TmoNews Monday reported that beginning April 5th, users will have limits on the amount of domestic data they can use, allotted by their specific plan. A screenshot details the allotments and their respective limits, which by way of example, those with data buckets between 2GB-4.99GB are given 50MB of roaming data per month. At the highest end, those with 10GB or more on a data plan are limited to at most 200MB for roaming. Once that amount has been exceeded, no data use will be allowed until the next billing cycle. T-Mobile will provide a text message to users when they’ve hit 80% and 100% of their cap. The carrier says that certain users (including business accounts) will be exempt from the new caps. Customers can expect notice via texts, emails and monthly bill inserts starting in February.
Sprint Monday released an iPhone application called Sprint Mobile Zone, allowing users to access their account information, check current promos, and even view information such as power consumption and resource levels on the device. The app is available for free in the
.
RIM Monday announced that BlackBerry devices would be able to make use of the Microsoft Office 365 features through the new BlackBerry Business Cloud Services. The service is geared towards government and business users, and lets organizations manage device deployments via Exchange Online. Business Cloud Services offers resetting of device passwords, remotely locking and wiping devices and helps manage both personal and business data on the device through BlackBerry Balance. There is no charge for the service to medium-sized and enterprise subscribers.
MetroPCS this week confimed it had discontinued its $40 unlimited LTE plan when it stopped offering the Samsung Craft last month. MetroPCS will offer smartphone customers unlimited voice, messaging, email and 1GB of streaming data for $50 per month, and add unlimited streaming and access to Rhapsody for an additional $10 per month.
AT&T Monday verified early reports that the Galaxy Note would be coming out starting February 19th for $299.99 with two year agreement. The Note features a 5.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, AT&T’s LTE network and S Pen technology. Pre-orders will begin February 5th.
Also, for those in Canada, Best Buy revealed Monday that the LTE version of the tablet-phone will come to Telus and Bell for C$249.99 on February 14th with a three-year contract. Pre-orders started Monday, though interested customers will have to visit a store to place the order.
Press Release:
CREATE, CAPTURE AND SHARE IN NEW WAYS WITH THE SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE, AVAILABLE FROM AT&T FEB. 19
AT&T’s Latest 4G LTE Device Offers Customers a New Way to Communicate and Collaborate
DALLAS, Jan. 30, 2012 –
Key Facts
· Previously announced at AT&T’s Developer Summit leading up to the International Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month, the Samsung Galaxy Note™ arrives in carbon blue and ceramic white at AT&T* stores beginning Feb. 19 for $299.99 with a two-year agreement.
· Customers excited to get their hands on this dream device even earlier can pre-order at http://www.att.com/galaxynote or any AT&T company-owned retail store beginning Sunday, Feb. 5 for delivery by Feb. 17.
· The Galaxy Note combines the best features of a smartphone with the larger viewing screen of a tablet and advanced technology in the S Pen™ — delivering an all-in-one device that allows users to work more efficiently and maintain productivity, while communicating in a unique, personal way.
· Galaxy Note boasts the world’s first 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED™ screen (1280×800), one of the largest screens on a smartphone, for sharp, clear colors and readability – both indoors and out. With the expansive high-resolution screen that provides an immersive viewing experience, customers can take full advantage of the large display, to create and consume more.
· The Galaxy Note includes a highly advanced tool called the S Pen, which delivers fast, responsive and precise control to create fine lines and detail on the device display, much like an ink pen and pad of paper. With the S Pen, users can easily sketch drawings, jot down notes, or write emails and texts quickly and easily in free-form handwriting.
· S Memo™, a multimedia application designed to capture all forms of user-created content captured by the S Pen, allows for pictures, voice recordings, typed text, handwritten notes or drawings to be combined via a single application, converted to a ‘memo’, and shared as desired.
· It also includes a smart professional planning tool that makes full use of the device’s large screen. The calendar integrates the phone’s to-do list and schedule; control and navigation is intuitive, helping customers comprehensively organize their lives.
· An easy screen-capture function also allows users to instantly save any screen, which can also be annotated with the S Pen before being saved or shared.
· Users can communicate in personal, creative ways expanding beyond traditional sharing methods with the Galaxy Note.
Accessories
The Galaxy Note features a unique portfolio of custom designed optional accessories including:
· Desktop Dock to get the most out of your Galaxy Note at home
· Spare Battery Charging System that allows for a convenient backup charging solution
· Protective Flip Cover Case, available in multiple colors including tan, black, pink, red, white, blue.
· Galaxy Note S Pen Holder Kit which offers a solution for users in need of a more traditional writing instrument. With a spare S Pen included, the S Pen Holder secures the navigation tool inside and offers a comfortable grip and allows for more detailed use.
The Galaxy Note is also compatible with the following universal accessories: Micro USB Adapter, HDTV Smart Adapter, Car Power Charger with Detachable Data Cable (Micro USB), Micro USB Data Cable, Travel Charger (Detachable with USB to Micro USB Cable), and the premium Refined Sound wired headset.
Pre-Orders
Beginning Sunday, Feb. 5 customers will have the option to pre-order the Note at http://www.att.comgalaxynoteor by visiting an AT&T company-owned retail store. Pre-orders processed by Feb. 15 will arrive by Feb. 17 at customers’ homes.
For the second year in a row, BlackBerry devices were named the most popular smartphones in the UK. According to data firm GfK, the Canadian phone maker grabbed 27.7% of all UK smartphone sales during the year. The United Kingdom now has 8.5 million active BlackBerry subscribers.
Press Release:
The latest results from data firm GfK show that BlackBerry® was the #1 selling smartphone in the British market for the second year running. It continues to dominate the market, grabbing 26.3% of December sales and averaging 27.7% through 2011.
The BlackBerry® global subscriber base grew 35% year on year in December to 75 million. The UK customer base is going from strength to strength with over eight and a half million active subscribers by the end of 2011.
BlackBerry® launched its latest operating system, BlackBerry® 7, in August 2011 introducing a portfolio of stylish new smartphones including the BlackBerry Bold 9900, Bold 9790, Torch 9860, Torch 9810, Curve 9380 and Curve 9360.
The update to BlackBerry® 7.1, announced earlier this month, will be rolled out in the coming months. This software update builds on the strengths of BlackBerry 7 to further enhance the mobile experience on BlackBerry®. It includes BlackBerry® Tag, the latest innovation in Near Field Communication (NFC), which allows users to share contacts, photos and files by tapping their devices together. Friends can be added to BBM, contact information exchanged, documents shared as well as multimedia content, all in an instant. Another key feature of 7.1 is that you can now turn your BlackBerry into a mobile hotspot that can be shared by up to 5 Wi-Fi®-enabled devices, including laptops and tablets such as the BlackBerry PlayBook.
PlayBook 2.0 was announced at this year’s CES show and will be available in February. The new software will allow customers to stay even more connected and productive in their personal and professional lives. Key features include native email with integrated social network messaging capabilities. Updates from popular social networking sites such as Twitter® and LinkedIn® will all appear in the integrated inbox. It also brings a wealth of apps with thousands more to choose from across gaming and lifestyle to business and productivity including Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, Groupon, Thomson Reuters, Zinio and many more.
T-Mobile UK Monday announced a new set of tarriff options known as “The Full Monty” plans. The offers include unlimited internet including tethering, unlimited texts, unlimited calls to T-Mobile customers, and the entry-level £36 option offers 2,000 minutes per month for calls to any network. Unlimited calling to any network starts at £41 per month, and all plans come with a 24 month contact. A £46 and £61 per month plan are available that will offer higher capacity versions of the iPhone 4S for free or discounted rates. The new plans launch February 1st.
Press Release:
T-Mobile launches The Full Monty – the UK’s first plan to offer unlimited calls, texts and internet
No fair use restrictions apply to internet, calls or text messages Plan offers UK customers market leading value for money Unique to T-Mobile, this plan is a landmark for the mobile industry Available on all phones in the T-Mobile range – including iPhone, Android and BlackBerry
London, UK: 30 January 2012 – T-Mobile today announces the launch of The Full Monty, a ground-breaking new mobile phone plan that offers consumers the freedom to make unlimited calls, send unlimited texts, and use as much mobile internet as they want – with no fair use restrictions. The first of its kind for the UK, The Full Monty plan offers unbeatable value and is available from 1 February through T-Mobile stores, online shop, telesales and in-direct partners.
Customers signing up to The Full Monty 24 month plan will not only have the reassurance that there are no caps on their calls1, texts and internet, they will also have access to unlimited WiFi2, and can use their mobile internet for whatever they like – including tethering (using a smartphone as an internet connection for a laptop or tablet), streaming and downloading.
The Full Monty plan offers four simple price brackets, each of which offer a great range of free high-end smartphones:
What’s more, further to the ‘big 3G switch-on’ last year, customers signing up to The Full Monty plan will be joining the 28 million T-Mobile and Orange customers who can already benefit from the widest 3G network in the UK, and faster internet and data speeds in more places for no extra cost, thanks to the sharing of 3G signals from both networks.
Ben Fritsch, Head of Propositions, T-Mobile UK , comments: “Over the past two years, we’ve seen a rise in mobile internet use of over 250%, which reflects the consumer trend of being ‘always on’ wherever they are. However, consumers also still want to retain a more personal level of communication by calling or sending a text.
The Full Monty has been designed for customers who want the peace of mind that there are absolutely no limits placed on their allowances, whilst also knowing they’re getting market leading value for money. We believe our Pay Monthly portfolio offers plans to suit anyone’s needs, all at accessible prices – and we’re really proud to be the first to offer a plan like The Full Monty in the UK”.
For more information and to sign up to The Full Monty plan, please visit HYPERLINK “http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/TheFullMonty” www.t-mobile.co.uk/TheFullMonty.
Samsung Monday announced the Galaxy S Advance, a new device for the international market that falls somewhere between the first and second Galaxy S lines. Known as the GT-i9070, the device features a dual-core 1GHz processor, Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 4-inch 800 by 480 display, 5MP rear and 1.3MP front cameras, Nexus-style curved display, 16GB of storage, with 768MB of RAM and a 14.4Mbps HSPA radio. The Galaxy S Advance will ship initially to Russia next month followed by Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and China. No pricing was given.
Press Release:
Samsung offers style and power with GALAXY S Advance
January 30, 2012
Latest addition to Android-powered GALAXY portfolio delivers sleek curved design with Dual Core performance
SEOUL, Korea – January 30, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today announced the launch of the Samsung GALAXY S Advance. Designed for those who define themselves by the phone they carry, the GALAXY S Advance strikes a balance of style, power and performance. It will be available in Russia starting from February, and then be gradually rolled out in CIS, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Southeast and Southwest Asia, Latin America and China.
“The GALAXY S Advance adds to the successful track record of the GALAXY smartphone range with a phone that combines power and style with all the versatility of Samsung’s Hub services,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.
Dual Core performance, curved design and Super AMOLED display
Powered by a dual core 1.0 GHz processor and HSPA 14.4 Mbps connectivity, the GALAXY S Advance has been built with power and connectivity in mind, delivering great versatility and a highly responsive user interface for easy multitasking. Application start-ups are faster with virtually no lag time, and the user experience is boosted with smoother screen transitions, faster image processing, and enhanced Web download and browsing performance.
The GALAXY S Advance’s curved glass design enhances handling of the phone and fits the user’s facial form easily and naturally. Its 4.0″ Super AMOLED display provides the stunning visuals users have come to expect of Samsung GALAXY smartphones, offering unparalleled color reproduction and ensuring that photos and videos captured with the device’s 5MP camera can be enjoyed with vivid clarity.
The Samsung user experience
Running on Android Gingerbread and featuring Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface, the GALAXY S Advance enables users to stay connected through the Samsung Hubs and ChatON services. Music Hub offers a full music store experience with access to over 11 million tracks and the ability to fully personalize users’ own music catalogues. Readers Hub offers access to over 2.3 million e-books, 3,500 magazine and 200 newspaper titles; while the hugely popular Game Hub offers access to thousands of catalogued games supplemented by gamer news feeds and news.
Samsung’s cross platform communication service, ChatON connects all phone users into a single community using phone numbers instead of usernames and passwords, provides aneasy instant messaging, group chatting and sharing of content in multiple formats-images, video, voice, contacts, calendar-to make messaging simpler and more intuitive than ever.
The GALAXY S Advance also features Find My Mobile, a unique lost-phone management system that ensures secure phone data encryption in case of phone loss, and that enables users to trace their lost phone directly via the Web or even delete the device’s data remotely.
The Cell Phone Junkie Show #296 56:15 Show Notes
RIM shakes up their executive structure, quarterly earnings start rolling in, and Verizon releases the RAZR MAXX.
Wilson Electronics announced the Sleek 4G-V at CES this year, the world’s first 4G LTE signal booster. The unit is specifically designed to boost the strength of Verizon Wireless’ LTE service, along with conventional 2G and 3G signals on the 700, 800 and 1900 MHz bands. The Sleek 4G-V will sell for $150 and while designed for use in a vehicle, can be used indoors with the optional accessory pack. The Wilson 4G-V will be available in the second quarter from most Wilson resellers. The device used in this review was provided by Wilson.
Manufacturer installation demonstration video
In the Box
Wilson Sleek 4G-V Universal Cell Phone Signal Booster
DC Power Supply
Mini-Magnet Mount Antenna
Vehicle Dash Adhesive Mounting Bracket
Optional Home/Office Accessory Kit
Adjustable desktop Cradle Mount
Antenna Window Mount
AC Power Supply
Carrying Case
Full Description (from Wilson)
The Sleek 4G-V – Get peak cellular performance in your vehicle for all phones including Verizon Wireless® LTE devices.
Now there’s a mobile signal booster for those using Verizon Wireless® LTE devices – the Sleek 4G-V from Wilson Electronics. This powerful signal booster helps you stay connected by providing a strong reliable signal in weak-signal areas, reducing lost connections and speeding data rates. It boosts both voice and data communication – making it perfect for phones and wireless WiFi hotspots like the Verizon JetPack™.
The Sleek 4G-V works with all devices on all conventional 2G and 3G networks,* as well as the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE network. Wilson signal boosters feature cell site protection technologies refined over more than a decade of research and development. Optional indoor accessory kit allows use at home or in the office. FCC type accepted.
Specifications
Installation
Installing the Sleek 4G-V in a vehicle is a 3 step process.
First, install the outside magnet mount antenna. The location should be in the center of the vehicle’s roof, 12 inches away from other antennas, and at least 6 inches away from the side windows or sunroof. Route the coax cable from into the vehicle through a door, trunk or tailgate opening, running it under the door seal if possible for less wear and tear on the cable and a more professional look.
Next, choose a location inside your vehicle where you’d like to mount the cradle/signal booster. Use the included mounting bracket (or optional accessory kit) to adhere the cradle to your chosen location, using the alcohol prep pad to clean the area before installing.
Finally, attach the coax cable, and mini USB power adapter and ensure that the green light on the left side of the Sleek 4G-V is on. This light ensures that the booster is functioning properly.
Installing in a home or office is fairly similar, it just requires the use of the optional accessory kit.
First, mount the suction cup bracket to a window or some sort of structure located as close to an exterior wall as possible. I chose to use the side of my desk next to a window.
Next, place the cradle mount in a convenient location, such as on your desk or a cabinet. Hook in the Sleek 4GV cradle and connect the antenna and power cables.
Finally, place your phone, USB stick, or MiFi in the cradle, and watch as bars rise!
Use and Results
Through the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to test out a number of signal boosting products from various companies. Wilson continues to be at the top of my list of recommendations for reliable, consistent products that are fairly easy to install, but more importantly, work well. The 4G-V is no different. I’ve been using the original Sleek in my personal vehicle for the last 15 months, and without it, I wouldn’t hold phone calls or keep data streaming on my iPhone.
Now, with Verizon’s new 4G LTE network maturing throughout the Phoenix area, I have been looking for a solution to increase my data speeds on my USB modem. The Wilson Sleek 4G-V fills this need perfectly with ability to use it either in my office, or in my car. Thanks to its simple 3 part system, it can also be moved from place to place, and even comes with a travel carrying case.
In recent testing, I’ve found that the LTE signal in my office is not very strong. dBm readings on pretty much any device hover in the mid -100′s, and occasionally devices will fall back to the Verizon 3G network. Testing out the Sleek in this same area, my signal strength shot up to a very respectable -74dBm using the Sleek connected to a Cradlepoint to create a hotspot.
Plugging the USB modem directly into my laptop typically shows 2 bars. Above is an image of the VZAccess software without the 4G-V.
Immediately upon putting the USB modem into the cradle, the bars jump to 3 (as seen above).
For speedtest comparison purposes, the top 2 tests (at 7:27pm) were done without the 4G-V, and the bottom 2 tests (at 7:25pm) were with it. Note the delta between the first and last is 6Mbps on the download side, and 1.5Mbps on the upload. Yes, 10Mbps is still very good, but a 50% increase makes it great.
Overall
Like the original Wilson Sleek, I’m happy to recommend the Sleek 4G-V as an economical and effective passive signal amplifier for either in-vehicle or home/office use. The easy installation and universal nature make this a good option for most people, and the 4G amplification for Verizon LTE bands makes this the first of its kind in the market.
Mickey Papillon
Joey Koppes
