Engadget RSS Feed http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2013 AOL Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ <![CDATA[AT&T launching LTE in Paris and Manhattan this summer (Texas and Kansas, that is) (updated)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/10/manhattan-and-paris-among-ATT-LTE-4G/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/10/manhattan-and-paris-among-ATT-LTE-4G/ http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/10/manhattan-and-paris-among-ATT-LTE-4G/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Manhattan and Paris Kansas and Texas, that is are among next 16 AT&T LTE cities

AT&T has announced that it'll fire up LTE coverage in 16 77 new cities this this summer and that it has expanded or turned on the signal in four 12 other centers. Residents of Kalamazoo, MI and Wilson, NC and four others will now see the much sought-after 4G symbol, while previously neglected Bay Area centers like San Rafael and Brentwood, along with parts of Greensboro, NC will also get coverage, among others. Meanwhile, the famously-named centers mentioned earlier will get 4G later this summer, along with other notables like Rio Grande Valley, TX, Columbus, IN and yes, Athens TX. It makes us wonder if Ma Bell's getting a little playful with its rollout decisions -- check the PR after the break for more info.

Update: AT&T contacted us to say that they've now launched LTE in six new markets, expanded in another six regions and pre-announced 77 areas that'll receive 4G by the end of this summer. The PR has been updated with a comprehensive list.

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]]> 4GattcarrierLTEmobilepostcrossnetworkonlinerollout Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:15:00 -0400 21|20535894 <![CDATA[AT&T suspends 2G in Oakland after cell towers step on police frequencies]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/att-suspends-2g-oakland-police-radio/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/att-suspends-2g-oakland-police-radio/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/22/att-suspends-2g-oakland-police-radio/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments DNP AT&T partially shuts 2G in Oakland as cell tower emissions step on police frequencies

An $18 million dollar radio system purchased by the Oakland Police Department has been giving static instead of 10-30s in progress, and the interfering party has now been collared -- AT&T. Local officials and the FCC told the mobile network that its towers were blocking police communication, particularly when patrol cars were within a quarter-mile of one. However, some local pundits have said the problem is of the PD's own making, claiming it invested in an inferior system and didn't check carefully enough for interference before making the buy. As a result, AT&T has temporarily shut down 2G frequencies around the city -- giving the telecom giant an unplanned sneak preview of the upcoming phase-out.

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]]> 2gATTcellphone towercellphonesCellphoneTowerFCCinterferenceminipostmobilepostcrossmobilepostmininetworkoaklandpolicepolice radiosPoliceRadiosradio communicationsRadioCommunicationstelecomtelecommunications Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:03:00 -0400 21|20306371 <![CDATA[Former RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie's very different rescue plan revealed]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/jim-balsillie-rim-plans/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/jim-balsillie-rim-plans/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/13/jim-balsillie-rim-plans/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments ImageSources close to former RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie have revealed his plans to save the company before he was shown the door, a plan that didn't involve handsets. He'd entered into talks with AT&T, Verizon and several European carriers to offer them use of the company's BlackBerry-exclusive network to provide limited data plans to featurephone users that included social networking and BBM -- with the aim of reducing the cellphone operators data burden and coaxing users to upgrade to smartphones. The company was working on Mobile Fusion; software that allowed enterprise and government users on iOS and Android devices to join RIM's system, which reportedly earns the company $1 billion per quarter. However, while talks progressed, company execs grew nervous and ousted him in favor of Thorsten Heins with a mandate to focus on BB10 and new devices rather than turning RIM into a service company. However, given that it's still losing money on its handset business, Heins has reopened the door to Balsillie's plan. It's just a shame Balsillie himself is keeping quiet, as we'd love to hear his thoughts in an executive-level edition of How Would you Change.

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]]> ATTBB10BBMBlackBerryBlackBerry 10BlackBerry NetworkBlackberry10BlackberryNetworkBusinessCellphone CarrierCellphoneCarrierFeaturphonesJim BalsillieJimBalsillieMike LazaridisMikeLazaridismobilepostcrossNetworkOrangePlaybookResearch in MotionResearchInMotionReutersRIMRumorService CompanyServiceCompanySmartphoneSourcesThorsten HeinsThorstenHeinsVerizonVertical IntegrationVerticalIntegrationVodafone Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:57:00 -0400 21|20214995 <![CDATA[AT&T announces global coverage via a single SIM at MWC, makes dual-wielding a thing of the past]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/atandt-announces-global-coverage-via-a-single-sim/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/atandt-announces-global-coverage-via-a-single-sim/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/27/atandt-announces-global-coverage-via-a-single-sim/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Tired of switching out those SIM cards when you travel abroad? AT&T is about to relieve that burden. At MWC, the company has announced a new platform that offers global internet, WiFi, satellite and Ma Bell network coverage via a single SIM. In addition to the hardware, the new tech offers worldwide diagnostic, monitoring and alert / response features for management purposes from AT&T Control Center -- backed by Jasper Wireless. Glenn Lurie, President of Emerging Segments notes "Lessons learned by market leading manufacturers suggest that a single carrier supplier with a single SIM solution is often preferred over working directly with multiple regional wireless carriers." Coverage for globetrotters will be provided in more than 200 countries via hundreds of carriers to keep you connected -- with a few less components in tow. If you're looking for a few more details, hit the full PR below to read on.

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]]> ATTcellphonesglobalglobal simGlobalSimInternetmobilepostcrossmwcmwc 2012Mwc2012networknetwork coverageNetworkCoveragesatelliteSimsmartphoneswifi Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:28:00 -0500 21|20180352 <![CDATA[T-Mobile lost more customers in Q4, will launch LTE in 2013 with AWS spectrum from AT&T]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/t-mobile-lost-more-customers-in-q4-will-launch-lte-in-2013-with/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/t-mobile-lost-more-customers-in-q4-will-launch-lte-in-2013-with/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/23/t-mobile-lost-more-customers-in-q4-will-launch-lte-in-2013-with/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments In T-Mobile USA's first earnings report since the proposed merger with AT&T fell through in December, it noted a loss of 802,000 customers in Q4 (being the only carrier not to have the iPhone is a lonely, lonely circumstance). But there is some good news -- thanks to the AWS spectrum it's receiving due to the termination of said deal, it plans to launch LTE services in 2013. Additionally, it plans to spend $4 billion rolling out HSPA+3G/4G services on the 1900 MHz band which should mean high speed data access (in some areas) for previously unsupported devices like the iPhone 4/4S. Also, since both T-Mobile and AT&T use AWS spectrum for LTE, we could see existing (and future) unlocked devices that are compatible with both networks. For now, T-Mobile is focusing on the new devices it's delivering like the just-announced Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G, and its addition of 276,000 prepaid customers. Check out the full report with all the details and dollar amounts after the break.

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]]> 19001900 mhz1900Mhz4g4g lte4gLteattawsbreaking newsearningsfaux gFauxGfinancialshspahspa+ltemergermobilepostcrossnetworkq4 2011Q42011spectrumt mobilet mobile 4gt mobile 4g ltet-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsaTMobileTMobile4gTMobile4gLte Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:18:00 -0500 21|20177758 <![CDATA[AT&T's proposed spectrum transfer mapped out in T-Mobile magenta]]> http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/ http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/25/att-tmobile-spectrum-transfer-map/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Wondering what AT&T's proposed spectrum transfer would mean for T-Mobile? Check out the above graphic, from GigaOM. Created by a reader named Andrew Shepherd, this map displays which regional coverage T-Mobile will gain from the transfer, which was submitted to the FCC this week following the companies' failed merger. As you can see, AT&T is poised to sacrifice some of its AWS spectrum in some key markets, including Boston, Seattle and the Bay Area. According to Shepherd, however, the carrier only gave up enough AWS spectrum in areas where it had enough 700MHz capacity to fill the gap, without posing too great a risk to its LTE expansion. For a closer look, check out the source link below.

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]]> 10mhz20Mhz700mhzattawsbusinesscarriercoveragedealfccgraphicindustryLTElte-advancedmapmobilepostminimoneynetworkspectrumspectrum transferSpectrumTransfert-mobileUSUSAwireless Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:33:00 -0500 21|20156123 <![CDATA[FCC approves AT&T's $1.9b purchase of Qualcomm's 700MHz spectrum (update)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/fcc-approves-atandts-1-9b-purchase-of-qualcomms-700mhz-spectrum/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/fcc-approves-atandts-1-9b-purchase-of-qualcomms-700mhz-spectrum/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/22/fcc-approves-atandts-1-9b-purchase-of-qualcomms-700mhz-spectrum/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Christmas has come early to the execs at AT&T, who are likely celebrating the FCC's 3-1 approval to purchase Qualcomm's block of the 700MHz spectrum for $1.9 billion. The news comes as a bittersweet victory for Ma Bell, whose efforts to acquire T-Mobile turned sour earlier this year. Qualcomm's block of the airwaves, once used to facilitate FLO TV, now sits unused. Once the acquisition is complete, AT&T will use the new share of spectrum to increase download capacity for its burgeoning LTE network.

For the FCC's part, it has approved the deal with only a few stipulations: AT&T will be required to satisfy interference requirements and must offer data roaming to its competitors on the spectrum. That's not to suggest everyone's pleased, however. Rural cellular providers asked that, as part of the deal, AT&T must ensure that its LTE network is interoperable with the bands used by smaller networks. Sadly, the FCC has denied this request, ostensibly limiting the little guy from receiving Ma Bell's hand-me-downs.

Update: AT&T has gone ahead and released a wee bit of celebratory PR, which we're including after the break. Most importantly, it expects to wrap up the finer details in the next few days.

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]]> 4g700mhzacquisitionagreementattbreaking newsBreakingNewsbuydealfccflo tvFloTvltemobilepostcrossnetworkpurchasequalcommspectrumwirelesswireless spectrumWirelessSpectrum Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:20:00 -0500 21|20134210 <![CDATA[T-Mobile USA and AT&T's seven-year UMTS roaming agreement gets detailed]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/t-mobile-usa-and-atandts-seven-year-umts-roaming-agreement-gets-d/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/t-mobile-usa-and-atandts-seven-year-umts-roaming-agreement-gets-d/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/t-mobile-usa-and-atandts-seven-year-umts-roaming-agreement-gets-d/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Oddly enough, the main upside of the proposed T-Mobile USA / AT&T tie-up is coming to fruition, despite the fact that neither carrier will be merging into the other. We'd heard shortly after the breakup that both operators would be agreeing to a seven-year roaming deal, but hadn't noticed any specifics on it until now. According to T-Mob's parent company Deutsche Telekom, the two have come to terms on a UMTS roaming agreement for the US (read: no international deals here), which will "allow [T-Mobile] to improve its footprint significantly among the US population and offer its customers better broadband coverage for mobile communications services in the future."

The carrier's population coverage will increase from 230 million potential customers at present to 280 million. As a result of the deal with AT&T, coverage will be extended to many regions of America in which T-Mobile USA previously had neither its own high-speed mobile communications network nor the associated roaming agreements. As if that weren't enough, T-Mobile USA will also receive a large package of AWS mobile spectrum in 128 Cellular Market Areas (CMAs), including 12 of the top 20 markets (Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Denver, Baltimore and Seattle). Oh, and Deutsche Telekom gets $3 billion in cash. #winning

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]]> 3gagreementattawsbusinesscarrierDeutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomdojfccindustrymobilepostcrossnetworkroamroamingt-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsaUMTS Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:45:00 -0500 21|20131933 <![CDATA[FCC restarts review clock for AT&T's spectrum purchase, gives itself 180 days]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/fcc-restarts-review-clock-for-atandts-spectrum-purchase-gives-it/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/fcc-restarts-review-clock-for-atandts-spectrum-purchase-gives-it/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/12/fcc-restarts-review-clock-for-atandts-spectrum-purchase-gives-it/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Back in August, the FCC decided to freeze the 180-day review clock on AT&T's proposed acquisition of Qualcomm's 700 MHz spectrum, citing lingering concerns over the carrier's ongoing T-Mobile saga. Now that AT&T and Deutsche Telekom have withdrawn their merger application, however, the Commission has decided to re-open the review period for the Qualcomm acquisition, giving itself a fresh 180 days to make a decision. In a letter published Friday, Wireless Bureau chief Rick Kaplan announced that the timetable would be reset, with a retroactive start date of November 29th -- the very day that the FCC granted AT&T's pullout from the T-Mobile deal. No word yet on when we can expect a decision, but we'll be keeping an eye out for the latest developments. Read the letter in full at the source link below.

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]]> 4g lte4gLte700 MHz spectrum700mhz700MhzSpectrumacquisitionattbusinesscarriercommissiondealDeutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomfccgovernmentindustryltemobilepostcrossmoneynetworkproviderpurchasequalcommregulationregulatoryregulatory stuffRegulatoryStuffrick kaplanRickKaplanspectrumt-mobile Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:41:00 -0500 21|20125706 <![CDATA[AT&T's 4G LTE network is live in San Francisco]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/atandts-4g-lte-network-is-live-in-san-francisco/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/atandts-4g-lte-network-is-live-in-san-francisco/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/08/atandts-4g-lte-network-is-live-in-san-francisco/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments New York City by the end of 2011? How's about San Francisco by the end of December 8th? We can't say for certain that it's lit up for good ("testing," you know), but at least for now it's absolutely screaming on our LTE-equipped AT&T handsets in downtown SF. Seeing similar? Let us know how it's going for you in comments below, and feel free to stick your tongue out in the general direction of the Big Apple. (They won't see you.) Video after the break.

[Thanks, anonymous]

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]]> 4g4g lte4gLteattbreaking newscaliforniacarrierinternetliveltemobile broadbandmobile internetMobileBroadbandMobileInternetmobilepostcrossnetworkonlinesan franciscoSanFranciscowwan Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:17:00 -0500 21|20124138 <![CDATA[AT&T 4G LTE now working in parts of New York City]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/atandt-rolls-out-4g-lte-in-parts-of-new-york-city/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/atandt-rolls-out-4g-lte-in-parts-of-new-york-city/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/atandt-rolls-out-4g-lte-in-parts-of-new-york-city/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
We got a taste of AT&T's 4G LTE action last night in the Big Apple with the introduction of its LG Nitro HD, and today, the company has apparently flipped the 4G "on" switch in the City That Never Sleeps -- confirming its promise from November. According to tipster reports, some speed tests are showing downloads as fast as 27 Mbps and uploads of 15 Mbps, confirming that the LTE network has indeed gone live in parts of New York City.

Update: To be clear, this is not an official deployment of LTE in NYC by AT&T. So, if you can't get signal, or if your signal stinks, don't take it out on them. It's still in testing!

[Thanks, @SamSavitt]

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]]> 4gattlg nitrolg nitro hdLgNitroLgNitroHdltemobilepostcrossnetworknetwork speedsnetworksNetworkSpeedsnitrospeedspeeds Fri, 02 Dec 2011 10:17:00 -0500 21|20119501 <![CDATA[Sprint in alleged talks to acquire Clearwire, cablers huddle 'round for some LTE pie]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/sprint-in-alleged-talks-to-acquire-clearwire-cablers-huddle-ro/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/sprint-in-alleged-talks-to-acquire-clearwire-cablers-huddle-ro/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/19/sprint-in-alleged-talks-to-acquire-clearwire-cablers-huddle-ro/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments 'Tis the season for patent disputes and wireless industry takeovers, or so a recent glut of moves would indicate. Shedding a little light on Clearwire's recently announced allegiance to LTE, Bloomberg is reporting that the company's currently in talks to sell its business to Sprint, and perhaps secure the funding it so desperately needs for a network build out. According to several insider sources, the third place wireless carrier's considering a joint investment (amongst other options) with Comcast, Cablevision and Cox, that would give the cablers a bundled high-speed, wireless broadband competitive advantage, and Sprint an LTE boost in its battle against AT&T and Verizon's rival 4G networks. None of the players in this rumored takeover have yet to comment on the purported transaction, although the business gossip has had quite an uplifting effect on Clearwire's shares. While we can't speculate as to the veracity of the claim, we know one thing for sure -- that LTE network's not gonna build itself.

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]]> 4gacquisitionATTcable operatorsCableOperatorsCablevisioncarriercdmaclearclearwireComcastcommunicationcommunicationsCoxcox communicationsCoxCommunicationsindustryinfrastructureltelte advancedLTE-AdvancedLteAdvancednetworkoperatorrumorsprinttakeoverVerizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelesswimax Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:33:00 -0400 21|20022192 <![CDATA[Leaked FCC document details AT&T's 4G LTE rollout plans, talks up T-Mobile merger]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/16/leaked-fcc-document-details-atandts-4g-lte-rollout-plans-talks-u/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/16/leaked-fcc-document-details-atandts-4g-lte-rollout-plans-talks-u/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/16/leaked-fcc-document-details-atandts-4g-lte-rollout-plans-talks-u/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
On Friday, a law firm accidentally posted a letter to the FCC website, detailing AT&T's confidential 4G LTE rollout plans and explaining how they would be bolstered by a merger with T-Mobile. Arnold & Porter LLP, which is helping design the deal on AT&T's behalf, quickly removed its partially redacted document, but the folks over at Gizmodo have gotten their hands on it once again and recently posted it for our viewing pleasure. According to the document, AT&T plans to extend its US coverage to 70 million consumers by the end of this year, before ramping that figure up to 170 million by the end of 2012 and a full 250 million by the end of the following year. The carrier plans to achieve this by upgrading a full 44,000 of its nodes to LTE over the course of the next three years and, once its merger goes through, hopes to cover 97 percent of all Americans within the six years following approval. The letter goes on to explain how the economics behind the TIA-approved deal would help facilitate these aspirations, while confirming that the merger is indeed as expensive as earlier reported -- a whopping $3.8 billion, to be exact. To read the document in full, hit up the links, below.

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]]> 4g4g lte4g network4gLte4gNetworkattbusinesscostcoveragedealexpansionlawleakleaked documentLeakedDocumentlegalletterltemergermoneynetworkplanrolloutt-mobiletransaction Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:48:00 -0400 21|20018566 <![CDATA[Cisco boosts stadium WiFi, makes MLB slightly more tolerable for the internet-obsessed (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/cisco-boosts-stadium-wifi-makes-mlb-slightly-more-tolerable-for/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/cisco-boosts-stadium-wifi-makes-mlb-slightly-more-tolerable-for/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/cisco-boosts-stadium-wifi-makes-mlb-slightly-more-tolerable-for/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Anyone who's been in a packed stadium or concert venue knows better than to expect to be able to browse the web or even check email, unless of course your device happens to be compatible with a certain underutilized data-only network. A new initiative from Cisco, however, aims to bring connectivity to the over-saturated masses. The company's Connected Stadium WiFi bundles the Aironet 3500p access point, designed specifically for "high-density stadium and arena deployments," with strategically placed antennas that target fewer seats with the same amount of throughput -- likely similar to the 884-device network AT&T deployed at Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl XLV. We hope the lighter load placed on carriers -- and already sky high ticket prices -- would help make Connected Stadium a free service, but key words like "purchasing" and "monetizeable" in the networking company's announcement make us think that some greenbacks are likely to change hands once the service launches in the real, connectivity-challenged world of overcrowded venues.

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]]> ATTCiscoCisco SystemsCiscoSystemsconnected stadiumConnectedStadiumcowboys stadiumCowboysStadiumInternetnetworknetworkingsportssprintstadiumvideowifiwimaxwireless Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:34:00 -0400 21|19986174 <![CDATA[Microsoft, Facebook, RIM, and others write to the FCC in support of AT&T-Mobile merger]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/microsoft-facebook-rim-and-others-write-to-the-fcc-in-support/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/microsoft-facebook-rim-and-others-write-to-the-fcc-in-support/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/microsoft-facebook-rim-and-others-write-to-the-fcc-in-support/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has mail. It's only a page and a paragraph long, but the letter he's received this week has much gravitas attached to it, coming as it does from a select group of the tech industry's biggest companies, all of whom are lending their support to AT&T's proposed acquisition of T-Mobile. Of the eight new proponents of the deal, Microsoft, Facebook and Yahoo form a sub-group of software / web content distributors, whereas Qualcomm, RIM, Avaya, Brocade, and Oracle will have been motivated to speak up because they see the takeover as expanding opportunities to sell their mobile and networking hardware. The entire octet agrees that the melding of AT&T and T-Mobile's networks into one is a requisite move for broadening mobile broadband availability in the US and for keeping the country competitive with the rest of the world. In their words, "an increasingly robust and efficient wireless network is part of a virtuous innovation cycle." Virtuous for them, perhaps, but what about consumers faced with an increasingly binary choice of mobile carrier? Who shall protect their virtue?

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]]> acquisitionattavayabrocadecarrierDeutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomfacebookfccgsmindustrymergermicrosoftmobile operatorMobileOperatornetworkofficialoperatororaclequalcommrimsupportt-mobileyahoo Thu, 09 Jun 2011 00:19:00 -0400 21|19962365 <![CDATA[AT&T bringing LTE to five cities this summer]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/atandt-bringing-lte-to-five-cities-this-summer/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/atandt-bringing-lte-to-five-cities-this-summer/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/25/atandt-bringing-lte-to-five-cities-this-summer/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments AT&T announced last fall that it would begin its LTE rollout in mid-2011, and it's now finally delivered a few more details. The carrier has just confirmed that five markets -- Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta and San Antonio -- will be getting LTE sometime "this summer," with ten more as-yet-unnamed cities set to join them in the second half of the year. All told, AT&T says that should cover about 70 million Americans by year's end. Of course, an LTE network needs some devices, but AT&T unfortunately isn't providing much in the way of details about those just yet -- it's only saying that it plans to add 20 4G devices to its portfolio this year, and that "some of those" will be LTE capable.

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]]> 4gattbreaking newsltenetworkrollout Wed, 25 May 2011 10:04:00 -0400 21|19949751 <![CDATA[Select AT&T Android devices may get app sideloading as early as today]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/select-atandt-android-devices-may-get-app-sideloading-as-early-as/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/select-atandt-android-devices-may-get-app-sideloading-as-early-as/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/select-atandt-android-devices-may-get-app-sideloading-as-early-as/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It's a classic romantic tale of "network meets OS, network disables OS," and just like any love story, this one is building up to a happy ending. Fourteen months after AT&T introduced a lineup of crippled Android phones that weren't allowed to install third-party apps, the carrier extended an olive branch to fans of the OS by quietly slipping the sideloading capability onto the Samsung Infuse 4G; now, the network is reportedly updating three members of its Android lineup -- the HTC Inspire 4G, HTC Aria, and Samsung Captivate -- sometime today. We're sure there were many Atrix users scanning this short list with fingers crossed, but unfortunately your phone did not make the cut this time. No word on why your favs were left out, but at least four devices with Amazon Appstore access is still better than zero. At present time we haven't seen the updates get pushed to our phones, however, so we'd love to hear if any of you have seen differently down in comments below.

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]]> 4gamazon app storeAmazonAppStoreandroidATTcaptivatefirmwarehtchtc ariahtc inspirehtc inspire 4gHtcAriaHtcInspireHtcInspire4ginspirenetworksamsungsamsung captivateSamsungCaptivatesideloadsideloadingthird party appsThirdPartyAppsupdates Mon, 16 May 2011 17:50:00 -0400 21|19941949 <![CDATA[AT&T's new cell tower can fit in a suitcase, help restore networks after natural disasters]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/atandts-new-cell-tower-can-fit-in-a-suitcase-help-restore-networ/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/atandts-new-cell-tower-can-fit-in-a-suitcase-help-restore-networ/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/25/atandts-new-cell-tower-can-fit-in-a-suitcase-help-restore-networ/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments
Whenever a natural disaster strikes, phone companies are typically forced to patch up their own networks with fleets of trucks that serve as temporary cell towers. It's a process that involves plenty of manpower and, most importantly, plenty of time. AT&T has a more portable solution: a cell tower small enough to fit into a suitcase. The company's new Remote Mobility Zone is comprised of an antenna and accompanying satellite dish, both of which can handle up to 14 simultaneous calls placed within a half-mile radius. Any AT&T phone can connect to the makeshift system, which will sell for anywhere between $15,000 and $45,000 (plus some monthly fees), though emergency workers will need a generator to get it up and running. They'll also have to live without 3G data, which sounds like a reasonable compromise to us.

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]]> ATTbroadbandCell TowerCellToweremergencyemergency responseEmergencyResponsehurricanemobilemobilitynatural disastersNaturalDisastersnetworkphonepoliceremoteremote mobility zoneRemoteMobilityZonesatellitesatellite dishesSatelliteDishessuitcasetower Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:37:00 -0400 21|19922575 <![CDATA[T-Mobile answers its customers' most Frequently Asked Question: no iPhone]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/t-mobile-answers-its-customers-most-frequently-asked-question/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/t-mobile-answers-its-customers-most-frequently-asked-question/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/t-mobile-answers-its-customers-most-frequently-asked-question/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Never mind the practicalities of T-Mobile and AT&T using different 3G bands, Apple not having approved any deal for extended distribution of its phone, or the fact AT&T's acquisition of T-Mobile isn't set to complete for another year. The immediate reaction to AT&T agreeing to buy T-Mobile USA was to ask, "so that means the iPhone's coming to T-Mo, right?" Well, wrong. T-Mobile has delivered an FAQ on its site informing customers about the forthcoming transition, including the unequivocal notice regarding the iPhone:
"T-Mobile USA remains an independent company. The acquisition is expected to be completed in approximately 12 months. We do not offer the iPhone. We offer cutting edge devices like the Samsung Galaxy S 4G and coming soon our new Sidekick 4G."
So that settles that (for a year, anyway). In other news, service and billing won't be changing, and there's a promise that T-Mobile devices will continue to operate as they do now even after the acquisition is complete. Ominously, however, the company fails to answer its own question about pricing changes, stating only that it'll honor "all contracted plans that are entered into before the change of ownership."

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]]> acquisitionappleapple iphoneAppleIphoneattcarrierfaqiphonenetworkoperatort-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsatakeover Sun, 20 Mar 2011 19:16:00 -0400 21|19885625 <![CDATA[AT&T agrees to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion (update)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/atandt-agrees-to-buy-t-mobile-from-deutsche-telekom/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/atandt-agrees-to-buy-t-mobile-from-deutsche-telekom/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/20/atandt-agrees-to-buy-t-mobile-from-deutsche-telekom/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Wowzers! AT&T and Deutsche Telekom have entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of T-Mobile USA for $39 billion in cash and stocks. The combined customer base of this upcoming behemoth will be 130 million humans, though the agreed deal will have to pass the usual regulatory and closing hurdles before becoming complete. The two companies estimate it'll take them 12 months to get through all the bureaucracy -- if they get through, the proposed network merger will create a de facto GSM monopoly within the United States -- but we don't have to wait that long to start discussing life with only three major US carriers. AT&T envisions it as a rosy garden of "straightforward synergies" thanks to a set of "complementary network technologies, spectrum positions and operations."

One of the other big benefits AT&T is claiming here is a significantly expanded LTE footprint -- 95 percent of Americans, or 294 million pops -- which works out to 46.5 million more than AT&T was claiming had it gone LTE alone. Of course, T-Mobile has never put forth a clear strategy for migrating to LTE, suggesting that AT&T plans on using the company's AWS spectrum to complement its own 700MHz licenses as it moves to 4G. You might be groaning at the thought of yet another LTE band, but it's not as bad as you might think: MetroPCS already has a live LTE network functioning on AWS, so there's precedent for it. For further details, hit up the gallery below, the Mobilize Everything site, or the official press release after the break.

In the event of the deal failing to receive regulatory approval, AT&T will be on the hook for $3 billion to T-Mobile -- a breakup fee, they call it -- along with transferring over some AWS spectrum it doesn't need for its LTE rollout, and granting T-Mo a roaming agreement at a value agreeable to both parties.

Update: TmoNews obtained a copy of Deutsche Telekom's press release regarding the deal -- it looks like the German company will be getting $25 billion in cash and $14 billion in stock, giving it an 8 percent stake in AT&T when all is said and done. Read the full document after the break.

Gallery: AT&T / T-Mobile LTE buildout slides

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]]> acquisitionagreementattbreaking newsbuycarrierDeutsche TelekomDeutscheTelekomgsmmergermobile operatorMobileOperatornetworkoperatorpurchaset-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsatakeoverususa Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:27:00 -0400 21|19885486 <![CDATA[J.D. Power: Verizon has best call quality nationwide, T-Mobile consistently below average]]> http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/06/j-d-power-verizon-has-best-call-quality-nationwide-t-mobile-c/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/06/j-d-power-verizon-has-best-call-quality-nationwide-t-mobile-c/ http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/06/j-d-power-verizon-has-best-call-quality-nationwide-t-mobile-c/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments J.D. Power, that well known arbiter of human opinion in the United States, has just released its latest study on customer satisfaction with wireless carriers. It addresses such things as (the lack of) dropped calls, failures to connect, voice distortion, echoes, static, and late-arriving text messages, and ultimately churns out a rating out of five stars relative to the regional average and other carriers. In testing done between July and December last year, Verizon had the best or tied for the best satisfaction ratings in five of the six studied areas, while AT&T and Sprint traded blows for second and T-Mobile had to admit defeat as the laggard of the top four. US Cellular managed to score highest in the North Central region, but J.D. Power's overall assessment isn't very rosy for any of the carriers -- the stats collector says growing smartphone usage, heavy texting and more indoor calls are collectively causing call quality to stagnate, and even warns that "increased adoption of smartphones and wireless tablets may continue to compromise the quality of network service."

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]]> attcall qualityCallQualitycarriercomparisonj.d. powerJ.d.Powerjd powerJdPowernetworknetwork performanceNetworkPerformanceperformancequalitysmartphonessprintstudysurveyt-mobileusus cellularusaUsCellularverizonvzw Sun, 06 Mar 2011 11:42:00 -0500 21|19869486 <![CDATA[AT&T buys Qualcomm's FLO TV spectrum for a cool $1.9b, promises 4G awesomeness]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/atandt-buys-qualcomms-flo-tv-spectrum-for-a-cool-1-9b-promises/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/atandt-buys-qualcomms-flo-tv-spectrum-for-a-cool-1-9b-promises/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/20/atandt-buys-qualcomms-flo-tv-spectrum-for-a-cool-1-9b-promises/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments Qualcomm and AT&T are no longer talking about a deal, they've agreed to one: pending regulatory checks and other closing conditions, the wireless spectrum that was once dedicated to FLO TV will now be transferred into AT&T's ownership in a $1.925 billion deal. Located in the lower 700MHz range, this bit of wireless space is said to cover more than 300 million people nationwide and AT&T expects it to play an important role in its future 4G network rollout and development. All that due diligence housekeeping will take the two companies a little while, with the deal expected to be finalized in the latter half of 2011, but at least we can rest assured that AT&T's serious about not being left behind.

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]]> 4gacquisitionagreementattbreaking newsBreakingNewsbuydealflo tvFloTvnetworkpurchasequalcommspectrumwirelesswireless spectrumWirelessSpectrum Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:01:00 -0500 21|19769904 <![CDATA[T-Mobile starts up 4G ad campaign by poking a stiletto into AT&T's network (video)]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/03/t-mobile-starts-up-4g-ad-campaign-by-poking-a-stiletto-into-atandt/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/03/t-mobile-starts-up-4g-ad-campaign-by-poking-a-stiletto-into-atandt/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/03/t-mobile-starts-up-4g-ad-campaign-by-poking-a-stiletto-into-atandt/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments We suspected T-Mobile's new advertising campaign would ruffle some feathers, but we weren't ready for quite such brazen trash-talking right off the bat. Of course, it's trash talk dressed up in a pretty white and Magenta dress and delivered in the most angelic of voices, but T-Mobile makes its point to AT&T subscribers loud and clear: we got 4G, you don't. Whether you consider the network's current 21Mbps theoretical max a true representation of 4G or not, we'll leave up to you; just make sure to join us past the break for the Apple-scented commercial, which also teases the myTouch 4G, a HSPA+ handset that T-Mobile happens to be launching today.

Update: AT&T isn't taking this one lying down. It countered with the following statement this afternoon: "T-Mobile's claims about 4G are based on the same HSPA+ technology we have deployed to 180 million people today, more than T-Mobile's reported 140 million, and we'll have it rolled out to 250 million people by the end of this month, substantially more than the 200 million T-Mobile says it will have by year-end."

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]]> 4g4g network4gNetworkadadvertadvertisingattcarriercommercialhspa+magentamockerymockingmytouch 4gMytouch4gnetworknetwork speedNetworkSpeedoperatorparodypiggybackspeedt mobilet-mobilet-mobile usaT-mobileUsaTMobilevideovideo callingvideo chatVideoCallingVideoChat Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:32:00 -0400 21|19700649 <![CDATA[AT&T expanding HSPA+ rollout this year, launching LTE in mid-2011]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/atandt-expanding-hspa-rollout-this-year-launching-lte-in-mid-201/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/atandt-expanding-hspa-rollout-this-year-launching-lte-in-mid-201/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/atandt-expanding-hspa-rollout-this-year-launching-lte-in-mid-201/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments It's a good day for next-gen network news, apparently -- first Verizon promised to bring its 4G network to 30 NFL cities by the end of the year, and now AT&T's John Stankey says its LTE network will arrive by mid-2011. Trials are already underway in Baltimore and Dallas, and Ma Bell's pulled some $700 million out of the kitty to fund the buildout, with investment scheduled to go "far beyond that" next year. On top of that, AT&T is also working to upgrade its backhaul connections for its current HSPA 7.2 3G sites to Gigabit Ethernet, and it's planning to upgrade the vast majority of its 3G sites to HSPA+ for real-world 7Mbps 3G download speeds sometime this year -- a seemingly big expansion from the "certain locations" we'd been promised earlier. Why the change? We don't know exactly, but AT&T is quick to point out that LTE customers will fall back to 3G quite often in the early days, and that Verizon isn't investing in 3G speeds at all anymore -- an interesting claim and potentially a major differentiator if the HSPA+ rollout is completed quickly, but one that won't matter if Verizon's network offers sufficient coverage. We'll see -- looks like the next year is going to be mighty interesting.

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]]> atthspahspa+john stankeyJohnStankeyltenetwork Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:01:00 -0400 21|19636881 <![CDATA[Apple discussed Verizon switch 'at least half a dozen times,' and other stories about its AT&T relationship]]> http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/apple-discussed-verizon-switch-at-least-half-a-dozen-times-an/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/apple-discussed-verizon-switch-at-least-half-a-dozen-times-an/ http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/19/apple-discussed-verizon-switch-at-least-half-a-dozen-times-an/?utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget#comments "An iPhone, an iPhone, my carrier's reputation for an iPhone." Grab a cup of coffee and get yourself comfortable, fans of behind-the-scenes industry drama. Wired has published an exhaustive and fascinating expose on the "loveless celebrity marriage" that is Apple and AT&T -- all from sources familiar with the matters but who cannot (or will not) be named, of course. In other words, don't take this as gospel, but frankly, none of this sounds too crazy or outside the realm of what we've already surmised ourselves. In brief, the two companies have been contentious towards one another since just after the iPhone was unveiled. For AT&T's part, the carrier was reportedly taken aback when its requests (delivered by Senior VP Kris Rinne) to restrict YouTube's bandwidth usage (or make it WiFi-only) while the network infrastructure was built up fell on deaf ears in Cupertino. Word has it Apple also refused to allow its devices to be used in campaigns to combat Verizon's Map for That ads: "It was [effective] because of AT&T's network. We would have been letting them use the iPhone to put lipstick on a pig," remarked one anonymous Apple exec.

What's most interesting to us here is the ongoing reported discussion to drop AT&T in favor for Verizon. That chapter apparently begins just months after the original's launch, with an investigative team (including Scott Forstall) ultimately concluding that Qualcomm's CDMA (or CDMA / GSM hybrid) chips would require a complete redesign of the device, not to mention a nasty lawsuit with AT&T over its exclusive contract (perhaps a minor issue, knowing Apple). Back then, Verizon wasn't seen as a guaranteed improvement, and according to one executive privy to such meetings, the carrier switch has been discussed at least a half dozen times, with the general consensus always being that it would "cause as many problems as it solved." We can't imagine this is gonna help stem the perpetual VZW iPhone rumor mill.

Hit up the source link for the full tale, which does hit on a fundamental issue of the mobile industry going forward: as smartphone makers continue to push their devices' capabilities, bandwidth concerns will continue to grow and carriers are likely to take the majority of the blame. If you ask us, David Fincher has just found his ideal follow-up to The Social Network -- we'd especially love to see someone film the part where AT&T asks Steve Jobs to ditch the turtleneck and wear a suit when meeting with its board of directors.

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]]> 3g3gsappleat and tAtAndTattbandwidthcdmagsmiphoneiphone 3giphone 3gsIphone3gIphone3gsjobskris rinneKrisRinnelawlawsuitlegalnetworkqualcommrinnerumorrumorssteve jobsSteveJobsverizonverizon wirelessVerizonWirelessvzwwiredyou tubeYouTube Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:25:00 -0400 21|19560279