Networking silicon vendor Mindspeed aims to become a big player in wireless infrastructure in a very small way. It is purchasing femtocell system-on-a-chip (SoC) maker Picochip for $51.8 million, creating what Mindspeed hopes will be a powerhouse in the so-far disappointing miniature base station market. Read more »
The past year in mobile has been even more eventful than most of us would have predicted. Our appetite for mobile data grew dramatically; Google’s Android continued its march to worldwide dominance; Amazon joined the tablet bandwagon; and AT&T tried and failed to acquire T-Mobile USA, among many other things. All of that activity lays the groundwork for a very promising — and very challenging — 2012. This research note serves both as a review of the major trends and events of 2011 as well as a forecast for the coming year. Companies mentioned in this report include Millennial Media, Quattro Wireless and Samsung. For a full list of companies, and to read the full research note, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The Galaxy Nexus, a flagship phone to showcase Google Android 4.0, has finally arrived for Verizon’s LTE network. The large handset comes with a hefty $299 price tag with contract; $649 without. Although it should offer a “pure” Google experience, Google Wallet won’t be installed. Read more »
My Galaxy Nexus smartphone is now capable of receiving free voice calls and making low-cost outbound calls on a data-only mobile broadband plan. How can you send and receive calls on a smartphone without a voice plan? Android’s native SIP integration is a big help. Read more »
T-Mobile claims its new 42-Mbps HSPA+ can rival LTE. In the industry’s first apples to apples-to-apples comparison, RootMetrics put T-Mo’s claims to the test in multiple markets. The conclusion: T-Mobile’s network is fast but its still can’t match the raw speeds of Verizon’s LTE. Read more »
T-Mobile USA reported a net gain of 126,000 subscribers in the most recent quarter, marginally increasing its total subscriber base to 33.7 million customers, while data revenue per customer grew as well. Without an iPhone, the carrier is focused on value plans and fast mobile broadband. Read more »
T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus launches with improvements and functions over the prior model, such as a faster dual-core processor and HSPA+ support. One other new feature: a monthly payment plan that lowers the up-front cost by adding $10 to the next 20 monthly bills. Read more »
Massive growth in data traffic driven by smartphone adoption and usage, coupled with more spectrally efficient air interfaces such as HSPA+ or LTE, have added increased pressure on backhaul requirements, turning a once boring business into an exciting space. More exacting requirements and greater competition will ultimately enable more growth prospects over the next few years. We also expect to see increased adoption of wireless backhaul worldwide, with PMP and E-band technologies delivering increasingly attractive and cost-effective solutions for the new LTE networks. Companies mentioned in this report include BLiNQ, Cambridge Broadband Networks and Siklu. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
T-Mobile announced another new mid-range Android handset on Monday: the LG DoublePlay has a slide-out physical QWERTY keyboard that’s split by a second, 2-inch capacitive touchscreen. Good luck with that: second screens use more battery power and so far, have added little extra value to consumers. Read more »
T-Mobile expanded its Bobsled service on Tuesday, bringing free voice calls over the web to landlines and mobiles in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Bobsled is available through a browser, Facebook, Android and iOS. Here’s why the carrier is looking beyond its own network borders. Read more »
Customers on U.S. GSM networks have two similar Samsung Galaxy S II smartphones to choose from: one for AT&T and one for T-Mobile. I’ve spent time using both and highlight the key differences that could influence your purchase decision: networks, screens and other small variances. Read more »
Open Signal Maps has put together an interactive map showing data from thousands of carrier speed tests combined with information known about the iPhone 4S’s chipset. AT&T is the fastest in 31 states, but does that include your state? Check out the map for more details. Read more »
Sprint confirmed today that it will offer unlimited plans for the upcoming iPhone 4S. But, while we’re confident that Sprint’s network can handle the iPhone with unlimited data, will consumers be able to handle Sprint’s network? It’s going to be pretty slow. Read more »
T-Mobile announced Monday that it would begin to sell $30 monthly unlimited text and data plans in a partnership with Walmart, beginning on Oct. 16. The no-contract plan only offers 100 voice minutes, but consumers are slowly shifting from voice calls to data services. Read more »
AT&T will make the Samsung Galaxy S II available Sunday, October 2 for $199 after contract, but there’s no need to wait until then to see it. I’ve used a review unit of this Google Android smartphone for several days and have a brief video overview. Read more »
It’s not LTE, but Apple’s iPhone 5 will support HSPA+ mobile broadband technology, according to reports. That will let it take advantage of AT&T’s faster, so-called “4G” network in the U.S., which is actually a bridge to true LTE tech and uses HSPA+. Read more »
T-Mobile announced its first two smartphones capable of fully utilizing the operator’s 42 Mbps mobile broadband network. The carrier’s version of the Samsung Galaxy S II and the HTC Amaze 4G were introduced along with a new 42 Mbps MiFi, the T-Mobile Sonic 4G Mobile Hotspot. Read more »
My first hands-on look at AT&T’s Galaxy S II shows a powerful smartphone with brilliant display and fast mobile broadband. Amazon’s tablet is expected to launch next week, although it runs on Google’s platform, you may not see Android. Hulu Plus fans gain a software upgrade. Read more »
As the faster wireless broadband connections proliferate, we are going to need devices to access those networks. The demand for these kind of connections is only going to increase as we adapt to this new world. Signs of this change are reflected in this research report. Read more »
This week tells a tale of two Android smartphones: one for $29 and one for $299. There are vast hardware differences between the Huawei Impulse 4G and Droid Bionic, but each should sell well in their targeted market. Thanks to a software update, both support Netflix. Read more »
AT&T filed its response to the DOJ lawsuit that attempts to stop Ma Bell’s acquisition of T-Mobile, and the response can be summed up as: T-Mobile is a loser, but if we can take it over, it’s a win for customers who will get better service. Read more »
Huawei’s new Impulse 4G for AT&T won’t attract many current smartphone owners, but at $29 with contract, feature phone users are sure to take notice of the Android smartphone. The low-priced handset offers solid functionality and will help Huawei become a household name in the U.S. Read more »
Tablets and e-readers and connected electric meters … oh my! As device makers embed broadband into more gadgets, and consumer demand for ubiquitous broadband skyrockets, operators are realizing they aren’t in Kansas anymore and traditional financial metrics and ways of running their businesses won’t cut it. Read more »
While the U.S. mobile operators are starting to compete over 4G speeds, Europe’s transition to next generation networks has barely begun. It’s a situation that turns the stereotype on its head — and highlights mistakes made 10 years ago by operators in Germany, France and the UK. Read more »
AT&T will begin selling its first LTE devices on August 21, in advance of the carriers new network; the new data devices will fall back to AT&T’s current HSPA+ speeds. $50 will buy 5 GB of monthly data on the LTE network when it later launches. Read more »
AT&T, on Thursday somehow managed to file a document relating to its T-Mobile acquisition that wasn’t redacted, which noted that it would have to spend $3.8 billion to cover rural areas with its planned LTE network. Read more »
It used to be that we chose our mobile network first, and then the device. But a shift is gradually emerging where device choice is becoming more important than the fastest network, the best coverage and even the amount of mobile broadband we can use monthly. Read more »
T-Mobile ended its second fiscal quarter with 50,000 fewer customers than it started with, even as the carrier aggressively upgraded its mobile broadband network to 42 Mbps. Despite a third of its customers using smartphones, the lack of the iPhone hurts T-Mo. Read more »
I recently said the HTC Sensation 4G may be the best phone on T-Mobile’s network. Now that the myTouch 4G Slide is available, has my opinion changed? The new phone does have some trade-offs, but you gain a hardware keyboard and a fantastic 8 megapixel camera. Read more »
When it comes to broadband, it seems Indians will increasingly use 3G wireless connections to access the Internet. At the end of the first quarter of 2011 there were 11.5 million wired broadband subscribers in India, a pittance versus the explosive growth in 3G connections. Read more »
Starting on July 24, T-Mobile customers can take advantage of new plans saving more than $800 per year over service from rival carriers. Two phones on a Value plans with unlimited voice, messages and 2 GB of 4G data is as low as $99 per month. Read more »
It took me 25 minutes to download OS X Lion at home, but using LTE mobile broadband service, you could do the same in a few hours. I wouldn’t recommend it, but it’s amazing when you realize 3G networks, like OS X, launched 10 years ago. Read more »
High consumer expectations for the mobile web aren’t yet being met, with 71 percent expecting sites to load on smartphones as quickly as they load on desktop computers. Dual-core smartphones and 4G networks will help, but businesses have to find ways to optimize their sites. Read more »
The T-Mobile myTouch 4G Slide smartphone launches later this month and pairs the latest version of Google Android with an advanced camera. Here’s a quick video overview of the upcoming dual-core handset with QWERTY keyboard, mainly focusing on the new camera modes and 8 megapixel sensor. Read more »
AT&T is getting ready to launch its LTE network, and the first two devices that can use it have been introduced. One is a mobile hotspot, while the other is a USB data stick, but both should handle seamless transitions between 3G and 4G networks. Read more »
A new iPhone is expected to debut soon, but will it support new LTE networks? Based on a teardown of another LTE handset, Apple’s costs could rise more than 23 percent with an LTE radio. But that’s not the real reason this scenario is highly unlikely. Read more »
The accepted wisdom is that as mobile operators roll out Long Term Evolution networks, we will slowly move toward a more unified telecom world. But data published today by Wireless Intelligence, a research firm, suggests that the accepted wisdom will be a long time coming. Read more »
T-Mobile’s newest phone, the HTC Sensation, arrives in the carrier’s stores this week for $199 with contract. Even with a few minor flaws, the Android 2.3 smartphone offers a great experience, thanks to HTC Sense 3.0, a large high-resolution screen, improved cameras and a dual-core processor. Read more »
At the IEEE Technology Time Machine Symposium last week I heard the world’s leading academics, engineers, executives, and government officials project what the world will look like in 2020. The future brings technology together for everything from enhancing the human experience to improving environmental sustainability. Read more »
The HTC Sensation 4G for T-Mobile’s network is already hitting some Wal-Mart locations, and an AT&T version of the handset was recently certified by the FCC. Now that HTC has reversed its stance on locking the phone down, it will be hackable for future customizations. Read more »
