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KnowRoaming to start shipping international 'sticker' SIMs soon
Frequent travelers who pre-ordered KnowRoaming's SIM stickers last year might finally be able to get their purchases as soon as next week. According to the company, it'll start sending out the first units to early adopters on February 5th, months after the original December shipping date. As its name implies, KnowRoaming's SIM sticker is a thin film that adheres to regular SIM cards. It can, in theory, automatically switch travelers' connections to local networks when they cross borders, thereby avoiding roaming charges. The firm hasn't revealed a retail availability yet, but at the rate things are going, it may be best not to hold your breath.
AT&T signs deal with EE to offer 4G data roaming in the UK
AT&T's mission to provide superfast data outside of the US has been given another big boost, courtesy of EE. The UK carrier announced today that it has become the first domestic provider to offer 4G roaming to international travellers, with AT&T coming on board as its first partner. AT&T has been moving fast: just last week it signed a deal with Rogers to provide quick LTE data anywhere the Canadian provider has compatible coverage. EE doesn't intend to limit itself either -- the carrier says today's agreement is the first of many deals it expects to announce over the coming months, suggesting other US operators could soon follow AT&T's lead.
AT&T strikes deal to offer LTE data roaming in Canada
AT&T subscribers visiting their Canadian neighbors no longer have to worry about giving up 4G speeds when crossing the border. The carrier has just unveiled a roaming deal with Rogers that will provide quick LTE data anywhere the Canadian provider has compatible coverage, including major cities like Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. You'll only get to do so much with the improved performance while traveling up North, though. When AT&T's global add-ons still include a meager amount of international data per month, you'll just be racking up overage fees that much faster.
Three UK offers free data, text and calls while roaming in the USA
Hey hey, it's a party in the USA, or at least, it will be for UK-to-US travelers who are signed up to Three. The network has just announced that those intrepid pond-hoppers will be entitled to roam with their UK allowances of data, text and calls absolutely free. It's not just the US that's joining the party either, as it'll also apply to those journeying to Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Macau. We assume, just like the other Feel At Home countries, that calls to non-UK numbers will still incur fees, and tethering's still a no-go option, but that hasn't stopped us splurging on some long-haul flights for this afternoon.
UK carriers agree to cap bills on lost and stolen cellphones
It's bad to rack up steep cellphone bills through your own actions, but it's even worse if a thief does that on your behalf. Thankfully, the UK government has struck a deal with EE, Three, Virgin Media and Vodafone to cap bills on any cellphone reported lost or stolen after this spring. Brits on those networks won't be liable for more than £50, even if a mugger goes on a Netflix marathon. The agreement should also prevent other kinds of bill shock; carriers will be clearer about the chances of mid-contract rate hikes (with the option of ending that contract), and they'll help wipe out roaming charges by 2016. The UK's moves won't completely eliminate surprise costs -- not when O2 and other providers are missing from the deal, at least -- but it might help ease the blow.
The Summoner's Guidebook: Bringing power from one LoL lane to another
In most of the League of Legends games that I win by a landslide, I win because my mid lane takes an early lead and uses it to help win our other lanes. Lately, my main role in League of Legends has been the jungler, and while it's nice to be fed as a jungler, I often can't win the game for my team even if I'm 6/0. However, my mid lane can simply by making things happen elsewhere. If you're ahead in your lane, you have to make your presence known, and sooner is better than later. It's nice to be 2/0 in mid lane or be up several kills as the support. However, if all you do from there is push the enemy team members to their turret and let them farm safely, you're not doing much to win the game as a whole.
T-Mobile teases global data roaming plans via its official site
We still haven't heard exactly what Shakira and CEO John Legere have up their sleeves today, but T-Mobile decided to offer a sneak peek to its online visitors. As you can see in the image above, which was posted on T-Mo's official site not too long ago, the company seems to be preparing to announce a plan to offer global data roaming in over 100 countries later this month. This would coincide with teasers we heard from Shakira's fan site earlier today. As this particular peek tells us, the global roaming feature will be available on select Simple Choice Plans and only on "capable devices." We still don't know any specifics, but we have a feeling that the countries in red are amongst the 100 that will be involved. Also, something tells us that Shakira will be singing Whenever, wherever tonight on stage, since that would certainly fit with the whole global theme, but we'll just have to wait and see like everyone else.
T-Mobile reportedly set to unveil global data plans with service in 100+ countries (updated)
Could this be the global data plan of our dreams? A fan site for Shakira, the artist set to perform at T-Mobile's UnCarrier event tonight, published a teaser on its Facebook page today. The image above suggests that the carrier will announce data plans that include global roaming in more than 100 countries, with no additional fees. That's all we have to report for now -- it's unclear whether or not data will be capped, which countries are included and what you'll need to pay for the plans -- but this Facebook post is consistent with a tweet from T-Mobile CEO John Legere this morning, declaring "Today is the day! The day we change the way the world uses their phones! You ready? #unleash." Update: It appears those rumors were spot on as T-Mobile's site is now showing a promo for free global coverage in over 100 countries, with plans to launch the service later this month. No other details are available just yet, but it does appear this will only apply to postpaid subs on the Simple Choice Plan.
Insert Coin: KnowRoaming's SIM 'stickers' let you talk, text and surf worldwide on the cheap
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. You still can't power on your smartphone across the pond in London and expect to pay the same fees you do back in New York, but several offerings make it cheaper to get online across the globe. One of our favorites, KeepGo (formerly iPhoneTrip), has been our preferred method for browsing the web in Canada, Cambodia, and everywhere in between. But daily rates do add up, and that service requires that you swap in a separate SIM, tucking your primary card away until you're back on your contracted network's home turf. KnowRoaming, a new player in this space, has an even more appealing option, however. That firm's SIM "stickers" include all the electronics in a thin film that you can attach to any SIM card using the included applicator. The sticker sits dormant in your unlocked phone when you're at home, but once you cross a border, the service prompts you to jump onto a local network, bypassing your original SIM in the process.
AT&T and Fon agree to share WiFi networks for holiday hotspot hoppers
It may not be as convenient as, say, Three UK's attempt to abolish data roaming frustrations, but today AT&T has partnered with yet another WiFi hotspot provider to make sharing those vacation pictures with cubicle-bound chums that much easier. International hotspot outfit Fon and Ma Bell have inked a deal that opens their respective WiFi networks up to each other's customers, though jetsetters will need a device compatible with AT&T's WiFi International iOS and Android apps. That's not the only catch, either. Like with AT&T's other hotspot arrangements, patrons of the US carrier will already need a roaming data plan to take advantage of the free 1GB of WiFi per month -- a 300 or 800MB Global Add-on package, in this case. Well, like everyone says: there's no such thing as free international WiFi sharing agreement data.
European Commission proposal would end some roaming fees, enshrine net neutrality
The rumors were on the mark -- as part of a larger telecom plan, the European Commission's Neelie Kroes has proposed regulation that would largely scrap roaming fees. The measure would ban all charges for incoming calls within the EU after July 1st next year, and give carriers incentives to drop many other roaming fees altogether. Companies would either have to let customers use "roam like at home" plans in EU countries or offer a choice of roaming providers with cheap rates. Outbound, mobile-to-mobile calls within member states would cost no more than €0.19 per minute. The strategy also includes rules for enforcing net neutrality across the EU. The proposal bans internet providers from blocking and throttling content. Firms could offer priority services like IPTV only as long as these features don't slow down other subscribers, who could walk away from contracts if they don't get their advertised speeds. There's no guarantee that the European Parliament will vote in favor of the new measures, but it's already clear that the Commission is far from happy with the telecom status quo. [Image credit: The Council of the European Union]
Rumored EU law would scrap cellular roaming fees, let travelers choose providers
It's no secret that European Commission regulators dislike roaming charges. However, The Guardian now hears from sources that the Commission may propose legislation next week that eliminates those charges altogether. Carriers would reportedly have to charge the same service rates in every European Union country, forming alliances in nations where they don't operate. Networks that don't scrap roaming fees by July 2014 would also have to give customers a choice of foreign providers. Subscribers wouldn't even have to swap SIM cards or phone numbers, according to The Guardian. A spokesman for the Commission's Neelie Kroes declined comment on the rumor, but noted that the agency wants roaming "out of the market" -- clearly, the cellular status quo won't last for long.
Three now lets travelers use their UK cellphone plans in seven countries
Three UK must hate international roaming charges as much as we do -- it just launched a Feel At Home initiative that ditches those fees in seven countries. Subscribers who visit Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy and Sweden can now use data, messaging and voice as if they were back in Britain. The perk doesn't require a specific plan, and customers can roam on any compatible network in a Free At Home country. There are a few catches, of course: calls to non-UK numbers still incur roaming fees, and tethering is strictly verboten. Still, Brits who just have to post vacation photos on Instagram should be happy.
Leaked NSA audit shows privacy violations in cellular and fiber optic surveillance
The NSA insists that it respects American privacy, but documents leaked by Edward Snowden to the Washington Post suggest that the agency has trouble maintaining that respect. A May 2012 audit, buried in the documents, 2,776 incidents where the NSA's Washington-area facilities inadvertently obtained protected American data through a mix of human errors and technical limits. Among its larger gaffes, the NSA regularly had problems determining when foreign cellphones were roaming in the US, leading to unintentional snooping on domestic calls. The agency also spent months tapping and temporarily storing a mix of international and domestic data from US fiber lines until the Foreign Intelligence Surveilliance Court ruled that the technique was unconstitutional. NSA officials responding to the leak say that their agency corrects and mitigates incidents where possible, and argue that it's difficult for the organization to avoid errors altogether. However, the audit also reveals that the NSA doesn't always report violations to overseers -- the division may be interested in fixing mistakes, but it's not eager to mention them.
Samsung preps Galaxy S 4, Galaxy S4 Mini variants with seamless dual-mode LTE
It hasn't been easy to bridge differing LTE network types in one phone; ZTE's attempt requires a reboot, for example. Samsung claims to have solved that problem with new dual-mode LTE versions of the Galaxy S 4 and Galaxy S4 Mini. Both devices can switch between the common FDD-LTE standard and TDD-LTE without restarting, and they'll automatically hand over any ongoing data sessions or voice calls. The advantages are potentially huge for both roaming and bandwidth -- travelers are more likely to stay on 4G, and providers running both FDD and TDD can switch customers to whatever network has the most capacity. Samsung hasn't said where and when the dual-mode Galaxies will be available, although TDD-LTE's worldwide reach (including the US) suggests that the smartphones could soon be commonplace.
The After Math: Made in the USA special
Welcome to The After Math, where we attempt to summarize this week's tech news through numbers, decimal places and percentages. During this Independence Day-tinged week, the Engadget team has been peering into the past, present and future of manufacturing in the US. We touched on the implausible costs of a real-life Death Star, how to educate kids in code and the finer points on bringing more tech manufacturing to America. Europe also gets a brief nod, as the EU announced the first wave of substantial roaming cost-cutting across the continent, making several of our often in-transit UK editors very happy indeed. We've got a list of notable numbers right after the break.
Data roaming for iPhones just got a lot cheaper for EU citizens
A few weeks ago, we reported that most roaming fees for iPhones (and all smartphones and non-smartphones) would be scrapped or greatly reduced in EU member countries come July 2014. While that's great news for those of us living in EU countries with mobile plans based in the EU, the even better news is that we don't need to wait 12 months to see our bills get cheaper. As of today, roaming fees are dropping significantly and will drop even further a year from now. As noted by Engadget, the new rate charges, which are in full legal effect as of midnight last night, are now reduced by 12 percent per minute for incoming calls. Text messages are 11 percent cheaper than they were yesterday, and roaming data charges are down a whopping 36 percent. At €0.45 per MB, roaming data charges are now 91 percent cheaper than they were in 2007. It's important to note that you don't need to be an EU citizen to get these great roaming data rates. If, for example, you are from the US and come to the EU on a European tour, you can simply buy a local SIM in one country and slip it into your unlocked iPhone. Since the SIM is an EU SIM, you'll be able to get the same great local data roaming rates as EU citizens. Image credit: Die Bundeskanzlerin
EU reduces roaming charges across Europe today, makes data 36 percent cheaper and teases further cuts
Starting today, anyone hopping between EU member countries with their smartphone will see roaming charge caps substantially cut across networks and services. As promised by the EU Commission's VP Neelie Kroes last week, new price caps will drop call charges by "at least 17 percent," while receiving calls are reduced by 12 percent per minute starting today. Text message costs are down 11 percent, while (perhaps most importantly) data charges across networks in Europe have been cut by 36 percent, down to 45 Euro cents per MB -- 91 percent cheaper than they were in 2007. The commission says it has managed achieve price reductions of over 80 percent across mobile services in the last six years, but it isn't done there. Further price caps are promised for the same time next year too, as you can see after the break, with roaming data charges set to be further halved (down to 20 cents) by July 2014, with voice calls and text charges also seeing further, admittedly less substantial, reductions. Now, let's see how the EU fares on those ridding the old country of throttled data speeds. Image credit: Die Bundeskanzlerin
EU ending mobile roaming charges in 2014
Rejoice readers who live in the European Union! Soon you'll be able to pay the same rate for calls you make while traveling the 27 countries in the EU as you do at home. According to the UK newspaper the Telegraph, the European Union has announced an end to mobile roaming charges in 2014 as part of a package of major telecom reforms. Roaming fees for voice calls, texts and internet access will effectively be completely scrapped under the proposals, which are part of a broader effort to create a single European telecoms market. The group of 27 European Commissioners voted in Brussels on Tuesday to drive the package through in time for the European elections in May next year, to come into force as soon as 1 July 2014. Sadly these changes only apply to customers who live in the European Union; travelers from other countries are still stuck paying the fees.
AT&T and Boingo unite on free-but-not-really airport WiFi
AT&T has been forging partnerships that give its roaming customers free WiFi while abroad, and it just struck one of the more logical networking deals that we've seen to date, if also the most lopsided. A pact with Boingo will let AT&T subscribers have 1GB of free data each month on Boingo's airport hotspots -- but, as with previous arrangements, only if they're subscribed to AT&T's $60 or $120 international data plans. Boingo subscribers, meanwhile, get a much better deal. They can use AT&T hotspots anywhere in the US as part of their existing rate, which could see them paying as little as $10 per month. Either arrangement will keep us online during a layover, and for that we're thankful -- but there's only one that's likely to have us pulling out our credit cards.
