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.

Clearwire confirmed to PhoneNews.com today that they have stopped activating new service for customers in pre-WiMAX markets. This does not affect markets that are selling CLEAR 4G WiMAX coverage, nor does it affect any customers who have already enrolled in Clearwire pre-WiMAX service.

The legacy, pre-WiMAX technology dates back to Clearwire founder Craig McCaw’s vision of delivering broadband Internet wirelessly, with a focus on delivering broadband to rural markets that do not have easy access or multiple choices for broadband Internet service.

Originally, Clearwire told PhoneNews.com that it expected all pre-WiMAX markets to get a quick upgrade to WiMAX. It’s a story, and timetable that we followed closely, being that this article is being written from one of the Clearwire markets that is still stuck in pre-WiMAX coverage. That coverage provides speeds up to 3.0 mbps, but lacks modern interfaces… like USB… or even ExpressCard. The only devices that work with the service, are bulky modems designed for fixed wireless, or a PCMCIA/CardBus card (we don’t even have a laptop that has that slot anymore).

Rural customers though persisted, we met multiple customers lined up at iPhone launches that ran their Clearwire pre-WiMAX gear in their car, powered into routers… all being driven by a DC power inverter. Unfortunately, the lack of a simplistic, consumer-friendly solution ensured that only the tech-savvy, and desperate, really took full advantage of these pre-WiMAX offerings.

The technology gap underscores Clearwire’s painful migration from pre-WiMAX, to WiMAX, and now to LTE. The changes in network hardware have prevented Clearwire from having one consistent technology to market to rural and urban customers alike. Clearwire’s majority owner, Sprint, pushed Clearwire to abandon its rural transition goals, in order to focus on rolling out WiMAX in coveted urban markets as quickly as possible.

Now, customers in these rural markets will have to wait until late this year, when Clearwire will unveil its LTE network. It is not even assured that these markets will be upgraded at that point. After missing its 2010 timetable for rural market upgrades, pre-WiMAX customers have been given no guidance from the company, other than to stay tuned to press releases and email updates.

Clearwire continues to struggle. While receiving a cash infusion of a billion dollars from Sprint, largely under pressure-and-observations that Sprint was betting on Clearwire to fail, the company now is working hard to develop an LTE wholesale network, as well as prepare to upgrade CLEAR 4G customers to an LTE Advanced-ready network platform.

Prepaid virtual operator Straight Talk has announced its first high-end Android smartphone in the LG Optimus 2X. The key differentiator between this version of the phone and the T-Mobile version in the G2X will be the inclusion of an LTE radio, which will make this the first high-end prepaid Android smartphone on Straight Talk and the first to function on AT&T’s nascent LTE network.

It also marks the first time that AT&T will allow prepaid access to its LTE network, as its own GoPhone lineup is limited to 3G devices and its smartphone lineup on GoPhone does not feature access to either unlimited 3G data or LTE access.

The LG Optimus 2X is underpinned by a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 at 1GHz, an 800×480 resolution touch display, front-facing 1.3 megapixel VGA camera and 8.0 megapixel rear camera with 1080p video capture along with a Wi-Fi N radio, Bluetooth, microSDHC slot with pre-installed 4GB card, 3.5mm jack and mini HDMI out.

This marks a potentially disruptive development for the prepaid brand, as it simultaneously competes against its Master Service Provider in AT&T in terms of services offered for the monthly rate, since the $45 monthly rate for service includes unlimited access to voice, data and messaging while the service also undercuts its competitors in Boost Mobile, Cricket and MetroPCS in terms of value for money.

The lowest priced service plans for Android on MetroPCS with LTE access start at $50 per month and do not include unlimited data access, while Boost Mobile’s Android data plan is $5 higher per month for the first six months and is unlimited in terms of data access, but is limited to much slower EV-DO Rev. A access. For Straight Talk to offer 4G LTE data access as a part of its current $45 monthly rate is not only potentially game changing, but it opens access to even more people that normally wouldn’t be able to take advantage of such service, as LTE access is currently being limited by carriers to capped postpaid and prepaid tablet access to generate the revenue necessary to cover costs associated to network buildouts.

It’s also important to note that such service additions and newly included support for faster data access on prepaid providers are usually followed by significant increases to the monthly rate to cover the additional costs incurred by the provider.  For Straight Talk to maintain the $45 smartphone rate while offering its first high-end smartphone with LTE is a sure way to drive not only frugal customers looking to jump into its low cost and inclusive flat-rate service as well as those that will undoubtedly upgrade from older smartphones, but the hardcore Android enthusiasts will no doubt take a second look at the service as it now supports LTE, which will doubtlessly drive even more activations on the service.

However, as Straight Talk is notoriously tight-lipped about its limits on data access per month dating back to the release of the E71, what is currently not known is how LTE access will be treated in terms of any monthly caps or throttling. AT&T is especially notorious for its current monthly data caps, but at least those are clearly defined.

With Straight Talk, reports vary on exactly how much is “too much” data use for a given user, as experiences range from ~6GB of data use a month with no issues or warnings, to situations where using more than 200MB in one day has led some customers to have their service suspended until the next renewal period without being able to restore it, or worse, having service completely terminated and having to reactivate completely.

With this latest development, Straight Talk is well on its way to being the disruptive provider that so many have tried and failed to be. The phone will be launched by the end of the month as an online exclusive with pricing to match, as the phone will be priced between $249-299.99 and slot at the top of the current Android lineup, which currently features the Sprint-powered and sourced Samsung Precedent and LG Optimus Q.

What remains to be seen is just how many people will be led to the service of flat-rate service with LTE access for half of the cost of the typical postpaid monthly rate on AT&T. Will it drive new customers that normally wouldn’t have considered prepaid service, or does the allure of the $45 rate leave it open for abuse by the same people that would take full advantage of such service if given the opportunity to pay such a low rate for it?

Update: After extensive research, it has been confirmed that the model offered is not an LTE enabled version of the Optimus 2X as is being advertised by Straight Talk, rather it is in fact an unbranded version of the US G2X that will be sold by the provider with Android Gingerbread 2.3.4 pre-loaded along with a new series of T-Mobile SIM card that will allow access to the carrier’s HSPA+ network for the phone, with no possibility of swapping current SIMs used on other GSM smartphones such as the E71 and E5 since they only work with AT&T.

Update 2: Straight Talk has pulled its reservation page for the Optimus 2X and replaced it with the page for the Optimus Q. The service provider has also pulled its Google Doubleclick ad campaign for the phone and replaced it with the previous campaign for the Optimus Q. Below, a screen cap of the Optimus 2X ad.

Update 3: Straight Talk has re-opened the reservation page for the LG Optimus 2X and has removed all references to 4G LTE support and is instead referring to T-Mobile’s HSPA+ data network as “4G”.

Update 4: Sibling provider Net10 has opened its own page for the phone, with a screencap of its Google DoubleClick ad below detailing the removal of 4G LTE references:

Read more to see the first live shots of Sprint’s tiny LTE portable hotspot.

Keeping true to Sprint’s promise, the LTE hotspot will be a tri-mode device with CDMA, LTE and WiMax. As such, it will be immediately useful in all WiMAX markets as Sprint rolls out Network Vision.

Sprint has contacted us and corrected the specifications for the hotspot and it will feature LTE, WiMax and EVDO Rev. A, but it will be the only tri-mode device released on the carrier, with future smartphones staying dual-mode and focused on LTE.

Similar to other LTE portable hotspots, the device will come with a desktop cradle that provides for improved reception. The desktop charging cradle will provide >5dbm reception improvement, crucial for using the device as a home Internet connection backup or replacement. The 1.7 inch LCD display will provide for persistent status, similar to Sierra’s other hotspots.

Also check out our Galaxy Nexus LTE live shots, and LG Viper LTE live shots from Sprint’s media event tonight.

Sprint is using CES this week to confirm the first details on its forthcoming LTE network launch later this year starting with the first three devices and confirming additional details on what bands the devices will run on this year.

Staring with the Galaxy Nexus on Sprint, the phone will launch with Google Wallet support and will launch in the 32GB version first announced last year.

Sprint has also confirmed that LTE on the Galaxy Nexus will run on 1900MHz, along with the LG Viper 4G LTE, which features a 1.2GHz dual core processor and two cameras in a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera and a VGA front-facing camera for video calls, a 4-inch WVGA resolution NOVA display, mobile hotspot support and a microSD slot with DLNA support for streaming with NFC support compatible with Google Wallet.

Lastly, Sprint will also launch its first LTE capable hotspot in the Sierra Wireless Tri-Network Hotspot. It will be the first tri-mode (3G, 4G WiMax and 4G LTE) mobile hotspot with support for to up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices with a microSD slot.

Sprint has also confirmed during CES that it will not continue to manufacture tri-mode devices outside of the initial Sierra Wireless mobile hotspot due to the expense with the focus on new 4G devices shifting to dual-mode CDMA/LTE and CDMA/WiMax for smartphones and other devices during the rollout until 2013, when the rollout is expected to be completed. Aside from confirming LTE on the 1900MHz band for the initial launch, the carrier also confirmed that it wanted to launch the Galaxy Nexus and LG Viper at the same time, but would not offer a specific date.

Following up on this morning’s announcement during the LG keynote, Verizon Wireless has officially announced the LG Spectrum while confirming pricing and launch details.

As expected the phone will launch on January 19th for $199.99 after a new 2 year agreement and data plan. In a major change from the first generation of devices, the LG Spectrum heralds the next generation of LTE smartphones that are less expensive than the first generation of phones that were ~$100 more expensive than 3G only Android smartphones and the iPhone 4 after agreement, greatly increasing the appeal of LTE smartphones.

Specifications for the phones consist of the previously confirmed 4.5-inch True HD IPS display with a 329 pixels per inch density, Corning Gorilla Glass, Android 2.3 Gingerbread  with a future update to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich during the first half of 2012, Qualcomm 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, ESPN’s ScoreCenter app, Dolby Digital Plus audio processing and output, 8.0 megapixel autofocus camera with LED flash and 1080p video capture, front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera for video chat, HD video editing on the device, Mobile Hotspot capability for up to 10 Wi-Fi devices, Bluetooth 3.0, 16 GB microSD card pre-installed with support for 32 GB microSD cards, SmartShare support and HDMI mirroring of phone content capable via MHL.

With the phone featuring a 720p display, many of the biggest changes will be in web browsing and multimedia, as the density of the display will make streaming content to and from the phone easier while making web browsing much easier with more desktop alike page rendering. Let’s hope this new generation of LTE smartphone also fixes the issues with Verizon’s mobile hotspot.

MetroPCS has announced two new Android smartphones in the LG Connect and Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G with LTE support that will be launching within the next few weeks. Starting with the LG Connect, the phone features a 4-inch Nova display with Gorilla Glass and a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 5.0 megapixel main camera with flash and 720p HD video capture, as well as a front-facing camera for video chats and also includes Dolby Mobile sound processing for enhanced audio.

The Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G features Android 2.3 Gingerbread,  3.5-inch display, and is powered by a 1GHz processor. with a 3.2-megapixel main camera, LED flash and a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera with Google Talk support. Pricing for the Galaxy Attain 4G is set at $249.99 before an additional $50 mail-in rebate bringing the total to $199.99.

The new LTE smartphones reflect the new emphasis on LTE for the carrier after months of stagnating growth as a result of the spectrum crunch it faces due to not having enough available to launch LTE in current markets while making the transition from CDMA in order to make better use of the AWS spectrum it does have in order to focus on LTE.

The new lower pricing for both phones also reflects the continual decrease in prices for phones with built-in LTE radios following statements from MetroPCS last year regarding the lack of cheap LTE phones, with the next major reduction in costs for LTE enabled phones not expected until the second half of the year.

A promotional banner on the CES show floor has confirmed that the Samsung Galaxy Note will be released on AT&T within the next few weeks. Additional commentary also suggests that the hybrid phone and tablet has been testing internally since last December in preparation for a launch on the network.

The Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T will also be modified from the current international version by shipping with the standard Android capacitive button layout instead of the center home button, ostensibly to avoid litigation.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is a 5-inch Android smartphone in the vein of the discontinued Dell Streak 5 with a heavily modified version of Android 2.3 with custom software in order to support Samsung’s own stylus oriented software dubbed S-Pen that is integrated into the operating system.

Specifications are also identical to the international version with  a 1280 x 800 5.3 inch Super AMOLED display, 8.0 megapixel and 2.0 megapixel cameras, and the same Samsung-sourced dual-core 1.4GHz processor as the Galaxy Tab 7.7 announced at Germany’s IFA trade show last year. More information is expected during Samsung’s keynote being held on Monday.

AT&T stores have confirmed the forthcoming launch of AT&T’s next LTE enabled tablet in the Pantech Element.

The tablet is being touted as the first water resistant Android tablet with sealed gaskets for all ports along with a drastically reduced pre contract and post contract price compared to the HTC Jetstream at  $299.99 with two-year contract for LTE and $449.99 without.

The Element features Android Honeycomb 3.2, and a dual-core 1.5GHz processor with front and rear cameras at 5.0 megapixels that captures video at 1080p with a 2.0 megapixel front facing camera that can be used for 720p video calls. The tablet also features “Piezo Motor” haptic feedback motors for precise input on the capacitive display.

The tablet is expected to ship on January 22nd and is available for pre-order via retail and telesales but has yet to be posted for pre-order online.

Update: More specifications and data plans for the tablet have been confirmed, with 16GB of internal storage, microSD expansion slot, pre-installed applications (AT&T Messages, Enzo Pinball, Sketchpad and Photo Frame) and compatibility with the $35 / month 3GB data plan on contract, or the $14.99 / month 250MB and $25 / month 2GB options for prepaid data if buying the tablet outright.

Not long after this afternoon’s announcement of  Sprint’s first four LTE markets that are intended to launch by the end of June this year, more details on the resurgent carrier’s plans have surfaced, first regarding its perpetually cloudy policies on data throttling and the first sighting of the forthcoming Sprint version of the Galaxy Nexus manufactured by Samsung.

Today while speaking to investors at a conference being held ahead of next week’s Consumer Electronics show, Sprint CEO Dan Hesse offered some sort of response regarding its throttling policies, stating that “the top 1%” of users were being dropped from the network as a way to deal with what the carrier terms as excessive use of data.

The statement would normally have merit, were there any evidence to back up this claim. Cursory investigation of Sprint’s own forums and others such as HowardForums and XDADevelopers show no evidence of customers either being contacted for excessive  usage or being dropped by the carrier for such activity, putting Hesse’s own statement into question. Other news organizations have attempted to clarify the statement by inferring that the customers that are being contacted and subsequently dropped by the carrier are using excessive data while roaming, but Sprint’s own data roaming policies dictate that any usage over 300MB would trigger notifications before forcing the customer off of the network for excessive usage.

Naturally, many others have decided to jump on the throttling = false advertising soapbox based on a cloudy statement made by Dan Hesse during an investor conference in order to address concerns regarding data network integrity as a result of the iPhone, when his own previous statements praise the iPhone for allowing them to continue to offer unlimited data to begin with. PhoneNews.com is awaiting clarification from Sprint on the matter.

Next up, following the leaked Flash ad that revealed planned Black Friday pricing for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus before its series of delays, the next leaked Flash ad found rotating on CNET earlier today has revealed that Sprint will indeed be launching its own version of Google’s own Galaxy Nexus manufactured by Samsung with an LTE radio instead of the expected WiMax radio.

The Sprint Galaxy Nexus will also receive another upgrade, with a newer generation 1.5GHz processor compared to the 1.2GHz version found in the Verizon and international versions of the phone, although not much else is known about what other changes, if any have been done to the Sprint version besides the upgraded processor.

It’s also expected that the Sprint version will retain support for Google Wallet, as the Verizon version of the phone has had support stripped in favor of its support for the competing ISIS mobile payment initiative, which upset many owners and potential customers expecting the Verizon version of the Galaxy Nexus to be identical to the international version with little in the way of carrier customization.

This latest leak confirms a previous leak that first surfaced last October, in which the packing list for Sprint marketing materials revealed that Sprint was going to be launching a version of the phone, but at the time it was speculated that the Sprint version would have a WiMax radio instead of an LTE radio. As the ad confirms an LTE radio, this suggests that Sprint has had LTE devices in development since the third quarter of last year, if not earlier. CES is expected to confirm further details on availability for the Galaxy Nexus, as well as complete specifications for the phone and possible pricing details.

It would not be a stretch to say that the Sprint Galaxy Nexus will launch in time for the launch of LTE service in Dallas, Atlanta, San Antonio and Houston, but such launches can be fluid and ever changing, as evidenced by the constant delays with AT&T’s LTE network launch last year with AT&T originally intending to launch the network in Summer before a series of delays forced it to move the launch to the late Fall timeframe and rushing to play catchup to Verizon.

With Sprint giving its embattled LTE partner LightSquared 30 days to clear FCC hurdles, it remains to be seen how the carrier will also handle the rollout of its network, as its depending on LightSquared for a good chunk of its LTE network footprint and its Clearwire tie up will more than likely be used to shore up coverage areas that are already covered by the ISP and only need new equipment along with its own Network Vision network plan.