Virgin Mobile, Boost Launching 4G WiMAX Service

By Joseph Palenchar On May 21 2012 - 4:01am

WARREN, N.J. – Virgin Mobile USA is entering the 4G market with the launch of the WiMAX-enabled HTC Evo V 4G Android smartphone and two data-only devices, all of which will be available at the end of the month.

For its part, Boost Mobile will also launch 4G WiMAX service.

Both prepaid brands are owned by Sprint, and the devices use Sprint service.

 

Portable Briefs

By TWICE Staff On May 21 2012 - 4:01am

Sprint Plans PTT App

NEW ORLEANS — Sprint plans an Android app that will expand the carrier’s Direct Connect push-to-talk (PTT) service beyond phones equipped with built-in PTT technology.

During CTIA Wireless 2012, Sprint product development VP Fared Adib said the app, due “soon,” would perform similarly to Sprint CDMA phones with a dedicated PTT button.

The app-based PTT service is expected to be fully interoperable with its existing CDMA- and iDEN-based PTT phones.

Samsung Android 4.0 Tablets Get A Voice

By Joseph Palenchar On Mar 12 2012 - 4:01am

BARCELONA, SPAIN – Samsung attended the Mobile World Congress (MWC) with two new Android 4.0 tablets to expand its 4.0 tablet selection to three.

Both new models are equipped with 10.1-inch screens, and both are equipped with circuit-switched cellular voice calling.

One of the new models is a 10.1-inch version of the Android-based 5.3-inch Galaxy Note, the hybrid smartphone- tablet that comes with a stylus to jot down handwritten notes and drawings.

NetZero Tries Prepaid Wireless Data Plan

By Joseph Palenchar On Mar 26 2012 - 4:01am

WOODLAND HILLS, CALIF. – NetZero, which offers free dial-up Internet access and low-cost broadband DSL service, ventured into the cellular world for the first time with what it called “disruptive” pricing.

In more than 80 cities, the company launched free and low-cost prepaid 4G data plans for use with a 4G mobile WiMAX $49.95 USB modem and $99.95 mobile hot spot. The plan and hardware prices undercut the no-contract, no-credit-check data plans and hardware pricing of the four national carriers.

Store Redesigns Continue At T-Mobile

By Joseph Palenchar On Apr 9 2012 - 4:01am

BELLEVUE, WASH. – T-Mobile continues to roll out its new store design to company-owned stores and independently owned Premium Retailer locations, which operate under the T-Mobile brand and carry the carrier’s full product range.

The carrier began rolling out the new design last August.

CTIA Show Makes Changes, Expects Growth

By Joseph Palenchar On Apr 23 2012 - 4:01am

NEW ORLEANS – CTIA-The Wireless Association expects a lift in attendance at next month’s CTIA Wireless 2012 because of later show dates and a return to the Crescent City, where the convention will boast its largest retailer-focused section to date.

Cellular-Connected Router Debuts

By TWICE Staff On Jan 10 2012 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — CDP-USA of Los Angeles is launching its first MyMO mobile router, a battery-powered device that can be tethered to a smartphone’s MicroUSB port or to a cellular USB modem to split Internet access among 150 devices in a 300-foot area as well as enable corporate VPN access and file sharing among users.

The $129-suggested MyMO-1002 is equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ and works with 3G and 4G cellular devices, including iOS, Blackberry, Android and Windows Mobile smartphones and most USB modems, the company said.

4G LTE Gets Cellular Focus At International CES

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 23 2012 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Carriers and handset vendors unveiled at least 13 4G LTE smartphones and two LTE tablets at International CES in anticipation of an LTE network launch by Sprint and continued expansion of AT&T’s LTE network as the two national carriers race to catch up with Verizon’s LTE footprint.

The introductions, all featuring the Android OS, included:

• the first LTE phone from Pantech (see TWICE, Jan 10), Nokia, Sony and Huawei;

New RIM President Plans Consumer Focus

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 30 2012 - 6:01am

WATERLOO, ONTARIO – Research In Motion’s newly appointed president/CEO promised that the smartphone maker will become more “marketing-driven” and “consumer- oriented” while it improves execution of product and program management. In speaking to investors on a conference call, Thorsten Heins also said the BlackBerry maker has already begun to recruit a new chief marketing officer as part of the company’s effort to improve marketing communications and execution of the company’s go-to-market strategy. In the U.S., he noted, the public perception

Philips Readies Android PMP, iPod Speakers

By Joseph Palenchar On Jan 30 2012 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Philips Consumer Lifestyle went to International CES with its next-generation Androidbased portable media player (PMP) and a quartet of iPod/iPhone-docking speaker systems.

The new PMP is the GoGear Connect, which runs on Android 2.3 and features a capacitivetouchscreen model like its predecessor. The new model will be available in 8GB and 16GB versions in April at a suggested $169 and $199, respectively.