Latest Gear Live Videos
AT&T 4G LTE compared to Verizon 4G LTE
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Smartphones, Wireless / WiFi,
AT&T officially dipped its toe into the waters of higher-speed mobile communications today with the debut of the company's 4G LTE network – yes, that's 4G LTE, not just "4G" – in five launch cities: Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, Atlanta, and Chicago.
And it's safe to say that mobile users aren't going to be overtaxing the service anytime soon, as there currently aren't any AT&T handsets that would actually be able to make use of the new network. Users would have to pick up either AT&T's USBConnect Momentum 4G modem, Elevate 4G mobile hotspot, or USBConnect Adrenaline in order to get Wi-Fi friendly devices or laptop and desktop PCs connected up to 4G LTE. Those, or the recently announced HTC Jetstream 10.1-inch tablet, which promises to support both AT&T's 4G LTE and "4G" network, or HSPA+.
That's a big difference that's worth highlighting, as it's sure to ensnare neophyte consumers who can't understand why their "4G" devices don't work on AT&T's new network. We're talking different technologies: 4G LTE isn't 4G, or HSPA+. The latter's more closely related, technology-wise, to a 3G network. And it's worth noting that 3G devices aren't themselves compatible with an HSPA+ network. Got it?
Click to continue reading AT&T 4G LTE compared to Verizon 4G LTE
Advertisement
AT&T launching its 4G LTE network on September 18
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Broadband, Corporate News, Wireless / WiFi,
AT&T will light up its 4G LTE network on Sunday, Sept. 18, an exec said Thursday.
John Stephens, the CFO of AT&T, revealed the launch date at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Entertainment and Communications conference in Bellevue, Washington, according to Fierce Wireless. No locations were announced, but in May, AT&T said it would first hit Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
In August, another AT&T exec said the company was on track to debut 15 LTE markets and up to 75 million POPs (points of presence) by the end of the year. Next year's rollout pace will depend on regulatory approval of its proposed T-Mobile merger, which is currently in limbo.
AT&T reportedly demoed its LTE network in Plano, Texas, the location of AT&T's Foundry, which delivered speeds of 28.87 Mbits/s down and 10.4 Mbits/s up.
Click to continue reading AT&T launching its 4G LTE network on September 18
Sprint to offer iPhone 5 with unlimited data
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
This morning Bloomberg is reporting that Sprint is all set to sell the iPhone 5 when it debuts in the next few weeks, and that they'll differentiate their offering with an unlimited data plan. Both AT&T and Verizon offerred unlimited data plans on the iPhone, but have since moved to tiered plans. New customers on both networks get a 2 GB limit on data each month, and pay overage fees for using more than that. This would give Sprint, the #3 wireless carrier in the US, an interesting advantage over its larger competitors. Offering the iPhone 5 with their popular unlimited voice and data plan, which costs less than the tiered plans offered elsewhere, could see the company gain quite a few customers who'd rather not worry about their data usage costing them extra money.
Samsung Galaxy S II hands-on with Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile models
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Features, Google, Handhelds,
The galaxy has landed. Samsung, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile today announced three Galaxy S II smartphones for the three carriers. We got some time with the AT&T and Sprint models (T-Mobile was playing coy) and even ran some benchmarks.
The Galaxy S II has been Samsung's fastest-selling smartphone so far, with more than five million sold in 85 days, according to Samsung's press release. This model is coming out on fewer carriers than last year's Galaxy S did, with Verizon Wireless the most notable missing piece (Verizon is going with the Nexus Prime.)
But remember, Samsung is the master customizer of phones for carriers; just because a "Galaxy S II" isn't coming out for Verizon (or for Boost, for that matter) doesn't mean another phone won't appear soon with very similar features and a slightly different name on those carriers. The company is just introducing the first three models today.
Just like with the Galaxy S, the three Galaxy S II models are all a little different. The AT&T model looks a lot like the international Galaxy S II to which we gave an Editor's Choice award back in May, although Samsung traded the single home button at the bottom of the phone for the four standard Android action buttons.
Click to continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II hands-on with Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile models
iPhone 5 coming to Sprint in October according to WSJ
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sprint will be selling the iPhone 5 (alongside AT&T and Verizon) when it launches in "mid-October." In addition, they'll also sell the updated iPhone 4 model that Apple will be selling at a lower price (likely an 8 GB model.) This is great for Sprint and great for Apple, because if the report holds true, it'll give Sprint a much-needed shot in the arm to sell both the new iPhone model as well as the lower-cost iPhone 4. As for Apple, it gives them play on yet another American carrier, which means more marketshare. We'll be keeping our ears on this one, and will let you know what more we hear on this.
Read More 
| WSJ
Samsung Galaxy S II set to take on iPhone 5
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Google, Handhelds,
Holding out for the iPhone 5? There's some strong temptation coming out of South Korea at the end of the month: the Samsung Galaxy S II.
An announcement for the super-slim, super-powerful, and super-popular Android smartphone is expected on August 29. Samsung sent out invitations for a "major product announcement" in New York that day and on Friday, Samsung Mobile U.S. tweeted: "Samsung Update: Hey Guys! Big announcement on the 29th ; )"
The Samsung Galaxy S II is Samsung's fastest-selling smartphone to date, based on its April debut in South Korea and parts of Europe, selling one every three seconds between April and July.
Click to continue reading Samsung Galaxy S II set to take on iPhone 5
HP TouchPad price slashed by $100 permanently, 16 GB now $399
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Hot Deals,
In a bid to apparently alleviate confusion over the price of the HP TouchPad, Hewlett-Packard has made its previous $100 discount permanent.
As evidenced by the company's Web page, HP has priced the 16 GB HP TouchPad at $399.99, and the 32 GB version at $499.99, the same price that HP discounted it by $100, previously.
That also means that the previous HP.com $50 discount on the 16 GB TouchPad isn't active again. But the new, lower prices brings the TouchPad to right in the price range of Acer's Iconia Tab 500 and the Eee Pad from Asus, and beats the price of the iPad 2 by $100.
Click to continue reading HP TouchPad price slashed by $100 permanently, 16 GB now $399
Read More | HP TouchPad 16 GB
Verizon LTE smartphones won’t roam on AT&T LTE, and vice versa
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Smartphones, Wireless / WiFi,
Thinking of unlocking a Verizon Wireless LTE phone for use on AT&T's network, or vice versa? Think again. Verizon Wireless confirmed today that its LTE phones will not "be compatible on other LTE networks in the U.S." because "the phones will be on different frequencies," according to Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney.
The new 4G LTE system used by Verizon, MetroPCS, and soon AT&T runs on SIM cards much like the ones for GSM networks, and GSM phone owners are used to being able to switch phones from network to network, as long as they're unlocked.
But Verizon may be designing its phones to only run on Verizon's very specific wireless frequency, locking out all other possible carriers. Verizon and AT&T both run their LTE networks in the 700-MHz band. But Verizon's network is mostly in 746-787MHz, while AT&T's will be primarily in 704-746MHz. Some Verizon and AT&T spectrum overlaps in an area called the "lower B block," but not much. Verizon could build its phones to exclude AT&T's frequencies, and vice versa.
Click to continue reading Verizon LTE smartphones won’t roam on AT&T LTE, and vice versa
iPhone 5 set for Sprint and T-Mobile, AT&T in testing say reports
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Rumors,
This week's "iPhone 5" rumors focus on the carriers. According to Piper Jaffray analyst Chris Larsen, via CNET, the "most noteworthy" change to Apple's next-generation iPhone is that it'll be offered by Sprint and T-Mobile, on top of existing carriers AT&T and Verizon.
In May, another analyst said an iPhone "4S" was launching on Sprint and T-Mobile in time for the Christmas holidays.
Meanwhile, ChipHazard reports that the next-generation iPhone is being field tested on AT&T's networks, according to a "well-placed sources in AT&T Mobility." The tests include signal reception and connectivity, and once they pass the tests the prototype will be given to manufacturers.
As for phone specs, there's an endless amount of speculation. Some of the more recent rumors include a completely revamped iPhone 5 with wireless juicing, a "baby iPhone" for developing markets.
Click to continue reading iPhone 5 set for Sprint and T-Mobile, AT&T in testing say reports
Verizon now owns 33% of the US iPhone 4 market
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Corporate News,
Since its February debut, the Verizon version of the iPhone 4 has captured about 32 percent of the U.S. market, according to a Thursday report.
Analyzing U.S. iPhone 4 traffic, mobile app analytics firm Localytics found that summer has been kind to Verizon and the iPhone. The carrier's iPhone 4 share remained roughly the same throughout the spring, but saw growth in May and June.
The Verizon iPhone 4 launched on February 10 and in its first week, it captured 20 percent of the market, Localytics said. That increased to 22.4 percent in March, 24.9 percent in April, 25.9 percent in May, 28.7 percent in June, and 32.3 percent in July, the firm said in a blog post. Verizon does not offer earlier versions of the iPhone.
Click to continue reading Verizon now owns 33% of the US iPhone 4 market
