3G

Smartphones top tablets as hungriest data gadgets

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

For carriers, the name of the game is data consumption. The more data consumed, the more revenue. For observers, data consumption also provides a clue to how new devices are used.

For the first time, smartphones are outpacing tablets as the "hungriest" mobile devices.

In 2011, tablets comprised two out of three of the devices consuming the most data. By 2012, all of the top three mobile devices were smartphones, led by the iPhone 5.

According to Arieso, a European company helping optimize networks to meet changing demand, iPhone 5 users consume four times as much data as the iPhone 3G users, and 50 percent more than the iPhone 4S owners. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S III and the HTC Sensation XL rounded out the most voracious devices in Europe...

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Study: Americans pay too much for their LTE plans

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

American smartphone owners are taking a bath on LTE and 3G pricing compared to European mobile consumers, a new study indicates. Verizon Wireless subscribers pay $7.50 per gigabyte on that carrier's LTE network versus an average of $2.50 in Europe, for example. Even more shocking: Sweden's LTE users pay as low as 63 cents.

According to the London-based GSM Association, despite the U.S. being the largest LTE market in the world, Americans pay much more for the superfast wireless technology than anyone else. The reason boils down to fewer choices...

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iPhone 5 LTE Speedtest

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 21, 2012

Is LTE really all it's cracked up to be on the iPhone 5? Take a look at our speed test, as we test Verizon's LTE, and compare it to Verizon's own 3G offering. I think the results speak for themselves, don't you?

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T-Mobile launches the ambitious Bring Your Own iPhone campaign

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Ahead of the iPhone 5 launch this Wednesday, T-Mobile, the nation's fourth-largest carrier and the only major U.S. carrier without the iPhone, today kicked off its new initiative meant to lure existing iPhone owners and unlockers to its stores, where they can get support on running their iPhones on T-Mobile's iPhone-friendly HSPA+ network.

Additionally, the Deutsche Telekom-owned telco committed to developing iOS versions of its popular mobile apps like T-Mobile myAccount, T-Mobile Visual Voicemail and T-Mobile TV. If only they landed the next iPhone...

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Google readying 3G Nexus 7 as mini iPad slowly crawls into view

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 3, 2012

Google on June 27 entered the tablet race with a seven-inch slate named Nexus 7, but only the WiFi model was initially made available. The decision to pass on cellular connectivity was met with criticism by some reviewers who pointed out that WiFi-only capability severely cripples the tablet's usability, even if one can just as easily use their mobile phone's cellular data as a wireless hot spot for the device.

Google was likely governed by cost considerations (it sells the Nexus 7 below cost and makes up with content purchases on its Google Play digital store). Just as we expected, the Internet giant appears to be ready to offer a 3G variant of its slate. The 3G Nexus 7 is said to arrive in mid-October, just in time for the holidays and to conveniently counter Apple's rumored October unveiling of the iPad mini...

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

Jeff Benjamin ∙ July 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...

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T-Mobile confirms network upgrade won’t affect legacy data plans

Cody Lee ∙ June 28, 2012

Over the past few months, T-Mobile has been touting its plans to upgrade its wireless network to be more friendly with Apple's smartphone. Despite not being an official partner, the carrier sees a lot of business from unlocked iPhone users.

The upgrade, which allows iPhone users to enjoy 3G data speeds, has already started rolling out to a handful of areas. So that has some T-Mobile subscribers wondering, will they get to keep their old data plans on the new, faster network?

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Apple could face U.S. ban on products over 3G patent

Cody Lee ∙ June 25, 2012

The U.S.-based court battle between Motorola and Apple may have been dismissed, but Apple's problems are far from over. As far as the ITC is concerned, the company is still facing a possible product import ban.

A new report is out this afternoon, claiming that the International Trade Commission is reviewing a previous ruling that says Apple is in violation of one of Motorola's patents. And the outcome, could be devastating...

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iOS 6 beta 2 brings back ‘Enable 3G’ toggle

Cody Lee ∙ June 25, 2012

Apple rolled out iOS 6 beta 2 to developers this morning, exactly two weeks after releasing the original. We've installed the new firmware, and have been looking everywhere for any significant changes.

While we haven't found any major new features yet, we have noticed a few subtle differences. We've already mentioned the animated install icon, but there's one more addition that folks might find useful...

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T-Mobile confirms it will be offering iPhone-friendly 4G service at WWDC

Cody Lee ∙ June 7, 2012

So this is pretty interesting: earlier today we passed along a report that [unlocked] iPhone users have recently started seeing 3G data on T-Mobile's network around the Moscone Center in San Francisco. This is where Apple will host WWDC next week.

This isn't typical for T-Mobile iPhone users, as technology conflicts between the carrier and the handest usually force them to 2G data (which is why T-Mobile still isn't an official iPhone partner). So we figured something must be up...

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Unlocked iPhone users on T-Mobile again reporting 3G data speeds

Cody Lee ∙ June 7, 2012

T-Mobile and the iPhone have a love-hate relationship. While the carrier often bashes the handset in its print ads and TV commercials, it obviously benefits from the 1 million+ unlocked iPhones on its network, and would love an official partnership.

Why else do you think the carrier continues to speak publicly about its plans to launch a new 4G network — one that would finally allow iPhones to get 3G data speeds? Because it's dying to show iPhone owners (and Apple) that it's willing to play ball...

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