Items tagged with 4G
When considering the physical design of a smartphone, there’s one key dimension that often matters most to the majority of users: thickness. No one wants to carry around a thick, clunky smartphone. Manufacturers realize thin devices sell, which is why it seems every time we turn around they’re constantly fighting for the title of thinnest device. The current title-holder is the Motorola Droid Ultra, which is billed as the thinnest 4G LTE smartphone. It measures just 0.28 inches thick and is available exclusively through Verizon Wireless. Motorola Droid Ultra Review: Ultra Thin LTE Smartphone...
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When considering the physical design of a smartphone, there’s one key dimension that often matters most to the majority of users: thickness. No one wants to carry around a thick, clunky smartphone. Manufacturers realize thin devices sell, which is why it seems every time we turn around they’re constantly fighting for the title of thinnest device. The current title-holder is the Motorola Droid Ultra, which is billed as the thinnest 4G LTE smartphone. It measures just 0.28 inches thick and is available exclusively through Verizon Wireless. The Droid Ultra was announced alongside the Droid Maxx and the Droid Mini. Falling in the middle of this trio, the Droid Ultra has a lot to...
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We were effusive in our acclaim over Republic Wireless’ astonishingly inexpensive mobile service, and the company is making more headway in the mobile market now that it’s added the Moto X to its offerings. The Moto X (review here), which you can snag for $299 through Republic Wireless, brings a higher-end handset option to the service and should pull in many more customers than the old $249 Motorola Defy XT. You can opt for a black or white version of the new phone. Along with the availability of the Moto X, Republic Wireless is launching its new service plans. You still don’t need a contract, and you can change up your plan up to twice per month if you need to scale your options...
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Sprint customers can snag a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 for $49.99 starting on October 11th with a new line or eligible upgrade and a 2-year service agreement. Unlike the WiFi-only version of the Galaxy Tab 3 we’ve reported on before, this little number offers 4G LTE. The device will come in white initially with a black version available by the holidays, and it runs Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean), 1.2GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of onboard storage. It also has 3MP rear/1.3MP front cameras, Samsung Hub, an IR blaster, Polaris Office, SAFE enterprise security if you’re BYOD-ing at work. You can add a Galaxy Tab 3 to your existing plan for as little as an extra $5 per month plus taxes and...
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It only makes sense that a high-speed train would provide wireless service that's also high-speed right? In that case, all aboard! Amtrak this week announced an upgrade to its AmtrakConnect cellular-based Wi-Fi service to take advantage of 4G technologies. Amtrak says the 4G upgrade is already in place on Acela Express and California-supported Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfline, and San Joaquin services, and will be rolled out to its remaining fleet of Wi-Fi equipped trains by late summer. "We continue to place a strong focus on improving customer satisfaction, and this upgrade is delivering the improved speeds and connectivity required to maintain a competitive edge," said Deborah Stone-Wulf,...
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Samsung has done an exceptional job the past few years building interest and recognition for their Galaxy-branded smartphones. The fervor isn’t quite on the level of Apple's iPhone launches, but if the attendance of their “Samsung Unpacked” event at Radio City Music Hall and the buzz on-line for today’s introduction is any indicator, Samsung has tapped into something big and earned a cult following, very much like Apple has over the years. And the sales figures back this up, of course, all of which show Samsung dominating the Android-based smartphone market. When a company is clearly on top, people tend to scrutinize every move a little (or lot) more closely, depending...
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Samsung has done an exceptional job the past few years building interest and recognition for their Galaxy-branded smartphones. The fervor isn’t quite on the level of Apple's iPhone launches, but if the attendance of their “Samsung Unpacked” event at Radio City Music Hall and the buzz on-line for today’s introduction is any indicator, Samsung has tapped into something big and earned a cult following, very much like Apple has over the years. And the sales figures back this up, of course, all of which show Samsung dominating the Android-based smartphone market. When a company is clearly on top, people tend to scrutinize every move a little (or lot) more closely, depending...
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According to research conducted by RootMetrics, AT&T has the fastest pure LTE speed of any of the major carriers, clocking in average download and upload speeds of 18.6Mbps and 9.0Mbps. Number two Verizon delivered 14.3Mbps and 8.5Mbps, respectively, with Sprint a distant third at 10.3Mbps and 4.4Mbps. T-Mobile doesn’t offer 4G, but its non-LTE speeds are the best of the group at 7.3Mbps down and 1.5Mbps up; AT&T is a strong second in that category, actually, with 4.3Mbps and 1.1Mbps. A few of AT&T's 4G devices Verizon has been the frontrunner in terms of rolling out 4G LTE networks, which it has done at a blistering pace. For instance, RootMetrics found Verizon’s LTE...
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In the mobile market, 2013 will be the year that smartphone shipments reached a tipping point where they beat out feature phone shipments for the first time--just barely. According to numbers from the IDC, smartphones accounted for just under 42% of all mobile phone shipments in 2012, and that number will climb to about 50.1% in 2013. The IDC only expects feature phones to diminish from here on out, with shipments dwindling every year until they reach about a third of all mobile phone shipments in 2017 (which is as far out as the firm has projected numbers). The reasons for the swing are perhaps obvious; smartphone prices have dropped worldwide while there are ever more price points to choose...
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Sprint is continuing to roll out its Network Vision plan which includes 4G LTE service as well as improved 3G service in many areas throughout the country. Today, Sprint announced that it has added Austin and Bryan-College Station, Texas to the list of cities that have access to 4G LTE service. Sprint also launched 4G LTE service in Boston; Columbia, Tenn.; Emporia, Kan.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Framingham, Mass.; Gettysburg, Pa.; and Western Puerto Rico (including Aguadilla, Isabela, Cabo Rojo, Mayagüez) today. “Everything is bigger in Texas and now so is Sprint’s 4G LTE network allowing more Texans to experience 4G LTE on their smartphones, tablets and wireless hotspots,” said...
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Sprint and Clearwire have reached an agreement whereby Sprint will purchase roughly half of Clearwire for $2.2 billion (approximately $2.97 per share). After the transaction is complete, Sprint will have full ownership of Clearwire. The announcement comes days after Clearwire shareholders said a $2.90 per share offer from Sprint was too low. With the spectrum it will acquire from Clearwire and its own spectrum, Sprint will be in a better position to compete in the wireless market. Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said Sprint is in a position to "maximize the value of Clearwire’s spectrum" and deploy it to increase the wireless carrier's network capacity. Sprint will utilize Clearwire’s...
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Sprint is continuing its Network Vision plan to expand and improve upon its network. As part of Network Vision, Sprint announced 11 new markets that are receiving access to its high-speed 4G LTE network. According to Sprint, the LTE service should be lit up in the 11 new markets and coverage will continue to expand in these areas in the coming weeks and months. New markets for Sprint's LTE service include: Anderson, Ind. Clarke County, Va./Jefferson County, W.Va. Harrisburg/Carlisle/Hershey, Pa. Hagerstown, Md./Martinsburg, W.Va. Harrisonburg, Va. Muncie, Ind. Peabody, Mass. Salina, Kan. Shenandoah County, Va. South Bend/Mishawaka, Ind. Winchester, Va. “We are pleased to deliver our new...
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T-Mobile has enhanced its network in 10 new metro areas which include Miami; Phoenix; San Francisco; Mesa and Tucson, Ariz.; Modesto, Oakland, San Jose and Stockton, Calif.; and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. With the technology advancements in these areas, customers will get better voice and data coverage along with faster speeds on unlocked devices such as the iPhone. These 10 new areas are getting T-Mobile's faster HSPA+ network which uses the 1900MHz band. Since the iPhone is compatible with 1900MHz, it will be able to take advantage of faster speeds in these markets. However, in areas where T-Mobile doesn't offer HSPA+, unlocked devices that are compatible only with the 1900MHz band such as the iPhone...
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AT&T is continuing its aggressive rollout of its 4G LTE network. Earlier this week, the company announced new markets that would soon be receiving LTE coverage. Today, the wireless carrier is adding a few more markets to this list. With the recent announcements, customers in the following areas will also be able to access 4G LTE service through AT&T: Columbia , South Carolina Charleston, South Carolina Saratoga and Saratoga Springs, New York Pensacola, Florida Fairfield County, Connecticut Twin Cities, Minnesota In all, AT&T now offers 4G LTE coverage to more than 150 million people and covers 103 markets across the United States. This coverage is more than double what AT&T offered...
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Three of the top wireless carriers in the U.S. are working hard to expand their LTE networks. Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and AT&T recently announced new markets that now have or will soon be getting LTE coverage. Verizon Wireless has added 4G LTE service to parts of Pennsylvania including Adams County, York County, and Lancaster County. Verizon Wireless is also launching 4G LTE service in Sierra Vista, Douglas, Benson and Nogales, Arizona starting November 15. Residents in the following areas will also receive 4G LTE service on November 15: Cody, Laramie and Rock Springs/Green River, Wyoming Grand Junction, Colorado Butte, Montana Mt. Vernon, Illinois Lake of the Ozarks and central...
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Samsung has developed a creative solution to consumers’ desire to have a speedier and more convenient way to share photos with its Samsung Galaxy Camera, which is now available from AT&T. The camera runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and has 4G capabilities, and the 4.8-inch HD Super Clear LCd display is quite large. Under the hood, there’s a 1.4GHz processor, and the camera part of the machine offers 21x optical zoom and 16MP backside illuminated CMOS sensor. There are some manual camera controls including shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. The answer to the two biggest questions potential buyers will have are as follows: No, the device does not have phone capabilities, and yes, you...
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AT&T announced plans to invest $14 billion over the next three years in order to expand and enhance its wireless and wireline broadband networks. The investment plan, called Project Velocity IP (VIP), includes an expansion of AT&T's 4G LTE network, the acquiring of additional spectrum, and the deployment of small cell technology, macro cells and additional distributed antenna systems. By the end of 2014, AT&T plans to expand its 4G LTE network to cover 300 million people. This represents an increase from the company's original plan to offer 4G LTE to about 250 million people by the end of 2013. AT&T plans to offer 4G LTE service to 99 percent of all its customer locations in its...
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Sprint will begin offering its first 4G LTE tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 on November 11. The tablet will sell for $549.99. The Galaxy Tab 2 features Android 4.0 as well as a 1.5GHz dual-core processor and 10.1-inch touchscreen. You'll find a 3 megapixel rear-facing camera on the Galaxy Tab 2 as well as a front-facing VGA camera. Thanks to its built-in IR blaster, the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 can be used as a universal remote for controlling your TV and home theater equipment. The Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is compatible with Sprint's month-to-month tablet rate plans for Sprint 4G LTE tablets. Sprint offers discounted rate plans for smartphone customers. The discounted plan includes 1GB of data for $15...
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Soon, Sprint customers will have two additional LG smartphone options. Customers can currently preorder the upcoming LG Optimus G, which is set to be available November 11. This smartphone features an advanced 13 megapixel camera that has features designed to replace your point-and-shoot camera including burst shot and smile detection features. The LG Optimus G utilizes Qualcomm’s 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core CPU processor. It also offers connectivity to Sprint's 4G LTE network. In addition to burst shot and smile detection, the LG Optimus G's camera features a Time Catch Shot mode that captures a burst of photos before the shutter button is even pressed. You can then pick the best...
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Verizon Wireless and LG are teaming up to offer the new Spectrum 2. This smartphone features a 4.7-inch True HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass for added durability. The Spectrum 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Krait 1.5 GHz dual-core processor and runs on Android 4.0. Other key specifications include 16GB of internal storage, a microSD expansion slot, and 4G LTE connectivity with mobile hotspot capabilities. On the back of the Spectrum 2, you'll find an 8-megapixel camera with Advanced Image Editor and Video Wiz features. This camera is capable of recording video at 1080p. It also has Intelligent Panorama Shot and Time Catch Shot modes. For video chat, the phone features a 1.3-megapixel...
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Sprint is racing to catch up to other carriers who already have extensive 4G LTE rollouts. Today, the wireless carrier announced another rollout of its 4G LTE network. Including today's new markets, Sprint now offers 4G LTE service in 32 metropolitan areas. In the coming months, Sprint plans to offer service in more than 115 additional cities. With this expansion, customers in the following areas will now have access to Sprint's 4G LTE network: Chicago Area Suburbs: Addison, Bolingbrook, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Kankakee, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Palatine and Plainfield Gary, IN Hutchinson and McPherson, KS New Bedford and Fall River, MA Wichita Falls, TX By adding 4G LTE service in these...
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Sprint is expanding its lineup of 4G LTE devices with the addition of two new smartphones, a tablet, and a USB modem. First up is the new LG Optimus G smartphone which features a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera along with unique camera features and controls. This smartphone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU quad-core processor. The Optimus G has a 4.7-inch True HD IPS Plus display (1280 x 768), 32GB of internal storage, and runs on Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich. To ensure you'll have power throughout the day, the phone has a 2,100 mAh battery. The LG Mach is an affordable 4G LTE capable smartphone. This entry-level smartphone is said to be one of the thinnest devices (0.48-inches thick)...
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