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Aircell releases GoGo tech roadmap: EV-DO Rev B in 2012, global satellite coverage by 2015
Aircell started putting its air-to-ground (ATG) mobile broadband technology in planes about three years ago, and its GoGo in-flight internet's reach has grown ever since -- all the way up to the home of mavericks and mama bears. Presently, the company's ambit is limited to the continental US, but that's about to change with the addition of Ka-band satellite coverage that will blanket the US in 2013 and the globe by 2015. Yes, dear readers, that means you'll be able to poke, tweet, and blog your way over international waters. Not only that, next year a new ATG-4 network using EV-DO Rev B promises four times the capacity of its trusty Rev A service we've come to know and love. The company says both upgrades are cheap and easy for carriers -- if only they were rapid as well. PR's after the break.
Reva's text-to-recharge electric car rolls to a standstill the US
Remember the electric car with the ingenious hook of a reserve battery that can only be accessed in the case of an emergency by texting or calling the car's manufacturer? Well, it appears that the project is having a bit of trouble getting off the ground in the US, though it shockingly doesn't have anything to do with that flagship feature. As the story goes, upstart Bannon Automotive signed a deal with the car's manufacturer, India-based Reva Electric Car Company, that gave it the exclusive license to manufacture and sell the car in the US, but Bannon is now alleging that Reva broke its agreements and says it's been left with no choice but to take legal action. Ill-conceived feature aside, the stakes in the lawsuit are fairly high, as Bannon Automotive was actually formed with the sole intention of bringing the Reva electric car to the US, and it had hoped to bring as many as 250 jobs to Onondaga County, New York.
To proceed another five miles, TXT 'DESIGN FLAW' to your Reva electric car
Not long ago a motorcycle with a fuel gauge was basically unheard of and even "low fuel" idiot lights were rare. Riders used advanced (and generally inaccurate) mathematics to calculate remaining mileage and, when the engine inevitably sputtered, switched over to a reserve tank that would let them nervously motor along a few more miles. Reva, an Indian company set to start shipping electric cars next year, plans to resurrect that most irritating sequence of events in their two-door NXR -- albeit with a modern spin. Now, instead of reaching down and turning a dial to get to that precious extra juice, drivers will need to call or text Reva HQ. Some overworked customer service agent will then remotely activate the "reserve battery," which surely doesn't even exist, to give a bit of extra range. We pity the fool who runs out of charge somewhere outside of cell range, but not quite as much as the designer who pitched this terrible idea.
Sprint swaggers, promises to be first to release 3G Femtocell in US
While AT&T's still claiming MicroCell will be out before the year's up, Sprint's bringing out the big words by boasting to Unstrung it'll be beating everyone to the market with its 3G femtocell solution. Company VP of device and technology development Mathew Oommen is pretty light on some of the finer details -- like actual release date, hardware supplier, pricing scheme, and pretty much every other piece of information we'd want -- but he did imply there'd be multiple options available for the CDMA EV-DO Rev. A extender, including a device more tailored for enterprise use. Look, you two can fight all you want over who gets first, but in the end, we just want our Pres and iPhones to live together and home in perfect-reception harmony -- think we can get that in time for Christmas?[Via Slashgear]
Motorola releases push-to-talk over EV-DO Rev. A solution
Tired of abysmal sound quality when yapping via PTT? Are your chirps not leading to responses in a timely fashion? Never fear, as Motorola is all over it. For better or worse (though probably better), Moto has released its next-generation push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) solution, which is optimized for CDMA 1x networks with EV-DO Rev. A data capability. According to the official verbiage, the new solution leverages the zippy protocol to provide "low call set-up time latency and improved quality of service (QoS)." Rev. A chirping -- who woulda thunk it?
Alltel kicks off EV-DO Rev. A deployment
With LTE a few years out yet, Alltel needs something to get it over the 3.5G hump -- and seeing how it's presently a CDMA carrier, you can pretty much guess where this is going. Sure enough, Verizon's newest partner in crime has announced that the rollout of its EV-DO Rev. A upgrade is now underway, promising a bump in downlink speeds from 400-700kbps on the existing Rev. 0 network to somewhere between 600kbps and 1.4Mbps. Uplink speeds are where Rev. A really shines, though, blazing as much as ten times faster than it did before -- 800kbps on a good day with bursts of up to 1.8Mbps. Two data cards are being offered to take advantage of the service -- one from Huawei and one from UTStarcom -- while compatible handsets currently include the HTC PPC6800 and Touch. The rollout is targeted for "select markets" right now -- Charlotte, New Orleans, Phoenix and Tampa among a total of 18 -- with overall EV-DO coverage continuing to expand as well; Alltel's targeting 82 percent of its footprint to be upgraded by year's end.
Alltel Touch gets firmware update, EV-DO Rev. A included
Make us proud, Alltel! The number five carrier's really been going all-out as of late, doing an impressive job of keeping its offerings in line with the big boys -- and in some cases, outdoing 'em with hot exclusives like the Glimmer. Once again, they've gotten the jump on their larger, heavier competition by becoming the first carrier to release a firmware upgrade for the Vogue (the Alltel Touch, in this case) that ups the radio to EV-DO Rev. A speeds. Speedy uploads aside, the upgrade includes some Bluetooth fixes and adds the ability to receive video messages. Sprint, Verizon -- your move.[Via phoneArena]
Motorola demos EV-DO Rev. A to LTE handoffs
We try not to be an overly philosophical bunch, but we can't help but observe some interesting parallels between Motorola's industry-first demonstration of an EV-DO Rev. A to LTE handoff with the way the entire wireless world is progressing. Without a single major carrier win to its name, EV-DO's successor, UMB, seems poised to ride off into the sunset while current CDMA customers like Verizon plan migrations to the GSM-friendly LTE standard. Anyway, this little technical achievement will certainly set the minds of said CDMA customers at rest, knowing that its subscribers will one day be able to roam on data services between EV-DO Rev. A and LTE cells -- and considering that the transition period could last many years, that's an important capability to have. On an interesting side note, Alltel was on hand for the demo; they've not committed to any 4G technology, but we can say with certainty that they're at least considering LTE at this point.
Sprint and HTC apologize, promise GPS and EV-DO Rev. A for Mogul
Apparently Sprint's last Mogul software update -- version 2.16.651.0 -- ruffled a few feathers by unintentionally introducing new Bluetooth problems as part of the release. Sprint and HTC's advice? slip on back to version 2.09.651.3 (hit the read link to grab it) until another update is released at the end of November. The unexpected treat in all this is the announcement of HTC's efforts at developing a separate update that will include both GPS and EV-DO Rev. A, awesome! Keep an eye on these pages for more info soon.[Via jkOnTheRun]
Verizon launches Kyocera KPC680 EV-DO Rev. A ExpressCard
Still waiting around to hop on the Rev. A highway? Although last week would've been a swell time to do so, now's not too bad either, and Verizon Wireless customers have yet another option at their fingertips. The Kyocera KPC680 ExpressCard is available now for anyone interested, and enables BroadbandAccess users to reach average download speeds of 600kbps to 1.4Mbps and upload speeds that range from 500kbps to 800kbps when situated in a Rev. A area. Additionally, this thing sports a "breakthrough" (ahem) antenna design that "moves the antenna away from the device as it is opened, providing greater sensitivity, dual external antenna ports for signal flexibility and a compact form factor." Get yours now for just $49.99 after a mail-in rebate and throwing your John Hancock on a two-year agreement.
Verizon intros Sierra Wireless AirCard 595U EV-DO Rev A USB modem
BroadbandAccess customers, meet Sierra Wireless' AirCard 595U EV-DO Rev A USB modem, which is (almost) finally available to you through Verizon Wireless. Designed for use with your USB port, this EV-DO Rev A modem can also be connected through the included docking cradle, and even comes bundled with VZAccess Manager software. Additionally, the device boasts an internal, removable battery to "ensure there is always enough power support to handle peak or fringe area transmission requirements," and should be available for those interested on August 30th for $179.99 -- after you mail back a pesky rebate and sign your name to a two-year agreement, that is.
Telus upgrades select EV-DO areas to Rev. A, 'full coverage' by year's end
While it's no big surprise, Telus has finally gone official with its EV-DO Rev. A details, explaining that Southern Ontario, Montreal, and Winnipeg can now enjoy the speedy luxuries of Rev. A technology. The speed boosts are part of a $100 million investment to roll out EV-DO across Canada, and while it seems that only select locales can look forward to average download speeds of approximately 450Kbps to 800Kbps at the moment, Telus did note that these "enhanced speeds" would grace "the company's full existing EV-DO coverage areas later this year." As for connecting up with the service, Telus will offer a variety of Sierra Wireless cards to fit a myriad of setups, and those springing for Panasonic's CF-19 or CF-30 Toughbook can jump right on if you purchase the embedded modem.[Via TheBoyGeniusReport]
Verizon's entire EV-DO network leaps to Rev. A
In what's likely yet another futile attempt to steal some limelight from that other national carrier today, Verizon has finally enhanced "100-percent" of its EV-DO network to Revision A technology. Of course, some locales have been enjoying the Rev. A niceties since February, but now Verizon users coast-to-coast (those under an EV-DO umbrella, that is) can stop feeling envious and start enjoying the higher speeds. Interestingly enough, this news comes just days after the company lowered its BroadbandAccess rates and merely hours after throngs of AT&T users reported their EDGE speeds skyrocketing for no apparent reason. Verizon subscribers in EV-DO areas can now expect average download speeds of nearly 600kbps to 1.4Mbps, while uploads will top out somewhere between 500kbps and 800kbps.
'All' Panasonic Toughbooks certified for Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A network
It's not like you couldn't get connected to an EV-DO network on a Toughbook before, but Panasonic and Verizon Wireless are making things uber-easy on us all by certifying "the full line" of rugged lappies for connectivity with Verizon's EV-DO Rev. A. Yep, the Toughbook 30, 19, T, W, and Y series of machines have now been admitted into The Network, which means that you can potentially download a presentation while surviving a hail storm at up to 1.4Mbps and send in your corrections whilst dodging tree limbs at up to 800kbps. The Verizon WWAN treatment will require users to purchase the Sierra Wireless embedded MC-5725 PCI Express card and VZAccess software, but the oh-so-important pricing information was casually omitted.[Via Slashphone]
Sierra Wireless AirCard 597E ExpressCard to hit Sprint
Although Sierra Wireless launched its AirCard 597E EV-DO Rev. A ExpressCard last summer, the device is finally making the leap to Sprint-Nextel's Mobile Broadband Network. Aside from the aesthetics, just a few alterations have been made under the hood, but we know you're most interested in how it allows Sprint customers to hop on the 3G highway with their ExpressCard-equipped lappie (or desktop). Of note, this rendition does manage to add assisted GPS (A-GPS) capabilities which "plots your current location on a map and then searches for nearby points of interest," a "high-performance (albeit beefy) integrated antenna to improve signal capture and data speed," and the new 65-nanometer MSM6800A chipset from QUALCOMM. Reportedly, Sprint will be demonstrating the card at this week's Interop expo in Las Vegas, and while pricing details were left out for the moment, the card should slip into retail channels next month.
Sprint's PPC-6800 dubbed the Mogul?
It's bad enough that nearly every HTC handset that makes its way into a carrier's lineup inevitably gets rebadged and renamed, but this one's sure to make you scratch your head. Just hours after hearing that the handset is likely to miss its May launch by a few months, we've now caught wind of an interesting teaser site that leaves little doubt about what phone is behind the silhouette. Interestingly, the Sprint, HTC, and Qualcomm sponsored site boldly states that the pictured device is not the PPC-6800, but rather the Mogul. It then continues on by insinuating that this 007-esque gizmo can handle just about any mission you task it with, but fails to provide any concrete information beyond that. Hey, you've got to find some way to keep interests piqued until October, eh?
Motorola maxx Ve unboxed
Well, look what we have here -- It's the Motorola maxx Ve for Verizon Wireless. It's been along time since we seen the first maxx, though the first sighting was for GSM. Just dropped off today, we snapped a few pics of the unboxing ceremony for your viewing pleasure. As a refresher point on the feature set, here ya go: dual band 1X / EVDO (sorry no Rev. A here), microSD expandable memory, a vivid 2.2 inch display, stereo Bluetooth for the music junkies, and a respectable 2 megapixel shooter with autofocus. Keep a look out for the Ve review! Motorola maxx Ve unboxed
The HTC P4000 for Telus in the flesh
Being the first on the block to have the latest and greatest is an awesome feeling and the HTC P4000 (aka Titan) is no exception. Our favorite CDMA carrier up north, Telus, just landed the latest bad boy today that's sporting Windows Mobile 5.0 with a cost of $200 on a three (ouch!) year contract. Just in case you forgot the spec sheet, we'll give it to you again: EV-DO Rev. A, 2 megapixel cam, 256 MB of RAM, 128 of ROM, and Bluetooth 2.0. Verizon and Sprint customers should be very jealous!
Treo 755p coming to Verizon?
We didn't think Sprint would have the spotlight with the latest CDMA Treo for long, and it turns out we were right. Our pal HTC Kid over at Verizon tells us that the new #1 is planning to release its own Treo 755p variant shortly. Feature lineup appears to be similar (except possibly some LBS), but for the forgetful among us, we'll give them to you again -- dual-band CDMA with EV-DO Rev. A, a 1.3 megapixel shooter, and what appears to be a sleeker, refined look a la Treo 680. Make sure you stay tuned for more details.[Thanks, HTC Kid]
Qualcomm unveils EV-DO Rev B roadmap
While most folks are just getting over the Rev A novelty, it looks like Qualcomm is already prepared to take things to the next level, as it has developed a new chipset that reportedly delivers "9.3Mbps data transfers in field testing." The MSM7850 is being touted as the "industry's first device solution for EV-DO Rev B," hopefully enabling more of those mobile streaming niceties that we all adore. Additionally, Qualcomm stated that there wouldn't be a need for "infrastructure hardware changes" in order to take advantage of the Rev B sweetness, and the chipset itself would be "fully backwards compatible." As for the firm's CSM6800, a "software solution" will purportedly be available by the month's end which will enable "multi-carrier EV-DO Rev B support." Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of detail surrounding hard dates beyond that, but we can expect the outfit's Rev B-capable MSM7850 to hit testing / sampling later this year, after which the countdown to EV-DO Rev C can officially begin.
