T-Mobile VP sounds off on Carrier IQ, AT&T, BlackBerry, iPhone, and eGov (exclusive interview)

This has been a wild few weeks for mobile communications carriers. First, there was a planned merger between AT&T and T-Mobile, only to have some severe pushback from the FCC. Then, the inter-waves exploded with news that most mobile devices were shipped by the carriers, complete with a piece of software the blab-o-sphere claimed spied on not only your every move, but your every keystroke.

Related: Is Android secure enough for mission-critical government and military use? (Exclusive video)

Into this maelstrom of activity comes the very intrepid and very good-natured Frank Sickinger, Vice President, B2B, MNC and Federal Government Sales at T-Mobile USA. Well before all this chaos hit, Frank and I had planned to sit down for an in-depth discussion about government communications and mobile security.

I gotta hand it to the man. Even after all heck hit the fan, and even after I made it clear I was going to dig hard into these hot-button topics, Frank was man enough to show up and join me on camera. Even more impressive was both how open and how friendly the discussion was.

Frank was also a very good sport, not only for diving into Carrier IQ and AT&T, but weighing in on his perception of the future of BlackBerry, and even whether or not T-Mobile wants to be in the iPhone business. And yes, we did manage to talk about government communications, as well.

This is a fascinating interview and it's not to be missed.

Read more about Carrier IQ:

• Carrier IQ tries to spin its way out of trouble
• Carrier IQ patent outlines keylogging and ability to target individual devices
• Carrier IQ is good for you, so why get so spun up?
• Apple questioned by German authorities over Carrier IQ software
• Check your Android handset for Carrier IQ rootkit
• Carrier IQ 'not used' by major UK mobile networks
• Carrier IQ snooping reports are "mostly exaggerated", says researcher
• Apple: We stopped using Carrier IQ in iOS 5
• Carrier IQ speaks out: Points finger at networks, customers
• A carrier insider talks about Carrier IQ
• Which phones, networks run Carrier IQ mobile tracking software?
• Finding and cleaning out your smartphone's Carrier IQ poison
• Senator demands answers over Carrier IQ mobile phone tracking
• 7 questions that Carrier IQ needs to address immediately
• How to disable the Carrier IQ 'rootkit' on your iPhone
• CarrierIQ: Follow the money and it is the carriers behind it
• So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones
• Rootkit called Carrier IQ discovered phoning home with user data

Read more about the proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger:

• AT&T lashes out at opponents following latest FCC report
• Another AT&T Hail Mary pass for T-Mobile: The joint venture
• FCC twists knife in AT&T's chest; Criticizes 'false claims' over acquisition of T-Mobile
• AT&T: Is the T-Mobile effort worth the hassle?
• AT&T foresees T-Mobile merger to fail, claims $4 billion in charges
• Report: FCC chief wants hearing on AT&T, T-Mobile merger