T-Mobile USA unveils new portal

T-Mobile USA Inc. is replacing its T-Zones with web2go, a portal that includes a Yahoo-powered search offering as well as a new application storefront.
Web2go promises improved mobile Internet browsing, a customizable home page and “a simplified shopping and download experience” for both smartphones and lower-end handsets. The portal also offers a kind of content locker, allowing users to continue to access some of their downloaded content even after upgrading to new phones.
Search results will be delivered by oneSearch, Yahoo’s year-old, mobile-specific application that attempts to return information “grouped around the person’s intent.” A query for a specific sports team, for instance, would deliver scores, schedules, news and a link to the club’s site, while a search for a movie would return showtimes at nearby theaters and reviews.
The new portal is available on the majority of T-Mobile handsets, the carrier said, and is automatically delivered to compatible phones. The operator plans to make web2go available on “nearly all” new phones in the near future, although web2go is not supported by the new G1 from Google Inc. and T-Mobile USA.
The carrier also announced new pricing plans for users with high-end devices. Smartphone users can add unlimited Web access and 400 messages for $25 a month, or pay an additional $10 a month for unlimited messaging. Feature-phone users can opt for one of three messaging plans or can choose from two Internet bundles: 50 MB of Web access and 200 messages is offered at $10 a month, and 100 MB and unlimited messaging is available for $20 a month.