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Mobilicity to upgrade network to HSPA+ 21Mbps later this year
Canadian AWS provider Mobilicity is moving up in this world -- up in speeds, at least. The carrier announced its intentions to upgrade its network to "4G" later this year, offering peak download speeds of 21Mbps. When we reached out for clarification, we were informed that Mobilicity is actually deploying HSPA+ 21Mbps: according to a spokesperson, it "will leverage the full capabilities of our HSPA+ network." It's a hefty improvement over its current 7.2Mbps status, but the usual "4G or faux-G" argument still applies here. No specifics on exact timing or breadth of coverage were given, but feel free to peruse the press release below.
New iPad has 'world ready' 3G, LTE for Verizon, Rogers, Bell, Telus and AT&T
At Apple's ongoing press conference, the company has just revealed its new retina display-equipped iPad will feature high speed LTE connections on Verizon, Rogers, Bell, Telus and AT&T networks, as well as 3G that works around the world. It brings "the most bands ever", but it looks like we'll still be looking at separate devices that work with either Verizon and AT&T, but not both. Besides the 3.1Mbps EV-DO and 7.2Mbps HSPA that were on the iPad 2, the new slates add 21Mbps HSPA+, 42Mbps DC-HSDPA and 73Mbps LTE connections. Not sure you need that speed on your tablet? Maybe your other devices will appreciate it, since these also have personal hotspot functionality built-in.For more coverage of Apple's iPad event, visit our hub!
Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket review
Who knew AT&T's version of the Samsung Galaxy S II had a younger, larger brother on the way? Just a hair over a month after the carrier launched its flagship Android device, it's already set for another go-round. This one, the Galaxy S II Skyrocket, offers a larger display and "true" 4G connectivity using LTE -- yes, it's a pioneer blazing a new trail to Ma Bell's wild and untamed frontier, right alongside the HTC Vivid. It's time to answer the burning questions: what kinds of speeds are possible on AT&T's LTE network? Is the series' legendary battery life up to snuff on the next-gen network? Join us below to find out. %Gallery-138892%
Motorola Atrix 2 just a few clicks away from your purchase at AT&T for $100
The latest high-end Android phone on AT&T's lineup definitely looks like a hundred bucks, and fortunately it won't cost you a penny more -- on the contrary, it'll be a penny less before taxes and fees get involved in the ruckus. We're talking about the Motorola Atrix 2, announced and shown off last week at CTIA Enterprise & Applications. If you're anxious to get a new phone and one of them fancy iDevices aren't doing it for you, this 4.3-inch qHD handset with a dual-core 1GHz CPU, 21Mbps HSPA+, an 8MP camera with 1080p HD video capture and front-facing cam, Android 2.3 and a full gigabyte of RAM will be a stunning option at a midrange price. Envisioning a beautiful future together with the Atrix 2 right now? Check it out (and checkout) at the link below.
Motorola Atrix 2 hands-on at CTIA E&A 2011 (video)
Motorola and AT&T are at it again with their Android shenanigans, this time following up the Atrix 4G with something a tad more... Atrix-y. Indeed, we're referring to the sequel of February's smash hit, honorably called the Motorola Atrix 2, announced at this week's CTIA Enterprise & Applications. We had the opportunity to get some brief time with it, and it's a fair device worthy of the family name: the 4.3-inch device feels good in the hand, and closely resembles the Photon 4G, only without the cutout corners. The sequel swaps processors, trading the 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU for a TI OMAP model with the same clock speed, and offers a full gigabyte of RAM to go along with it. Fortunately, the qHD 960 x 540 display looks gorgeous without its predecessor's Pentile clothes. Also gone? The fingerprint sensor. Oh, and don't be fooled by the missing "4G" moniker in the title; this little ditty packs a 21Mbps HSPA+ radio, up from 14Mbps in the first version. All in all, we like what we see here -- we enjoyed the brief time we had with the sequel. It seems as though Motorola learned some important lessons from the original device, but we'll reserve total judgement until our forthcoming review. Check out the full gallery and hands-on video (complete with bonus psychedelic carpet!) below. %Gallery-136335% Myriam Joire contributed to this post.
AT&T starts CTIA off right by introducing five new smartphones to its Android lineup
At CTIA last March, AT&T stole the show by announcing its intent to purchase T-Mobile US. This time around the news is a bit more modest, but the company is still hoping to give us a bit of a shock by introducing a litany of new handsets right on time for the holiday season. The carrier promised the release of 12 Android devices throughout the course of the year, and this week's announcement pushes the 2011 running count to 19. Not too shabby. Naturally, we're looking for quality more than quantity, so we couldn't wait to dig into the devices that are coming out. Check out all five after the break, along with a quick video teaser. %Gallery-136207%
Samsung Galaxy S II now available on AT&T for $200
October 2nd. Boy, the date sure creeped up on us, but it's here regardless -- the Samsung Galaxy S II has finally debuted on AT&T. Many of you who've been waiting several months for a subsidized GSM model in the US may find it hard to believe that you're able to head on over to the carrier's site and purchase one for a couple C-notes. Rest assured, we've checked it out ourselves and it's really, really there, waiting for you to click that "add to cart" button. So if the style and carrier fit your fancy, friends, carpe diem. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Three announces UK's first 21Mbps HSDPA+ hotspot for September arrival
Live in the UK and have a burning desire for faster internet while on the run? Excellent, because Three is taking an important step forward with the announcement of its new Huawei E586 MiFi. It's a mobile hotspot that supports 21.1Mbps HSDPA -- a first for the British market -- and is designed to complement the network's current upgrade of its equally brisk HSPA+ network. The device is slated for a September arrival and features a charging cradle that's designed to keep you in business beyond the stated 4.5 hour battery life. Additionally, an OLED screen on the hotspot's face displays information such as your data usage, current connection speed and password. Pricing hasn't been announced for the little one, but if we've piqued your curiosity, just follow the break for the full PR.
Samsung Galaxy S II headed to Bell on July 14
We've already heard an earful about which US carriers will likely score the Samsung Galaxy S II (and its rumored cousin), and now we're also getting some fuller details about its availability in Canada. Just days after SaskTel confirmed it'll sell the skinny, Gingerbread-packing phone next month, Tech F.I.B.E. is reporting that handset is headed to Bell's 21Mbps-capable network on July 14. If you remember, the dual-core phone won us over in our review with its svelte chassis, vibrant Super AMOLED Plus display, zippy performance, and impressive 8 megapixel camera. No word yet on how much Bell will charge for that superb chunk of hardware, but it looks like we'll find out in a matter of weeks.
Infuse 4G coming exclusively to Rogers, its first 21Mbps smartphone
If you're of the gambling type who wagered on Samsung's Canadian launch partner for the Infuse 4G, you can settle up those bets: the phone is coming exclusively to Rogers this summer -- and it's shipping with Gingerbread. For those familiar with AT&T's story, it should come as no surprise that the carrier quickly highlighted the Sammy as its first smartphone capable of pulling in 21Mbps -- good luck attaining those numbers, though. Sadly, the release date and price of this 4.5-inch beast remain up in the air, but that might just be an opening for some high-stakes speculation.
Sony's dual-screen S2 tablet hits the FCC, boasting AT&T-ready cellular frequencies
Regardless of how you might feel about the potential dangers of electromagnetic radiation, it came in mighty handy today -- identifying this brand-new Sony S2 tablet headed to the USA. The FCC recently got a glimpse at Sir Howard's dual-screen Honeycomb clamshell, and thanks to the public portion of their reports, we've got some crucial specs: the Sony "SGPT211US" will sport 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, and most tellingly, 850MHz and 1900MHz 3G bands suggesting a launch on AT&T. Now, those frequencies are certainly also used by several prominent Canadian carriers, but it just so happens that this particular model tested is a US variant -- with others designated for Canada and Japan -- and this particular cellular module is the Ericsson F5521gw, which means we could even be looking at 21Mbps HSPA+ speeds. Before you start speculating, however, there's one more crucial spec to share: the prototypes apparently have a removable 3080mAh lithium-ion battery pack. Swell.
Samsung Infuse 4G hands-on (updated)
We've seen it powered down and had it dangled in front of us and now, four months after its launch, we've finally had a chance to play with a real, working Samsung Infuse 4G. This 4.5-inch superphone -- the biggest Sammy has made to date -- feels surprisingly light in the hands, despite its width. That's largely thanks to its crazy-thin 8.99mm profile, along with a subtly textured backside. The Super AMOLED Plus display -- the same kind found on the smaller Droid Charge -- which promises to be brighter than Super AMOLED as well as easier to view in direct sunlight, is simply stunning. We were seriously impressed by the punchy colors and deep blacks, although that outdoor test will have to wait for another day. Blessedly, Samsung lets those vibrant colors speak for themselves -- it loaded the phone with Android 2.2 and abstained from saddling it with its TouchWiz UI made its TouchWiz UI less intrusive out of the box. The handset packs a single -- not dual -- core 1.2GHz processor, but you won't notice or care how many cores it has unless you're a benchmark junkie -- the phone launches applications briskly, while the touchscreen is responsive and always precise. We noticed nary a delay as we swiped among the seven home screens and three application pages. Speaking of speed, this is AT&T's first device to promise max speeds of 21 Mbps. Samsung held its press event in a New York City restaurant with poor reception, alas, and we have a feeling the crawling rates we observed off-camera don't do this phone justice. We're walking out of here with one of these bad boys, and we're stoked to fully put it through its paces over the next few days. We'll be back with an in-depth review, but in the meantime, have a gander at the gallery of close-up shots below. %Gallery-122940% Updated: Unlike the Inspire 4G, Captivate, and Aria, the Infuse 4G enables app sideloading and features the "Unknown Sources" menu item in the settings. Check out a photo of the appropriate settings screen in the updated gallery.
Samsung Infuse 4G is AT&T's first 21Mbps smartphone
AT&T has been adding a little dash (and asterisk) of 4G to all its phones as of late, but not all of those handsets are created equal -- the Motorola Atrix 4G, HTC Inspire 4G and HP Veer 4G are technically capable of only HSDPA Category 10, which equates to maximum download speeds of 14.4Mbps. Not so for the new Samsung Infuse 4G, as it's been boosted to HSDPA Category 14, which bumps its particular flavor of 4G up to 21Mbps. That has AT&T playing in the same arena as T-Mobile, assuming that your local cell towers have the fiber backhaul in place... and assuming that T-Mobile doesn't make good on promises to deliver some 42Mbps (HSPA+ Category 20) handsets before AT&T catches up. And yes, the uploads should be fine, too -- AT&T says the Infuse 4G supports HSUPA Category 6, which should give us maximum rates of 5.76Mbps when firing files into the clouds.
T-Mobile blesses contract-averse with Rocket 4G modem and better data plans
If you're waiting impatiently for the ability hook your laptop in to T-Mobile's blazingly fast 42Mbps HSPA+ network, you are going to have hold tight just a little bit longer. But here's some good news to tide you over: the 21Mbps capable Rocket 4G USB stick is here, and available starting April 17th with new prepaid data plans for those who prefer not to chain themselves to a two-year contract. The $30, 30-day plan will jump from 300MB to 1GB, and the $50 plan will be bumped from 1GB to 3GB. It's not as flashy as the 4G Mobile Hotspot nor as fast as the 42Mbps Rocket 3.0, but it's priced at a reasonable $59.99 -- and controlling the destiny of your mobile broadband soul must be worth something.
T-Mobile 4G Mobile Hotspot hitting stores tomorrow, just as expected
Don't ya just love it when a plan comes together? As expected, T-Mobile has confirmed that its 4G Mobile Hotspot will be hitting stores tomorrow. The ZTE-sourced sliver of plastic and OLED will be T-Mo's first such device and, with its HSPA+ radio, clocks in at 21Mbps, while an SD card slot means it can provide up to 32GB of wireless storage. You can read more about it from our hands-on, or just go get your own tomorrow for $79.99 -- after the requisite rebate and contract negotiations, of course.
T-Mobile Jet 2.0 HSPA+ modem lifts off March 23rd?
Two rumors do not make a USB dongle, but things certainly seem to add up -- one leaked document told us T-Mobile would get its first 21Mbps HSPA+ WWAN modem in March, and now a second one (once again courtesy of TmoNews) pegs the T-Mobile Jet's "value-conscious" successor for the 23rd of this month. Of course, if that first document was correct, there are faster 42Mbps modems just around the corner. Your call.
Ericsson's new mobile broadband modules: one for Oak Trail tablets, one supports remote kill
You may not expect a company like Ericsson to be making ways at Intel's Developer Forum, but that's exactly what's going down today in the City by the Bay. First up is the second generation F3307 mobile broadband module, which was designed to bring the goodness of 3G to upcoming Oak Trail tablets. It'll come pre-certified with the planet's largest HSPA networks, and we're told that it's engineered to sip (read: not gulp) energy while regaining connections just moments after a device snaps out of sleep mode. More interesting, however, is the October-bound F5521gw, which is hailed as the world's first embedded mobile broadband module "specifically designed for notebooks and other consumer electronics to support 21Mbps HSPA Evolution networks." The real kicker, however, is that it's interoperable with Intel Anti-Theft Technology, which enables an encrypted SMS to remotely disable the host machine... even when the OS isn't running. Hit the source links for all the nitty-gritty, or hop on past the break for the highlights. %Gallery-102171%
T-Mobile G2 gets a teaser site, will be network's first HSPA+ phone
It's called the G2, it'll run Android, and it's T-Mobile's first phone to ride those wannabe-4G HSPA+ airwaves. Those are the facts we have. As to the speculation, a previous roadmap leak and T-Mobile's own reps indicate it'll be a HTC-built handset set for a September release, while a careful eyeballing of that silhouette leads us to thinking it's the same device as the purported myTouch HD we've been seeing around here lately. Whatever it is, it's coming soon! [Thanks, Daniel]
T-Mobile expands HSPA+ footprint, now covers over 25 metro areas
The nation's number four carrier is once again pressing ahead with its big HSPA+ expansion, announcing today that speeds of up to 21Mbps (theoretically, of course) will be available in over 25 metropolitan areas covering more than 75 million folks by the end of the month. In conjunction with the expansion, that means that T-Mobile's webConnect Rocket USB modem will be available in the newly-upgraded markets, which include LA, Dallas, Atlanta, Houston, Seattle, Tampa, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Charlotte, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and New Orleans, among others. Interestingly, the carrier isn't shying away at all on its questionably-truthful "4G speeds" talk despite some pooh-poohing from rivals, so we'll have to see whether the claims hold up once the networks start to build up a little saturation. Follow the break for T-Mobile's release.
T-Mobile rolls out HSPA+ throughout Northeast, dares to say it offers '4G speeds'
With New York City proper under its belt, T-Mobile is turning its attention to much of the remainder of the nation's Northeast to be blessed with 21Mbps (theoretically, anyway) HSPA+ service. Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, much of Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island have all now gotten their switch flipped, with Boston and Washington, DC going live "in the coming weeks." The most interesting bit, though, might be the opening volley of T-Mobile's press release (which you can find after the break): "4G Speeds." With Sprint pimping WiMAX hard than ever and Verizon's first LTE markets coming any week now, it makes sense that T-Mobile would want to go on the offensive here -- but since both of those legit 4G techs can scale to higher speeds than HSPA can, it'll be interesting to see for how long the argument holds up.
