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AT&T's HSUPA upgrade just around the corner
Richard Burns, AT&T's president of wireless network services, has revealed some key stats and plans for the company's 3G network -- not a topic of much interest for iPhone owners, granted, but he says those folks think the EDGE experience is "great" anyway (whatever). The number of market areas covered by its HSDPA network should touch the 200 mark by the end of this year, and while AT&T won't succeed in upgrading its entire network to 3G by the end of 2008, Mr. Burns says that the build-out will continue throughout the year in order of data demand, which we take to mean that the most rural of rural areas are still going to be plumb out of luck here. Perhaps more interestingly, though, he revealed that the planned upgrade to HSUPA is well underway, with coverage going live in the next couple months. Of course, that means new data modems are gonna be necessary to take advantage, but if hosting a website from a park bench is a priority for you, it could very well be worth the cost of admission.
Sierra Wireless intros AirCard 880U / 881U USB modems
Hot on the heels of the AirCard 595U, Sierra Wireless is expanding its HSUPA offerings with a new duo of USB modems. The AirCard 880U and 881U both connect to your Windows or OS X-based computer via USB, sport the company's TRU design features, and offer up a "theoretical maximum [upload] speed of 2Mbps," while downlink speeds tout a "theoretical maximum of 7.2Mbps." Additionally, in areas where HSUPA networks aren't available, both modems are "fully compatible with HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS, and GSM network technologies on all frequencies currently used worldwide." The 880U is said to be "optimized for Europe and Asia, while the AirCard 881U is optimized for North America," and both units are slated to ship out next month.[Via Macworld]
Option's GlobeTrotter Express HSUPA card wins FCC approval
Option has already done quite a bit of bragging about its various HSUPA and HSDPA offerings, but it looks like the company now has one more cause to pat itself on the back, as its GlobeTrotter Express HSUPA card has netted the all-important FCC approval. According to the company, that makes it the first such card to do so, paving the way for it to be released in the U.S. Apart from the ExpressCard form factor, however, the card is pretty much in line with the company's HSUPA USB adapter, with it boasting 7.2 Mbps download speeds and upload speeds approaching 2 Mbps, along with support for tri-band UMTS operation and compatibility with quad-band EDGE and GPRS. While there's nothing to hold it back now, there unfortunately still doesn't appear to be any word on a price or release date.
New Sony Ericsson handsets looming?
We aren't insinuating that you should attach any level of truth to these rumors just yet, but the boards of Esato are alive with murmurs of a few new SE handsets that could be launched as early as tomorrow. Amongst the mobiles that we could hear more about (officially) in the coming day is the Cyber-shot-branded "Victoria" -- which will supposedly be 14-millimeters thick and sport a 1.9-inch QVGA screen, five color options, and a 128MB M2 card bundled in -- and the still elusive "Veronica." Additionally, we could also be treated to the W350, a Cyber-shot clamshell / Cyber-shot slider, and new "accessories" to boot. Best of all, though, is that you've just a single day left to find out if there's actually any substance to these whispers, but if it does prove true, it certainly won't be the first time.[Via PocketPicks]
UK carriers to begin HSUPA rollouts this year
HSDPA and HSUPA are pretty much two peas in a pod -- if HSPA is the "pod," anyway -- so it stands to reason that HSUPA rollouts are going to start picking up steam as carriers look to extend their 3.5G investments. The upgrades look to be coming particularly fast and furious for British folk in the next few months, with Vodafone, T-Mobile, and 3 all having committed to kicking off their HSUPA buildouts by year end. Orange starts its work speeding up the upstream next year, while O2's still nowhere in sight -- but hey, three outta five in 2007 ain't bad.[Via All About Symbian]
Novatel's MC950D, world's smallest USB HSUPA modem
We've noticed that 3G USB dongles tend to be behemoths, hanging like unfortunate growths off the sides of otherwise-attractive laptops -- so, needless to say, we're happy to hear that a manufacturer is making a conscientious effort to tighten up the dimensions a bit. Novatel Wireless is triumphantly claiming that its new Ovation MC950D is the world's smallest HSUPA modem -- though HSUPA's still pretty rare, so that doesn't necessarily mean much -- with downstream speeds topping out at 7.2Mbps and a healthy 2.1Mbps upstream. No word on partners or an exact release date, but Novatel says the device is in its "final testing stages" (across the pond, seemingly) with commercial availability coming later in the quarter.
AT&T to get Kaiser as 8925?
Makes sense, right? By smartphone standards, the 8525 is getting a bit long in the tooth (its unbranded cousin, the TyTn, is even longer) -- so we've gotta believe AT&T has something in the pipe to grab another several hundred dollars out of owners' wallets (or purses, or money clips, or however it is folks stow cash money these days). Known internally to HTC as the Kaiser, the supposed 8925 is a dream come true for lovers of the Windows Mobile slide-out QWERTY form factor thanks to its nifty flip-up display, spring loaded slide, HSUPA support (though it could be a while before AT&T subscribers get a crack at it), and out-of-the-box Windows Mobile 6. If this is legit, look for it to allegedly go down some time in August.[Via Boy Genius Report]
NTT DoCoMo tests speedy Super 3G
It's a bird, it's a plane, no, its just Japan's NTT DoCoMo blowing the rest of the world away with yet more steroid-loaded 3G action, or Super 3G in this case. Blending advanced HSDPA and HSUPA technologies, Super 3G is touted as having downlink speeds as quick as 300Mbps -- a fair bit quicker than earlier reports -- to your handset. The indoor tests will begin with only one transmitting and receiving antenna, but switch up to the four Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna system that would be used if deployed. Test are expected to wrap up in 2009, so in the interim we'll all just sit back and cry a little knowing we'll never see this type of tech on these shores.[Via Unwired View]
HTC Omni to get HSUPA, 3.1 megapixel cam?
If GPS, a wide VGA display, and mere HSDPA weren't enough to get tongues a-waggin' for HTC's long-overdue Universal successor, it looks like the Omni will be throwing in a few additional goodies to sweeten the pot for its supposed October launch. Notably, pdadb.net sez that the Omni will be rocking a full HSPA implementation -- that's HSDPA plus HSUPA for the lay folk -- plus a 3.1 megapixel cam and LED (what, no xenon?) flash. If we had our druthers, we'd like to see a 5 megapixel autofocus behemoth in there, but you know, let's not get ahead of ourselves.[Via Unwired View]
Vodafone, Option kick off HSUPA offering in Germany
Some of us are still clamoring for mere 1.8Mbps HSDPA -- complete with a pedestrian 384kbps on the upstream side -- to go live in our neck of the woods, but that's not stopping Vodafone from rolling deep (way deep) in Germany. Voda has gone live in Bavaria with an Option GlobeTrotter Express HSUPA card, "customized to the exacting requirements of the operator" and offered at retail as the "Mobile Connect Card Express UMTS Broadband." The ExpressCard/34 offers a Cardbus adapter in box, firmware upgradeability, download speeds as high as 7.2Mbps, and a staggering (albeit theoretical) 1.45Mbps upstream. Mobile web server, anyone?[Via Slashphone]
HTC P4550 "Kaiser" reviewed
Paul from MoDaCo has our envy today, having recently taken possession of HTC's pièce de résistance -- the HTC "Kaiser" -- which looks to make a self-branded debut bearing the model number P4550. As he points out, HTC left virtually nothing out of the P4550 as Windows Mobile-based QWERTY sliders go; the 256MB of onboard Flash, 128MB of RAM, 3 megapixel cam, HSUPA, and trick flip-up display all set new marks for lustworthiness in the category. What's more, the device is said to be really snappy with Windows Mobile 6 and a 400MHz Qualcomm MSM7200 core, picture quality from the camera is superb, and voice quality is apparently top notch. The conclusion? "It's quite simply awesome." Too bad it's also quite simply not available yet.
AT&T looks beyond WiMAX, headed for LTE
Just as Sprint starts pondering ways to possibly rid itself of the massive WiMAX expenditure load that it has taken on, AT&T is apparently looking right on past the technology into the next-generation of HSPA. The company's VP of Government Solutions for Mobility noted at a recent interview that AT&T would be taking a "wait-and-see approach to WiMAX as it didn't see the value proposition in mobile WiMAX." Consequently, he hinted that the firm would rather set its sights on LTE (long term evolution), but did suggest that it would be "evaluating the use of WiMAX technology for backhaul." A tough day for WiMAX supporters, indeed.[Via PhoneScoop]
Europeans scrutinize Apple's control tactics
We already know that the iPhone won't have any issues functioning on the other side of the pond, but an interesting suggestion from the CEO of Carphone Warehouse has got Europeans looking a bit more closely at how things will eventually be ran in their neck of the woods. It was stated that "in order for the iPhone to function correctly, there is a requirement for Apple servers to be placed deep in the operator's network," which has led some to believe that Apple could have a "a non-GSM, non-standard way of authenticating its phone." If true, this would likely make operators much more willing to subsidize the handset if necessary when competition from rivals inevitably catches up, but it sure won't make users happy who enjoy "unlocking and reflashing phone operating systems to get around operator device tie-ins."[Thanks, Marc]
HTC reveals official Windows Mobile 6 upgrade plans
It seems HTC has finally gotten all of its leaves in a pile by releasing the much anticipated Windows Mobile 6 upgrade roadmap; while this news isn't a surprise, it's always reassuring to hear it straight from the manufacturer. Starting in April (the clock is ticking HTC) the updates will begin rolling out on HTC's European site for your downloading pleasure (link below). The list includes the HTC Advantage, HTC TyTn, HTC S620, HTC P3300, and the HTC 4350. All of you folks rolling with carrier-branded handsets will have to wait until June, and to make it a bit more unbearable, no operators or devices are specifically mentioned. HTC's rationale in choosing these handsets over others in their portfolio -- in case you are screaming "why not me?" -- is that devices with a focus on messaging will most benefit from the upgrade. Maybe it's just us, but aren't all of HTC's handsets focused on messaging? We will be bringing you a blow by blow as these things land, so if you see one posted and we haven't mentioned it, drop us a line.[Thanks, Sed]Read - HTC's WM6 roadmap [Warning: PDF link]Read - HTC Europe download site
Hands-on (again) with the ultra-everything Samsung F700
Yes, we just recently brought you a bunch of live shots of the F700 from the CeBIT show floor, but when it comes to a device of this caliber, let's be honest: one good gallery deserves another. These ones come from CTIA; after being given a few brief moments to play with it, we really can't emphasize enough just how flippin' small it is. When we initially saw Samsung's press shots of the device, we got the impression that its dimensions were generous enough to put it head to head with a Hermes or equivalent -- and to be fair, with HSUPA, 7.2Mbps HSDPA, slide-out QWERTY and a 5 megapixel sensor, that's a reasonable impression to have -- but in reality, the F700 is seriously no bigger than a large candybar dumbphone. We don't want to rag on it too much since we haven't played with a functional device yet, but one potential downside is the keyboard -- the small space bar lies squarely in the middle of the bottom row of letter keys and has its top row placed a little too close to the bottom edge of the device's top half. Unfortunately, the unit we spent time with had no operating system loaded, but the hardware was so gorgeous that we almost -- almost -- didn't care. Hands-on with the ultra-everything Samsung F700
AT&T to add HSUPA this year
Not to be outdone by the impending reality of nationwide EV-DO Rev. A from both Sprint and Verizon, AT&T's apparently felt enough heat to come clean with its intentions for an HSUPA launch. The technology -- the second half of the equation in GSM's HSPA 3.5G strategy, the first being HSDPA -- works the same magic for uplink speeds that HSDPA did for downlink, giving users uploads in the 1.5Mbps range. For the record, users of AT&T's present HSDPA network get hooked up with plain ol' UMTS uplink speeds in the high 300kbps range, so needless to say, this is an upgrade we can throw our support behind. Look for AT&T to roll out the requisite software upgrades to its equipment over the course of 2007, with the first compatible modems hitting midyear. Hint, hint: ExpressCards, AT&T. Please.
HTC Kaiser poses for a press shot
To capture the true essence of a handset, we typically like our visual footage in-the-wild style -- but there's something to be said for the clean, refined appearance of a good press shot, too -- and on that note, well, here ya go. The shot clearly shows what could end up being the HTC Kaiser's revolutionary feature, a flip-up screen that adds another dimension (literally) to the form factor popularized by its predecessors, the venerable Wizard and Hermes. Of course, with HSUPA data on board, the trick screen is far from being the only hotness here, so it pretty much goes without saying that we're a little excited for the (planned) mid-year release in "P4550" HTC-branded trim.
LG's KS20: Chocolate / Prada / whatever with WM6
As expected, this slick little Windows Mobile 6 Professional device could very well stand to be the first to benefit from LG's newfound relationship with Microsoft. Whether it'll get slapped with Prada branding remains to be seen, but the KS20's resemblance to its proprietary stablemate can't be overlooked; the Windows Mobile variant gets a thumb stick near the bottom in place of the KE850's buttons, but that's the only major change we see up front. The guts are just as pretty as the outside, too, with WiFi, Bluetooth, the obligatory microSD slot, HSDPA and (possibly) HSUPA, FM radio, TV out, and a 2 megapixel shooter. Needless to say, we're pulling for a radio that can suck down some American 3G, but we're not getting our hopes up. As soon as we catch wind of a release date, price, or any other solid 411, we'll pass it right along.[Via Slashphone]
HTC Kaiser in the wild
Whoa, what's that HTC Kaiser doing there? Don't whip out your Wizard or Hermes and try this, folks -- you'll only end up with tears and a broken Pocket PC -- it's a hot new trick HTC's Hermes follow-on has up its sleeves. Besides the wacky flip-up action, the Kaiser ups the camera to a full 3 megapixels (an extra million pixels over its predecessor), adds HSUPA support for crazy fast uploads, GPS, and the now-obligatory Windows Mobile 6 Professional. No word on release, but we know with certainty that HTC wants this thing in users' hands in 2007, so we'd expect it to start showing up on European networks before too long. Click on for plenty of gorgeous photography.[Via Howard Forums]
T-Mobile Germany showcases '07 plans at CeBIT
Germany's own T-Mobile came out swinging at CeBIT on its home turf this week, touting recent advances and showing a rather plump to-do list for the coming year. Of course, this is all coming from Europe's T-Mobile, not our own, but maybe -- just maybe -- we'll get some of this down the pike if we close our eyes and click our heels together three times. First up, a slew of new web'n'walk models (T-Mobile's cute term for data peripherals) will offer downlink speeds upgradeable to 7.2Mbps and uplink up to 1.4Mbps (thanks to HSUPA) in PC Card, ExpressCard, and desktop box form factors. Turning our attention to handsets, T-Mobile's committed to offering a veritable trifecta of superphones with the Nokia E90 and N95 both in the cards along with the HTC-sourced Ameo, while fashionistas will be able to feast on the Sony Ericsson W880i. Other highlights included the promised mid-2007 introduction of "Super SMS," a chat-centric text app that'll allow users to rock a buddy list and other features typically associated with traditional instant messaging -- and best of all, it'll be compatible with a number of existing handsets. Get on those ruby red slippers and start clicking, American T-Mobile customers.[Thanks, Mario]
