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AT&T issued a statement in favor of FCC Chairman Genachowski’s speech outlining a open Internet. They are concerned when it extends to mobile broadband.

“We commend Chairman Genachowski for his speech today, which begins a public process of considering very important issues that will affect the Internet, and broadband investment, for many years to come.

“AT&T has long supported the principle of an open Internet and has conducted its business accordingly. We were also early supporters of the FCC’s current four broadband principles and their case-by-case application to wired networks. To the extent that the chairman seeks to bolster the FCC’s legal authority to enforce these principles, we would support him. We have also indicated publicly that, despite any compelling evidence of abuses that need correction, AT&T could also consider endorsing a fifth principle relating to actions that are unreasonably discriminatory and that cause material harm. Finally, we have never had concerns with disclosure or transparency regarding network management decisions so long as such requirements are reasonable”

Nokia unveiled the new Nokia N900 portable Internet Table.  The  Linux-based Maemo software delivers a PC-like experience on the handy Nokia N900

AT&T is offering netbooks aka min-laptops with built-in AT&T 3G wireless access for as little as $49.99 a month to Atlanta and Philadelphia as part of a trial. It has plans to do the same kinds of promotions in all of its service areas.

Another new feature that is the Internet at Home and On the Go package that combines home and mobile broadband starting as low as $59.95 per month, including access to  the 3G network and unlimited domestic access to the nation's largest Wi-Fi network with nearly 20,000 AT&T Hot Spots.

The AT&T Communication Manager is pre-installed on mini laptops, enabling customers the ability to manage their mobile and Wi-Fi connections.

Mini laptops available in AT&T stores include the Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9 and Mini 12, and LG Xenia. Promotional prices range from $49.99 to $249.99 with the purchase of an AT&T Internet at Home and On the Go plan, which includes an AT&T DataConnect plan and AT&T Fast Access DSL, starting at $59.95 per month. Without those AT&T services, these mini laptops range in price from $449.99 to $599.99.

T-Mobile has started selling  the T-Mobile webConnect USB Laptop Stick that connects to the Internet via Wi-Fi or T-Mobile's 3G wireless broadband service.

The new T-Mobile webConnect USB Laptop Stick, manufactured by Huawei Technologies accesses T-Mobile's 3G high-speed data network HSDPA and accessible Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) network, which includes access to more than 10,000 convenient locations across the U.S. in the T-Mobile HotSpot Network.

Laptop users plug the webConnect laptop stick into their laptop and the built-in Connection Manager software automatically finds the best available Internet connection.  It also has 8 gigabytes of storage for documents, music or movies -- eliminating the need for an additional USB memory stick.

With tri-band 3G connectivity, the webConnect laptop stick is compatible with mobile broadband networks worldwide. For use in areas where 3G coverage is not yet available, the webConnect laptop stick is also compatible with T-Mobile's nationwide EDGE network as well as EDGE/GPRS frequency bands used worldwide.

T-Mobile webConnect USB Laptop Stick costs $49.99 with a two-year contract after rebate; $99.99 with one-year contract; or $249.99 with no contract.

The wireless game console based on a Qualcomm chipset will debut  in Brazil next month. The console has secure 3G wireless game delivery and addresses the special requirements of these regions where current generation videogame consoles are expensive for the middle class and software piracy is rampant.

The Zeebo system provides a new approach for both publishers and developers looking to extend their footprint into emerging markets, including:

• Secure 3G wireless distribution of digital content designed to overcome lost revenues from rampant piracy.
• Simple, intuitive wireless shopping mall making it easy for consumers to discover and purchase content - giving publishers and developers direct access to a potential one billion consumers in the emerging middle class.
• Shorter development cycle as well as lower marketing costs.

The Nokia Blog received the following about "3G network problems" with the 5800 XpressMusic phones reported yesterday.

It appears the Nokia 3G network problems were only in New York and Chicago.

"We have learned that some Nokia 5800 XpressMusic devices are having issues with 3G performance. This is a very isolated problem concerning only the North American market* and is not specific to any other region or country. We are currently investigating the matter further to find a quick remedy to the situation. Customer satisfaction and product quality are very important to Nokia and we take all quality and customer satisfaction-related issues seriously. Nokia is investigating the issue. Existing customers of the 5800 XpressMusic who experience 3G signal issue with the device are advised to contact Nokia Customer Care."

*only NY and Chicago affected, in Dallas and Miami the devices are working OK. The investigation is ongoing on the device itself and the network used in these cases."

Toshiba has unveiled their new touchscreen Windows Mobille TG01 smartphone with a bigger display, a higher resolution, faster processor and slimmer shell than any other smartphone, including Apple's iPhone.

"Toshiba has listened to what users want - great speed, and the interaction of a touchscreen, but more importantly you want it to look really slick, very slim and very sexy," Toshiba's U.K. manger, Med Jeewoth said.

The Toshiba TG01 has a 4.1-inch touchscreen, with WVGA(800 x 480) resolution and measures 9.9mm thick.  It's powered by a 1Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. The screen has been called "gorgeous."

Apple has released update 2.2.1 for iPhone and iPod.  It's supposed to improve Safari's stability and fix an image issue in which pictures saved from Mail don't display properly in the Camera Roll.

For iPod Touch the update includes a fix for an issue that caused Apple Lossless (ALAC) audio files to skip when played.

The update is 245MB and is available by syncing the iPhone to your computer.

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• Articles filed under the category iPhone.

3G speeds aren't always as fast as users would like or expect them to be according Gartner's Phillip Redman who wrote "U.S. 3G Networks Deliver Less Than Expected"

Because the iPhone 3G can't use the latest 3G technology it won't achieve speeds faster than 1.4 Mbps download (compared with 1.7 Mbps on some PC cards). The newer BlackBerry Bold
supports faster speeds. Redman noted in his report.

When there are more users in the area there can be slower throughput speeds, because the wireless network shares bandwidth.

Fixed devices fair better than mobile devices. Carrier tests result in faster speeds when a device is fixed versus mobile. Mobile testing may show speeds to be 50% slower on average than fixed throughput tests.

Gizmodo reports that in consistent testing of Sprint's 3G network in eight cities selected by the blog showed Sprint unequivocally beating both AT&T and Verizon in download performance speeds.

"On download performance Sprint wins overall, beating AT&T five cities to three, and beating Verizon in four cities," said Wilson Rothman, Gizmodo Features Editor. "Proving that Sprint is a serious contender in almost any location... they should be taken seriously as a 3G and 4G data service provider."

Novatel Wireless, unveiled MiFi last week. I's a teeny tiny, intelligent mobile hotspot router that fits in your pocket or handbag. MiFi is about ths size of credit card and connects to HSPA and EVDO networks.

MiFi creates a personal cloud of high-speed Internet connectivity that can be  shared between multiple users and Wi-Fi devices such as laptops, cameras, gaming devices and multimedia players. It supports of 5 users at the same time. It also has a microSD slot avaiable to store data.

MiFi also serves as an intelligent, open platform capable of hosting advanced software applications.

AT&T is now offfering the Quickfire, the final of four new quick messaging mobile phones designed to make messaging faster for textaholics.

The Quickfire is slider phone with a1.3 megapixel camera and full QWERTY keypad, 3G world access and with fast downloaded music via Napster. Quickfire also features AT&T Navigator, which provides turn-by-turn directions and is available with a 30-day free trial

All quick messaging phones are compatible with AT&T's messaging plans that offer 200, 1,500 and unlimited messaging for $5, $15 and $20, respectively. AT&T FamilyTalk plan customers can get unlimited messaging for all lines for $30.

The AT&T Quickfire, which comes in orange, lime and silver, is available through AT&T retail locations or at http://www.att.com/wireless for $99.99 after a two-year agreement and mail-in rebate.

Reviews have been positive and Wirefly is offering it for free to new AT&T customers.

Cox Communications announced its plan to add wireless offerings to its bundle of digital cable, high-speed Internet and telephone in 2009. Today, more than 64% of Cox customers buy multiple services from Cox and one-third subscribe to all three products.

Cox will use the Nationwide Sprint Network to quickly enter the market in 2009. At the same time, Cox is concurrently building its own 3G wireless network for additional market launches in 2009. Cox will also test 4G technology utilizing LTE (long term evolution). Earlier this year, Cox joined CTIA (the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry), the Rural Cellular Association and CDMA Development Group (CDG).

T-Mobile USA, Inc. continues to expand its third-generation (3G) wireless broadband service, and launch 3G service in and around the Washington, D.C., area in late November. At that time, the number of locations with T-Mobile's 3G coverage will amount to more than 120 major cities across the top population centers nationwide.

This week, T-Mobile 3G coverage launched in the Sacramento, Calif., area bringing the number of major cities currently served with 3G coverage to 92. Next week, communities in and around Memphis, Tenn., and Tampa, Fla., will be the latest to reap the benefits of wireless broadband service from T-Mobile.

Next week they launch the G1 Android phone.

According to several sources, T-Mobile has changed their data caps for the G1 Android phone:

""We removed the 1GB soft limit from our policy statement, and we are confident that T-Mobile G1 customers will enjoy the high speed of data access over our 3G network," said company spokesperson Amanda Ginther. "The specific terms for our new data plans are still being reviewed and once they are final we will be certain to share this broadly with all customers."

The company still reserves the right to "temporarily reduce data throughput for a small fraction of our customers who have excessive or disproportionate usage that interferes with our network performance."

The cap was getting a lot of negative press.  What good is unlimited web without unlimited megabytes?

T-Mobile is capping UMTS network use at 1 Gigabyte. When you read the fine print ad the bottom of the G1 3G description pages  it states:

"If your total data usage in any billing cycle is more than 1GB, your data throughput for the remainder of that cycle may be reduced to 50 kbps or less. Your data session, plan, or service may be suspended, terminated, or restricted for significant roaming or if you use your service in a way that interferes with our network or ability to provide quality service to other users.

Some devices require specific data plans; if you do not have the right plan for your device, you may not be able to use data services. Some downloads, such as movies, music, and games, not included. Domestic use only. "

Once you are demoted to 50 kbps that means you are off 3G speeds.

T-Mobile G1 $25 data plan offers 400 messages and unlimited data access  and the $35 plan adds unlimited messaging. A few hours later the cap was removed due to "PR" pressure.

To better support new smartphones like the HTC Dream, T-Mobile is expanding its data network.

T-Moble has made deals with backhaul providers Bright House Networks, FPL FiberNet, IP Networks Inc. and Zayo Bandwidth to support high speed data bandwidth requirements.for sites in Tampa, Fla., Orlando, Fla., South Florida, San Francisco, Philadelphia and Memphis, Tenn., respectively.

New mobile applications carried by technologies such as HSDPA require significantly greater bandwidth than today's applications.

AT&T Inc.and Qualcomm Incorporated announced that Qualcomm's Gobi global mobile Internet technology has been certified for use on the AT&T mobile broadband network.

Gobi technology gives users the freedom to connect to the Internet over wide-area wireless networks, providing fast, secure and convenient mobile broadband access and GPS functionality virtually anywhere in the world1 via leading 3G wireless networks. With Gobi-embedded notebook computers running on the AT&T network, customers will realize higher connection speeds, as well as access to the nation's fastest 3G service when in the U.S. and the industry's largest international wireless footprint when abroad.

T-Mobile has expanded its 3G service in Las Vegas. T-Mobile's 3G network in Las Vegas supports voice and data services. The company offers multiple phones that are able to operate on the UMTS network. These phones are designed to automatically connect to the best available network (3G or GSM/GPRS/EDGE) to provide the great call quality.

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. T-Mobile plans to soon 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 in Las Vegas also enables T-Mobile to accommodate and serve more customers more efficiently through the use of its AWS spectrum.