You might be asking yourself what Cat 4 LTE-Advanced is, and you should be. Most current LTE networks run up to 100 Mbps (theoretical) 4G LTE data speeds thanks to Cat 3, and the future will bring Cat 4 and beyond as we get into the next generation of LTE, also known as 5G. Today NVIDIA is showing off their Tegra 4i running stable as it churns through 150 Mbps data speeds and Cat 4 with ease, all thanks to software updates.

When we say software updates, that’s because NVIDIA showed off Cat 3 and 100 Mbps tests at Mobile World Congress back in February when they announced the Tegra 4i. One of the important aspects of the testing they’re doing here in Vegas is the fact that the same exact silicon, the same Tegra 4i chip, is now handling Cat 4 150 Mbps speeds with no hardware changes. Everything was done on a software level. Which is showcasing NVIDIA’s adaptable software-defined radio technology.

The demo was shown off running on the NVIDIA Phoenix, which is their Tegra 4i reference phone. Then it’s also being done on a test machine emulating Cat 4 LTE, since live and current local 4G LTE doesn’t exist on Cat 4. In these demos NVIDIA is showing off a few things. One being their ability to keep up with the times and rapid changing network technology using their software-defined radios, as well as showcasing how far their 4G LTE Icera modem has came in such a short amount of time.

The photo above shows the Tegra 4i board as it existed back at MWC 2013. Be sure to check out more Phoenix hands-on action to see what the processor is capable of in the graphics realm as well.

The Tegra 4i 4G LTE modem is 40% smaller than conventional 4G LTE modems currently being used in smartphones, and is extremely efficient. Add in the adaptability and efficiency of that to their Tegra 4 quad-core 4-PLUS-1 mobile processor, and you have a full package. Sadly we still won’t be seeing Tegra 4i powered LTE devices til late 2013 or early 2014. More details are available from their official blog post linked to below.

SOURCE: NVIDIA Blog

There’s also DLNA streaming and support for guest networks, allowing you to open up select access to visitors. In fact, the functionality is the same as the N750 wireless router-only that Linksys announced last year, only with the addition of ADSL support.

There’s still a WAN port for external modems, in case you subsequently want to use the X3500 with a cable or fiber modem. Linksys also offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, Cisco Connect Express, for remotely tweaking settings, monitoring usage, and upgrading firmware.

Hook up a USB drive, meanwhile, and you can access its contents from any networked device, or indeed stream from it to your PS3, Xbox, or other gadget; a USB printer can also be shared. The Linksys N750 Dual-Band X3500 router is available in the UK now, priced at £139 ($213).

That’s down to a selection of chips that are actually up to 50-percent smaller than the current models, despite adding in far more band support. Power consumption has also been reduced, with Qualcomm claiming up to a 30-percent saving, while heat output is also cut.

Radio performance takes advantage of Qualcomm’s new dynamic antenna matching tuner (QFE15xx), which is the first ever to be able to automatically adjust the antenna performance depending on environmental constraints and how the user is actually holding the device. Effective not only for 4G use but 2G/3G, across the 700-2700MHz bands, the new tuner works alongside an integrated power amplifier and antenna switch that’s easier to install and accomodate on tight circuit boards.

Finally, there’s the RF POP QFE27EE, a stacked chipset combining a multiband power amp and antenna switch, the SAW filters, and duplexes. It will be interchangeable, too, allowing for manufacturers to choose between creating devices that work on a smaller subset of LTE frequencies – such as for specific carriers or regions – or a broad, global-roaming LTE implementation.

The huge increase in frequencies selected by 4G carriers worldwide has broken the market for devices down into an array of incompatible phones. Handsets like the iPhone 5, for instance, come in three different variants – outwardly identical, but with differing radio and antenna implementations - suited to different sets of networks, and the expectation that 3G device users had of being able to simply swap SIM cards and get up and running on a different carrier no longer applies.

For Qualcomm and manufacturers, meanwhile, the new RF360 radio is a way to simplify production: now a single SKU can be offered – potentially tailored by software and RF POP selection to suit the whims of carrier lock-down – rather than multiple iterations of the same device. The first products to use the RF360 Front End Solution will show up in 2013.

The new modem can handle “virtually any” 3GPP LTE frequency band and combination, Broadcom says, including LTE FDD and TDD, and LTE-Advanced with carrier aggregation. There’s also backward compatibility with HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, and EDGE/GSM.

VoLTE (voice over LTE) is supported, naturally, and with a 40-percent power saving over a more traditional WCDMA voice call, while data rates of up to 150Mbps are possible.

Meanwhile, since LTE alone isn’t enough to satisfy the modern world’s connectivity demands, there’s also boosted “wireless coexistance” support. That helps cut down on radio interference between LTE, WiFi, and Bluetooth radios, meaning all three technologies can better cooperate in the same location.

We’ll have to wait a while before we actually see the benefits of the BCM21892, however. Broadcom says the new LTE chip is only now sampling to its customers, with full production not expected until 2014.

Uplinq is as Qualcomm claims it, “the wireless industry’s only cross-platform developer’s conference”, and it’s now been expanded to three full days. This set of events will be featuring here in 2013 a series of professionals from all angles – developers, manufacturers, operators, and technology providers alike. This set of events will show a cross-platform look at the wireless industry from not just a series of perspectives, but the specific perspectives you’ll find valuable to your business.

Qualcomm’s Uplinq series of events is made for “all members of the value chain”, as senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Qualcomm Anand Chandrasekher makes clear, and “Feedback from last year’s attendees has us adding more technical sessions and further enhancing the business development programs we will be offering at Uplinq 2013.” It’s basically going to be one big technology high-five for everyone who’s responsible for creating, delivering, or supporting the industry from top to bottom!

Have a peek at our Uplinq collection to see what we’ve seen in the past from Qualcomm’s premiere developer conference. This event has shown us everything from the tiniest in-device speaker amplifications to the largest previews of Qualcomm technologies for the future. Camera demonstrations with sword fighters, device previews from top manufacturers, and up close and personal action in the Snapdragon environment – hot stuff!

Speaking this week on all things NVIDIA and connectivity, Senior Vice President of Mobile Communications at NVIDIA spoke up on AT&T validation with glee: “Validation with AT&T is an achievement that paves the way for NVIDIA Icera-powered LTE devices on the AT&T network through this year and next.”

NVIDIA made the move toward better connected devices with Icera modem technology they acquired last year. Have a peek at our feature on Icera tech to get a better idea of what it’s all about: Icera: Why so special?

This solution is one of two modems NVIDIA spoke about several months ago when Icera was first mentioned, the other being the 450 model found in a ZTE device alread. The NVIDIA Icera 410 LTE modem is the first Icera modem to work with 4G LTE in NVIDIA’s software defined radio baseband processor and will work with 4G LTE at 2 data rates. The NVIDIA Icera 410 will also operate along 4G HSPA+, 3G, and 2G bands. Stay tuned for more NVIDIA news throughout the day!

This device just needs a 5-10 minute setup (which you or your nerd nephew or niece will be able to figure out in a snap) and a click or two each time you plug it in to make sure it’s connected. At Mobile World Congress, one of the most heavily trafficked mobile data areas on earth, this device delivered the data when I needed it the most. The vast majority of the posts you saw on SlashGear from Mobile World Congress published by me were delivered with this Huawei USB data connection with XCom Global.

Huawei is a group that’s both delivering the peripherals here with great success and is ramping up their efforts to take on the mobile device world. We’ve seen more than one Huawei device come rushing in on the USA market, and this USB stick illustrates that they’ll be continuing their mobile force across the planet. If what we’ve experienced with this stick through Europe is any evidence of the performance we’ll see in the USA, we’ll be pumped up to pick up on the greatness.

The stick itself is available at a variety of outlets across Europe today, and the connection you’ll get will not disappoint. Again this one was connected with XCom Global service which was second to none the whole time we used the sticks – thanks guys!

Stating with information on Superior Microarchitecture for thermal and power efficiency, we’re reminded instantly of Texas Instruments outline of OMAP 5 with their “Thermal Budget”, heat being the key in both cases. This is a good sign for every user as now that this heat factor is being pushed by several chipset makers as a big issue, our handsets will be cooler very, very soon. The as well, of coursebe keeping it cool at the same time as being able to take on a wide variety of devices across the planet as well, of course. Head to the Q and A section of this post for more information on the S4 – there’s also the next generation Gobi modem from Qualcomm getting prepared for the future as well for LTE superiority.

Qualcomm’s 5th generation Gobi processor is being shown as having already a third generation of LTE-capable connectivity. The first generation is the World’s First integrated LTE/3G chipset, the second was the World’s First mobile chipset with those same abilities, and the next generation is coming soon – with the ability to utilize LTE with a whole new level of efficiency. Qualcomm’s solutions with Gobi currently support over 40 RF bands from USA to Australia up to Japan and throughout Europe. This new Gobi modem offers up MDM 9×25, this bringing LTE Cat4 at 150Mbps, HSPA+ 84 Mbps – faster than ever, Cat 4 data rates without contiguous 20MHz.

Qualcomm is bringing their LTE abilities into the future, having stated with LTE for data only, moving then on to where we are now, LTE for data with 3G/3G for voice. The long term voice solution for handsets is LTE VoIP, that is simultaneous LTE VoIP and rich data services, and +CSFB for roaming. If you’ve got to have it all, you’ve got to have Qualcomm in the future.

The 5th Generation Gobi Embedded Data Connectivity Reference Platform is the first to support multiple LTE bands on a single device. Eventually this system will be bringing said technology to the whole world as well as to a wide variety of devices, not just mobile smartphones and tablets. Without a doubt Qualcomm will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of fully integrated mobile devices.

In the question and answer part of the conference here at the Snapdragon Update meeting when asked about graphics processing with DX9 vs DX11 used by competitors, Chandhok responded with a simple “I can’t hand you a Windows 8 device and say, here, benchmark it, but I will say that the rumors that our performance is not where it should be are not true.”

Asked about partnering with Windows Phone at the S4 processor, Chandhok noted that “Windows phone takes advantage of our chip in a way that’s amazing. They take the things that we design and exploit them to the greatest extent.”

A question about Windows 8 came up, asking specifically if there will be a quad-core notebook in the future, Qualcomm inside. Chandhok spoke:

“I’m not sure what desktop means anymore. The phone I have in my pocket is more powerful than most of the desktops I’ve had in my lifetime. … The compute power is there [already] for what you’re going to do on the desktop. It’s going to be a really interesting blend, what you’re going to see, it’s just how it gets treated – 2012 2013 is going to be a really exciting time.”

There was a question on Qualcomm GameCommand, a question asking about optimized games and developers for the future for that program. Chandhok responded:

“We ship more GPUs than anyone else in the world. There’s going to be a natural partnership throughout the future. … look to us to be more specific about that between now and the near future, we’ve got some programs that’ll be great to look forward to soon.”

Stick with us here on SlashGear for all the Qualcomm and Mobile World Congress news you can handle the next few days here in Barcelona and beyond through our [Qualcomm] and [MWC 2012] portals. We’ll be here all week!

What this means for OEM partners is that they’ll be able to bring devices with both an NVIDIA processor AND an LTE modem to the market faster than ever before. Whenever a manufacturer wants to create a smartphone, for example, they’ve got to work with manufacturers of chips for the modem and a separate manufacturer of chips for their processor if they go with someone that isn’t Texas Instrument or Qualcomm – both of whom have integrated solutions on the market already. This NVIDIA deal will have the big green chip group running a similar business in the near future.

More information on how this solution will bring you, the consumer, the greatest and most powerful products as fast as any manufacturer is able to create them, we’ll let you in on the full knowledge this whole next week at Mobile World Congress 2012. Follow both our NVIDIA portal as well as our MWC 2012 portal starting right now!

[via NVIDIA]

An interesting proposition comes from 9to5Mac as well, that this could be, even though it’s not mentioned, prepared to work with iOS as well for the iPad 3 this spring. Nearly every 3G iOS-carrying device since the release of the Verizon iPhone uses the Gobi platform from Qualcomm – this excluding only one: the AT&T iPad using a legacy chip from Infineon. Sources argue that this makes chip all but a guarantee that the next Apple device will have LTE capabilities upon it.

Qualcomm is announcing both the MDM9615 and the MDM9215 wireless baseband modems, the technology allowing all of the connectivity listed above. At the launch of this fifth generation Gobi platform, hardware partners will be Huawei, Novatel Wireless, Option, Sierra Wireless, and ZTE. Each of these groups will be collaborating on devices of several form factors and configurations across the nation. Fram Akiki, senior director of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies noted the following:

“With Windows 8, we expect to see an increasing variety of mobile computing devices also in use by connected consumers around the world. Our Gobi fifth generation reference platform helps ensure that OEMs can develop products across their choice of operating systems and hardware platforms to meet the growing demand for mobile connectivity.”- Akiki

We’ll be covering Qualcomm’s every move at Mobile World Congress 2012, just as you’d expect us to, and you can follow us all through the week through our portals at [MWC 2012] as well as [Qualcomm] – seeya soon!

ZTE is a growing name in the mobile space, hammering the low- and mid-tier ends of the market with affordable phones and tablets; the company is believed to be one of the reasons Nokia’s Symbian business is shrinking more rapidly than the Finns envisaged. Still, the Mimosa X is attracting attention that far outweighs its more obvious merits.

NVIDIA had a great year in Android phones and tablets in 2011, its Tegra 2 chipset powering the majority of dual-core slates and a significant number of dual-core handsets. The company was also ahead of the game for quadcore too, its Tegra 3 already in coveted devices like the Transformer Prime. Where NVIDIA was falling short was in wireless: neither Tegra 2 nor Tegra 3 have any onboard wireless capabilities, either WiFi or cellular, meaning manufacturers were still needing to look to the NVIDIA’s rivals to satisfy that element of phones and tablets.

Icera addresses that gap. The company’s modem tech had been quietly shuffling along in numerous USB modems and data cards, while Icera worked on developing its IceClear “interference-aware” technology that promises to triple data rates and boost efficiency, until NVIDIA acquired it in May 2011.

The Mimosa X uses NVIDIA’s Icera 450, an HSPA+ modem for up to 21Mbps (category 14) downloads; the IceClear system will, NVIDIA reckons, mean you’re more likely to see higher speeds at the fringes of coverage. It’s a separate chipset from the Tegra 2 driving the ZTE’s apps and graphics, and NVIDIA says it won’t have wireless integration with the core SoC until sometime in 2013.

That separation is unlikely to present too great an issue at the moment: after all, NVIDIA only needed to deliver a single-manufacturer option to clients already clamoring for Tegra. The Icera 410 is also sampling, with LTE support as well as fall-back HSPA+. NVIDIA is refusing to share the mobile processor market, and 2012 looks to be another interesting year for the phone and tablet power/flexibility/connectivity balance.

Hardware

While the key components of the Web Cube may be the same as your average, pocket-sized mobile hotspot, the device as a whole is much bigger. Almost a 10cm cube (it’s 9.5cm high) it’s a distinctive addition to your desktop, with white base and top plates sandwiching a frosted midsection that reveals a fluted inner pillar. An array of blue LEDs cause the whole thing to glow when a device is connected via WiFi.

Physical controls are limited to a single button on the top, which doubles as a WPS pairing key and, with a longer press, a power button to shut the Web Cube down. Three of the top edges have tiny hatches, one sliding out for the SIM card, another hiding a reset button and external antenna port, and the last a microUSB port used for firmware updates. Unfortunately you can’t plug an external drive into the USB connection and share its data across the network.

Inside the Huawei-made device there’s a HSPA+ radio supporting up to 21.6 Mbit/s downloads and up to 5.76 Mbit/s uploads, network depending, along with a WiFi b/g/n router supporting up to five WiFi connections at any one time. 3G signal strength is shown via blue LEDs on the top panel.

Setup

Three is aiming for plug and play simplicity with the Web Cube, and the most confusing part is probably going to be loading the SIM. The quick-start guide shows where to slot it in, though hopefully in-store sales staff will do that for most users; then it’s just a case of plugging in the mains power lead and watching the Web Cube load up automatically.

Both the SSID and WPA2 encryption key are preconfigured, each printed on the base of the Web Cube as well as on the back of the quick-start guide. We were connected and surfing in sixty seconds from plugging the modem in, in fact.

As with most routers, there’s a browser-based control panel for checking status and accessing more complex settings. The home view shows data connection, upload/download speeds and a data counter, along with icons for signal status and how many WiFi clients are connected; you can also turn off the main body light. There’s also text message support, including incoming and outgoing messages; it’s worth noting that any WiFi user can access this and send SMS billed to your account. While you can’t turn off text messaging or lock it down with a passport, you can put in an incorrect service center number and block the functionality that way.

Log into the admin pages, and the Web Cube’s true router abilities become visible. It may look toylike but there’s most of the advanced settings and options that you’d expect from any wireless hardware: a DHCP server, static routing, MAC filtering and optional WiFi bridging, a firewall (sensibly on by default) and IP filtering, virtual server support and a DMZ. If you want to lock down the Web Cube to only support visiting certain sites, you can do it.

Performance

Mobile broadband download speeds are obviously dependent on carrier coverage, and the Web Cube’s 110cm cable doesn’t give you a huge amount of flexibility to move the modem around. Still, the integrated signal strength meter does make positioning easier, though we’d recommend doing some online speed tests just to see where the best results can be had.

Shifting the Web Cube one meter closer to the window saw download rates double (to 4.06 Mbps) and upload rates more than quintuple (to 1.72 Mbps), for instance, so there are significant benefits to be had in experimenting. At least, unlike most wired home broadband connections, you can take your pick of locations, as long as they’re near enough to a power socket. Moving to the other side of the building saw download rates jump to 5.89 Mbps and upload rates to 2.74 Mbps.

As for WiFi strength, we had no problems keeping a connection even with three walls (one external brick) and solid wooden doors between us and the Web Cube. In fact, our test computer was still showing full signal strength at the time. This could be the Web Cube’s biggest advantage over traditional mobile hotspots, which generally suffer from relatively short range WiFi radios.

Pricing

Three offers two options for Web Cube data packages. If you’re willing to commit, you can get 15GB of data per month on a two year £15.99 agreement, and pay nothing upfront for the modem itself. Those feeling more flighty can opt for a £15 month-to-month package, getting them 10GB of data instead; they’ll also have to pay £59.99 for the Web Cube.

There’s no unlimited data option, however, and Three tells us the target audience wouldn’t really want it, though we’re not so sure that’s actually the case.

Wrap-Up

It’s easy to be dismissive of the Web Cube, at least at first glance. Three’s HSPA+ can deliver reasonably speedy burst rates but still lags behind top-tier wired broadband connections, while you also miss out on the battery-powered portability of a traditional mobile hotspot. Unlike the carrier’s own WiFi Hub – which shares a USB modem’s connection over WiFi – you don’t get wired ethernet either, and the Web Cube is even larger.

Where the Web Cube begins to show merit is in its ease of setup and WiFi performance. Ignore the advanced settings – as most users will – and you can be up and running moments after plugging in. It’s portable enough that you can take it on holiday with you, and the data plans, while missing an unlimited option, are probably enough for casual users. The dramatically stronger WiFi range than a battery-powered hotspot singles the Web Cube out for semi-fixed usage too.

Definitely a niche gadget, then, but if you fit the target demographic then there’s plenty of appeal. We can see the Web Cube being ideal for broadband-shy grandparents or catering to a temporary office; it’d make a good backup option if your home broadband goes down. More advanced users will undoubtedly be able to find cheaper ways to share out a 3G connection, but if simplicity is your guiding star then the Web Cube will take some beating.

In fact all the promo devices – which includes smartphones, tablets, modems and mobile hotspots – are $49.99 or less, though each requires a mail-in rebate card in order to get the deal. If you’re a tableteer then as well as the LG slate you can grab the T-Mobile Springboard, while Android lovers can pick from a choice of fourteen handsets (online, at least, with the promise of more deals in-store) including the Amaze 4G and Sidekick 4G.

A sprinkling of Windows Phones and BlackBerry handsets round out the options, so if you’ve considered a Bold 9900 but blanched at the sticker price then here’s your chance to get one for $49.99.

You’ll need to sign up to a qualifying Unlimited Value plan – payments start at around $10 per month on phones, and from around $5 per month on mobile hotspots – and there’s every possibility that your new phone could be instantly outclassed by whatever is brought along to CES next week.

Dell and Lenovo will use the Gobi 4000 series in their notebooks, meanwhile. The Dell Latitude E6420 already had LTE as an option, but will soon get the updated modem, while Lenovo will slot the Gobi into various models from its range. Novatel Wireless and Sierra Wireless, meanwhile, will use the new 3G/4G radios in their embedded modem products, though we wouldn’t be surprised to see them also show up in mobile hotspots too.

The new versions will go on sale alongside the 3G-only Gobi 3000 series. Qualcomm is also pushing the enhanced compatibility with its Snapdragon processors, including the upcoming S4 dual- and quad-core chips.

Update: Novatel Wireless tells us it will be first to market with devices using the Gobi 4000.

The little modem is pretty nice looking with black and green design and it has a swiveling USB port so it can be aimed in the direction needed for your space and to get the best connectivity. Cricket says the modem will work with PC and Mac computers. The modem can also be used as a flash drive to store data.

The modem has a microSD card slot that supports up to 32GB of storage. That will allow you to store your documents, photos, and files for sharing. The modem will sell for $99.99 and broadband plans for the modem cost $45 to $65 monthly with speeds up to 1.4 Mbps.

The wireless router portion supports 802.11n speeds up to 300 mbps and is backwards compatible with older WiFi specifications as well. The router is IPv6 ready and has a number of security and speed enhancements over older products in the line. The router has WPA/WPA2 and WEP data encryption. It also has four fast Ethernet ports to connect to local computers.

The router also has TR-069 management support and is compatible with any ISP according to D-Link. Other security features include SPI, a hacker attack log that inspect packets before they come in, and protection against DoS attacks. The new modem is available right now for $79.99 online and in stores.

Clicking on the button takes you to a sign-up page where you are encouraged to register to get the latest information on The Overachiever. The device doesn’t appear to be attached to any specific carrier, as the the sign-up form asks you to pick your carrier preference. AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile are all listed in the drop-down menu along with Cellular South, Metro PCS, and US Cellular.

Considering the shape and design of the device, a USB modem would make the most sense. And at this point in the game, it should definitely support 4G LTE and HSPA+ network connectivity. However, AT&T and Verizon already have LTE-capable modems and hotspots while T-Mobile has its HSPA+ modems that includes one for its 42Mbps service.

[via Samsung]

As for pricing, both new modems will be offered with a $50 per month data-only plan offering a 5GB allowance. Overage will be charged at $10 per GB. Each will support roll-back to AT&T’s HSPA+ network in areas without LTE coverage; considering the carrier’s plans start with just five locations - Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio – that’s definitely a good thing.

Just as AT&T has already announced, the USBConnect 4G will be priced at $49.99 with a new, two-year agreement and following a $50 mail-in rebate, while the Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G will be $69.99 under the same conditions. More information on the Adrenaline LTE update will be released at att.com/adrenaline come the 26th.

Both the USBConnect 4G and Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G feature triband HSPA+ roll-back for when you’re outside of LTE coverage, together with quadband GSM/EDGE for when your signal gets really spotty; there’s also GPS. The chunky USB modem measures 2.6 x 1.05 x 0.51 inches and supports up to 32GB microSDHC cards; it’ll work with PCs and Macs. Meanwhile, the mobile hotspot has WiFi b/g/n support, a 160 x 128 color status display, and an 1800 mAh battery good for up to eight hours use.

AT&T isn’t saying exact dates, but the USBConnect 4G will drop for $49.99 with a two-year agreement and after a $50 mail-in rebate, while the Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G will be $69.99 with the same conditions. As for the data packages, they’re updated as follows:

• 50MB package for $24.99/month compared to the current 20MB package for $24.99/month
• 125MB package for $49.99/month compared to the current 50MB package for $59.99/month
• 275MB package for $99.99/month compared to the current 100MB package for $119.99/month
• 800MB package for $199.99/month compared to the current 200MB package for $199.99/month

The USBConnect Force 4G modem will be offered for free on a new two-year data plan starting on July 17. If you don’t want a contract, the modem works on the AT&T pay-as-you go data network as well. With no contract, the modem is $89.99 and the user can choose their data plan via integrated activation procedures.

The modem also includes unlimited WiFi access to AT&T Hotspots with a domestic plan and can roam in more than 200 countries. The modem is built by Huawei and operates on the HSPA/HSPA+ and EDGE/GPRS networks AT&T runs. That means the data speeds aren’t true 4G. This thing will work on Windows and Mac machines.

The full list of newly boosted markets is in the press release below, and includes Atlanta, San Francisco, Chicago and Miami. T-Mobile expects more than 150m people to have access to the 42Mbps rate by mid-year, and plans to have 25 HSPA+ devices on the market in 2011.

The Rocket will go on sale tomorrow, priced at $99.99 after a $50 mail in rebate and with a qualifying mobile broadband plan on a two year service agreement. Postpaid monthly plans will kick off at $29.99 (plus a 20-percent discount if you’ve already got a T-Mo voice line). Contract free, the Rocket 3.0 is $199.99.

Press Release:

America’s Largest 4G Network Now Twice as Fast in More Than 50 New Markets

T-Mobile Rocket 3.0, the company’s first 42Mbps capable product, available starting tomorrow, delivers a lightning-fast mobile broadband experience

BELLEVUE, Wash. — May 24, 2011 — Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced it is doubling the speed of its 4G network in more than 50 markets to achieve theoretical peak download speeds of up to 42 megabits per second (Mbps). T-Mobile customers in 55 markets will now have access to increased 4G network speed, capacity and reliability. These markets include Atlanta, Ga.; Chicago, Ill.; Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, Calif.; Miami, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Portland, Ore.; and San Francisco, Calif., among others.

In addition, T-Mobile’s first 42 Mbps-capable 4G product, the T-Mobile Rocket® 3.0 laptop stick, will be available for purchase beginning tomorrow, May 25. The Rocket 3.0, manufactured by ZTE, is designed to take advantage of T-Mobile’s faster 4G network speeds. Capable of speeds twice as fast as T-Mobile’s previous 4G devices, customers in 42Mbps coverage are expected to experience more consistent 4G speeds when creating and sharing mobile content, streaming and connecting through mobile video, and participating in multiplayer gaming.

“We are continuing the aggressive expansion of America’s Largest 4G Network™, and also doubling our speeds in more than 50 markets this month,” said Neville Ray, chief technology officer, T-Mobile USA. “While customers with existing 3G and 4G devices will benefit from our continued network enhancements, new devices like the new Rocket 3.0 laptop stick will enable customers to reap the benefits of even faster 4G speeds.”

Providing customers with a blazing fast Internet connection on almost any laptop while on the go, the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 is equipped with a convenient rotating swivel USB form factor and three changeable faceplates in cobalt blue, dark violet and matte black. The Rocket 3.0 will be available at select T-Mobile retail stores and online at www.T-Mobile.com tomorrow for $99.99 after a $50 mail in rebate, with a qualifying mobile broadband plan on a two year service agreement1. Postpaid monthly plans start at $29.99, and customers with a qualifying voice line of service with T-Mobile receive a 20 percent discount. Customers can also purchase the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0 without an annual contract for $199.99. For more information about the T-Mobile Rocket 3.0, including pricing and plan details, visit www.t-mobile.com/broadbandgoesmobile.

As T-Mobile’s 4G network continues to expand and get faster, the company’s portfolio of 4G products is also growing. T-Mobile currently offers a dozen 4G-capable devices spanning smartphones, tablets and mobile broadband products that give customers access to America’s Largest 4G Network. The company has announced plans to deliver a total of 25 4G-capable devices in 2011.

T-Mobile’s 4G network already reaches more than 200 million Americans in 170 markets. By midyear, T-Mobile expects that more than 150 million Americans will have access to increased 4G speeds as T-Mobile upgrades its 4G network. A list of new markets where the new faster speeds are available can be found below.

T-Mobile 4G markets where 42Mbps service is launching today:
Albany, Ga.; Athens, Ga.; Atlanta, Ga.; Auburn, Ala.; Augusta, Ga.; Austin, Texas; Bentonville, Ark.; Boulder, Colo.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Chicago, Ill.; Dallas, Texas; Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Fla.; Denver, Colo.; Detroit, Mich.; Durham, N.C.; El Paso, Texas; Fort Collins, Colo.; Gainesville, Fla.; Gainesville, Ga.; Greeley, Colo.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Houston, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; Long Island, N.Y.; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif.; Macon, Ga.; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Miami, Fla.; New Orleans, La.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Olympia, Wash.; Omaha, Neb.; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, Calif.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Ponce, Puerto Rico; Portland, Ore.; Salinas, Calif.; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santa Cruz-Watsonville, Calif.; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif.; Savannah, Ga.; Seattle, Wash.; Spokane, Wash.; Tampa, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Valdosta, Ga.; Vallejo-Fairfield, Calif.; Warner Robins, Ga., and Wichita, Kan.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network is not available everywhere. See coverage details at T-Mobile.com.

1. Mail-in rebate card requires qualifying T-Mobile voice line and enrollment in EasyPay. Pricing and discount offers are subject to change.

Verizon had promised a free 4G update for the XOOM when it launched the 3G version of the slate earlier in the year. At the time, though, no 4G miniPCI modems certified for the LTE network were available, something which has obviously now changed with the advent of this new card.

As well as LTE there’s quadband HSPA+ and GPS support, though which of those capabilities Verizon might leave turned on remains to be seen. Even if it doesn’t find its way into the XOOM, expect notebooks and tablets using the Novatel card to reach the market sooner rather than later.

Press Release:

Novatel Wireless Embedded LTE Module First to Receive Certification for
Commercial Use on Verizon Wireless 4G Network

SAN DIEGO ­ May 19, 2011 ­ Novatel Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL), a leading
provider of wireless broadband solutions, today announced that it has
received technical approval for its Expedite E362 4G LTE embedded module to
run on the Verizon Wireless LTE network.

Novatel Wireless is the first provider to have an embedded LTE solution
commercially available and compatible with the Verizon Wireless network.
Novatel Wireless embedded modules portfolio provides innovative solutions to
integrate high-speed data connectivity into notebooks, netbooks, tablets and
other portable entertainment devices.
³We¹re proud to cross this milestone with our leading next-generation 4G LTE
embedded module,² says Rob Hadley, CMO of Novatel Wireless. ³To meet
consumers¹ desire to be connected anywhere, anytime, we are actively engaged
in integrating our 4G embedded modules into platform launches with a number
of devices and notebook manufacturers as they roll-out next-generation
enabled mobile broadband devices.²
Developing on the proven performance of the Expedite product line, Novatel
Wireless¹ Expedite E362 LTE embedded module is optimized for power
efficiency, thermal performance and weight. Additional key features include
Novatel Wireless¹ proven Connection Manager ­ Mobilink 3 – supporting
Windows 7, Vista and XP as well as software support for OEM tablet and
notebook integration with both Windows drivers and Android RIL (from Froyo
to Honeycomb). The Expedite E362 is capable of multimode support for LTE and
backward compatibility to existing 2G and 3G GSM and CDMA networks.

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of
intelligent wireless solutions based on 2G, 3G and 4G technologies providing
wireless connectivity. The company delivers specialized wireless solutions
to carriers, distributors, retailers, OEMs and vertical markets worldwide.
Novatel Wireless’ Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products, software, USB modems,
embedded modules and smart M2M modules provide innovative anywhere, anytime
communications solutions for consumers and enterprises. Headquartered in San
Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more
information please visit www.nvtl.com. (NVTLG)

On pay-as-you-go, the “1GB Ready To Go” package – which, unsurprisingly, includes 1GB of data – will be £69.99; on a rolling one month contract the modem will be £49.99 and then £15.99 per month for 5GB of service (or with no upfront charge and 5GB for £18.03 per month on a 24 month contract). Existing customers will also be able to upgrade their existing Three dongles for a one-off payment of £59.99.

[youtube ynFR04gbuUY]

It will be $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate, and that price comes with a new two-year customer agreement on a 4G Mobile Broadband plan, which start at $50 a month for 5GB.

Corporate quote: “The Verizon USB551L 4G LTE modem is a high-performing USB modem with a
compact design and industry-leading flexibility, convenience and reliability.”

The full press release is below:

THE VERIZON USB551L 4G LTE MODEM LANDS ON THE VERIZON WIRELESS NETWORK MARCH
31ST

Verizon Wireless and Novatel Wireless today announced that the Verizon USB551L made by Novatel Wireless will be available to order on March 31st in Verizon Wireless
Communications Stores and online at www.verizonwireless.com. The USB551L
give customers expected download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of
2 to 5 Mbps in 4G LTE Mobile Broadband coverage area in a portable device,
small enough to fit in the palm of the hand.
The Verizon USB551L 4G LTE modem is a high-performing USB modem with a
compact design and industry-leading flexibility, convenience and
reliability. The USB551L modem is designed to provide connectivity to check
email, download rich multimedia content and stay connected to family,
friends and coworkers. Customers who travel outside of a 4G LTE coverage
area, will stay connected on the Verizon Wireless 3G network.

Key Features:
€ Compact and lightweight USB modem with advanced proprietary antenna
technologies to maximize data throughput and operating range.
€ Supports Windows ® XP 32-bit, Vista® 32/64-bit (SP2) and Windows® 7
32/64-bit, MAC: 10.4 or higher

Pricing and Data Plans
€ The Verizon USB551L will be available for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in
rebate with a new two-year customer agreement on a 4G Mobile Broadband plan.
€ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband plans begin at $50 monthly access for 5GB.
Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt,
customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted. Data
usage can be tracked by logging on to My Verizon online at
www.verizonwireless.com/myverizon.

The platform was earlier tied to a MeeGo-powered handset, and can also be used in USB modems, according to Intel.

Intel also announced the multimode XMM 7060 platform will support 2G, 3G, and LTE networks. The platform is paired with the X-GOLD 706 multimode baseband processor and the SMARTi 4G multimode RF transceiver. The modem with be capable of serving up to five LTE bands, five 3G bands, and four 2G bands at the same time. Samples of the chip will ship this summer, and volume shipments will arrive during the second half of 2012.

Both will be exhibited at MWC in Spain, probably in a handset with the Medfield processor. SlashGear is covering MWC live, and will bring you more details as they become available.

[via Electronista]

Be sure and check out SlashGear’s full hands-on for the LG VL600 LTE.

[via Engadget]

There are a few drawbacks at this stage, one of which being that no log of data usage will be stored, unlike with the native Verizon CDMA/EVDO Rev.A connection. That might make it easy to go over your data limits each month. Full instructions here.

We’ve already actually seen an unofficial UML290 Mac hack, but this new release makes things a lot more official. The Pantech UML290 is priced at $100 with a new, two-year agreement; data plans range from $50 to $80 per month.

[via Macworld]

This phone should be released in 2011, but the exact timing isn’t yet known – on the other hand, this October Verizon Communications President Lowell McAdam mentioned that SIX phones and tablets would be on display at CES 2011 (January,) all of them expected to be in stores in the first half of the year.

Motorola has heard some concern from investors on their Verizon-heavy distribution as they turn into a stand-alone company on January 4, 2011. These investors worry that as the iPhone is introduced on Verizon early next year, Motorola might get pushed down to the ground. On the other hand, Stratton says that “Over last 13 months, they have done a very good job in supporting our business and have worked their way up into almost a preferred vendor. They have been driving our Droid strategy.”

[Via Android Community]

Update: It seems the workaround was originally sourced from here.

The hack isn’t officially supported by Verizon, but was apparently developed with some help from the carrier’s advanced support team. It’ll work not only on Macs but on Linux, UNIX and other platforms, though you’re out of luck if things go wrong; there’s no tech support until the proper VZACCESS app is released. More on Verizon’s LTE service in our LG VL600 review.

[via UberGizmo]

R3 Media Network

Editor’s Choice
Brand New Android Marketplace User Interface Available NOW (via ripped APK) [NEATOID]
Atari and Cryptic Studios launch Star Trek Online Season Three: Genesis contest [JEAN LUC BLOW UP THE DAMN SHIP]
A Week With the L1 v2 Laser Pico Projector : Hands-on and Unboxing [YIPEE!]
Clark Griswold has nothing on the Faucher’s Christmas light show [EMERGENCY RADIOACTIVE POWER]
Verizon’s Motorola Android Honeycomb tablet leaks [SO LEAKY]
T-Mobile G2 Now Only $49.99 [AMAZING DEAL, TRUST ME]

SlashPhone
Verizon iPhone is on Apple’s hired engineers handle
LG Optimus One Series Will Be Receiving Android 2.3

Android Community
Galaxy Tab Luxury Edition to cost about $1000
Angry Birds looks for new ways to make money
Pantech P8000 surfaces with Android onboard
Nexus S UK pre-orders open ahead of “end of Dec” delivery
$100 Dell Streak as Best Buy crank up the subsidies
Maps 5.0 on the Nexus S Demoed by Google
Unofficial Gingerbread Port for Droid X Available Now
LG Star Unofficially Previewed
Huawei Australia Unveils IDEOS X5, X6 Android Smartphones
Brand New Android Marketplace User Interface Available NOW (via ripped APK)
Nexus S Questions Answered by Best Buy
Twidroyd Now Ad Free And Available In The Android Market
Words with Friends Port for Android Coming Soon
Best Buy Details Nexus S Launch Plans
Walgreens Mobile App Now Available
T-Mobile G2 Now Only $49.99
eLocity A7 Tablet Shipping Now
NOOKcolor can now use Android Market (If you’re Rooted, that is) [WOOT]
LG Optimus Mach LU3000 Stocked with Original Ennio Morricone Music
Creative ZiiO appears at the FCC
Android make its way onto Fanboy and Fangirl’s wedding cake
Huawei Ascend for MetroPCS Launched for $179
White Samsung Galaxy S Arrives in Germany
HTC EVO Shift 4G Shows Off Keyboard, Release Date Believed to be January 9th

SlashGear
Roku add 1080p HD to XR streamers with 2.9 firmware update
KIN Studio shutting down as Verizon pulls plug in January 2011
LED Christmas lights hacked into huge IM status display [Video]
Intel pricing Huron River out of the game as Calpalla stocks won’t shift?
Clark Griswold has nothing on the Faucher’s Christmas light show
Google Latitude hits App Store again
Gogo and SkyMall offer free store access on flights
Tamron debuts world’s lightest and smallest 15x DSLR zoom lens
Gear4 offers Angry Birds cases for iPhone 4
PS3 gamers get exclusive playable Kratos character on Mortal Kombat
Kaleidescape reveals Modular Disc Vault for Blu-ray movies
Atari and Cryptic Studios launch Star Trek Online Season Three: Genesis contest
HP and Rossignol team up for special edition notebooks
Mini iPad rumors reignite as half-size model tipped
Justbeats headphones launch as Best Buy exclusive
VW rocks out with Fender Premium audio in select models
Amazon deny hack attack as Euro sites go offline over weekend
Nexus S UK pre-orders open ahead of late-December delivery
Paul Allen patent case against Google, Apple, Facebook & more thrown out
PS3 ITV Player and Channel 4 4oD streaming due this week
Cydia Mac App Store alternative due in just a few weeks time
MacBook Air USB Ethernet adapter glitch prompts network headaches
ASUS Eee Note EA800 gets video unboxing; user-guide goes live
Verizon’s Motorola Android Honeycomb tablet leaks
LG VL600 LTE modem [REVIEW]
Nexus S unboxing and hands-on [FEATURED]
A Week With the L1 v2 Laser Pico Projector : Hands-on and Unboxing [FEATURED]
Why I’m Willing to Give 3D TV A Try [COLUMN]
Is webOS 2.0 Coming to Palm Devices in Q1 2011?
Hidden Gamepad Underneath Chameleon X-1 Mouse
Hybrid Sweet Sweeper Allianz 4000 is World’s First
Solar Powered Watches Updated by Casio at ECO Product 2010
Mozilla Demonstrates Potential of HTML 5 at LeWeb via Floating Ships and Spacecraft [FEATURED]
Apple Attempts to Acquire Patents to Fix for Your Snapshots
MLB At Bat Highest Grossing App for iOS in 2010
LG E90 LED Monitor Landing in the UK Before Christmas
Movie Review: Tron (1982) [COLUMN]
Coloud R2-D2 Themed Headphones Available Now for $49.90
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Breaks Record, Sells 3.3 Million Copies in 24 Hours [Wow!]
iPhone for Verizon Said to be an LTE-Based Device, Launching Right After Christmas
Amazon Sells Millions of Kindles in Just 73 Days, Publicly Thanks Purchasers
Mass Effect 3 Launching Holiday 2011 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 & PC Simultaneously
World Darts Championship to be Filmed With 32 Cameras, Shown Off in 3D
“Emotional” phones hold your hand, blow on you & kiss you [Video]
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Intel Light Peak to debut with copper cables not fiber-optic?
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To see more Daily Slash posts, click here: [The Daily Slash] or here: [SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up]

Hardware

The LG is undoubtedly a big USB modem, feeling oversized in comparison to the thumbdrive-scale 3G versions we’re used to seeing. We can forgive the bulk given the combination of 3G and LTE hardware packed inside – unlike some WiMAX modems, the VL600 can roll back onto Verizon’s EVDO Rev.A network when LTE coverage isn’t available – though if you’ve a notebook with tightly positioned USB ports you may have issues plugging something in alongside the LG.

The most likely victims are Apple’s MacBook and MacBook Pro ranges, the USB ports on which are closely clustered on the side. Still, at the moment there’s no point in hooking up the VL600, since there are no Mac drivers for the modem. Verizon tells us they’re “working quickly” to address that, but there’s no public timescale for their release. On a PC, we were up and running in seconds, and we’ve noticed no greater battery drain than with a regular 3G USB modem.

One ongoing frustration was the handover between 4G and 3G. Sometimes the VL600 would switch automatically, other times we had to physically unplug and reinsert the modem before it would transition from 4G to 3G. It was an intermittent problem, and one that hopefully fresh drivers will address.

Performance

Our first impressions of the VL600 were that it offered regular broadband levels of speed, and over our longer testing that’s certainly been borne out. Obviously you’ll require LTE coverage to get 4G speeds, and right now Verizon claims to be serving 38 markets and over 60 airports. Their aim is to cover their current 3G footprint with 4G by the end of 2013; until then, you can check out coverage here [http://network4g.verizonwireless.com/#/coverage].

We tested the service in three locations: Phoenix, AZ; Charlotte, NC; and Philadelphia, PA. In Phoenix, the figures generally kept to the top end of Verizon’s rough guidelines of 5-12 Mbps downlinks and 2-5 Mbps uplinks, with an average download speed of 12.21 Mbps and a healthy 6.18 Mbps upload speed.

Things improved considerable in Charlotte, with uplinks taking a 100-percent jump according to SpeedTest.net. Downloads on average reached 11.37 Mbps, while uplinks blasted to 12.24 Mbps. Ping times were also less variable than in Phoenix.

Finally, Philadelphia, achieving average download speed of 20.92 Mbps, while uplinks were 5.63 Mbps.

Now, it’s worth bearing in mind that right now the LTE network is seriously under-utilized, and these speeds most likely won’t persist as load increases and more users get online. Still, they’re considerably higher than we encountered with HSPA+ and WiMAX in their first bloom, and that bodes well for longer-term performance.

Pricing

Both the LG VL600 and its Pantech UML290 equivalent are $99.99 with a new, two-year agreement. Alternatively, Verizon is offering them at $249.99 apiece contract-free, with the same choice of data plans.

Verizon had originally promised innovative pricing for LTE service, with talk of bandwidth-related tariffs and communal data allowances. We’re still waiting for that to happen; the first 4G packages on offer stick to the tried & tested concept of a single monthly allowance and overage fees. There are two plans, one offering 5GB per month for $50, the other 10GB for $80, and a further $10 per GB over those allowances.

That’s at the top end for non-unlimited 3G plans, certainly, but when you factor in the high speeds involved with 4G, it’s not difficult to burn through 5GB or 10GB in double-quick time. If you’re simply checking email and surfing the web then it’s not going to be a problem, but realistically that sort of usage pattern is unlikely among LTE early-adopters. We can understand Verizon’s caution in the early stages – it’s easier to start off conservative and then ease open the floodgates, rather than try to take things in the opposite direction – but the sooner we see more accommodating plans (that offer data bundles which live up to the speeds on offer) the better.

Wrap-Up

There’s no denying that LTE is fast, although we’ll be returning to benchmark the service in a few months time when the network will presumably be under heavier loading. Still, if you demand the fastest mobile broadband around and live or work in an area with Verizon 4G coverage, LTE certainly lays takes on the challenge set by HSPA+ and WiMAX and rises to it admirably.

We’re less enamored with Verizon’s reticence over game-changing data plans, and the 5GB/10GB limits are likely to disappoint those considering LTE as a fixed broadband alternative. The absence of Mac support and occasionally temperamental 3G/4G handover is also frustrating, though both could be readily addressed with a software update.

Verizon has promised 4G mobile hotspots, and they may be more realistic options for the sort of user tempted by LTE. Still, until they arrive, the LG VL600 is a solid way to get your PC online while on the move, and do so at a rapid pace as well. Verizon may not have been first to market with their 4G offering, but the wait has been worth it.

LG VL60 LTE Modem unboxing and hands on

With a two-year agreement, the modems are only $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate; that means if you stick with the no-contract plan for more than a few months, you’ll be better off paying up-front. We’d like to have seen cheaper data tariffs, but it seems Verizon isn’t willing to negotiate on that front. For more on the new Verizon LTE service, and our impressive speed test results, check out our hands-on.

The DC HSPA+ network will kick off in Toronto on November 23, before further roll-outs to other Canadian cities. It’ll also see the debut of new, speed-based pricing: a $10 add-on will be available on all Mobile Internet plans, mandatory if subscribers want access to the high-speed network.

Of course, in areas without DC HSPA+ service, the MC547 Turbo Stick will work as a regular HSPA+ modem; Bell has been rolling out that service since this time last year, and now covers “93% of the Canadian population in rural and remote locations.” No word on how much the Novatel modem itself will cost at this stage.

Press Release:

Bell doubling data speeds on world-leading HSPA+ wireless network

North America’s first Dual Cell deployment increases data speeds to up to 42 Mbps
First 42 Mbps product – the Novatel Wireless U547 Turbo Stick – available November 23

MONTREAL, Nov. 18 2010 — Bell today announced it has begun to double HSPA+ network speeds to a maximum of 42 Megabits per second (42 Mbps), and will introduce initial commercial service in Toronto with the launch of the Novatel Wireless U547 Turbo Stick – the first 42 Mbps product available in North America – on November 23.

“Canada’s Best Network just got better. By implementing HSPA+ Dual Cell technology, Bell Mobility offers clients the ability to access the Internet and other data services at what we believe are the fastest mobile data speeds commercially available from any wireless carrier in North America,” said Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility & Residential Services, and Bell’s Chief Brand Officer. “Bell is leading the way in Canadian wireless investment and innovation, enabling the mobile ecosystem that supports the development of new apps and data services by Canadian developers for mobile users here and abroad.”

HSPA+ Dual Cell technology combines two wireless 21 Mbps data carriers through multiplexing techniques at individual HSPA+ cell sites, increasing top-end data speeds from 21 Mbps to 42 Mbps for compatible products. Bell will continue enhancing HSPA+ network with Dual Cell technology to serve more Canadian cities and towns through 2011.

Coordinated through Bell Development Labs, this HSPA+ Dual Cell network enhancement leveraged the technical expertise of chipset, radio and core network infrastructure manufacturers and suppliers, including Huawei, Novatel and Qualcomm. Already providing speeds up to 21 Mbps to consumer and business clients, Bell Mobility’s HSPA+ network provides a robust platform on which developers continue to deliver a wide range of innovative business, entertainment and productivity applications.

Bell introduced broadband HSPA+ service in November 2009, bringing high-speed wireless service to 93% of the Canadian population in rural and remote locations, small towns and major urban centres across the country. The new network has supported the development of industry-leading data services such as Bell Mobile TV and rapid wireless growth at Bell, including a 39% increase in mobile data revenue and a 74% increase in the company’s base of smartphone users year over year.

Novatel U547 Turbo Stick
The first product able to take advantage of 42 Mbps Dual Cell technology is the U547 Turbo Stick from Novatel Wireless, available at Bell retail locations, including The Source, in Toronto next Tuesday November 23. When paired with a laptop or netbook. Novatel’s latest Turbo Stick will allow Bell Mobility clients to experience mobile access speeds never before available for the fastest mobile Internet access, business applications, video streaming, gaming and much more.

Bell will also introduce new speed-based pricing with the launch of these Dual Cell compatible devices. A $10 add-on feature will be available on all Mobile Internet pricing plans to allow Bell clients to take advantage of speeds up to 42 Mbps. The pricing model aligns with the approach for fixed broadband services, which ensures clients benefit from the value associated with the highest access speeds available.

About Bell
Bell is Canada’s largest communications company, providing consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs, including Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell Satellite TV and Bell Fibe TV, Bell Home Phone local and long distance, and Bell Business Markets IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services.

The Bell Mental Health Initiative is a multi-year charitable program that promotes mental health across Canada via the Bell Let’s Talk anti-stigma campaign and support for community care, research and workplace best practices. To learn more, please visit bce.ca/mentalhealth. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE). For information on Bell products and services, please visit www.bell.ca. For BCE corporate information, please visit www.bce.ca.

Press Release:

Novatel Wireless Introduces First Commercial Dual-Cell HSPA+ USB Modem in North America

42 Mbps Capable Compact Ovation MC547 USB Available November 23 on the Bell
Mobility Network in Canada
SAN DIEGO, November 18, 2010 — Novatel Wireless Inc., (Nasdaq: NVTL), a
leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today announced the
upcoming availability of the Ovation MC547 USB modem on Bell Mobility¹s
Dual-Cell HSPA+ (DC HSPA+) network. In a separate release today, Bell
Mobility announced North America¹s first commercial launch of a Dual-Cell
HSPA+ network supporting data speeds of up to 42 Mbps.
Continuing Novatel Wireless¹ industry lead in enabling next-generation
mobile experiences with solutions focused on ease-of-use, reliability,
leading edge technology and an innovative sleek style, the Ovation MC547
modem is today the world¹s most compact and light-weight DC-HSPA+ USB modem.
³We¹re excited to support Bell Mobility with the launch of the MC547
DC-HSPA+ USB modem,” said Peter Leparulo, Chairman and CEO of Novatel
Wireless. ³We continue to emphasize bringing the most advanced technologies
to market, and are proud to continue our long standing relationship with
Bell Mobility.²
The Ovation MC547 is based on the 3GPP Release 8 standard. DC-HSPA+ supports
theoretical peak downlink data rates of up to 42 Mbps and theoretical 11
Mbps on the uplink, allowing carriers to easily upgrade their existing
infrastructure equipment to achieve significantly higher bandwidths.

About Novatel Wireless
Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of
innovative wireless broadband access solutions based on 3G and 4G wireless
technologies. Novatel Wireless’ Intelligent Mobile Hotspot products,
software, USB modems and embedded modules enable high-speed wireless
Internet access on leading wireless data networks. The Company delivers
specialized wireless solutions to carriers, distributors, OEMs and vertical
markets worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless
is listed on NASDAQ: NVTL. For more information please visit
www.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

AT&T will in fact be Bug Labs’ exclusive GSM connectivity provider in the US, and the new BUG+ module will mean devices built using the modular system can get online – and with a modem approved by the carrier – instantly.  It’ll also be arguably more useful than the CDMA version for those with international ambitions, since the GSM module will work on the European networks as well.

What we don’t yet know is pricing and availability, though Bug Labs says the company will be announcing further programs involving the carrier come January 2011.

Press Release:

AT&T and Bug Labs Arm Device Developers With New Wireless Product Development Platform

Integrated system designed to save developers time and money using the GSM world standard–exclusively with AT&T

DALLAS, Oct 19, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — AT&T* and Bug Labs, an award-winning open hardware development platform, today announced plans to launch BUG + 3G/GSM, a plug-and-play electronic tool kit that puts network ready wireless modules in the hands of emerging device product developers for a speedier, more cost-efficient path to commercial launch on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network.

The BUG platform — accessible through AT&T Emerging Devices — offers a new, innovative approach to device innovation, providing developers with easy access to a full complement of FCC and AT&T certified 3G wireless modules, reducing the need for extended and costly testing and certification during the initial deployment phase. Some additional testing may be required if changes are made in volume production.

In addition to unprecedented hardware configurability, developers can collect, share and control the data coming from networked BUGs using the new BUGswarm web application, now fully integrated with the AT&T Control Center, powered by Jasper Wireless.

“With Bug Labs, developers now have the ability to test and trial their products in the sandbox while they are in the nascent stages of development,” said Glenn Lurie, president of emerging devices, resale and partnerships, AT&T. “As part of our ongoing commitment to innovation, we’re eliminating the certification barriers that have kept some developers from jumping into the game. We’re encouraging product developers to bring the next generation of new and exciting products to market as soon as possible.”

Products with Bug Labs modules must secure final certification on the AT&T network.

“Together with AT&T, we’re inspiring developers around the world to tap into their creativity,” said Peter Semmelhack, founder and chief executive officer of Bug Labs. “By leveraging our open product development program, product developers can build, deploy, produce and certify wireless devices at a practical, faster rate.”

The addition of Bug Labs builds on the existing AT&T Connection Kit for Device Developer program available through the dedicated AT&T emerging devices web site. The Connection Kit also includes AT&T SIM cards, data capacity for testing, access to AT&T Control Center, powered by Jasper Wireless and best practice guidelines. To learn more about AT&T’s Emerging Devices Organization or to see the additional Connection Kit options, please visit AT&T Emerging Devices.

For more information about Bug Labs visit the Bug Labs Web site.

Also, view a video on the Bug.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

The network is targeting Rover at young users wanting connectivity without commitment, and as such they’ll be offering pay-as-you-go top-ups both online and – in $20 and $50 denominations – in select stores.  New owners of either modem will get two day’s inclusive use, so they can figure out whether they’ll want to take advantage of the 14-day no-hassle return policy.

Neither the Puck or the Stick have 3G to fall back on, so if you’re not in a CLEAR-serviced area then these aren’t the devices for you.  The Rover Puck supports WiFi b/g/n with WEP/WPA/WP2 encryption, can operate two SSIDs simultaneously, has a 100ft range and 4hr battery life; it recharges via USB.  If you’re tempted, and don’t mind paying for a year’s worth of service upfront, you can get the Rover and 12 months WiMAX for $500 (saving $100) by using the coupon code “Crazy”.

Press Release:

Clearwire Introduces Rover: Instant Gratification to the Internet Addicted

Nation’s First Pay-As-You-Go 4G Mobile Broadband Service
Unlimited Usage for Just $5/day, $20/week, $50/month
Redefines “Friends with Benefits” with Rover Puck(TM)
Rover Stick(TM) Available for Those With Commitment Issues
KIRKLAND, Wash., Aug 30, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) –

Clearwire Corporation (NASDAQ:CLWR) today unveiled Rover(TM): the nation’s first pay-as-you-go 4G mobile broadband service for tech-savvy Gen Y customers. The Rover brand is designed for digitally addicted youth who refuse to settle for long-term contracts, overpriced internet service, or speeds slower than what they’ve become accustomed to at home.

Rover is available in all of Clearwire’s 49 4G markets across the U.S. at rover.com. Rover is also available at CLEAR stores, Best Buy stores and select independent wireless dealers in Houston and St. Louis.

“Simple, commitment-free wireless services are wildly popular with the Gen Y crowd, and Rover provides them with the first pay-as-you-go unlimited mobile internet offering at 4G speeds,” said Mike Sievert, chief commercial officer for Clearwire. “We’ve built Rover from the ground up with products, pricing and features designed specifically to serve a younger market who knows how you get connected is just as important as where. Expanding our offers to meet this underserved segment is an important new business opportunity for Clearwire as we continue to extend our leadership in mobile broadband.”

“The opportunity for pay-as-you-go mobile broadband should not be underestimated,” said Carrie MacGillvray, program manager and wireless analyst at IDC. “Prepaid – or pay-as-you-go – data provides an option for consumers to experiment with the power of mobile broadband without being saddled with a two-year commitment. A prepaid mobile broadband service can offer consumers the ability to access and share Internet service, at home or on the go, in an affordable way.”

PUCKS AND STICKS

Friends with Benefits

Rover’s flagship device is the Rover Puck: an ergonomically designed portable Wi-Fi hotspot that lets you share broadband access, or “Puck”, with up to eight devices at home, out on the town or nearly anywhere the feeling strikes you. The Rover Puck can easily slip into a purse or backpack and serve as an on-the-go broadband access point for devices such as laptops, netbooks, the iPad(TM), the iPod touch(R), smartphones, PSP(R) systems, game consoles, and Wi-Fi enabled digital cameras, among others. Users have the option to connect up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously.

The Rover Puck features mobile download speeds of three to six mbps, with bursts over 10 mbps (up to 4x faster than conventional 3G), using Clearwire’s 4G network. The Rover Puck is available today for $149.99 (plus tax).

Going Solo

The Rover Stick(TM) is a personal 4G USB modem that connects any notebook, laptop or desktop to the Rover 4G Service. The Rover Stick is compatible with MacBook(R) and MacBook(R) Pro laptops using Mac OS X, as well as netbooks and notebooks running Windows(R) XP, Windows Vista(R) and Windows(R) 7. Offering the same super-fast internet speed as the Rover Puck, the Rover Stick is available today for $99.99 (plus tax).

No Commitment Issues

New users receive two free days of service to ensure Rover’s metro-focused 4G coverage fits their mobile lifestyle. Rover has a 14-day no-hassle return policy for any device purchases made on rover.com or in CLEAR stores.

Rover is priced at $5/day, $20/week, or $50/month for unlimited 4G internet usage. Depending on the retail channel, customers will be able to purchase a Rover Re-Up PIN code or physical Rover Re-Up card in $20 or $50 denominations. Rover Re-Up is available online at rover.com, at all retail outlets carrying the Rover Puck or Rover Stick, as well as at Rover Re-Up specific retail locations. Rover does not require a credit card to activate service and is designed to bring broadband internet to a new audience.

GENERATION Y

The Rover brand is designed for a demographic that has grown up in a wireless world. They manage their life through the internet, and their devices signify status. Rover provides products and service to meet their need for all things internet.

“Rover’s target audience has never known life without internet. They love their devices and they want as much speed and capacity as possible, without the limits and commitments of most mobile options,” said Seth Cummings, GM, Rover. “Rover offers iconic devices along with straight-forward pricing, and plans where unlimited truly means unlimited. It is not in Rover’s DNA to be constraining, confusing or complex.”

MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Launch campaign

Rover’s initial communications will showcase the dramatic ways in which 4G mobile broadband can change human behavior in previously unimagined ways. More information is available at www.evology.com.

Life @ 4G

Rover.com invites users to experience “Life @ 4G.” Rover-sponsored athletes and music artists will be profiled, showing how Rover influences their careers and lives as they live Life @ 4G. Sporting a Rover wingsuit, base jumper JT Holmes, who travels up to 150 mph during freefall proximity flying, lives life with the Rover Puck and no strings attached.

Rover Activity Badges

Rover believes in loyalty, and will introduce a badging system that rewards users for participating in Rover activities. For example, the “Trendsetter” badge recognizes early adopters of Rover in each market, and the “Friends with Benefits” badge acknowledges users who refer friends to the Rover service. Badges have become wildly popular on location-based apps and are expected to resonate with the youth consumer and motivate usage.

THE BIG PICTURE

4G Network of Networks

Rover is the newest brand connected to the Clearwire 4G network, joining brands which include CLEAR(R), Sprint 4G, Comcast High-Speed 2Go, Time Warner Cable Roadrunner 4G, Best Buy Connect and Cbeyond. Today, the Clearwire 4G “network of networks” is available in select cities throughout the United States, where approximately 56 million people live.

Detailed coverage maps of service availability can be found at www.rover.com/coverage.

For press, broadcast and bloggers: Video footage can be linked from www.youtube.com/rover4g. Product and brand images and company logos can be downloaded from the Clearwire Newsroom at www.clearwire.com/newsroom. To subscribe to Rover RSS news feed, click here.

For more information about Rover, visit www.rover.com. Clearwire company information is available at http://www.clearwire.com.

Roam outside the 48 areas Sprint currently cover with their 4G network and you’ll have no data access whatsoever.  Sprint offer a USB docking cradle with a pair of external antenna ports, so you can hook the U1901 up to a bigger antenna to pull in the best signal possible, but that won’t help if the WiMAX roll-out hasn’t reached your city yet.

Sprint are yet to confirm pricing for the U1901, but with the 250U currently free with a new, two-year data package agreement we can’t see why you’d opt for the 4G-only device.

Press Release:

Sprint 4G USB Device U1901
High-speed Internet access on the go

Built to work specifically with the Sprint 4G Network, Sprint 4G USB Device U1901 is a small, easy-to-use modem compatible with both PC and Mac computers, connecting laptops or netbooks to blazing-fast 4G speeds. It is compatible with Windows® Vista, Windows® XP, Windows® 7, MAC OS® 10.5 and 10.6. U1901 provides access to Sprint 4G wireless speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G1 in those metropolitan areas across the country enabled with the new 4G mobile broadband service. Visit www.sprint.com/4G for a list of Sprint 4G cities launched to date. U1901 is ideally suited for companies wanting to deliver high-bandwidth solutions to workers on-the-go or for remote offices looking to provide basic DSL-like speeds2 to workers in the metro area. U1901 is also an affordable option for value-conscious, highly-mobile Internet users, such as high school and college students who want to browse the Web, send and receive e-mail, access information, and explore social networking and multimedia entertainment.

ADVANCED FEATURES:
Sprint SmartViewSM software installation via CD
Equipped with two external antenna ports for improved performance
when plugged into the separately sold docking cradle
(visit sprint.com/accessories and select U1901)
Flip-up USB connector
Easy hands-free activation
Sprint 4G provides peak download speeds over 10 Mbps (average download
speeds of 3-6 Mbps)

SPECIFICATIONS:
Dimensions: 3.15 inches (h) x 1.2 inches (w) x 0.59 inches (d)
Weight: 0.9 ounces
Chipset: Beceem BCSM250
Compatibility: Windows® Vista, Windows® XP, Windows® 7,
MAC OS® 10.5 and 10.6 with Intel platform.

[Image credit Ryonix.com]

Hayes-compatible 1200 baud modem

This is sort of a cheat, because the Hayes-compatible modem was definitely important, but it came bundled with a membership to the Prodigy network. Signing up for Prodigy was one of the most important moments of my life, and it started my contentious relationship with the Hayes modem.

For those of you who are a few years younger than I, Prodigy was sort of like AOL without the rest of the Internet behind it. It was a pay service with tons and tons of original content. You could shop on Prodigy. You could read the news and send e-mail. You could post messages on bulletin boards and comment back and forth on what other people were saying. Except for the multimedia, there is little about today’s Internet that wasn’t already possible on Prodigy, 20 years ago.

For those of you decades younger than I, Prodigy is what the Internet would be if it were only Wikipedia . . . with comments. We had flame wars. We had anonymity. We had modems that made crazy loud beeping noises, followed by the static white noise sound. I often wonder if my toddler son will understand that sound in 10 years when he hears it in an old movie.

I could say more about Prodigy and its effect on me, but let’s just say I blossomed on that early network. I made some of the best friends I’ve ever made. Real friends; in-person friends. I took a girl to my Junior Prom after getting to know her on Prodigy. I still talk to old Prodigy friends. But Prodigy was inseparable from that modem. I had one computer at the time, a huge beige desktop. I couldn’t tell you the brand; at the time we just called it an IBM-compatible.

The modem was a giant unit that had its AC plug built into the box. You plugged the entire modem into the wall, and then plugged the phone line into the modem. My parents had to get a new line installed in our basement, where I kept the computer for homework. I had no games on the computer, since it used only a CGA graphics card, and my gaming consoles were much better. It was a computer for word processing and Prodigy.

At some point during my Sophomore year, my grades slipped a bit. It wasn’t Prodigy’s fault. I was hanging out with friends after school. I was blowing off work I didn’t enjoy. My grades slipped from “A”s and “B”s to “B”s and “C”s, but never lower. My parents blamed Prodigy. It was easy to blame, because it was right in front of them.

When I was home, I was usually tucked into the basement, keeping up with my new online friends. Even when my parents couldn’t see me, they could pick up the phone in the kitchen and hear that modem connection. Since it seemed like the modem was always connected, Prodigy was an easy scapegoat for my falling grades.

They didn’t take away Prodigy, they took away the modem. Except that my parents had no idea what a modem looked like. They saw the hardware: a large AC plug with a cord running to the PC. The cord ended in a pin adapter. The modem came with two, one each for two differently sized serial ports.

Instead of taking away the modem, they took the adapter. Thankfully, the modem came with a spare that fit the other port size, and this worked fine with my machine. They took the serial adapter and hid it away in an antique apothecary scale that my father displayed on the mantel.

I kept connecting. When I heard footsteps upstairs near the phone, I would quickly kick the modem out of the wall. With no power, the connection terminated instantly. Using this deception for about a year, I was only caught once. That was enough. They couldn’t figure out my trick, but they did figure out that canceling my subscription would solve the problem.

Not really, though. Like with AOL, every Prodigy account came with 6 different login names. I lost my account, but a good friend, the girl I took to prom (the one for whom I made mix tapes as well, if you read the first half of this column), gave me one of her login names. I never got caught again.

As a post script, that apothecary scale sits on a new mantel in a new house, my parents having long-since moved. I checked last thanksgiving, and the serial adapter is still there. Perhaps if my grades improve, I’ll get it back, someday.

Macintosh Powerbook 520c

It almost seems like a copout putting this machine on the list. It’s just too awesome. The Mac Powerbook 520c was the low end of Apple’s Powerbook line at the time. There was a 540c using an active-matrix, full color display, but my machine used a passive matrix screen that left trails and a foggy picture. I loved that computer.

It wasn’t the color screen, the first I’d seen on a laptop computer. It wasn’t the trackpad, either, the first I’d seen anywhere. I’ve owned computers since I was 10 years old, and Macs since I was 17. I was 19 when I bought my Powerbook 520c, a sophomore in college, and it changed my education for good.

I had always typed papers for school, since I was in middle school. But my note taking was atrocious. I managed to squeak by. I had a good mind for math equations, and I could fake my way through any English test. But in history, science, even my language studies, I was at the mercy of my own memory. My handwriting is nearly illegible, and in all my time in grammar school, I don’t once remember studying from my own notes.

After a month with my first laptop, I was bringing it to every class. In 1994, I was still the only one with a laptop in class. By the end of college, I could type out an hour-long lecture verbatim. I was sharing my notes with other people, comparing my notes to make sure they were correct.

I don’t think that reviewing notes later necessarily improved my education. But being able to take accurate notes and follow closely as the class was in session was a priceless advancement for me, and I think it would help an incomprehensible number of today’s students.

Note taking is a difficult skill to teach because it is so personal; but every teacher expects students to take notes and follow closely at the important moments. If every student went to class armed with a computer of her own, it would change the way students interact in a classroom.

I’m not talking about advanced networked classrooms sharing multimedia presentations and taking digitized quizzes at the end of a term. I’m talking simply about taking notes. Writing things down. Processing and recording the information as it is being thrown your way. I can’t think of a better way to pull underperforming, bright students into the modern age than arming them with the proper tools for the job. In today’s education system, those tools are no longer notebooks and pens, but laptops and wireless networks.

TiVo

This seems like an easy choice, and I’m sure plenty has been written about how TiVo has rocked the entertainment world. But it all hit home for me about ten years ago. I was a very early adopter for TiVo. I’ve been a customer since the first boxes hit the shelves.

A professor of mine once said that the VCR was the most disruptive thing to happen to performance art in a hundred years. For the first time, you could pause a work of art while it was happening, leave the room for a snack, and start the piece where you left off. Before the VCR, you couldn’t stop a movie, you could only choose to miss some of it. You couldn’t stop a play, you couldn’t only interrupt it, or remove yourself from it.

TiVo is similar, but it adds another component. TiVo is always recording what you see on television. It has a constant buffer, so if you see something you want to save for later, you can hit record and it’s already done. On my oldest TiVo (of the three I’ve owned), I have an assortment of shows that I’m keeping for posterity. Some I even have cued to my favorite part. Press a button and George Costanza says “Well, there’s nothing dirtier than a giant ball of oil.” Start up my favorite Simpsons and the first thing you hear is Homer asking: “Are you really the head of Kwik-E-Mart? Really? You?”

TiVo changed the world for me on September 11, 2001. I was faxing resumes, looking for a teaching job. My wife was working in midtown Manhattan. She called to tell me to turn on the news, something big and evil was happening downtown. I turned on CNN, and even in my initial shock, I knew to press the record button. I still have those first hours of the newscast from that day.

Some day I’ll show it to my children. I know they could probably find archival footage, but I want them to see the moment as I saw it. Aaron Brown starting to speak mid-sentence. The camera cuts to a building billowing smoke. That’s when I pressed record, and created a memory that I’ll never forget.

The news comes on the heels of leaks suggesting Verizon are pushing ahead with their own 4G plans, with the first stage of their LTE network expected in November this year.

Meanwhile T-Mobile USA has also updated its “Rocket” HSPA+ USB modem with the webConnect Rocket 2.0 USB Laptop Stick, another compact modem that has a flip-out USB plug and a few other enhancements.  That’ll be followed in the summer by T-Mobile’s first HSPA+ capable smartphone.  Full details of the covered T-Mobile HSPA+ markets in the press release below.

Press Release:

T-Mobile® HSPA+ Network now delivers broadest reach of 4G speeds in U.S.

Customers also will benefit from speed boosts on 16 of T-Mobile’s available 3G devices and expanded availability of mobile broadband products in nearly 50 markets

BELLEVUE, Wash.—July 21, 2010 — Today, T-Mobile USA, Inc. announced the continued expansion of its super-fast mobile broadband network to more than 85 million Americans—the most pervasive network to offer 4G speeds1 in the country. T-Mobile® is on track to deliver HSPA+ speeds in 100 major metropolitan areas with backhaul in place, covering 185 million people in the U.S. by the end of this year.
Now HSPA+ network service is available in nearly 50 major metropolitan areas across the country, with the newest additions including Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Waco, Texas; Baltimore, Md.; Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Fla.; Greenville, S.C.; Honolulu, Hawaii; Indianapolis, Ind.; Kansas City and St. Louis, Mo.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Portland, Ore.; and Wichita, Kan. In addition, T-Mobile has expanded coverage in cities in previously announced metropolitan areas including Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. 4G speeds are now available for customers in Alexandria, McLean and Reston, Va.; Anaheim, Burbank, Glendale, Irvine, Long Beach, and Ontario, CA; Annapolis, Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Md.; and Asheville and Hickory, N.C.

In addition, 16 of T-Mobile’s current 3G devices, including more than a dozen smartphones,2 can benefit from enhanced speeds when they’re on the super-fast HSPA+ network in all of these major metropolitan areas, including the newest smartphone available from T-Mobile—the Samsung Vibrant. And later this summer, T-Mobile will unveil its first HSPA+-capable smartphone. More details will be available in the coming weeks.

“T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network now offers 4G speeds to more people than any other wireless network in the country,” said Neville Ray, chief network officer for T-Mobile USA. “The aggressive pace of our HSPA+ network rollout means our customers can enjoy a better mobile broadband experience on more devices in more places today—but we’re not done yet. Our first HSPA+ smartphone is coming soon and our footprint will double between now and the end of the year.”

Complementing the network expansion is wider availability of the T-Mobile® webConnect® broadband products in T-Mobile retail stores in all HSPA+ areas including the webConnect Rocket™ USB Laptop Stick, the first HSPA+-capable device from a national U.S. wireless carrier and the Dell™ Inspiron™ Mini 10 with T-Mobile webConnect, T-Mobile’s first netbook.

Also beginning today, T-Mobile is introducing the webConnect Rocket 2.0 USB Laptop Stick, an updated form factor of its first HSPA+-capable device. Featuring a new rotating swivel USB form factor, the webConnect Rocket 2.0 is designed to deliver the same home broadband experience on the go as its predecessor, so customers can surf the Web, download large files or watch video from a laptop anytime on-the-go with a blazing-fast connection. The webConnect Rocket 2.0 enables customers to take full advantage of T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network in areas where the service is available—delivering 4G speeds.

T-Mobile network service is currently available in the following major metropolitan areas: Albany, N.Y.; Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, La.; Birmingham, Ala.; Buffalo, N.Y.; Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, OH; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Dayton, Ohio; El Paso, Texas; Fayetteville, N.C.; Ft Lauderdale, Fla.; Greensboro, N.C.; Greenville, S.C.; Hartford, Conn.; Honolulu; Houston; Indianapolis; Jacksonville, Fla.; Kansas City, Mo.; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Memphis, Tenn.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Minneapolis, Minn.; New Orleans, La.; New York; Oklahoma City; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Portland, Ore.; Providence, R.I.; Rochester, N.Y.; San Antonio; Seattle; St. Louis, Mo; Syracuse, N.Y.; Tampa, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Waco, Texas; Washington, D.C.; and Wichita, Kan. The HSPA+ network expansion is on track to reach 100 metro areas by year end. For more information, please visit http://t-mobile-coverage.t-mobile.com/coverage.

1Based on comparison with 4G network speeds currently available to mobile device users in the U.S.
2 Improved speeds vary, due in part to device capabilities.

Nokia is selling the modem portion of its business for about $200 million and the two companies plan to collaborate on future radio technologies. Nokia says that the sale will allow it to focus more on its core business categories.

Renesas has been licensing the Nokia modem tech since 2009 and the two firms have been working together on HSPA+/LTE modems already. The sale of the business is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions and is expected to be closed in Q4 2010.