. The IdeaPad YOGA right now would likely cost too much to manufacturer, and sell at an attractive price-point.

By waiting for Intel’s ultrabook, as well multi-touch IPS panel costs to drop, Lenovo can claim that Windows 8 is the impediment, rather than hardware costs that fail to compete with rivals like Apple.

Microsoft benefits too here, as it will have a compelling launch lineup for Windows 8, with diverse form-factors from each manufacturer. Rivals such as HP have also announced they will be launching Windows 8 tablets, powered by ARM processors. The company is currently using an HP TouchPad tablet as a test mule for their rival product design.