Yesterday, Google announced a new device to it’s lineup: the Nexus 7 tablet.

We have the specs for you, and as usual, our own take on it.

Yes, we at Phonecan are alive.  We’re just doing other things lately.  Sorry.

We thought we’d pull ourselves away from grilling burgers and enjoying the warm weather where we are to cover some news - our way, of course.

Recently, Verizon Wireless finally announced their new data family share plans (if you want to see the official stuff, Verizon was good enough to launch a page which details the new price plans).  And by “new,” we definitely mean new.

The best way to summarize the new plans is with this: minute and texting plans are basically a thing of the past, and data plans are the way of the future.  In fact, this is the very thing that some of the Phonecan moderators have been telling people to expect for many, many years.  We can’t count the number of times we’ve mentioned to someone that one day a cell company was going to scrap everything, hand you a plan with unlimited voice and text, and ask you to buy a bucket of data.  We should have counted, cause now it’s here.

There’s a long list of details, and for whatever reason, much larger and more visited sites around the web haven’t covered it yet.  So here it is…

AT&T recently eliminated its 1000 text package.  That gives customers the option of unlimited or nothing at all.  The change is unveiled with the standard corporate talking points.  “Our customers overwhelmingly prefer unlimited.” 

True, but customers also prefer choice.

Let’s cut right to the chase on this one. As it stands, the editors of PhoneCan are content with Google’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility.

And we don’t appear to be the only ones. Which should be enough for most people to ask why. Why are so many companies accepting this purchase, even though they likely compete with Google and/or Motorola?

What are the real reasons behind the acquisition? What do Google and Motorola Mobility gain?

And what will the company be called (since Motorola Solutions is a separate company)? Googorola?

PhoneCan is proud to announce that it has launched its own forum pages!

OK, so really, it’s been there for a long time and we forgot to link to it.  But it’s there.  And unlike some other forums, this one will be MODERATED, or in the least, someone will be keeping an eye on it.

Come take a look at the forum pages and help us get the conversation started!

If you are dependable and would like to volunteer to help keep an eye on the forums, send me a message.

Last week, Verizon Wireless carefully announced that they were going to eliminate one-year contracts as an option for their customers.

The truth of the matter is, one year contracts likely comprise of less than 1% of overall contracts.  We have no real data on this, but a long observation of the business tells us that the numbers are minimal.

The problem, though, is choice.

I’m a little perplexed by AT&T’s press release on early upgrade policy.  The reason I’m perplexed is because early upgrades aren’t really a part of upgrade policy.  If you’re trying to do an upgrade on the website and you’re not eligible, there is no option to select “early upgrade.”  A manager is able to offer them in situations where a customer needs a phone but other options aren’t available.

So if it’s an exception that can be made that’s not available in general, why is AT&T putting out press releases that they’re raising prices for early upgrades?  This creates a couple of problems.  Firstly it’s going to confuse people.  Secondly it’s going to draw all kinds of flames from confused customers who don’t like to see the words “price increase” in any article about their cell phone service.

It is to a certain extent the nature of the wireless industry that things change frequently.  This, I think, is going to be a year that things change very frequently.

Upgrade eligibility for all lines, regardless of cost, will now be 20 months.

As stated in the original article on the upgrade policy update, AT&T followed suit with Verizon and eliminated the extra discounts available for upgrades on higher cost lines.  They didn’t follow suit with changing how quickly those more expensive lines became eligible and kept 13 and 18 month renewals for the more expensive lines.  Well, now they have followed suit.  Mirroring Verizon’s policy change from 2 months ago, all lines become eligible at 20 months no matter what plan they’re on.

Early upgrade policy is also changing.

An early upgrade is something that may be offered to you if you need a phone but aren’t eligible.  Early upgrades aren’t a regular part of upgrade policy.  Prior to the change you would pay $200 more than the upgrade price for a smartphone or $75 more for a nonsmartphone.  Those amounts have now risen to $250 and $85.

I have issue with some of the statements finding their way around the Internet concerning AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile.  Let me share some thoughts with you.

AT&T announced today the intended acquisition of rival and #4 US wireless carrier, T-Mobile.

The boards of AT&T Inc. and Deutsche Telekom AG, owner of T-Mobile USA, came into an agreement that allows AT&T to acquire T-Mobile, in exchange for cash and stock worth approximately $39 billion.  Also, Deutsche Telekom AG will receive an 8% ownership share in the combined business.

No word on how long such an acquisition would take to be approved and finalized.  It is unclear at this time if the federal government will have issue with any of AT&T’s offer.

The full press release can be found here.