Vizio Readies 8-Inch Tablet

By Joseph Palenchar On Jul 5 2011 - 4:01am

NEW YORK – Vizio announced summertime availability of its first tablet, a Wi-Fi-equipped Android 2.3 model equipped with 8-inch touchscreen and IR blaster to double as a universal remote.

Although the company didn’t disclose a price, Internet photos of a Walmart display show a price of $349.

A 3G version will come “fairly soon,” said product marketing trainer Carlos Angulo during the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) Line Show.

 

 

LightSquared Gives FCC Its Broadband Plan

By TWICE Staff On Jul 5 2011 - 4:01am

RESTON, VA. — LightSquared, the wholesaleonly integrated wireless broadband and satellite network, formally presented the company’s modified spectrum plan to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and proposed a comprehensive solution to the GPS interference issue.

LightSquared’s proposal outlines a three-part solution for resolving GPS interference issues involving GPS devices, which was detailed in recommendations filed at the FCC.

Huawei Bows Flagship Tablet

By Joseph Palenchar On Jul 5 2011 - 4:01am

SINGAPORE — Huawei stepped up its tablet portfolio by unveiling what it claimed is the world’s first tablet incorporating the Android Honeycomb 3.2 operating system, which is optimized for 7-inch touchscreens.

The MediaPad is its flagship tablet that will complement the lower-priced Ideos S7 Slim, which also features 7-inch touchscreen. The S7 Slim has been available at Best Buy at $299 in a Wi-Fi-only version.

FCC Tightening Regulation Of Cellular-Signal Boosters

By Joseph Palenchar On Apr 18 2011 - 4:01am

WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to impose more stringent regulations on fixed and mobile cellular-signal boosters to prevent interference with cellular carriers’ networks.

The commission proposed new technical standards for mobile (in-vehicle) and fixed (in-home and in-building) signal boosters. The FCC also wants to impose a series of obligations on users.

Next Droid Incredible To Get Global Capability

By Joseph Palenchar On Feb 7 2011 - 6:01am

NEW YORK — The next version of the HTC Droid Incredible for CDMA carrier Verizon Wireless will be a global-capable model that operates in 3G mode in foreign 2.1GHz HSPA networks, TWICE learned.

It will join two other global Android smartphones in the Verizon lineup. Those are the Droid Pro and Droid 2 Global.

Verizon Upgrades Navigation Service

By Joseph Palenchar On Feb 7 2011 - 6:01am

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Verizon Wireless is upgrading its cloud-based navigation service for cellphones to offer more of the functions of a portable navigation device (PND).

The upgraded subscription-based service, called VZ Navigator VX service, is available on select Android smartphones. They include select Droid smartphones, such as Motorola’s Droid X and HTC’s Droid Incredible, as well as the Samsung Fascinate.

Tablets, Android Dominate MW Congress

By Joseph Palenchar On Feb 21 2011 - 6:01am

BARCELONA, SPAIN — Tablets and Android smartphones dominated the introductions here at the Mobile World Congress, where new tablets were unveiled by Samsung, HTC and Huawei.

New Android smartphones ranged from the low to high ends, with new models appearing from HTC, LG, Huawei, Samsung and ZTE.

Key launches included the world’s first PlayStation- certified smartphone — the Xperia Play from Sony Ericsson — and what was described as the industry’s first glasses-free 3D phone — the LG Optimus 3D.

2011 CTIA Show Targeting Retail Channel

By Joseph Palenchar On Mar 7 2011 - 6:01am

ORLANDO, FLA. — Wireless retailers attending this month’s CTIA Wireless 2011 show will find more retailer- targeted exhibits, see tablets on display for the first time, and look for announcements about the U.S. launch dates of products unveiled at the recent Mobile World Congress.

Scheduled at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., on March 22-24, CTIA expects about 40,000 attendees to show up, compared with last year’s 39,000 and 2009’s 34,000.

Multiple Cellular Firsts Hit Market

By Joseph Palenchar On Mar 7 2011 - 6:01am

NEW YORK – The second month of the year is always the shortest of the year, but February’s list of cellular firsts was the longest in recent memory.

HTC, for example, revealed that its long-awaited Merge Android smartphone will be the company’s first Android-based CDMA worldphone. It will join the Motorola Droid Pro, which was the first Android-based worldphone when it became available late last year through Verizon. Both models operate in 3G mode in CDMA 1x EV-DO Rev. A markets as well as in foreign HSPA markets for global 3G data roaming.

MarketSource: Tablets To Keep On Fizzing

By Joseph Palenchar On Mar 21 2011 - 4:01am

ATLANTA – Consumer demand for tablets is high, but most consumers interested in buying one don’t want to pay more than $500, a MarketSource survey finds.

Like current tablet owners, most consumers interested in purchasing a tablet in the next 12 months will use it primarily for personal rather than business use, and most consumers interested in purchasing will use it mainly to browse the web, send and receive email, and read e-books, the survey shows.