hspa+

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  • Sony outs Xperia Ion HSPA for poor 4G-lacking citizens (video)

    Sony Mobile casually dropped onto its website that in addition to the expected Xperia Ion flagship, it's also releasing an Xperia Ion HSPA. The handset's only readily apparent feature is its reduced modem, and in every other way looks to match its 4G-enabled brother, with a 1.5GHz dual-core CPU, 12-megapixel camera and Gingerbread. Whilst its designed to consume the same AT&T friendly frequencies, this one's destined for a rest-of-the-world arrival to sate the lust of global Sony fans in countries where they do everything a little slower.

    Daniel Cooper
    06.13.2012
  • T-Mobile "coincidence" covers WWDC attendees with iPhone-compatible HSPA+

    T-Mobile confirmed to 9to5Mac that its 4G HSPA+ coverage will be available to WWDC attendees next week in San Francisco. The carrier said it upgraded its coverage inside the West side of the Moscone Center and now deploys HSPA+ on the 1900MHz band. The timing and location of this update is a coincidence, according to the carrier, and has nothing to do with any large crowd of iPhone users arriving in Moscone. (Ahem.) This frequency can be used by anyone with an unlocked iPhone, which is convenient for those traveling to WWDC from outside the US. This small scale test will prepare the wireless carrier for a larger roll out of iPhone-friendly, 1900MHz HSPA+ service. T-Mobile expects to support the iPhone and other handsets in a large number of markets by the end of the year.

    Kelly Hodgkins
    06.08.2012
  • Engadget Giveaway: win an HTC One S, courtesy of Bell Canada

    The HTC One S has been making a splash across carriers in Canada, so it's only fitting that we ride the wave and give one away to a reader in the true north strong and free. The example we're giving out is Bell Canada's model, which mates the dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 and Android 4.0 with Bell-specific extras like Mobile TV. Should you live in the land of the red and white, fire off an entry according to the rules and you might just get HTC's super-skinny smartphone for yourself. Leave a comment below. Any comment will do. Duplicate entries will be filtered out and discarded, so adding additional comments won't increase your likelihood of winning. Contest is open to all residents of Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winners will be chosen randomly. One winner will receive one Bell Canada HTC One S. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Bell Canada service will NOT be included. Also, HTC, Bell and Engadget are not held liable to honor warranties or customer service. The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here. Entries can be submitted until June 3, 2012 at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

    Jon Fingas
    06.02.2012
  • Samsung Focus 2 review

    Ready for Samsung's latest entrant to the Windows Phone game? Hopefully you answered "yes," because we're about to take you through an in-depth look at such a device: the Focus 2. Around the time that we United States-based Engadgeteers were lusting over Nokia's Lumia 800 and getting to know the HTC Titan, Samsung introduced its Focus S and lower-tiered Focus Flash WP7.5 handsets. Redmond's hardware restrictions haven't exactly changed much since then, begging the question as to how the Focus 2 fits in as a late follow-up to the original Focus from back in 2010. The bulk of the answer, of course, is LTE. This handset is the only other Windows Phone aside from the Lumia 900 and HTC Titan II to feature such connectivity on Ma Bell's network. That, and it's priced at just $50 dollars on a two-year commitment. Is it a veritable steal like the Focus Flash proved to be, though? Join us past the break where we'll lay it all out.

    Joe Pollicino
    05.26.2012
  • Samsung phone lands on the FCC table, GS-three guesses which one

    While we're no champions at "pin the tail on the donkey" we're pretty sure we're close to the mark with this one. An FCC report for a new Samsung phone bearing an SGH-I747 model number? Sporting HSPA+ and LTE bands that play nice with AT&T, Rogers, Telus and Bell? While it's not explicit, if this doesn't sound like the GSIII coming to town, we don't know what does. After all, it's not like we didn't know it was on its way.

    James Trew
    05.26.2012
  • ASUS Transformer Pad TF300TL hits the FCC with AT&T-friendly LTE

    ASUS isn't known for offering its tablets to North American carriers with 3G or 4G; an FCC filing for a cellular-capable Transformer Pad TF300 could be a clue at a break in the WiFi-only trend. Along with the usual wireless, a TF300TL variant of the Android 4.0 slate has stopped by the agency with the 850MHz and 1,900MHz frequencies needed for HSPA 3G as well as, best of all, 700MHz and 1,700MHz support for LTE-based 4G. All four are what we'd look for in an AT&T-oriented tablet, so don't be surprised if Ma Bell carries a 4G Transformer Pad before long. All but the 700MHz band would be handy for Canadian networks as well. There's no surefire evidence of when the tablet might make a more formal appearance, nor hints of whether or not it will keep the quad-core Tegra 3, although the slight spin on the regular TF300 formula could keep the wait short.

    Jon Fingas
    05.24.2012
  • AT&T begins refarming 2G spectrum in New York City

    As mobile operators continue to move toward the promised land known as "the future," it grows ever more important for them to make some room for it. AT&T announced today that it has started the process of refarming its 2G 1900MHz spectrum in New York City, which should alleviate some of the growing demand on the carrier's 3G and 4G networks within the city. AT&T isn't volunteering specific details on how long the transition will take, and it's only saying that the freed-up bandwidth will be used for high-speed services. There are still plenty of customers on 2G-only devices that will be affected by the transition -- they may still have service for now, but it will likely degrade as the process goes forward -- but the company is reaching out to them and offering alternative options, such as free 3G-capable phones. Let's just hope those don't come with fresh contracts attached. Drift your eyes below for the full press release.

    Brad Molen
    05.23.2012
  • Amazon puts Samsung Galaxy S III up for US pre-orders, offers a slice of quad-core, unlocked utopia

    Sufficiently enamored with Samsung's Galaxy S III that you've got to have one in the US before anyone else, and you don't want it sullied by carrier customizations in the trip across the Pacific? Amazon has your back with pre-orders for 16GB versions in both Marble White and Pebble Blue. Either will keep the speedy Exynos 4 Quad and will stay unlocked, so you can hop networks to your heart's content. Do expect to pay a steep premium for being the first kid on your block: at $800, you're spending a lot to get an HSPA+ model on June 1st when the LTE-toting, cheaper (if carrier-locked and possibly part-swapped) editions should reach the US days later.

    Jon Fingas
    05.21.2012
  • Samsung Galaxy S III gets permission to enter US, still only with HSPA+

    This is the same European version we've already spent so much time with, just stopping by the FCC to get its wireless paperwork in order. There's no LTE onboard, but the phone would handle HSPA+ on AT&T or just EDGE on T-Mo if it was (now legally) carried into the States. The regulatory label also helpfully alludes to one of the phone's key selling points: its 2,100mAh battery, which reportedly lasts for a tablet-like ten hours under load. It'll be globally available from May 29th, if you fancy getting into the import / export business.

    Sharif Sakr
    05.15.2012
  • T-Mobile reports customer growth for Q1 2012, tries not to think about Q4 2011

    T-Mobile USA took a bit of a hit back in Q4, following its failed merger with Ma Bell, but things are looking up for the magenta network. It still took a 2.8 percent hit in terms of raw revenues, taking in $5 billion including service and equipment sales, but it's still proud to report a net growth of 187,000 customers and diminishing reports of customer losses when compared to previous quarters. T-Mobile's branded net customer loss of 510,000 marks a 28-percent improvement over its 706,000 Q4 loss, and is bolstered by a 13 percent increase in prepaid customers, totaling 249,000. The firm blames its previous quarter contract losses on the widespread availability of the iPhone 4S on its competitors' networks. It's also assuring investors that its lauded 4G rollout is still underway, and noted that it has signed agreements with Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Network to upgrade 37,000 cell sites with LTE hardware over the next two years. The company hopes a brand relaunch (and the availability of handsets like the Galaxy S Blaze 4G, Nokia Lumia 710, and HTC One S) will drive customers to the high-speed network as it fills out over 2012 and 2013. Hit the break for all of the financially riveting details.

    Sean Buckley
    05.10.2012
  • AT&T's Glenn Lurie sees the end of WiFi-only tablets

    AT&T's Glenn Lurie believes that WiFi-only tablets won't be around for long as the cost of cellular modems falls. Talking at CTIA Wireless, the "emerging devices" honcho thinks that the low ($30) cost of an HSPA+ radio will eventually make manufacturers abandon the two-tier model -- doubling the potential customers for his network. He pointed to the success of the sold-out Pantech Element and has said that the company would be offering similarly enabled tablet devices in the future. Of course, if manufacturers only charged $30 extra for 3G-enabled tablets in the first place, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation.

    Daniel Cooper
    05.09.2012
  • T-Mobile CEO: network getting ready for iPhone

    During a CTIA event and in a press release, T-Mobile outlined the plan for its 4G LTE network, which will be available nationwide by the end of 2013. Buried in the press release is a tidbit of information about T-Mobile's 1900 MHz spectrum that'll interest iPhone owners. T-Mobile confirmed that it will launch 4G HSPA+ service in the same 1900 MHz band that's supported by the iPhone. Current iPhone owners who defected from AT&T must use the iPhone on T-Mobile's excruciatingly slow 2G EDGE network. This change from EDGE to HSPA+ will let iPhone owners cruse along at 4G speeds that meet or even exceed that of AT&T. The wireless carrier hopes these changes will be in full swing by the end of the year. According to AllThingsD, T-Mobile CTO Neville Ray said a marketing push targeting out-of-contract iPhone owners on AT&T "would make sense", but added that T-Mobile is "not there yet." [Via AllThingsD]

    Kelly Hodgkins
    05.08.2012
  • T-Mobile expands HSPA+ 42, picks LTE vendors and notches 1 million VoIP users

    With CTIA 2012 getting under way, T-Mobile is the latest company to check in with an announcement, proudly informing the world of the latest developments in its 4G expansion efforts and Bobsled VoIP service. On the 4G (not faux G) front, it's selected "Release 10" hardware from Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks to support the $4 billion LTE rollout the company is undertaking (using AWS spectrum acquired from AT&T) starting this year and will continue through 2013. While nationwide LTE should be reality next year, right now T-Mobile is delivering HSPA+ to new markets, with HSPA+ 42 live today in Fayetteville and Little Rock AR, Lake Charles LA and Springfield, MO. Due later in the year, as expected, is 4G HSPA+ on the 1900 MHz band that should bring faster speeds, better building penetration and 4G access for the iPhone. While we're still not sure how the free Bobsled VoIP service figures into the company's plans, the company announced it has already broken through one million users. According to its stats, 95 percent are not T-Mobile wireless customers and 80 percent of calls originate from outside the country, however 90 percent of text messages sent are domestic. All the numbers and locations are in the press releases after the break, if you want to hunt down some high speed data action for yourself.

    Richard Lawler
    05.07.2012
  • PSA: AT&T's HTC One X now in stock, get it while it's frosty

    While the AT&T One X is getting some flack for being blocked from HTC's bootloader unlocking program, the good news is that it's officially available starting today. So long as you're not fazed with having Sense 4 sprinkled on top of your 4.7-inch Ice Cream Sandwich, the dual-core, LTE-enabled device is on offer in gray or white for $200 with a two-year contract ($150 if you order through Amazon Wireless). Hit up the source links below to get your hands on a One X to call your own -- and don't forget to parse our review if you're still making up your mind about this frosty treat.

    Joe Pollicino
    05.06.2012
  • HTC One X for AT&T review

    ... More Info HTC One X review HTC One X exclusive to AT&T in the US, brings LTE, Beats, ICS and Sense 4 to Ma Bell AT&T HTC One X hands-on After last year's scattered lineup of products, HTC's been going through a bit of a renaissance lately thanks to the One X, One S and One V -- a beautifully focused trio of phones that run the company's new, lightweight Sense 4 skin on top of Ice Cream Sandwich. Hot on the heels of T-Mobile's One S comes AT&T's One X, which is launching May 6 for $199 on contract. The reworked device gains LTE and drops NVIDIA's quad-core Tegra 3 chip for a dual-core Snapdragon S4. So, does this brain transplant make it a better or worse proposition than the global One X? Hit the break to find out.

    Myriam Joire
    05.01.2012
  • Google back in the smartphone sales game: unlocked Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ (GSM) available for $399

    Hang on to your kneecaps, folks. Google's just announced that it's making the Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ available in its Play web store for $399 contract-free. That's right: the unlocked, unbranded, pure Google, 16GB GSM version everyone's been importing from foreign lands far and near is now officially available in the US -- booyah! The handset ships with Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and comes with Google Wallet pre-installed (including a $10 credit to get you started with the company's mobile payment service). As a refresher, it's not Google's first time in the smartphone sales game. The company made the Nexus One available on its own website in 2010 before pulling the plug and then partnering with Best Buy to sell the Nexus S later that year. One of the problems with the Nexus One was support -- or lack thereof. Google's assured us things will be different this time and it will be offering proper support for its Nexus flagship. We sure hope so. The Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ is on sale now for $399 (plus taxes and two-day shipping) in the new Devices section of the Play web store. It's a phenomenal deal for one of the best Android phones on the market today -- especially when you consider it provides 21Mbps HSPA+ with great battery life (unlike the "fake" Nexus) and no commitment on your choice of AT&T or T-Mobile. So go ahead, stick it to the carriers and get a taste of dumb-pipe utopia -- delicious, isn't it?

    Myriam Joire
    04.24.2012
  • Google pushes IMM76I ICS build to HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus, reportedly quells connectivity woes

    If you've been facing signal issues with your HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus since that recent Android 4.0.4 update, you'll be happy to know that Google's apparently readied another minor update that might help. A small amount of owners have noticed a new build of Android 4.0.4, listed as build IMM76I, showing up on their devices. As The Verge notes, Google hasn't publicly come out with what's been changed from the previous IMM76D build, but many folks over on the forums at XDA-Developers and Android Central have noticed that their handsets' cellular connectivity has improved. Furthermore, Android Central says that devices set to auto brightness aren't experiencing lag on the lock screen as some have had issue with. Mum's the word on when the update will hit every HSPA+ Galaxy Nexus, but move your cursor over to links below for all the information that's currently available.

    Joe Pollicino
    04.21.2012
  • HTC One S for T-Mobile review

    A couple weeks ago we got to have our Ice Cream Sandwich and eat it too, thanks to a gorgeous couple phones from HTC -- the One X and the One S. Both run Sense 4 -- a thinner, lighter version of the company's polarizing UI -- and together with the entry-level One V, represent HTC's attempt to make a comeback after a lackluster year of me-too products. The first to make its way to the US is the One S which lands on T-Mobile April 25 for $199 on contract (with a $50 rebate). We just spent a weekend with Magenta's new flagship handset. So how does it compare to the global One S? Find out after the break.

    Myriam Joire
    04.18.2012
  • BlackBerry PlayBook with '4G' out and about, wants to know where you put its SIM

    Jim Balsillie might be on the outs, but it looks like his once boastful pet-project -- a BlackBerry PlayBook with integrated cellular wireless -- is finally coming to fruition. Per CrackBerry's forums comes the above snap of the Canadian slate donning a SIM card slot, nary a month after we first spotted the company's HSPA+ and LTE tablets pass through the FCC. That also lines up nicely with a previously leaked roadmap, promising a summer arrival. Will the mythical 4G-wielding PlayBook ever make it to market? Or like its WiMax brother, will it never be given the chance? While you ponder that, more pics await at the source.Update: A few more photos have surfaced on the CrackBerry forums, showing what appears to be native BBM on the device.

    Dante Cesa
    04.06.2012
  • HTC One X vs. One S: which phone is The One for you?

    HTC One X review HTC One S review HTC Sense 4 reviewJet Li starred in a 2001 movie called "The One." In it, his character traveled to parallel universes and grew stronger as he killed alternate versions of himself. This continued on until there was only one other copy left, with the movie culminating in an epic battle between the two. We won't spoil the ending, but we were reminded of this movie when thinking about the One X and the One S: both are incredibly powerful phones that we'd be proud to use as our daily drivers, but the vast majority of us are only able to choose one One. (The One V is also a possible option but for the purposes of this feature we're laser-focused on HTC's two higher-end models.)How can we make a sound decision? The two phones are considered premium devices with top-notch components and relatively few flaws. The major difference, however, is going to be the price. Naturally, the cost will vary depending on where you live and which carrier you choose, but make no mistake: the S is going to be less expensive. Is it worth spending the extra money to go with the top-shelf model, or will the little guy be plenty? Now that the two devices are officially on sale in Europe, it's time to pick a side. We can't decide for you, but our goal is to present each phone's pros and cons, going round by round. Which one is right for you? Read on to find out.

    Brad Molen
    04.05.2012