While carriers around the world are still working on their 4G LTE network deployment plans, the next generation of cellular networks is being worked on by Samsung. The manufacturer has announced it has developed an adaptive array transceiver technology, which will apparently form the core of 5G networks by 2020.
British carrier Everything Everywhere, known as EE, has revealed that 318,000 people have signed up for its 4G LTE service, just five months after it launched the first 4G network in the country. The carrier hopes to extend the number past 1 million UK customers using its high-speed network by the end of the year.
Google has filed a patent application with the USPTO for using a GPS to alter the settings on a camera. The abstract in the filing suggests that a weather report based on a specific physical location could give the camera important data to optimize its settings for a photograph or video recording, such as how much ambient light there is to work with, reports Engadget. While it is possible that the method may not make its way into digital cameras, it is possible it could appear in a Google-produced handset, like the X Phone, in the future.
Sprint is enabling its 4G LTE network in areas, without officially announcing a market as "live." Areas including New York City, Washington D.C., and San Francisco are finding some locations are getting 4G LTE service, though not a blanket coverage of entire areas as usually associated with normal network rollouts.
US Cellular has revealed the next markets that will receive its 4G LTE service. The introduction of 4G LTE service and the expansion of existing high-speed connections will see the carrier expand it's 4G LTE coverage of its customers from the current 61-percent to around 87-percent by the end of this year.
The previously leaked Samsung ATIV Odyssey Windows Phone 8 smartphone has been pegged for a January 24 launch on Verizon. Although appearing similar to the flagship 4.8-inch ATIV S, the ATIV Odyssey will sit beneath that handset with a 4-inch display. It will carry a 4G LTE radio, along with standard Windows Phone 8 specifications.
MetroPCS has announced a set of wireless contracts for 4G LTE with a focus on simplicity, including one with unlimited data. The new mobile phone plans all include unlimited voice minutes and texts, and offer three different tiers of service, with the only differentiation being the amount of 4G data usage is permitted each month on the subscription.
Verizon announced today further expansions of its nationwide 4G LTE wireless network, bringing 4G LTE service to 29 new markets across the United States. With the new additions, Verizon's network now covers 470 markets in the US, containing more than 250 million people. It's the most recent LTE expansion since September of this year, which saw Verizon 4G LTE hitting another 19 cities.
US Cellular will be increasing its LTE network coverage in the US on Monday. The upgrade on November 5th will see the carrier expand 4G LTE signal to a further 30 new markets across 11 states, while further expansion plans to a number of other markets have also been announced, though without a firm schedule.
Sprint and Samsung have announced the availability of the Galaxy Victory 4G LTE. The new phone boasting some of the features of the Samsung Galaxy S III will be available beginning on September 16 for $150 for a new line or eligible upgrade with two year service agreement.
China may be getting 4G LTE considerably earlier than previously suggested by the government. The Minister for Information and IT, Miao Wei, had previously told regional carriers that 4G permits would not be issued until 2014, however a report by Chinese state press Xinhua claims he is instead preparing to issue 4G permits next year.
Amazon has shown off three new HD additions and an upgrade to its Kindle Fire tablet line. Teased in an unexpected TV advertisement, the Kindle Fire HD will come in three different versions with two screen sizes, including a 7.0 and 8.9-inch option, with the larger of the two also available with 4G LTE connectivity. The original also receives some improvements to its internals, as well as a price cut.
Motorola has taken the covers off its latest handset, the Atrix HD. As the logo on the front of the handset gives away, the device is headed for AT&T. Also notable is that it has adopted the recent trend of using on screen navigational controls.
Verizon will be adding 4G LTE coverage to 27 new markets and expanding coverage in 44 existing LTE markets. From Thursday, the carrier will be covering potentially two thirds of the US population with the high-speed network.
Despite moves by Apple to update its website and change marketing materials making it clear that the new LTE capabilities in the latest iPad won't work on most world LTE networks, the company may not have done enough to prevent an investigation by the UK Advertising Standards Authority, which says it has received 24 complaints about references to "4G" on Apple's website which are considered "misleading" and may launch a full investigation.
One year ago today, Verizon launched its 4G LTE network in 39 markets and served 110 million people. In ten days, the high-speed network will be in 190 cities and cover over 200 million people. The carrier goes on to say it offers 16 devices that can connect to the network, with exactly half of them being smartphones.
Qualcomm has announced the availability of its newest platform for embedded wireless connectivity, the Gobi 4000. The fourth generation Gobi Platform provides 4G LTE connectivity for notebooks and other mobile devices. The 4000 platform is based on the company's MDM9600 and MDM9200 multi-mode 3G/4G wireless modems.
Sprint is considering an LTE strategy that would aim for nationwide deployment by the end of 2013, according to comments from Steve Elfman, the company's president of network operations and wholesale. Speaking at a telecom conference hosted by Morgan Stanley, the executive also suggests Sprint is capable of offering LTE devices by 2012.
Japan’s DOCOMO mobile network has announced that it has begun field testing a development of LTE technology LTE-Advanced. LTE-Advanced is a 4G mobile network technology that is up to six-times faster than standard LTE networks. A recent field test by the South Korean government’s Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) showed the new standard achieving astonishing downlink speeds in real-world tests peaking at 600Mbps.
A Best Buy ad has confirmed the $249 price for the HTC Thunderbolt. Buyers will be required to sign up for two-year contract in order to get the subsidized price. The 4G LTE phone can also be had off contract for $749, but as it is a Best Buy retail exclusive, there will be little point in searching for a better deal.
Verizon may launch its 4G LTE network without bumping up the price of its unlimited data plan, which currently costs $30/month, sources have told Droid Life. The latest information contradicts separate reports pointing to a new pricing structure for 4G plans, though it may be accurate in the interim as the network expands across the country.
Corroborating earlier reports, Verizon is allegedly set to launch its commercial 4G LTE network in select cities before November 15. The service will be activated alongside two data cards, likely including the LG VL600 USB modem, an unnamed source has told Engadget.
Despite Sprint's initial insistence on pushing WiMax as its 4G technology of choice, the company appears to be open to other industry alternatives such as LTE. A current request for proposal (RFP) reportedly leaves room for LTE as a potential option for the "next generation network" technology, according to Light Reading.
