Archive for the ‘Sprint’ Category

Novatel MiFi 2200 gets new firmware, now stays on even when you don’t need it

MiFi gets new firmware, now stays on even when you don't need it

If you’re using one of the various MiFi incarnations, you may have been slightly annoyed at the thing shutting itself down after a few minutes of inactivity. It’s a lovely feature to save juice when running disconnected — a little less desirable when running on AC. There’s a new firmware in town and it does away with such bad behavior whilst also adding better compatibility with the Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve. It’s not an automatic update, though, so you’ll need to dig through some menus to make the magic happen, but we’re sure you can figure it out. (If you get stuck, the read link has pictures.)

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Filed under: Wireless

Novatel MiFi 2200 gets new firmware, now stays on even when you don’t need it originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted: October 26th, 2009
at 10:05am by Tim Stevens

Topics: FirmwareUpdate, Mifi2200, NovatelMifi, NovatelMifi2200, Sprint, WiFi, WirelessRouter, firmware, firmware update, mifi, mifi 2200, novatel mifi, novatel mifi 2200, verizon, wireless router

T-Mobile Project Dark Pricing Plans Go Live Today [T-Mobile]

According to documents procured by the folks at Fone Frenzy, T-Mobile’s incredibly appealing Project Dark pricing plans begin today. Long story short, those leaked plans we brought you earlier this week are completely, totally true. Also, Catherine Zeta-Jones: Updated.

The new T-Mobile Unlimited plans match Sprint’s all-you-can eat $99 deal with its unlimited $99 voice/text/voice plan (as seen in the image, with discounted handsets). Update: The $79 price point comes into play with regular priced handsets, two-year agreements, as seen in T-Mobile’s marketing materials.

As a fellow iPhone owner I’m with Jesus on this one. Apple, please drop this exclusivity BS in the US. I completely understand that all cell phone companies are guilty of bending over their customers with overpriced text messages and fees and the like. I really do. I accept that. It’s just that I’d love to be bent over for less. [Fone Frenzy]

Posted: October 25th, 2009
at 10:00am by Jack Loftus

Topics: CellPhones, Phones, Project dark, Sprint, Unlimited plans, t mobile

Clearwire and Sprint slinging WiMAX to NC, HI and TX in November / December

We knew Clearwire would be snaking its 4G services to select markets in North Carolina, Hawaii and Texas before the year’s end, but it’s always reassuring to hear a corporation come right out and affirm that those leaked dates are still solid. What’s interesting about the latest announcement is that both Clearwire and Sprint will be offering 4G in these same cities under their own brands, even though the signals and towers used will be the same. Starting next month, WiMAX will officially land in Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina (Charlotte is already lit up, despite these companies’ claims) and Austin; Dallas/Fort Worth; San Antonio, Texas. In December, the companies will get things fired up in Honolulu and Maui, two areas where we’re certain techs from Sprint / Clearwire are more than eager to go “test things out.” So, now that this has all panned out, how’s about another leak sheet for 2010 rollouts?

Filed under: Wireless

Clearwire and Sprint slinging WiMAX to NC, HI and TX in November / December originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted: October 23rd, 2009
at 5:27pm by Darren Murph

Topics: 4g, Broadband, Clearwire, HawaiiFive-o, InternetTv, MobileBroadband, MobileInternet, NorthCarolina, Sprint, Texas, Windows, clear, mobile broadband, mobile internet, north carolina, rollout, xohm

Amazon Dumps Sprint for Kindle 2, Embraces AT&T

In a stealthy yet significant move, Amazon has dropped Sprint as its wireless partner for the latest versions of the Kindle 2 e-book reader. From now on, new Kindle 2s, in the U.S. and worldwide, will be powered exclusively by AT&T’s 3G network.

“Due to strong customer demand for the new Kindle with U.S. and international wireless, we are consolidating our family of 6-inch Kindles,” says Drew Herdener, spokesperson for Amazon.

The move was announced in a quiet update to Amazon’s product page for the Kindle rather than through a press announcement.

The move is a big blow to Sprint, which was the first U.S. telecom carrier to experiment with supporting mobile devices beyond cellphones and netbooks. It also means AT&T has all but cornered the wireless-connectivity market for e-readers. In addition to the Kindle 2, AT&T’s network forms the backbone of the new Sony touchscreen reader and Barnes & Noble’s recently introduced Nook e-reader. All that’s left for Sprint? Providing service for Amazon’s XL-sized Kindle DX, and supporting all the existing Sprint-connected Kindles.

When Amazon introduced the Kindle in 2007, the company highlighted wireless downloads of books as the device’s unique feature. The move helped the Kindle gain an edge over Sony, which had introduced its e-reader earlier but without wireless connectivity.

Earlier this year, Amazon offered a second-generation Kindle called Kindle 2 and a big-screen reader called the Kindle DX. Kindle 2 has a basic browser and lets users check text-heavy sites such as Wikipedia. But the devices were restricted to the United States.

Finally, this month, Amazon debuted an international version of the Kindle 2. It was the first Kindle to use AT&T’s network instead of Sprint’s. Kindle DX is still not available outside the states.

“Now that they are selling a Kindle overseas, it makes sense for them to have just one product that they can sell in all markets,” says Charles Golvin, an analyst with Forrester Research. “And, since, in most of the world GSM is what is used, having a single product helps drive down costs for Amazon.” Sprint’s network is based on the CDMA standard.

That doesn’t mean Kindle buyers who bought their device before October will be switching to AT&T.

“Existing Kindle users, owners of the first- and second-generation Kindles and Kindle DX, will not notice any change to their experience. They will continue to utilize the Sprint network in the U.S.,” says Herdener.

And at least until Amazon introduces an international version of Kindle DX, Sprint will continue to be in business with Amazon.

“Sprint still powers the Kindle DX,” a Sprint spokesperson told Wired.com. “So it is not accurate to say that our relationship with Amazon is over.”

Meanwhile, for Kindle users, the switch from Sprint to AT&T raises questions about reliability of service. Weighed down by heavy data use from the iPhone, AT&T’s U.S. network has become congested, leading to slow connectivity and dropped calls.

And with about 3 million e-readers expected to be sold next year, could AT&T’s network face additional strain? Not really, says Golvin. “The type of connection that the Kindle needs is different from that of a phone, since there is no voice component, only a data component,” he says. “The actual capacity consumed by all Kindles now and those coming on to the network is very, very small compared to the rest of the network.”

Kindle users are also less likely to notice small delays or disturbances in the network, says Forrester’s Golvin. Unlike a web page, downloading a book does not require near–real-time display of different components.

“On an e-book reader, the congestion is invisible,” says Golvin. “The downloaded book arrives when it arrives, and a few seconds’ wait does not change much.”

See Also:

Top photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com
Homepage photo: Gubatron/Flickr

Posted: October 23rd, 2009
at 4:08pm by Priya Ganapati

Topics: Kindle, Media Players, Sprint, amazon, att, e-books, e-reader

Technocel PowerPak pulls double duty as portable battery and home charger

Wouldn’t it be nice if your home phone charger could double as a charging device itself when taken on the road? Yes, yes it would. Technocel undoubtedly agrees, as its PowerPak does just that. When plugged into a standard wall outlet, it can simultaneously charge whatever USB device is plugged into it (amongst others, considering the bundle of tips that are included) and juice up its internal cell; once unplugged, the integrated battery can provide enough power to a dead mobile to let you yap for around three hours, or just enough to make it through whatever sobfest your ill-willed SO has planned for you next week. It’s expected to go on sale in around a fortnight at various retail locations and Sprint stores.

Gallery: Technocel PowerPak pulls double duty as portable battery and home charger