If we look way back in time to the beginning of dirt itself…ok so 2008 isn’t that far back. But remember, two years in the tech world is like a decade — really. Anyway, back in that day, UMA was starting to get some respect with T-Mo users for it’s ability to extend network coverage to areas that had little of it or none at all. WIth all the hubub around Android, it only seemed like two next-gen pieces of technology would bask together in the limelight. Except, they didn’t.
I’m not a software developer or cellular engineer so I haven’t the slightest as to why the duo still aren’t dancing together two years later. What I do know is that it sucks big time. But all that is set to change very, very soon…
Sweet Jesus, I am honestly sad. The length of AT&T iPhone exclusivity has been an on again/off again topic since it’s debut in 2007. But after some deep digging by Engadget, we now know the truth — AT&T as a solid 5-year exclusive period (Gasps!) Yes, if you want a shiny iPhone, you’ll have to deal with AT&T for another two years…
We’ve all been there — a new phone comes out, leaving you staring at your “old” phone wishing you could part ways and embrace the newness that has just bestowed the human race. It’s natural. It happens to all of us. But we don’t normally have the cash to do such things. T-Mobile however feels your pain and has a solution. A still unannounced plan unearthed by BGR highlights a new iPhone-tradein program that for those wanting to switch, will net them a brand spankin’ new HTC HD2 in place of their iPhone. Depending on the shape of your iPhone, traders can expect anywhere from $100 to $350 credit applied towards the HD2.
It’s a good move by T-Mo. The HD2 is a highly successful Windows Mobile phone. Though, with the infinitely better Windows Phone 7 coming along, any carrier of WinMo has instantly lost credibility in my book, negating any useful of such a trade-in as we see here. But for some, the HD2 is just too hard to pass up on. Sweet deal. Would you do it?
Think of a world where opposite beings such as T-Mobile and Sprint worked together? Weird isn’t it? The odd pairing might not be such an uncommon thing in the near future. In efforts to boost network capacity and resilience, T-Mobile is rumored to be in talks with Clearwire in a potential partnership. So far, Sprint has been the only major carrier to make use of Clearwire’s 4G wireless technology. The speed is there for sure. But having T-Mobile and Clearwire/Sprint more or less working together is, well, weird.
Sprint and T-Mobile in particular are competitors. Another thing to keep in mind is that T-Mobile, while not exactly “bleeding customers”, isn’t exactly booming. For Sprint, the outlook is even worse. Taking two under performing or stagnant companies and combining, them whether through a buyout or partnership isn’t exactly the best of choices for any party involved.
Through it all, the speed increases are hard to ignore. T-Mobile users in particular probably are blinded more so than Sprint users as they’re still fairly new to this whole high speed thing. Promises of leapfrogging ahead of the competition may seem like an awesome goal to rush towards. But partnering up with Sprint…? I just don’t see success at the end of that tunnel.
Being spoiled with 3G the last several years means I almost get angry when I see the icon on my phone retreat back to the comfy yet dark confines of 2G. As you all know, 2G sucks in this day and age. It simply cannot keep up with pretty much anything on the real or mobile web anymore. But in a pinch, rolling back to the golden oldie when 3G is unavailable is a god send as long as the page you’re trying to visit isn’t heavy in anything besides text.
For UK users on Three, there isn’t any “rollback”. Unfortunately for them, Three has determined that any 2G/GPRS mobile internet service isn’t up to their standards. Because of that, users cannot access any web or email services when the little icon on your phone shows a G/GPRS/2G.
The reason is because Three doesn’t own their own 2G network — they borrow Orange’s. When ElectricPig contacted both Orange and Three on the matter, Orange said that 2G data services work just fine. Three’s response: 2G isn’t good enough. The Three spokeswoman also goes on to say that by the end of this year, any fall back solution in 2G won’t be needed as Three continues to expand and develop their 3G network.
I’m all for rapid 3G expansion. But let’s be real, if you don’t have it, you don’t have it. What I mean is, suck it up and accept that your network will not reach all areas of the UK/land and provide 3G coverage. 2G is desperately needed as a failsafe for these situations. Not being able to have any data access on 2G networks is a big problem I’m sure has caught many Three users off guard. Regardless of how slow 2G is, slow access is better than no access.
Here in the US we really don’t have any major cellular providers that operate as Three — a 3G only network that rents out 2G infrastructure from other carriers. Because of that, there isn’t really any “hometown” example to compare them to here. Regardless, the same issue still stands.
So let’s hear it Three UK users: Are you finding the lack of a fall back 2G data solution a pain the rear as you traverse the UK?
Regardless of your opinion on Windows Mobile, you have to admit that the HTC HD2 — all 4.3″ of it’s glass faced frontal beauty — is a drop dead gorgeous phone. Currently however, US citizens are left without any official channels to pick up a subsidized or even a US version of the device. That’s all set to change in the not too distant future.
A video (below) showing a new “2.0.1″ ROM showcases among other things, a very familiar magenta boot image that goes “Stick Together” — a TMO slogan. And this isn’t the Euro-TMO slogan mind you, but the burly chested American verison.
Without any official confirmation from TMO or HTC, this technically is still nothing more than a rumor. But with a boot image showing a US based GSM carrier in full garb as well as countless other murmurings and rumors that have centered around this very same device and carrier pairing make it a rumor that is hard to discredit.
We can pretty much bet on seeing this soon, 1H 2010 for sure.
It’s that time again. Time to look across the deep blue see to lands far away wishing upon a star that we were in that place. The place to wish ourselves to is Japan – the tech hub of the world. It is here where local carrier NTT DoCoMo has begun upgrading their current 3G network to an LTE based 4G network with plans to flip the switch by the end of 2010. Their goal is might speedy mind you as U.S. carriers aren’t set to begin such upgrades until that same time. DoCoMo’s approach is a smart one at that with two plans of attacks. Roughly half of their current 3G towers and stations will simply be upgraded to support the new 4G network while the remaining stations will have a piggy back “remote station” that allows simultaneous 3G/4G support as to allow seamless transition between said services.
The frequency being recruited to carry all of the 4G goodness will take place on the current 2GHz band used by DoCoMo’s 3G network. Though the 4G upgrade will take over half of their available 3G spectrum with future goals of course being a complete transition to 4G technology. Further down the line, the goal is to reach download speeds of 300Mbps and 75Mbps up for all 4G users — *drool*. Overall it’s a rather ingenious plan that will help reduce upgrade costs and maintenance. 4G couldn’t come soon enough.
Grand Rapids (MI) residents: Do you feel something in the air? If so (and even if not) that new sense of “something newness” is due to the new 1700MHz band of 3G that is pulsating through your town’s buildings, vegetation, and human bodies. Woot! There’s nothing like the feeling of the wind in your hair and the blinding sense that 3G speeds bring to your mobile device.
With each new city that is graced with T-Mo’s 3G goodness I find myself curious as to real world speeds. We all know what 3G is supposed to operate at but often times life has other plans. So do a quick test, take a screenshot, and leave it in the comments below. I’d much appreciate it.
**Word is that Tulsa, Oklahoma was also seeing 3G speeds today however as of writing it seems to have been a false alarm (IntoMobile). Still, your time is due before the end of the year. Your wait — if it is in fact still a “wait” — isn’t much longer.
Here we are thinking that some big money making corporate machine such as AT&T was going to launch the first HSPA+ network in the states. It takes money to put up and support all of the physical and digital mojo behind such a network which is why the obvious default to the countries largest GSM provider was a given — or so we thought. Thanks to BendBroadband, a central Oregon cable company, the US does now in fact have the sweet, speedy waves of HSPA+ blanketing the fortunate few. Those lucky enough to have found themselves in central Oregon and also a customer of BendBroadband will find their mobile browsing speeds somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-8Mbps down.
Wondering if you’re covered?
North to south coverage: From Madras to La Pine.
East to west coverage: From Prineville to Sisters.
What’s nice for central Oregon users eying a possible switch to BendBroadband is that the region in the northwest and even far west as a whole isn’t exactly a wireless hotbed. I mean, coverage on any carrier isn’t as bullet proof as the maps show for central and eastern residents of the US. (Anyone care to chime in?)
One thing is for sure, the added competition that just popped up in Oregon is a god send to the area. If any central Oregon natives were feeling down because of a lack in carrier selections or mobile broadband speeds, they can now feel exponentially better about themselves. They’ve just gone from the back of the pack to the front in no time flat.
Now if only BendBroadband would go national…
**Update: As mentioned below by Frank, the service is for fixed routers or USB modems.
**Update 2: Unlocked devices in the AWS spectrum are game as well!
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If we look way back in time to the beginning of dirt itself…ok so 2008 isn’t that far back. But remember, two years in the tech world is like a decade — really. Anyway, back in that day, UMA was starting to get some respect with T-Mo users for it’s ability to extend network coverage to areas that had little of it or none at all. WIth all the hubub around Android, it only seemed like two next-gen pieces of technology would bask together in the limelight. Except, they didn’t.
Grand Rapids (MI) residents: Do you feel something in the air? If so (and even if not) that new sense of “something newness” is due to the new 1700MHz band of 3G that is pulsating through your town’s buildings, vegetation, and human bodies. Woot! There’s nothing like the feeling of the wind in your hair and the blinding sense that 3G speeds bring to your mobile device. 
