Question of the Week: will you switch from AT&T to Verizon for LTE coverage?

By Jeff Benjamin on Sep 6, 2012

As Ed brought out in his post just a few minutes ago, AT&T is scrambling to get its LTE network deployed in more cities with the iPhone 5′s debut on the horizon.

At this point, Verizon has many more markets covered with LTE than their fiercest competitor in the United States, and with the upcoming release of the first LTE enabled iPhone, it could have a significant impact on customer loyalty and sales.

With that in mind, would you consider switching from AT&T to Verizon, if AT&T doesn’t have an LTE network available in your market come iPhone 5 launch day? Sound off, in this week’s Question of the Week… Read More

 

AT&T expands 4G LTE network ahead of new iPhone launch

By Ed Sutherland on Sep 6, 2012

With just days before Apple is expected to unveil its new iPhone, AT&T Thursday announced its 4G LTE network is expanding into nine new US markets. The carrier also said it expects to add 43 more markets for the high-speed network by the end of 2012.

Although Apple’s not talking ahead of the Sept. 12 media event, observers expect the Cupertino, Calif. company to introduce a new iPhone that supports the faster LTE networks. The new iPhone would join the latest iPad as two iOS devices compatible with LTE. Read More

 

Samsung plans to use LTE patents to sue Apple over next-gen iPhone

By Cody Lee on Aug 30, 2012

If you thought Apple’s victory last week was the end of the fighting between it and Samsung, think again. Samsung is still expected to file an appeal on the ruling, and an injunction hearing has already been set.

On top of that, Samsung is said to be gearing up for a major legal counter attack, preparing “all measures for all scenarios” to fight Apple in 50 patent disputes in 10 countries. In other words, “it’s on…” Read More

 

Sprint expands LTE into four more US cities

By Ed Sutherland on Aug 29, 2012

Sprint has added four more US cities to its 4G LTE network. Baltimore, Gainsville, Ga., Manhattan/Junction City, Kan., and Sedalia, Mo. were added to the high-speed network the carrier launched on July 15. Baltimore residents gain not only LTE, but an upgrade to 3G, Sprint announced.

“As consumers all over the country are becoming more dependent on their smartphones, network quality is becoming more important,” according to a statement. Sprint’s LTE network began by introducing LTE in 15 cities. The carrier hopes to complete its LTE build-out by the end of 2013. Read More

 

Study shows nearly 50% of US consumers don’t care about LTE

By Cody Lee on Aug 22, 2012

Even though we haven’t seen much evidence, the tech world seems pretty convinced that the new iPhone will be LTE-capable. After all, Apple’s latest tablet supports the 4G tech. And Android devices have for years.

But as it turns out, folks may not end up caring that much about whether the new iPhone supports LTE or not. A new report is out this morning, claiming that nearly 50% of US consumers don’t feel that they need it… Read More

 

UK carrier authorized to offer first LTE service ahead of iPhone launch

By Cody Lee on Aug 21, 2012

This is pretty interesting: Ofcom, the regulator for UK communications, announced today that it has given permission to the carrier Everything Everywhere to begin using its existing 1800 MHz to offer LTE services beginning on September 11.

If that date sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the day before the all-but-confirmed media event where Apple is said to be unveiling it’s next smartphone. The handset is widely expected to be LTE-capable, but will it work outside of the US? Read More

 

Poll: is the next iPhone going to be world-phone LTE compatible?

By Christian Zibreg on Aug 15, 2012

Less than four weeks from Apple’s September 12 iPhone 5 event, U.S. carriers continue aggressive deployment of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technology, making it all too easy to get carried away with the wonders of high-speed 4G networking on the next iPhone.

After all, 4G is thought to be one of the headline features of the device. On the other hand, this is going to be the first iPhone ever to have 4G, meaning some limitations and teething problems are likely to be expected, as is always the case with first-gen everything from Apple.

Regular users will probably assume that just because the next iPhone is 4G LTE, it’s gonna work on whatever carrier’s fourth-generation LTE network. That may not be the case and if the third-generation iPad is an indication, the iPhone 5 could disappoint some international users with limited support for LTE frequency bands.

That being said, we’re asking you to take a long and hard look at the current state of technology and vote on the kind of LTE support you think the iPhone 5 will have… Read More

 

Verizon’s LTE network will soon cover 2/3 of US population

By Cody Lee on Aug 15, 2012

Verizon just announced that it’s going to flip the LTE switch on in 34 new markets tomorrow, and will also be expanding its 4G coverage in another 38.

We’ll get to the new markets in a moment, but perhaps more interesting is the milestone. After tomorrow’s rollout, Verizon’s LTE network will be in more than 370 markets, blanketing close to two-thirds of the the country’s population… Read More

 

The big question looms: does iPhone 5 have world support for numerous LTE bands?

By Christian Zibreg on Aug 15, 2012

iDB first discovered traces of high-speed fourth-generation Long-Term Evolution (LTE) cellular networking in iOS 5.1 code. Since then, multiple code hooks, hardware hints and credible sources have all but confirmed the industry’s worst kept secret, that the next iPhone is widely expected to work over 4G LTE networks.

But is it going to be a worldphone in respect to 4G? What if it doesn’t support a variety of LTE frequencies in use today? A new report from South Korea alleges that local telcos have been attempting to talk Apple into supporting the 1.8-gigahertz LTE frequency used in the country. This implies that the iPhone 5 may not support the numerous 4G frequencies in use across the world… Read More

 

Claimed photos of new iPhone’s motherboard surface

By Cody Lee on Aug 12, 2012

Surprise, more photos of leaked next-generation iPhone parts have surfaced. Over the past few days we’ve seen images of what are believed to be the battery and dock connector of Apple’s next smartphone. And now this.

New pictures of a purported next-gen iPhone piece have popped up online this evening. This time, the component in the photos is said to be the motherboard of the upcoming handset… Read More

 

T-Mobile engineer talks iPhone, LTE and failed AT&T merger

By Cody Lee on Aug 8, 2012

Out of the top four carriers in the US, T-Mobile is the only one that doesn’t officially carry the iPhone, or have an active LTE network. As you can imagine, this has sparked a lot of curiosity in the company’s plans for the future.

Well, for all of you curious types, we’ve come across a Reddit AMA that has been going on all morning with a T-Mobile RF engineer. He’s been answering questions regarding the iPhone, the carrier’s plans for LTE and more… Read More

 

AT&T to pull the plug on its 2G network by 2017

By Sebastien Page on Aug 3, 2012

If you’re still using the first generation iPhone, I have two pieces of news for you: a good, and a bad one.

The bad news is that AT&T will be ending its 2G Edge network by 2017. The good news is that it gives you the opportunity to upgrade to other iPhone models, potentially the iPhone 11 which should hit the shelves sometimes in 2017… Read More

 

AT&T launches LTE in four new markets, expands in several others

By Cody Lee on Jul 27, 2012

Great news for those of you with AT&T-branded LTE iPads. The carrier has just announced new markets and expansions for its long term evolution network.

Folks in south Florida, parts of Maryland and Massachusetts will now be able to browse the web at lightning-fast 4G speeds. Keep reading for the full list of new areas… Read More

 

Sprint’s CEO reaffirms plans to keep unlimited data, for now

By Cody Lee on Jul 26, 2012

With recent moves by both AT&T and Verizon to nudge their remaining customers off of unlimited data and onto their new share plans, the spotlight has turned to Sprint.

Sprint is the last remaining major carrier in the US to still offer an unlimited data plan for smartphone subscribers, and everyone wants to know how long that’s going to last… Read More

 

Verizon lights up 4G LTE in 33 new markets

By Christian Zibreg on Jul 18, 2012

Boy, does Verizon Wireless know how to spoil AT&T’s unveiling of shared data plans from this morning. The Big Red carrier made a point by saying it now has more high-speed Long Term Evolution (LTE) coverage in the U.S. than all of its rivals combined.

In addition, the company announced today it’s flipping the switch on 4G LTE in 33 new markets. Verizon’s LTE is now in a total of 337 markets and the carrier is on track to cover more than 400 markets by the year’s end. Plus, it is broadening the coverage in the existing 32 markets which already have its 4G LTE… Read More

 

BGR on iPhone 5: NFC, 4G LTE, 1GB RAM, fall release

By Christian Zibreg on Jul 18, 2012

Boy Genius Report is a hit and miss when it comes to Apple predictions and today the publication’s editor Jonathan Geller posted a story which essentially recycles a bunch of separate rumors concerning the next iPhone. According to the author, final production of the iPhone 5 will start later this summer, which is what both the know-it-all Wall Street Journal and reliable Japanese blog Macotakara heard previously… Read More

 

Here’s why we think AT&T might begin charging for FaceTime over cellular [Video]

By Jeff Benjamin on Jul 16, 2012

This video showcases the new pop-up dialogue box that interrupts you when trying to enable FaceTime over cellular in iOS 6 beta 3.

Apparently, AT&T has a scheme in the works to pry more dollars from their iPhone customers. As Cody noted via Twitter, perhaps they’re thinking about rebounding after taking a hit on text messaging fees due to iMessage.

Take a look inside as we demonstrate the differences between an AT&T iPhone 4S, and a Verizon iPad 3, when attempting to enable FaceTime over cellular… Read More

 

Will AT&T charge to use FaceTime over cellular?

By Jeff Benjamin on Jul 16, 2012

It almost seems unthinkable, but there is a strong possibility that AT&T might charge to enable FaceTime over cellular capability in iOS 6. 9to5 Mac posted a screenshot that shows a dialogue box prompting the end user to contact AT&T in order to enable FaceTime over cellular. This is indicative that AT&T could perhaps plan on charging customers to use this feature, despite the fact that their customers are already paying for the data.

As Mark Gurman notes, this is highly similar to the process that users go through to enable the Personal Hotspot feature on the iPhone. Of course, we can’t say for sure whether or not this “feature” will make the final GM version of iOS 6, but I’d say it’s possible judging from the screenshot provided from the iOS 6 beta.

The question is this: Is AT&T brave enough to actually go through with this, further alienating an already highly pessimistic user base? I can smell the backlash already… Read More

 

Sprint officially launches its LTE network

By Cody Lee on Jul 16, 2012

Great news Sprint customers, your carrier has just officially joined the LTE party. As expected, the company flipped the switch on its next-generation network in 5 markets this weekend.

Believe it or not, this is actually Sprint’s second attempt at launching a 4G network. Back in 2008, the carrier took a gamble on WiMAX technology. But obviously, that didn’t quite work out… Read More

 

Free wireless internet provider FreedomPop to go LTE

By Cody Lee on Jul 11, 2012

Back in May of this year, we told you about FreedomPop. The up-and-coming wireless broadband provider plans to disrupt the traditional carrier model with a combination of free 4G service, and iPhone products.

The idea sounded great on paper: offer iPhone users free service in exchange for buying these $99 cases with built-in FreedomPop modems. But sadly, the company seemed intent on using WiMAX technology… Read More

 
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