3G speed test: Verizon wins, AT&T dead last

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Cell Phones, Corporate News, Internet, Science, Wireless / WiFi

No shocker here. Wired.com did their own independent tests to determine the fastest and slowest average 3G network speeds in the US, and Verizon came out on top. The survey included 15,000 participants, with 12,000 of them reporting back with data that was valid and usable for the tests. Verizon clocked in with an average download speed of 1,940 kbps, T-Mobile dropped in at second at 1,793 kbps, Sprint took third at 1,598 kbps, and AT&T was way behind at just 901 kbps. That’s just sad, and very telling when you consider the complaints from many an iPhone user as it pertains to 3G speeds.

Granted, this wasn’t the most scientific of studies, as the test included 8153 AT&T users, compared to just 856 from Verizon, but hey, the info is still useful, right?

Read More | Wired

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (4)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Newegg Deal: Linksys WRT54GL broadband router

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Hot Deals, Wireless / WiFi

Newegg‘s got a deal on the Linksys WRT54GL 802.11b/g router for $49.95, selling it for $30 less than retail from now through June 15. This is a router that is a dream for DIYers, as it works great with a lot of different custom firmware packages, making it easy to set up your own VPN, Samba, and FTP servers. It can also boost existing wireless signals, act as a Radius server, and more. Take a look at the Linksys WRT54GL on Newegg, and use promo code ROUTER685 to get the savings.

As always, you can find all sorts of Newegg promo codes and deals on our forums.

Read More | Newegg: Linksys WRT54GL

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Forum Discussion
• Email this story

Acer Netbook Price Drop

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Hot Deals, PC / Laptop

Acer has announced that they are offering their blue or pink 8.9-inch Netbook with built-in AT&T Mobility Broadband for only $79.00 with a new 2-year commitment with plans at $60.00 a month or more. The netbook, which can be found at RadioShack, has a CrystalBrite LED backlit LCD screen with 1024x600 resolution, 1GB memory, 160GB hard drive, Intel Atom processor, WiFi, WiMAX and 3G wireless access, 3 USB ports and Windows XP.

Read More | RadioShack

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Time Warner Cable Backs Off From Metered Service

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Broadband, Corporate News, Internet

After users loudly complained both online and off, Time Warner Cable has announced it will stop their proposed metered broadband services. Interestingly enough, even Twitter, the site of few words, was used to argue the case. There were so many complaints that Congressman Eric Massa tried to push for legislature to ban “unfair pricing structures.” We suspect that this will not be the end of it, but its about time the little people won one.

Read More | Consumer Affairs

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Mobile Connections Hit 4 Billion Mark

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Broadband, Cell Phones, Internet

The first cellular network was launched in Japan in 1979 by NTT. Twenty three years later the planet passed its 4th billion mobile connection. Mobile broadband accounts for about a quarter of that figure. Other connections in such countries as China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan added to unconnected devices gives us an estimate that by 2013, this figure will hit 6 billion. Considering there only 6.7 billion humans on the planet now, this definitely proves it’s a mobile world out there.

Read More | Gizmag

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Novatel MiFi gives you a personal 3G Wi-Fi hotspot

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Cell Phones, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi

Novatel has just announced the future release of their new MiFi 3G portable hotspot, and we are officially excited. Using the MiFi, you’ll be able to grab the signal from your EV-DO Rev. A or HSPA account, and share it over Wi-Fi to a group. For example, you can hit up Starbucks with two buddies, break out the MiFi, and all three of you can hit the Internet without paying for Starbucks Wi-Fi three times. The MiFi device itself looks just as awesome as its usage scenarios, as it just as long and wide as a credit card, and isn’t really that tall. Novatel is also touting that the battery will last for 4 hours when used actively, and 40 hours when on standby. Nice.

Mark our words - we are going to be keeping an eye on the news leading up to the Novatel MiFi official release. Expect to see if available for purchase in for first half of 2009.

Read More | Novatel Wireless

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

AT&T says iPhone 3G tethering coming “soon”

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Broadband, Cell Phones, Handhelds, PC / Laptop, Wireless / WiFi

Now that’s what we’re talking about! AT&T Movility President Ralph De La Vega just dropped the official word that the iPhone will be gaining the ability to be wirelessly tethered to notebooks, giving you 3G internet access on your laptop wherever your iPhone has a 3G signal. Just about every other smartphone that is the caliber of the iPhone has this ability, so it’s been a long time coming. No definite date given or anything, but at least now we know that iPhone tethering is on the horizon.

Read More | Technologizer

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (0)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

AT&T testing bandwidth caps, Verizon says no plans to cap FiOS or DSL

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Corporate News, Internet

If you’re in Reno and you use AT&T as your broadband Internet provider, you’re now unfortunately the latest victim of this whole capped bandwidth nonsense that seems to be taking hold across the US. It started when Comcast implemented a 250GB per month cap on October 1. Now word has hit that metered billing of between 20-150GB per month is going to be tested in Reno on AT&T’s DSL network. If you are a new customer who’ll be apart of the trial, depending on the speed tier you choose, you’ll get a cap somewhere between 20 and 150 gigabytes per month. If you’re an existing customer, you’ll be chosen to be a part of the trial if your monthly bandwidth happens to exceed 150GB in a month.

The trend is something we are vehemently against, so I figured I’d ask one of the Verizon PR reps that I know on Twitter, Kevin Laverty, if we should expect a similar announcement from Verizon, after another Verizon rep said no. His answer:

That’s an affirmative - Verizon has no plans to cap bandwidth on either its FiOS or High Speed Internet/DSL services.

It doesn’t get much clearer than that. It’ll be a nice bullet-point for Verizon if they can say that FiOS is not only faster, but also is completely uncapped as far as usage goes.

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Terrestrial TV Viewers to Go Online After Digital Switch

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Broadband, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Misc. Tech

In a survey done recently by ABI Research, the results showed that when the dreaded digital change occurs in February, 70% will attach a digital converter. As for the rest of the participants, 10% say they will switch to cable or satellite service, and 20% will just let their TVs “go dark.” Analyst Steve Wilson says the the data suggests that there will be some overall terrestrial viewers who will use other venues for entertainment such as broadband video, DVD rentals, or other online alternatives.

Read More | ABI Research

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (1)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Email this story

Verizon FiOS vs. Comcast: Feature-by-feature

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Features, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Internet

Ten days ago, Verizon FiOS TV officially launched here in Washington state. I was actually invited to speak at the launch event that took place that day, alongside Verizon representatives, and local government officials. I was specifically chosen as a case study of just how good FiOS is, since I literally moved specifically because Comcast was way too slow for the things we expected out of our Internet connection here at Gear Live HQ. It was an event meant to talk up the advantages of FiOS over cable (specifically, Comcast, in this area). Obviously, with FiOS looming over their territory, Comcast went into damage control mode to combat Verizon’s claims that they were the best option for Internet and television services. We were sent both the FiOS press release and the Comcast press release, and we figured we would respond to the claims of each, point-by-point.

For some background, we’ve been Comcast customers for over six years, for both Internet and television services. When we moved for FiOS 15 months ago, Comcast was still our cable television provider. As of today, I am a FiOS customer for both Internet and television, and as of 10 days ago, am no longer a Comcast customer. Now, on with the comparisons.

Click to continue reading Verizon FiOS vs. Comcast: Feature-by-feature

• Tools:
• Permalink
• Comments (45)
• Digg This
• Share on Facebook
• Forum Discussion
• Email this story