4G

mobile
March 30, 2012
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Sprint won’t launch any new WiMAX devices, exec confirms

By on March 30, 2012 at 12:30 AM.

Sprint won’t launch any new WiMAX devices, exec confirms

While speaking at the Competitive Carriers Global Expo, Sprint’s senior vice president of networks Bob Azzi said that while the company has experienced success with its WiMAX handsets, it will not launch any additional WiMAX devices. The announcement comes after Sprint previously confirmed that it would continue to offer 4G WiMAX devices through 2012 and support the service through 2015. Instead, the company plans to focus on its Network Vision project and upcoming 4G LTE netowrk, Fierce Wireless reported on Thursday. “We are wrapping up final field integration tests,” Azzi said. “The technology works and delivers more benefits than we expected.” The executive noted that the company’s Network Vision project will result in a 50% reduction in cost-per-gigabyte to deliver data and cost-per-minute to deliver voice. “This is a huge benefit to us,” he said, adding that there are between 5,000 to 6,000 people devoted to the project, which is slated to be completed by the end of 2013. More →

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Legal
March 28, 2012
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U.K. and Swedish regulators follow Australia’s lead, examine ’4G’ iPad claims

By on March 28, 2012 at 12:50 PM.

U.K. and Swedish regulators follow Australia’s lead, examine ’4G’ iPad claims

Earlier this weak, Australian regulators claimed that Apple was misleading consumers with false promotions and advertisements for its new “4G” iPad tablet. While the new iPad supports some 4G LTE networks, users in most regions are stuck with HSPA and HSPA+ 3G networks. After the allegation, Apple began to offer refunds to Australian iPad owners who felt duped by the company’s 4G claims. Now, regulators in the U.K. have confirmed that they are looking into various complaints regarding the new iPad, Pocket-lint reports. The Wall Street Journal is also reporting that Sweden’s Consumer Agency is considering an investigation into whether Apple’s “4G” marketing is misleading as well. Apple has not addressed the matter publicly. More →

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Legal
March 27, 2012
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Australian regulators claim Apple’s iPad is misleading consumers

By on March 27, 2012 at 9:05 AM.

Australian regulators claim Apple’s iPad is misleading consumers

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Tuesday claimed that Apple is using misleading promotions for its new iPad tablet, Reuters reported. The ACCC will ask an Australian high court on Wednesday to order the Cupertino-based company to make customers aware of the true technical capabilities of the device, correct its current advertising and refund any affected buyers. Apple’s newest iPad can utilize 4G LTE networks, however it can only do so in North America. The company has still advertised the device as a “4G” tablet in countries where it is not compatible. Australian carrier Telstra offers the country’s only 4G LTE network, but it uses different spectrum than carriers in the United States and Canada. More →

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mobile
March 23, 2012
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4G LTE phone shipments to grow tenfold this year

By on March 23, 2012 at 7:05 PM.

4G LTE phone shipments to grow tenfold this year

Global 4G LTE smartphone shipments reached 6.8 million units in the technology’s first year. According to a study from market research firm Strategy Analytics, global LTE smartphone shipments could surge tenfold to 67 million units in 2012. It is expected to be a breakout year for LTE technology, with Apple, Samsung, HTC and others planning to launch 4G LTE phones in the United States, Japan and South Korea. “The mobile industry is entering a breakout year for 4G LTE technology. Multiple operators and multiple phone vendors will be launching dozens of LTE models across numerous countries worldwide,” said Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics. “LTE has quickly become a high-growth, high-value market that no operator, service developer, device vendor or component maker can afford to ignore.” Read on for Strategy Analytics’s press release. More →

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Tablets
March 23, 2012
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Only 6% of iPad app sessions use 3G or 4G data [infographic]

By on March 23, 2012 at 3:35 PM.

Only 6% of iPad app sessions use 3G or 4G data [infographic]

Apple’s new iPad has already seen massive success, selling over 3 million units in less than four days of availability. The tablet features an updated A5X chip, a beautiful Retina display and 4G LTE connectivity. Due to the blazing fast 4G speeds on Apple’s iPad Wi-Fi + 4G models, it is estimated that half of all new iPads sold will be LTE enabled. Analytics firm Localytics has countered previous reports, however, stating that only 6% of all iPad sessions using apps with its tracking software installed connect to the Internet through a cellular network. The firm found that 89.7% of all iPads are Wi-Fi only, while 8.8% were 3G-enabled and 1.5% included 4G. Users with iPads equipped with 3G use cellular data 45% of the time, while users with 4G devices only utilize LTE 36% of the time. Localytics compiled its connectivity report using data collected between March 16th and March 21st, and the company’s infographic can be found after the break. More →

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Tablets
March 22, 2012
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Half of all new iPads sold will be 4G LTE enabled, UBS says

By on March 22, 2012 at 5:10 PM.

Half of all new iPads sold will be 4G LTE enabled, UBS says

In a recent report, an analyst for global financial firm UBS predicted that sales of Apple’s new iPad tablet will be split 50/50 between Wi-Fi-only and Wi-Fi + 4G models. “With an HD screen, faster processor and higher-resolution camera, we believe this device will drive demand for faster connectivity,” UBS senior analyst John Hodulik said in research note. Due to Verizon’s superior LTE coverage, Hodulik believes the carrier has a definite edge over AT&T when it comes to selling the device. GigaOm reported on Thursday that previous generations of the iPad were split 60/40 between Wi-Fi-only and 3G models, although it is unclear if users’ tablets were actively subscribed to a carrier’s network. More →

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Business
March 19, 2012
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AT&T confirms record iPad sales

By on March 19, 2012 at 11:35 AM.

AT&T confirms record iPad sales

AT&T on Monday confirmed that it sold and activated more iPad tablets this past Friday than it has on any other single day. “On Friday, March 16, AT&T set a new single-day record for its iPad sales and activations, demonstrating robust demand for the new iPad on the nation’s largest 4G network, covering nearly 250 million people,” AT&T said in a statement. The carrier did not share any sales figures, however, and neither did Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier on Monday when he said that Apple’s new iPad saw record sales during its debut weekend. BGR noted on Friday evening that while iPads were much easier to find this year compared to Apple’s previous two iPad launches, AT&T’s iPad Wi-Fi + 4G was sold out more than any other model at more Apple Stores we spoke with.

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Services
March 19, 2012
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NetZero reinvents itself as America’s first free 4G service provider

By on March 19, 2012 at 7:30 AM.

NetZero reinvents itself as America’s first free 4G service provider

NetZero burst onto the scene in 1998 as the first in a crop of Internet service providers that gave subscribers free access to the Web using an advertising-supported model. NetZero’s patented ad technology displayed highly targeted ads to users as they browsed the Internet at dial-up speeds, but it was forced into a freemium model when a number of other ISPs began offering free Web access as well. NetZero continues to offer basic paid dial-up and broadband services, but now the company is going back to its roots in an effort to disrupt the wireless industry as it did to the dial-up industry nearly 14 years ago. More →

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Tablets
March 15, 2012
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FaceTime not supported over LTE on the new iPad

By on March 15, 2012 at 8:35 AM.

FaceTime not supported over LTE on the new iPad

A recent report from The Verge has confirmed that Apple’s new iPad does not support FaceTime video calling over LTE networks. When trying to initiate a FaceTime call over 4G, the user is prompted to first connect to a Wi-Fi network. The news comes as little surprise since FaceTime on Apple’s iPhone is also limited to Wi-Fi. Verizon and AT&T’s 4G LTE networks are faster than some Wi-Fi connections however, and it is disappointing to say the least that the service isn’t supported. Oddly enough, the iPad does support a mobile hotspot feature, at least on Verizon, and users can successfully make a FaceTime call from an iPhone while tethered to the iPad. At this time it is unclear whether FaceTime’s Wi-Fi limitation is Apple’s decision or a move requested by wireless carriers. Verizon and AT&T did not immediately respond to a request for comment. More →

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Tablets
March 14, 2012
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BlackBerry PlayBooks with HSPA+ and LTE radios pass through the FCC

By on March 14, 2012 at 5:20 PM.

BlackBerry PlayBooks with HSPA+ and LTE radios pass through the FCC

Research in Motion’s BlackBerry PlayBook may be down, but it’s definitely not out. Over a year ago, the company revealed plans to release an LTE-compatible PlayBook as well as a 3G model that will work on HSPA+ networks. Details surrounding these variants have been few and far between, with some assuming they were simply canceled. As it turns out, two tablets from Research in Motion recently passed through the FCC equipped with HSPA+ connectivity and AT&T compatible LTE radios. BGR in January exclusively reported details about RIM’s plans to introduce a new PlayBook tablet around May or June that will be equipped with a 1.5GHz processor, built-in HSPA+ and NFC support. More →

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mobile
March 14, 2012
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Verizon exec slips, suggests 4G LTE-equipped iPhone to launch this year

By on March 14, 2012 at 10:01 AM.

Verizon exec slips, suggests 4G LTE-equipped iPhone to launch this year

Following a brief unconfirmed nationwide outage suffered by Verizon Wireless’s 4G LTE network on Tuesday morning, the carrier seemingly sought to draw attention to LTE expansion rather than the growing pains that have repeatedly plagued its next-generation wireless network. While speaking with Dow Jones Newswires on Tuesday, Verizon Wireless chief technical officer David Small said the carrier plans to double its LTE coverage by the end of 2012. ”By the end of the year, our plan is to be in at least 400 markets across the country,” Small said, suggesting that approximately 260 million Americans would then be covered by Verizon 4G. Read on for more. More →

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mobile
March 13, 2012
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NPD: One third of all smartphones sold in Q4 had 4G connectivity

By on March 13, 2012 at 8:30 PM.

NPD: One third of all smartphones sold in Q4 had 4G connectivity

Smartphones with 4G connectivity grew from 6% in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 35% in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to a report from The NPD Group. HSPA+ “4G” accounted for 22% sales, however, leaving LTE and WiMAX technologies with a much less impressive share of the smartphone market. Older HSPA+ technology was the only 4G offered by AT&T up until recently, and it is still the only 4G technology offered by T-Mobile. The firm also counts AT&T’s iPhone 4S among the 4G phones sold last quarter, giving the category a significant boost. LTE-enabled handsets, on the other hand, accounted for just 7% of the smartphone market, while WiMAX made up only 6%, dropping from its third-quarter high of 10%. Verizon’s HTC Thunderbolt was the most popular LTE handset in the fourth quarter last year, while Sprint’s HTC EVO was the most popular WiMAX device. Read on for NPD’s press release. More →

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mobile
March 12, 2012
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AT&T 4G LTE to hit 12 new markets beginning next month

By on March 12, 2012 at 9:10 PM.

AT&T 4G LTE to hit 12 new markets beginning next month

AT&T’s 4G LTE service will soon expand to 12 new markets, with the next phase of the roll-out concluding early this coming summer according to the carrier. Specific launch dates for AT&T’s LTE service were not provided for any of the new markets announced Monday morning, however the company stated that 4G service will begin to go live in the new regions starting next month. New markets that will see 4G service launch between April and early summer include Staten Island, New York; New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Cleveland, Canton and Akron Ohio; Naples, Florida; Bloomington, Lafayette and Muncie, Indiana; and Bryan-College Station, Texas. AT&T’s press release covering Cleveland and the surrounding Ohio markets follows below. More →

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