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Mobile Miscellany: week of September 3rd, 2012

Zachary Lutz
Updated ·4 min read

Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This past week, AT&T revealed grand plans for LTE expansion that'll continue through the end of the year and the Galaxy Reverb for Virgin Mobile officially went up for preorder. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of September 3rd, 2012.

AT&T commits to new LTE expansion, all due by year's end

AT&T may not have the same level of LTE presence as Verizon, but this week, the carrier issued new commitments to bring its true 4G network to many deserving cities. The following is a list of areas to receive LTE coverage from AT&T by the end of 2012.

  • Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minn.

  • Birmingham, Ala.

  • Denver and Boulder, Colo.

  • Boise, Idaho

  • Omaha, Neb.*

  • Memphis, Tenn.

  • Louisville, Ky.

  • Knoxville, Tenn.

  • Anchorage, Alaska*

  • Portland, Ore.

  • Sacramento, Calif.

  • Seattle, Wash.

  • Tucson, Ariz.

  • Modesto, Calif.*

  • Salinas, Seaside and Monterey, Calif.

  • Honolulu, Hawaii

  • Albuquerque, N.M.

  • Fayetteville, N.C.

  • Charleston, N.C.

  • El Paso, Texas

  • Milwaukee, Wis.

  • Tulsa, Okla.

  • Green Bay, Wis.

  • Little Rock, Ark.

  • Columbia, S.C.

  • Bridgeport, Conn.

  • Northern New Jersey*

  • Rochester, N.Y.

  • Fort Meyers, Fla.

  • Providence, R.I.

  • Syracuse, N.Y.

  • Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Wilmington, Del.

  • Philadelphia, Pa.

  • Detroit, Mich.

  • Toledo, Ohio

  • Hartford, Conn.

  • Albany, N.Y.

  • Grand Rapids, Mich.

  • New Haven, Conn.

  • Springfield, Mass.

  • Nashua, N.H.

  • Bakersfield, Calif.*

  • Harrisburg, Pa.

  • Reading, Pa.

  • Columbus, Ohio

  • Lancaster, Pa.

  • Jacksonville, Fla.*

  • Pittsburgh, Pa.

  • Northern Montgomery County, Md.

  • Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

  • Allentown, Pa.

  • Gary, Ind.

* LTE network is now officially live [AT&T press release (multiple)]

Samsung Galaxy Reverb preorder now available from Virgin Mobile for $250

Virgin Mobile's latest smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Reverb, is now available for preorder with a $250 price tag. The phone offers Android 4.0, which is complemented by a 1.4GHz CPU, a 5-megapixel camera and a 4-inch touchscreen. Its preorder date has slipped once already, but the carrier expects to begin shipments of the Galaxy Reverb on September 19th. [Virgin Mobile]

Verizon Wireless further enhances LTE presence

While AT&T may be getting serious about its LTE coverage, Verizon Wireless is in the enviable position of being able to fine tune and enhance its 4G presence to lesser-served areas. The following is a list of cities and towns to receive new LTE coverage (or commitment for a near-term arrival) from Verizon this week.

  • Communities near St. Louis, Mo.

  • Richmond, Ind.

  • Rochester, N.Y.

  • Sunbury, Pa.

  • Stroudsburg, Pa.

  • Pottsville, Pa.

  • Williamsport, Pa.

  • Jackson County, Mich.

  • Syracuse, N.Y.

  • Binghamton, N.Y.

  • Greene County, N.Y.

  • Billings and Helena, Mont.

  • Cheyenne, Wyo.

  • Pueblo, Colo.

  • West Desert, Utah

  • Greeley, Colo.

  • Aspen, Colo.

  • American Falls, Idaho

  • Longmont, Colo.

  • Merced, Calf.

  • Ellijay, Ga.

  • Bainbridge, Ga.

  • Moultrie, Ga.

  • Statesboro, Ga.

  • Americus, Ga.

  • Tifton, Ga.

[Verizon Wireless press release (multiple)]

LG Optimus L3 tipped for Rogers Wireless with $125 no-contract price

Mobile Miscellany week of September 3rd, 2012

We can't call this one official just yet, but a tipster for MobileSyrup has outed LG's Optimus L3 as a future arrival for Rogers Wireless. The entry-level smartphone includes Android 2.3, a 3.2-inch QVGA display, a 3-megapixel camera and what'll likely be a 600MHz CPU. No, it'll never cause the envy of others, but with a no-contract price of $125, it may fit the bill as a starter smartphone. [MobileSyrup]

FCC outs Alcatel One Touch Shockwave for US Cellular

Mobile Miscellany week of September 3rd, 2012

The Alcatel One Touch Shockwave for US Cellular recently flew through the FCC without even a hint of secrecy. A rebadged version of the One Touch 988, it'll feature Android 2.3, a Qualcomm MSM7627T SoC with an 800MHz CPU, a 3.5-inch HVGA display, a 3.2-megapixel camera, 512MB of RAM, microSD support and a 1,400mAh battery. In addition to support for US Cellular's bands, it'll offer 802.11a/b/n (WiFi), A-GPS and Bluetooth 3.0. [Phone Scoop]

Bell Mobility to gain Motorola Motoluxe in white

Mobile Miscellany week of September 3rd, 2012

MobileSyrup has revealed that a white Motorola Motoluxe smartphone will soon join the traditional black variant at Bell Mobility in Canada. Set for arrival on September 17th, the Android 2.3 phone features an 800MHz CPU, a 4-inch, 854 x 480 display, an 8 megapixel camera, a front-facing VGA shooter and a 1,400 mAh battery. Pricing is said to remain the same at $300 outright or free with a three-year agreement. [MobileSyrup]