Clearwire Clear Spot 4G Apollo: New portable hotspot that can handle 8 connections, does 6 hours per charge

Clearwire, America’s WiMAX operator that supplies Sprint with their 4G network and is also facing some serious financial woes, has announced a new piece of hardware, the Clear Spot 4G Apollo. It’s a portable WiFi hotspot, meaning it takes the WiMAX signal that’s hopefully in your neck of the woods and converts it to WiFi so things like your laptop, smartphone, Kindle, whatever, can connect to the internets. Curiously enough, Clearwire doesn’t specify whether this device is capable of roaming on 3G networks. This is important since WiMAX isn’t exactly blanketing the 48 contiguous states at the moment, in fact there are huge pockets of the country that lack coverage. But hey, for $99 and no need for a 2 year contract, this thing is a steal. Plans start at $35 per month for unlimited “at home” use, $45 for unlimited “mobile” use, and $55 for unlimited “home and mobile” use. We have absolutely no idea what that means, so we feel rather bad for consumers who have to figure this stuff out on their own.

The bigger question here is do dedicated devices like these even need to be purchased now that most every Android phone on the market, not to mention every iPhone, already offer the same “hotspot” capability? You may argue that having a device like this is beneficial because if it dies, well … at least you still have your phone. That’s true, but it’s yet another piece of gear to lug around and make sure you’ve got charged up. Operators tend to charge more for tethering plans, which is a bummer, but you can easily get around that by opting to buy an unlocked device for full price and then shoving your SIM card inside. Something like the Google Nexus S is perfect for this.

What’s your experience with dedicated portable hotspots. Are they worth the money?

Update: Nope, no 3G roaming.

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: 4G, 4G Network, Clear Spot 4G Apollo, Clearwire, MiFi, Mobile Broadband, Wireless Hotspot

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Ofcom told to use 4G auctions to complete UK coverage

Bring voice if not data to the unconnected, says CCP

Ofcom should look beyond revenue generation for the government and seek firm commitments to the extension of mobile coverage into today’s “not-spots” when it holds the 4G spectrum auctions next year.

So says the Communications Consumer Panel, an advisory board founded by the comms watchdog but independent of it.

The CCP argues that 3m Britons still don’t have any mobile coverage for voice, let alone 2.5G or 3G connections for data. Ofcom should therefore favour 4G bidders who agree to connect these folk, it said today.

Bob Warner, the CCP’s chair, said: “We have a unique opportunity to resolve the persistent problem of inadequate mobile coverage. Most places that were mobile coverage not-spots ten years ago are still not-spots today.

“The spectrum auction presents perhaps the only chance we have in the next decade to improve coverage in the nations and for rural communities.”

He said the watchdog should set coverge obligations on bidders to ensure all parts of the UK gain a minimum level of data connectivity. Other zones of iffy coverage, such as London’s underground, should be connected too.

All good advice, but Ofcom is – alas – under no obligation to take it.

Since the watchdog’s auction terms are likely to be the subject of a legal challenge from at least one carrier or another – the way the UK’s mobile services have rolled out over time has left many axes to be sharpened along the way – provisions for giving all of the UK population coverage seem unlikely to play a part in the auction’s outcome.

Article: RSS via Reg Hardware

Tags: 4G, 4G Spectrum Auction, Ofcom, UK

Posted in 4G, Mobile Networks | No Comments »

Line2 gives your iPad a phone number

The amount of accessories on the market and apps for the iPad is massive. Many of the accessories tend to be the same sort of thing with new cases, screen protectors, and mounting devices to keep your iPad in place just about anywhere. A new accessory for the iPad has landed and the accessory isn’t a case or one of the other things I mentioned, it’s a phone number for your iPad. Line2 has a new service launching about 13 days from now that turns the iPad into a phone.

The company is mum on a lot of the details of the service ahead of the official launch. It does have comparison chart up that shows what it has feature wise compared to services like Skype, Google Voice, and major wireless carriers Verizon and AT&T. The calls you make with the service will operate on 3G, 4G, and WiFi networks. All calls that come into the number for your iPad can be forwarded to you.

You can move your existing number to the Line2 service so you can get your current number on the iPad. Line 2 is based in the US and has live US phone support. The company has three plans with Line2 Standard, Line2 Professional, and toktumi custom. The standard service has voice mail, conference call capability, works on all mobile networks, and has unlimited calls and texting among other features for $9.95 monthly or $99.50 a year. The professional version has the same features as the standard version plus toll free support, virtual receptionist, auto attendant, contact management, and a computer softphone. The Pro version is $14.95 monthly or $149.50 yearly. The custom version is designed around the user’s needs and the price varies.

Article: RSS via Slashgear

Tags: 3G, 4G, Apple, Apps, iOS, iPad, Line2, WiFi

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Dell Peju tablet to run Windows 7; Coming in October?

Aside from its Android tablets, Dell is preparing to return to the “Windows tablet scene.” What we have here is the upcoming Dell Peju, which we’re hearing will be launched at some point in October. We’re talking about a high-end device with Intel’s Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64 or 128 GB of SSD storage, 10.1-inch 1920×1080 pixels Gorilla Glass-protected touchscreen, 5,500 mAh battery (good for 6-8 hours) and 3G/4G and Wi-Fi connectivity. In addition, there are two cameras (5-megapixel on the back and 1.3-megapixel front-facing one), USB slots, mini VGA and HDMI out. All this is packed in a box measuring 10.8×6.7×0.63 inches and weighing 1.9 lbs. Windows 7 Pro will run the show, though allowing upgrade to Windows 8, once it’s out.

Finally for those who want even more connectivity options as well as the ability to use the Peju at home, Dell will offer a specially designed docking station with additional ports. You can check few leaked documents from a video below. Enjoy!

Article: RSS via IntoMobile

Tags: 3G, 4G, Dell, Dell Peju, Gorilla Glass, HDMI, Intel Core i5, SSD, Tablet PC's, WiFi, Windows 7

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GSM turns 20 today, still rocking the world

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkZn7jFd9Rc

Happy birthday, dear Global System for Mobile Communications! 20 years ago today, on July 1 1991, the world’s first GSM call was made by Finnish Prime Minister Harri Holkeri. The historic call used Nokia gear on GSM’s original 900MHz band. Today GSM is all grown up and ruling the world — connecting 1.5 billion people in 212 countries and serving 80% of the planet’s mobile market. GSM gave us a number of firsts. It was the first fully digital cellular system using TDMA to cram more information into less spectrum and provide better sounding, more reliable calls using less power. It introduced the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), the idea of switching handsets at will (something carriers have sought to subvert by locking phones), and the reality of international roaming.

Short Messaging Service (SMS) was first launched on GSM networks, along with packet data (GPRS and later EDGE), which made internet access practical on mobile devices. Eventually, GSM expanded to the 400, 800, 1800 and 1900MHz bands and evolved into WDCMA-based UMTS (3G) and later HSPA and HSPA+, followed byLTE (4G) networks. So next time you’re at the coffee shop sipping on that latte while uploading that video to YouTube at 10Mbps using your LTE phone, remember to be thankful for that first GSM call 20 years ago — that’s when the mobile revolution really started.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: 2G, 3G, 4G, 900MHz, Cell Phones, EDGE, GPRS, GSM, HSPA+, LTE, Mobile Networks, Mobile Phones, SIM, Smartphones, SMS, UMTS, WDCMA

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LTE Advanced demo shows 10x regular LTE 4G speeds

Just as we’d started to revel in the speeds of LTE 4G, Ericsson had to go and spoil it all by showing us what’s next in the roadmap. The company has demonstrated LTE Advanced in Sweden this week, delivering speeds 10x that of regular LTE  - over 900 MB/s in fact – by aggregating carrier spectrum into bigger blocks. According to Ericsson, that offers not only higher potential top-speeds, but better performance even when the network is congested.

Not that there’d be much congestion in Ericsson’s testing, given that right now there’s no operational LTE Advanced service around. The trial used a 3 x 20MHz (60MHz aggregated) spectrum chunk and an off the shelf Ericsson multi-mode, multi-standard radio base station, the RBS 6000, and streamed data between the RBS and a moving van from which engineers kept track of network performance.

Current LTE systems are limited to 20MHz at most, but thanks to carrier aggregation and extended multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) – fresh additions to LTE Advanced – the new system can pair together sections of the spectrum to create a fatter pipe. In the downlink, Ericsson says, 8×8 MIMO was used, and the new system is compliant with the 3GPP Release 10 global standard.

When will we get this super-fast LTE Advanced? Ericsson says the first commercial operation is expected in 2013, though that will obviously depend on where you live and how ambitious your carrier is.

Article: RSS via SlashGear

Tags: 4G, 4G Networks, Ericsson, LTE, LTE-Advanced, Mobile Broadband, Sweden

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T-Mobile flips on 42Mbps HSPA+ across 55 markets, launching Rocket 3.0 modem stick tomorrow

Fellow road warriors, we bring you good news: starting today, T-Mobile customers across 55 markets — including Chicago, Detroit, Honolulu, Pittsburgh, Miami, and many more — will have immediate access to a faster HSPA+ “4G” network. This means anyone with compatible devices can achieve theoreticaldownload speeds of up to a whopping 42Mbps, as opposed to just 21Mbps from the good ol’ days. But of course, only time will tell whether this upgrade will deliver its promise — you may recall that even AT&T’s LTE demo last week delivered “realistic” download speeds of up to just 28.9Mbps, when in theory it should be capable of hitting up to 100Mbps.

Anyhow, if you want to soldier on and be a guinea pig an early adopter, then help yourself to ZTE’s Rocket 3.0 USB modem stick starting tomorrow — the entry price is $99.99 after a $50 mail in rebate, but tied to a two-year broadband plan of 2GB or higher; or you can opt for the contract-free price of $199.99.

Article: RSS via Engadget

Tags: 3G, 4G, HSPA+, LTE, T-Mobile, T-Mobile USA

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Telstra turns on 4G

On track for first to market

The race to deploy 4G services (whether or not 4G truly exists or not) continues with Telstra claiming first place.

The carrier has flicked the switch on its initial LTE enabled base stations in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. The Ericsson supplied 4G network is set to become the first LTE service to launch in the Australian market.

The LTE distinction is important, since ISP Vividwireless also claims to have the country’s first live 4G network. Telstra is using FD-LTE (frequency division multiplexing) while Vivid uses TD-LTE (time division multiplexing).

Telstra and Ericsson have been conducting field trials since announcing the deployment in mid-February.

Telstra Networks and Access Technologies executive director Mike Wright said the first batches of 4G data has been sent over the network for the first time outside of field trials.

Telstra will upgrade its existing Next G network with LTE technology in the CBDs of all capital cities and selected regional centres by the end of 2011.

“With more than a million mobile and wireless broadband customers joining Telstra in the past 12 months, and data usage on the Next G network doubling every year, the increased network capacity LTE will provide is vital,” Wright said.

The upgrade uses Ericsson’s RBS 6000 base station, with the mobile backhaul network to be upgraded to the Enhanced Packet Core standard to support the 42 Mbps maximum speeds offered by the technology.

“By the end of 2011, Telstra said it would be selling dual mode LTE/HSPA+ mobile broadband devices that will operate across the 1800MHz and 850MHz spectrum bands. Sierra Wireless is developing the dual mode mobile broadband devices.

“Our customers benefit through having access to more than 2.1m square kilometres of coverage across Australia, and the fastest upload and download speeds with our HSPA+ network. We are maintaining this benefit by moving to deploy the first mobile 4G network in Australia,” Wright said.

Last month rival Optus announced http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/04/20/nsn_opus_upgrade/ that it would also be deploying LTE services after securing a ‘multi-million dollar’ deal with Nokia Siemens Networks as its sole packet core vendor. The carrier has been trialing LTE services since 2010 but has yet to commit to a roll out date.

Article: RSS via The Register

Tags: 4G, 4G Networks, Australia, LTE, Mobile Broadband, Telstra

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HTC Puccini: 10-Inch LTE Tablet for AT&T (Image)

This is apparently the HTC Puccini, the rumored 10-inch tablet HTC is preparing to follow its seven-inch Flyer/View 4G. Most notably, it looks like a Puccini variant will be one of the first devices compatible with AT&T’s “true 4G” LTE network, deploying this year. Specific details about this model remain elusive, although it’s likely to run Android 3.x Honeycomb and support HTC’s Scribe capacitive pen input technology. Since Giacomo Puccini was a 19th and 20th century opera composer (La Boheme, Madame Butterfly), there may be a musical focus here as well.

A March leak had this tablet shipping sometime in June, price unknown.

Article: RSS via Pocketnow

Tags: 4G, Android, Honeycomb, HTC, HTC Puccini, LTE, Tablet PC's

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Huawei celebrates UK win with Everything Everywhere

Today: a 2G refurb. Tomorrow: the world

Chinese kit supplier Huawei has scored a win with EE, signing a deal to upgrade the operator’s 2G infrastructure and hoping to be in prime position when it comes to 4G too.

Over the next four years, Huawei will replace the entire 2G network that Everything Everywhere inherited from the merger of T-Mobile and Orange. The shiny new network will, apparently, offer greater sensitivity, and thus improved coverage, allowing EE to remove even more duplicate sites than previously imagined. It also comes with Huawei-shaped slots ready for an upgrade to 4G, although Everything Everywhere has yet to commit to a supplier for its 4G network.

Neither company is saying how much the deal is worth, but replacing somewhere south of 10,000 base stations, and associated infrastructure, will certainly runs into hundreds of millions of pounds. Huawei’s solution is very IP-based, converting traffic to Internet Protocol before back haul, which makes it cheaper to handle. Huawei also tells us that EE will save on the ‘leccy bill thanks to more efficient processing.

Much of that processing will be concerned with voice traffic, as Huawei is replacing only the 2G network (which includes GPRS and EDGE, but nothing faster). EE’s 3G network is owned and operated by the joint venture that was set up by T-Mobile and Three before T-Mobile UK merged with Orange. The 3G network is still pretty new, and the joint venture was always expected to extend into 4G technologies. That could be accomplished by filling the slots Huawei will be leaving in its supplied cabinets, though the joint ownership complicates matters.

But despite being limited to 2G technology, Huawei is promising that better antennas and filters will mean greater coverage from fewer base stations. Not only that, but we’re told it will improve indoor coverage and provide sound quality equivalent to the HD Voice standard that is possible on 3G networks. We’ll have to hear that for ourselves before we are convinced, but base stations technology has moved on considerably since T-Mobile and Orange deployed their existing infrastructure.

That infrastructure will be ripped out from EE’s 2G sites. It was originally supplied to T-Mobile by Nokia Siemens Networks, and to Orange by Ericsson and Nortel. But the significance of this deal is not just that EE is refurbishing a 2G network, it is that Huawei is getting its technology into a UK network, as well as getting itself a seat at the polyopoly table.

Article: RSS via The Register

Tags: 2G, 3G, 4G, Everything Everywhere, Huawei, Orange, T-Mobile

Posted in 3G, 4G, Mobile Networks, Orange, T-Mobile | No Comments »