Archive for: 3g
- January 19, 2012 11:14 pm
AT&T seemingly stole the show this week with the announcement of new data plans. And while they go a little ways towards making heavier data users happier, it is T-Mobile pulling out biggest surprise.
On January 25th the carrier will quietly launch two new promotional, “premium” and “ultra” data plans. Get ready for it — 5GB and 10GB data plans with tethering/mobile hotspot for free. In total, you’re looking at a solid ~$20 in savings. Oh, and the best part is that new and existing customers can get in on the fun.
We’re a bit disappointed T-Mobile isn’t broadcasting the upcoming data plans on every possible medium. Both plans are leaps and bounds better than any other major carrier. At the same time, we can understand the carrier wanting to protect their network. A bajillion people jumping online at the same time thanks to the crazy promotional data plans could bring things to a halt.
T-Mobile. Come on. Brag about this!
In case you hadn’t heard, details regarding AT&T’s upcoming data plan revamp were leaked last night. For those that didn’t see it:
Smartphones
- 5 GB – $50/month (With mobile hotspot + tethering)
Tablets
While we’re slightly upbeat that we can now pay $5 more every month for 3 GB of data instead of $25 + $10 when we go over, it’s hardly a vicotry. What most people will gloss over is the fact that AT&T just made it $5 more expensive to own a smartphone on their network…
Sprint doesn’t have any time to lick their wounds on WiMAX’s loss to LTE. They’re already dangerously close to being brushed under the rug of irrelevance. But they aren’t giving up. Today during Press Day just before the official start of CES 2012, Sprint unveiled three new LTE products that will (hopefully) help the nation’s third largest carrier once again climb into the main mobile arena.
The Viper 4G is an Android 2.3 Gingerbread device that features respectable 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, 4″ WVGA (480 x 800) display, and 5/VGA (rear/front) facing cameras. Where the initial specs may leave a bit to be desired, The Viper 4G does have one new addition that should appeal to feature hounds — NFC w/ Google Wallet support.
Moving onward, if the Viper 4G is a bit too plain for your tastes, we’re almost certain that Sprint’s own Galaxy Nexus variant will more than satisfy your palate. In the first time in many months — since the Nexus S at least — Sprint has a pure Android experience that rivals most other Android competitors. True to form, the Galaxy Nexus on Sprint will ship in a “pure” form meaning no skins, no fluff. Android and nothing else.
The third and final LTE Sprint news for today revolves around not a phone, but a wireless hotspot. The Sierra Wireless tri-network hotspot will reportedly be the first tri-network (3G/4G WiMAX/4G LTE) hotspot available on the market, and support up to 8 connected devices. Hand-offs between networks should be as smooth as butter once the device launches later this year.
- December 21, 2011 6:39 am
Word on the interwebs is that Verizon Wireless is having a bit of a network problem — 3G and 4G data networks are down. Never fear. We’re now following several different forum threads as well as watching the smattering of VZW-owned Twitter accounts like a hawk. Of course, if you start seeing data flowing to and fro again, drop us a line so we can update everyone else.
Update
It’s back up.
- December 18, 2011 12:40 am
T-Mobile users who happen to be doing the 2G tango with an escaped (read: unlocked) iPhone or any other non-AWS smartphone might just find a nice surprise lurking around town — 3G service. According to several reports originating from Howard Forums (and TmoNews), T-Mobile is currently testing out HSPA+ 84 Mbps service and “rearmed” 1900 MHz spectrum pumping out faster 3G service in certain parts of the country.
*Sidenote: T-Mobile’s entire HSPA+ “4G” push has so far been carried out on the 1700 MHz AWS spectrum — a spectrum which no other carrier in the U.S. really utilizes making Tmo the odd man out.
Now, pretty much all GSM phones support a plethora of frequency bands due to national and global roaming requirements. With that said, while very few phones support T-Mobile’s AWS 1700 MHz band, and in turn their 3G coverage, pretty much every GSM phone supports the 850/1800/900/1900 bands. AT&T uses the 850/1900 MHz bands for their 3G, and now, as touched on above, T-Mobile is too. But there is a catch.
Don’t hold your breath for 1900 MHz T-Mobile 3G to proliferate around the country. According to TmoNews’ sources, the actual HSPA+ 84 testing and specturm rearming is going to be extremely limited to certain sections of the country, specially the Pacific Northwest, Nevada, Utah and California — at least for now. While that news is certainly a buzzkill, the lucky souls who find the planets aligned in their hometown will no doubt feel a bit different.
If you happen to find yourself enjoying some sweet 1900 MHz T-Mobile 3G action, be sure to send us a few pics (and info) to our inboxes.
Curious to see if T-Mobile PCS 3G service is working in your neighborhood? You’ll need one of these phones:
- Samsung Galaxy S 4G, Samsung Vibrant, Samsung Exhibit II 4G, Samsung Galaxy S II, HTC Amaze 4G, HTC Radar 4G, Nokia Lumia 710, Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, T-Mobile Springboard, Dell Streak 7, Dell Inspiron Mini 10, T-Mobile Sonic 4G Mobile Hotspot, or T-Mobile Rocket 3.0
- September 27, 2011 1:18 pm
WiMAX is great and all. But it’s apparently not that great. After several years of excruciatingly slow advancements it appears Sprint is finally ready to throw in the towel, or at least concede that LTE is the way of the future. A report by Cnet states we could see Sprint-branded LTE service as early as end of Q1 2012.
The adoption of LTE isn’t likely to actually kill WiMAX — at least initially. The multi-technology high speed push will help Sprint reach the goals put forth by their “Network Vision” plan that will see their network updated with LTE, increase 3G/4G reach, and ultimately deliver a better experience for customers. Because Sprint uses the same FD-LTE spectrum as Verizon, dreamers may be holding out for some type of multi-carrier LTE device. But such things aren’t quite that easy. While the overall technology may be the same, the are various striations broken down by spectrum as highlighted by this Ars Technica article.
Still, for a carrier that is seeing its market share and revenue drop with each passing quarter, something must be done. Hopefully a trifecta of speedy wireless technologies will help Sprint score more high-end devices, and in turn, customers. \
An eBay sale highlighted by Macrumors shows us a 3G MacBook Pro that almost made it to market. Just how close was it? Macrumors says that after dissecting the unit above, the same solder points for the SIM card slot can be found on production units from that time — 2007 Santa Rosa MacBook Pros. For whatever reason Apple pulled the plug, and at the last minute as evident by the aforementioned SIM card slot solder points.
According to numerous previous statements by Apple CEO Steve Jobs over the years, the company has stayed away from integrated cellular support to keep choice in the hands of the consumer, and avoid getting them “locked in” with carriers. While we certainly would love to have one less thing sticking out of our USB ports, we totally understand (and appreciate) Jobs’ view.
The 3G MacBook Pro was originally sold in “as is” condition (read: not working), but the guy who then picked it up off of Craigslist was able to get things up and running, albeit with 3G still not working. The unit is now up for auction on eBay. Even though the 3G functionality doesn’t work, the 3G MacBook Pro above shows us what could have been had Apple followed through. Not to mention it’s a cool piece of Apple history that any tech nut could appreciate. Hop on past the break for a few more images…
Update
Apple has seen the error of their ways and updated their iTunes page. It now says iPod and shows the WiFi signal strength as… Honest mistake or chicanery? Pictures of the newly edited site after the break
We’ve been hearing of the iPod 3G (if you will) for some time now. It only makes sense – with it’s younger much taller cousin the iPad having the cellular data capabilities. With all of that said, this current rumor might have just been given enough fuel to make it to space. If you swipe your way over to Apple’s iTunes page and take a look at the iPod standing next to the iPad and MacBook Air, you’ll see a 3G icon sitting to the right of full signal strength. There is no AT&T or Verizon logo, but most of those are missing from the iPhone pictures as well.
Did Apple’s website munchkins just blow it? Did they mean to put an iPhone 4 there, and just forgot? The image is also buried within their iPod Touch page, smaller, but you can see the icon there.
Despite not having an ounce of T-Mobile 3G (read: 1700 MHz/”AWS”) support, the iPhone 4 is a rather popular device on the nation’s 4th largest carrier’s network. It has been claimed that up to 1,000,000 unlocked iPhone 4′s currently call T-Mobile home, EDGE data and all. And now that T-Mobile is officially selling their own micro SIM cards in-store, iPhone 4 users looking to buck the trend can do so easier and with less hassle. Bonus: T-Mobile will subsidize the whopping $10 price tag on the micro SIMs as long as you sign up for a new 2-year contract.
We’re sure desperation would drive even the strongest soul to consider a 2-year contract for an EDGE-only device, but with rumors of Sprint and T-Mobile iPhones coming this fall with the iPhone 5 we’re pretty sure you should wait and see how things turn out. The next 2-3 months look very interesting.
[T-Mobile]
