Sadly, though, FreedomPop only uses WiMAX and the service is limited to just a handful of regions in the US. While the company plans to switch to LTE at some point in the future, availability still may be scarce, but we wouldn’t be surprised if FreedomPop eventually spread the service to most users in the country.

While $10 per month for 10GB of data seems like a steal, some users may just not want to pony up any money at all, but the 1GB of data per month is a rather low amount, especially if you’re using it in a house full of kids. However, as always, FreedomPop offers the opportunity to earn more data by completing different tasks, like adding friends and completing partner promotions.

FreedomPop claims that their $10/month plan is 80% cheaper than your typical DSL or cable offering, but at this point, nothing can really beat the reliability of a solid home wired network can’t quite beat wireless service at this point. However, once LTE rolls around in more areas, FreedomPop may actually become a viable option, but we’ll have to wait and see.

FreedomPop has announced that its WiMAX iPhone sleeve has been delayed in the FCC approval process due to an untested design element. According to the company, the delay is unexpected and has cost it a significant amount of money. FreedomPop says that the delay has cost it $550,000 so far.

FreedomPop CEO Stephen Stokols told FierceWireless during CES 2013 that the holdup had to do with the design of the iPhone sleeve, which placed the WiMAX radio right next to the iPhone cellular radio. According to the CEO, the FCC hadn’t tested a device with a radio against a radio design in the past. That meant that the FCC had to do extensive testing on the sleeve when used with the iPhone.

That extensive testing has delayed the commercial release of the sleeve for the iPhone 4 and 4S. The iPhone version of the WiMAX sleeve had previously been up for pre-order, but the FCC testing delay meant the company stopped taking pre-orders a while ago. Stokols said that the company has 5000 of the sleeves at U.S. Customs waiting for FCC approval. He does expect that approval to come within the next “few weeks” and then the sleeves will begin shipping immediately.

[via FierceWireless]

Unlike traditional DSL or cable broadband, however, FreedomPop is sticking with wireless options for its connection. The Hub Burst unit itself is basically a fixed WiMAX modem, complete with WiFi and ethernet connectivity, meaning installation is as straightforward as plugging it into the mains.

If 1GB of data isn’t enough for you, there will be paid plans starting at $9.99 per month for 10GB. Alternatively, FreedomPop will allow you to pay for what excess you use, at $0.005/MB. The modem itself will be $89, and assuming you don’t use any more than 1GB, that’s all you’ll need to pay.

Up for preorder from today, Hub Burst is expected to begin shipping in January 2013. It appears to be a rebadge of the Clear Hub Express, complete with two ethernet ports and WiFi b/g/n.

Those will be priced at $99 apiece, and the iPhone model includes a built-in battery. They share the 4G data connection – WiMAX, courtesy of Clearwire’s network – out via WiFi, just as with a regular mobile hotspot, which means other devices you might have can also get online when nearby.

Once you’ve chewed through your free 500MB, each subsequent gigabyte of data is priced at $10. There’s also a range of prepurchase plans for those who know they’ll want to use more, and which FreedomPop insists will save 20- to 40-percent on other carriers’ data deals. Another paid option will remove a speed cap.

Where it gets interesting is how you can earn more credit by taking part in promotions and referring friends. The exact amounts involved vary on the promotion – think along the lines of a few megabytes for watching an ad video, or 10MB per month if you refer a friend who goes on to use FreedomPop themselves – and the referral side of it is limited to 1GB each month.

Sign-ups are being handled on a first-come, first-served basis, and you’ll obviously need to be in a Clearwire-serviced area in order to use the 4G. FreedomPop expects to upgrade to LTE eventually, though that’s now believed to be taking place early in the new year rather than before the end of 2012, as previously suggested.

Usually, that would demand a WiFi hotspot of some sort, but the Freedom Sleeve basically creates that itself. Streaming video and music are supported, along with internet access and just about anything else that you could hope to use data for, and in fact you can also share it with other WiFi-enabled gadgets such as tablets and notebooks with hotspot access for up to eight.

As for the “free” part, that’s based on a combination of things. FreedomPop says all buyers will get 500MB of free data each month, on top of which they can earn up to 500MB more by adding friends to the service. If 1GB free isn’t enough, $10 gets you a further gigabyte, and there’s no contract to sign or minimum commitment.

FreedomPop uses Clearwire’s WiMAX network, with coverage in forty markets for around 130m people in total. However, the company is also readying an LTE service, though hasn’t said exactly when it will launch (or, indeed, if the current hardware will support it).

The Freedom Sleeve for iPod touch is up for pre-order now, and is priced at $99. It’s expected to begin shipping in two months.

FreedomPop is said to have signed a deal with the Now Network that would make use of 3G and 4G services later on in the year. The company plans to offer an iPhone case that will have WiMAX, LTE, and CDMA radios for the best possible coverage. As the licensor’s LTE network becomes more robust in 2013, FreedomPop will begin to phase out the WiMAX radios and rely primarily on LTE.

500MB of free LTE access every month doesn’t sound so terrible. More data can be acquired too, with FreedomPop hoping users will leverage social networks to promote the brand and earn up to 1GB of access. FreedomPop customers can also transfer data between each other’s accounts if they’re feeling particularly generous. Even if you go over the free limit, data can be purchased outright as normal at one cent per megabyte.

“During its Tuesday, May 15 launch, Voyager Mobile experienced a malicious network attack to its primary website: voyagermobile.com. Due to the network outage, Voyager Mobile is postponing its launch to a time and date in the very near future” the company said in a statement today. “Our goal of low cost wireless service for all will not be undermined and we strive to continue the voyage for a better wireless world.”

The cheaper unlimited plans are only available to those picking the more basic phones, however. If you opt for a smartphone – of which Voyager has several CDMA Android-based options, from Motorola, Samsung and LG among others – the monthly bill rises to $39 for voice, text and WiMAX data access.

Voyager hasn’t said who it believes might be responsible for the attack on its network, and neither has it given a specific date for the postponed launch.

The major change is that the case will no longer give 1GB of data: FreedomPop has decided to drop the amount to 500MB to play it safe. In addition, the deposit idea has been scrapped, with users simply buying the case outright for $99. They can return it for a refund if they’re not happy, so while nothing has really changed for the end-user, the accounting department has a slightly easier job.

500MB isn’t a lot to play with, especially with potentially fast WiMAX speeds, so how can you accrue more? FreedomPop is planning to let users earn more bandwidth by connecting with each other via social networks. How much you earn for these interactions isn’t clear, but it’s said that the monthly limit on data can be raised to 1GB if you play your cards right. FreedomPop users will also be able to transfer data between one another: if you’re having a lighter month, you could send your 500MB over to a friend so that they could take advantage of it instead.

Overage charges will still apply if you do break the 500MB threshold, with data costing one cent per megabyte. The case otherwise remains the same, attaching to your iPhone 4/4S and acting as a WiFi hotspot that the phone connects to while providing additional power. The video below gives a demo of the device, including speeds, and you can head over to this link to pre-order now.

[via TechCrunch]

Seamless transition between 3G CDMA, WiMAX and LTE is promised, and there’s integrated GPS for adding location data to LBS and apps. A 1.7-inch 160 x 128 LCD on the top panel shows battery life, details on how many devices are connected at any one time, and the status of the data link.

Sierra Wireless reckons the 4G LTE Tri-Fi is good for up to 150 feet WiFi range outdoors, or up to 115 feet indoors, and the hotspot will roll back to EVDO Rev.0 and 1xRTT data connections when you’re at the fringes of coverage. The whole thing measures in at 3.84 x 2.25 x 0.95 inches and weighs 4.87oz with the standard 3,600 mAh battery.

Charging is via microUSB, and the hotspot will also operate as a tethered modem if you plug it in direct to your computer. The Tri-Fi hotspot will go on sale May 18, priced at $99.99 after a $50 mail-in-rebate and with a two-year service agreement. Plans, meanwhile, will kick off at $34.99 for 3GB of combined 3G/4G data, rising to $49.99 for 6GB of combined 3G/4G data or $79.99 for 12GB of 3G/4G data.

Best Buy says that a “strategic decision” was made to shut down the Connect service and new activations stopped immediately. If you are current customer of Best Buy Connect, you may be wondering what will happen to you. The service is completely closing down, not simply giving up on new activations. The consumer electronics retailer says that current customers will be given the option to transition to Clear WiMax 4G service.

That should mean uninterrupted coverage if the user chooses that. To make up for the service ending customers with accounts that are current will be given a Best Buy Gift Card via e-mail on April 27. Customers that have past due balances and catch up will get gift cards on June 20. The value those gift card will vary from $125-$150 depending on the product the user purchased. Any early termination fees will be waived for people simply wanting out.

[via Engadget]

T-Mobile USA’s HSPA+ 42Mbps service, meanwhile, held up surprisingly well with “true” 4G from other providers. The survey also praises the carrier’s plans, describing them as both more flexible and cheaper than those of its competitors.

Verizon, meanwhile, may have had LTE service first, but the net result is slower download rates than AT&T’s newer network. 3G speeds, meanwhile, aren’t improving much year-on-year, with Verizon’s focus obviously being on broadening its next-gen coverage. That’s paid off in terms of service accessibility, however, with the carrier’s 4G more prevalent than that of others.

WiMAX, however, is showing its age. In fact, the service – which was first to grab the “4G” label – performed worse than 3G service from rivals in most of the cities tested.

The conclusion looks to be that frequent downloaders should check out the coverage maps for AT&T and Verizon and, if the former is available, probably opt for Ma Bell. Uploaders might be better off with Verizon, while those on a budget might find T-Mobile’s plans more palatable.

Now, Apple must email every new 4G iPad buyer and detail the issue, offering to issue them with a refund if they are disappointed by the wireless limitations. Meanwhile signs reading “This product supports very fast cellular networks. It is not compatible with current Australian 4G LTE networks or WiMax networks” will be distributed to all resellers by 5pm local time on April 5, for display next to the tablet.

In Australia, the LTE network operated by carrier Telstra uses the 1800MHz band, not the 800MHZ or 2100MHz bands used by the AT&T new iPad model sold internationally under the “4G” branding. Rival 4G carrier Vividwireless uses WiMAX instead.

Still, the company has arguably got off lightly: the ACCC originally demanded that Apple place stickers on every iPad WiFi + 4G box explaining the nature of the 4G support. The Commission also pushed for less wordy signage, though Apple complained that it could lead consumers to believe that the new iPad supported no mobile broadband connections whatsoever, including 3G, and thus prove to be “disparaging of its very good product.”

Apple and the ACCC will meet on April 18 for a mediation session, with a trial date of May 2 where the process of deciding whether Apple has broken the law in Australia will take place. Those laws allow for up to AU$1.1m (US$1.5m) in penalties per contravention, and the ACCC is yet to number exactly how many it intends to bring against Apple.

The backlash is unlikely to end in Australia, however. The new iPad 4G also does not support LTE networks in use or in planning across Europe and elsewhere, and it’s likely that the European Commission will be watching closely to see how the ACCC’s complaints pan out.

TechCrunch reports that FreedomPop will offer the case to iPhone 4/4S users for a deposit of around $100. It will have an integrated WiMAX radio that will provide internet service, and also act as a hotspot for up to eight devices. The battery is also rated for up to thirty hours, although it’s unclear if the case has an integrated battery or will share the iPhones.

FreedomPop plan to give away 1GB of data for free with the case. That, apparently, will be the only data plan they offer, and any overage will cost one cent per megabyte. Data is also the only thing that FreedomPop will be offering – there won’t be a voice or messaging service.

The plan to make money off the back of the free service is to charge for value added extras down the line. FreedomPop believe they’ll be able to convert 10 to 15% of customers to a paid model, which will subsidize the service for everyone else. Right now, there aren’t any details on what kind of services FreedomPop are hoping to charge for.

WarpSpeed, the faster option, promises download rates of up to 10Mbps. However, there’s also LightSpeed, which limits it to 1Mbps; users can switch between them on-the-fly, with no impact on subscription fees.

Plans start at subscription-free with the purchase of either the $99.95 hotspot or $49.95 USB modem, which gets you 200MB per month for a year. $9.95 gets 500MB, $19.95 gets 1GB and $34.95 gets 2GB. Finally, $49.95 gets 4GB per month.

NetZero is also promising no overage fees: if users reach their data limit, they get an alert and the option to either buy a top-up for more data immediately, upgrade to a higher-capacity plan, or wait it out until the next month.

There’s no mention of the network NetZero is actually using – the carrier is an MVNO, reselling 4G service rather than setting up its own network – but the company inked a deal with Clearwire in early 2011 so it seems this is WiMAX rather than LTE.

Cricket began rolling out LTE in December 2011, starting off in Tucson, Arizona. So far the company only supports USB modems, but with the latest move from Clearwire, could see some LTE smartphones on its network. Cricket are set to utilize Clearwire’s LTE network as part of a five-year deal. They’re the second company to make use of Clearwire’s LTE network so far.

Of course, Clearwire’s LTE network isn’t even live yet: the hope is to have 5,000 cell sites live by June 2013, then build towards 8,000 sites. Cricket are hoping to expand LTE coverage to around 60% of its exisiting network coverage, which should be helped significantly by Clearwire’s LTE network when it does eventually go live.

Eric Prusch, President and CEO of Clearwire said:

This long-term partnership with Cricket is a key step forward in the development of Clearwire’s wholesale LTE business model. We are very pleased to provide Cricket with additional mobile broadband resources to supplement their own LTE build and we plan to continue to actively seek new opportunities to serve the needs of other 4G providers.

Neither company has outlined the financial terms of the deal, however.

Sprint and Comcast will have first dibs on the stock, according to the terms of the investors’ agreement. Google has given no specific reasons for why it wants to exit Clearwire at this point, though the carrier’s WiMAX fortunes have not exactly proved glowing in recent months. A general shift toward faster LTE by AT&T and Verizon, among others, has led to suggestions that WiMAX has had its day.

“Google periodically rebalances its investments based on its goals and its evaluation of market conditions” Google letter to Clearwire

Clearwire itself lent weight to those rumors when it announced plans for LTE development of its own back in August 2011. A later deal with China Mobile to promote LTE seemed to confirm that it too had changed its focus.

Of course, Google has plenty in telecoms on its hands anyway, with the impending acquisition of Motorola Mobility.

[via StreetInsider - Thanks Andrew!]

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]