There’s also Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi b/g/n and GPS, along with a bundled 8GB microSD card. HTC Sense is obviously preloaded, along with HTC Watch – with support for DLNA wireless video streaming – together with mobile hotspot functionality for sharing 3G/4G connectivity with up to eight WiFi-tethered devices.

That’s all built into a unibody aluminum chassis measuring 4.8 x 2.4 x 0.47 inches and tipping the scales at 5.2oz. The battery is a 1,520 mAh pack which is good for up to 6hrs talktime, HTC reckons, and if you have a 4G connection you can access voice and data simultaneously.

The news will come as some frustration to long-time LTE deployment watchers, with the introduction of yet another band used for the 4G technology. Currently AT&T, Verizon, MetroPCS and LightSquared all use different frequencies for their LTE networks, and Sprint will introduce a fifth. In addition to 1900MHz, Sprint will use 800MHz by shifting iDEN users off the frequency by mid-2013 and, eventually, 1600MHz in partnership with LightSquared come 2015.

Meanwhile, Sprint plans to launch a “WiFi offloading technology” sometime this quarter, though details of the system are yet to be revealed. However, it’s presumably a way to shift data use off the mobile network and onto WiFi, likely a preventative measure ahead of the arrival of the iPhone 4S

The news confirms reports late last month regarding Sprint’s LTE ambitions, though it’s unclear whether the carrier does, as those leaks suggested, already have test networks installed and operational. It will need to settle the thorny matter of FCC approval before it can use LightSquared’s system, however.

If true, that would mean slower mobile downloads for the iPhone 5, though it would also likely prolong battery life. Apple was questioned back at the launch of the CDMA iPhone 4 as to why it had not baked in support for Verizon’s LTE network – at the time the only commercial LTE service in the US – but the company pointed to bulky, power-hungry first-gen 4G chipsets as the primary turn-off.

Although we’ve seen several LTE Android smartphones in the intervening months, they’ve all suffered lackluster battery life as the payoff for their boosted speed. Apple may well have decided that it can afford to sit out 4G for another generation of iPhone. That would certainly fit in with suggestions from China Unicom last month that HSPA+ would be onboard.

We’ll know for sure in just a few hours time, when Apple CEO Tim Cook takes to the stage for the iPhone keynote. Join us at http://live.slashgear.com/ at 10am PT (1pm ET) for all the news as it happens!

Several sources including the Wall Street Journal and BGR are saying that not only will Sprint be dropping cash enough to purchase 30.5 million iPhones, they’ll be getting an iPhone 5 exclusive. This device, the iPhone 5, mind you, not the iPhone 4S, will be running on the carrier’s 4G WiMAX network and will be exclusive to Sprint until AT&T and Verizon get ahold of it as an LTE device some time in the first quarter of 2012.

The iPhone 5 is now said to be the following device: a Sprint exclusive handset with a faster CPU than in previous models, 4-inch display similar to LG’s NOVA display with higher resolution, 1GB of RAM, iPhone 5 exclusive software and API’s (including the Virtual Personal Assistant we spoke about earlier today,) larger chassis with thinner profile and larger battery, 32GB storage, and dedicated Assistant button, “possibly integrated with the new home button, “think gestures or a two-stage button like a camera shutter key).” And a marginally possible 4G HSPA+ release as well.

The iPhone 4S would therefor be something like this: multiband 3G connectivity via Qualcomm: international GSM/UMTS/HSPA, North American bands, and North American CDMA – connections to everyone, basically. A metal or rather high-quality plastic on the back, NFC for digital wallets, and an A5 chip that’s similar, though not the same, as what’s found currently in the iPad 2. Finally, an updated camera with some higher rating on both sides, the back being an 8 megapixel 1080p almost certainly.

WSJ’s source has Sprint Chief Executive Dan Hesse speaking with their board as recently as August on how this deal would have Sprint losing money, again, until 2014, and that the carrier would have to agree to purchase at least 30.5 million iPhones over the next four years, this whether or not people would end up buying them in the end. On top of this, Sprint, according to these same sources, would have to subsidize each phone to something like $500, this quite possibly leading to more time before the group would break even.

What do you think? Could it be? Also note the numbers – will this many iPhones over the next several years mean that Apple is aiming for a less expensive model overall?

Will every person on Earth own an iPhone?

On the other hand, I really can’t believe it. Apple isn’t going to give another exclusive out to a carrier when they’ve already played that game with AT&T, and from what we’ve heard thus far, Apple isn’t aiming to restrict its sales in such a way, instead aiming straight for the moon with a lower cost iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 on several carriers all at once. Even my theory that the iPhone 4S will be released for free seems less outlandish, if you ask me.

You can get the real deal info straight from the Lion’s mouth tomorrow! Join us tomorrow here in the main news feed or head over to our Let’s Talk iPhone Livecast for the LIVE version of all the info, this starting at 10AM PT, October 4th, 2011. Be there!

The carrier is now making good on that promise and apparently, LTE hardware is already installed in some areas ready for the networks to go live. Sprint is also field-testing that network gear already. A source told CNET that Sprint is hoping to launch the LTE service by late Q1 2012 or early Q2. The official 4G announcement from Sprint is expected next week at a Sprint event.

The move to WiMax and LTE will allow Sprint to make deals with more suppliers for hardware. The company is using FD-LTE hardware, which is the same as Verizon and LightSquared. This is all part of Sprint’s Network Vision plan to place 3G and 4G hardware together to boost voice data and push to talk services. Sprint will be using the D-block spectrum it acquired from the Nextel purchase. The carrier will also use the spectrum it has tied to 2G iDEN on Nextel when that network is finally closed down. Sprint has said in the past that it would continue to serve existing WiMax customers.

[via CNET]

There’s also WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth, EVDO Rev.A and GPS, along with mini USB, microSD and a 5-megapixel main camera. Unfortunately, all that ruggedness – including IPX4 waterproofing, IP5X grade dust resistance and the ability to survive 76cm drops onto concrete – comes at a price, which is bulk: the ASUS TOUGH is clad in rubber and the like, adding up to 215 x 132 x 20-22.2 mm and 620g on the scales.

Battery life from the 7,400mAh pack is unconfirmed, though we’re guessing KDDI and ASUS’ target audience – enterprise users wanting to outfit their on-site workers with ruggedized slates capable of standing up to some careless treatment – will demand all-day runtime. No word on pricing at this stage, but the ASUS TOUGH ETBW11AA will go on sale in Japan come November.

That WiMAX, while faster than 3G, was one of our mild criticisms of the EPIC 4G, with our benchmarks spoiled by Verizon’s even speedier LTE technology. Beyond that, though, the EPIC 4G is a slick performer, just like its GSM predecessor, though without World Phone capabilities you shouldn’t expect to take it to Europe to meet the family and still make calls while you’re there.

The EPIC 4G is on sale today, priced at $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement. You’ll obviously need both voice and data plans, and tethering – using the Samsung’s 4G with other devices via the mobile hotspot app – will be extra too. More details on the smartphone in our hands-on video below.

Kim lets us know that the Galaxy S II series in the USA will indeed be running the newest version of Samsung TouchWiz UI, this, for those of you that don’t know, is a set of enhancements Samsung has added on top of Android so that their devices work in the way they see as most positive for the end user. What you’ll find is the Kim tells us about, first of all, the new cleanliness of TouchWiz, a brand new set of abilities you’ve got as far as resizing widgets, moving app icons to the pages you want, and even re-organizing your apps drawer to the order you like best.

One of the greatest things you’re going to find going on in this newest version of TouchWiz is a set of customizability options that up until now you’d have had to go to a 3rd party developer to get through a homescreen replacement app. If you have no idea what a homescreen replacement app is, you’re going to be EXTRA pleased by your ability to arrange your homescreens and app drawer the way you want it.

Kim also goes into Samsung’s Social Hub app briefly, showing us that we’re able to aggregate all of our social networks into a single feed list, each item able to be accessed at will. One single inbox for all of your social interaction. You can also view messages from social contacts in Conversation View allowing you to differentiate your exchanges from other friends and foes of yours, and Kim reminds us that Social Hub is included on every one of the different versions of the Galaxy S II as well.

Have a peek at the video and stay tuned to our [Galaxy S II] and [Samsung] hubs for more news galore this whole week – that’s right, we’re in Berlin as well for Samsung’s Unpacked event at IFA 2011 aus Deutschland – join us live as we broadcast on site!

This device is the first of several Samsung Galaxy S II based devices to be released here in the United States, this WiMAX version sporting a collection of carrier-based apps alongside what Samsung has revealed as a brand new twist on their TouchWiz interface. Another spec you may recognize from the original version of the Galaxy S II is the 1.2GHz dual-core processor under the hood – this combined with the gigantic 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display we’ve seen in action before on our Samsung Infuse 4G from AT&T is set up to be a double-whammy without a doubt.

What we’re seeing here with our own fingers wrapped around the device is a very similar device to what we’ve seen in the Galaxy S II released internationally and the Infuse 4G, again a 4.5-inch Samsung device with a single-core processor. This WiMAX version of the device has a unique bit of hardware wrapped around it, a slightly different and more round feeling device than the AT&T version of the device. Have a look at our hands-on video here for the full rundown.

Also head back to the original announcement post for a total in-depth look at what the specs are as we know them right this moment. Spoiler: this is the first Galaxy S II set to be released here in the United States, with the AT&T version to come next, followed by the T-Mobile version last.

According to Bloomberg, three people familiar with the situation say that the carrier is still in
early talks and that there could be several scenarios. Sprint could raise funding among cable partners such as Comcast, Cablevision, and Cox, to jointly buyout Clearwire or simply invest further in the company. Clearwire has stated before that it needs an additional $600 million in order to build out its LTE network.

This deal with Sprint may be appealing for cable companies as it would allow them to compete more effectively against telephone rivals such as AT&T and Verizon, which both offer landline, wireless, internet and TV bundles. This deal is especially significant for Sprint as it is now struggling in third place and could be in big trouble should the AT&T and T-Mobile merger go through. Having a more popular LTE network over its WiMAX network will help it compete.

[via Bloomberg]

This means that RIM is still hopeful about delivering a 4G LTE version of the BlackBerry PlayBook through either Verizon or AT&T. Both carriers are set to operate LTE networks in several markets by year-end with Verizon in 175 markets and AT&T in 15 markets. However, Verizon has snubbed the BlackBerry maker once before, when the carrier said that it was still undecided about the tablet.

The new 4G PlayBook is said to already be in testing with plans to get network certification this fall. This could mean that the LTE tablet won’t be available until winter. It is yet another setback for RIM, which had originally promised the 4G tablet for summer that then got delayed to fall. Below is the full statement from RIM:

RIM has decided to prioritize and focus its 4G development resources on LTE. We remain excited and committed to delivering innovative and powerful 4G tablets to the US market together with our carrier partners. Testing of BlackBerry 4G PlayBook models is already underway and we plan to enter labs for network certifications in the US and other international markets this fall.

[via Business Insider]

Sprint promised RIM in January that it would sell a WiMAX version of the PlayBook this summer on its fourth-generation network, while this week the group notes that those plans have been stopped because since January the market has become too crowded. Paget Alves of Sprint’s business markets group noted the following on why the tablet just won’t succeed:

“It’s an interesting concept, it just hasn’t caught on with business customers as much as they would like. There are so many tablets in the market, it creates confusion for the average customer.”

RIM launched the playbook back in April to some slightly stale reviews and a general “meh” temperature of response from the public. RIM reported that it shipped around 500,000 of the Wi-Fi only versions of the tablet in the first quarter of 2012 total. Motorola, on the other hand, sold 440,000 XOOM Android tablets during essentially the same period while Apple reported its sales of the industry leading iPad at 9.3 million shipments.

Sprint continues to sell the Wi-Fi version of the PlayBook for $499.99 and Sprint notes that the decision not to carry a WiMAX version of the tablet “has no impact on our relationship with RIM.” What do you think, ladies and gentlemen? No carriers for the PlayBook – still a worthy investment? Do you have a PlayBook? Do you love it?

[via WSJ]

It seems clear that given the names of at least two of these three devices that the Samsung Galaxy S II variant by the name of Epic 4G Touch will either indeed be a variant of the Samsung Within or will be replacing it entirely. Another notion you may find interesting is the previous set of tips which have decidedly shown the Epic 2 to be a WiMAX version of the Samsung Galaxy S II with a round-sided keyboard sliding out from beneath it while the Samsung Epic 4G would then be the simple touchscreen-only device on the same network more reminiscent of the already-released version of the Samsung Galaxy S II which we’ve got a full review of for your convenience.

The HTC EVO Design 4G is likely the next and slightly downgraded version of an HTC device being released directly in line with the HTC EVO 3D. This device will more than likely be the store name for the code-named HTC Kingdom, a device we now believe to be essentially the same device as the HTC EVO 3D but with a single-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor instead of dual-core and with a single 5-megapixel camera on the back instead of the 3D capable set of cameras of the already released EVO 3D, which we’ve also got a review of, conveniently.

The Motorola Admiral we’re not so sure of. With the dual-core wave of devices coming out lately on several carriers, we’ve got to guess that this is Motorola’s next-generation echo of the DROID 3, it being the first dual-core full-QWERTY-keyboard-toting device on the market, currently only on Verizon – also note the lack of the 4G in the title. Will it only run on 3G, or are we over the so-called “4G” naming racket finally finished? – Just kidding, we’re in for a long “4G” ride.

[via Engadget]

The action became necessary after the Motorola network acquisition got stalled when Huawei filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the transaction for fear that NSN would obtain its trade secrets and intellectual property, which Motorola had access to. This, in turn, caused the unit’s products and services to fall into lower demand.

Hence, not only will 1,500 of the 6,900 employees from the Motorola WiMAX and GSM units be let go, but another 1,200 will be transferred to its LTE and WCDMA units, which are currently seeing more success. The first batch of workers to go will be 150 of mostly research staff from Nokia Siemen’s Swindon facilties.

[via ZDNet]

However, you do get a 1.3-megapixel front camera for video calls, WiFi b/g/n and mobile hotspot functionality, sharing the 3G/4G connection with up to five WiFi-tethered clients. Power is from a single-core 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8655 Snapdragon processor, paired with a 2GB microSD card pre-loaded.

Bluetooth and GPS round out the main specs of a device which, while unlikely to sway anyone from the top end of the market, will only help grow the increasing dominance of smartphones versus feature phones. The Samsung Conquer 4G will launch at $99.99 with a new, two-year agreement.

[via Android Community]

To get this review started I’ll post the hands-on and unboxing first so you get a feel for the device then continue with the details and photos below so start right here with the video.

Motorola PHOTON 4G Hands-on and Unbox

Hardware

From first glance there is nothing that really stands out as far as a weakness with this phone. To remind you of all the details it features a dual-core 1 Ghz NVIDIA Tegra 2 CPU, 1GB RAM, comes with 16GB internal storage, VGA front facing camera with a 720p capable 8MP rear camera with dual LED flash, a nifty kickstand for hands-free usage as well as HDMI-out. The display is a 4.3″ qHD high-res 540×960 resolution and looks vivid and crisp. It might not be as thin as the Galaxy S II but it does have 4G WiMax speeds as well to help out when needed.

On the left side you have the micro USB for charging and docking right next to the HDMI-Out while the rest of the goods are on the right side.

The PHOTON has a dedicated camera button as well as volume rockers on the right side. They have an aluminum finish and a weird texture of lines to them but they are so close together I feel like I could file my fingernails with them (if I did that sort of thing). Then your usual headphone jack and power/wake button up top.

The hardware is definitely a different approach than Motorola is used to, it doesn’t look or feel anything like any of the Droid devices but it does have a similar style to its older brother the Motorola Atrix. We reviewed the Atrix and you can see that here, a large part of the design and options for the PHOTON came right from the Atrix so if you’ve seen its dock or webtop power you’ve already seen what the Photon can do.

Overall I’m a fan of the hardware as it has great build quality and feels extremely solid in the hand. My thumb keeps getting caught on the texture from the volume rockers but other than that its clean, and beautifully designed and even is pretty lightweight. It is lighter than the EVO 3D but weights more than other 4.3″ dual-core phones.

Software & Performance

The PHOTON comes with Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread which is the latest iteration of Android and along with it comes Motorola’s user interface changes but were not supposed to call it Moto Blur anymore — it’s just UI enhancements they call it. It is a nice touch although I feel the widgets could use some work. The dual-core processor keeps things speeding along and overall the user experience is seamless and fast.

As far as pre-installed apps or bloatware some might like to call it, they really didn’t include too much so that is a plus. We have a game center, Nascar, Quick Office, TeleNav GPS, and then a webtop connector app for when using the HD Dock. That is about it then you have your suite of Google Apps and Facebook etc.

Next on the list is performance so I’ve done a few benchmarks to test things out and first on the block is Quadrant. I ran a few tests and the PHOTON scored pretty high in Quadrant and it was actually a few hundred higher than other Tegra 2 dual-core phones like the LG G2x or the Droid X. They score around 2100-2200 stock while the PHOTON 4G scored over 2400.

Next I ran a new benchmark called Vellamo and you can read all about it here. Vellamo tests the overall performance of the device based on browsing. From websites, to rendering, javascript, HTML5, canvas and image scrolling as well as network performance for input/output like when loading a webpage. The results are pretty interesting as the PHOTON scores barely above the myTouch 4G (single core phone) and is beat by both the Sensation 4G and the EVO 3D. Network speeds could be part to blame as it scored pretty low with network performance.

Also since we have a 4G device in our hands I ran a few speedtest results just to see what types of 4G performance we could get, maybe the dual-core would help things out and this is Motorola’s first 4G device powered by WiMax. Sadly it scored fairly low and my old Nexus One with 3G performs better. I’m not sure if 4G is lacking in Vegas but I tried at home and at the store with similar results.

For comparison I get over triple the download speeds on my 4G T-Mobile device, just thought I’d mention that.

Camera & Battery

Now the PHOTON 4G has an 8 MP camera with dual LED flash and the camera performed just as I expected it to, with low light indoors it took great shots and the shutter speed was faster than a lot of phones I’ve used in the past. I took a few pictures of my faithful puppy taking a nap but I don’t think he was happy with me for waking him.

Yes the pocket on the pool table is missing in the photo, again he is a puppy and that is what they do. Trust me I covered it daily for a year after that incident and it never happened again thankfully.

Here is a close up for some detail, this is natural lighting without flash and the 8MP camera does a great job again.

On the rear of the phone it says HD VIDEO like it’s all special, but it actually only records in 720p and not 1080 like most other Tegra 2 phones have the power to do, so I didn’t do a video sample because 720p is nothing new. If it were 1080p I’d have gave it a test run.

The battery is larger than most phones on the market other than maybe the EVO 3D and it comes in packing 1640 mAh and it has lasted me all day since 8 AM in the morning til late night. I’ve taken photo’s, recorded video, sent a few emails and placed multiple phone calls. Not to mention running a few benchmarks and playing Angry Birds for about 45 minutes. For those wondering I’m expecting the battery to last longer than that of the HTC EVO after this initial few days of testing.

HD Dock

The HD Dock is a step up from many other docks that phones have been released with in the past, but its nothing like the Laptop dock the Atrix came with. The HD dock features rubbery feet so it wont slide around while trying to install the device. It has HDMI-Out for feeding the screen to your HDTV or a computer monitor. It also has 3 USB ports for using keyboards, mice and anything else you’d need.

Now this is important because the Webtop App and User Interface allows you to plug your phone into the dock and view your desktop, market, video’s and more all over HDMI to your TV or basically make the phone into a personal portable computer.

Bundled with the HD Dock is an infrared remote so you can control everything wireless. No keyboard or mouse needed, you have media controls and volume. It also features the menu, back, home, and search buttons just as most Android phones do so you can basically access everything without touching the device. The HD Dock is $129 but makes your phone into a desktop PC.

Motorola was also nice enough to send us the car dock that will also be available at launch for those interested. Although it might not be build extremely durable like the HD Dock it still was sturdy and held the phone very securely. There is a latch on top that closes down and secures the phone to the car dock, from there you can rotate or move it as you see fit without fear of it falling or dropping.

The car dock came with a car charger, USB cable and a 3.5mm audio cord so you can stream music or navigation instructions to your car stereo. With extra sticky pads for the dash or windshield they have you completely covered. I’ve never been a fan of or used car docks in the past, but for those that must have one or use it for a trip the Motorola Photon car dock is a pretty good buy and will secure your phone through anyone’s crazy driving.

Wrap-Up

For what you pay for this is an extremely powerful and versatile phone. You can do a lot more than just text and play Angry Birds with this. You can browse the web and watch movies on your 56″ HDTV, use it for an alarm clock with that fancy kickstand and more. With a slightly unique design it will stand out in the crowd and you’ll love showing it off. Once you set up the HD Dock and get everything dialed in everything works pretty great, and there is no shortage of geek appeal.

Aside from having mediocre at best 4G performance, the phone runs great and is a solid device. Any EVO users would be happy with it aside from no HTC Sense UI. While other phones may offer the same dual-core performance they don’t have the webtop abilities and the kickstand all at the same time. Making this right up there as a top tier Android offering.

Don’t forget to click on all the images below to see them full size for your enjoyment.

The Apollo will allow the connection of up to four different WiFi devices including notebooks, netbooks, tablets, and more at the same time. The device supports 4G speeds in 70 different markets coast to coast right now with more markets to come. The data plan required with the Apollo starts at $35 monthly.

The Apollo has a compact size of 3.4-inches square and weighs less than five ounces. That will make it very portable. It is manufactured by Gemtek and sells for $99 outright or can be leased for $6 monthly. It will go on sale late this month.

“With our new CLEAR Spot 4G – Apollo, surfing, streaming, gaming and entertaining are all possible this summer in over 70 markets coast to coast,” said Dow Draper, senior vice president of marketing and products for Clearwire. “This device is the ultimate Internet surfing machine and offers today’s mobile user and the millions of Wi-Fi products in use across the country, even greater access to CLEAR’s super-fast and affordable 4G Internet service.”

[via Clearwire]

From the image above, we can see that the Clear Spot 4G has just a slight redesign with rounded corners rather than the diamond cut form of last year’s Clear Spot 4G+ hotspot, which also looks very similar to the NowNetwork’s Overdrive Pro hotspot. It’s not surprising since the two companies are partners in developing the 4G WiMAX network and the 4G+ was able to hop on to either company’s network.

The new Clear Spot 4G mobile hotspot’s small LCD screen displays signal strength, network, battery levels, and WiFi network ID. It can also connect up to eight devices. However, no pricing or release date information is available yet.

[via Wireless Goodness]

We all want faster data speed when we are on the go so improvements in performance on the chips are welcome. GCT has a new WiMax 2 chip for mobile devices called the GDM7225. This chip is highly integrated and puts the WiMax 2 RF, MAC, and PHY in a single chip. The chip also has 4×4 MIMO system onboard for high-speed communications that are four to five times faster than existing WiMax technology.

GCT is working with UQ Communications in Japan to enhance its WiMax network to support WiMax 2 speeds. The new chip allows for data speeds of up to 150Mbps download and up to 50Mbps upload. The chip supports multiple carriers at up to 20MHz bandwidth.

The other Samsung is described as “a full touch 4G” phone, with no QWERTY but everything else pointing to one of the US carrier variants of the Samsung Galaxy S II. That would imply a WiMAX upgrade for the Super AMOLED Plus smartphone, though we’re guessing the same 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 8-megapixel, Full HD video capable camera.

Next, there’s some CDMA BlackBerry news for the quarter, with the Bold Touch and the Monaco (aka BlackBerry Touch) tipped to arrive sometime between July and September. Each will be Global Phones, with both CDMA and GSM radios for use in North America and when roaming abroad. A third, unnamed device will apparently support push-to-talk, as will a few new Kyocera/Sanyo handsets.

The 8-megapixel autofocus camera with dual-LED flash is still present, complete with 1080p Full HD video recording (with stereo sound). The EVO 4G+ also has stereo speakers for playback, as well as supporting MHL for HDMI connections via the microUSB port. Other connectivity includes Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi, a microSD card slot and quadband GSM/EDGE.

The dual-core processor is paired with 1GB of internal ROM, and there’s HTC Sense with access to the HTC Watch download/rental movie store. DLNA streaming and the clever active lockscreen are also present.

No word on when, exactly, the EVO 4G+ will arrive in South Korea, though HTC is taking the wraps off of the phone officially today.

[via Android Community]

The Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act, as it is called, will have carriers publish details on their minimum 4G speeds, their coverage, and their network reliability. Eshoo wants to create a standard framework of what 4G really means, at least at this moment in time, and ensure that consumers understand what they sign up for.

The International Telecomunications Union (ITU) had originally defined true 4G as being a theoretical peak of 100Mbps, which only some LTE networks can reach. And so far, only LTE-Advanced and WiMAX 2 are formally certified as 4G. And although no consumer 4G connections ever reach this number in the real world where other factors can cause a large variation in speeds, the term was abused by T-Mobile and AT&T to mean significantly slower speeds that are essentially enhanced 3G networks.

T-Mobile was first to start calling its enhanced 3G network, dubbed HSPA+, as 4G. Following suit, was AT&T, which released several so-called “4G” devices earlier this year that did not even meet HSPA+/HSUPA speeds. The devices included the Atrix 4G and the Inspire 4G. Customers complaint of capped speeds only to get a response from AT&T that the device did not support HSUPA uplink speeds. This was dubious since HSPA+ support usually means support for HSUPA. The carrier later admitted that it was simply not enabled. Sadly for consumers, the Infuse 4G was the first “HSPA+ enabled device on launch” from AT&T after months of defining 4G as HSPA+ and already selling so-called 4G devices.

[via CNET]

The Samsung Conquer 4G will run Android 2.3.3, powered by a single-core 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It will have a HVGA 480 x 320 resolution touchscreen display, 3.1-megapixel rear-facing camera, a VGA front-facing camera, and a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Since nothing official has been announced, not all the specs have been revealed.

It’s said that the device is very similar to the HTC EVO Shift 4G, but with more watered down specs. With a price tag rumored to be between $50 to $100 with a two-year contract, the Samsung Conquer 4G will certainly be an affordable alternative. It brings WiMAX speeds and higher-end specs such as front-facing and rear-facing cameras to the mid-range smartphone.

[via Android Community]

Since the launch of the BlackBerry PlayBook WiFi version, RIM has publicly said that a 4G version would be rolling out on the three largest U.S. carriers. However, the carriers responded hesitantly, with Verizon even stating that they were undecided about carrying the tablet.

They BlackBerry PlayBook hasn’t garnered as much excitement as other rivaling tablets, but it still has a strong enterprise following with BlackBerry fans. We gave it a lukewarm review due to its half-baked firmware, but it seems like updates are coming promptly and hopefully by the rumored 10-inch version, most of the kinks will be worked out. The 3G version is now available both online and in retails stores of the WiMAX carrier.

[via Wired]

It also gets a dual camera array, with a pair of 5-megapixel cameras on the back of the smartphone recording 3D photos and video. Otherwise it’s HTC as usual, with Android 2.3 Gingerbread covered with HTC Sense and the array of widgets, WiMAX connectivity and mobile hotspot functionality.

As for the HTC EVO View 4G, that also runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread with pen-enabled HTC Sense on top. It has a 7-inch 1024 x 600 display, a 5-megapixel camera and the promise of a Gingerbread update in the near future. Initially it’ll be bundled with the HTC Scribe digital pen, though afterwards that will be a $79.99 accessory.

Press Release:

Two Newest Members of the Award-Winning HTC EVO Family, HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G, Make Debut Exclusively from Sprint on June 24

HTC EVO 3D, with America’s first 4.3-inch, qHD 3D display and a powerful 1.2GHz dual-core processor, available for $199.99; HTC EVO View 4G brings the powerful HTC EVO experience to a 4G tablet for $399.99

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), June 06, 2011 – Two of the “must-have” gadgets of 2011 are getting ready to make their debut. Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced the June 24 availability of HTC EVO™ 3D and HTC EVO View 4G™ on America’s Favorite 4G Network1. America’s first ‘glasses-free’ 3D 4G device will be available for $199.99, and HTC EVO View 4G, the first 4G tablet in market, will be available for $399.99. Both prices exclude applicable taxes, and the devices require a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade.

Customers can pre-order HTC EVO 3D or HTC EVO View 4G at any participating Sprint Store with the purchase of a $50 Sprint gift card (per device). On June 24, Sprint Stores nationwide will open doors at 8 a.m. local time for customers to get a jump-start on purchasing these hot new devices.

Additionally, Sprint Premier customers will have the opportunity to purchase HTC EVO 3D online three days before the national launch, while supplies last. Qualifying customers will receive an email on June 21, or they can log on to their account at www.sprint.com on June 21, click “show me my rewards” and then “Sprint Premier Community” for more information.

“Sprint takes device innovation to a whole new level with the two newest members of the EVO family, HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G,” said Fared Adib, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “HTC EVO 3D provides our customers the ability to capture and view content in 3D and share at 4G speeds; HTC EVO View 4G expands on the capabilities of tablets by introducing the digital pen, and allows our consumers to do more than they ever imagined was possible.”

Glasses-Free 3D plus Sprint 4G

HTC EVO 3D takes the mobile multimedia experience to a new level, providing the ability to capture and view in 3D and share at 4G speeds, offering consumers the ultimate glasses-free 3D experience. Built with the Android 2.3 operating system (Gingerbread), HTC EVO 3D features America’s first 4.3-inch, qHD 3D display and a powerful 1.2GHz Qualcomm® Snapdragon® dual-core processor. HTC EVO 3D also features dual 5-megapixel cameras, which can be used to capture high-quality conventional and stunning 3D images and videos, opening up new frontiers for user-generated content, social networking and streaming video.

Respected device critics agree Sprint has done it again with HTC EVO 3D. Here are a few of the accolades that poured in when it was announced in March:

LAPTOP Magazine honored HTC EVO 3D with its Best Smart Phone Award and the coveted Best in Show honor at CTIA this spring.
PC World added, “The design is gorgeous, and the combination of dual-core Snapdragon processors with 4G can’t be beat. Suffice to say, I can’t wait to get my hands on this phone this summer.”
Phonearena.com named HTC EVO 3D and HTC EVO View 4G as “Best of CTIA 2011.”
Boy Genius Report said, “The HTC EVO 3D and the HTC EVO View 4G tablet were among our favorite new gadgets shown off at CTIA.”
HTC EVO 3D requires activation on one of Sprint’s Everything Data plans plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $39.99 per month vs. Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and web.2 The Mobile Hot Spot option is available for an additional $29.99 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges) supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously.

An Unparalleled Tablet Experience

HTC EVO View 4G brings the best of the EVO experience to a tablet design with a 7-inch touchscreen, 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor and latest version of HTC Sense. It will launch with an Android 2.3 operating system (Gingerbread) and will be updated to Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) when it is available for a 7-inch tablet. As the perfect combination e-reader, media player and portable computing device, HTC EVO View 4G offers a premium entertainment experience with HD-like quality video and a rich web-browsing experience with the ability to browse the web on Flash-enabled sites.

Rate plans for the HTC EVO View start as low as $34.993 per month for 3GB of 3G data and unlimited 4G data usage while on the Sprint network. Unlimited text, picture and video messaging are included at no charge. Additional plans, including 3G-only plans, are available to meet customers’ needs.

Additionally, for a limited time, any customer who purchases HTC EVO View 4G will receive the HTC Scribe™ digital pen (otherwise sold separately) at no charge with a two-year service agreement – providing an additional savings of $79.99 on their purchase.

Optional add-on services include GPS Navigation for $2.99 per day or $10 per month and the Mobile Hot Spot option for $29.99 per month (excluding taxes and surcharges) supporting up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously.

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint also ranks as the most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, during the last three years4. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

The term 4G was originally meant for 100Mbps, a speed that most carriers currently cannot achieve. It later became attached to the LTE and WiMAX networks being built by Verizon and Sprint, respectively. Late to the party, T-Mobile and AT&T, battled it out on the marketing end to jump on the 4G bandwagon by including their “evolved” 3G networks (HSPA+). However, this past week, AT&T redefined the term once again to mean anything with the combination of 3G speed plus a fast backhaul, or fast connection from cell tower back to the network.

According to PCMag, AT&T’s senior vice president of devices, Jeff Bradley, laid out the new definition saying, “Our tests show that [4G experiences] happen with Cat-10 devices, or 14.4 … combined with fast backhaul. That’s the key. It’s got to be a combination of the two.”

That’s a shame, because back when we reviewed the Rover Puck we found it to be a decent little hotspot. Although there’s no 3G fall-back – which would have increased the price, since it would demand roaming off of Clearwire’s WiMAX network – you can share a connection with up to eight users simultaneously; most mobile hotspots limit that number to five.

In fact, Clearwire’s hotspot range is looking pretty barren right now, with only the CLEAR Spot 4G – from last year – currently available, and as a refurb at that. Sales of the Rover Puck (or its Rover Stick USB modem counterpart) have already halted. Clearwire announced its Q1 2011 financial results yesterday, with revenues up 142-percent from the previous year.

The ATRIX is a HSUPA-capable device, and we currently are performing the testing and preparations necessary to ensure that, when we turn this feature on, you will continue to have a world class experience.

AT&T hasn’t quite gotten their act together as quick as they had hoped with this one. Sometimes the real answer is that these systems are technically the bleeding edge, and it’s not some conspiracy to keep you from achieving your top speeds on the wireless internet. Here’s a little help discerning the technical specs from behind the marketing malarkey surrounding the wireless broadband available on the market.

3G, 4G, LTE, HSPA, WiMax

I could go into a Wikipedia-esque discussion of all of the various mobile data standards since the dawn of mobile data standards, but I’d rather not. I’m going to focus on disambiguation of a few of these key terms and let you know what you really need to know. If you haven’t heard of LTE, HSPA, or WiMax before, don’t be alarmed. They’re just protocols to govern wireless and mobile data transmission. They set standards so that your device can talk to any similarly equipped cellular tower

It makes it easier that these technologies are already cleanly divided along service provider lines. LTE has been deployed in the US by Verizon and MetroPCS. WiMax is the realm of Clearwire and Sprint. AT&TMo are known to use HSPA to provide their broadband. Of course these lines are shifting with the shakeups going on in the market, but that’s how things are currently arrayed.

HSUPA

What is HSUPA? Does it make sense that it was turned off? Should we clamor for AT&T’s summary execution? HSUPA is a part of the HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) wireless telecommunications protocol. It’s the part that lets you upload quickly. The HSUPA (The U stands for Uplink) works along side HSDPA (Downlink) to provide the whole protocol, HSPA. Get it? Really, the fact that this portion of the system was delayed is not really a surprise to anyone who has ever imagined the amount of real infrastructure that goes into producing the end-user-experience we expect. Honestly, whenever a telcom rolls out an upgrade project of this magnitude, it’s hilarious if anyone doesn’t expect delays in something. HSUPA was where the slack had to be this time, no big deal. Hey, AT&T, just let us know what the deal is before we have to go to the Better Business Bureau.

What’s up with all of these G’s? How many G’s do I need again?

The G designation on all of these various technologies is a generational marker by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). Most smartphone users are more than happy with their current 3G connection. It allows for mobile e-mail browsing, web-surfing, and some amount of streaming video. I’ve enjoyed Netflix on my iPhone with no hiccups. With all that the 3G is able to deliver, it’s still all about the 4G. Or if you’re not into the whole brevity thing, the 4th Generation of Mobile Telephony Standards. None of the technologies available on the market can currently hang with the ITU’s 4G requirements. The ITU set “peak speed requirements for 4G service at 100 Megabits per second for high mobility communication (such as from trains and cars) and 1 Gbps for low mobility communication (such as pedestrians and stationary users).”

LTE vs WiMax vs HSPA

WiMax and LTE are standards that come from different organizational origins. WiMax comes from the side of the IEEE, known for bringing you the collection of standards we dub Wi-Fi. This standard Wi-Fi connection is governed by a set of protocols collectively known as 802.11. WiMax is governed by a set of protocols collectively known as 802.16. LTE is a product of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), spawned from the international GSM standard. “Work on LTE has been going on since 2004, building on the GSM/UMTS family of standards that dates from 1990″

My friend, Robert Evans, recently sang of the death of WiMax. The standard has had a good run of it since they’ve had NTT DoCoMo of Japan coming after it since 2004. What? You don’t remember when NTT DoCoMo called for LTE or Long Term Evolution, to become the international standard for wireless communication? Neither did I. Even with six years in the making, the long term goals of LTE have not yet been made manifest, as the standard is still considered to be a third generation communication technology as it’s currently deployed. Full fourth generation wireless transmissions will be coming out this year with specifications like the LTE Advanced.

We will continue to see increased transmission speeds and decreased latency via wireless over the next few years, regardless of the protocol in which the packets are scribed.

Read more about what’s going on with your wireless at Android Community.

[via Gadget Lab]

The newest MiFi Intelligent Hotspots support 4G networks like WiMAX and LTE and take your typical hotspot to the next level. Each device comes with an external e-link display that shows battery level, signal strength, and how many devices are connected. They also come with a MicroSD slot, GPS functionality, and depending on the carrier it might come preloaded with MiFi OS widgets and application support.

“The CTIA Emerging Technology awards serve as a benchmark for success across several competitive industries and validate the dedication and hard work of the entire Novatel Wireless organization,” said chief marketing officer for Novatel Wireless, Rob Hadley. “We are very excited to be assisting our carrier customers with their 4G roll-outs with our innovative and high-performing solutions.”

Press Release:

Novatel Wireless 4G LTE and WiMAX MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspots Win 2011
CTIA Emerging Technology Award

SAN DIEGO and ORLANDO (CTIA Wireless Booth #3416) – March 24, 2011 ­ Novatel
Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband solutions,
today announced that its 4G MiFi® Intelligent Mobile Hotspots — the LTE
MiFi 4510 and WiMAX MiFi 4082 — have been recognized as winners in the 2011
CTIA Emerging Technology Awards in the Mobile Consumer Electronics:
Accessories category.

The MiFi device is the world’s first intelligent mobile hotspot, a credit
card sized gadget that creates a portable hotspot for up to five
devices/users to access high-speed mobile broadband. The latest incarnations
of the MiFi leverage new 4G networks, including WiMAX and LTE technologies.
The new 4G MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspots goes beyond basic connectivity
to provide advanced mobile broadband functionality for anyone looking to
stay connected on-the-go. The MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot comes with GPS
functionality, removable storage via a microSD slot and depending on carrier
configuration, comes preloaded with MiFi OS with on-board widgets and
application support. The 4G MiFi devices also features an external e-Ink
display with status indicators for battery, signal strength and number of
connected devices.

“The CTIA Emerging Technology awards serve as a benchmark for success across
several competitive industries and validate the dedication and hard work of
the entire Novatel Wireless organization,” said Rob Hadley, chief marketing
officer for Novatel Wireless. “We are very excited to be assisting our
carrier customers with their 4G roll-outs with our innovative and
high-performing solutions.”
The sixth annual CTIA Emerging Technology Awards program is designed to
provide industry recognition and exposure to the best wireless products and
services in the marketplace. More than 300 entries were judged by a panel of
media and industry analysts and scored on innovation, functionality,
technological importance, implementation and overall ³wow² factor.

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.novatelwireless.com. (NVTLG)

This release may contain forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant
to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended to date. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors
could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements contained herein. These factors include risks
relating to technological changes, new product introductions, continued
acceptance of Novatel Wireless’ products and dependence on intellectual
property rights. These factors, as well as other factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially, are discussed in more detail in Novatel
Wireless’ filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(available at www.sec.gov) and other regulatory agencies.

(C) 2011 Novatel Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved. The Novatel Wireless
name and logo, MiFi, and MiFi OS are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc.
Other Company, product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks
of their respective owners.

[via PR Newswire]

The comment is a deliberate snub against rivals like AT&T and T-Mobile, who are currently using HSPA+ to deliver higher-than-3G speeds on their networks, and branding it 4G. As we ourselves discovered in our ATRIX 4G review, however, not all 4G flavors are created equal: Sprint’s WiMAX comfortably out-performs AT&T’s HSPA+.

Still, put back to back with Verizon’s LTE, and WiMAX starts to look less impressive; currently the CDMA rival leads the pack when it comes to throughput speeds. Hesse may have coined a cute soundbite, but the proof of the pudding is in the speed tests.

It will also support voicemail transcription and the usual divert features, allowing up to six phones to ring simultaneously on an incoming call. Otherwise the specs are as before, so a 4-inch Super AMOLED “Contour Display”, GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 5-megapixel main camera and front-facing VGA camera.

16GB of internal storage, NFC and a 1GHz processor round out the key specs. The Google Nexus S 4G will arrive on Sprint this spring, priced at $199.99 with a new, two-year agreement including mandatory data plan.

[via Android Community]

Press Release:

First Pure Google 4G Device with Android 2.3 in the U.S., Nexus S 4G from Google and Samsung, Coming to Sprint this Spring

First 4G device powered by Android 2.3 boasts pure Google experience, Google Voice integration, Super AMOLED display and Mobile Hotspot capability is Sprint’s 20th 4G device and fourth 4G phone announced to date

Visit www.sprint.com/nexus to register to receive more information

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 21, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE: S) extends its 4G device innovation lead once again with the upcoming availability of the 20th 4G device and fourth 4G phone, Nexus S™ 4G1 from Google™. Coming to Sprint this spring, it will also be able to take advantage of the unprecedented controls and services enabled by Google Voice™ integration built into the Sprint Network.

Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), a leading global mobile phone provider and the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the United States2, Nexus S 4G comes packed with a pure Google experience using Android™ 2.3, Gingerbread, the fastest version of Android available for smartphones. It is powered by a 1GHz Samsung application processor that produces rich 3D-like graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia content along with a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to make playing mobile games, browsing the Web and watching videos a fast, fluid and smooth experience.

“Nexus S 4G shows the strong commitment Sprint has to Android, and when combined with our 4G network capabilities, it gives customers the option of a pure Google experience,” said Fared Adib, vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “As the first 4G smartphone with Android 2.3, Nexus S 4G delivers on the promise of the advanced data capabilities of 4G to deliver an incredible Web browsing experience, offers quick and easy access to future Android updates and access to the services built into Google Voice.”

It is designed with Samsung’s brilliant Super AMOLED™ touchscreen technology providing a premium viewing experience. The 4-inch Contour Display features a curved design for a more comfortable look and feel in the user’s hand or along the side of the face. It also offers a screen that is bright with higher color contrast, meaning colors are incredibly vibrant and text is crisp at any size and produces less glare than on other smartphone displays when outdoors, so videos, pictures and games look their best and the sun won’t wash them out.

Sprint Nexus S 4G customers will be among the first to receive Android software upgrades and new Google mobile apps. In many cases, the device will get the updates and new apps as soon as they are available.

“We’re excited to partner with Sprint on Nexus S 4G, which brings innovative hardware by Samsung and innovations on the Android platform, to create a powerful smartphone experience,” said Andy Rubin, vice president of Engineering at Google.

Nexus S 4G features a 5 megapixel rear-facing camera and camcorder and front-facing VGA camera. In addition, Nexus S 4G features a gyroscope sensor to provide a smooth, fluid gaming experience when the user tilts the device up or down or pans the phone to the left or right.

Additional key features include:

3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability, supporting up to six Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously
Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 applications, widgets and games available for download to customize the experience
Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, syncing with Google Calendar™, Voice Actions and YouTube™
Corporate email (Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®), personal (POP & IMAP) email and instant messaging
Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which allows the device to read information from everyday objects, like stickers and posters embedded with NFC chips
16GB Internal Memory (ROM)/512MB (RAM)
Wi-Fi® – 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR
Integrated GPS
1500 mAh Lithium-ion battery
“Samsung is thrilled to work with Google and Sprint to create the next generation Nexus S. Adding 4G capabilities takes this iconic device to the next level,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. “Nexus S 4G integrates Samsung’s best-in-class hardware and the exciting features of the Android 2.3 platform with the impressive speed and connectivity of Sprint’s 4G network.”

Nexus S 4G from Google will be available exclusively from Sprint this spring for $199.99 with a new two-year service agreement or eligible upgrade (taxes not included) in all Sprint retail channels, including the Web (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1), as well as select national retailers.

Sprint Nexus S customers also will be able to easily use their current Sprint wireless phone number as their Google Voice number without having to port their number, avoiding porting charges and potential service disruptions. Google Voice makes it easy for people to manage and access most of their voice-based communication. It lets users manage up to six different phones through one number with intelligent call routing and advanced features like call screening, blocking and recording.

Now Sprint subscribers can use their Sprint number across their office, home and wireless phones, and personalize settings so calls from friends ring their wireless device and home phone, while calls from the boss only ring at the office. Google Voice users can receive transcribed voicemails and read or listen to them online. They can also read, send and search text messages and call logs online at www.google.com/voice.

Nexus S 4G requires activation on one of Sprint’s Everything Data plans, plus a required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones. Sprint’s Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge – a savings of $39.99 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and Web (excluding Verizon’s Southern California plan; pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

Sprint customers get more with unlimited data plans on the Sprint Network. Sprint offers real simplicity, value and savings versus competitors, making it easy for customers to get the most out of their phones without using a calculator to tally up costs or worrying about how much data they’ve used.

Sprint Everything Data plans qualify for automatic enrollment in the Sprint PremierSM loyalty program3. Existing Sprint customers can switch to an Everything Data plan without extending their service agreement. New lines of service require a two-year service agreement.

As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint is America’s Favorite 4G Network4. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

Nexus S 4G from Google and Samsung fact sheet
A pure Google experience

Manufactured by Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), Nexus S 4G™1 from Google comes packed with a pure Android experience using Android 2.3, Gingerbread, the fastest version of Android available. Nexus S 4G customers will be among the first to receive Android updates and the latest Google mobile services. Nexus S 4G is powered by a 1GHz Samsung application processor that produces rich 3D-like graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia content, and a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to make playing mobile games, browsing the Web and watching videos a fast, fluid and smooth experience. It is designed with Samsung’s brilliant Super AMOLED™ touchscreen technology providing a premium viewing experience. The 4-inch Contour Display features a curved design for a more comfortable look and feel in the user’s hand or along the side of the face. It also offers a screen that is bright with higher color contrast, meaning colors are incredibly vibrant and text is crisp at any size and produces less glare than on other smartphone displays when outdoors, so videos, pictures and games look their best and the sun won’t wash them out.

Productivity
· 1GHz Samsung application processor that produces rich 3D-like graphics, faster upload and download times and supports HD-like multimedia content along with a dedicated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to make playing mobile games, browsing the Web and watching videos a fast, fluid and smooth experience
· 4-inch Super AMOLED display with pinch-to-zoom
· Android 2.3, Gingerbread
· Android Market™ for access to more than 150,000 applications, widgets and games
· Google Voice™, an innovative service that offers advanced calling controls, makes it easy to manage up to six devices with one Sprint phone number, with intelligent call routing and advanced call controls like call screening, blocking and recording, and online management of SMS, voicemail and call logs at www.google.com/voice
· Google mobile services such as Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Navigation, Google Calendar™, Voice Actions and YouTube™
· Messaging – personal and business email and text messaging, as well as IM through a Google Talk
· Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which allows the device to read information from everyday objects, like stickers and posters embedded with NFC chips
· 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot capability supporting up to six Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously
· Integrated GPS
· 4G data speeds (WiMAX) – peak download speeds of more than 10 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1 Mbps; average download speeds of 3-6 Mbps
· 3G data speeds (EVDO Rev A.) – peak download speeds of up to 3.1 Mbps; peak upload speeds of 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds of 600 kbps-1.4 Mbps
· Wi-Fi – 802.11 b/g/n

Entertainment
· Dual camera: rear-facing 5-megapixel camera with camcorder and flash, and front-facing VGA camera
· Stereo speakers
· Bluetooth® 2.1 + EDR
· Media player with 3.5mm stereo headset jack

Specifications
· Dimensions: 4.88 inches x 2.48 inches x 0.44 inches (124 mm x 63 mm x 11.2 mm) (LxWxT)
· Weight: 4.62 ounces (131 grams)
· Display: 4-inch (480 x 800) Super AMOLED touchscreen display
· Battery: 1500 mAh Lithium-ion battery
· Memory: 16GB Internal Memory (ROM)/512MB (RAM)

Sprint and Google to Launch Integrated Google Voice Experience on All Sprint Phones, Including Upcoming Nexus S 4G
Sprint is first carrier to allow customers to use their existing mobile number as their Google Voice number without porting

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), March 21, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE: S) and Google announced today a new integrated Google Voice™ experience that will allow Sprint customers to set their existing Sprint wireless phone number as their Google Voice number. Sprint customers will be able to take advantage of all the features and benefits of Google Voice without the hassle and fees associated with porting their number. Sprint is the first and only carrier to offer this capability, which will be available soon on all Sprint CDMA phones.

In addition, Nexus S 4G1, announced today by Sprint, Google and Samsung, will allow Sprint customers to enable the integrated Google Voice experience and will come preloaded with the Google Voice Android app.

“As part of our partnership with Google, our customers will appreciate having the easiest set-up experience of any wireless carrier for Google Voice across all of our CDMA phones, using their existing Sprint phone number,” said Kevin McGinnis, vice president-Product and Technology Development, Sprint. “It’s now easier than ever to truly live a mobile lifestyle with the ability to manage multiple devices through intelligent call routing and online controls using just one phone number – your existing Sprint number.”

“With this integration, we have made Google Voice simple to use with a Sprint phone,” said Dave Girouard, president at Google. “Sprint subscribers now have access to all the benefits of Google Voice behind their existing mobile number without the need for porting or, if they already have a Google Voice number, they can display that number from their Sprint phone without the need for a separate application.”

Manage multiple devices with Google Voice

Google Voice makes it easy for people to manage and access most of their voice-based communication. It lets users manage up to six different devices through one phone number with intelligent call routing and advanced features like call screening, blocking and recording using the phone’s dial pad. Sprint subscribers will be able to use their Sprint number across their office, home and wireless phones, and personalize settings so calls from friends ring their wireless device and home phone, while calls from the boss only ring at the office. Google Voice users can receive transcribed voicemails and read or listen to them online. They can also read, send and search text messages and call logs online at www.google.com/voice.

Sprint is the only carrier that allows the user to assign their existing mobile phone number as their Google Voice number without having to port their number, avoiding porting charges, potential service disruptions and the hassle of calling their carrier to terminate and port their number to Google Voice and then re-subscribe with another number. Sprint’s integration with Google simplifies and shortens the process of moving a phone number to Google Voice to mere minutes.

Integrated Google Voice Experience from Sprint

One number for all your devices Work, home, mobile; no need to change numbers after a move or new job
Route phone calls and text messages Send work calls to the office, personal to home or mobile
Conditional call presentation Hear caller info before answering or send straight to voicemail
In-call options Record calls, switch phones during a call, conference calling
Manage it all online Manage call history, texts and voicemail; listen to voicemail and read transcribed messages; view threaded text messaging history and continue the conversation online
Keep your existing wireless phone number without porting Only with Sprint

Customers can sign up to be notified when the integrated Google Voice experience for Sprint phones is available at www.google.com/voice/sprint.

With a few simple steps, any Sprint CDMA phone will be able to use Google Voice to simplify the customer’s wireless experience:

1.
Customers can simply go to www.google.com/voice/sprint and sign-up for the integrated service from Sprint.
2. Google will then confirm the customer would like to use their existing Sprint number as their Google Voice number.
3. Customers do not need to notify Sprint that they plan to use Google Voice. A notification is automatically sent to Sprint to provision the necessary services on the network required for the Google Voice integrated experience.
4. Within minutes, all of the customer’s phone calls, text messages and voicemail run through Google Voice, and all inbound and outbound calls show up with the customer’s existing Sprint number with all of the benefits of Google Voice.

For more information on Sprint’s Google Voice integration, watch the video and visit www.sprint.com/googlevoice.2

Use of Google Voice is available at no additional charge with Sprint plans including Sprint’s Everything Data plans. Sprint’s Everything Data plans with Any Mobile, AnytimeSM include unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint network, starting at just $69.99 per month plus required $10 Premium Data add-on charge for smartphones – a savings of $39.99 per month versus Verizon’s comparable plan with unlimited talk, text and Web (excluding Verizon’s Southern California plan; pricing excludes surcharges and taxes).

Sprint Everything Data plans qualify customers for automatic enrollment in the Sprint PremierSM loyalty program.3 Existing Sprint customers can switch to an Everything Data plan without extending their service agreement. New lines of service require a two-year service agreement.

There’ll also be WiMAX, of course, together with EVDO Rev. A 3G for everywhere else, and we’re expecting the usual Nexus S functionality too. So, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, NFC, a 5-megapixel rear camera, curved Super AMOLED display and all the timely updates that having a Pure Google experience gets you.

[via Android Community]

Both devices were tipped for announcement as early as next month. Verizon is yet to confirm timescales for the LTE upgrade promised to XOOM early-adopters, and if Sprint is fast enough with its version it could potentially beat its CDMA rival to having the first 4G XOOM on the market.

As the XOOM teardown showed, Motorola purposefully made the tablet’s modem easy to access, something which will likely speed its availability on different carriers. Whether competition between Sprint and Verizon will push the subsidized pricing of the slate down – and make it more competitive with the iPad 2 – remains to be seen.

[via Android Community]

There’s WiFi b/g/n connectivity, a microSD card slot which can be accessed by any WiFi client, GPS and an integrated LCD display (45-percent larger than before) for status updates like power, signal and whether you’re on 3G or 4G. Battery life is still around four hours of use.

The Sprint Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot will go on sale from March 20, priced at $49.99 (following a $50 mail-in rebate) with a new, two-year data agreement. Plans kick off at $49.99 per month. A new docking station is also in the works, complete with external antennas.

Press Release:

Overdrive™ Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless, Exclusively from Sprint, Delivers 4G Speeds to Millions of Wi-Fi Enabled Devices

Available March 20, Sprint’s 19th announced 4G-capable device is the next generation of the popular Overdrive mobile hotspot, with an increased number of shared users from five to eight, and a 45 percent larger LCD screen

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. and VANCOUVER, Canada (BUSINESS WIRE), March 17, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE:S) and Sierra Wireless (NASDAQ:SWIR) (TSX:SW) today announced upcoming availability of Overdrive™ Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless. As the second generation of the popular Overdrive device, Overdrive Pro allows users to connect up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously – including laptops, tablets, eReaders, gaming devices, cameras and even smartphones from other carriers – through a single connection (via Wi-Fi) to a 4G network offering download speeds up to 10 times faster than today’s 3G service.1

Overdrive Pro creates a connection between the Sprint 4G network and virtually all of the hundreds of millions of Wi-Fi-enabled electronics devices owned by or available to customers today. Beginning on March 20, customers will be able to purchase Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot exclusively from Sprint for $49.99 (excluding taxes) after a $50 mail-in-rebate with a two-year service agreement. Customers can purchase the device and sign up for 3G/4G plans at select Sprint retail stores, through business sales, Web (www.sprint.com) and Telesales (1-800-SPRINT1).

“There are endless possibilities for how our customers can take advantage of the easy wireless connection to Sprint 4G through this small device,” said Fared Adib, vice president-Product Development, Sprint. “Teams can travel and share access on-the-go, families can be connected in one household with tablets, game consoles and televisions, and shuttle buses can provide Internet access to their customers while en route to a destination. With Overdrive Pro, customers no longer have to look for mobile hotspots because they always have one with them.”

With Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, the benefits to consumers and businesses are endless:

Stream a favorite TV show or movie from Hulu™ or Netflix® to your Netbook or tablet while simultaneously surfing the Web in another room
Wirelessly connect an Xbox 360 and game real-time with someone located across the country
Move pictures wirelessly from a camera to a digital picture frame and surf the Web on a laptop while streaming Pandora®
Work remotely anywhere in a 4G coverage area (or virtually anywhere with 3G) and easily connect a laptop, smartphone, tablet or wireless phone through a single connection
Teams that are travelling can share Internet access with each other at hotels, airports and conference centers
Taxis, limos and shuttle buses can provide Internet access for customer use while en route to their destination
Healthcare teams can rely on an easy, reliable, power-up-and-go solution to use in Emergency Response Team (ERT) Go Kits, or while treating patients bedside
Engineering, construction and insurance teams can instantly upload data, pictures of sites, accidents and images remotely
Reporters first on the scene of a breaking story can share access to upload stories and photos while at the scene, without missing a beat.
Overdrive Pro offers several enhancements over its predecessor, Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, focused on performance and usability, including a 35 percent improvement in power-up and power-down times. Overdrive Pro’s integrated LCD screen, which provides valuable information like signal strength, battery life, and number of devices connected, is 45 percent larger than the previous version for a wider viewing angle, while the device itself is smaller for easier portability. The LCD display has also been made even more informative, with detailed connection and device information available through additional screens that can be accessed by double-pressing the power button.

Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless requires activation on a Sprint 3G/4G Mobile Broadband Plan starting as low as $49.99 per month.2 Device can be used on both the Sprint 3G and 4G networks. This flexibility allows customers to enjoy 4G performance in any of the 71 Sprint 4G markets or to use Sprint’s reliable, nationwide 3G network.

“Overdrive Pro, combined with the power of Sprint’s 4G network, is a valuable tool for both consumers and business users looking for the best way to stay connected on the go,” said Dan Schieler, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile Computing for Sierra Wireless. “It’s remarkably easy to get up and running, and with support for eight Wi-Fi connections and a range of up to 150 feet, it’s equally useful to a remote work team sending reports and presentations back to the office as it is to a varsity team posting highlights from their winning game.”

Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless offers an easy way to keep all of your Wi-Fi-enabled devices connected, even when you’re on the move:

Connects up to up to eight Wi-Fi enabled devices
Provides all the information you need to connect and monitor your connection through a simple user interface with integrated LCD screen
Offers up to 150 foot range for Wi-Fi connections, providing flexibility in device placement and freedom of movement for users
Supports 802.11n for wider compatibility with new Wi-Fi devices
Shared microSD storage, GPS support and location-based services available to all connected devices
Integrated security out-of-the-box requires no additional setup and provides peace of mind when working in public areas.
External antenna ports, to be used with the separately sold docking station, coming soon
As the first national wireless carrier to test, launch and market 4G technology, Sprint made history by launching 4G in Baltimore in September 2008. Sprint currently offers 4G service in 71 markets in 28 states. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/4G.

Sprint will reportedly be reworking its entire network using the spectrum they already own and the cost of the rework is going to hit the $5 billion range according to reports. The project is dubbed Leapfrog and it will have a fundamental impact on how devices operate on the Sprint network. The cool part is that it will combine all of the current spectrum Sprint owns into one usable network.

That means that the 800MHz iDen, 1900MHz CDMA, and 2500MHz WiMax spectrums will be accessible by one handset. As the example goes if you whip out your Sprint handset and the 800MHz is the best for voice calls that is what will be used, but if it is crowded and the 2500MHz isn’t crowded it will be used. Supposedly three firms have already won contracts for these updates to the network. LTE is also reported to be part of the update and LTE will run on Sprints 800MHz network when it can. iDen is also said to be starting a phase out at the end of 2012 into 2013.

[via GizmoFusion]

Morrow will be temporarily replaced by current board of directors chairman John Stanton, the former CEO of Western Wireless and VoiceStream Wireless. Mike Sievert, chief commercial officer, and Kevin Hart, CIO, have both announced their intention to leave Clearwire, “to pursue other opportunities.”

The company claims the exec exits will not impact its ongoing wholesale negotiations with Sprint, an agreement on which it expects is “imminent.” The two carriers had disagreed over profit sharing, and Sprint had suggested it could look instead to an LTE network.

Press Release:

CLEARWIRE NAMES CHAIRMAN JOHN STANTON AS INTERIM CEO

Kirkland, Wash., March 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR), a leading provider of 4G wireless broadband services in the U.S., today announced changes to the company’s executive leadership team.

John Stanton, chairman of Clearwire’s board of directors and former CEO of Western Wireless and VoiceStream Wireless, has been named CEO of Clearwire on an interim basis, effective immediately. Stanton will continue to serve in his role as board chairman.

Stanton replaces Bill Morrow who has resigned as CEO and as a director of the board, citing personal reasons. Morrow will continue to serve as an advisor to the company during the transition period. The company has appointed a search committee, chaired by board member Dennis Hersch, to lead the hiring process for a new CEO.

“I would like to commend Bill for his tremendous leadership in building the first U.S. 4G network, adding more than 5 million subscribers, and raising funds in a challenging economic environment,” said John Stanton. “Bill built a strong leadership team which enables us to promote Erik Prusch and Hope Cochran to new roles. Together, the entire management team at Clearwire remains focused on delivering value to its customers and shareholders.”

Other Executive Appointments

As part of today’s announcement, Erik Prusch, Clearwire’s CFO, has been promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO). In this position, Prusch will be responsible for the company’s day-to-day operations, including wholesale and retail sales, marketing, customer service, supply chain, human resources, IT and network operations. In addition, Hope Cochran, Clearwire’s senior vice president and treasurer, has been promoted to the position of CFO. Cochran will be responsible for all of the company’s financial and investor related functions, including overseeing Clearwire’s ongoing fundraising efforts.

The company also announced that Mike Sievert, chief commercial officer, and Kevin Hart, CIO, are both leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. Both Sievert and Hart will remain with the company for a transition period. “We thank Mike and Kevin for their service and contributions during an incredible period of growth for Clearwire, and we wish them continued success in the future,” said Stanton.

Today’s changes in executive leadership are not expected to impact the company’s progress on an agreement with Sprint to resolve wholesale pricing disputes. Clearwire believes that an agreement with Sprint is imminent.

Stanton has held numerous leadership positions during his career in the wireless industry. He currently serves as chairman of the board of Trilogy Partnerships including Trilogy International Partners which operates wireless systems in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Bolivia and New Zealand. Stanton served as chairman and CEO of Western Wireless Corporation from 1992 until its acquisition by ALLTEL Corporation in 2005. From 1994 to 2003, Stanton served as chairman and CEO of VoiceStream Wireless Corporation, which was sold to Deutsche Telecom and became T-Mobile USA.

Customers were not only dissatisfied with the throttled internet speeds but also Clearwire’s lack of transparency. The company remained very ambiguous in its explanations, telling some customers that there were monthly usage caps while telling others that the network simply gets congested during certain times of the day.

These complaints along with revelations that Clearwire may run out of cash by mid-2011 has garnered a comparison of Clearwire’s situation to a ponzi scheme. The plaintiffs allege that Clearwire is signing up way more subscribers than its network can handle in order to shore up enough cash to eventually build out the network. The case may escalate to a class action lawsuit, accusing Clearwire of violating advertising and fair trade practices.

[via Ars Technica]

However, two sources claim T-Mobile USA is also looking into buying wireless spectrum from Clearwire as an alternative to a Sprint merger. Deutsche Telekom CFO Timotheus Hoettges would only say that ”In general, all options are open in the U.S. — the sale of the whole business or of parts,” though has previously claimed that the carrier is “not under pressure” and won’t be rushing any decision.

Last week, Sprint suggested it was considering an LTE 4G network deployment that could, the carrier insisted, be operational by 2012 and cover the US by 2013. However, there was speculation that Sprint’s motivation was to pressure WiMAX partner Clearwire amid ongoing wholesale revenue negotiations.

Initial rumors suggested that the EVO View 4G might be Sprint’s version of the HTC Flyer, complete with CDMA 3G support and a WiMAX radio. The “goods and services” section in the trademark application doesn’t specifically reference tablets, but it does mention “portable computers” which could add up to the same thing.

[via Android Community]

The Nexus S 4G, as the name suggests, is a WiMAX version of the Google Nexus S; two potential candidates have been spotted clearing the Wi-Fi Alliance, the SPH-D600 or SPH-D720. Sprint had previously flirted with the original Samsung handset in 2010, though ended up opting for the HTC EVO 4G instead.

Finally, there’s the Sprint EVO 3D, details on which are sparse to the point of merely speculation based upon the name. A 3D-capable device from an unspecified manufacturer, we’re wondering if LG has stepped in with its Optimus 3D and a carrier-branded version. We won’t know until CTIA – or the next leak, of course – which takes place in early April.

[via Android Community]