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Three to carry iPad Air and new iPad mini in the UK
With the iPad Air but a day away from launching in the UK, it's high time that the nation's cellular networks began crowing about which ones will carry the device. Three is the first to pipe up, saying that you'll be able to snag both the Air from tomorrow and the iPad Mini with Retina when it arrives later in November. The cheapest package will set you back £7.50 a month with 1GB of data on a monthly contract, plus £499 up-front for the 16GB model -- while you can grab 15GB a month if you pony up £25 every four weeks. Don't forget that while you'll initially be stuck with just 3G signals, the network will begin its LTE rollout in December, so factor that in when you make your decision.
Ofcom considers quadrupling mobile operator license fees (updated)
It currently costs the big four of EE, Vodafone , O2 and Three UK £64.5 million a year in licensing fees to do business in the UK, but Ofcom is currently weighing-up plans to quadruple those charges. After calculating the value of the spectrum based on the bids received in the 4G auction, the regulator wants to increase Vodafone and O2's annual rent to £83.1 million, Three UK to £37.5 million and EE to a whopping £101.7 million. Of course, the plans are currently in the consultation stage, which'll run through to December 19th, but we hope that someone points out the likelihood of the cost being passed down to users. Update: Ofcom has gotten in touch to add that the new tariffs were calculated in proportion to the payments received for the 4G spectrum auction.
iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c join Three UK's lineup this Friday with unlimited 4G data
'C,' it turns out, is for color -- not cookie, or cheap or China. Yes, the pretty in pastel iPhone 5c, Sir Jony Ive's repackaged ode to Apple's last-gen iPhone, as well as the iPhone 5s will be joining Three UK's lineup starting this Friday. The operator will be offering both iDevices on a two-year plan for an initial upfront payment of £49 and £99, respectively. That means you'll still have to pony up a monthly fee for either device, the amount of which depends on the particulars of your voice and data package. Regardless of which you opt for, however, the privilege to surf Three UK's (not yet live) 4G network is included at no additional cost. And it's unlimited.
The iPhone 5s and 5c in the UK: what you need to know
The dust has settled on Apple's 2013-era iPhone launch, so it's time that we delved into what the damage is here in 'ol Blighty. EE, along with its buddies Orange and T-Mobile, has confirmed that it'll carry both the iPhone 5s and 5c from launch. LTE contract users who are six months into their EE deal will also be able to take advantage of the conveniently-announced Swap service. O2 has said that customers will be able to use O2 Refresh to upgrade their handset from launch, and Vodafone and Three have both given the thumbs-up to carrying the pair of handsets. No-one's talking about specific contract pricing, but we expect carriers will drip-feed this information in poker-faced chunks between now and the September 20th launch date. iPhone off-contract pricing (UK) 16GB 32GB 64GB iPhone 5s £549 £629 £709 iPhone 5c £469 £549 N/A Prices subject to change
Three launching 4G in London, Birmingham and Manchester in December
Since today's the day that Vodafone and O2 launch their 4G networks, Three has piped up to remind you that its own LTE rollout isn't too far behind. Customers in London, Birmingham and Manchester will be getting an early Christmas present when the service goes live at some point in December. As promised back in February, existing customers with LTE-ready devices won't pay extra, nor will they lose their unlimited data allowance. The network is promising to be in 50 cities by the end of 2014 and cover 98 percent of the population by the end of 2015. After all, Dave Dyson's a mobile executive who likes to take things slow.
Acer Liquid E2 lands on Three in the UK, LG Optimus L1 II coming soon
Granted, it's not the most exciting of handset announcements, but if you can't face yet another day without a budget Android smartphone packing dual loudspeakers, Three's got the Acer Liquid E2 for ya. It's available now on PAYG for £150 (around $232), or on contracts starting at £17 ($26ish) per month if you sign up for a two-year plan. If the overwhelming power of the Liquid E2 makes you nervous, you could always hold off for the lower-end LG Optimus L1 II, which will be launching on the network "soon."
HTC One mini launching on almost all UK carriers around August 9th
We've reached out to all of the usual suspects, and only one of them hasn't stuck a thumb up and winked when we've asked if it'll be carrying HTC's "diminutive" new smartphone. O2, EE, Vodafone, Phones4U and Carphone Warehouse have all confirmed that they'll carry the One mini, while ThreeUK has yet to get back to us. There's no solid information on how much the device will cost on a monthly or one-off basis, but Carphone Warehouse is already accepting sim-free pre-orders for a very plausible £380. That same retailer is also saying that the phone is due to arrive on August 9th, but we'll take that assertion with a pinch of environmentally-friendly salt.
Three UK now selling Samsung Galaxy Mega on its site, retail stores to offer it July 2nd
Call the United Kingdom home? Have a thing for overly large, unorthodox smartphones? Well then, today's a good day to be a Three customer -- or plan on being one soon. The carrier has announced that the Samsung Galaxy Mega will be up for grabs on its website starting today, while brick-and-mortar stores are expected to have it on shelves as soon as tomorrow. The enormous 6.3-inch handset is being offered in conjunction with a variety of monthly tariffs, and there's also an option that takes advantage of Three's new pay-as-you-go scheme. Better yet, the company says the Galaxy Mega is future-proof, as it'll be able to support its upcoming LTE network once it goes live. Just remember, though... Three UK is in absolutely no rush to flip that switch.
Three UK simplifies pay-as-you-go tariff, offers data at 1p per MB
Three UK is tired of networks offering pay-as-you-go packages with numerous caveats and bolt-ons, and so has decided to go back to basics. The network is now offering a single tariff for all of its fair-weather mobile users, pricing calls at 3p per minute, texts at 2p per minute and data at 1p per MB. Three UK has also promised that your credit won't expire as long as you do something on the account once every six months. The change takes place from today, and existing customers will also be switched over to the new system -- just in time for that trip across the North Sea.
Samsung's Galaxy S 4 mini stars in Three UK's new video
Can't wait to get your hands on a Galaxy S 4 mini? Samsung has yet to announce its price and availability, but until then you can imagine you're Three UK's Brendan Arndt in the video below. Arndt shows off the much-rumored baby S 4 for us, as the phone poses for close-up shots in various angles. While the clip merely reiterates all the specs Samsung confirmed, it also shows how relatively tiny the S 4 mini is compared to its full-sized sibling and the gargantuan Galaxy Mega. That, despite the device boasting a 4.3-inch screen, which is even bigger than the iPhone 5's. Check after the jump to watch the S 4 mini in all its not-so-Lilliputian glory.
UK carrier Three is in 'no rush' to switch on LTE, probably won't do so until Q4
Three's CEO could teach Vodafone's CEO a thing or two about diplomacy. Whereas Vittorio Colao dismissed British LTE users as "technofreaks", Dave Dyson has merely said that he's "fairly relaxed" about upgrading Three's network. During a quarterly earnings report yesterday, he said he's in "no rush for LTE" and told people not to expect Three's newly acquired chunks of LTE spectrum to be brought to life until Q4 of this year. He intends to wait and see how O2 and Vodafone position themselves, and that's fine -- just so long as he sticks to the earlier promise not to charge extra for unlimited LTE data.
Three UK bringing low cost 4G to your iPhone
Three has announced that low-cost 4G networks in the UK will soon be a reality. The 4G LTE standard has been slow to roll out in the UK compared to other countries. Currently iPhone 5 owners in the UK (and owners of compatible WiFi+Cellular iPads and iPad minis) have just one option: the carrier EE. EE is the company that was born from the merger of Orange and T-Mobile. While it started off with a great selling point -- the only 4G carrier in the UK -- customers quickly felt cheated over EE's high monthly tariffs for 4G connections and the relatively low data caps. Many feared this would set a precedent when other UK carriers roll out 4G services later this year. Today Three announced that when the carrier rolls out its 4G network later this year, all customers with 4G devices will be able to take advantage of the latest speeds at no additional charge. From its press release: Any customer with an Ultrafast ready device can already enjoy great speeds on Three's Ultrafast network without paying a premium or needing to swap SIM cards or price plans. LTE will be available as standard with all customers' price plans when the roll-out begins later this year. "Our customers choose Three because they love the internet and know they can get great speeds and great value on our award-winning network," said Three UK chief executive Dave Dyson. "As we add the next wave of technology to our Ultrafast network, we've listened to our customers and thought long and hard about the right way to do it. We don't want to limit Ultrafast services to a select few based on a premium price and we've decided our customers will get this service as standard." There's still no firm word on when Three will actually roll out its 4G network, but I've been told not to expect it before June. Still, with its decision to provide 4G to its customers at no increased price, it's not a stretch to assume that owners of 4G-capable handsets will wait to make the jump to Three instead of paying the inflated prices that EE currently charges. It's important to note that despite offering 4G at the same price of its 3G plans, Three did not say whether it will cap data rates. Hopefully it won't, because it would definitely ruin the goodwill its announcement has instilled in current -- and future -- customers.
Three UK pledges to add LTE to its unlimited data plans at no extra cost
The old beer-selling adage that good things come to those who wait also applies to those who've yet to sign away a kidney for one of EE's LTE plans. ThreeUK is announcing that it's going to bundle LTE into its existing unlimited mobile data packages without any additional charges. The network is planning to launch its own 4G product later in the year, using spectrum it snagged when T-Mobile and Orange were forced to sell off a chunk in order to see their marriage go through. As such, existing Three UK customers who own an LTE-ready device can expect to see their mobile internet shoot through the roof as soon as the capacity is switched on.
Sony Xperia Z priced at £529, less if you buy it from Three (update: free headphones with preorders)
The humble islanders who inhabit Great Britain are waking up to the news that Sony's Xperia Z has been priced in the local currency. They can pre-register the unit for £529 in a choice of black, white or purple hues direct from Sony, or pre-order for £449 on Three. Either way, early birds stand to get a free pair of MDR-1R cans with their handset -- worth £200 ($315) no less. Update: Vodafone has tweeted that the phone will launch (at least in the UK) on February 28th -- a few days earlier than we'd heard before.
Blackberry Z10 UK pricing revealed: all devices 4G-ready, free on £36 per-month contracts (updated)
Liked what you saw? Even happier then, as a Brit, that you'll likely be getting your hands on it months before your US cousins? UK networks have started to announce availability for the handset, with EE, O2, Three and Vodafone already confirmed to be stocking the Z10. Retailers that will also be selling the new BB10 hardware in the British Isles include Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U. Retailer Phones 4U will launch both color options (exclusively, at least initially), free on contracts starting from £36 per month although it hasn't ventured a contract-free price just yet. However, it is offering a free 64GB PlayBook to the first 250 orders. The Carphone Warehouse, meanwhile will be offering the Z10 free on contracts of £36 per month on the major networks. Vodafone will offer the Z10 for £29 on the £42 a month Red Data plan, including unlimited calls and texts as well as 2GB of internet. It'll be free on the £47-a-month variant plan, or cost a £69 one-off payment on the £37-per-month plan. Three UK hasn't revealed any details beyond that it'll be stocking the handset, while O2 has it free on £36 per month contracts, or on pay-as-you-go for £480 if you're feeling flush. While all Z10 devices sold will be ready for 4G, according the Waterloo crew, the BlackBerry Z10 will be available to utilize EE's existing 4G service immediately. The price? It'll be £50 on a £41 per-month 24 month package, with 1GB of mobile data, as well as unlimited UK calls and texts. No word just yet on whether Orange and T-Mobile will be offering cheaper bundles later. We'll update here when we hear more pricing details from the other players.
IRL: Pioneer VSX-60, Three UK and a Windows Phone 8 wish list
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. We're back, this time with an unusual mashup between Engadget HD and Engadget Mobile. Kicking things off on the HD side, our own Ben Drawbaugh tells us what it's like to live with Pioneer's VSX-60 AV receiver. Meanwhile, Dan switches to Three UK for home broadband, and Deepak makes a plea for home screen folders in Windows Phone 8.
HTC Windows Phone 8S available now on Three UK: £17 per month or £180 off-contract
HTC's second Windows Phone 8 device may not ever visit the US, but the 8S has arrived, at least in the UK. British carrier Three has the phone for sale starting today, both online (with delivery for Monday) and in its bricks and mortar stores, offering the Windows Phone 8S in the two-tone blue and black finish -- we're checking with Three to see whether it'll offer any other color options, as we've got our eyes on the yellow version. Expect to pay £219 £180 sans monthly billing, while the phone will be free on two-year contracts priced starting at £17 per month. We'll be putting the 8S through the review wringer soon -- you can expect to see our verdict next week. Update: Three has been in touch to say the contract-free price has now dropped to £180 -- a pretty tempting launch price.
Windows Phone 8X, Galaxy S III Mini and Xperia J available on Three UK today
Three customers in the UK have three new options when deciding how to spend their smartphone dollar (or pound, as it were). Starting today the carrier will now be be home to HTC's Windows Phone 8X, the Galaxy S III Mini and the Xperia J. Prices for the devices are all over the map, with the 8X starting at £350 with a pay-as-you-go plan, while the GS III and Xperia J are £270 and £150 respectively with the same deal. If you're looking to save a bit up front, the 8X can be had for just £29, so long as you're willing to commit to a £30 a month plan. The Sony and Samsung handsets are both available without any upfront costs, with the Xperia starting at as little as £13 a month and the four-inch Galaxy offshoot weighing in at £28 per month. For more details, check out the PR after the break.
UK carriers form alliance to speed up 800MHz LTE rollout, let us enjoy our Freeview TV
Isn't it better when we work together? British carriers think so. EE, O2, Three and Vodafone have officially created a non-exclusive joint venture, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, that should speed up the deployment of 800MHz LTE by keeping Freeview over-the-air TV signals clear of interference while the partners bring their low-frequency 4G online. Previously, the networks were bound to form an equivalent company called MitCo that wouldn't have been active until after the 800MHz auction, preventing companies from getting their wireless houses in order until they'd already made a commitment. There's also a competitive angle involved to go with the cooperative work, as you might imagine: with EE's 1,800MHz LTE poised to go live on October 30th, choosing infighting over assistance would only help widen the frontrunner's lead. Whether DMSL represents altruism or pragmatism, we'll appreciate knowing that the hurdles to a catch-up in UK 4G will be more those of the technical reality than the usual political maneuvering.
Galaxy Note II available in the UK today!
Well, Korea might have beaten the UK to the punch, but England's carriers are getting Samsung's latest super-sized phone ahead of the US. As promised, the Galaxy Note II is hitting shelves today at Three UK, O2 and Vodafone. So far, only Three has made the launch official with a press release, but we're sure O2 and Vodafone will follow in short order. The privilege of running the 5.5-inch monstrosity on Three will cost you €69 up front with either a €34 or €36 a month contract, while pay-as-you-go customers will have to fork over €499. If PR is your thing, it's awaiting you after the break.
