Tag archive: HSPA

Apple's official “Let's talk iPhone” event is only a couple hours away, but the rumor mill is still churning. An hour or so ago, the WSJ reported that the next iPhone will not support Sprint or Verizon's 4G networks. Despite there being a plethora of Android phones on Verizon's high-speed LTE network and Sprint's somewhat speedy WiMax network, the iPhone may not support the technologies. Why? Probably… Read More

One of the biggest problems with cell phone plans today is that carriers are charging more and more for data and messaging, but aren't offering any flexibility when it comes to their talk plans, which start at $40 per month. T-Mobile and Walmart are changing this, at least, for a while. Today, the mega retailer and wireless carrier announced a “$30 unlimited web and text monthly 4G prepaid service plan,” which will be… Read More

In a study conducted earlier this week by research firm Localytics, nearly 37 percent of all Android smartphones are now 4G-enabled. While the term 4G is still a loose description of faster data speeds beyond 3G capable phones, the research firm defined LTE, WiMAX, or HSPA+ capable phones as being 4G-enabled. The top three smartphones driving this growth of 4G adoption include the HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon, the HTC Evo 4G on Sprint and the… Read More

Both Verizon and AT&T are now operating and expanding LTE 4G services, and the mobile industry's focus has shifted sharply to 4G technology and next-generation mobile broadband. With HSPA+ operator T-Mobile locked in with AT&T in what might be either a death grip or a takeover, it seems fair to ask: What about Clearwire, the only 4G operator that actually has a broad 4G network—and, in places, has been running for years?… Read More

T-Mobile USA announced today that the HTC Amaze 4G will soon be available on its network. The unveiling was made by T-Mobile chief marketing officer Colde Brodman at the GigaOm Mobilize 2011 conference. The HTC Amaze 4G has two high-profile selling points. The first is its connectivity. The handset can support T-Mobile's recently upgraded HSPA+ network, which has connections speeds up to 42Mbps. The second main perk of the Amaze 4G is its… Read More

Computer maker Acer is expanding its Iconia Tab A series of Android tablet offerings with a new entry, the Iconia Tab A501, aiming to provide full-fledged entertainment, communications, and productivity capabilities in one portable package. The Iconia Tab A501 features a 10.1-inch 1280 by 800-pixel display, a 1 GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra processor, front- and rear-facing cameras, Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Wi-Fi—and it'll be available with 4G… Read More

Canadian patent holding company WiLan has announced it has launched litigation against a broad swatch of technology companies, alleging their product infringe on two patents related to CMDA/HSPA technology, as well as Wi-Fi and 4G LTE mobile technologies. The suit specifically targets Apple, Alcatel-Lucent, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, HTC, Kyocera, Novatel, and Sierra Wireless, and cites U.S. patent RE37,802 and 5,282,222—of the two, the… Read More

Are you tired of hearing rumors about Samsung’s Galaxy S II phones? We are too, which is why we are happy to say that it has been officially announced for Sprint, AT&T, and T-Mobile. This all but confirms that Verizon will not be getting a Galaxy S II device, or at least one named as such. Unlike the Galaxy S launch each carrier isn’t getting their own customized device and name. Sprint will keep the Epic name tag it originally placed on the… Read More

Mobile operators AT&T is starting to lay out details and availability of its first LTE-capable devices—and, as with so many other mobile tech rollouts, they'll be mobile hotspots, rather than smartphones, tablets, or other portable devices. AT&T says it will offer its USBConnect Momentum 4G and Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G in stores and online beginning August 21, and also confirmed its existing USBConnect Adrenalin will be… Read More

If you've seen or heard an ad about a cell phone or wireless plan lately, you may have noticed that a lot of new buzzwords are being thrown around. Words like 4G, LTE, and WiMax seem to have replaced the last set of words we barely understood: 3G, GSM, and CDMA. But what does it all mean? Is it all a bunch of marketing nonsense or are these words you should know and understand? We've got the scoop in our official mobile broadband… Read More

AT&T has picked up one of Sony's two odd looking tablets. Named the “S2,” the tablet has two 5.5-inch touchscreens that fold together, making the S2 look kind of like a small purse when its closed. AT&T likes what it sees. The wireless carrier will be the exclusive home of the tablet, which will tap into AT&T's HSPA+ network as well as Wi-Fi. “We’re pleased to be working with AT&T on yet another… Read More

Completely free under contract, the USBConnect Force 4G modem connects to your home computer via a USB port and provides 4G download speeds from AT&T. Without contract, the device retails for $89.99. Customers get access to 5GB of data per month at a $50 cost under the two-year contract agreement. Any overage of the 5GB results in an extra $10 a month for each gigabyte used. Without the agreement, prepaid options include a day of access… Read More

California Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo has proposed the Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act, which among other things aims to finally clarify what 4G is. The term has come to mean little more than “faster than 3G,” but fails to actually meet the official definition. The International Telecommunication Union dictates that a 4G device must meet certain requirements, a definition that was softened this past December. “As the most advanced… Read More

For the wireless industry, 4G has become the hot new thing. Cellular companies are investing billions of dollars to build up their 4G infrastructures, and millions more to advertise their new, far-faster connections to the data-hungry public. Unfortunately, the investment isn't paying off, at least not yet. According to a new study by Morpace (PDF), 4G plays very little part in most customers' smartphone buying decisions. When asked… Read More

The AT&T acquisition of T-Mobile continues to move forward, but that's not stopping the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the United States from beefing up its network while it can. The company's 4G HSPA+ network has been beefed up, with a doubled peak download speed of up to 42 megabits per second, a press release reveals. The boosted performance is now up and running in 55 T-Mobile markets, including major cities like… Read More