02/13, 5:10pm
Adds to capabilities in N. Carolina and Nebraska
US Cellular (USCC) has snapped up additional spectrum as it preps for the launch of its LTE-based services next month. On Friday, the Chicago-based regional services provider applied to the FCC for approval to buy five 700MHz licenses in North Carolina and Nebraska. The acquisitions, if approved, will give the carrier LTE-compatible spectrum in six North Carolina markets and eight areas in Nebraska.
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01/20, 5:15pm
Could pressure LTE provider to sell off assets
Veteran corporate raider/investor Carl Icahn may have grabbed some of LightSquared's debt. Reuters, citing several sources familiar with the matter, reports that Icahn, along with two others, bought up a total of $300 million of the troubled LTE network provider's loan obligations over the course of 2011. Icahn has declined to comment.
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01/20, 7:35am
Verizon may push VoLTE service back to early 2013
Verizon may roll out Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) in early 2013. Citing industry sources, Light Reading Mobile claims that Verizon’s VoLTE service will go live nationwide next year and that it has been successfully trialing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-based app in two markets. Verizon had originally hoped to launch the service in 2012, although if it begins its roll out before the end of the year, it may be in limited markets.
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01/13, 6:55pm
Production already underway for March launch
Citing unnamed sources "familiar with the product," Bloomberg reports that the next iPad, expected to go on sale in March, will sport a "high-definition" screen, use a faster processor and be compatible with Long-Term Evolution (LTE) type 4G cellular networks. The claims summarize most of the educated guesses any Apple-watcher might have about the next iPad, but if true the LTE compatibility coming before the iPhone would be an unusual move.
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01/11, 9:00pm
Dual-core 1.5GHz CPU paired with 720p display
Among the high-end smartphones introduced at CES, LG added its Spectrum handset to the crowd of upcoming Android devices. Electronista took a closer look at the company's new Android flagship, which features 4G LTE connectivity, a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and a 720p HD display.
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01/09, 2:55pm
"Thinnest and lightest" LTE QWERTY handset
Motorola has introduced the latest device in its Android lineup, the Droid 4. The handset keeps to the tradition that began with the original Droid, advancing the QWERTY slider into the 4G LTE era. The fourth-generation model measures 0.5-inches thick, similar to the earlier models, however the company claims it is the "thinnest and most powerful" QWERTY LTE smartphone.
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01/06, 7:05pm
Mystery tablet powered by Qualcomm hardware
AT&T appears to be preparing to introduce new Windows 8 tablet next week at CES in Las Vegas. The carrier is holding a special event ahead of CES for developers, with a session to be focused on "Windows 8 tablets super charged with LTE."
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01/05, 5:55pm
Device expected to resemble Verizon edition
Sprint appears to be readying Samsung's Galaxy Nexus handset. Online advertisements point to the upcoming offering, which is touted as the company's "first 4G LTE phone," however the company has yet to make a formal announcement. The placements appear to have been published ahead of schedule, as the ads lead users to a broken link on Sprint's website.
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12/29, 10:50pm
Company segmenting network to minimize effects
Verizon has finally shed light on the frequent outages that have affected the company's expanding 4G LTE network. In an interview with GigaOM, Verizon network engineering VP Mike Haberman downplayed the recent problems as "growing pains" that are a result of the company's position as "pioneers" rolling out a large deployment of new technology.
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12/29, 6:55pm
Leak matches earlier report
Pantech is reportedly preparing to launch an eight-inch tablet that will arrive in the US with support for AT&T's 4G LTE network. Although the company has yet to formally introduce the tablet, the information published by Korean news outlet JKN corroborates earlier reports pointing to benchmark tests for a Pantech tablet that carries the model number P4100.
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12/28, 9:55pm
Verizon distributing update
Verizon has finally begun distributing a Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet equipped with a 4G LTE radio. The release brings Samsung's custom interface overlay, which was originally released in August for the Wi-Fi variant. Users can take advantage of new widgets, additional Live Panel apps, enhanced media player apps and other aesthetic tweaks.
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12/22, 8:50pm
Verizon's first LTE global handsets?
LG's Spectrum and HTC's Fireball handsets may be the first of Verizon's 4G LTE devices to offer global roaming capabilities. A leaked screenshot from Verizon's internal systems, which was posted on Droid-Life, suggests both devices have received the "global phone" designation that would allow users to take advantage of GSM networks while travelling.
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12/21, 11:15pm
System appears to be connected via 4G
GM subsidiary OnStar has teased a revamped infotainment system that takes advantage of 4G LTE networks to expand the range of connected features. The company is currently teasing the new system, which will allow users to participate in video chats via Skype. The faster connection speeds also enables users to access streaming multimedia content.
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12/09, 9:30pm
Company claims report 'incomplete,' will fight on
The ongoing battle between LightSquared, a company that wants to launch a nationwide 4G (LTE) network in partnership with Sprint, and the rest of the GPS industry took another turn today as a leaked draft of a government report concludes that implementing LightSquared's planned network would cause "harmful interference" to about 75 percent of GPS receivers, BusinessWeek reports. The testing contradicts LightSquared's claim that it had found a fix for the issue.
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12/08, 9:30pm
Investment spread across three years
Everything Everywhere has announced that its T-Mobile and Orange brands in the UK will soon benefit from approximately £1.5 billion (~$2.3 billion USD) in network investments. The funds are said to be primarily allocated for building an extensive 4G LTE network that will be available for subscribers from both carriers.
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12/07, 8:05pm
Carrier confirms network problems
Yet another Verizon leak corroborates several rumors pointing to a Galaxy Nexus launch delay, though the latest information pegs December 13 as the revised date. Multiple sources previously claimed Verizon was planning to offer the device on December 9, however the carrier is currently attempting to resolve an outage with its LTE network.
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12/05, 11:20pm
Company continues funding drive
Clearwire is reportedly set to provide $300 million of its Class A stock as a public offering, in an attempt to fetch additional funding for the company's LTE deployment plans. The WiMAX provider is also said to be leaving the door open, as a 30-day option, for its underwriters to purchase an additional $45 million in Class A shares.
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12/01, 9:30pm
Users report new 4G connectivity
AT&T is reportedly quietly rolling out its LTE network in certain areas around New York City, though the move has yet to be officially confirmed. Attendees at LG's special event, where the Nitro HD was unveiled, are said to have noticed that the prerelease devices were able to connect to AT&T's LTE network.
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11/21, 6:55pm
Additional rollout in GA, NH, NY
Verizon has expanded the list of cities that will be included in a mid-December LTE network rollout across several regions. Additional locations in the Northeast will include Dover, Deleware; Greater Manchester and Nashua, New Hampshire; Fitchburg, Leominster, Lunenburg and Townsend, Massachusetts; and Clintondale, Fishkill, Hyde Park, Kingston, New Paltz, Platekill, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Saugerties and Wappingers Falls, New York.
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11/04, 5:15pm
Boston, D.C., Athens, Ga., and Baltimore as well
AT&T has revealed that it will be bringing LTE data services to New York City "very soon." AT&T's Senior Vice President of communications, Larry Solomon, made the announcement at Mashable's Media Summit taking place in the area. Four additional cities, Boston, Washington DC, Athens, and Baltimore, will also be getting LTE.
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10/21, 5:05pm
First micro SIM LTE cards show up at Verizon
Verizon is now receiving its first LTE-capable micro SIM cards, SlashGear learned. This is important news as it paves the way for use of an LTE-capable iPad on the network. Secondly, it very simply takes up less physical space than full-sized SIM cards and should help in the creation of ever-smaller hardware.
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10/14, 10:10pm
New Senate bill should bring better 4G definition
The Senate has introduced a companion bill to the Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act that could reduce indiscriminate labeling of newer mobile broadband network technologies as 4G. Currently, 4G is attached to HSPA+, WiMAX and LTE networks, even though all have key differences and offer different speeds. If the bill passes, it will require all providers to clearly specify what their networks will offer, including minimum and maximum data speeds.
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10/13, 11:05pm
Verizon may have US exclusive
Google and Samsung are now likely to reveal their flagship smartphone, the Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.0 (also known as Ice Cream Sandwich), on October 18th at the AsiaD: All Things Digital conference in Hong Kong -- with a US exclusive going to Verizon for a limited time, DroidLife reveals. The Samsung phone has turned up in Verizon's internal inventory systems sporting a 4G LTE radio, 720p touchscreen, 5MP rear camera and more.
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10/12, 10:35pm
Cheapest LTE handset on Verizon
Although Verizon has been focusing its attention on the upcoming Stratosphere handset this week at CTIA, several Pantech phones were also on hand at the expo. Electronista took a look at the Breakout, Verizon's budget-focused LTE handset. The device is one of the most compact LTE devices, with a feature set that is not far off from the expensive competition.
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10/12, 8:30pm
Company blames industry for ignoring guidelines
Start-up wireless LTE provider LightSquared, which has been involved in a feud with the GPS industry over interference between GPS devices and planned 4G LTE cell networks, informed the industry that it would cost up to $400 million to buy equipment LightSquared has developed to eliminate the problem, CNet reports. Without the device, about half a percent of GPS receivers -- about half a million units -- will be disrupted when the LTE networks begin to go online.
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10/12, 4:50pm
AT&T will use circuit-switch fallback technology
AT&T chief executive Ralph de la Vega told CNET its 4G LTE handsets will be the thinnest on the market. The handsets are due to arrive this fall, and AT&T waited for the technology that allows them to be thing while providing a longer battery life. The exec said its circuit-switch fallback tech and relates to the handset switching to 3G coverage when its leaves the 4G coverage area.
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10/11, 10:45am
No reason given for prolonged upgrade timeframe
Some Motorola Xoom users who have sent their tablets to be upgraded are recieving notices that the company will not be able to meet its promise of a six day turnaround. Several readers have commented at Droid Life that they have received an email stating that the company is "still in the process of completing your upgrade." Some of those reported getting shipping notices complete with FedEx tracking numbers before the company sent the disappointing status update.
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10/05, 6:05am
LTE chip inefficiencies blamed for iPhone 5 delay
Apple did not deliver an all-new iPhone 5 at its October 4 iPhone 4S event due to the current state of LTE chip technology, according to analysts. The president of Forward Concepts, Will Strauss, believes that Apple is holding back on an iPhone 5 until LTE chips are more compact. Currently, the LTE devices on the market such as the HTC Thunderbolt use an LTE baseband chip and a second 3G chip for the voice functions which would not fit in Apple's current form factor.
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09/29, 9:15pm
Documents corroborate rumors
Corroborating earlier rumors, HTC's Raider 4G smartphone appears to have passed through the FCC on its way to AT&T. The Commission tested a device that matches the Raider, also known as the HTC Holiday in other markets. The test documents suggest the handset will be supported by AT&T's 4G LTE and 3G HSPA+ networks.
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09/28, 11:15pm
Specs on-par with Epic 4G
Samsung's upcoming Stratosphere handset has been detailed in yet another leak. An internal document allegedly circulated to Verizon employees shows a chart with full specs for the Stratosphere, along with comparisons to Verizon's other LTE offerings and 4G handsets offered through other carriers. Although early rumors suggested the device may represent Verizon's Galaxy S II variant, the specs suggest it actually competes directly with handsets such as Samsung's Epic 4G sold through Sprint.
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09/28, 2:00pm
Telstra branding the LTE phone simply the HTC 4G
The HTC Holiday has made an appearance at Telstra's 4g launch event. Although Telstra has branded it as the HTC 4G, photos posted by CNET show it to indeed be the Holiday under the hood. Telstra has been using 4G to describe its new LTE network and the phones that will run on it.
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09/15, 10:35pm
Verizon's first budget LTE handset
Pantech's Breakout handset appears to have arrived at some Verizon locations ahead of the rumored launch date. Imaged posted by Droid-Life show one of the upcoming devices in the wild, complete with a Verizon badge. The Breakout is expected to be the carrier's first budget-priced LTE smartphone, as a cheaper alternative to the $300 Droid Bionic, $300 Droid Charge or the $200 LG Revolution.
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09/14, 9:10pm
Latest leak sheds light on launch details
Pantech's Breakout handset may be set to arrive at Verizon stores as early as next week, according to a specifications sheet that was posted by Droid-Life. The fresh leak corroborates earlier reports, suggesting the device will arrive as Verizon's first LTE handset aimed at budget-conscious subscribers.
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09/06, 8:40am
Stratosphere would be Verizon's first 4G slider
Last month a placeholder page appeared on the Verizon website, hinting that a new handset dubbed the Samsung Stratosphere would be revealed soon. Sources at Pocketnow claim to have images for the new smartphone, which they describe as an LTE QWERTY slider. Some have speculated that the Stratosphere may be Verizon's version of the Galaxy S II, which has already landed at the other major US carriers.
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09/01, 11:30pm
Rhyme paired with ADR6330VW model number
An alleged pricing schedule for upcoming Verizon offerings has surfaced, providing insight into launch plans for several devices including the Motorola Xoom LTE and HTC's Rhyme handset. The minimum advertised price (MAP) list, which was posted by Droid-Life, suggests the LTE-equipped tablets may arrive as early as September 8 for $499 with a two-year contract.
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08/30, 12:45pm
AT&T 4G data rate almost 25Mbps down, 8 Mbps up
Although AT&T has yet to announce when its 4G network will go live, Boy Genius Report has posted multiple photos of a functional AT&T Elevate 4G mobile hotspot connected to AT&T's 4G LTE network in Atlanta. According to a source, coverage in Atlanta was better than in Chicago. That may simply indicate the network is still incomplete. The source found download speeds on the Atlanta test network capable of nearly 25Mbps and upload speeds in excess of 8Mbps. Throughput may change when the system goes live.
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08/30, 11:20am
Rogers LTE network in Toronto due September 28
Rogers on Tuesday revealed it will be the first to get the Samsung Galaxy S II LTE smartphone, along with four other LTE-capable hardware devices. The also include the LTE Rocket mobile hotspot, a new LTE Rocket Stick, an unnamed LTE tablet (likely the HTC Puccini) and an HTC smartphone. At the same time, the company's LTE network will launch in Toronto on September 28, following a release in Ottawa early in July.
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08/29, 7:45pm
Images show carrier's internal tests
AT&T has reportedly begun testing its LTE network in Chicago, though the company has yet to publicly confirm deployment dates for a formal 4G introduction. Images posted on Boy Genius Report appear to show AT&T's Elevate mobile hotspot connected to the LTE network. Screenshots from speed tests show the hotspot achieving maximum download speeds of 13Mbps and upload speeds of 2Mbps.
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08/24, 10:55pm
4G upgrades said to start with pilot groups
Motoroola and Verizon are reportedly set to begin LTE upgrades for the Xoom tablet, however the initial rollout is said to be limited to business and government accounts. Unnamed sources have told Droid-Life the companies will be providing LTE upgrades to the pilot groups over the next two weeks, ahead of availability for the general public.
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08/05, 2:55pm
Tablet on track for AT&T's 4G LTE rollout
Screenshots have leaked of HTC's first full-size Android tablet, the HTC Puccini. The screenshots show the tablet running Honeycomb with an updated version of HTC's Sense UI. The new UI takes advantage of the tablet's 10-inch screen with a separate number pad on the virtual keyboard. The pen icon seen in the tray seems to indicate that the tablet will support Scribe, like its sibling the HTC Flyer.
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08/02, 7:10pm
Carrier details transition to VoIP
MetroPCS has confirmed plans to transition to voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) communications early next year. During a conference call that focused on recent earnings, chief executive Roger Linquist suggested the company is already deploying technology that will be necessary to jump from a circuit-switched voice system to the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technology.
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07/27, 11:10pm
Customers may have to wait until late in the day
Verizon is reportedly facing the possibility of slight delays for the 4G LTE version of the Galaxy Tab 10.1, which are scheduled to arrive tomorrow. The tablets are expected to arrive on time, however a leaked memo suggests the carrier may have failed to procure its microSIM LTE cards in time to activate the devices for customers who arrive early in the day.
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07/26, 2:50pm
Total 4G cities to total 116 after additions
Verizon is reportedly preparing to launch its 4G network in at least 11 new cities by August 18, continuing the company's trend of monthly LTE rollouts across the country. New cities are expected to include Council Bluffs, Iowa; Ithaca, Syracuse and Albany, New York; Fort Collins, Colorado; Provo/Orem, Utah; Salinas/Monterey and Bakersfield, California; Omaha, Nebraska; and Altoona and Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Expansion of 4G coverage is also expected in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio and Rockland County, New York.
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07/19, 11:20pm
CEO gives opinions on tiered data pricing
Sprint CEO Dan Hesse suggests the carrier later in the fall will be ready to announce significant plans surrounding its 4G deployments, though the executive has yet to confirm rumors pointing to a LightSquared deal for an LTE network. Speaking to visitors at Sprint's headquarters in Kansas, Hesse also added to his commentary on the AT&T/T-Mobile merger, claiming that he feels a personal obligation to oppose the deal and push for competition in the marketplace.
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07/15, 7:50am
Verizon LTE and AT&T first-gen incompatible
A Verizon spokesperson, Brenda Raney, has revealed that Verizon’s LTE phones will be unlikely to be interoperable with AT&T’s LTE network. Speaking to PC Mag, Raney said that Verizon’s LTE phones “will be on different frequencies.” Where 3G GSM phone owners are currently able to choose between networks by switching SIM cards, provided that their phones are unlocked, the same won’t be true for 4G LTE. Verizon’s LTE phones will operate in the 766-787MHz spectrum, while AT&T’s LTE phones operate on the 704-746MHz spectrum.
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07/14, 7:05am
TD-LTE phones will arrive behind network launches
Production of TD-LTE enabled handsets may not begin until late in 2012, according to a report. The technology is being pushed by China Mobile, in particular, although the advantages of the TD-LTE 4G standard has also seen it picked up by at least an additional ten carriers worldwide to date. Apple is said to have reached an agreement with China Mobile to build a TD-LTE capable iPhone. However, even if China Mobile gets its TD-LTE network up and running by the end of 2011 as expected, Apple and other handset manufacturers will not be in a position to build the handsets until some time later.
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06/20, 8:20pm
Company to use different block of spectrum
LightSquared has reportedly backtracked from its initial position regarding interference with GPS technology. Although the company previously denied that its LTE network would cause problems for GPS receivers, early tests proved critics were correct in assuming the signals would conflict with navigation equipment. To alleviate ongoing concerns, LightSquared is shifting its deployment strategy to avoid transmitting using the spectrum block adjacent to the frequencies utilized by GPS satellites.
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06/17, 6:35pm
Companies to share cost of network expansion
LightSquared, a wireless provider backed by Harbinger Capital, has reportedly signed a deal with Sprint, outlining terms for cost sharing as the companies collaborate to launch and expand a 4G LTE network in the US. Recent rumors suggest the deal may be worth a total of $20 billion and span 15 years, during which time Sprint will be able to take advantage of LightSquared's wireless broadband service.
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06/09, 10:30am
Seen in stores June 8
The HTC Sensation 4G has arrived early at some Walmart locations, and at a lower than expected price. The Sensation 4G was scheduled for launch June 12 at Walmart and June 15 at T-Mobile. News of an earlier release was leaked last week, suggesting that the Android 2.3 smartphone would be available on June 8.
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06/09, 7:30am
Still no date-certain for upgrade
Motorola has apologized to what it calls "a very small number" of owners of Verizon's 3G version of the Xoom for mistakenly sending notification that the 4G modification for the tablet was ready. The company said the emails were sent in error. Unspecified production issues forced Motorola to launch on Verizon with a 3G version of the Xoom, with a promise that the device would be upgraded free of charge at a later date. Motorola did not specify when the 4G upgrade would be available, except as a date "in the near future."
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