T-Mobile Delivering Android 4.1 Jelly Bean to Galaxy S III
T-Mobile USA has announced that it is pushing the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean update to the Samsung Galaxy S III beginning today. The update can be downloaded over the air or installed via Samsung's Kies desktop software.
Cricket Launches LTE-Packing LG Optimus Regard
Cricket today announced the addition of two Android smartphones to its lineup. The LG Optimus Regard is a rebadged version of the LG Motion 4G, which is sold by MetroPCS. The Regard features a 3.5-inch display with 480 x 320 pixels, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 5-megapixel main camera, and VGA user-facing camera. It ships with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and supports Cricket's LTE 4G network. It is available starting today online and in stores for $249.99. Cricket also said the Samsung Galaxy S III will be available in the coming weeks. It will cost $549.99.
Verizon Selling Some 700MHz Spectrum to Nortex
Verizon Wireless today announced one of its first sales of Lower A and B Block 700MHz spectrum licenses. This particular transaction will see Lower B Block 700MHz licenses transferred to Nortex Communications. Nortex is based in Muenster, Texas, and the spectrum covers four counties to the north and west of Dallas. Verizon did not say how much Nortex is paying for the spectrum licenses. The deal is subject to regulatory approval. Verizon agreed earlier this year to sell some of its 700MHz spectrum after the Federal Communications Commission gave it permission to purchase AWS spectrum licences from a consortium of cable companies.
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Ready SIM to Launch Prepaid SIM Card Service November 19
Ready SIM today announced that its prepaid SIM card service will be available beginning November 19. Ready SIM is an MVNO that operates on T-Mobile USA's network. Ready SIM will not sell any phones. Instead, it will sell self-activating SIM cards that can be used with any unlocked phone. Ready SIM will offer 3, 7, 14, or 30 days of unlimited nationwide talk, and text, and data at launch, though it has not yet provided details on pricing. Ready SIM's SIM cards will be sold directly to consumers through various retail partners. Those interested in Ready SIM's services can sign up for more information via its web site.
RIM Adds Voice Calls to BBM for BlackBerry 7
Research In Motion today made a new version of BlackBerry Messenger available to BlackBerry 7 devices that adds the ability to make voice calls. The new calling feature works over Wi-Fi and connects BBM users to other BBM users for free. The app supports a split-screen function that lets customers talk and text at the same time. The app includes a presence indicator so users know when their contacts are available for a voice call. Calls can be rejected with a text message, and the service works with accessories, such as Bluetooth headsets. The new BBM for BlackBerry 7 is available in the BlackBerry Beta Zone. It is free to download and use. RIM did not indicate if this feature will be included in BBM for is forthcoming BlackBerry 10 platform.
T-Mobile Offering Nexus 4 Today, But Google Sells Out
The Google Nexus 4 Android smartphone will be available in select T-Mobile USA retail stores beginning today. T-Mobile is selling the 16GB model for $199.99 with a new contract or $499 off contract. The unlocked version of the Nexus 4 went on sale Tuesday through the Google Play Store in several countries. High demand crashed Google's servers. In response, Google said, "There's been so much interest for the Nexus lineup that we've sold out of some of our initial stock in a few countries! We are working hard to add more Nexus devices to Google Play in the coming weeks to keep up with the high demand." Google is selling the 8GB Nexus 4 for $299 and the 16GB nexus 4 for $349. T-Mobile USA is charging a $150 premium for the off-contract model. The Nexus 4 is made by LG.
AT&T; Fires Up LTE in Denver, Louisville, Other Markets
AT&T; today announced that its LTE 4G network is available in yet more markets across the country. AT&T;'s LTE is up and running for the first time in Denver, Colo., Daytona Beach, Fla., Louisville, Ky., York, Pa., Provo-Orem, Utah, Tacoma, Wash., and Milwaukee, Wisc. AT&T; also improved and expanded its LTE coverage in the Seattle metropolitan area. Customers in these markets with LTE-capable equipment should see faster data speeds. AT&T;'s LTE footprint will cover 150 million POPs by the end of this year, and 250 million by the end of 2013, and 300 million by the end of 2014.
Review: Nokia Lumia 920 for AT&T;
Nokia pushes all sorts of boundaries with the Lumia 920, its feature-laden flagship smartphone for AT&T.; If the luminescent colors don't attract you, the big screen, LTE 4G, and dual-core performance might. Here is Phone Scoop's full review.
ZTE-Made Flash for Sprint Includes 12MP Camera
Sprint recently added the ZTE Flash to its roster of Android devices. The defining feature of this Ice Cream Sandwich smartphone is its 12-megapixel camera, which has an LED flash, autofocus, and shoots 1080p HD video. A user-facing camera shoots 1.1-megapixel images and captures 720p HD video. The Flash also has a 4.5-inch 1280 x 720 HD display; 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of built-in storage; and LTE 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. According to Sprint, the Flash supports mobile device management, on-device encryption, and VPNs for businesses that need secure mobile phones. It is also ULE Platinum Certified for sustainability. The ZTE Flash costs $129.99 with a new two-year contract.
Sprint Working to Bring LTE to 9 More Markets
Sprint today added nine cities to the list of markets that it hopes to cover with LTE 4G in the coming months. The new cities include Fort Smith, Ark.; the Oakland, Fremont, Michigan City, McAllen, Edinburg, and Hayward metro areas of California; Key West, Fla.; Bloomington and La Porte, Ind.; Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.; Ardmore, Okla.; Mission, Texas; and Eau Claire, Wis. Sprint has already named another 125 markets that will eventually receive LTE coverage. At the moment, its coverage is limited to 32 markets. Sprint said that customers with LTE-capable gear who live in pre-launch LTE markets may see temporary, limited LTE service pop up in the weeks and months before the market officially launches.
Google Makes Android 4.2 Jelly Bean SDK Available
Google today released the software developers kit for Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The SDK allows developers to customize their applications to fit the new features of the Android platform. Some of the new features of Android 4.2 outlined by Google include better hardware acceleration and optimization for performance; tweaked status bar and notification settings; multi-user support for tablets; lock screen widgets; an interactive screensaver when devices are docked and/or charging; support for external displays; and improved HDR image capturing with device cameras. The SDK is free to download from the Android developer portal.
Nokia Rebrands Maps as HERE, Coming to Other Platforms
Nokia today announced "HERE" as its new brand for mapping and location services and apps. Currently available through Microsoft platforms such as Windows Phone, Nokia will now be expanding with an app for Apple's iOS and an SDK for Android manufacturers to integrate the HERE map service into Android-based phones. The company also announced a partnership with Mozilla to bring HERE maps to Firefox OS. Furthermore, Nokia plans to acquire earthmine, a company specializing in 3D capture and processing. The HERE app for iOS is expected to be available in Apple's App Store in the coming weeks.
Hands On with the HTC Droid DNA for Verizon
If the "phablet" category of super-phones blurs the line between phone and tablet, HTC is now blurring the lines even more with the Droid DNA for Verizon. With a 5-inch screen, the Droid DNA is notably larger than high-end phones with 4.7-inch screens. But put it next to a Samsung Galaxy Note II, and it's clear that the DNA doesn't quite qualify as a phablet, either. This is just one really big phone. And that 5-inch display sports ground-breaking 1080p HD resolution. We spent some time with it this morning. Read on for our first impressions.
Droid DNA Boasts 5-inch 1080p HP Display
HTC and Verizon Wireless today announced the Droid DNA, a new flagship Android phone with the first full 1080p HD display in a phone for the US. The 5-inch display has 440 ppi pixel density. The phone sports a curved glass front and a unibody solid polycarbonate curved back with matte texture. Features of the DNA include the same 8-megapixel camera as the One X, plus HTC's ImageChip, supporting simultaneous photo and video capture. The 2.1-megapixel front camera has a wide-angle f/2.0 lens. The processor is a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro at 1,500 Mhz. It comes with 16 GB of fixed memory and a 2,020 mAh non-removable battery. Audio is powered by Beats, with dual amplifiers at 2.55-volts. The phone also includes wireless charging. The Droid DNA is available for pre-order today, shipping November 21 for $200 with contract.
from HTC / Verizon Wireless »
Sprint Says It Will Launch Windows Phone 8 in 2013
Sprint has indicated that it will get behind Microsoft's latest smartphone platform next year. "Sprint and Microsoft are partnering to bring Windows Phone 8 to Sprint's customers -- operating on its 4G LTE network -- next year," said the company in a statement provided to PCMag. Sprint has repeatedly said it would not participate in the WP8 launch this year and was taking a wait-and-see approach to the new platform. This represents a change in its stance regarding Windows Phone. It hasn't offered a Windows Phone device since the HTC Arrive, which launched in January 2011. Sprint didn't say which WP8 devices it might offer, nor when in 2013 it would offer them. Meanwhile, AT&T;, T-Mobile USA, and Verizon Wireless have all commenced sales of WP8 handsets, including the HTC 8X, Nokia Lumia 920 and Nokia Lumia 810, in the last week.
Samsung Rugby III and Sonim Bolt First to Include Enhanced PTT
AT&T; today announced the Samsung Rugby III and the Sonim XP5560 Bolt are the first two devices to ship with its Enhanced Push-To-Talk service on board.
- Rugby III: This ruggedized flip phone is built to mil-spec 810G for protection from water and dust ingress, as well as from shock. It includes a 2.4-inch QVGA display and a 3 megapixel camera. It is free with a new two-year PTT contract.
- Bolt: The Bolt is an ultra-rugged phone built to endure the toughest environments. It is a bar-style device that can withstand six-foot drops to concrete and submersion in water for up to 30 minutes. It is being sold for $199 with new PTT contracts.
AT&T; Kicks Off Enhanced PTT Offering
AT&T; today announced the availability of its Enhanced Push-To-Talk service, an update that adds a wide range of new features to its PTT offering. According to AT&T;, Enhanced PTT works on 3G and LTE 4G networks and boasts faster call set-up times, presence indicators, and the ability to run on a wide range of smartphones and feature phones. The improved service also adds a bevy of business-friendly tools, such as integration with enterprise applications, supervisor override capabilities for important communiques, and support for large contact databases and large groups (1000 and 250, respectively). The service is launching on the Samsung Rugby III and the Sonim XP5560 BOLT. It is also being made available as an application to devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro, the RIM BlackBerry Curve 9360 and Bold 9900.
Android YouTube App Can Now Push Videos to Google TV
Google today announced an update to the Android YouTube application that makes it easier to play YouTube videos on television sets. The update allows Android smartphones and tablets to connect to Google TV boxes (via Wi-Fi) and push YouTube videos directly to the Google TV. The app also lets the Android phone or tablet act as a remote control for the YouTube video, and can be used to play, pause, fast-forward, and so on. The update is a free download from the Google Play Store.
