unitedkingdom
Latest
China Telecom eyes network expansion in France, Germany and US
The world's largest CDMA mobile operator, China Telecom, is looking to further expand its network footprint in Europe. With wireless assets already secured in the UK, Bloomberg reports that France and Germany may be next on the communication giant's proverbial hit-list. CT hopes to win the wireless business of jet-setters and Chinese citizens living outside of The People's Republic with competitive international roaming rates and its familiar brand. A separate report states that the company's interest is not confined to the Euro Zone and China Telecom may try and bring its services to the US sometime in 2012. Something tells us AT&T won't make a play to buy 'em, though.
Everything Everywhere's £1.5 billion investment to bring 4G to Orange and T-Mobile in the UK
So far there have been some limited LTE trials, but the truth remains: UK 4G isn't happening any time soon. A fact not lost on Everything Everywhere CEO Olaf Swantee, who's raiding the coffers to a tune of £1.5 billion to bring the Orange and T-Mo UK up to speed. Top of the shopping list, naturally, is the network equipment needed, in time for when the spectrum eventually gets auctioned off -- currently expected to be late 2012. The cash injection is part of a three-year investment, so don't expect that minty fresh network any time soon, but UK users can at least take refuge in knowing that Swantee, and his brace of providers, are pushing to bring old Blighty decent data rates sooner rather than later. That's if they've been given back in time.
UK courts to introduce tablets, vow to cut back on tree killing ways
It may not be retiring the powdered wigs just yet, but according to The Guardian, the British government is ready to replace traditional paper documents with tablets in UK courtrooms. Starting in April, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will give slates to Welsh and English prosecutors to store all forms and evidentiary items, later extending the offer to judges, jurors and defense lawyers. To start, administrators will give 35 Hewlett-Packard tablets to prosecutors in Norfolk as a test for the bigger roll out, which is estimated to save around £50 million (or around $78 million) in dead trees across the UK. There's no word yet which tablet HP has in mind, but chances are it will not be the discount rack TouchPad -- perhaps a Windows tablet is more in order in this court.
SSTL designs cheap radar satellite, UK government kicks in £21 million to build it
While we have an innate fear of the eye in the sky (and the role it'll play in the coming robot apocalypse), there's no doubt that observation satellites do a lot of good -- from recording weather and climate changes to helping coordinate relief efforts in the wake of natural disasters. Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) has plans to beef up planetary monitoring capabilities with its new NovaSAR satellite, and the company just received £21 million from the UK government to make it happen. NovaSAR works using synthetic aperture radar, so it can see through clouds (unlike optical satellites) and offers its services for £45 million -- or 20 percent of the cost of existing space radar platforms. With governmental funding in hand, SSTL can begin to develop and build its first such satellite, and the plan is to put it in orbit in two or three years. If NovaSAR does what it's been designed to do, SSTL hopes it can sell and launch enough of them so that any place on earth can be under its gaze in less than 24 hours. We're all for improving disaster relief efforts, but if you spy these sats overhead on a clear night, we recommend keeping an ear to the ground in case they're guiding an army of Alpha Dogs your way.
Motorola MOTOACTV coming to the UK to motivate armchair marathon runners
We feel strongly about exercise -- the only time you ever need to run is to escape from violence or, you know, Black Friday mobs. Others think it's an acceptable recreational activity, and it's these people who will be excited that the Motorola MOTOACTV's arriving in the UK. It's packing the same features we showed you before, including GPS tracking, 4,000 song capacity and being able to connect calls on your compatible Moto phone. It's an exclusive at specialist retailer Sweatshop for £250 and will be hitting shelves on December 1st. Just don't make us go in there, we might fall faint from thinking about all the exertion.
Apple becomes UK's #2 online retail store
Apple.com has become the second most trafficked online retail site in the UK, according to a report by website tracking firm Experian Hitwise and IMRG. The #2 spot puts Apple.com only behind Internet retail juggernaut Amazon.co.uk and ahead of retail discounter Argos.co.uk. Experian Hitwise tracking numbers are for website traffic recorded between August and October.The #2 spot represents a six-spot move for Apple.com. In July, Apple.com ranked as the #8 most trafficked online retail site in the UK. Experian Hitwise said Apple moved up to the #2 spot thanks to its five-fold increase in hits. The web tracking firm does point out that Apple's rapid rise to the #2 spot could be an anomaly spurred by Steve Jobs death and the resulting surge of interest in Apple. In October, the month Steve Jobs passed away, Apple.com/uk received 14 million hits -- one for every 250 visits made by UK-based browsers. However, Experian Hitwise Marketing Research Analyst James Murray acknowledges that the iPhone 4S announcement was also responsible for Apple's massive traffic numbers. "The tech world mourned the death of Steve Jobs this quarter but Apple goes on, and the launch of the iPhone 4S has helped push Apple to its highest ever ranking in the Hot Shops list," he said in a press release. "Amazon UK and Apple are now the two biggest brands in online retail, and this Christmas they will go head-to-head in the gadget wars as the Amazon Kindle contends with the Apple iPad. Our data shows that iPad is the more popular gadget online but the Kindle's lower price point may entice shoppers this Christmas."
Samsung Galaxy Note now available on O2 in the UK, priced at around $400
Well, that didn't take long. Less than a week after O2 announced that the Galaxy Note would be "coming soon," Samsung's 5.3-inch handset has just popped up for sale on the UK carrier's site. It's available now for £250 (or about $396) on the most basic of monthly plans, offering a hybridized notepad/tablet experience, in exchange. The provider is also offering £100 worth of free movies and music to early buyers, available for download via Samsung Hub. Interested parties can grab it now, at the source link below. [Thanks, George]
Roku planning to bring set-top boxes to Canada, UK in early 2012
It's been a big year for Roku. The streaming content box manufacturer launched its Roku 2 HD, XD and XS this summer, with a $50 LT model coming just last month. Now, the Netflix / HBO Go / Angry Birds player will cross the border into Canada and the U.K., with the expansion set to begin in early 2012. The company is looking to build its 350 channels with region-specific content, which can be provided free, supported by ads or with a subscription -- and if you choose to add your own content to the service, you'd certainly be in good company.
O2 launches LTE trial across UK ahead of next year's 4G spectrum auction
BT's gonna have to make some room at the 4G table, now that O2 has launched its very own LTE trial across the UK. Today, the provider dipped its toes into the LTE pool for the first time within London, a little less than a year after announcing a similar test across Germany. The nine-month trial will begin at 25 test locations across London, before spreading out to encompass a full 40 square kilometers and some 1,000 participants. Obviously, not all customers will be able to grab a slice of the pie, but those who do receive one of Samsung's B3730 modems will benefit from connection speeds of up to 100Mbps. According to the company, that should allow users to download a 500MB file in just one minute, compared to the five minutes it would take on a normal 3G connection. Time will only tell whether these dreams become a reality, but O2 is certainly hoping to benefit from the feedback it receives from its guinea pigs, ahead of next year's 4G spectrum auction. Find out more, in the full PR after the break.
Lumia 800 to hit the UK on November 16th, Nokia confirms
We knew that the Lumia 800 would be making its way to the UK sometime in November, but today, that timeline has become slightly more specific. We've just received confirmation that Nokia's "first real Windows Phone" will indeed be available within the UK on November 16th, just a day before Samsung unleashes its Galaxy Nexus handset to British users. Last month, the company confirmed that the device would be priced at €420, though there's no word yet on what that price tag may look like in sterling. As always, we'll let you know as soon as we hear more.
UK court orders ISP to block Newzbin 2 filesharing site within two weeks, Hollywood smiles
Pirates just can't catch a break these days. Way back in July, a British judge ordered telecom company BT to block its subscribers from visiting a site called Newzbin 2, on the grounds that the ISP had "actual knowledge" of customers using the platform access copyright infringing content. An appeal was soon filed, but yesterday, it was shot down by a high court. Under the order, BT will have 14 days to seal off access to Newzbin 2, and will have to do so on its own dime -- something the provider was aiming to avoid. The decision marks the first time that an ISP has been forced to block access to a filesharing site, something the Motion Picture Association heralded as "a win for the creative sector." BT, meanwhile, didn't have much to say about the ruling, stating only that "it is helpful to have the order now and the clarity that it brings." Less certain, however, is the impact this order will have on future copyright lawsuits and web censorship, in general. Find the ruling in its entirety at the coverage link, below.
Samsung Galaxy Y available now from Vodafone UK
The latest product off Samsung's near-constant conveyor belt, the Galaxy Y, has been spotted loitering around Vodafone UK stores. The "youth"(translation: entry-level) smartphone arrives with a slightly better spec sheet than the Korean giant's cheapest Android phone, the Galaxy Mini, although you shouldn't expect a load of GS II-eque features. The petite handset includes a two megapixel camera, a three-inch touchscreen, an 832MHz CPU, and the typical wireless medley of Bluetooth, 801.11 b/g/n WiFi and GPS -- all packed into a 3.5 ounce shell running Google's Gingerbread OS. Sure, there's no 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen, but for just £10.50 per month, we may be willing to overlook it.
UK Gov wants opt-in system for adult material, imagine a boot stamping on a trackpad, forever
Looks like Prime Minister David Cameron's not content with just shuttering the internet during social unrest (whilst condemning others who do the same). He's declared that four of the UK's biggest ISPs have entered into an opt-in system for adult material. The move is backed by the Mothers Union but has been flatly denied by the ISPs, who insist they're offering McAfee parental controls with new signups rather than Government-level web filtering. (Probably a massive let down to those eagerly waiting to delegate their parental responsibilities.) Of course, given the flaky nature of web filtering, any sanguine word that contained an expletive (the word "arsenal", for example) could be impossible to access until you had an awkward conversation with someone over the phone.
YouTube extends movie rental service to the UK
YouTube -- no longer the favorite repository for cats playing pianos -- has launched its movie rental service for folks across the pond. Previously available in North America only, web denizens in Ol' Blighty will now have access to brand new flicks for 24-hours at $3.99 a pop. Looks like all Mountain View needs now is Hulu to fully control the play-shifted portal.
UK 4G network auction delayed, spectrum sell-off pushed back to the end of 2012
The dizzying world of 4G speeds remains a distant prospect for Britons, with telecoms regulator Ofcom deciding to delay the auction for the next generation of mobile spectrum. It was looking to sell off two potent bands of wireless network by the end of this year, but those plans have been put on hold by some legal jostling and desk-banging from UK carriers, with the British equivalent of the FCC saying it received several "substantial and strongly argued responses." The sell-off delay might not affect any launch dates for 4G (already being tested in rural parts of the UK), as the bands up for grabs still won't be available until 2013. But eventually all of this to-ing and fro-ing will test even the Brits' stoic patience.
Google expands Voice Actions across Europe, with multi-language support (video)
Android users across Europe are waking up to some bonnes nouvelles this morning, because Google has now expanded its Voice Actions service to France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Beginning today, loquacious smartphone and tablet users will be able to place calls, send texts and conduct Google searches by speaking into their devices. All you have to do is press the microphone button on your home screen's Google search field and open the Voice Search app, or simply press the physical search button on your handset to bring up the "Speak Now" field. From there, you can begin chattering away in French, German, Italian, Spanish and real British English. Interested parties running Android 2.2 or above can get started by downloading the Voice Search app from the source link below, or by checking out Google's demo video, after the break.
Samsung Galaxy Y coming soon to Vodafone UK's budget lineup
The Samsung Galaxy Y recently appeared on Vodafone's "Coming Soon" page, where Sammy's youth-oriented smartphone will look to carve a niche among the UK carrier's value options. While the handset compares favorably to the current bottom-of-the-line Galaxy Mini (free on all contracts over £13 per month), the low-res QVGA display makes it a timid competitor to better-equipped options such as the Wildfire S and Xperia Mini Pro (both free on all contracts over £20.50 per month). Along with a Gingerbread OS and an 832MHz CPU, you'll find a 2 megapixel camera and the usual assortment of 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS. Neither pricing nor a release date have been announced, which will certainly determine much of the Galaxy Y's fate. So, Vodafone, how low can you go?
Samsung Galaxy W to launch on Three network in the UK next month
Samsung-thusiasts in the UK will be happy to know that the brand spanking new Galaxy W is coming to the British Three network in September. Just yesterday, we caught a glimpse of this beaut running Gingerbread with a 3.7-inch WVGA touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera, 4GB of internal memory, a 1.4GHz processor and HDSPA connectivity. Those on Three can also expect the new line of BlackBerrys -- the Curve 9360, the Torch 9810 and the Bold 9900 -- soon, as well as the white Samsung Galaxy S II and the Sony Ericsson Xperia ray sometime in September. We hope to get some hands-on time with the W at IFA in Berlin next week -- roadtrip anyone?
Andy Pad Pro makes film debut, shows off bird slinging skills (video)
Still waiting to get your affordable Android tablet on? You've got a little over a week to go, but here attempting to tide you over is a montage of the Andy Pad Pro. First made official in July (alongside a video of its lesser sibling), the Gingerbread tablet still rocks a 1.2GHz Cortex A8, a "powerful 3D GPU" and 1080p HDMI output. And at £179 (or about $290) the 7-inch capacitive slate won't break the bank. Ready to see it and its more affordable brother shred through a bevy of Android games? You know the drill: hop on past the break, bud.
UK rural areas get better coverage from older 2G phones
UK regulator Ofcom says that those in rural areas of the United Kingdom are better off sticking with older 2G feature/entry-level phones instead of newer smartphones like Apple's iPhone and Android-powered phones. The reason is that while newer smartphones offer greater features, the older 2G phones have better voice connectivity in rural areas. This is likely the result of less complex cellular radios that connect only on 2G and don't have to switch between 2G and 3G signals. Looks like those original iPhones laying around suddenly got a little more useful for those who live or travel in rural areas. [Via IT Pro Portal]
