The LG Thrive will have a 600MHz processor, full-touch display and a 3.2 MP camera. It will be fully usable on AT&T’s 3G network and is fully wi-fi capable.

Here’s the pricing breakdown: The phone will start at $179.99 but of course to be fully capable, users must purchase a GoPhone data plan and voice plan. The voice plans are either 10 cents per minute or $2 a day unlimited talk and text. AT&T is announcing a new data package of 500 MB for $25 and lowering the price of 10 MB and 100 MB data packages to $5 and $15, respectively.

On the same day, the LG Phoenix will be available as well. It is the same phone, basically, except it comes in dark blue and is postpaid. The Phoenix will be $49.99 and require a 2 year contract.

“We are excited to add LG Thrive, the first smartphone for GoPhone, to AT&T’s growing Android portfolio,” said Judy Cavalieri, vice president, Voice and Prepaid Products, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “Thrive brings more choice and more value to our GoPhone customers by delivering the benefits of a smartphone, balanced with functionality and affordability.”

Android is set to dominate the smartphone market by 2012, estimates ranging from 45% to 50% share. Analysts at Gartner suggested that Android’s greatest volume opportunity will come in low to mid cost smartphones and “emerging markets.”

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Garmin has finally created a navigation app for the iPhone, and now StreetPilot for iPhone is available in the App Store for $40. Here’s a review where we compare the iPhone version to another Garmin hardware GPS navigator, the Nuvi 1690.

I’ve been using Garmin GPS navigation since the days when the hardware cost $800, and so I was interested in seeing if Garmin could translate the excellent user interface and responsiveness of its hardware navigation units to the iPhone.

Delayed for years because of Garmin’s foray into its own smartphone hardware, the company’s done a respectable job of moving its software onto the iOS platform. A big plus with the software is its continuously updated maps, where small parts of the map software reside on the iPhone’s hard drive, but most are downloaded via the 3G network.

This can be good and bad. While the maps are the freshest available, if you stray outside AT&T’s 3G network, you might not see a map until you get closer to a 3G tower. However, in my testing in the Milwaukee metropolitan area, this wasn’t a problem at all.

Most of the features you’ll get on Garmin hardware units are there in the software, including extensive points of interest such as gas stations and restaurants, helpful lane assist capabilities, and spoken street names.

In my testing, this iPhone version offered more information, and sooner than its hardware brandmate, a Garmin Nuvi 1690. In some cases, the iPhone version was slower, but as you can see in the video below, the speed difference was slight, and didn’t matter as much as the iPhone version’s useful tendency of offering additional street names in advance.

On the left of the navigation screen, there’s a small iPod icon, and when you select it, you can pause your music, skip to the next song, and go to your iPhone’s music player to select different playlists and songs. Unfortunately, it’s not as friendly with Pandora Radio, where if you try to listen to Pandora music, as soon as the voice kicks in, Pandora is gone for good.

Some users have complained about the sound quality of the voices in the iPhone StreetPilot, but that’s been improved with the recent update, although the sound quality of the voices is still not as good as that of the hardware versions. This seems like it would be an easy thing to fix, but in my testing, the voices were still clearly audible. You can hear the difference in the video below.

Overall, Garmin has done an admirable job of bringing its elegant user interface to the iPhone. The software’s $40 price is reasonable, especially since it includes live updates of road conditions and the freshest possible maps. However, given the unpredictability of AT&T’s network, taking a long trip with its constantly updating maps might be a problem if you’re traveling through sparsely populated areas. In addition, I’d like to see better integration with Pandora, and higher-quality voices.

To get an idea of Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone’s performance, take a look at this video where you can see which device won my informal and unscientific competition, and then don’t miss the gallery where I’ve made additional comments and observations.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

Here’s the main screen, and it looks a lot like the hardware Garmin.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

the map presents in 3-D, notice the iPod icon on the left.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

Tap that icon, and audio transport controls appear.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

You can navigate through spaghetti bowl of roads with ease.

[This graphic courtesy Garmin]

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

The Lane Assist feature is particularly useful.

[This graphic courtesy Garmin]

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

This is the screen you get if there are no traffic problems in the area.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

Here’s the list view.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

There are plenty of points of interest to which you can navigate.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

There are even more points of interest.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

Here, I’m looking for the nearest gas station.

Garmin StreetPilot for iPhone

There’s a handy weather forecast available.

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The launch of the Verizon iPhone is just a few weeks away but AT&T is still doing what it can to keep customers on their network — and buying iPhones.

With rumors of better data plan pricing and a more stable voice network, many existing iPhone owners are contemplating a network switch.

Now that AT&T has to share the iPhone spotlight in the US, the nation’s second-largest mobile operator is trying to differentiate itself from the new competition.

AT&T sent e-mails to some of its mobile customers (including me) Tuesday advertising the $49 iPhone 3GS. AT&T lowered the price on the iPhone 3GS earlier this month, just ahead of the Verizon iPhone announcement.

Reading the promotion’s ad copy, we had to chuckle because AT&T is using language that is similar to Verizon’s new campaign for the iPhone. Intentional or not, the opening salvo, “it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for,” reads as a direct response to Verizon’s message, “it begins.”

The more direct response to Verizon comes a bit later in the ad. In big, bolded type, AT&T points out that it is “the ONLY network that allows you to talk & surf on your iPhone at the same time.”

Touche. The ability to send voice and data simultaneously over the 3G network is one of the only technical differences between the iPhone on AT&T and Verizon. It makes sense that AT&T is promoting this advantage.

By focusing on lower-priced handset options and simultaneous voice and data, perhaps AT&T can keep existing customers happy (or at least happy enough to renew for another two years) and away from Big Red.

Frankly, we think the real test for AT&T won’t be on February 10 but this summer, when the next generation iPhone is expected to land on both carriers at the same time.

Verizon iPhone Ad

What do you think of AT&T’s response to the Verizon iPhone? Is a $50 iPhone 3GS enough to make you consider staying with AT&T? Let us know.

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It’s nearly impossible to keep up with the chatter surrounding the iPad 2. Every day it seems like there’s a new rumor about a new model, a new launch date or even a USB port. It’s a bit overwhelming.

That’s why we decided to scour the web for the most prominent iPad 2 rumors and create a comprehensive guide detailing what we think is likely to be in the next generation of the iPad.

We’ve picked out our top ten rumors and provided not only our analysis, but the percentage chance a specific iPad 2 rumor will actually come to fruition. We’d bet money on some of these rumors (two cameras), while others will only happen when pigs learn how to fly (the mythical 7-inch iPad).

Without further ado, here is our comprehensive guide to the iPad 2 rumors:

Rumor #1: There Will Be Three Versions of the iPad 2

One of the biggest rumors sweeping the web recently is that there will be three version of the iPad 2. One will be Wi-Fi only, one will support Wi-Fi and UMTS, the 3G technology utilized by AT&T Mobility, and the third model will support Wi-Fi and CDMA, used by Verizon Wireless for its 3G network. In other words, there will be a Verizon iPad.

According to DigiTimes, Apple will be shipping the Wi-Fi, UMTS and CMDA iPad 2 models in a 3:4:3 ratio, specifically because nearly 2/3 of current iPad shipments are 3G models. There are currently two models of the iPad, a Wi-Fi version and a Wi-Fi + UMTS version that works exclusively on the AT&T network in the U.S.

This rumor makes total sense: Apple wants to expand the reach of the iPad and adding a CDMA model for Verizon would compliment a Verizon iPhone perfectly. Recently, Verizon started selling the Wi-Fi iPad with the Verizon MiFi 2200. We’re sure Verizon would much rather sell a CDMA iPad instead.

Likelihood of Happening: 85%

Rumor #2: iPad 2 Will Have a Front and Back-Facing Camera

Ever since the iPhone 4 was released, there have been multiple reports claiming that the new iPad will finally come with a front and a back-facing camera.

The primary reason cited for the change from the original iPad is Facetime. In order for Facetime to succeed as a product, Apple needs to flood the market with as many Facetime-capable devices as possible.

We expect Apple to rectify its biggest omission from the original iPad with the next generation model.

Likelihood of Happening: 99%

Rumor #3: Slimmer, Lighter and Retina Display

Earlier this month, Reuters was told by its sources that the new iPad would be slimmer and lighter than its predecessor and would have a “better resolution display than the first iPad.”

Well, duh. Apple always tries to make its products slimmer and lighter. Just look at the iPhone’s evolution or the new MacBook Air for proof. It’s also a no-brainer that the iPad 2 will support Retina Display.

Likelihood of Happening: 99%

Rumor #4: The iPad 2 Will Have a Flat Back

This week there has been buzz about the 2nd generation iPad sporting a flat back after a supposed third party case was leaked to the web.

There’s no way that case is real, and you can take that to the bank. Why? Because Apple never releases the specs for new products to third party accessory makers — they’ve been burned too many times by leaks from third parties to make that type of rookie mistake.

This was completely apparent with the launch of the iPhone 4. There were no third party cases available at launch because none of the manufacturers knew the dimensions of the device. So trust us when we say the supposedly leaked iPad 2 case is total crap.

With that said, we wouldn’t be surprised if Apple did decide to make the back of the device flat. It makes more sense ergonomically. Still, the new iPod touch has a curved back, so it’s anybody’s guess what Apple plans to do.

Likelihood of Happening: 40%

Rumor #5: iPad 2: Now With Wide-Range Speakers?

Another rumor, this one from a Japanese blog, claims that the iPad 2 will not only have a thinner bezel, but that it will have a wide-range speaker covered with a metal mesh that will have far greater speaker capabilities.

This rumor kind of makes sense, given that there’s a greater need for the device to project sound. The iPad is a family device, and in order for a family to enjoy a movie together on the iPad, it needs to have decent speakers. We expect an upgraded speaker.

Still, we agree with Engadget: the source has no track record and should be taken with a grain of salt. It won’t look like Mac Otakara’s CG render.

Likelihood of Happening: 50%

Rumor #6: The iPad 2 Will Have a USB Port

This rumor, courtesy of the Chinese publication Economic Daily News, claims Apple’s new tablet will have a USB port so it can connect to other devices. This would be a huge development because it would allow for the easy movement of files and information from USB drives and peripherals like printers or mice.

Unlike some of the other rumor sources on this list, Economic Daily News has a good track record. As PC World points out, they were the first ones to figure out that Apple was building a tablet, not a netbook. DigiTimes has also reported that the next generation iPad will sport a USB port.

Frankly, we’re not sure how much truth there is to this one, but it could happen. We just wouldn’t put our money on it.

Likelihood of Happening: 33%

Rumor #7: The iPad 2 Will Have a Dual-Core CPU

An analyst for Rodman & Renshaw made a stir just before Christmas by saying that the next generation iPad and iPhone will utilize a dual-core processor powered by two 1GHz ARM Cortex A9 cores.

A dual-core processor would give the iPad 2 and iPhone 5 far greater multitasking capabilities and would be a significant development in mobile technology.

The iPad 2 wouldn’t be the first mobile device to utilize a dual-core, though. That honor goes to the LG Optimus 2X Android smartphone. Do you really think Apple’s going to let Android beat them? No way.

Likelihood of Happening: 75%

Rumor #8: Non-Smudge Screen & Gyroscope

We won’t dive into these rumors too much, but suffice it to say, a screen that smudges less and an iPad that supports gyroscope functionality and apps just makes sense.

Likelihood of Happening: 90%

Rumor #9: A 7-Inch Version of the iPad?

We’ve heard multiple rumors claiming that Apple is not only building a 9.7-inch version of the iPad 2, but it’s also making a smaller, 7-inch model. The thinking is that a smaller model would be cheaper and more useful in certain situations.

Well, forget it. In an epic rant during Apple’s most recent earnings call, Steve Jobs himself shot down the possibility of a 7-inch iPad. The reason, he said, was that there simply wasn’t enough screen real-estate for creating great tablet apps.

“While one could increase the resolution of the display to make up for some of the difference, it is meaningless unless your tablet also includes sandpaper, so that the user can sand down their fingers to around one quarter of their present size,” Jobs said during the earnings call.

In other words, the 7-inch iPad isn’t happening.

Likelihood of Happening: 2%

The Big Question: When Will the iPad 2 Launch?

Cameras, Facetime, a new speaker and a dual-core processor are all great potential additions to the iPad, but what we really want to know is when we will have one of the next generation iPads in our hands.

Nobody can seem to agree on when it will launch. We’ve heard that the new iPads are coming in January (exactly a year after the original iPad’s launch), but we’ve also heard March and April.

The release date of the iPad likely depends on the launch date of the Verizon iPhone. Apple is unlikely launch the iPad 2 and the Verizon iPhone at the same event, so if the Verizon iPhone comes out in March, we expect the iPad 2 in January, and if the Verizon iPhone arrives in January, then don’t expect the iPad 2 until March.

If we had to venture a guess, we’d say the new iPad will come out of the shadows in March, but it’s likely Apple hasn’t set the launch date for the next generation of its tablet, so it could come at almost any time.

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Verizon’s 3G network is down nationwide, claim numerous reports that are pouring in on Twitter this morning.

Verizon’s Twitter accounts are currently silent about the issue. However, the problems seem to be very real for Verizon customers.

“Apparently Verizon’s 3G service died network-wide last night, at least here,” claims AtariOtter, a Utah resident, on Twitter.

“No 3g service for the past 6 hours, visual VM no working, and unable to download the new update for the droid X says update fail,” says another Twitter user, chisox05matt from Chicago.

Update: According to Verizon, the problems were with the Verizon Wireless web browser service, which has now been fully restored. “We had a national and global data outage. The issue is now resolved,” tweets VZW Support.

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Since the iPad was introduced back in January, the Android faithful has been waiting for the comparable Android equivalent to the popular Apple tablet. The Samsung Galaxy Tab was introduced at the IFA 2010 trade show in Berlin – backed by industry powerhouse Samsung. With a 1GHz processor, Android 2.1 and a 7-inch display, is the Samsung Galaxy Tab an open Android alternative to the iPad? We’ve spent time with the Galaxy Tab running on Sprint‘s 3G network, and we’ll tell you what we think.

Continue reading: Samsung Galaxy Tab Review: We Take The Top Android Tablet For A Review [TFTS Reviews Sprint's Verison Of The Samsung Galaxy Tab, Featuring Its 7" Display, 1GHz Processor, 512MB RAM]

Comment | View latest news in Mobile/Cell Phones | PCs, Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets | TFTS Home.

BLACK FRIDAY DEAL ADVISORIES | HOT POST: BLACK FRIDAY HOT DEALS: Check our extensive Ultimate TFTS Black Friday 2010 Shopping Guide to get a heads up concerning killer deals you seriously won’t want to miss out on.

Related Reading on TFTS – In Order of Freshness:

1. Samsung Galaxy K Heading To South Korea & Bringing Android 2.2 [Samsung Gets Official With The Galaxy K Android Smartphone, Will Feature A 3.7" AMOLED Display, 1GHz CPU & 8GB Internal Storage] by Robert Nelson
2. Samsung Galaxy Tab Specs Revealed By European Firmware Leak [Samsung Galaxy Tab Still Unannounced, But Should Feature 1GHz ARM11 CPU, 480 x 800 Display, GPS & Android 2.2] by Robert Nelson
3. Samsung Galaxy Q Smartphone Specs Revealed? [Samsung Galaxy Q Rumored To Feature 3" Display, 1GHz Hummingbird CPU, 8 MP Camera & Android 2.2] by Robert Nelson
4. Samsung Galaxy S i9000 Appears on Amazon Unlocked for $899.99 [Samsung Galaxy S With Android 2.1, 1GHz Processor, 512MB RAM, Super AMOLED Display Appears on Amazon for $899.99 Unlocked] by Jeff Baker

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Continue reading: AT&T’s Network Now 80% HSPA+ [America's Fastest 3G Network Now Just A Little Faster, As AT&T Reports Their Network Is Now Mostly Covered By 3.5G Technology]

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BLACK FRIDAY DEAL ADVISORIES | HOT POST: The Top Six Reasons Fallout 3 Is Better Than Fallout New Vegas

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1. T-Mobile 4G: Tmo Starts Calling Their HSPA+ 4G [After Much Speculation, T-Mobile Decides To Start Marketing Their HSPA+ Network as "4G", Starting With MyTouch] by Kevin Schram
2. T-Mobile HSPA+: Can They Call It 4G? [Rumors Persist That T-Mobile US Wants To Call Their Super-fast HSPA+ Network 4G, But Can They Without Getting Sued?] by Kevin Schram
3. T-Mobile Teases “G2: First HSPA+ Smartphone Coming Soon” [T-Mobile G2 Promo Page Goes Live, Will Be Running Android & Using HSPA + Network] by Robert Nelson
4. T-Mobile Expanding HSPA+ Network in New York, Connecticut & Rhode Island; AT&T Hates It [AT&T Says T-Mobile Makes Customers Believe HSPA+ Is 4G When in Fact it Isn’t; T-Mobile Still Building Better 3G Network] by Chris Smith

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Continue reading: AT&T, T-Mobile & Verizon Wireless Unveil ISIS, A “Mobile Commerce Network” [US Mobile Carriers Work To Ditch Cash, Credit & Debit Cards, Introduce The Mobile Payment System Called ISIS]

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1. New Tech Turns Mobile Devices Into Credit Card Readers [Square Attaches to iPad, iPhone or Androids & Allows Them to Read Credit Cards] by Oliver VanDervoort
2. Verizon Wireless 3G Network Extender Now Available [Verizon Intro's The 3G Network Extender For Those With Bad 3G Connectivity, Will Cost $249.99 For The Privilege Of Using What You Already Pay For] by Robert Nelson
3. Verizon 4G Network To Launch In 30 Markets? [Tipster Reports Verizon's LTE Network Coming With Two Laptop Cards In 30 Markets] by Kevin Schram
4. SquareUp iPhone Credit Card Payment Concept Ready for Trial [Accept Credit Card Payments from Your iPhone with SquareUp] by Chris Smith

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Qik just got a major shot in the arm from T-Mobile. The companies announced today that T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik will be the first service to offer native integration with the Android address book.

The address book integration will enable users to view their contacts and see whether they are available for video chat. Video chats can then be established directly from the address book in a native interface that will come preloaded on T-Mobile devices with video capabilities.

The Qik video chat service works over both T-Mobile’s 3G network and Wi-Fi. In addition to conducting video calls, users will also be able to send and receive video messages using the service.

T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik will first be available on the new T-Mobile myTouch. It is, however, expected to roll out to additional devices as front-facing cameras become more prevalent. Many T-Mobile subscribers using devices without front-facing cameras will be able to receive video messages.

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Continue reading: T-Mobile HSPA+: Can They Call It 4G? [Rumors Persist That T-Mobile US Wants To Call Their Super-fast HSPA+ Network 4G, But Can They Without Getting Sued?]

Comment | View latest news in Mobile/Cell Phones | TFTS Home.

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1. T-Mobile Teases “G2: First HSPA+ Smartphone Coming Soon” [T-Mobile G2 Promo Page Goes Live, Will Be Running Android & Using HSPA + Network] by Robert Nelson
2. T-Mobile Teases First HSPA+ Phone [T-Mobile Further Promotes Their 3.5G Network, First Full-Speed HSPA+ Phone Is Coming] by Kevin Schram
3. T-Mobile Expanding HSPA+ Network in New York, Connecticut & Rhode Island; AT&T Hates It [AT&T Says T-Mobile Makes Customers Believe HSPA+ Is 4G When in Fact it Isn’t; T-Mobile Still Building Better 3G Network] by Chris Smith
4. AT&T HSPA+ Network to Cover 250 Million Americans in 2010; Not Necessarily Good News [AT&T Working on Deploying High-Speed HSPA+ Data Network for 250M Americans This Year] by Chris Smith

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First and foremost, for those not familiar with the Network Extender.

“The Verizon Wireless 3G Network Extender, a “mini-cell site” manufactured by Samsung Mobile, is about the size of a wireless router box or woman’s purse and routes Verizon Wireless calls through the customer’s home broadband Internet connection.”

Furthermore, it is described as being “ideal for those customers who want to use their wireless devices in homes with structural barriers or homes located in remote, mountainous or hilly areas.” Bottom line here, if you are paying for Verizon service and are unable to use it in your home this may be a good option. The 3G Network Extender will basically allow you to make calls, send text and picture messages and also browser the web, send email, play games and even download apps. In summary, it will allow your phone to function as it should.

With that, this all sounds good considering your phone will no longer be a fancy paperweight. You simply add this little device into your home network and you will be all set. Except that good comes at a price. The 3G Network Extender will set you back $249.99, though thankfully there are no monthly fees that come along with the upfront cost. Anyway, those who are willing to pay $249.99 just so they can use a service that they are already paying for will be able to make a purchase as of today. The 3G Network Extender can be purchased either online or by calling Verizon sales.

Related posts on TFTS:

1. Verizon Wireless Has Tested LTE In 34 Markets [Verizon's LTE Network Is Close According To Leaked Documents Showing Testing Zones]
2. AT&T Begins Consumer Rural Verizon Customers [AT&T Transfers Purchased Verizon Network Customers To Their Own Network, To Get New Contracts, Phones]
3. Samsung Network Extender Gets FCC Blessing [Samsung Device to Add Power to Verizon Network Gets FCC Approval]
4. Verizon Wireless Begins Rolling Out 4G Network [America's Biggest Carrier Admits In Webcast That LTE Construction Has Started, Will Cover 33% Of Americans By Years End]
5. Report: iPad Coming to Verizon Wireless [Insiders Reporting That Verizon Is Testing Running CDMA iPads On Their Network]

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Dell has confirmed that its Streak tablet will get the Android 2.2 operating system (Froyo) later this year, but it will not run on T-Mobile’s 3G network.

The device, which features a 5-inch screen, dual cameras, an Android operating system, $500 price point and 3G data access via AT&T, has been much discussed in the tech sphere. The company recently announced that the Streak is “the most successful pre-sale [it has] ever offered.”

While the device will indeed get the Android 2.2 operating system later this year via an over-the-air update, it will run Android 1.6 at launch.

The other piece of news the company revealed today is that it will “not be certified for T-Mobile operation overall.” In other words, the Dell Streak is only going to work on AT&T’s 3G network in the U.S., just like a certain other 3G tablet.

Are you interested in getting the Dell Streak? Can it compete with the likes of the iPad? Let us know what you think.

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The Sierra Wireless 250U 3G/4G USB modem has been just announced by Sprint and it’s already available through Business Direct and Business Solutions Partners. The device will be available through all channels in July and it will cost you $0 after a $50 mail-in rebate, a $49.99 instant savings discount and with a two-year new contract from Sprint. Sprint’s 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Connection plan is available at $59.99 and for that price you’ll get unlimited access to Sprint’s young 4G network or up to 5GB of traffic on Sprint’s 3G Network.

Fared Adib, vice president, Product Development for Sprint commented on the new device from Sierra Wireless:

“Sprint continues to lead the 4G revolution and is proud to expand its growing portfolio of devices with the addition of 3G/4G USB 250U from Sierra Wireless. Consumers, businesses and industries such as construction, government, healthcare and transportation will be able to extend their Internet experience beyond the home and office and benefit from the constant connectivity and real-time access at lightning fast speeds.”

The 250U 3G/4G USB modem will come with support for Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP and Mac OS so no matter what kind of computer you’re currently employing while on the go, the USB modem will definitely work well with it to get you online in no time.

Besides being the first USB modem coming from Sprint that’s capable of dealing with both Sprint’s 3G and 4G networks, the 250U comes with integrated GPS support which will be very helpful and should offer you “location, navigation and mapping solutions” while you’re connected to Sprint’s network. But here’s a full list of specs and features:

Advanced Features:

• Supports Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, Windows XP and Mac OS® X 10.5/10.6
• GPS capable: Provides users’ location, navigation and mapping solutions when connected to the Sprint 3G network
• Connects automatically to Sprint 3G and 4G networks via Sprint SmartViewSM
• 3G and 4G DataLink capable via Sprint SmartView customization
• LED that lights up according to respective connection
• Supports Hands-Free Activation via OMA-DM
• Two external antenna ports supporting CDMA, GPS, WiMax MIMO
• 4G data speeds (WiMAX) – Peak download speeds of more than 10 Mbps; average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps
• 3G data speeds (EVDO Rev A.) – Peak download speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds of 600 kbps-1.4 Mbps.
• Backwards compatible to the EVDO Rev. 0 and 1xRTT Networks

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 0.6 inches x 1.9 inches (round)
• Weight: 2 ounces
• Frequency: CDMA Dual Band 800/1900 MHz; GPS 1.5 GHz L-Band; WiMAX 2.5GHz
• Chipset: Qualcomm QSC6085; Beceem BCSMM250; both 65nm
• 180-degree rotating USB Connector for flexible use

Have you purchased the Overdrive yet? Will you get the 250U instead?

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According to website Phonescoop.com, Verizon executive director David Clevenger said:

Technical trials are staged [and] tiered in accordance with industry standards. They’re [now] completed. The next phase is ‘friendly user trials,’ which means we’re looking for feedback on the network. Verizon Wireless is tapping select users in select cities for the friendly user trials.

Don’t bother looking for an application form if you want to be a 4G Verizon tester – as Big Red is likely to simply tap their own employees, either at corporate branches, service employees, or retail store employees to test the LTE networks across the country.

Verizon is currently testing the LTE network in Boston, Seattle and three other unnamed US cities. Verizon is actually being somewhat secretive as to the other three cities where they’ve already got the small LTE network setup.

For those out of the know, LTE is the 4G technology that Verizon is going with. It’ll be different from Sprint‘s 4G (WiMax) and offers theoretical speeds of 320 MB/s, although you’ll never see speeds like that – at least for a while.

As mentioned, Verizon says their 4G network will cover 33% of Americans by the end of 2010, with most of the rest getting it by the end of 2011. Eventually, Big Red hopes their 4G network will surpass their 3G network. Nothing yet has been announced regarding 4G phones from Verizon.

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Looking to catch up on all the E3 2010 news? See Click here to access our extensive E3 2010 coverage.

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3. Nokia N97 User Experience Was a “Tremendous Disappointment” [Senior Nokia Exec Acknowledges N97 Failures, Low Experience Quality]
4. Verizon Wireless Begins Rolling Out 4G Network [America's Biggest Carrier Admits In Webcast That LTE Construction Has Started, Will Cover 33% Of Americans By Years End]
5. Verizon Nexus One Will Feature Sense UI Over Google Experience [Leaked Internal Verizon Documents Confirms Sense UI, Android Fans Revolt]

Not reading this in a feedreader? If so this has been taken from the original post as seen here: Verizon Nexus One Will Feature Sense UI Over Google Experience [Leaked Internal Verizon Documents Confirms Sense UI, Android Fans Revolt].

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As you already know iOS 4 will be available today to all iPhone and iPod touch users, but FaceTime will only be available to iPhone 4 buyers. As you already may know, FaceTime is exclusively an iPhone 4 feature which means you won’t be able to use it on the iPhone 3GS or 3G.

Some of you will tell me that neither the iPhone 3GS or the 3G have front-facing cameras. While that’s true, I’ll remind you that FaceTime will let you use both the front-facing and the back camera to stream videos to your friends through FaceTime. That means that, at least in theory, you should be able to have a FaceTime version work at least on the iPhone 3GS, the more powerful iPhone 4 predecessor.

Moving forward with FaceTime I’ll also remind you folks that video calling is only available, at least for now, over Wi-Fi, which means you won’t be able to use the feature over 3G. Video chats can be started during a regular phone calls but, in order to actually enjoy them you’ll have to have a Wi-Fi network at hand as Apple will drop the phone call and move the video call over to the Wi-Fi network automatically.

That’s not, however, all bad news as Apple will offer you FaceTime without having it eat your plan’s voice minutes. That’s right, you can have as many video calls as you wish and they won’t count towards your monthly bill with your carrier.

More importantly, you won’t have to worry about seeing AT&T’s 3G network drop your FaceTime calls anytime soon as you’ll simply rely on regular Internet connection to enjoy the new feature.

We might not like the fact that FaceTime is only available to iPhone 4 users for now and only over Wi-Fi, but, as it turns out, it’s not such a big deal as this iOS 4 feature is skipping the carrier altogether. And I guess carriers already see the bigger picture, in which they won’t be able to cash in on any FaceTime conversations, which, in the following years, could be available to iPhone 4, next-gen iPhone (iPhone 4G?), iPod touch, next-gen iPad and MacBook users. That’s the general idea, isn’t it, Apple?

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Looking to catch up on all the E3 2010 news? See Click here to access our extensive E3 2010 coverage.

Other Posts Popular with Readers Relating to this Posting:

1. WWDC 2010: iPhone 4 Comes with Video Calling Support: FaceTime; We Don’t Like It Yet [iPhone 4 Video Calling Available Over Wi-Fi Only & to iPhone 4 Handsets Only?]
2. T-Mobile USA Now Offering Unlimited $50 Per Month Pre-Paid Plan [T-Mobile's $50 Per Month Pre-Paid Calling Plan Offers Unlimited Calls, Text, Picture & Video Messaging]
3. iPhone Video Calls Available from fring [fring Brings Video Calls Support to iPhone and iPod touch]
4. O2 iPhone Tariff Update Hints that iPhone 4G will Sport Front Facing Camera [O2 Includes ‘Cost for Video Calls’ in Tariffs, Hints at iPhone 4G Video Conferencing Feature?]
5. House Representatives Want Google Voice Investigation [FCC Looks for Reasons behind Google Voice Blocked Calls]

Not reading this in a feedreader? If so this has been taken from the original post as seen here: House Representatives Want Google Voice Investigation [FCC Looks for Reasons behind Google Voice Blocked Calls].

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Verizon, America’s biggest carrier, says that by the end of this year, they’ll have 25 to 30 major cities covered with their LTE 4G network. They figure that will cover roughly one third of the US population. They didn’t disclose immediately what cities will be covered by the 4G network.

Verizon added that they’re planning to put up a lot of LTE towers. By the end of 2013, they plan that their LTE network will surpass the current coverage of their 3G network. As Verizon uses CDMA (not the international GSM standard), they’ve been putting the LTE network through it’s tests. They’ve experimented with SMS messages being sent over LTE as well as the dreaded CDMA-to-LTE handoffs.

Unfortunately, no mention of when we can expect LTE/4G handsets to start showing up in Verizon stores. A 4G-capable Droid with a 4.3-inch screen, maybe? Perhaps a CDMA/LTE variant of the HTC EVO? We can only hope.

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Looking to catch up on all the E3 2010 news? See Click here to access our extensive E3 2010 coverage.

Related Reading on TFTS:

1. AT&T HSPA+ Network to Cover 250 Million Americans in 2010; Not Necessarily Good News [AT&T Working on Deploying High-Speed HSPA+ Data Network for 250M Americans This Year]
2. Motorola Devour Software Update Currently Rolling Out Over-The-Air [Verizon Wireless Begins Rolling Out Performance Update For The Motorola Devour & No Its Not Android 2.1]
3. Verizon Wireless Details its Current Plans for LTE [LTE Deployment To Progress Quickly, Thirty Markets in 2010, Match Current 3G Network by 2013]
4. Verizon Wireless Bills Man For $24,000 [Man Gets Free Laptop Tethering For Two Years, Gets $24k Bill From Big Red When His Free Term Is Over]
5. Verizon CEO Publicly Comments on the CDMA iPhone [Exec Confirms the Wireless Carrier is in Interested in Carrying the iPhone, Won't Divulge Details]

Not reading this in a feedreader? If so this has been taken from the original post as seen here: Verizon CEO Publicly Comments on the CDMA iPhone [Exec Confirms the Wireless Carrier is in Interested in Carrying the iPhone, Won't Divulge Details].

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As for availability, you can pick up a Clear 4G+ Mobile USB modem as of now and its priced as low as $5.99 per month on a lease or $114.99 for an outright purchase.

The Clear Spot 4G and the Clear Spot 4G+ are both listed as pre-order items and they each offer two pricing options — one for the on-the-go package and one for a home + on-the-go package. As far as that goes the Clear Spot 4G is $44.99 or $64.98 per month with the Clear Spot 4G+ priced at $60.99 or $80.99 per month. Of course, these prices include monthly service and a lease on the device. Additionally these are both noted as being available on July 7th.

Moving past the pricing, lets get into the features.

The Clear 4G+ Mobile USB is a USB style modem which will allow you to connect to a 4G or 3G network and will work on both Mac and Windows computers. In terms of size this model measures in at under 2 inches in diameter and weighs less than 1 ounce. In other words it should not add any extra weight or bulk in what is most likely already an overpacked gear bag. Also in regards to the 4G and 3G support, this model will automatically switch between networks as needed.

The Clear Spot 4G is a mobile hotspot style modem, which means you can connect any Wi-Fi capable device. In fact it allows up to eight devices to be connected at any given time and broadcasts in 802.11 b/g with options for securing your network with WEP, WPA or WPA2. This one measures in at 4.33 x 2.44 x 0.71 and weights 4.58 ounces. Finally, it should be able to give you up to 4 hours of run time.

The Clear Spot 4G+ is another mobile hotspot style modem, but this one only allows for 5 devices to be connected at any time. But on the positive side, its a 4G and 3G capable device. Similar to the Clear Spot 4G you can protect your network with WEP, WPA or WPA 2 and it broadcasts 802.11 b/g. Finally, it measures in at 3.15 x 3.15 x 0.59, weighs 4.5 ounces and should be able to keep you online for up to 3 hours.

[See original posting for applicable credits]

Looking to catch up on all the E3 2010 news? See Click here to access our extensive E3 2010 coverage.

Related Reading on TFTS:

1. Sierra Wireless Overdrive 3G/4G WiMAX Hotspot Announced by Sprint [Sprint Overdrive WiMAX Hotspot Coming on January 2010]
2. Rogers Rocket Mobile Hotspot Officially Available [Novatel MiFi 2372 Now Available With Rogers, Dubbed The Rocket Mobile Hotspot]
3. Sprint Overdrive Firmware Update 2.06.06 Now Available [Sprint Rolls Out Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot Firmware Update, Said To Improve Device Stability, Improve Wi-Fi Reliability & More]
4. Sprint HTC EVO 4G WiMAX Hotspot Ability to Cost Extra Leak Says [Sprint Almost Confirmed to Charge Extra for that 4G Mobile Hotspot Functionality of the HTC EVO 4G]
5. Clearwire Unveils Their Upcoming 4G Mobile Broadband Expansion Plans [Clearwire Along With Partners Sprint, Time Warner Cable & Comcast Have Announced Summertime 4G Mobile Broadband Expansion Plans]

Not reading this in a feedreader? If so this has been taken from the original post as seen here: Clearwire Unveils Their Upcoming 4G Mobile Broadband Expansion Plans [Clearwire Along With Partners Sprint, Time Warner Cable & Comcast Have Announced Summertime 4G Mobile Broadband Expansion Plans].

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Steve Jobs’s WWDC 2010 “one more thing” surprise at today’s WWDC 2010 was that the new iPhone 4 will include FaceTime — a.k.a video calling.

FaceTime is a one-tap feature on the new iPhone that will work from iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 via the native calling functionality. The feature is practically self-explanatory: Simply tap on the FaceTime button — located where the Hold button is now — to initiate a video call.

FaceTime is a Wi-Fi-only feature at launch, which means it will not work over AT&T’s 3G network or international carriers’ networks.

In spite of network limitations, FaceTime over Wi-Fi is quite remarkable and can switch seamlessly with a single click between the front and back cameras to change the camera perspective during a call. Apple designed the front-facing camera especially for video calls, which means it was built to focus on your face when you hold it at arm’s length. FaceTime also works in both landscape and portrait modes.

As mentioned above, FaceTime is a part of the standard calling functionality of iPhone 4, so no additional setup is required. The technology is also being released as an open industry standard, which means developers will be able to add FaceTime functionality to their applications.

We have a sneaking suspicion that this single feature will help to ensure that Apple sells large quantities of the new iPhone 4 once pre-orders become available on June 15, and when it hits store shelves on June 24.

For a demo of FaceTime in action, start watching at the 45 second mark in the video embedded below.

Tags: iphone, iphone 4

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Other enhancements include improved sound quality using wideband audio (SLIK codec) on iPhone 3GS and 2nd generation iPod Touch. A call quality indicator has also been added to notify users. Also, startup times for Skype have been improved with fast access to Skype dial pad from iPhone home screen.

Despite the improvements, Skype 2.0 has a major drawback: lack of full iPad support. Although full iPad support is expected to arrive soon, it may prevent many from upgrading to Skype 2.0 and wait for the next major update which offers complete iPad support. However, for iPhone and iTouch users, Skype 2.0 is a must have upgrade.

We must say that this release definitely has some prominent updates and we recommend you to subscribe here at Smashingapps so that we can notify you of the next Skype version with full support for iPad.

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Read the rest of T-Mobile Expanding HSPA+ Network in New York, Connecticut & Rhode Island; AT&T Hates It [AT&T Says T-Mobile Makes Customers Believe HSPA+ Is 4G When in Fact it Isn’t; T-Mobile Still Building Better 3G Network] (424 words)

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Related posts on TFTS:

1. Verizon Wireless Details its Current Plans for LTE [LTE Deployment To Progress Quickly, Thirty Markets in 2010, Match Current 3G Network by 2013]
2. Verizon Wireless & Skype Sitting in a Tree at MWC 2010 [Verizon & Skype to Team Up for Joint Press Event in Spain]
3. Verizon Wireless Announced Prepaid Mobile Data Plans [Verizon Wireless USB760 Modem to be Available from November 16]
4. Verizon to Launch 4G LTE iPhone in 2010? [Verizon and Apple Testing 4G LTE CDMA iPhone According to Unconfirmed Rumors]
5. Verizon & Skype Announce Unlimited VoIP Calling at MWC 2010 [Verizon & Skype Team Up for Unlimited VoiP Calls Over 3G Starting with March 2010]
6. iPhone On Verizon Wireless Isn’t A Sure Thing [Despite Reports To The Contrary, Several Industry Insiders Don't Think CMDA iPhone Is Heading To Verizon Wireless In US]

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Tech Wealth Gap Widens: A handful of cash-rich companies are consolidating power in the tech industry, using their wealth to expand into new businesses and making it harder for small competitors to break through.

Start-Ups Take Chips Into 3-D: Silicon Valley start-ups Tier Logic and Tabula are breaking from conventional chip designs by taking a step into the third dimension to squeeze more features onto chips.

Google’s China Partners Issue Plea: A group of Google’s partners in China have sent an impassioned plea to the Internet giant, saying their businesses are in jeopardy if Google closes its Chinese search engine and demanding to know how they will be compensated.

Google’s Nexus One to Compete With iPhone: Google has started selling a version of its Nexus One phone that runs on AT&T’s 3G network, putting it in direct competition with Apple’s iPhone.

App With a Knack for Contacts: Xobni Mobile for BlackBerry compiles contact information on the BlackBerry for anyone you’ve emailed—regardless of whether or not you saved their information in your address book.

Twitter Working on Chinese Site: Twitter’s co-founder said “it’s just a matter of time” before users can register in Chinese, though access to the popular service is still blocked in China.

Perking Up Passover’s Plagues on Twitter: Building on a growing movement to add a bit of fun to the tale of plagues and pestilence, some rabbis are acting out the Passover story in 140-character Twitter messages.

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Ten weeks after the launch of Google’s Nexus One smartphone, sales continue to remain slow. Mobile analytics firm Flurry, who also projected first week and first month sales for the snazzy device, has just released its latest sales estimates, deducing that in 74 days, 135,000 devices have been sold.

This is in sharp contrast to the Motorola DROID and the original Apple iPhone, which both sold a million units in the same period of time.

Flurry actually used 74 days as a barometer, because that was how long it took for the original iPhone to sell one million units back in 2007. Motorola’s DROID sold 1.05 million units by day 74, and that’s to say nothing of future iPhone releases, which all crossed the one-million-sold mark even more quickly.

Flurry lays out some good arguments for why Nexus One sales have lagged behind DROID sales (and we really do think that DROID is the more accurate barometer, rather than using the 2007 iPhone benchmarks), but we think it’s really all about one thing: Carrier.

Problem 1: T-Mobile

Although the Nexus One is available unlocked (for a higher price), it is still largely tied to a single carrier in the United States (and in Canada). That carrier, T-Mobile, has the smallest 3G coverage area of the major wireless telecos. That’s a big problem when you are talking about a phone that really needs to be connected to 3G or Wi-Fi to show off its best features.

Conversely, Verizon has a huge subscription base, the most consistent 3G network and is running a very aggressive ad campaign promoting the DROID.

AT&T may be the bane of many iPhone users’ existence (although it is slowly improving), but the coverage options still trump T-Mobile, even with 3G out of the equation. Fortunately, Google has just made unlocked Nexus One phones available for AT&T and Rogers 3G networks. Unfortunately, this is still a separate version from the T-Mobile Nexus One, which means that if you wanted to switch carriers in the United States or Canada and keep 3G, you’re still SOL.

Once the Nexus One hits Verizon, we expect sales to really start to increase.

Problem 2: Buying/Getting Support

When Google officially released the Nexus One, I commented that it wasn’t really about the phone, it was about Google’s new phone marketplace.

Seventy-four days later, this phone marketplace has a lot of problems that still haven’t been completely resolved. First, customers complained about an additional (and excessive) early termination fee that Google charged for users who terminated their contract in the first 120 days of ownership. This fee was in addition to T-Mobile’s fee and as expected, consumers went ballistic. Google has since lowered the ETF to $150, but that still means you’re paying two early termination fees if you cancel in the first four months of use.

Then, there’s the ongoing issue of getting support for the Nexus One. Google has since improved support options, but you still need to potentially deal with three different people: the manufacturer, the wireless company and then Google. That’s problematic and it is something that doesn’t happen for other phones, even on the same carrier. When I had problems with my BlackBerry, I called and was served by a T-Mobile person — sometimes I had to jump through hoops to talk to a RIM specialist, but I didn’t have to call RIM directly.

Plus, I do think that perhaps Google underestimated how many people like to, I don’t know, physically touch a phone before buying it. Now, I’m not one of those people (Hey, I pre-ordered the iPad sight-unseen), but many users are — and not having any store presence is problematic, if only because it decreases visibility.

Bottom Line

The Nexus One is clearly not the big hit that many expected it to be — and even on Verizon, it might never be a hit.

However, the fact that DROID numbers are so strong shows that this isn’t a platform problem, it’s an execution problem. It will be interesting to see Google’s next attempt.

What do you think of Nexus One sales? Are you surprised that they are as low as they are? Let us know!

Tags: droid, flurry, nexus one, phone sales

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For some weird reason AT&T has decide to challenge its network some more by allowing Sling Media to deliver video content over a 3G connection to iPhone owners. And it’s not a rumor either as everything has been publicly made official in a press release.

So, iPhone users, are you ready to use Sling Player? It would seem that AT&T has been testing the mobile application since December last year and recently notified both Sling Media and Apple that the new optimized iPhone app can run on its 3G network.

Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets had a rather long comment about the approval process of Sling Media:

Just as we’ve worked with Sling Media in this instance, we look forward to collaborating with other developers so that mobile customers can access a wider, more bandwidth-sensitive, and powerful range of applications in the future. Collaboration with developers like Sling Media ensures that all apps are optimized for our 3G network to conserve wireless spectrum and reduce the risk that an app will cause such extreme levels of congestion that they disrupt the experience of other wireless customers. Our focus continues to be on delivering the nation’s most advanced mobile broadband experience and giving our customers the widest possible array of mobile applications.

As you can see he stresses the importance of wireless spectrum conservation and “the experience of other wireless customers.” In other words AT&T is not yet ready to handle each and every application that can induce a severe strain on its network.

On a different note, now that Sling Player with video streaming over 3G is available to the masses, what’s next? Maybe Google Voice?

Original Post Link: Apple iPhone to Support Sling Player 3G Streaming [Sling Player 3G Streaming Finally Accepted by Apple & AT&T Hell Freezes Over] | Published by TFTS – Technology, Gadgets & Curiosities

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Here’s another Apple Tablet rumor for you: Both AT&T and Verizon will carry the Tablet in the United States, subsidizing the up-front price of the device if you sign a contract to pay for their 3G data networks.

We just recently saw some evidence that the device would come to Verizon, but Apple has an established relationship with AT&T, too, since its iPhone is exclusive to that carrier in the U.S.

FOX News’ Clayton Morris says that he’s heard from insiders at both AT&T and Verizon that the Tablet will be carried on their networks. AT&T’s plan would likely be similar to the one we heard Verizon was thinking of offering — $200 off the up-front price (which is probably either $800 or $1,000) when you sign a $60 per month contract on its network.

We haven’t even seen any strong evidence that the Tablet will run on a 3G network at all, of course, but if it doesn’t that will be very surprising. The idea is that you’ll be able to do more advanced computing and media tasks on the go than you can with an iPhone, and you won’t be doing that if you’re not connected. Just what advanced computing and media tasks are we talking about? We don’t even know that for sure, but we’ll probably find out in five days.

Tags: apple, apple canvas, Apple Tablet, att, iguide, ipad, iSlate, iTablet, verizon

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AT&T has announced that it has completed “a software upgrade at 3G cell sites nationwide that prepares the nation’s fastest 3G network for even faster speeds.” In other words AT&T has just told everyone that it can’t offer 7.2Mbps speeds nationwide just yet but it’s getting there.
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With the Google Nexus One launch and the gadget show CES both taking place next week, it’s shaping up to be a weekend of hardware rumors. The latest requires the usual cautions: it’s a single anonymous source, and the parties involved have not commented publicly.

Nonetheless, BoyGeniusReport (which has a decent hit rate on its rumor reportage) claims that the Google Nexus One (aka “Google Phone“) will be made in an unlocked version compatible with AT&T’s 3G network:

…we’ve heard from a source that there will be an AT&T 3G-compatible version of the Google Nexus One. Our connect described it as being a “second” unlocked model, with the T-Mobile-subsidized unit being locked to T-Mobile. Our tipster was so impressed by a Nexus One in person, they said they would 100% give up their T-Mobile BlackBerry 9700 for one when it’s available.

So little is known about Google’s deals with carriers that we’d urge caution on this until the Nexus One launch on Tuesday.

Tags: att, google phone, nexus one

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Smartphone users are starting to tax the capacity of mobile phone networks amid the surging popularity of Apple Inc.’s iPhone and other multimedia handsets from rivals like Palm Inc. — forcing a rare public apology from one of the U.K.’s top wireless providers.

In an interview published Tuesday, the head of Telefonica SA’s O2 U.K. division acknowledged the network problems encountered by some its customers in central London since the summer, and said the company is working to resolve them and investing in more 3G network capacity.

“Where we haven’t met our own high standards then there’s no question, we apologise to customers for that fact,” O2 U.K. Chief Executive Ronan Dunne told the Financial Times. He added: “But it would be wrong to say that O2 has failed its customers en masse.”

Across the U.K, there has been an 18-fold increase in data usage over the past year, said O2 spokesman Nick Wilkins, as users of high-end smartphones surf the Web or watch videos at a higher rate than other phone users. At the moment, data usage is doubling every four months, he said.

In February, O2 revealed it had more than one million iPhone customers in the U.K. Mr. Wilkins couldn’t provide any up to date figures. He also wouldn’t say how many overall smartphone customers it had.

O2’s two-year iPhone exclusively agreement in the U.K. came to an end recently following France Telecom SA’s Orange agreement to sell the iPhone. Subsequently, Vodafone PLC and Tesco PLC have secured similar iPhone deals.

On top of the £500 million already spent on its U.K. network over the last two years, O2 has spent a further £30 million in London since the summer trying to resolve the network problems, O2’s Mr. Wilkins said.

The O2 apology was the second time this week that heavy data usage by iPhone users has drawn questions. On Monday, AT&T Inc. resumed online sales of the iPhone to New Yorkers, after they were unable to buy the device phone on AT&T’s Web site over the weekend.

The interruption — and AT&T’s lack of explanation — was noted on several blogs, adding fuel to questions about whether the company’s network can handle iPhone traffic, especially in dense urban markets. A terse statement from AT&T Monday said “we periodically modify our promotion and distribution channels.” An AT&T spokesman declined to comment on why the carrier temporarily stopped online sales of the iPhone. – Niraj Sheth in New York and Archibald Preuschat in Dusseldorf contriibuted to this article.

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We’ve covered Acer’s first Android smartphone, namely the Acer Liquid A1, pretty extensively on the site over the past few months and now we can confirm that, thanks to the Acer Liquid A1 having just gained FFC approval, we now know that the device, in supporting 850/1900 MHz, will support AT&T’s 3G network (leading us to surmise that an AT&T Liquid A1 may well be on the cards).
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AT&T might have dropped its lawsuit against Verizon Wireless, but the display of back-and-forth petulant bickering is still alive and well. AT&T has just released a new ad featuring celebrity spokesman Luke Wilson (who has made two earlier appearances on behalf of AT&T), this time highlighting the speed of its 3G network versus that of Verizon.

Of course, AT&T doesn’t bother to mention how likely it is that you’ll actually be able to take advantage of that speed, seeing as your phone has to actually be able to connect to the network in order to transfer data. Unsurprisingly, “last place in customer satisfaction” is not one of the features AT&T touts as being part of the “better 3G experience.”

Hey AT&T, here’s an idea, let Apple do the rebuttal advertisements. At least those make a cognizant argument about the differences between AT&T’s 3G service and Verizon’s CDMA network. It doesn’t change the coverage or availability options, but at least it points out where users do have an actual advantage over the competition.

[via Gizmodo]

Tags: att, luke wilson, verizon

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AT&T may have lost the battle, but the war is not over. Of course we’re talking about all the hubbub over Verizon’s Map for That ads, which paint AT&T’s 3G network as inferior to Verizon’s.

Verizon’s holiday ads stirred the pot even more, inflaming AT&T to file a lawsuit, which, as we found out earlier today, was not a successful endeavor. The legal defeat hasn’t stopped the wireless carrier from rushing out the first in a series of new ads as counter commercials to shoot down Map for That claims.

They’ve tapped funny man Luke Wilson to drive home the message that AT&T’s 3G service is superior to Verizon’s. Of course, they also make sure to mention their exclusive iPhone deal and Apple’s impressive 100,000 applications. Watch it below and let us know what you think in the comments.

[via iPhone Blog]

Tags: att, map for that ads, verizon

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About a month ago, Verizon started running ads that mocked AT&T’s 3G coverage and, needless to say, AT&T didn’t take it well, responding with a lawsuit and a request to have the ads pulled immediately. Last week, they publicly called the ads “blatantly false and misleading.”

Now, Verizon’s responded, basically saying that AT&T doesn’t have a problem with them, but with the truth. From the court filing:

“AT&T did not file this lawsuit because Verizon’s “There’s A Map For That” advertisements are untrue; AT&T sued because Verizon’s ads are true and the truth hurts… AT&T now is attempting to silence Verizon’s ads that include maps graphically depicting the geographic reach of AT&T’s 3G network as compared to Verizon’s own 3G network because AT&T does not like the truthful picture painted by that comparison.”

When it comes to mobile coverage, the situation is never black and white. Each company has its own data, almost inevitably skewed to paint a better picture for them. It’ll be interesting to see how the court will decide on this one, but when it comes to AT&T’s 3G coverage, we’ve heard complaints from actual users, and lots of them. Check out the ads that caused all this fuss below, and tell us if you think they’re truthful or not in the comments:

There’s a Map for That

Misfit Toys

Tags: att, verizon

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AT&T have just announced that they will be offering the 3G enabled Samsung GO netbook, which will take advantage of AT&T’s 3G network in terms of connectivity, from this Sunday (22nd November 2009).
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See: AT&T Samsung GO 3G Netbook Release Date Confirmed [AT&T Samsung GO Available Sunday, Will Retail at Under $200]

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Just the other day we showed you how Verizon has launched three new commercials meant to continue their “There’s a Map for That” campaign. Verizon doesn’t seem to care about AT&T’s lawsuit and keeps its guns at AT&T’s 3G coverage. But is Verizon telling the whole truth?

After we’ve seen the new ads and had a couple of laughs it’s only fair to AT&T to show its side of the story too. One of the first things to be mentioned is that Verizon doesn’t compare the two companies’ data networks as it focuses only on 3G coverage. But Verizon’s CDMA 1xRTT service is only capable of providing customers dialup-like speeds if the faster EVDO Rev. A 3G network is not available.
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See: AT&T Reveals Details About 3G Network [Is Verizon Not Telling the Whole Truth in “There’s a Map for That” Campaign?]

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As everyone already knows, AT&T’s 3G network is not the most dependable high-speed data network available in town. That doesn’t mean it won’t be significantly upgraded in the very near future. In fact AT&T is currently working on HSPA 7.2Mbps so we’re probably looking at faster connectivity options in the upcoming months.
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See: New 3G LaptopConnect AT&T USB Modem Gets Official [AT&T USBConnect Lightning Ready for 7.2Mbps Service]

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The eReader market is about to get truly crowded, with lots of competition on deck for Amazon’s flagship Kindle. With the Barnes & Noble eReader slated to hit next year, LG’s solar powered device, and Spring Design’s Alex running Android all coming up to bat very soon, digital book reading is seriously heating up.

Now we have more information on another player in this space. We knew a large-format eReader was on the way from a company called Plastic Logic since last CES, when they debuted a prototype of an 8.5 x 11-inch E-Ink device. Today the device gets a name: the QUE proReader, and an official debutante date: January 7, 2010 — again at the Consumer Electronics Show.

What sets the QUE apart from other offerings to date is its target audience: business professionals. We’ve already seen the Kindle DX be first to market with a letter-sized large-format eReader, but the QUE takes that format and aims it squarely at an audience looking for a competitive edge in the business world.

Featuring support for typical business document formats including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and PDF, the QUE will also access a content store tailoring to the needs of business users. Able to connect either over Wi-Fi or via AT&T’s 3G network, Plastic Logic’s QUE will access a store powered by Barnes & Noble, marking a rather “platform agnostic” approach on the part of B&N, who as mentioned previously will also be launching their own eReader device.

Still unknown at this point are an official release date and the all-important marketplace arbiter: price. We do have new photos of the device now, which feature an attractively sleek and black finish whereas previous prototypes have been a rather unassuming off-white. Check out a few at the end of this post.

Who is your pick for the most interesting upcoming eReader? Do you have your eye on any of the devices forthcoming from Barnes & Noble, LG, Spring Design or Plastic Logic? Or will you hold out and buy your digital books from Google?

Plastic Logic QUE proReader Pics

Tags: digital books, e-ink, ereader, plastic logic, que, que proreader

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Vopium wins the Frost Sullivan 2009 European Mobile VoIP Technology Innovation Award

Copenhagen and London, April, 2009 – Vopium, the company that drives down the cost of international mobile phone calls has today been honored with the 2009 European Mobile VoIP Technology Innovation Award by Frost & Sullivan. The award recognizes Vopium’s dedication to innovation, its commitment to bringing new products to market and its excellence in technology-leveraged and customer-focused services.

The Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation is presented to the company that has demonstrated technological superiority within its industry. This award is testament to Vopium’s ability to successfully develop and introduce new technology, formulate a well-designed product family, and make significant product performance contributions to the industry.

Commenting on the award, Vopium CEO Tanveer Sharif said: “We are very proud that Frost & Sullivan has recognized our persistent efforts to develop and deliver the very best mobile VoIP technology to the market. Vopium is dedicated to helping friends and families communicate, regardless of where they are in the world and our rapid expansion reflects our desire to be the leading provider of global communication.”

“By offering such a cost-effective service, Vopium enhances customer loyalty and confidence its applications, thereby enabling the firm to create a sustainable competitive advantage over other mobile VoIP providers,” explains Frost & Sullivan Programme Manager Luke Thomas. “Considering that Wi-Fi is not as ubiquitous as cellular networks today, Vopium has also made provisions for users to automatically connect to a 3G network when Wi-Fi is not available within a particular location.”

Vopium has rapidly expanded in the last six months launching its unique free software programme using mobile VoIP and Wi-Fi technology to reduce the cost of international phone calls in 16 countries including the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France and Spain. Vopium also recently celebrated being the world’s first mobile VoIP provider to offer mobile backup - a free service which allows Vopium customers to store their address book contacts and calendar securely online. Integrated with the Vopium application, Vopium Sync automatically backs up a user’s contacts and calendar direct to their online account. With several other products launches in the pipeline Vopium’s wave of development looks set to continue.

About Vopium:
Vopium is a carrier-grade mobile telephony service designed to offer affordable and reliable international calls from any mobile handset. By using the Vopium application on their mobile to make calls from their home country, consumers and businesses alike can save up to 90% on international mobile and land-line calls. Unlike more restrictive mobile VoIP solutions, Vopium supports hundreds of handsets across Java, Symbian, RIM, Windows Mobile and iPhone. Vopium uses intelligent routing and connection technology which automatically and seamlessly delivers the lowest cost connection for any international call. Vopium has offices in London, Copenhagen, Luxembourg and Pakistan. Vopium was recently awarded the Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award. To learn more, visit www.vopium.com

About Frost & Sullivan:
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Consulting Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's Growth Partnership Services, Growth Consulting and Career Best Practices empower clients to create a growth focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan’s Growth Partnerships, visit www.frost.com

Contact:
Adeel Ayub
adeel.ayub@vopium.com
P: +45 369 50442

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Silicon Alley Insider is reporting that a dedicated Hulu application is indeed on its way to the iPhone and should be here in just a few months.

SAI says the application will work over Wi-Fi and AT&T’s 3G network, meaning that users will be able to view programming anywhere with a fast data connection.

Rumors suggesting that an iPhone-friendly version of Hulu swirled around this time last year, however, they predated the launch of the App Store, and Hulu flat-out denied that one was being worked on.

This time around, though, it’s far more plausible, with the upcoming iPhone OS 3.0 software update, which lets developers bake streaming media into their applications. For Hulu, this means that the advertising could be stuck into the mobile stream and that users would be able to watch videos without leaving the application.

One of the things that keep this rumor from holding water is that Hulu is in direct competition with Apple’s iTunes business. Users of Hulu can watch ad-supported, full-length television shows and movies on their personal computers for free, instead of paying Apple to download a copy for offline viewing.

If such an app were available on the iPhone, it would also offer portable TV and movie watching, something not yet offered in Apple’s own mobile iTunes app, which is limited to video podcasts. In past instances of this, the company has simply denied applications such as Podcaster from making it through the app approval process, only to launch it as a first party feature later on.

On the other hand, some of Hulu’s competitors have already gotten a foot in the door, including Joost and CBS-owned TV.com, which has its own iPhone application that streams in content in chunks. In addition, Google’s YouTube, whose application comes preinstalled on the iPhone, has recently reached an agreement with major studios, including Sony Pictures, Lions Gate Entertainment, and CBS (publisher of CNET News), to offer visitors full-length TV shows and feature films.

If Hulu can’t manage to pull off getting advertisements in the stream, using this system, it would be fairly simple to force users to sit through advertisements between clips.