How will the billion people who still use older 2G cellphones use them to pay for goods, just like people with smartphones equipped with near-field communications (NFC) wireless links? One answer is to place a tiny 2G base station at the point of sale so that those older non-NFC phones can also make a short-range transaction securely. More »
Verizon has been busy rolling out 4G LTE network coverage over the past couple of years, an indication that 4G is most definitely the next-gen network that mobile users can look forward to in the near future as more devices become compatible with it. So what happens to 2G and 3G networks when 4G LTE becomes the dominant network of choice in the future? Well as far as Verizon is concerned, they have announced that come 2021, the carrier will sunset both 2G and 3G CDMA networks. This is a little less than a decade away so for those on 2G devices, you guys are still “safe”, at least for now.
This heads up from Verizon is apparently aimed more at machine-to-machine applications, rather than the end user but at the rate the carrier has been rolling out 4G LTE coverage, it is safe to assume that the bulk of their customers should have already moved onto their 4G LTE network with LTE compatible devices by 2021. When that happens, we guess we can then start to look forward to 5G networks where research into the technology has already begun in the UK.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Verizon’s double data LTE offer to end 5th of June, Verizon rolls out more 4G LTE coverage to new and expanded markets,
If you’re still relying on AT&T’s 2G technology and you’re living in Oakland, you may or may not have realized that suddenly your 2G service has stopped working, or the signal might not be as strong as it once was. This is because AT&T has temporarily shut down 2G frequencies around the city due to the Oakland police and the FCC complaining that AT&T’s 2G cell towers are interfering with the police’s brand new $18 million radio system. As it stands there have been reports that the radio system was not functioning as well as expected, although it got noticeably worse when patrol cars were within a quarter of a mile of AT&T’s 2G cell towers, thus leading to them to suspect that the cell towers might be causing interference. In any case as AT&T’s 2G subscribers are only a small portion of its network, there shouldn’t be too many people affected. If you are one of those affected, let us know in the comments below!
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: AT&T to discontinue its 2G network by 2017, AT&T to phase out 2G network, urges customers to upgrade,
An $18 million dollar radio system purchased by the Oakland Police Department has been giving static instead of 10-30s in progress, and the interfering party has now been collared — AT&T. Local officials and the FCC told the mobile network that its towers were blocking police communication, particularly when patrol cars were within a quarter-mile of one. However, some local pundits have said the problem is of the PD’s own making, claiming it invested in an inferior system and didn’t check carefully enough for interference before making the buy. As a result, AT&T has temporarily shut down 2G frequencies around the city — giving the telecom giant an unplanned sneak preview of the upcoming phase-out.
Filed under: Cellphones
AT&T suspends 2G in Oakland after cell towers step on police frequencies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
MetroPCS may not be grand in scale, but it’s certainly not lacking for ambition. Just over a year after announcing its eventual transition to Voice over LTE, the carrier has officially launched its VoLTE services. Moreover, it’s announcing the first sale of a VoLTE-capable handset at one of the company’s Dallas / Fort Worth store locations. The Android-powered LG Connect 4G is the outfit’s first (and only, for now) VoLTE-capable phone, but the operator’s promising more rollouts and phone options “in the coming weeks.” For the consumer, those in range of LTE signals should notice clearer calls, and it’s become something of a trend to see carriers (Verizon and Sprint, for instance) moving in this direction as 2G / 3G networks start to show their age. So, DFW residents — anyone been able to try it out? Let us know in comments below.
Continue reading MetroPCS lights up Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, starts selling LG Connect 4G
Filed under: Cellphones
MetroPCS lights up Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, starts selling LG Connect 4G originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Aug 2012 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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AT&T has announced its plan to end its old 2G network by 2017. In a SEC filing today, the telecommunications giant said that it will be shutting down its second-generation network in order to focus more on upgrading its systems. Although the telecom giant mentioned that about 12 percent of its customers under contract are still using 2G handsets, the company added that it will be “proactively” asking those customers to upgrade their devices along the way. Additionally, AT&T said that it will no longer sell 2G handsets to its contract or prepaid customers and that the transition away from GSM and EDGE networks will be on a market-by-market basis. AT&T expects its 2G network to be fully discontinued beginning January 1, 2017.
“We expect to fully discontinue service on our 2G networks by approximately January 1, 2017. Throughout this multi-year upgrade process, we will work proactively with our customers to manage the process of moving to 3G and 4G devices, which will help minimize customer churn. As of June 30, 2012, approximately 12 percent of our postpaid customers were using 2G handsets. We do not expect this transition to have a material impact on our operating results, but will continue to evaluate the financial impact of transitioning customers from 2G devices to 3G or 4G devices,” AT&T said.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: AT&T to phase out 2G network, urges customers to upgrade, AT&T’s HTC One X receives Android 4.0.4 update,
AT&T has only just begun the transition away from 2G services with its spectrum refarming in New York City, but it now has a target end date to mark on the calendar: January 1st, 2017. Courtesy of an SEC filing, we know that the carrier hopes that both its GSM voice and EDGE data networks will have gone to the great cell tower in the sky before we’re popping the champagne corks about four and a half years from now. The Big Blue Ball expects the transition to be a smooth one, as only 12 percent of its regular subscribers are using 2G-only phones today; if it ever gets bumpy, the company promises to “proactively” steer the holdouts towards 3G and 4G. Don’t get too misty-eyed. While the transition will mark the end to what’s arguably one of the most definitive chapters in US cellular history, that far-flung date will likely come well after most of us have moved on — much like the AMPS shutdown, it could be less of a bang and more of a whimper.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless
AT&T plans to shut down entire 2G network by 2017 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Growing tired of that EDGE-only device on T-Mobile? The carrier wants you to upgrade just as badly as you do, and may be willing to kick some extra incentives your way to help motivate the switch. In an attempt to clear devices from its 2G network, T-Mobile reportedly launched a pilot this month, targeting 5,000 select customers each in Boston, DC, Los Angeles, Miami and New York City with discount offers that vary slightly by market, and may include a waived upgrade fee, up to $100 (Boston) or $50 (NYC, DC) off any phone, or, exclusively for folks in Miami, the option to swap their device for a Samsung t259, t359 Smile or Gravity TXT for free with no new contract to sign. According to TmoNews, customers may receive a targeted offer if they’re Classic or Legacy subscribers with 1,000 or more monthly minutes on a 2G device (the iPhone is not included). If the pilot is successful, T-Mobile may roll out the offer to customers in additional cities, as part of the carrier’s refarming effort to grow HSPA+ network capacity. A full offer breakdown is available at the source link below.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless
T-Mobile to incentivize select 2G subscribers with upgrade offers during five-city US pilot originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 05:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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