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iPad going on sale in Verizon Wireless and AT&T stores October 28 (update: Verizon data pricing)
It might not be the Apple-Verizon tie-in you are most anxious to see happen, but the big red network has gone official with its plans to offer the iPad in its brick-and-mortar stores starting on October 28. VZW will be bundling the WiFi-only iPads with its own MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot with pricing set at $630, $730 and $830 for the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB variants of Apple's tablet, respectively. There's only one access plan on offer for now, granting users 1GB of monthly data allowance in exchange for $20 and no contractual commitments. AT&T will match the release date and upfront prices for each model, although its iPads will be of the WiFi + 3G variety, eschewing the need for a bundled MiFi; plan pricing will continue at 200MB for $15 or 2GB for $25 monthly. Full press releases follow after the break. Update: According to an FAQ on Verizon's website, spotted by AppleInsider, there are a pair of other service plans after all: $35 for 3GB and $50 for 5GB, each with penalties of $10 per gigabyte of overage. As the publication notes, these are pretty nifty deals compared to Verizon's usual data rates, however the FAQ also stipulates that "customers will only be eligible for the new bundle data plans when purchasing the iPad and MiFi 2200 promotional bundle."
Huawei Ascend is the $150 Android smartphone you might actually want to own
When the Huawei Ascend launches on prepaid carrier Cricket Wireless later this month, it will cost $150. That's not after a rebate or with a two-year agreement, mind you -- for three portraits of Ulysses S. Grant, you actually own the phone. Of course, you always get what you pay for to some degree, and the Ascend certainly isn't a top-tier device -- it's a humble HVGA handset made of cheap plastic that felt like it wouldn't survive a drop. The 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen was dull and actually slightly rough to the touch, and the 3.2 megapixel fixed-focus camera around back doesn't shoot VGA video (just CIF), let alone quality snapshots. Still, it's got physical buttons in all the right places (including a bendy metal Send / Menu / Back / End panel on the bottom) and a surprisingly responsive Android 2.1 UI with a few neat quirks -- like a nine-panel home screen -- so we could honestly see this EV-DO Rev. A handset being a pretty fantastic Android for first-time users. We'd choose it over the Motorola Citrus in a heartbeat, that's for sure, especially when Cricket gets its Sprint roaming agreement in order later this year. Of course, that's assuming the Huawei Ideos doesn't arrive at an even cheaper pricepoint. We've got a brief video of the Ascend after the break, as well as a MiFi-like Huawei device called the Crosswave -- won't you give it a look? %Gallery-104369% Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Verizon scoop extravaganza: Motorola Venus with portrait QWERTY, Stingray LTE tablet, and more?
We've been tipped by multiple sources today on some interesting developments in Verizon's roadmap over the next couple quarters, and if you're a BlackBerry fan, an Android fan, or a fan of exceptionally fast data, you're probably going to want to tune in. Let's get right into the meat of it, shall we? Follow the break!
Vodafone R201 mobile WiFi hotspot review
Mobile broadband has come a long way since the early (and expensive) attempts at integrating 3G modules into laptops; today, cubicle dwellers are liberated by cheaper mobile data, along with the abundance of 3G dongles and the emerging mobile WiFi (ergo "MiFi") hotspot devices. It's no secret that Huawei's been flirting with both Three and Vodafone for some time, but it was only recently that the manufacturer also made a MiFi -- the R201 -- for Vodafone (the carrier's lesser-known MiFI 2352 in Spain is from Novatel). The question is: does this new HSPA MiFi have enough meat to steal the limelight from Three? Read on to find out.%Gallery-100673%
Right on time: Verizon phasing out Pre Plus, Storm2, Curve 8530, others?
Judging from some documents we've received, Big Red is looking to clear out a lot of inventory right about now -- presumably to make room for some upcoming models, some of which we've already heard about through the grapevine. Specifically, the Pre Plus along with the BlackBerry Storm2 and Curve 8530 are apparently marked "Phase Out"; in the case of the Pre Plus, we know Verizon's site has had it marked out of stock for a little while now, while rumors of a Storm3 and Curve 9330 have been floating around for some time. Also on the chopping block are a couple netbooks, a USB modem, and the MiFi, a device we've heard would be replaced with the ZTE-sourced, dual-mode Fivespot in the near future. All makes sense, doesn't it? Follow the break for a second shot. [Thanks, Wildkat]
Vodafone launches R201 mobile WiFi hotspot in the UK, Three shrugs
Vodafone's no stranger to the mobile broadband scene, but until now, British road warriors have had to rely on Three for a mobile WiFi hotspot solution. Enter the R201 modem -- just as we heard in our exclusive leak last month, said device from Huawei can host a party of up to five WiFi devices, and it'll do HSDPA 7.2 Mbps plus HSUPA 5.76 Mbps for up to four hours on a single charge. Sadly, there's no pay-and-go option just yet, so buyers will have to live under Vodafone's roof for 18 months with a choice of three room sizes: £15 ($23.51), £20 ($31.34) or £25 ($39.18) for 3GB, 4GB and 5GB (with free device) of monthly bandwidth, respectively. It sure is a fair bit of investment here, so before you hit the buy button, be sure to keep an eye out for our forthcoming review later this week.
Huawei's E583C mobile hotspot: looks so good, you'll wish it weren't portable
Okay, so maybe that's a stretch, but there's no question that Huawei's newest mobile hotspot is indeed a looker. Blessed with a silver and black motif as well as a subtle 1-inch color OLED for providing status information at a glance, the new E583C follows in the footsteps of the E585 and Vodafone's R201. Functionally, it's fairly predictable, offering a 3.5G HSPA connection to up to five devices over WiFi and a sixth via a direct USB connection. There's support for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms, with a promise of hitting upwards of 5.76Mbps (up) and 7.2Mbps (down). Huawei's also tossing in a microSD card slot, and if you aren't turned on by MiFi-esque mobile routers, the newly introduced E173u USB modem just might do the trick. Catch 'em later this month in Hong Kong for HK$1,380 ($177) and HK$498 ($64), respectively.
My3G bypasses 3G restrictions
This morning, I learned several things about using FaceTime in public. First, I realized that holding an iPhone a foot or two away from your face and talking tends to make you speak very loudly. This, in turns, tends to annoy other patrons in the restaurant. And this, in turn, tends to attract the same kind of people who love to stop and watch accidents happening. Second, I learned that keeping your arm elevated as you FaceTime is really, really awkward (not to mention tiring). As you're probably aware, if you've used FaceTime for any length of time, if you don't hold your unit fairly high up, you tend to share unflattering nasal visuals.
Verizon FiveSpot CDMA / GSM mobile WiFi hotspot leaks out
Looks like Verizon's about to take its mobile data game worldwide -- we just got this snap of the "FiveSpot," a "global ready" mobile WiFi hotspot . That certainly sounds like a hybrid CDMA / UMTS mobile hotspot to us, which makes sense -- Verizon already sells a bunch of world phones with dual CDMA and GSM radios, so a globetrotting riff on the MiFi fits right in. Based on the name, we'd guess this supports five simultaneous users, but that's a guess. No idea when this will hit or how much it might cost, but we'll keep our eyes open -- check the box shot after the break. [Thanks, RWN]
iPhone 4 FaceTime over a MiFi connection: because we had to try
Okay, so you're starting to come down from your post-purchase iPhone 4 gadget high and you're getting into the habit of using it just like you would any other phone. FaceTime was a neat trick on day one, sure -- but if there's a single thing significantly limiting its day-to-day usefulness, it's the fact that you can only use it over WiFi at the moment. Apple claims that they've got more work to do with carriers to make it usable over cellular, but how legit is that claim? Seeing how MiFis and other mobile hotspot devices have quickly become a staple of doing business for us, we had a few lying around and figured we'd give it a shot: connect the phone to the MiFi, connect the MiFi to the 3G network, and give FaceTime a whirl. Our first attempt -- a call between Chris in the US with a Verizon MiFi and Richard in the UK -- failed pretty miserably (unlike our transatlantic Fring call), but a second call entirely within the UK using a 3-branded MiFi from Huawei worked quite well, as did a US-to-US Verizon call between Chris and Ross. In other words, it's definitely possible, but you might not get as flawless of an experience as you'll get with a nice, fat landline data connection backing you up. Follow the break for all three videos.
Virgin Mobile's pre-paid MIFI spotted, purchased, unboxed, and photographed
Sure, Virgin Mobile's MIFI isn't due out until Monday -- but that hasn't stopped one lucky shopper from finding one on the shelves of his local Best Buy yesterday. The enigmatic reader (only identified by the initials "NS") even went so far as to include some unboxing pictures for our (and your) pleasure. Between this, and Sprint's recent Beyond Talk announcement, it looks like 2010 is shaping up to be a good year for pre-paid wireless. [Thanks, NS]
Virgin Mobile launching prepaid MiFi next week
The spotlight on Sprint's MiFi has definitely faded since the launch of the Overdrive and EVO 4G -- both of which can kick it into high 4G gear when in range -- but Sprint subsidiary Virgin Mobile is bringing Novatel's groundbreaking mobile hotspot back into the forefront by taking it to the prepaid world. What that means is that you'll be paying $149 for the MiFi itself -- contract free, naturally -- plus any of a number of prepaid data rates ranging from $10 for 100MB all the way up to $60 for 5GB. It's said to be launching next Monday online and in Best Buy and Radio Shack locations -- so if you're an occasional data user, this might be about the best option on the block.
iPad hacked with Verizon MiFi innards
Here's a mod for everyone crying into their Rice Krispies because the iPad isn't on Verizon. Someone at the Dish Network Store has taken apart a Verizon MiFi and crammed its brain into a 3G iPad (after removing the AT&T parts, of course). The result is a Verizon-powered iPad that's also a mobile hotspot called the "iPiFi." The MiFi's innards are narrower than the iPad's AT&T parts, but also taller. Getting it in place meant removing a portion of the iPad's speaker assembly. The modder claims that the effect on sound quality was minimal, and we can only take his word on it. Those of you with a MiFi know that it shuts itself off after 30 minutes of inactivity. How would or soldering superhero deal with that? Why, install a simple switch from Radio Shack and poke it through the slot meant for a SIM card, of course. Now the iPiFi's connectivity can be restarted with the flick of a fingernail. Still, two problems remained. One was the MiFi's blinding green power indicator light, which was visible through the display. That was easily removed with needlenose pliers. Finally, the MiFi was connected to the iPad's internal antenna which provides plenty of reach. That's all cool, but what has he lost? His warranties, for one. GPS is also out the window. But those are small prices to pay for such a cool mod. An iPad that provides Wi-Fi connectivity for itself and four other devices? Yes, please.
Verizon MiFi surgically implanted in iPad to create world's first bionic tablet
Sometimes, hackers hack without any constructive purpose -- they do it just because they can. This, however, decidedly isn't such a case; in fact, it's one of the more enviable hackjobs we've seen in recent weeks. Basically, a dude split open his 3G iPad, removed the AT&T modem, and installed the circuit board out of a Verizon MiFi, providing power from the iPad's battery and hooking in the borrowed AT&T antenna for hotspot range. The hack wasn't without its trials and tribulations -- the MiFi's green LED initially shone through the back of the iPad's display, for instance -- but ultimately, the proud owner ended up with a fully functional iPad that doubles as a Verizon WiFi hotspot. It's not exactly turnkey enough to recommend to lay folk, but at least Verizon customers can take heart knowing this kind of craziness is possible if you've got the stones for it. [Thanks, Peter]
Vodafone's R201 mobile router has OLED display, microSD sharing
Novatel's MiFi line has set a standard for the way mobile 3G routers are expected to look and work, but let's be honest -- there's always room for improvement. We've been tipped today with word of Vodafone's R201 model sourced from Huawei, a device we've previously seen in the FCC with support for full HSPA. It'll handle up to five users at once -- pretty standard for these kinds of devices -- and feature an Overdrive-like OLED display up top and charging / tethering via micro-USB. That's not the neat part, though: it's said that the R201 will be the first mobile router to feature a microSD slot that can be shared among connected devices, effectively turning the whole setup into a micro-NAS. What say you, Novatel -- time for a MiFi 2? [Thanks, anonymous tipster]
Huawei E5830 MiFi / i-Mo gets free unlock tool, parties outside the USA
Nope, this isn't the MiFi that you guys are familiar with in the States; everyone else -- mainly 3 / Hutchison customers -- are given this cute-looking Huawei E5830 HSPA modem instead. If you want to join this exotic MiFi party but would rather boogie with a different carrier, then fear not, as ex-iPhone hacker Zibri's just released a free unlock tool. Sadly, it's a bit of a hunting game -- plug in your MiFi (with its preloaded SIM card inside) into a Windows machine, launch the program, find Zibri's blog post that matches the random date picked by the program, type in the title and you'll get the unlock button. Of course, using this hack may invalidate your warranty, so proceed with caution.
Bell Novatel MiFi 2372 deemed unsafe for human use, recalled
We knew there had to be a catch with the Novatel MiFi 3G routers -- they were just too convenient. But, little did we know that catch involved danger to our health and wellbeing! Bell Mobility has been sending UPS couriers around (real people holding envelopes, not unicorns) to owners of the Novatel MiFi 2372, delivering dire-sounding letters (a copy can be found after the break) telling them to discontinue use of their routers due to faulty battery packs and, if that wasn't enough, they were all remotely deactivated yesterday morning. Owners are told to send their MiFis back to the company for replacement, a process said to take a whopping six to eight weeks. Novatel is sending U998 Turbo Sticks to those affected for use in the interim, but that doesn't do you much good if your device lacks USB ports, like our unfortunate tipster's iPad. We can understand the frustration of giving up your gadget for two months, the alternative doesn't sound too appealing either. Update: Kevin from Novatel dropped us a comment with the company's official statement. We have it after the break. Update 2: A Novatel rep would like us to clarify that the couriers in question are from UPS, and also come equipped with return envelopes for the affected 2372s. So, if anyone from FedEx tries to deliver any documentation about this situation, it's probably a trap. [Thanks, Justin]
Secrets of the Chumby One: it can be turned into a 3G router
Need another reason to plop down a hundred bucks for a Chumby One? How about the fact that it can be turned into a 3G router without so much as a few minor tweaks? Of course, you'll also need a 3G USB modem, but the only other modifications required are a few changes to the Network Config settings, and a quick command in the drop-down console to configure the Chumby One as an access point. Add in a rechargeable battery and you've got a genuine MiFi alternative -- albeit perhaps the bulkiest one ever, which may or may not last for more than an hour. Hit up the link below for the complete details.
Netcomm MyZone hands-on
Netcomm was at CTIA showing off its 3G pocket router, and while they admit it apes the MiFi, it builds on it in some pretty useful ways. Battery life purportedly outdoes its rival, with four hours use, even with multiple devices connected -- and when your batteries finally do tank, connecting it to your laptop will let it recharge and still allow wireless connectivity. The MyZone ships in both US and global 3G variants with both also packing quad-band EDGE, and 802.11g WiFi. Another handy feature -- at least for those that travel -- is the MyZone's ability to sort out the APN details for whatever carrier's SIM you happen to put in it, so using it is as simple as popping in your SIM and connecting. We didn't have an opportunity to get connected to it and give it a proper test drive, but we're waiting for one to arrive and as soon as we do we'll let you know how we get on. Few more pics right after the break. %Gallery-89027%
Four reasons I'm not waiting for a 3G iPad
When I heard that a 3G iPad would be coming out, the first thought that came to my mind was "Why?" In my decidedly warped mind, I equate the use cases for an iPad more to my MacBook Air than I do to my iPhone. While I was on my recent vacation, I got into a discussion with a fellow cruiser who was going to wait for the 3G model before taking the iPad plunge (as Macworld's Jason Snell suggested). He wanted to know why I wasn't waiting, so I gave him the following reasons: 1) I want to gloat. Yep, while those other people are waiting another month to pay an additional US$130 to get their 3G iPads, I'm going to have a month to play with my iPad, watch movies, see how well it works when blogging or writing, and otherwise just show off with the damned thing. Woo-hoooo! When it comes to Apple technology, I always demand the latest and greatest, and the iPad is no exception. In fact, I haven't been this excited about a new Apple product since 1993 when the Newton MessagePad hit the streets.
