MiFi pushes 3G past the router limits

In a commercial featuring 30 Rock actress and producer Tina Fey and director Martin Scorsese, the former Saturday Night Live head writer uses her credit card to gain entrance to an airline lounge. The notion of a faceless slice serving as an access pass would also apply to Novatel Wireless's MiFi, the simply named 3G personal hotspot that will support up to five users simultaneously connecting to a 3G network when it is offered through operators next year.
MiFi is not the first product to enable a small group to bridge wifi products to the wireless WAN. One early entrant, Junxion, was acquired by Novatel Wireless competitor Sierra Wireless. And Cradlepoint has created a battery-powered device sold at Best Buy that, like the Junxion device, relies on a laptop card to create its WAN connection.
That's not true, though, of the MiFi, which integrates an HSPA or EVDO radio along with the battery that can provide over four hours of Internet access to devices such as a PC, iPod touch, Zune, Nintendo DS or Sony PSP. In fact, without apologies to Right Said Fred, the MiFi may be "too sexy for my LAN" -- particularly for a product that can work silently in a backpack as it serves its nodes. A thicker frame could provide all-day access, but perhaps such lengthy sessions will generally take place where there is access to an outlet; the device continues to perform normally if it is drawing juice from a PC's USB port. But the MiFi is not simply a dumb dispenser of digits.
It is not just noteworthy for its level of integration but also because it is actually a platform for which developers can write applications. One example might be automatically backing up photos from a digital camera and transmitting them to a remote server overnight. It can also accept removable media cards. And Novatel representatives indicate it might even be a candidate to run Android down the road.

The MiFi should be available for less than $300, potentially considerably less if operators subsidize it. It is aimed at enterprises, small businesses and consumers, where it could face competition from products such as the AutoNet Mobile in the vehicle. Other on-the-go options would include using phones themselves as routers using software such as TapRoot Systems' Walking HotSpot or JoikuSpot. Tethering plans tend to cost half of what US operators are charging for a full data plan and may be all many consumers need when they are outside a Wi-Fi hotspot.

However, a limited number of handsets support these applications, some operators seeing the hotspot-enabled handset as a double-edged sword, and Verizon Wireless, for example, takes a dim view of WiFi on any of its handsets (such as the Blackberry Storm, where WiFi is supported in the Vodafone version). Those who can foot the monthly bills for broadband wireless will be able to extend their bubble of connectivity with the MiFi. If enough do, it may even attract developers willing to cater to the device's intelligence, providing new capabilities to those connected cadres in the club. As has been said of Tina Fey's credit card, membership has its privileges.
[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: 3G, featured, mifi, Novatel Wireless, NovatelWireless, personal hotspot, PersonalHotspot, switched on, SwitchedOn, Wi-Fi ]

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Aliph brings Babbling Blue / Rambling RosГ© Jawbones to Best Buy

Not sure what exactly was so wrong with Blah Blah Black, Silver Tongue and Goldy Lips, but for those not really turned on by any of the aforementioned hues, you should probably set your navigator to the nearest Best Buy. Aliph has just introduced two new colors in the Jawbone family -- Babbling Blue and Rambling Rose (shown after the break) -- which will be offered up exclusively at Best Buy Mobile. Same heralded Bluetooth headset, same $139.99 price tag -- just with two new tints.


[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: Aliph, bd headset, BdHeadset, best buy, best buy mobile, BestBuy, BestBuyMobile, bluetooth headset, BluetoothHeadset, color, colors, earwear, headset, jawbone ]

3G-enabled Archos 5 and Eee PC 901 announced by French wireless carrier SFR

You don't see a lot of PMPs or netbooks out there with carrier branding, but both the Archos 5 and the Eee PC have gotten themselves 3G-enabled recently, and French wireless company SFR isn't wasting any time with the silkscreen machine -- it's just announced subsidized versions of both. The Archos 5 3G+ comes dressed in sharp new black suit and features a smaller 30GB drive to go with its integrated 3G modem and custom SFR menu items -- you're looking at €249 ($320) with a monthly data fee of €19 ($24) for existing SFR customers or €24 ($30) for new subs. More or less the same deal with the Eee 901: you're getting the familiar 1.6GHz Atom with 1GB of RAM, a 16GB SSD, and an integrated 3G modem for €279 ($358) with €29 ($37) / €34 ($43) monthly contract fees. Hopefully we'll see some Stateside carriers pick up on this trend soon, eh?
Read - Archos 5 3G+
Read - Eee PC 901

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: 3g , 901, archos, archos 5, archos 5 3g, Archos5, Archos53g, asus, eee, eee 901, eee pc, eee pc 901, Eee901, EeePc, EeePc901, sfr, sfr 3g , Sfr3g , wwan ]

WiMAX tested in Reno, doesn't work in cars

Sprint may have just launched the XOHM WiMAX network in Baltimore, but would-be merger partner Clearwire has been running its version of the mobile broadband service in Reno for a while, and InfoWorld went down to test it out and give us a taste of what to expect. Performance was good while not in motion, with downloads speeds around 1.5 to 2.0 Mbps and uploads hitting 275 to 325Kbps, but actually getting mobile broadband seems to be out of the question -- the system simply couldn't connect to a laptop moving in a car or on a train. That seems like a dealbreaker to us, but we'll give it a pass for now since it's so early in the game -- we'll see if Sprint can do better.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: clearwire, reno, sprint, wimax, xohm ]

Verizon wraps up acquisition of Rural Cellular

It's taken more than a year, but Verizon has just officially announced that it has completed its purchase of Rural Cellular, which you may also know by its business name, Unicel. This latest announcement follows a conditional approval from the FCC earlier this week, which required one of the two companies to sell licenses in six markets in order to "improve competition" -- a compromise Verizon seems to have been more than willing to accept. All told, Verizon will be forking over $2.66 billion in cash and assumed debt for the company, which will increase its customer base by more than 625,000, and expand its coverage area by 4.7 million people, including markets in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Alabama, Mississippi, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: acquisition, merger, purchase, rural cellular, RuralCellular, unicel, verizon, verizon wireless, VerizonWireless ]

Sprint goes live with XOHM WiMAX service in downtown Baltimore

In an apparent effort to make good on its claim of having WiMAX rolling in Baltimore this month, Sprint is reportedly going live with the service in the downtown area today. There's no indication of when it'll spread XOHM throughout Charm City, but we're hearing that prices will start at $10 for a 24-hour unlimited pass and $35 for monthly service. Best of all, there won't be any contracts necessarily attached, and WiMAX-friendly laptop cards will supposedly start at around $45. For any locals able to actually find one of these so-called aircards and hop on this elusive XOHM network today, be sure and let us know how it goes.

[ Via: USAToday ]
[ Tag: 4g, baltimore, Clearwire, maryland, sprint, wimax, XOHM ]

Google patent keeps airwaves competitive by selecting the cheapest

Google's persistent interest in ensuring that the US' 700MHz spectrum would give rise to a network open to any and all devices reinforced its belief that carriers can and should be nothing more than the proverbial "dumb pipes" -- leave the content and hardware to the people who know how to do it and don't necessarily have a vested interest in the carriers' bottom line. That attitude foretold that it had some interesting ideas up its sleeves (this is Google, after all), and while it's never been entirely clear what those ideas are, Android's "please use it, it's free" attitude certainly plays a role. Here's another piece of the puzzle: rather than be tied down to any one carrier, why not keep changing carriers in real time based on whomever's going to give you the best deal? A new patent filed by Mountain View's finest proposes exactly that, bringing together heterogeneous technologies -- "community-wide" networks like WiFi and WiMAX along with GSM, CDMA, and so on -- and an "auction system" that would let the user select (or allow the phone to automatically select) the best deal at the moment depending on their needs (available features or minimum speeds, time limits, and so on). It's an amazing idea that totally turns the contract concept on its head, and it's an idea that carriers would fight to the death. We're not seeing it happening, but hey, Google, we like the cut of your jib.

[ Via: textually.org ]
[ Tag: auction, google, network, networks, patent ]

BenQ's 3G-enabled, Atom-powered MID Aries2 (S6) boots up in Italy

Is it really time to shine, BenQ, or are you just foolin' again? Judging by a product page at Italy's TIM website and a fresh report from the Italian branch of Tom's Hardware, the S6 (or MID Aries2, or BenQ MID... gosh, we're so confused!) is finally ready to order. The Atom-based MID impresses with built-in 3G capabilities, 512MB of RAM, a 2GB SSD, 4.8-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, WiFi / Bluetooth 2.0 and -- just to really pound the message home / incite jealously -- 7.2Mbps HSDPA. The current asking price sits at €429 ($626), and while the value proposition may be debatable, the amount of possibilities packed into a frame this small (6.2- x 3.5- x 0.86-inches) definitely isn't. Let's get these out to other nooks and crannies of the wide world, eh BenQ?

[ Via: UMPC Portal ]
[ Tag: 3g, 3g mid, 3gMid, Aries2, benq, benq mid, BenqMid, Europe, mid, mid aries 2, MID Aries2, MidAries2, now shipping, NowShipping, on sale, OnSale, s6, ship, shipping, ships, tim, umpc ]

Sony Bluetooth Sport Earphones: Possibly Useful, Sadly Hideous [Bluetooth]

When I'm in the gym I love listening to music, and hate the way my headphone cord whaps against me as I'm exercising... and that's exactly the sort of problem Sony's DR-BT160AS heaphones are designed to stop. The "active stereo" 'phones connect wirelessly over Bluetooth, are splashproof, have volume and play control buttons, a mike for cellphone compatibility and adjustable earpieces. But that's where the goodness stops: the design also has "pods" that house the batteries and circuitry, sitting behind your ears like a chunky black hearing-aid. Maybe I'm wrong, but it just looks like bad design. Due out October, price still to be announced.
[ Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[ Tag: ]

Sony's SOCOM PS3 Bluetooth headset gets official

Sony Computer Entertainment Japan just got official with its PlayStation-branded SOCOM Bluetooth headset (model CEJH-15002) we've seen bouncing around since June. Set for a ?5,000 (about $46 tax inclusive) release on October 30th in Japan along side SOCOM:CONFRONTATION, the Bluetooth 2.1+EDR headset with noise cancellation will automatically pair with your PS3, making it ready for games supporting on-line chat like SOCOM and Resistance 2 coming November 13th. The bundled USB cradle will charge the headset for up to 8-hours of voice. As a bonus, when used with the PS3 you'll be treated to on-screen indicators showing your connection status, battery charge and speaker levels and microphone mute status all at the push of a button. And for those of you wondering, yes, it should pair just fine with your cellphone since it supports both the HSP and HFP Bluetooth profiles.
[ Via: I4U ]
[ Tag: blueooth,bluetooth 2.1,Bluetooth2.1,cejh-15002,headset,playstation 3,Playstation3,ps3,socom,sony ]

CSR demonstrates Bluetooth low energy transfer

We know you're not really down with digesting any more catchphrases, but the technology formerly known as Ultra Low Power Bluetooth / Wibree is now being dubbed Bluetooth low energy. Now that we're clear on nomenclature, you may be thrilled to know that CSR showcased its recently unveiled BlueCore7 dual mode (Bluetooth low energy and Bluetooth v2.1) chip at a Bluetooth SIG Medical Working Group meeting. According to onlookers, the handset was able to transfer data to another nearby mobile using just 3 frequencies rather than 32, resulting in an unquantifiable decrease in power consumption. Sounds like a winner on the surface, but we have this weird that mass adoption of this tech is like, years away.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: BlueCore7,bluetooth,bluetooth low energy,BluetoothLowEnergy,bt,CSR,demo,demonstration,energy efficient,EnergyEfficient,trial,Ultra Low Power Bluetooth,UltraLowPowerBluetooth,Wibree ]

Best Buy's $10 headset pairing service includes testing, finger pointing

See what it's come to Bluetooth SIG? Headset-to-cellphone pairing is so utterly baffling to average consumers that they are now handing over a Hamilton at Best Buys in California (in support of the new hands-free calling law) just to avoid the procedure. Eight years after the launch of the world's first Bluetooth headset from Ericsson, this is where we're at. Still, at $10, consider it a bargain -- that's half of what Best Buy will charge you for the already free-to-download (and free to ship on CD) Ubuntu OS.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: best buy,BestBuy,bluetooth,pairing,ubuntu ]

Apple's Remote: turns your iPhone into a WiFi remote control

There it is, the new freebie from Apple which turns your iPhone or iPod touch into a remote control. It works with Apple TV and iTunes over the WiFi network to play, pause, skip and shuffle your songs stored in your iTunes library. You get access to playlists, album art (displayed in the Remote app), control over AirTunes speakers, and the ability to search your entire library. No video support apparently but free is free and 1.0 is 1.0.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: iphone,iphone 3g,Iphone3g,ipod touch,IpodTouch,itunes,remote control,RemoteControl ]

American Airlines to test in-flight WiFi tomorrow

You heard right, folks. American Airlines is planning to open up the world wide web to passengers on board an unspecified round-trip flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles. The Gogo service, provided via Aircell, will be free for patrons tomorrow, but will eventually run users $12.95 for flights greater than three hours and $9.95 for trips under said threshold. We're also told that more trials are expected to get going on flights between New York and San Francisco and New York and Miami, though no time frame is given for when the service would escape the beta stage and hit mass implementation. Additionally, the Gogo system is supposed to "prioritize the flow of data so that passengers downloading movies or large documents won't prevent other passengers from getting their email," so don't expect to use that excuse for not sending in those Q2 close reports.

[ Via: Jaunted ]
[ Tag: aircell,aircraft,airline,airplane,american airlines,AmericanAirlines,gogo,in-flight,in-flight wifi,In-flightWifi,internet,plane,wifi ]

Switched On: The iPhone's iFunnel

The first iPhone arrived at a time that suggested Apple needed to protect its iPod franchise -- but Apple delivered something that was much more than an MP3 player that could make phone calls. You probably won't be editing any iMovies on it for some time, but in the iPhone Apple has essentially delivered Macintosh 2.0. It's portable. It's affordable. It's connected. And it runs OS X, complete with its own breakthrough pointing device, your finger. Whereas the first Mac came with productivity applications MacWrite and MacPaint, the iPhone came with applications for Web surfing, e-mail, and consuming media, the evolution of what much personal computing has become.
Furthermore, Apple has shown that it has learned from mistakes it made with the first Mac. Whereas early monochrome Macs were a tough sell for game developers, Apple has highlighted games as some of the most impressive early third-party applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. And whereas Apple was notorious for keeping Mac prices high for many years, the next-generation iPhone takes advantage of carrier subsidies for an out-of-pocket price of $200 in the US (and even less or free in some countries). Despite the many changes that have transformed the software industry since 1984, the iPhone, along with its SDK, development tools and app store, have the potential to bring the work of OS X developers to millions of people who don't own Macs -- that is, if Apple lets them.
As the sole distributor of iPhone applications, Apple has absolute authority on what programs are made available to customers, and can refuse distribution of any application at will. It is the iFunnel, imposing more control than is exerted over most smartphones -- or even many feature phones that can access Java applications -- that are marketed off of the carriers' deck. Apple has already outlined some kinds of applications that it will disallow: programs that feature pornography, compromise privacy, hog bandwidth or device resources, or are illegal or malicious. However, there seem to be many applications that don't fall into these categories, applications that vendors say are ready to go, but which Apple has not yet approved, such as Adobe's Flash or TomTom's navigation software.

As one product manager at a large, longtime cross-platform developer that has created an innovative and free iPhone application recently put it, anyone can create anything using the iPhone emulator. The trick is getting it onto the device. The manager said that his company had the scale and historic relationship with Apple to instill confidence that it could get its app approved. He noted Apple has been overwhelmed with submissions, though, and wants to maintain a good user experience at launch, even if that means featuring a small portion of applications that are ready to go.

Operating on a cellular network certainly complicates software development in a way that the gung-ho evangelists of the Mac's early days didn't need to consider. And by scrutinizing applications for quality and polish, Apple can keep the iPhone user experience more stable and consistent than that of early Macs. But, as Steve Jobs admitted after Apple first locked out all alll third-party native iPhone applications, Apple is a platform company and ultimately its value in being in the cell phone market ties back to that heritage.
Being too restrictive on which applications are allowed for the iPhone won't right another wrong of the first Mac's development. It will stifle a platform that Apple has clearly committed to with an SDK. For the benefit of iPhone and iPod touch users, OS X developers, and ultimately Apple itself, the iFunnel should let quality programs flow freely.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: Apple,featured,features,iPhone,SDK,switched on,switchedon ]

Dash Express now officially $300

Looks like that sale at Amazon's turned into a full blown price cut -- Dash has officially lowered the price on the Dash Express from $400 to $300 (not including service, of course). Of course, this can be interpreted one of two ways: they're selling so well that economies of scale have kicked in, and everyone saves money buying the GPS -- or, the fresh-faced company's sole product isn't doing very well in the marketplace, leading to this second price drop so far. We're hope it's not the latter though, we're definitely stoked to see where else Dash can take us.
Update: Dash let us know that sales are meeting expectations, and they're capitalizing on the big uptick in new buyers during the last $300 price promotion. Good to know!
Update 2: Bonus! People who bought on or before May 31st are getting three free months of service. Thanks, Justin.

[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: dash,dash express,DashExpress,price drop,PriceDrop ]

Sprint turning on WiMAX in Baltimore in September, Chicago and DC by end of year

Sprint CEO Dan Hesse spoke at NXTcomm08 today, and he let it slip that Sprint is planning on launching its first commerically-available WiMAX network in Baltimore in September, and expanding the trial service currently operating in Chicago and DC by the end of the year. We're assuming that means Clearwire and not Sprint itself, of course, but Hesse also touched on the carrier's WiMAX-based 4G strategy, saying that consumers "can't seem to get enough data" and that devices like digital cameras and GPS systems will eventually connect to WiMAX directly -- allowing Sprint to "break free of wireless cellphone group think." Sure, whatever -- but let's get that network lit up before we start counting chickens, shall we?

[ Via: Phone Scoop ]
[ Tag: clearwire,dan hesse,DanHesse,sprint,wimax ]

T-Mobile clears everything up: 3G rollout (with data) is on in NYC

Great news, T-Mobile USA fans -- the roller coaster ride is finally over. After we thought T-Mobile's 3G network was but moments away from launching, we soon found that data may be left out. Oddly enough, a few reports hailing from the Big Apple claimed that data actually was included. At long last, the carrier is coming clean and announcing its official 3G rollout in the States. Unfortunately, the UMTS / HSDPA network is initially launching in New York City alone, but the good news is that data will be included and the operator expects the high-speed data network to "be available in cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services" by the year's end. Yeah, it's safe to celebrate now, we promise it's not a(nother) false alarm. Full release posted after the jump.

T-Mobile USA Begins Commercial 3G Network Rollout

Company Launches UMTS/HSDPA Network in New York City on its AWS Spectrum;
Plans 3G Network Launches in Major Markets Across the Country in the Coming Months

NEW YORK and BELLEVUE, Wash. – May 5, 2008– T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that the company has taken the first commercial step in the rollout of its third-generation (3G) wireless network by launching its UMTS/HSDPA network in New York City. T-Mobile plans to continue the rollout of its 3G network across major metropolitan markets through the year. By year's end, T-Mobile expects its high-speed data network will be available in those cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services.

"The launch of our 3G network comes at a time when 3G phones and services are more affordable, capable and appealing to our consumer marketplace than ever before," said Cole Brodman, chief development officer, T-Mobile USA. "We benefit not only from the economic scale of 3G, but also from the extensive commercial experience of 3G in our European markets. Today, T-Mobile USA customers already have among the highest adoption of data and messaging services in the industry. Through our 3G network, we look forward to delivering a rich portfolio of new and meaningful services to enrich our customers' lives."

T-Mobile's 3G network supports voice and data services consistent with available service and handset offerings. The company today offers multiple phones that are able to operate on the UMTS network. The phones are designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide the great call quality and rich communication services customers expect from T-Mobile.

Customers using a 3G-capable handset from T-Mobile will also experience faster data speeds when accessing the Web, or downloading content from the T-Mobile t-zones content portal, for example.

In the coming months, T-Mobile plans to offer its first HSDPA device, along with new and compelling data-centric, all-in-one devices that help make the most of T-Mobile's high-speed data network.

The launch of the 3G network also enables T-Mobile to accommodate and serve more customers more efficiently through the use of its AWS spectrum, effectively doubling T-Mobile USA's spectrum position, and laying the foundation for the company's future growth. T-Mobile and the U.S. government, namely the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice, continue to work closely and effectively together to make available AWS spectrum that will give consumers access to the 3G network.

As the 3G service rolls out in targeted major markets, T-Mobile will continue to build upon its
T-Mobile® HotSpot Wi-Fi network - its wireless high-speed Internet offering that launched in 2003 - and its nationwide voice and data network, to empower customers to effortlessly stay connected using the best available network.

- more -

T-Mobile International is following a common technology path across all of its markets in Europe and the United States, from GSM/GPRS/EDGE to UMTS/HSDPA. T-Mobile USA greatly benefits from
T-Mobile International's 3G experiences in Europe, where adoption of non-messaging mobile data is growing dynamically; and with more than 120 million customers worldwide, T-Mobile International is able to generate significant global procurement synergies.
[ Via: Engadget ]
[ Tag: 3g,data,hsdpa,new york,NewYork,ny,official,rollout,t-mobile,umts ]