HSDPA

mobile
April 12, 2011
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AT&T to launch LG, Android smartphone in prepaid and postpaid flavors

By on April 12, 2011 at 11:29 AM.

AT&T to launch LG, Android smartphone in prepaid and postpaid flavors

Via a press release today, AT&T announced that it will be offering two, Android-based LG handsets in both the prepaid and postpaid variety. The postpaid Phoenix and prepaid Thrive both sport a 600MHz processor, 3.2-inch touchscreen display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, aGPS, 3.2 megapixel rear-facing camera, microSD card slot, and 7.2Mbps HSDPA radio. Both smartphones, which run Froyo (Android 2.2) will be available on April 17th with the Phoenix retailing for $49.99 with a signed two-year agreement and the Thrive retailing for $179.99 contract-free. Prepaid customs that purchase a Thrive must sign-up for one of three new, prepaid data-plan offerings also announced: $25 for 500MB, $15 for 100MB, or $5 for 10MB. The full press release is after the break. More →

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mobile
March 11, 2011
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AT&T responds to allegations of capped data speeds, confirms ATRIX 4G will get HSUPA

By on March 11, 2011 at 12:51 PM.

AT&T responds to allegations of capped data speeds, confirms ATRIX 4G will get HSUPA

AT&T on Thursday responded to a Better Business Bureau complaint alleging that the carrier is capping data speeds on new “4G” devices like the Motorola ATRIX 4G. The BBB grievance was part of a series of complaints, both public and private, pertaining to slower than expected upload speeds on devices like the ATRIX 4G and HTC’s Inspire 4G. AT&T responded to BGR’s request for comment earlier this week, but the carrier’s statement left some room for interpretation. Now, any vagueness has been eliminated, at least in the case of the ATRIX. “Be assured that AT&T has not ‘capped’ the upload speeds on the ATRIX,” an AT&T appeals manager stated in a letter to a customer. “The ATRIX is a HSUPA-capable device, and we currently are performing the testing and preparations necessary to ensure that, when we turn this feature on, you will continue to have a world class experience.” This confirmation that the ATRIX 4G will have HSUPA enabled in the future should help ease the tension among users who are currently experiencing slow upload speeds, though AT&T has not commented on why HSUPA was disabled to begin with. Hit the break for AT&T’s full response. More →

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mobile
March 9, 2011
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ATRIX 4G and Inspire 4G users given glimmer of hope following complaints of capped data speeds

By on March 9, 2011 at 12:12 PM.

ATRIX 4G and Inspire 4G users given glimmer of hope following complaints of capped data speeds

Some Motorola ATRIX 4G and HTC Inspire 4G owners on the AT&T network have been up in arms since purchasing their new 4G handsets. Despite the presence of “4G” in each moniker, users are experiencing slower than expected upload speeds on the devices. Some users like Zack Nebbaki have been so upset by the slow upload speeds, they’ve gone as far as to create a petition to voice their discontent. While we wish we had something more concrete to report, we just received the following comment from an AT&T spokesperson that may help put some minds at ease: “We have a number of HSUPA devices today and we will have more HSUPA-enabled devices in the future — new devices and updates to existing models.” The statement does not specifically refer to the ATRIX or Inspire so nothing is confirmed, but the mention of “updates to existing models” should at least give users hope that their 4G phones might be updated in the future.

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mobile
February 21, 2011
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AT&T’s HTC Inspire 4G isn’t even fully compatible with fake 4G

By on February 21, 2011 at 2:45 PM.

AT&T’s HTC Inspire 4G isn’t even fully compatible with fake 4G

Despite AT&T’s decision to slap “4G” right in the name, the new HTC Inspire 4G smartphone doesn’t even feature full compatibility with the “4G” HSPA+ AT&T network. Following T-Mobile’s lead, AT&T announced at CES that its 3G HSPA+ network is now a 4G HSPA+ network. With that announcement came the unveiling of several smartphones, one of which — the HTC Inspire 4G — launched last week. But users taking delivery of the device noticed immediately that while download speeds were on par with other HSDPA-enabled AT&T smartphones, upload speeds seemed quite slow. The explanation is simple enough: HTC’s Inspire 4G either doesn’t feature compatibility with AT&T’s HSUPA service, or the carrier has disabled it in the phone’s firmware. Wow. We’ve already expressed our feelings on 4G, but we never imagined carriers would push things further still and smack “4G” stickers on smartphones that don’t even support their fake 4G networks. Let this be a lesson, subscribers… Buyer beware. Not all 4G is created equal and not all fake 4G phones are even compatible with fake 4G networks. But who would want the Inspire 4G anyway, when you could have the Morris 4G? More →

100 Comments
mobile
December 14, 2010
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AT&T MiFi 2372 review

By on December 14, 2010 at 11:11 AM.

AT&T MiFi 2372 review

In the week or so that I have been testing the AT&T MiFi 2372 by Novatel Wireless, it has already saved no less than three lives.

First, it saved my cable guy’s life. You see, Time Warner Cable provides the worst home Internet service I have ever experienced. I can’t even think of a close second. If providing terrible home Internet service was a sport, Time Warner Cable would be on its tenth consecutive undefeated season. Forget the fact that my upload speed is capped at 60Kbps and I’m lucky if I can get half that — it has been months since I’ve gone through a full day without at least one service interruption. Months. Unfortunately, Time Warner Cable has an exclusive contract with my building so I have no choice but to endure its abysmal service. Last week, as a Time Warner Cable technician entered my home for the sixth time in two months, I realized that this certainly would have spelled serious trouble had it not been for my trusty new back up device. More →

58 Comments
General
November 17, 2010
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AT&T: 80% of network now ugraded to HSPA+; data growth slowed in Q3

By on November 17, 2010 at 1:59 PM.

AT&T: 80% of network now ugraded to HSPA+; data growth slowed in Q3

AT&T might not call its HSPA+ network “4G” like T-Mobile does, but trust us when we tell you… AT&T’s enhanced 3G network can move. The screen shot above, taken just outside New York city on Wednesday afternoon, shows an iPhone 4 enjoying download speeds of 5Mbps on AT&T’s HSPA+ network. According to AT&T CTO John Donovan, 80% of AT&T’s network is now covered by HSPA+, though he did not elaborate on average speeds are experienced in various regions. Donovan also discussed the growth rate of data traffic on the carrier’s network, which is up 3,000% over the past three years — from approximately 1 billion MB in Q3 2007 to a staggering 30.3 billion MB in Q3 2010. Growth has slowed in recent months, from 50% growth in Q2 of this year to 30% in Q3, but the carrier isn’t expecting its data growth rate to continue decreasing. AT&T is currently preparing to launch an LTE network next year that will be even faster than its HSPA+ network, which has a theoretical downlink limit of 21Mbps. AT&T has not publicly stated firm speed expectations for its LTE network. More →

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General
October 4, 2010
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Verizon announces Fivespot global, mobile hotspot

By on October 4, 2010 at 10:07 AM.

Verizon announces Fivespot global, mobile hotspot

Today, Verizon Wireless announced the availability of the ZTE Fivespot global hotspot. The internationally-compliant mobile hotspot will support the following frequencies: CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A/Rev. 0: 800/1900 MHz, WCDMA/HSDPA/HSUPA: 850/1900/2100 MHz, and GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz. The device will be available starting on October 7 for $99.99 with a 2-year service contract (after a $100 mail-in rebate).Available domestic and international data plans offered will be as follows:

Domestic

  • $39.99 monthly access for 250 MB monthly allowance and $0.10/MB overage
  • $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance and $0.05/MB overage

Prepaid Mobile Broadband plans are also available:

  • $15 for 100 MB (one day of use)
  • $30 for 300 MB (one week of use)
  • $50 for 1 GB (30 days of use)
  • $80 for 5 GB (30 days of use)

International

  • $129.99 monthly access (5 GB allowance for the United States and Canada, $0.05/MB overage), 100 MB allowance in select countries ($0.005/KB after allowance)
  • $219.99 monthly access (5 GB allowance for the United States and Canada, $0.05/MB overage), 200 MB allowance in select countries ($0.005/KB after allowance)
  • GlobalAccess Pay Per Use for occasional use must be purchased with a $59.99 Mobile Broadband service plan in the United States. The Pay Per Use rate is $0.002/KB in Canada, $0.005/KB in Mexico, and $0.02/KB in more than 200 other destinations.

The device will work in over 200 countries; 120 of them with 3G speeds. More →

30 Comments
General
September 2, 2010
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Huawei launches affordable, Android 2.2 Ideos handset

By on September 2, 2010 at 11:45 PM.

Huawei launches affordable, Android 2.2 Ideos handset

Today in Berlin, Huawei announced the official launch of its affordable, accessible Android 2.2 handset, the Ideos. The Ideos handset comes complete with a 2.8-inch capacitive touchscreen display (320 x 240), 528 MHz processor, 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera (no flash), HSDPA 3G, Wi-Fi, 3G hotspot capabilities, and a micro-SD card slot. The device carries the “with Google” moniker (which means no Android skinning of any kind) and Huawei touted that Google was heavily involved in the designing of the Ideos. The company elaborated that Google’s direct involvement with the Ideos would ensure its owners OS updates with minimal delay, Nexus One style. The device will be available in mid-October for right around $175 off-contract; no word yet on whether or not this little guy will be coming Stateside. The phone is obviously meant to make an Android 2.2, touchscreen handset available to the masses… time will tell if the masses choose to oblige Huawei’s efforts.  More →

23 Comments
General
August 25, 2010
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Chubby Motorola Charm now available on T-Mobile

By on August 25, 2010 at 12:37 PM.

Chubby Motorola Charm now available on T-Mobile

The Motorola Charm, a pudgy little Android handset we first heard about in July, is now available for purchase on T-Mobile. Here is a quick recap of what the Charm is working with: quad-band GSM, HSDPA 3.6 Mbps, 3 megapixel camera, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS, and 2.8-inch touchscreen display; the device will also be sporting Motorola’s MOTOBLUR UI overlay. The full-QWERTY, candy bar shaped phone can be yours — in a red cabernet or golden bronze — for just $74.99 with a 2-year contract. The two links are after the jump. More →

33 Comments
Featured
August 11, 2010
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BlackBerry Torch 9800 Review

By on August 11, 2010 at 9:42 AM.

BlackBerry Torch 9800 Review

RIM’s mythical sliding device finally got official after years and years of rumors. It’s being released tomorrow exclusively on AT&T and features the all new BlackBerry 6 operating system. We’re talking multitouch, gestures, redone multimedia applications, and a whole lot more. It packs the best camera of any BlackBerry, a touch screen, full keyboard, and even an optical trackpad to help with navigation. Not to mention it has a web browser that is actually usable, and everything is packed in a pretty tight package. We have been using a BlackBerry Torch 9800 for over 5 days, and we’re excited to share our thoughts on it with you. More →

291 Comments
General
July 20, 2010
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Unlocked Motorola Milestone XT720 debuts in the UK

By on July 20, 2010 at 4:33 AM.

Unlocked Motorola Milestone XT720 debuts in the UK

motorola-milestone-xt720

Originally announced in June, the Motorola Milestone XT720 has landed sans carrier in the UK today. The unusually-contoured handset sports an ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 3.7-inch display with 480 x 854 resolution, 8 megapixel camera with Xenon flash and 720P video recording, 10.2Mbps HSDPA, 512MB ROM / 256MB RAM, Bluetooth, WiFi, FM radio, and Android 2.1. The Milestone XT720 is available unlocked from online UK retailers Play for £359.99 ($550 USD) and Clove for £381.88 ($583 USD).  Anyone across the pond interested in this feature-rich handset from Motorola? More →

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General
July 2, 2010
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Rogers to get the Samsung Wave, too

By on July 2, 2010 at 9:37 PM.

Rogers to get the Samsung Wave, too

rogers-samsung-wave

It looks like Bell won’t be the only Canadian carrier to offer the Samsung Wave. According to MobileSyrup, Rogers dealerships from coast to coast have begun receiving display units. So far pricing and a release date have not been communicated to employees, but with Bell expected to launch the Bada smartphone on July 8th, we can’t imagine that Rogers will be wanting to take its time. More →

6 Comments
Retail
June 30, 2010
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T-Mobile releases the LG Sentio

By on June 30, 2010 at 10:40 PM.

T-Mobile releases the LG Sentio

t-mobile-lg-sentio

Lost in the hubbub surrounding smartphone powerhouses like the DROID X and iPhone 4 is the fact that the average person simply wants a phone that makes calls. To satiate this need, and throw in a few extra feature for good measure, T-Mobile today announced the immediate availability of the LG Sentio. An affordable device that brings to the table a 3″ touchscreen, 3 megapixel camera, visual voicemail and 3G connectivity. A UI with a set of customizable widgets as well as Social Buzz, an application that will not only handle your social media needs, but email as well. The LG Sentio from T-Mobile is available for $69.99 with an Even More plan, or $9 per month with Even More Plus. More →

19 Comments