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After the AWS spectrum auction in September 2006, and the 700 MHz auction earlier this year, it was thought that most of the usable 3G spectrum had been taken. While the FCC is looking into various new bands of spectrum, it faces controversy. Then, in late April, we learned that a company called NextWave controlled some spectrum that would be attractive to existing carriers. Today, we learn that T-Mobile has won the largest chunk of licenses, paying out $97.5 million.

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It’s still over a month away, but T-Mobile, as announced back in June, will be raising its SMS rates to 20 cents each, matching the industry norm. While I’m sure there was a perfectly reasonable thought process among the T-Mobile executives which led to this decision, it can be an indirect boon to consumers. Because raising SMS charges denotes a “materially adverse” change to your contract with the company, technically you can escape your contract without paying an early termination fee. As Consumerist reminds us, there are restrictions to this.

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When the government returns from the long weekend, the FCC plans to open up the public comment cycle for a new AWS auction. This would allow them to rule by August, and set the auction in motion for later this year or early next year. T-Mobile, however, would like them to push the whole thing back. They want more testing run for interference in the new spectrum, which would run on the 2155-2175 and 2175-2180 MHz bands. The fear is that the new spectrum won’t play well with existing blocks.

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Since December, 2007, Luke Barrett has been living on the roof of a T-Mobile store in Boulder, Colorado. Well, had been living, since police caught him last Friday. Told to “stop and place his hands in the air,” Barrett ran, though was ultimately detained at the scene. He was charged with and convicted of trespassing and obstructing an officer. His seven-day sentence finishes on Thursday. As you might imagine, Barrett is homeless.

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If you were thinking about signing a new T-Mobile contract this week, I suggest you exercise patience and wait for Saturday. On that day, the nation’s No. 4 wireless carrier will commence the practice of prorating early termination fees. While the government is working on a universal solution, most major wireless carriers have taken matters into their own hands. That is, except Sprint, which is the only of the major four to not offer prorated early termination fees.

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It’s not an easy world for a cell phone consumer, or any phone for that matter. You’ve got to watch out at all junctures for bad deals, stifling terms and conditions, and, worst of all for your wallet, overlapping services. That’s why so many people have ditched the landline and gone cell-only. Why have two phone lines when one will suffice? This is why we have a love affair with T-Mobile’s Hotspot @Home service. With the launch of Talk Forever, T-Mo customers who spend $50 or more per month can pay another $10 to have their landline ported into T-Mo, and can then take advantage of unlimited VoIP calling. They’re beefing up the service with a new router soon. So let’s take a look at it.

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A few months back on our sister site, I talked about how to block incoming text messages. What surprised me was that at the time, T-Mobile didn’t offer a way to turn off text messaging. If you had a plan with them, you had to receive any text messages sent to you. They’re working on getting a better blocking system implemented, but until then, they’ll have to face another class action suit from consumers who aren’t too happy with their inability to block messages.

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Back in February, when the carriers were rolling out their unlimited plans, we noticed a few problems with them. First was that AT&T and Verizon were offering just unlimited voice for $99 per month. Meanwhile, T-Mobile sweetened the pot a bit with unlimited text messaging. But no one really addressed the issue of family plans. You can’t share the unlimited minutes, so most families had to pay $99 for each unlimited line — though I believe one company charged $5 less for each additional line. That is, until now. T-Mobile has introduced a new family unlimited plan.

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Geeze, just when we were getting pumped up about T-Mobile’s 3G rollout, we get this news: It’s going to be voice only. So much for high-speed data rates for anyone who has a compatible phone. The upshot, I suppose, is that T-Mo had terrible coverage in NYC to this point. So maybe that will improve a bit with their 3G voice network. At least I hope it does. If I hear one more friend complain about how crappy T-Mo is in the city…

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Well, T-Mobile said they’d roll out their 3G network this spring, and it looks like they’re going to come through. Rumor has it that May 1 is the date, which is tomorrow…which is pretty freakin’ neat. Of course, it’s not official. We’re still awaiting word from T-Mo themselves. TmoNews has a hard-copy clipping, so there could be an announcement this morning. I’ll update the post when it’s made.

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