Courtesy of a Best Buy Reward Zone member advertisement, we now know that the Nokia Booklet 3G will be available as of November 15. Which is of course much nicer than the previous time frame of sometime during the holidays.

For those interested, the Booklet 3G will set you back $299.99, but that price does required a two year commitment. Otherwise, those looking to make the purchase contract free can expect to pay the full retail price of $599.99. And yes, for good or bad that contract is with AT&T.

Additionally, although we did know many of the details and features surrounding the Booklet 3G, except the actual release, I did at least get a nice little chuckle from the

“Windows 7 operating system is crazy fast”

comment in the ad. Crazy fast, really? That is the best they can do.

Anyway, for those waiting, well for those that are also a Reward Zone member, you can now head out to Best Buy and get your pre-order in.

Read [Nokia Mobile Blog]

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Verizon, Verizon, Verizon—it seems they are determined to get some attention lately. We have seen the endless, but exciting Droid coverage, then earlier today we saw the BlackBerry Curve 8530 get announced.

Now, it looks like Verizon is getting into the pre-paid data game. Which personally I have to say it a wonderful thing. Especially for those who like to have Internet access on the go, but do not need it often enough to necessitate a service plan with a contract.

Anyway, detail wise it looks like customers will be able to get a daily, weekly or monthly option. And as you would expect, each of those levels comes with a set amount of data transfer. Here is a breakdown of the available data transfer along with the pricing.

• Daily – $15 for 75 MB
• Weekly – $30 for 250 MB
• Monthly – $50 for 500 MB

Finally, I think they only thing that would have made this announcement better is if they would have offered the pre-paid service in a plan that worked with the MiFi. However instead users will be able to use the pre-paid mobile broadband plans with the Verizon Wireless USB760 modem which will be selling for $129.99.

In terms of what you can do with the above plans, here is a breakdown which comes courtesy of Verizon.

To assist customers in determining their service levels, the following chart provides examples of different applications based on approximate size assumptions. Actual file sizes may vary.
Data Type

E-mail (1 text page, no attachments)

• Daily: 25,600
• Weekly: 85,300
• Monthly: 170,000

Typical Web page lookup

• Daily: 500
• Weekly: 1,700
• Monthly: 3,400

Low-resolution digital photos

• Daily: 150
• Weekly: 500
• Monthly: 1,000

Read [Verizon Wireless]

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Sprint has announced it will begin offering a mobile broadband equipped Dell Inspiron Mini 10 in select markets across the country.  The netbook is similar to those already offered by Verizon and AT&T and comes with a built in EVDO Rev.A wireless service. It weighs just over 2.5lbs, offers a bright 10 inch screen, 160GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, and in addition to the built in broadband, includes Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11g connectivity.

“Dell Inspiron Mini 10 is a fun way to easily access the speeds of Sprint’s network to catch-up on email, surf the Web and more,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development, Sprint. “We are excited to add this great Dell product to our industry-leading portfolio of devices available from Sprint that work on America’s most dependable 3G network. It offers an affordable way to stay in touch and stay connected.”

Sprint is offering the netbook for $199 after a $100 mail in rebate and requires you sign up for their $59.99 a month data plan as well, which comes with a 5GB cap.  Since Dell sells the Mini for $299 on their website it may not be the best deal for your buck.  A data card will give you the freedom to use it with any device you want rather than being locked into a single one, and Sprint’s Mi-Fi portable access point allows up to 5 devices to share the connection.

Still, if you’re in the market for a netbook and mobile broadband anyway and don’t mind being locked to once device, it’s worth checking out.  Sprint’s data service is among the best in the business.  For now, Sprint is only offering the Dell Mini in Baltimore, Phoenix, Indianapolis, the Twin Cities and the Bay Area, but it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see it become available nationwide as the holiday season unfolds.

Read [Business Wire]

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It looks like Novatel has released the first firmware update for the MiFi 2200, which means the update is now available for those who purchased a MiFi on either Sprint or Verizon.

The update is said to offer some bug fixes, add some new admin options, make improvements to international roaming as well as remove the hibernation mode while the device is running on AC power.

For those with a MiFi, you will need to head on over to your MiFi admin page to find and perform the update.  Personally, I have not yet updated mine, but would advise a little caution as things can go wrong from time to time when messing with firmware.

Read [EVDOinfo.com]  Via [Pocketables]

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Set to be on sale on August 14, Verizon recently introduced a new global modem manufactured by ZTE and dubbed the AD3700.  Designed for those who travel often and far, the AD3700 boasts the ability to provide broadband connections in over 175 countries. 

Verizon predominantly uses the EVDO Rev. A network in the United States, but the AD3700 can support GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and UMTS/HSPA networks in other countries.  In addition, it features VZAccess Manager software in order to help users connect faster and easily to a network.  It also facilitates installation.  Portability is key for this device, as the USB tip easily swivels away so it will not be loose during travel.  Any laptop/netbook running Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows Vista will be able to support the AD3700. 

In terms of pricing and availability, the device will be available in all Verizon stores on August 14 and will sell for $79.99 after a $50 MIR, assuming you inked a two year contract. 

Read [Verizon]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

A lot of the time the name “Comcast” is met with disgust, or just general loathing thanks to its poor customer service and bandwidth caps.  This time, however, Comcast is rolling out a new service that might actually raise some opinions.  Comcast is the first cable company in the US to offer a wireless broadband connection through WiMAX.

The program, called “Comcact High Speed 2go,” starts today in Portland, Oregon.  It covers the entire city in 4G wireless WiMAX, and will soon be bringing it to other cites, specifically Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia by the end of the year.  The service will cost $50 per month for those who want use it only within those cities, or $70 to use the WiMAX in the cities, and Sprint’s 3G network elsewhere in the country.  However, it looks to be that the nationwide plan will not allow you to access Sprint’s 4G networks already in some cities, which seems a bit counter intuitive.  For $70 a month it would be nice to be able to use the Sprint WiMAX network in Baltimore and other cities.

While Comcast isn’t the first cable company to offer a wireless connection outside the home, it does seem to be the first to use WiMAX rather than Wi-Fi access points.  Although, as Time Warner Cable gets into the same space elsewhere in the country it might not be all that great.  If users of one WiMAX service can’t access the WiMAX in other cities, it might be better to wait until the other cell phone companies roll out their LTE networks.  Nationwide 4G connection would be nice without having to worry about which company is providing it, though it’s probably just a pipe dream right now.

Read [Reuters]

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Having 3G access on a computer is a wonderful thing; being able to have internet connectivity almost everywhere you go is a blessing for many people.  However, sometimes paying $60 or more every month can be daunting, especially if you don’t use it all the time.  Virgin Mobile is coming to the rescue of those people with a 3G modem and a prepaid data plan.

The service is being called Broadband2Go, and will allow users to connect to Sprint’s EV-DO Rev.  A network via a Novatel MC760 USB modem.  The modem will work with any OS with a dual-band diversity antenna and an option for an external antenna as well if needed.  Given Sprint’s 3G coverage, the external antenna will be needed if you go too far outside of a city or metropolitan area, or even too far away from a major highway. 

While the idea sounds wonderful, it might not once you see the prices.  The modem itself will cost a reasonable $150 at Best Buy starting late June.  The data plans are fixed at pretty high rates, starting with $10 for 100 MB, $20 for 250 MB, $40 for 600 MB and finally $60 for 1 GB.  True, this is a pay as you go service, but those prices seem just a bit high, considering that $60 a month will get you 5 GB from Verizon with the MiFi.  It might make sense for those who desperately need the connectivity where ever they’re going and can afford it, but it’d be nice to see those number drop even just a little bit.

Read [Electronista]

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In an interesting story, the Wall Street Journal covered the homeless population of San Francisco and showed that some of them are almost as connected as someone with a home.  This story is similar to how we learned that the homeless population in Washington DC was using cell phones and honestly at the time I thought having a cell phone and being homeless was pretty amazing, except this latest puts the Washington DC group to shame in terms of connectivity.

Take Charles Pitts for example, he is 37 years old and just like many others at his age is on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.  He also runs a forum on Yahoo as well as keeps up with current events online and stays in touch with friends via email.  Sounds pretty normal until you realize that he is homeless and does this from a laptop somewhere on the street.  According to Mr. Pitts, “You don’t need a TV. You don’t need a radio. You don’t even need a newspaper,” “But you need the Internet.”  That is a statement I could not agree with more.

Of course, he is not even the most unique example here, another person that was highlighted in the article was Michael Ross and he has quite the setup going.  To begin with, Mr. Ross uses a 17-inch HP notebook with a 320GB internal hard drive.  He also has a few extra hard drives that contain a total of another 1000GBs of storage.  Sounds pretty decent so far, a 17-inch notebook and four external drives, however Mr. Ross has more for staying connected.  He also uses both Blockbuster and Netflix for movie rentals and downloads other movies at the public library.  He also has an iPod as well as a gas powered generator to power his gadgets—which is all used inside his home—otherwise know as a yellow and blue tent.

Then there are still many more examples, one of which includes 29 year old Paul Weston and his PowerBook that was noted as being his “lifeboat” as well as 49 year old Robert Livngston who carries an Asus netbook.

With a homeless population that seems to be staying pretty connected, it is also nice to see that there are help groups to further educate those who retain the need to stay connected despite their current conditions.  At least one person, Lisa Stringer currently runs a programs that teaches job finding as well as computer skills to the homeless and low-income population.  According to Lisa, it is “really a symbol in today’s society of being OK and connected,” of course she does not always recommend a computer purchase to someone who is homeless because of “threats, including rain and theft.”

Read [Wall Street Journal]  Via [GottaBeMobile]

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One problem with wireless carrier contracts are the fine print, which often makes it hard for the customer to understand.  When this occurs, the customer is very confused about the contract and often do something they end up regretting.  A man named Alberto called into CNN’s Clark Howard explaining that he purchased Wall-E for his nephew to watch while in Mexico.  Of course, this constitutes as roaming and Alberto was slapped with a $62,000 bill, just for the movie. 

Before he phoned in to CNN, he asked the carrier to reduce the bill, because $62,000 is a bit ridiculous.  Instead of decreasing the bill to something that could be paid off, it was reduced to $17,000, what it cost the carrier in bandwidth.  As you can imagine, Alberto must have been pretty furious because all he tried to do was entertain his nephew, and all of a sudden he’s dug himself a big hole.  Going back to what I said before, contracts say roaming charges will add up to a lot, but in a big contract, it is easily overlooked.  This is a classic example of wireless carriers preying on unsuspecting customers. 

Next time you plan to travel abroad with the intention of accessing Internet via phone or data card, remember you can opt in purchasing an international roaming plan, so you don’t have to pay any insane fees.  Whether or not Alberto will be able to escape his $17,000 bill is not yet known.  But I’m sure he has learned fast from his mistake, and will definitely not travel without planning ahead again.  Check out the conversation between Alberto and Clark Howard below. 

Via [Ars Technica]

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AT&T has begun, albeit on a limited basis, to offer netbooks—which are priced as low as $99.  So far, they seem to only be available in around sixteen stores that are in the Atlanta and Philadelphia areas.  They also all require a two-year agreement on either the 5GB DataConnect plan for $60-a-month or the 200MB DataConnect plan for $40-a-month.  Both plans also include access to any of the “thousands” of AT&T wireless hotspots. 

As for the netbooks (and mini notebooks) that are available, customers will be able to choose from an:

• Acer Aspire One featuring an 8.9-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a 3-cell battery and is running Windows XP Home.
• Dell Mini 9 featuring an 8.9-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8GB hard drive, a 4-cell battery and is running Windows XP Home.
• Dell Mini 12 featuring a 12.1-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, a 4-cell battery and is running Windows XP Home.
• LG X110 featuring a 10-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 180GB hard drive, a 3-cell battery and is running Windows Vista Home Basic.
• Lenovo X200 featuring a 12.1-inch display, 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a 4-cell battery and is running Windows Vista Home Basic.

It is important to also point out that the above mentioned prices are all AFTER a $100 mail-in-rebate.  So just add a 100 bucks to the above number to find out how much you will be shelling out on the day of purchase.  It should be interesting to see just how well these sell, personally I am not sold on the idea of having my DataConnect account tied to just one device.  I would think it would be much smarter, and more convenient to have a netbook, mini-notebook or even a full-size notebook and have a separate USB dongle that I can use with any computer.

Product [AT&T]  Via [Liliputing]

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Currently, Verizon Wireless is the largest of all North American cell phone carriers and based on today’s announcement, it seems they want to keep it that way.  Verizon is currently testing 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) networks in Minneapolis, Columbus, Ohio, and Northern New Jersey and in Budapest, Dusseldorf, and Madrid in Europe.

LTE uses the 700 MHz spectrum which was recently auctioned off by the FCC and quickly snapped up by AT&T and Verizon.  According to Verizon CTO Dick Lynch, field tests have shown LTE to be capable of download rates in the range of 50 megabits per second, but final speeds may likely vary.

Based on the results of the tests so far Verizon Wireless aims to launch its first commercial 4G LTE service at some point in 2010.  Verizon has also noted that they will be continuing the present 3G services they offer “well into the next decade”, so all the users out there reluctant to upgrade should have nothing to worry about

Read [ZDnet]

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In an effort to be a part of the current netbook craze, AT&T has partnered with Dell to offer a special deal.  Until the end of the month, customers can purchase a Dell Mini with built in mobile broadband for just $99 (after a $350 mail in rebate). 

The special price is available only with the purchase of a 2 year AT&T LaptopConnect plan, which is about $60 per month.

“AT&T and Dell have come up with an attractive offer for a truly exciting connected device with AT&T mobile broadband built-in,” said Glenn Lurie, president of AT&T emerging devices. “Because it’s lightweight, well-featured and ultra-portable, the Inspiron Mini 9 makes mobile computing at home or on the go easier and more affordable. Match that with the nation’s fastest 3G network and this is a big win for consumers.”

The special deal is only available on Dell.com.  If you’re in the market for a netbook and need the ability to access the internet from anywhere, this is something you shouldn’t pass up!

Read [Dell]

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Another item that Netgear announced at CES was the 3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router, and this once again has a familiar Netgear design.  This is a little more interesting to see though, the wireless router is able to turn your 3G connection into a wireless hotspot.  This seems to be a nice idea for a few reasons.  To begin with, you could set this up in a hotel room and then be able to work where you are comfortable instead of sitting in an awkward and uncomfortable spot just because that is where you have good signal strength.  Additionally, this router, coupled with the optional car power adapter could transform your car into a hotspot location regardless of where you are.  Check out the gallery below to see some hands on shots with the 3G Wireless Router.

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

At today’s Netgear press conference at CES 2009, the company introduced their new 3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router to complement their other networking products.  The device connects to the internet using your existing mobile broadband card, and allows you to transmit the signal via Wifi so others can join in on the internet fun.  I’m sure the mobile carriers are having a field-day with this.  Check out the details from the product’s data sheet below.

3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router

The NETGEAR 3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router gives you freedom to roam and still remain connected to the Internet. Even better, you can share your wireless 3G broadband connection with others, making it a great alternative to DSL and cable and eliminating the need for multiple 3G subscriptions. The 3G Mobile Broadband Wireless Router, an activated 3G USB modem, and a broadband data plan are all you need to create instant WiFi hotspots at events, campsites, home offi ces, construction sites, and most any other remote location. Setup and security are easy. The Push ‘N’ Connect WiFi Protected Setup™ (WPS) securely connects the router with a push of a button, while the double fi rewall and VPN pass-through protect your network and make it safe to connect to your business network from home. And when the router isn’t in use, the WiFi on/off and power on/off buttons shut down the WiFi signal and router, reducing power consumption.

• Wireless, mobile broadband connection Create instant WiFi hotspots at remote locations, virtually anywhere DSL and cable aren’t available
• USB docking station Ensure optimal 3G reception by placing the router where the signal is strongest
• Highest WiFi and WPA security available Secure your shared broadband connection from attacks and unwanted “guests”
• Compatible 3G USB modems View a current list of compatible 3G USB modems and mobile service providers at www.NETGEAR.com/3G
• Universal car power adapter Visit www.NETGEAR.com for online availability of the convenient universal car power adapter
• NETGEAR Green Save energy with the convenient on/off switch
• Push ‘N’ Connect Easily connect multiple clients to the router with a single button push Use with 3G Broadband networks

Full Story » | Written by Doug Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Fujitsu has recently unveiled the 3G-equipped LifeBook U820, which is priced from $1,199.  The U820 is a tablet style mini-notebook that features a 5.6-inch display, 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z530 processor, 1GB of RAM, 120GB hard drive, 1.3-megapixel webcam, GPS, Bluetooth and a built-in card reader.  Additionally, the U820 can be configured with either a 2-cell or 4-cell battery and is running Windows Vista Home Premium with an option to upgrade to Windows Vista Business.  The one catch with the 3G-equipped U820 is that you will have to choose the 120GB hard drive as the 64GB SSD and smaller 60GB hard drive do not offer the AT&T Broadband option.

Product [Fujitsu]  Via [Pocketables]

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A company called WAAV and the MBTA (the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) are putting Wi-Fi on commuter trains.  This access will be provided for free.  All of this will be completed in 2009.

WAAV is using 3G connections, so that ought to be decent enough to get your Internet-fix while you try to ignore the passenger next to you.  WAAV is claiming that they can provide “Proportional Bandwidth” to prevent one person from slowing down the entire network.  I hope NY adds the same service soon. 

Read [WAAV]

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AT&T and Radio Shack have recently announced the availability of a 3G-equipped Acer Aspire One netbook for $99.  Of course, that low price comes with a bit of a catch—in order to get that pricing you must be willing to sign up for an AT&T LaptopConnect account with a 2-year commitment.  The Acer Aspire One that is available features an 8.9-inch display along with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive and is running Windows XP. 

The Aspire One normally (without contract) retails for around $380.  As far as the contract with AT&T, like I previously mentioned, that requires a 2-year agreement and there are plans beginning at $59.99 a month.  If interested, be prepared to visit a Radio Shack location as this deal is available in-store only.

Personally, I think it is exciting that we are beginning to see these offers finally make their way to the US, but that said, I could not justify paying for such a limited 3G service.  I would rather just sign up for a regular data plan with a USB modem that I could use on any notebook or netbook that I choose.

Product [Radio Shack]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

It looks like Sony is about to enter the netbook market.  Of course, there are little details so far, but from the looks of the FCC image, it appears that Sony is preparing a small WWAN-equipped VAIO.  The image shows off what appears to be a netbook that measures in at 9.5 x 4.5-inches, but carries an official description of “notebook PC.”  Perhaps we can assume that description is just because of the fact that Sony does not like the netbook market.  Call it what you want, but a “netbook,” “notebook,” or even a “laptop,” the size is what will determine the correct market.

The few details that were listed, have this as model numbers PCG-1P1L and PCG-1P2L.  Additionally, they are shown to feature Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth as well as EVDO and HSPA.  So far, there is not any information regarding a display size, operating system or other features.  The one drawback that I can see here is that, assuming this is truly a VAIO netbook, the price will most likely not be at the same level as other netbooks.

Via [Engadget]

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Dell seems to be continually offering new options on their Inspiron Mini 9 and the latest is sure to make plenty of people happy—an option for built in 3G.  The 3G option is unfortunately just for new orders and is only available on Windows XP based Mini 9s.  As for pricing, it will set you back $125 for the upgrade, which also requires you to sign up for AT&T’s DataConnect service.  The service is priced at $60 per month and requires a two-year agreement.  Of course, on the positive side, by signing that agreement you will be able to get $120 back in the form of a mail-in-rebate.  It is nice to see 3G begin to makes its way into netbooks here in the US, however at $60 a month I would prefer to have a tethering plan on my phone or just have a USB 3G solution, at least that way I would not be limited to just using the access on one notebook.

Product [Dell]

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Originally, HP stated that a 3G-capable Mini 1000 would not be available until December.  However, at least one enterprising user seems to already have one in hand and already gotten the 3G working.  The details of this particular model are a little unclear, according to the forum posting, the user has a model #1033cl.  Based on some searching around, that model seems to be available only outside the US.  So, this is where it gets a little confusing, because he seems to be here in the US, as he mentioned that it is working on AT&T’s network. 

Now, is this a slip up on the part of HP, or are there more of these WWAN-equipped models out in-the-wild?  Fortunately, a quick check on the underside of your Mini 1000 will let you know if you have a WWAN-equiped netbook.  The slot (as pictured) can be found on the bottom and on the side of the battery slot. 

If you are one of the lucky ones, then getting it setup and running does not seem to be all that difficult.  You would have to download the HP Multi-WWAN Driver, then instead of installing it, just unzip the file.  Once unzipped, look for the Swisetup file and install that.  After that is installed, turn of your netbook, remove the battery, insert the SIM card and turn it all back on.  To check out the full set of directions, just click the read link below.

The one drawback here is that with the 3-cell battery, which is currently the only available option, the battery life is not going to be all that good.

Read [Pocketables]

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To coincide with the official launch of Sprint’s 4G mobile broadband service called XOHM (its WiMAX network), four top PC brands have introduced new notebook products which support XOHM.  For those not in the loop, WiMAX is faster than what you usually get from a mobile phone 3G network.  If you are located in the Sprint area coverage and are seriously considering getting a new notebook that fully supports the XOHM WiMAX network, here’s a rundown of the new notebooks from Acer, Asus, Lenovo and Toshiba.

Acer Aspire 4930-6862 and Aspire 6930-6771

While we covered this earlier, here’s a quick look at Acer’s offerings.  Acer’s take on the WiMAX-capable notebook market comes in two Aspire Notebooks - the 4930-6862 and 6930-6771.  Both notebooks sport similar features such as 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 3GB RAM, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics card, 320GB HD, dual-layer optical drive, built-in webcam, 5-in-1 multimedia card reader and Dolby Home Theater audio system. The Aspire 4930-6862 comes with a 16-inch LCD with 1366x768 resolution while the Aspire 6930-6771 comes has a 14.1-inch LCD with 1280x800 resolution.  These two Acer Aspire notebooks will retail for around $900.

Asus F8Va-C2WM, N50Vm and N50Vn

Asus has three entries for the WiMAX-capable notebook market, the F8Va-C2WM, N50Vm and N50Vn.  The F8Va-C2WM has a 14-inch display, 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM and a 320GB HD. It has a price tag of $1,599.  While both N50Vn feature 15.4-inch display, 2.26GHx Core 2 Duo processor, GeForce 9600M-level video card which enhances HD movie playback and gaming experience, a 4GB of RAM and 250GB HD.  Both of these notebooks are geared for multimedia playback and would cost $1,399 each units. All three Asus Wi-MAX notebooks don’t have a release date yet.

Lenovo WiMAX-equipped Thinkpads

Compared to the other three PC makers, Lenovo was not particularly clear about the specifics of its WiMAX-equipped Thinkpad notebooks.  What we know for now is that the Thinkpad X301, T400, Sl300 and SL500 will all be adding WiMAX capabilities, to be followed by the W500, W700, SL400 and X200 models later on.

Toshiba Satellite U405

Not wanting to be outdone by its competitors, Toshiba has also announced its share on the Sprint WiMAX network with the release of the Toshiba Satellite U405.  For its WiMAX-equipped notebook, Toshiba decided to go with a smaller 13.3-inch display.  And so as not to add to the notebooks bulk and weight, Toshiba has included an Intel Echo Peak adapter to feature a Wi-Fi connectivity to the notebook.  The Satellite U405 will feature a Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, DVD burner and an eSATA/USB port which charges USB devices even when the notebook is in sleep mode.  No pricing or release dates for this notebook yet.

Product [Toshiba]
Product [Asus] Via [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Arnold Zafra for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

People are using 3G broadband and any other method that gives them the privilege of utilizing the Internet while traveling.  News regarding WiMAX have been popping up sporadically for the past few months.  Now there’s another update on a WiMAX product: The Motorola X24 and it’s meant for your car. 

Motorola X24 WiMAX is a device intended to be installed in your vehicle and it does more than just provide you with Internet access.  What makes this device special is its additional telemetry feature that allows things like measurement and reporting of information remotely and directly to the driver possible. 

This means that services such as fuel usage logging, GPS, traffic reports and many more could be possible.  The only confusion as of the moment is as to how WiMAX intends to provide the network coverage that we need on a regional scale.  We certainly hope that WiMAX has a plan on how to overcome this problem and we’re hoping to hear from them during when the WiMAX revolution kicks off.

Via [jkOnTheRun]

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Gigaom is reporting that the new 250GB cap Comcast announced recently may not be set in stone.  In a chat with the site, Comcast spokeperson Charlie Douglas said the cap, which is roughly 100 times more than the average Comcast customer uses in a month, will likely rise as average consumption rises.

Comcast announced the cap on the heels of two controversies. The first, where they admitted they had been throttling the BitTorrent P2P network, resulted in an FCC investigation and a proposal to punish them for it, and the second, a lawsuit resulting in their practice of terminating customers for excessive bandwidth usage without actually telling any of them what constitutes excessive bandwidth, resulted in a lawsuit by the Florida Attorney General’s office and a $150,000 fine. The 250GB cap announcement was another result of that lawsuit.

Data caps are becoming more and more common as bandwidth consumption and demand increase. Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T all have 5GB caps on their mobile broadband cards and PAM (Phone as Modem) plans. It’s safe to assume such caps are here to stay and may even get more restrictive as the strain on the ‘net’s infrastructure, which was never designed for the high bandwidth audio and video streaming and peer to peer networking demand, is reinforced and improved, something experts agree must happen soon.

Read[Gigaom]

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Quickly following the announcement of the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 earlier this month, Vodafone made their own announcement about the upcoming availability of a subsidized model that was expected to be available “in late September.”

At the time the details were light, and pricing was still unknown. The latest addition to this story comes as a little bit of good news and some bad news. First with the good news, Vodafone users will be able to get the Mini 9 for free with a two-year agreement at £25 (around $45 US) a month. So far it sounds good, but this is where the bad news comes in: the data plan only offers 1GB of transfer per month.

Sure, most users tend to use quite a bit less than what they actually believe they are using, however 1GB is really low. Personally, I would rather opt to pay for the Mini 9 and just have a data plan on the side as opposed to the bundle. Sure, it may be a little more expensive that way, but at least I would not be limited to just 1GB of transfer.

Via [Reg Hardware]

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Verizon Wireless announced that it has added 10 new 3G sites in Northern California. The new sites expand voice and data coverage to several areas including Petaluma, Santa Clara, San Rafael, Walnut Creek, and southwest San Jose.

The new sites add to the company’s $4.6 billion dollar investment in California. Nationally, they invest an average of $5.5. million a year to increase network coverage and capacity. This includes the popular V Cast and VZ Navigator services. They now have the nation’s largest 3G network and boast nearly 70 million customers.

“This consistent investment is a key reason Verizon Wireless has ranked
first in customer loyalty in the industry in each of the last 15
quarters,*” said Rich Garwood, regional president of Verizon Wireless.

Despite this it appears fellow CDMA provider Sprint, which is still struggling to turn itself around and stop hemorrhaging customers, may still have a slight advantage. Its EVDO network still gets high marks for speed and affordability in comparison to Verizon’s 3G service. However, Verizon’s superior customer service and handset selection continually keep it in first place, and their recent acquisition of regional favorite Alltel will only help them stay there.

Read[PRNewsWire]

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With the launch of the Inspiron Mini 9, it seems Dell has decided to hold back the details on what most would consider a pretty important feature. The fact that the Mini 9 already includes an integrated 3G card. According to Dell spokeswoman Anne Camdenm “there’s a hidden bonus, however: an integrated 3G card.” Of course the first reaction is nothing more than, Very Cool! However you cannot help but wonder if that “hidden bonus” added any additional cost that may go unused by lots of buyers. Could Dell have shaved a few extra bucks off the pricing? Maybe, maybe not.

Anyway, as of now, Dell has not announced (other than Vodafone) which wireless carriers would be picking up the device. This could mean for some slow initial sales here in the US. Personally I was planning to purchase the Mini 9 for myself, but I may wait for some carrier announcements with the hope of seeing a subsidized version become available.

Based on statements from John Thode, vice president and general manager of Dell’s small-screen devices “the names of Dell’s telecom partner or partners were cut before the announcement.” Thode did go on to mention that they will “sell it with telco operator channels, so [customers] won’t have to make a decision about which operator to support.”

Aside from a little waiting for any carrier announcement here in the US, the other major concern would be the battery life. The Inspiron Mini 9 features a 4-cell battery which should give about 3 hours of life under the best conditions, however with the active 3G connection that is sure to drop quickly. Mobile road warriors may want to begin thinking about a mobile charging solution or possibly a spare battery or two.

Read [PC Mag]

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T-Mobile has already been offering an Eee PC that comes along with a mobile broadband package, but up until this point its been used with an external modem. However, based on a recent press release it looks like we can soon be expecting to see a new version of the Eee PC 901 with built-in 3G capability, which has been dubbed the Eee PC 901 GO.

According to the release, Asus will be working with T-Mobile to offer an “ASUS Connection Manager” which will allow the 3G-capable Eee to easily and quickly connect with the network when launched. In addition they also mentioned that users would get up to five hours of surfing time. As of now T-Mobile has not yet released any information as to when this service will be available, they also failed to mention how much the service will cost, or how much the Eee PC 901 GO will retail for.

All in all this sounds like a great bit of news, but sadly this particular model is only scheduled to hit T-Mobile…in Germany. Although we do not expect it to happen, we can only hope it will eventually show up in other areas. I for one have pretty much left my Eee PC in favor of the HP Mini-Note, but with built-in 3G connectivity, this may be enough to convince me to come back and I feel pretty safe saying that I would not be alone in that move.

Read [T-Mobile] Via [jkkmobile]

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Whether it is just curiosity (we had DSL at the last place, let’s try cable broadband) or America is bandwidth hungry, cable ISPs are gobbling up customers much faster than DSL, according to Q2 records announced by Pew.  In fact, Comcast says 2/3rds of its new customers are coming from DSL.

So what is it?  Bigger bundling discounts from cable operators?  Are the DSL defectors finding faster speeds and more than happy to pay extra to get it?  Alley Insider suggests it is all about speed.  But is the layperson that hip to know how fast downloads should be?

From Barrons, Craig Moffett says cable is going to have won big in Q2:

In a research note, Bernstein Research analyst Craig Moffett notes that when the book is closed on Q2, cable is likely to have 85%-90% of the net broadband additions in the quarter. “Cable’s huge physical plant advantage - higher capacity and lower cost - is winning the day,” he writes. “In the wake of extremely weak telco results, one question looked above all others: is the broadband market dying, or is cable simply taking share?” he writes. “Now we know.”

My personal experience has shown years ago, new broadband users pick DSL then convert to cable after becoming more educated on the subject (or fast cable becomes available to their neck of the woods).  Today, we are barraged with ads saying how much better cable broadband is; so the market is just accepting that. 
What is your experience?
Read [Alley Insider] and [Barrons]

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Its been quite a while since Nokia had first announced 5610 XpressMusic phone, almost a year to be exact, but some good news for T-Mobile users it looks like they will soon be able to grab one.

The handset was originally expected to be available back in June, but was then pushed back to July and now August 11 seems to be the availability date.

The handset is expected to be available for $100, but that comes after a $50 mail in rebate and along with a two-year agreement. The Nokia 5610 will also be available in two color options, a red/black model and a black/silver model.

In addition to the hopeful availability of the Nokia 5610, T-Mobile is also expected to get the 5310 is a black/silver option as well.

Via [CellPhoneSignal]

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Another series of leaked images of another upcoming handset from Sony Ericsson. The images come courtesy of the Arabic SE4M forums, and not only give a pretty good look at the handset, but they also include a few details about what we can expect.

As typical with leaked images, the pricing and release date have not been mentioned. But we do have enough details to make this something to look forward to. Based on the images we can tell that it will have a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash. It is also a Walkman phone, however the images are not showing any headphone jack, and based on previous models, lets just hope that it comes as a standard 3.5mm jack and not an special size.

Keep reading to check out a few of the images…

Via [myse1]

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Alltel has just announced that they are continuing to update their Rev. A network and have plans to offer it in 18-market within the next six months. The new markets will include, but not be limited to Little Rock, Charlotte, New Orleans, Phoenix, Tampa and cover both rural and urban markets.

The Rev. A network will give users upload speeds in the range of 500-800 Kbps with bursts up to 1.8 Mbps and download speeds of 600 Kbps to 1.4 Mbps, with bursts up to 3.1 Mbps. These speeds of course are dependent on having a device that is compatible with the Rev. A network and currently include the Huawei EC228 USB and the UTStarcom UM 150 laptop cards and the HTC Touch or HTC PPC6800 phones. However those HTC users will need a free download from the HTC website in order to get those speeds.

In addition to the Rev. A upgrades, Alltel is also continuing work on their existing EVDO network. They are estimating that as of now they have 76-percent of their users covered and hope to bring that up to about 82-percent by years end.

Read [Alltel]

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Sony Ericsson has launched two new HSPA USB modems, the M400 and M400g. With these two new modems in tow, mobile professionals can have 7.2Mb/s download and up to 2.0Mb/s upload speeds just by plugging the modem into their notebooks. These two modems are said to be simple and quick to install and provide internet access every time users need to connect to the internet where ever they maybe. And to make these two modems even more special, Sony Ericsson has put a M2 Memory Stick Micro and a microSD slot into the already useful devices.

Here’s a rundown of these two modems features; built-in antenna complementing an additional swivel “Diversity” antenna for maximum reception performance and data transmission, built-in GPS receiver and GPS utility (for the MD400g only) with links to Google maps, PlayNow shortcut link, auto-install and auto configuration.

The two modems will be available in ebony and white colors sometime in the 4Q of 2008.

Product [Sony Ericsson]

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After several cries and complaints, Sprint has finally explained its decision to cap its “unlimited” data usage plan to 5GB a month, plus 300MB a month of off-network roaming. According to Sprint, the new limit is plenty enough, since it only affects 0.5% of customers. Sprint also notes that the limit applies to both existing and current consumer and individual accounts, but not corporate, business, public sector, or government contracts. The company states that the Simply Unlimited plan is exempt from the new rule—as the limit only applies to data cards and phone-as-modem plans. Interestingly, Sprint is permitting customers to go over the limit only if they do not exceed the limit in two out of three consecutive months—otherwise, termination is possible. However, Sprint is being gracious enough to inform users of the new limits prior to termination, giving customers a chance to change their usage habits. To aid monitoring data usage, the company will allow customers to check their data usage via Sprint.com starting June 8.

If 99.5% of customers are not going over the 5GB limit, than why is Sprint enforcing it? Granted 5GB of bandwidth should be plenty for most users, is it really worth losing the 0.5% of its “hardcore” customer base? Wouldn’t keeping the 0.5% and removing the limit give Sprint the competitive edge its needs, by being the only wireless provider to offer a true “unlimited” data plan?

Via [MobileCrunch]

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Sprint is probably the only wireless carrier to offer a true unlimited data plan. However, according to a Sprint employee on the SprintUsers forum, this may no longer be the case. A reportedly leaked internal memo has revealed that Sprint is now enforcing a monthly 5GB data usage cap on its Phone as Modem (PAM) and data card plans, thus, joining the other carriers that are also limiting data usage to 5GB (AT&T and Verizon). Additionally, the memo says Sprint users that roam on another network will only be allowed 300MB of data per month.

“Sprint reserves the right to limit throughput speeds or amount of data transferred and to deny, terminate, modify, or suspend service if usage exceeds 5GB per month in total or 300MB/month while off-network roaming. Check your subscriber agreement rights on Sprint.com”

It should be noted that there has not been any official announcement by Sprint, so at this point it’s only a rumor at best. But, the leaked memo mentions that Sprint will be updating its Terms of Service to put the new limits into effect on July 13. Despite the new revelation, it is unknown whether or not the wireless company will actually be enforcing the new rule. What exactly does “reserve the right” mean? Does this only apply to heavy users, or to the entire member base? Regardless, the good news is that Sprint customers may be able to terminate their contracts earlier, due to the change.

Read [SprintUsers]

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Once again we are back on the AT&T free Wi-Fi offer, however in a refreshing twist (except for this mention) it has nothing to do with an iPhone. In fact this latest offer is giving all Laptop Connect customers, who are on a service plan of $60 or higher free access to Wi-Fi hotspots at any of AT&T’s 17,000 plus hotspots. The best news is that it is effective beginning today, May 20, 2008.

Effective tomorrow, May 20th, the long-awaited FREE WiFi Access to over 17,000 WiFi locations throughout the U.S. launches for Laptop Connect Customers with plans $60 or higher. This exciting new feature will allow customers unlimited access to over 17,000 WiFi locations at no extra charge including locations in Starbucks and McDonalds. Customers will need three things for this free access:

* A laptop card. FREE WiFi for Smartphones is not available yet, but will be later in 2008.
* The latest version of Communication Manager (version 6.8). Once loaded this version will automatically log onto AT&T hotspots.
* A Laptop Connect plan of $60 or greater.

Also, in addition to the Laptop Connect customers, all smartphone users will also be able to get free the same free Wi-Fi offer, however this will not be available till later in the year. Lets hope the free offer for smartphone users comes sooner than later, and also that this offer stays around.

Via [Boy Genius Report]

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T-Mobile has begun to officially launch their 3G service. While we have already seen the reports beginning to come in over the weekend, its always nice to get that ‘official’ word, even if its not telling us anything that we did not already know. Better late than never, huh?

The short, and official story is that they have rolled out the 3G coverage in New York City with support for both voice and data. They are also expecting to have coverage become available “across major metropolitan markets” by the end of 2008, however did not mention exactly what those major areas were. Keep reading if you want to check out the full press release…

T-Mobile USA Begins Commercial 3G Network Rollout

Company Launches UMTS/HSDPA Network in New York City on its AWS Spectrum; Plans 3G Network Launches in Major Markets Across the Country in the Coming Months
NEW YORK and BELLEVUE, Wash. – May 5, 2008– T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced that the company has taken the first commercial step in the rollout of its third-generation (3G) wireless network by launching its UMTS/HSDPA network in New York City. T-Mobile plans to continue the rollout of its 3G network across major metropolitan markets through the year. By year’s end, T-Mobile expects its high-speed data network will be available in those cities where a majority of its subscribers currently use data services.

“The launch of our 3G network comes at a time when 3G phones and services are more affordable, capable and appealing to our consumer marketplace than ever before,” said Cole Brodman, chief development officer, T-Mobile USA. “We benefit not only from the economic scale of 3G, but also from the extensive commercial experience of 3G in our European markets. Today, T-Mobile USA customers already have among the highest adoption of data and messaging services in the industry. Through our 3G network, we look forward to delivering a rich portfolio of new and meaningful services to enrich our customers’ lives.”

T-Mobile’s 3G network supports voice and data services consistent with available service and handset offerings. The company today offers multiple phones that are able to operate on the UMTS network. The phones are designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide the great call quality and rich communication services customers expect from T-Mobile.

Customers using a 3G-capable handset from T-Mobile will also experience faster data speeds when accessing the Web, or downloading content from the T-Mobile t-zones content portal, for example.
In the coming months, T-Mobile plans to offer its first HSDPA device, along with new and compelling data-centric, all-in-one devices that help make the most of T-Mobile’s high-speed data network.

The launch of the 3G network also enables T-Mobile to accommodate and serve more customers more efficiently through the use of its AWS spectrum, effectively doubling T-Mobile USA’s spectrum position, and laying the foundation for the company’s future growth. T-Mobile and the U.S. government, namely the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice, continue to work closely and effectively together to make available AWS spectrum that will give consumers access to the 3G network.

As the 3G service rolls out in targeted major markets, T-Mobile will continue to build upon its T-Mobile® HotSpot Wi-Fi network — its wireless high-speed Internet offering that launched in 2003 — and its nationwide voice and data network, to empower customers to effortlessly stay connected using the best available network.

Read [T-Mobile]

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I have to admit that this post is way overdue but better late than never. A full three months after the end of the 2008 CES we would be crazy not to thank our sponsors. Without these three companies we would have gotten nowhere while out in Vegas.

Pentax - We were thankful to be hooked-up with a Pentax K-100D Digital SLR. The pictures were fantastic, storing photos on a SD card made posting extremely convenient, and the zoom lens helped us get some great close-ups even when not up front. Just check out the great photo galleries. Now we are left drooling for the K200D.

Energizer - Energizer? Yup, Energizer. If you learn one lesson after your first trade show, it is that you can never have enough batteries. In the past we have been burned by buying after-market computer batteries but because of the major cost difference between the manufacturer models and OEM models, we continued to search for a high quality solution. This search led me to Energizer and their line of rechargeable computer batteries. Personally I went for the ER-L385X extended battery for my Sony VAIO, and it could not be happier.

Sprint - Last but certainly not least would be Sprint. Without a whole bunch of mobile broadband cards there would have been no way for us to offer our non-stop coverage from up and down the Vegas strip. I think we may have had every single card, all EVDO Rev. A from the Sierra Wireless ExpressCard to the Pantech PCMCIA card.

So, thank you to these sponsors and we hope you, our readers, benefited from them supporting us.

Full Story » | Written by Adam Berger for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

This funky map shows the best 3G and voice network around the country according to Neilson survey.  Where does your major metro area rank?  You’d think the big cities would at least be in the top five right?  Nope.

Indeed, it seems the bulk of city dwellers in the nations largest cities suffer with subpar speed and access.  Florida is looking pretty good for phone service while good data is spread out.  Anyone planning on using this data to plan your next move?

Cities with top ten voice networks averaged a 99.2% successful call rate; on average, 0.3% of all calls in these cities were dropped. Among the cities with top ranked 3G data networks, the average download speed for a 4 megabyte (MB) file was 727 kbps—an increase of more than 100 kbps over the top market average measured during the second half of 2006. Nielsen defines a “successful call” as one established and maintained for at least two minutes.

Read: [gigaom]

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Sprint and Sierra wireless have announces the countries smallest USB broadband modem – the Compass 597. The modem measure only 1.2 x 2.4 x 0.4-inches and weighs a mere 0.7-ounces, but don’t be misled by its size, because this tiny little device is packed with features. First, as a US modem, the Compas 597 offers an average 600kbps-1.4mbps down and 350-500kbps up. The Compass 597 also has a GPS feature through Sprint’s Location Service which is available to Sprint broadband subscribers. Sierra Wireless and Sprint also threw in an integrated microSD card slot for memory storage expansion, which has support for up to 32GB cards.

Installing and setting up the Compass 597 is easily done as well. The device comes packed with Sprint’s Smartview software to connect to Sprint’s mobile broadband network. Adding to its useful features is the Compass 597’s support for Network Driver Interface Specification (NDIS). This feature makes the Compass 597 remain always ready to reconnect whenever the OS is powered on or shut off.

Via [I4U News] Read [Sprint]

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Novatel Wireless has announced the Ovation MC990D and MC992D HSPA, two high-speed USB data modems that can deliver high-speed global Internet connectivity anywhere in the world. Both of these USB modems run on HSPA, WCDMA, EDGE and GPRS networks

The MC990D was specifically optimized for HSPA networks in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa on the 900 and 2100 MHz bands, while the MC992D is optimized for HSPA networks in North America on the 850 and 1900 MHz bands.

Both the MC990D and MC992D boast of speeds hitting up to 7.2 Mbps down and 5.76 Mbps up. Novatell has also installed Mobilink Lite Connection Manager Software and a 3G driver package installation for Mac users on both models. In addition, the MC990D and MC992D are also equipped with GPS capability

In the form factor department, the MC990D and MC992D should fit comfortable in any pocket thanks to its slim design, they measure in at 2.75 x 0.98 x 0.53-inches.

Read [Business Wire]

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