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FCC grants LightSquared terrestrial-only waiver, puts an end to LTE drama
If you've been following the drama over LightSquared's application to build a wholesale integrated broadband / satellite network, it's time to put away the tissue box and toss out the bonbons. That's right, the FCC finally approved the company's conditional waiver for an ancillary terrestrial component integrated service rule. In other words, the entity gave LightSquared the green light to offer terrestrial-only phones, in addition to satellite service, as long as interference problems are addressed before the company starts building its network. Just two weeks ago, it looked like the FCC might strike down the proposal on a recommendation from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which warned of potential interference on the SMS network with the likes of Department of Defense Communications. LightSquared remained silent during deliberation, but following the FCC's decision, both parties gave a thumbs up to the outcome. Honestly, we could have done with a more heated back and forth, but we'll leave that to the professionals. What time is Bridalplasty on again?
Notion Ink Adam clears FCC, begins shipping 'around Wednesday'
We don't see it in the FCC database yet but Notion Ink's charming Rohan Shravan just penned a post on the company's blog with news that Adam has official clearance from the US government. That's right, after several delays the tiny startup will finally condense its occasionally vapory molecules into a solid slab of shipping tablet starting "around Wednesday" after the hardware receives its FCC tattoo. Remember, Adam was that tablet good enough to earn a Best of CES 2011 honorable mention at an event absolutely flooded with tablets from a who's who of consumer electronics companies. While our first impressions of the production unit were positive, we're holding off on making a final judgement until we've had the chance to perform a full review. Having said that, Adam's final NI3421A01 product code is so nerdy -- the "3421" continues Rohan's tradition of numbering product iterations along the Fibonacci number sequence -- that we're almost tempted to place an order ourselves. Almost. [Thanks, John]
Notion Ink Adam delayed pending FCC certification
Just when it seemed the Notion Ink Adam had escaped the pit of dubious pre-orders and moved onto the glowing preview stage, here comes another hurdle to trip up its 10-inch PixelQi screen. Android Police reports that US buyers have received email notifications that their orders are ready to ship out, except for that little matter of FCC approval. We've yet to see the Adam pass the FCC -- perhaps because it hasn't done so quite yet -- and the tablet will need to have its paperwork in order and be properly labeled before it can be imported into the US. Notion Ink insists that all the red tape will be taken care of "within this week," and that some international orders have already shipped out. We're hoping that's the case -- we'd hate to think of all those poor slates sitting in boxes, instead of getting some sun.
Apple iPad -- model A1337 -- phreaks the FCC
A pair of iPads was just revealed in the FCC's system in perfect synchrony with that little pre-order sitch with which you may or may not already be familiar. Apple, of course, has a track record of timing its FCC filings perfectly so that virtually nothing is revealed before Cupertino wants it to be, and frankly, you're not going to get much here that you didn't already know -- the photographs (both external and internal) and the user manual are all still under confidentiality. Both units were tested for WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth, while one -- model number A1337 -- adds in GSM 850 / 1900 and UMTS 850 / 1900, so it appears that Apple has bundled all of its 3G and non-3G models into just two filings regardless of storage capacity. We caught A1337 flipping through an old issue of 2600, so for all we know, it socially engineered its way to FCC approval -- whatever it takes to make that late-April launch window, right?
OLPC XO 1.5 gets the FCC's seal of approval
We've been seeing the OLPC XO 1.5 out in the wild for quite a few months now, but it looks like it's just now finally cleared the all-important FCC hurdle. Unfortunately, most of the details beyond the basic formalities are being kept under wraps for the time being (along with any pictures, internal or otherwise), but we have heard previously that it packs a faster VIA C7-M processor, along with an upgraded VX855 chipset to better handle things like 3D graphics and HD video. It is also something of a stopgap measure, however, with the real upgrades seemingly planned for the ARM-based OLPC XO 1.75 -- which itself will supposedly be followed by the OLPC XO 3.0 sometime in 2012.
Acer Liquid A1 hits the FCC with AT&T's HSDPA flavors
It's already selling in Europe with one of AT&T's 3G bands, but the prospect of a US-friendly Acer Liquid A1 just got real, governmental-involvement style. The FCC has approved a 850 / 1900MHz version of the Android device, and while this is no guarantee of an AT&T berth -- much of Canada is crowding in on this spectrum, not to mention the possibility of selling the phone unlocked and unsubsidized -- we're massaging our temples this very second with the appropriate good vibrations to get this thing out and about in the States and on the cheap.
Eee Keyboard tantalizingly within reach at the FCC
The ASUS Eee Keyboard has been delayed a couple times since it first made our hearts race at CES, but it looks like those rumors of an October launch might actually come true: the new-age C64 has just arrived at the FCC for a little government work. Interestingly, the test reports indicate the presence of a UWB radio in addition WiFi and Bluetooth, so it looks like we'll see the planned wireless HDMI model even after the spec pretty much hit the skids earlier this summer. We'll see how it goes -- and if we get that interesting Moblin version alongside the Windows edition when this thing eventually ships. Fingers crossed!
Zune HD's HD Radio breaks through the FCC as well
Can you feel it? The Zune HD is really really real, and the FCC just rubber stamped another internal component: the onboard HD Radio. With a September 15th release date already on the books, it's not exactly a surprise that the wireless insides of the device won't fry your babies, but it's still a comforting thought. And check out that sexy label! Totally worth the second trip to FCC land.
FCC "thinks different," grants approval to Apple iPhone
It reveals nothing of interest (unless you consider documents that read like high school physics lab reports to be "of interest"), but sure enough, Apple's iPhone has completed that rite of passage that all handsets must traverse on their way to adulthood: FCC approval. As expected, the iPhone filing reveals just about as little as it possibly (legally) can, offering up a rendering of the ID label location -- the best visual in the whole filing, by the way -- and an endless array of RF plots for GSM / EDGE on the 850 and 1900MHz bands, Bluetooth, and WiFi radiation. No incriminating photographs of a well-abused iPhone lying helpless on a test workbench in some cavernous lab, no user's manual. Soon, friends![Via Mobilewhack, thanks Sandeep]
FCC hearts the Treo 680
Life is like some wonderful dream for Treo lovers lately, with the quad-band 680 getting FCC approval just one day after the agency gave the 750 a thumbs up. With all the formalities complete, expect the everyman's Treo to hit Cingular any day now at price points you're probably well aware of. So if you haven't decided what color you're gonna go with yet, this is just a friendly reminder that it's coming down to the wire...
Sirius Stiletto receives FCC approval
Sirius fans, we bring you good tidings -- after some hemming and hawing, the Stiletto has been approved by the Feds! It was only yesterday that we told you that our buds at the FCC seemed to be raining on the Stiletto parade, which sadly, did not lead to a rain of Stilettos on our parade, which would have been really freakin' sweet. So that means the Stiletto pre-orders are back up from your favorite online retailers like Crutchfield and TSS-Radio, who both still show the pre-order price of $350. Unfortunately, we remain without a word on what the exact release date will be, but if our earlier post about a September date still holds, it should be sometime within the next 10 days.[Via Orbitcast]
Wi-Fire extends wireless range to 1,000 feet
A new Pennsylvania-based startup, hField Technologies, has just gotten FCC approval for their new supercharged WiFi antenna, the Wi-Fire. The USB antenna boosts reception of faint WiFi signals, extending the range of existing networks up to 1,000 feet. hField's founders, recent Lehigh University graduates, had originally built the product for a student entrepeneurial challenge, and won first place, including the prize of $2,500. Earlier this summer, hField also recieved $25,000 of funding from a state-funded development organization, and the rest, as they say, is history (waiting to happen). The Wi-Fire is now on sale through hField directly for $150, though unfortunately without Mac support for now, it seems -- although if you have a Windows computer, it's guaranteed to put as big of a smile on your face as this girl's, though not nearly as big as these dudes'.
