Dell's Mini 3iX smartphone has edged closer to the US today with an FCC filing. While the phone itself isn't photographed, a label diagram confirms its identity as it identifies the handheld as a phone with UMTS-based 3G and Bluetooth.
Canadian carrier Rogers could be the first in North America to pick up a version of the HTC Touch2, according to sources familiar with its plans. The Windows Mobile 6.5 phone is reportedly coming onboard in one or more colors that aren't normally picked for the phone; blue and red are both being considered as choices. While not confirmed at this stage, it's also implied that the phone will have North America-native 3G where the stock version goes without.
Apple and AT&T may use an 8GB iPhone 3GS as a 'secret weapon' against the launch of the Motorola Droid if a rumor proves accurate. Two separate sources of BGR's say the two iPhone partners are considering replacing the existing 8GB iPhone 3G with a 3GS variant, preserving the same capacity and $99 price. The move would undercut Verizon by offering the latest iPhone at the same price as the less ambitious Droid Eris.
Rogers scored a minor coup tonight by becoming the first carrier in the world with the LG Eve. Also known as the GW620, the touchscreen slider is LG's first Android phone and hinges on a special Social Network Services app that pools Bebo, Facebook and Twitter updates into a single area. It simultaneously integrates those with the phone's regular contacts to tie phone, e-mail and SMS messages.
Leaked images from Verizon confirm that the very recently slipped BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be known as the Curve2 at the wireless provider. The handset is a CDMA version of the Curve 8520 already offered by T-Mobile in the US and Rogers in Canada. The brochures have a decidedly holiday-oriented theme to them, which, together with a private sale slated for late in November, hint that the Curve2 will be out in time for the holiday season.
Telus on Monday revealed that both its HSPA+ network and its iPhone launch will kick off on November 5th and has provided device pricing for its version of the Apple handset. Its pricing will match the Rogers version and see 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3GS units cost $200 and $300 respectively on three-year contracts. Contract-free versions will sell for $700 and $800. The 8GB iPhone 3G will sell for $100 on contract or $600 contract-free.
An FCC filing discovered late Friday has confirmed that the Motorola Droid won't be limited only to a CDMA version. The US agency's tests show it running WCDMA, the foundation for HSPA-based 3G access, on the 850MHz and 1,900MHz bands that are used both by AT&T in the US as well as Bell, Rogers and Telus in Canada. Many Latin American carriers also use the standards.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today set groundwork for net neutrality in the country through a ruling that discourages Internet providers from throttling traffic. The guidelines will encourage monetary practices first, such as bandwidth caps or metered Internet access, and will accept slowing down some or all service only when necessary. All providers will also have to clearly publicize any throttling practices and give customers at least 30 days' notice, or 60 days' notice for wholesalers dependent on another Internet provider's network.
RIM today confirmed early slips with a launch for the BlackBerry Bold 9700. The smartphone is a refinement of the 2008-era Bold with a more compact design but a round of improvements, including a higher-resolution 480x360 screen (up from 480x320), a 3.2-megapixel camera (improved from two), and an optical trackpad in place of the more clog-prone trackball. Wi-Fi calling is new for carriers that support UMA, like Rogers and T-Mobile.
The iPhone for Bell should arrive near the very start of November and will have very familiar device and plan pricing, according to Electronista sources. People familiar with the plans say the iPhone 3GS and 3G are both due to arrive on November 4th, which should also mark the formal start of the Canadian provider's HSPA-based 3G network. The news is corroborated by earlier word of Telus training ending at the same time and suggests Bell and Telus will have their networks and iPhone sales ready at the same time.
Novatel chose CTIA to launch its fastest Ovation USB modem so far. The MC998D (not yet shown) supports the current HSPA+ spec for 3G and will connect at up to 21Mbps downstream (5.76Mbps upstream) on supporting networks. It's also explicitly designed for North America's 850MHz and 1,900MHz HSPA frequiencies and will support the HSPA+ networks of Bell, Rogers and Telus in Canada as well as 7.2Mbps HSPA on AT&T in the US. The 2,100MHz band also gives it some support in Europe.
Rogers on Thursday morning became the second carrier after T-Mobile to offer the BlackBerry Curve 8520. Its version retains the same optical trackpad, 2-megapixel camera, and 320x240 screen but comes in black or violet and supports Rogers' UMA-based TalkSpot feature for using Wi-Fi to make calls indoors without affecting usual plan minutes. The only software customization is a urMusic app for the carrier's own music store.
Novatel is set to upgrade its MiFi pocket router with expanded support for a variety of apps. The new features, such as Eye-Fi and VPN utilities, utilize an applications processor found in the European MiFi 2352 and the MiFi 2372 distributed through AT&T and Rogers in North America.
Bell today confirmed its early HSPA launch and said it will launch the new network in November, about three months ahead of its self-imposed deadline of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. The network will also launch faster than expected and start off with HSPA+, which like the recent Rogers upgrade will give it a peak speed of 21Mbps downstream and about 5.76Mbps for uploads.
Rogers today counted itself as one of the first North American carriers to offer an officially-sanctioned 3G wired and wireless router on its network. Rebadged as the Rocket Hub, the Ericsson-designed router can take cellular data, up to 7.2Mbps 3G over HSPA, and share it both over Wi-Fi as well as for those on an Ethernet link. The Hub is deemed particularly important for users who can't get Internet access for multiple devices but expect to remain in one place.
T-Mobile on Friday said it has started rolling out the first 3G network in the US to support HSPA+. Currently active through about 20 cell sites in Philadelphia, the new network gives T-Mobile the fastest mobile Internet in the country with peak downloads of 21Mbps and uploads as high as 5.76Mbps. While actual speeds are likely to be much lower, the service is about three times faster than AT&T's newly unveiled 7.2Mbps network plans.
Rogers today officially deployed its HSPA+ service in Canada. The service has a peak speed three times faster than its existing HSPA network, at 21Mbps, and is launching in a much wider area than originally promised. Where the company had initially planned only to release it in the Greater Toronto Area, the initial rollout brings HSPA+ both to Toronto as well as to Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver.
Canadian wireless provider Rogers will add at least one Android-powered Motorola handset to its lineup in 2010, according to a recent report. While the specific device hasn't been named, the most likely candidate is the recently unveiled Motorola Cliq handset, which is the first Android device from the manufacturer. Motorola has promised that it will release other Android handsets soon.
Wireless provider AT&T on Wednesday announced the upcoming launch of its A-List with Rollover plan for qualifying plans. Like similar plans from competitors, including T-Mobile's MyFaves and Rogers' Top 5, A-List will let subscribers pick the five domestic numbers they call most often, with those minutes not counting towards their monthly totals. Unlike those plans, though, the minutes subscribers save can be rolled over to the next month.
AT&T this morning provided more definite plans for its promised rollout of 7.2Mbps 3G on its network. Only six cities will receive the upgraded HSPA-based network this year and will focus mostly on the southern US: Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami will all see the doubled download speeds at first. Expansion in 2010 will have 25 of the 30 largest markets receive the update, while about 90 percent of AT&T's entire service will have been upgraded in 2011.
(Updated with statement on tethering) AT&T this afternoon finally established a firm date for when it would add MMS support to iPhones on its network. The carrier will switch on the feature as of September 25th through a software upgrade for iPhone 3G and 3GS owners. Adding the feature will let those running iPhone 3.0 or later firmware send photos, videos and general data like contact cards to any MMS-aware phone.
Sony Ericsson today launched its long-in-the-making sequel smartphone. The XPERIA X2 updates to Windows Mobile 6.5 and gets the more touch-friendly interface changes of the new OS. The company's own panel interface has an improved panel interface with a more natural, Cover Flow-like navigation in landscape mode and time-sensitive organization that can bring different panels to the front, such as games in the after hours. It can also bring up missed calls or messages quickly and has speedier access to media playback.
Nokia is now offering its entry-level XpressMusic handset, the 5530 XM for pre-orders on its website. Introduced in mid-June, the phone retains the Symbian S60 operating system like the original 5800 XM. It has a 2.9-inch, 640x360 resolution touchscreen display and uses Wi-Fi as well as EDGE for connecting to the Internet instead of a faster 3G network connection to keep its price down. There is also no GPS receiver.
The iPhone 3GS continues to be unavailable in much of Canada, writes the Globe and Mail. Despite promises of continual shipments, Rogers says it is once again out of stock for the iPhone 3GS -- launched in June of this year -- and even the iPhone 3G, released in 2008. The carrier's sub-brand, Fido, is still said to have some 3G models in stock.
iPhone owners in the New York City and San Francisco Bay areas are starting to see much needed improvements in the quality of AT&T's 3G network, according to reports received by Electronista and others. Carrier spokesman Seth Bloom recently indicated that parts of New York City have received 3G over the 850MHz frequency on their network and that some users are noticing a much more reliable signal than they have before. Which areas have been upgraded haven't been detailed, nor has the timetable for remaining updates.
Rogers this morning switched on its promised 50Mbps Ultimate tier of cable Internet service. The $150 monthly DOCSIS 3.0-based service is the fastest outside of Quebec and is now known to have the largest transfer cap: increasing it from the initially proposed 120GB, the provider now gives users up to 175GB of data in either direction before overage fees start. Unlike some providers, Rogers caps its overage fees at $25 extra per month.
Despite claims to the contrary, Apple's iPhone is ultimately hurting the carriers that have picked it up, a Strand Consult study says. The analyst group maintains that "not one" provider offering the iPhone has seen a financial or market share boost since adding it to their rosters. In many cases, these companies have either seen reduced profit from the heavy subsidies needed for the iPhone or haven't seen the surge in data revenues they expected from customers moving to more expensive smartphone plans.
Private standards groups today revealed Palm's intention to launch the Pre for North American GSM carriers. A new version known as P100UNA has been listed at the Wi-Fi Alliance, the Bluetooth SIG and TÜVRheinland and, given that a P100UEU version exists for the European GSM launch, confirms that a North American GSM model is enroute. It's assumed this version will have HSPA-based 3G on the 850MHz band used by AT&T and Rogers.
Despite official denials, an 8GB iPhone 3GS remains in Rogers databases, according to reports. The Canadian carrier has disavowed or refused to comment on several previous leaks, which have hinted that current 16 and 32GB phones could be joined by a cheaper model. The new 3GS would allegedly replace the $99 iPhone 3G once stocks of the latter are depleted.
Canadian wireless provider Rogers has added the Samsung Hype A256 to its Pay-As-You-Go lineup. The entry-level candybar device features a QWERTY keyboard and has quad-band GSM/EDGE connectivity. Otherwise, there is Bluetooth support, a VGA camera with 4x zoom and just 16MB of internal memory supplanted by a microSD memory card slot.
Rogers may have inadvertently revealed its plans this morning with a splash page supporting recent leaks of an 8GB iPhone 3GS. Clicking on the "iPhone Comparison" tab shows a list of capacities that shows both the iPhone 3GS and the earlier 3G coming in 8GB form. Most of the carrier's material (including the same section) still shows only the older phone having an 8GB capacity, suggesting that the information is either incorrect or else was posted prematurely.
Bell on Thursday said it had signed its first-ever roaming deal with AT&T and may have dropped further clues of an early launch for its HSPA-based 3G network. The agreement will let the Canadian provider's customers use AT&T's network when traveling to the US and, reciprocally, will let Americans use Bell's upcoming network. AT&T has until now been limited to roaming deals with Rogers due to the absence of any other compatible networks in the country.
Comcast today revealed that the rollout of its much faster DOCSIS 3.0 cable Internet service is significantly ahead of its original timetable. The provider told BBR that while it had originally predicted covering 65 percent of its subscribers with the added speed by the end of this year, it now expects to reach 80 percent in the same timeframe. The next area to get a DOCSIS 3.0 upgrade should be made public in weeks, the company said.
(Updated with Rogers statement) A rumor suggests that Rogers, if not more carriers, may be replacing the 8GB iPhone 3G with a 3GS equivalent. Screen caps of what appears to be an internal website for the Canadian provider have it already launching the more advanced but lower capacity phone and deliberately bleeding stock of the old model until their supplies run dry. According to the BGR tip, stores are under strict orders not to sell new models in advance even if they arrive before the older phones disappear.
Canadian carrier Rogers has extended a number of key iPhone 3GS promotions -- originally set to expire today -- until September 15th, both under its own branding and that of Fido. A $500 subsidy is available to people who bought an iPhone 3G between July 11th and September 30th of last year, and also spend at least $100 per month. Eligible shoppers are penalized with a one-year contract extension.
Two separate slips have confirmed a pair of new BlackBerries in development for the new future. The first confirms that a CDMA version of the Curve 8520 is in development. It should be fundamentally similar, but according to BGR will be one of the first devices to reflect Verizon's acceptance of Wi-Fi and will come with both the short-range networking as well as EVDO-based 3G and GPS. The lower resolution 320x240 screen, 2-megapixel camera and optical trackpad will still carry over, but it's now expected to be one of the first phones loaded with BlackBerry OS 5.0.
Rogers on Tuesday became the first North American cellular carrier to start deploying HSPA+ on its 3G network. A gradual rollout will bring the Canadian provider's network up to the standard's peak download rates 21Mbps, or about three times the speed of its existing 7.2Mbps network. While unstated, the network should also provide upstream speeds of up to 5.76Mbps in peak conditions.
Novatel today catered to subscribers on AT&T and Rogers with a new version of its MiFi pocket router for HSPA-based 3G. The MiFi 2372 HSPA gives subscribers on these networks up to 7.2Mbps HSDPA to share with as many as five devices by creating its own Wi-Fi hotspot. It also adds full HSUPA for up to 5.76Mbps upstream should either carrier adopt the standard in the future.
The heavily rumored iPod touch with camera is not only being manufactured but should gain a microphone that might enable video, according to a rumor late this past evening. A purportedly "well-connected" insider says that media players with both media capture features are already being made in China and that they should ship within two to three months, keeping in step with Apple's recent practice of launching new iPods in September. Capacities and prices aren't part of the Wired leak.
Apple could dictate its own terms should it switch to Verizon Wireless, says TechCrunch . The website suggests that AT&T has numerous shortcomings, such as recent problems with the carriers visual voicemail service, that could cost it the iPhone when its contract expires next year. AT&T is currently attempting to press Apple for a contract extension, but TechCrunch points out that a contract renewal could be an unwise decision that would cause users to drop AT&T and the iPhone associated with it.
Nokia's replacement for its E71 business phone, the E72, has now passed FCC testing in North America Model (NAM) trim, indicating it will likely soon come to North American wireless providers with native 3G. Compared to the E71, the E72 is near identical in terms of dimensions, though the former's directional pad is replaced with an optical trackpad. It receives a new e-mail client from the E75 with a number of improvements as well as new instant messaging support.
RIM's BlackBerry Storm sequel has gained further details with a combination of new hardware details and its presence in the retail system. A slip now titles it the BlackBerry 9550 and confirms many of the technical details to BGR, which involve the same dual-mode CDMA and GSM world roaming support but which adds Wi-Fi to the 3G option on both. A 3.2-megapixel camera, a 480x360 touchscreen and BlackBerry OS 5.0 should all reach the device.
Rogers today became the first Canadian cell carrier with a subsidized 3G netbook. Its version of the HP Mini 110 has a built-in 7.2Mbps HSPA modem that connects to the provider's network but is is otherwise close to the factory version of the regular netbook, which has the by now ubiquitous 1.6GHz Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive and Windows XP Home install common to most mini notebooks. No custom software has been added.
(Update with more info) Rogers today became the first cable provider in Canada to offer a full-spec DOCSIS 3.0 Internet service and rolled out a special new cable modem to match. The 50Mbps tier more than doubles the fastest service Rogers has had before and matches both the maximum speed of Comcast's service in the US as well as the pre-3.0 service offered by Videotron in Quebec. The company intends to charge $150 per month but with only a modest increase to the bandwidth cap, which climbs to 125GB. An initial rollout is due for mid-August in the greater Toronto area with other areas to come later.
Vodafone's research director Professor Michael Walker today told the Wireless 2.0 conference that 4G cellular data based on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard is not only better at keeping speeds in the real world but has the potential to replace wired Internet access. The official explained that the average download bandwidth in a recent field trial was about 15Mbps, or several times faster than good 3G access. While well short of the 100Mbps theoretical peak, he added that it was much improved over 3G behavior, where actual speeds have often been further away from the 3.6Mbps and higher often promised for those networks.
Sales of the Palm Pre have cooled off to where supply is keeping up with demand, JPMorgan analyst Paul Coster said in an investment note today. He believes that about 270,000 Pres will have shipped in the first month of sales but that waiting lists have largely been reduced, revealing a near-ideal balance in what Palm ships each day. About 40,000 of the smartphones are estimated to now ship each week through Sprint directly, while more should also arrive through Best Buy and Radio Shack.
Palm's UK event for the Pre will likely reveal O2 to be the sole carrier if tips are authentic. More than one source has told The Guardian that earlier rumors are true and that Palm is likely to imitate Apple's strategy for the island nation, which both gives O2 sole network rights and Carphone Warehouse the only third-party rights to sell the phone on O2's behalf. Reportedly, it has also echoed O2's coup for the iPhone by thwarting an attempt by Orange to land the same deal.
Sony Ericsson in a quiet launch has revealed the T715. The slider is aimed at the upper mid-range with 3G over HSPA, a 3.2-megapixel camera and a partly aluminum shell. Although it doesn't have fully independent GPS, the phone ships preloaded with Google Maps for basic navigation and will geotag photos. AccuWeather and YouTube apps are also onboard.
Telus could leap on the iPhone almost as soon as it has a network ready to support the device, a rumor floated today suggests. A historically reliable source of leaks on Howard Forums claims a Telus executive has said the carrier will pick up rights for the iPhone almost immediately after its HSPA-based network goes live in October and could support the handset. As Telus doesn't have a GSM network, the iPhone would have to use the new 3G service for both calling and data.
HTC's first Android phone, the Dream (or T-Mobile G1), was ostensibly pitched as an "iPhone killer" but was really an alternative to a legion of lookalike Windows Mobile phones. The Magic -- called the myTouch 3G in the US -- encroaches much more directly on Apple's territory. It's thinner, sleeker and the first Android device to depend on a touchscreen keyboard. But do the form factor and a host of much-needed software features like video recording manage to unseat Apple from the hearts and minds of at least some prospective customers, or is it arriving too late? We find out in our complete review.
