Three
Latest
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."
LG G2 confirmed to arrive on Three and O2 in the UK (updated)
Following the formal reveal of the LG G2 yesterday, UK network Three was quick to report its plan to offer the handset "soon," so we thought we'd follow up with all the other major providers to see where else you'll eventually be able to find one. O2 is also on board, although it would only commit to a vague release window of "later this year." Vodafone said it currently has no plans to offer the G2, and while EE has "nothing to announce," we couldn't get any assurance that it wouldn't show up on its 4G network, or on the Orange or T-Mobile brands. Retailer Carphone Warehouse has put a tentative October arrival date on its website, and although we're still waiting on a response from Phones 4U, you'll more than likely be able to find it there, too. So, if you've developed a particular taste for the slim bezel design and quirky button placement, you'll have at least a few options come launch time. Update: We assumed wrong -- Phones 4U has gotten back to us to say it won't be stocking the G2.
Nokia Lumia 1020 to launch in the UK this quarter on O2 and Three
That 41-megapixel Windows Phone you've been hearing all about? Well, despite the NY launch event, it will indeed launch in the UK. In fact, it'll get here later this quarter. O2 and Three have announced that they'll be offering the Lumia 1020 in stores and online and while both networks currently aren't running an LTE service, Three has promised the phone it offers will be Ultrafast ready, broadly meaning it might run on 4G, but it'll certainly offer up to DC-HSPA speeds at launch. Telefonica, the parent company of O2, has promised that an "exclusive variant of the device" will make an appearance in select European and Latin American markets. More news from the other networks when we hear it. Check out all the news from today's Nokia event at our hub!
Mobile Miscellany: week of July 1st, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week, Simple Mobile changed its low-cost plans for the better and actionable notifications in BlackBerry 10.2 were shown off in a video walkthrough. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore all that's happening in the mobile world for this week of June 1st, 2013.
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.
Telefonica to sell its Irish operations to Three for $1.1 billion
Think you're carrying a tad too much debt? Spanish telecom giant Telefónica wants to reduce its red ink to 47 billion euros ($62 billion) by the end of the year, so it's decided to sell its Irish mobile and broadband business to Hutchison Whampoa's Three for 850 million euros ($1.1 billion). If regulators approve the deal, it'll let Telefónica hack about 750 million euros of debt from its books, while giving Three a 37.5 percent share of the nation's mobile business and a strong number two position behind Vodafone. The deal follows a £200 million ($273 million) sale of Telefónica's fixed phone line business to Sky. Considering the whopping level of debt, though, that may be just the start. [Image credit: Wikimedia Commons]
3's data network dies, UK iPhone owners left without 3G
Last night I was walking my dog and I went to check my iPhone and noticed I didn't have a 3G signal. Sadly, this was nothing new since I am on UK network 3. I chose the network because they have unlimited data sim-only plans, but I soon discovered it's hard to get a signal a lot of times -- especially when I'm indoors. Still, being on the heath last night and not having a data signal at all was odd -- even for 3. But this morning I found out what happened: most of their data network went down and most of it remains down at this time. As Sky News reports, 3 has confirmed the data outage problems, which they are calling "intermittent." A 3 spokesperson said, "Some of our customers are unable to access the internet. We are working to restore their data services as soon as possible. We apologize to all those affected for any inconvenience." Currently the company is saying the data services will be restored via a phased response, meaning some users will get their 3G data back before others. As of the time of this writing my 3G data is still down and so is the 3G data of several of my friends who have 3's service for their iPhones. Meanwhile, during the downtime, I think I'm going to look for a new service provider. For those readers in London please let me know in the comments what carrier you use for data and how you find their coverage both outdoors and indoors.
Vodafone UK scores 32GB Lumia 925, O2 gets dibs on white model for June 13
Now that Nokia's launched it's metal-accented Lumia 925, you may want to know where to grab one. Well, in the UK, Vodafone will start carrying a 32GB version of the handset exclusively next month, while O2 said it'd be the only UK carrier with a white model -- which you'll be able to grab on June 13th. As for the others, Three confirmed via a tweet that it'd carry the new handset and that it would be compatible with its Ultrafast services, while EE and Orange have yet to announce anything. Meanwhile, we heard from T-Mobile that it will be the exclusive home of the 925 in the US, at least at launch. We've touched base with all the carriers for more info, so check back to see if you'll be able to grab one from your provider of choice.
Mobile Miscellany: week of February 4th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought the arrival of Cricket's first waterproof smartphone and Three introduced an updated Galaxy S III known as the Ultrafast. Not to stop there, we'll take a trip to India to highlight the latest value-oriented smartphone. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of February 4th, 2013.
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.
Mobile Miscellany: week of January 28th, 2013
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This week brought a resolution to HTC's kerfuffle with the custom ROM community, along with a handful of special edition Samsung smartphones and new efforts toward spectrum sharing with the US government. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of January 28th, 2013.
Ofcom mulls letting all UK carriers reuse spectrum for LTE
British regulator Ofcom gave EE special license to reuse 1,800MHz spectrum for its fledgling LTE network; to put it mildly, that rubbed other carriers the wrong way. The agency may be more open to a level playing field, as it's proposing letting everyone follow a similar route, and then some. Following calls from H3G (Three), Telefonica (O2) and Vodafone, Ofcom has offered to let all UK providers repurpose both their 1,800MHz airwaves as well as the 900MHz and 2,100MHz bands. We won't have too long to wait before a decision: Ofcom will decide on the proposal in the second quarter, which might come just in time for carriers to supplement whatever bandwidth they get from 4G auctions. Especially when hardware already exists that could use the frequencies for faster speeds, success could see the trickle of UK LTE become more of a torrent.
January 27, 2010: Apple announces the iPad
iPad is three. It was January 27, 2010, when CEO Steve Jobs took the stage to show the world what the company had been cooking up in the lab. Our staff roundup and anniversary post from last year include many of the highlights, but in the past 12 months Apple's tablet has continued to set records and transform the consumer electronics and PC markets. Since last January 27, the iPad has flown off the shelves -- about 66 million units sold in 2012, with the 100 millionth unit since April 2010 sold in October of last year. October also saw the introduction of a fourth-generation iPad with Retina display, taking some owners of the third-gen model (only seven months in the market at that point) by unpleasant surprise. A more pleasant surprise was the iPad's little brother, the iPad mini, proving popular with all kinds of customers. iPad was a long, long time coming. Vigorously anticipated as the "Apple Tablet" for years before it was realized, and the subject of countless rumors and predictions, Apple's iPad introduction finally brought coherence to the mess of will-they-won't-they speculation. (One TUAW contributor took a brave position on the device's naming: "Let me say this clearly: Apple would never name the tablet the 'iPad'. It's too similar to 'iPod'. So, everyone, please stop calling it the iPad.") Even thought many fans bemoaned the fact that the new tablet would not run the desktop version of OS X, it's hard to argue with the success of the iOS approach. (To be determined: whether Windows 8's "no compromises" unification of PC and tablet OS catches on with buyers.) Happy birthday, iPad, and here's to a wonderful 2013.
Major UK networks confirm they'll carry BlackBerry 10 wares in early 2013
While our immediate attention is focused on the fast approaching tech-fest that is CES, let us not forget another important event taking place in January -- the eagerly awaited launch of BlackBerry 10. We don't know if its success will equal RIM's expectations, but just this morning all major UK carriers emailed us confirmation they'll be stocking BB10 handsets. Three and EE (Orange and T-Mobile included) announced availability next year, but nothing more specific; O2 told us BB10 gear will land on its network "in early 2013"; and retailer Phones4u, which covers all the carriers, specified a Q1 2013 window. Vodafone implied that it'll be offering handsets immediately after launch, but we've been in contact the network's PR folks just to confirm that's true and not confused wording. We'll update you with their response as soon as we hear back.
Mobile Miscellany: week of December 10th, 2012
If you didn't get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, a company that you're no doubt familiar with announced its departure from the smartphone business, a UK-based carrier put the Nexus 4 up for sale and Republic Wireless made good on a promise. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of December 10th, 2012.
Ireland completes spectrum auction after analog shutoff, LTE rollout pegged for mid-2013
The dust has settled after Ireland's recent spectrum auction, and wouldn't you know it, Vodafone, O2, Meteor and Three have picked up a combined 140MHz of paired spectrum across the 800, 900 and 1800MHz bands. According to the country's regulator, ComReg, the auction will effectively double the spectrum available in these bands and will allow for LTE deployment across Éire. For its part, O2 has committed to begin its 4G rollout in the first half of 2013. To ensure quick deployment, all license holders are required to make their new spectrum available to 70 percent of Ireland's population within three years. In all, the companies will pay €855 million ($1.09 billion) for spectrum rights until 2030, of which, €482 million is payable up front. Curiously enough, the country's 800MHz spectrum was freed up just last month after its analog shutoff. To find a complete breakdown of the situation, feel free to hit up the announcement from ComReg at the source link below. [Thanks, Neil] [Photo credit: Seattleye / Flickr]
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.
Windows Phone 8 handset UK availability and pricing detailed: free starting from £21 per month
We've heard how Windows Phone 8 is all about you, and seen all the devices bearing the new OS at launch. What's left, however, is where you can get one on the other side of the pond and, more importantly, how much it's going to cost you. Nokia has separately announced that both the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 will be launching in the UK (and France) later this week. More specifically, though, it looks like every UK carrier will be getting at least three handsets, with the almost-ready-to-launch EE getting both of HTC and Nokia's handset pairs. We've got all the (current) pricing details and availability dates after the break.%Gallery-169573%
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.
