Following that iFixit teardown of the Nexus 4, it looks like LG and Google did kit out their new flagship with LTE after all—at least, there’s a Qualcomm multi-band LTE chip in there—it’s just not active. But why whack in a 4G chip and not bother to use it? More »
Following that iFixit teardown of the Nexus 4, it looks like LG and Google did kit out their new flagship with LTE after all—at least, there’s a Qualcomm multi-band LTE chip in there—it’s just not active. But why whack in a 4G chip and not bother to use it? More »
It is during a routine teardown that folks at iFixit noticed that the Google Nexus 4 uses a QUALCOMM WTR1605L 4G LTE chip which supports up to seven bands. We can already see Nexus 4 users’ eyes lighting up at the idea of a community LTE driver or something like that. We never say never, but at the moment, nothing of that kind is on the horizon. (more…)
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Google confirms Verizon’s Galaxy Nexus specs, Motorola Droid Bionic teardown reveals custom LTE chipset,
Just a couple of days ago we reported that AT&T‘s latest 4G LTE launch happened in a few big cities across the US, including Denver, Milwaukee, and Louisville. Today, the carrier officially announced that their 4G LTE network is now covering over 150 million people, and the coverage has so far doubled in 2012.
Of course, 150 million doesn’t come close to Verizon‘s 260 million that are planned to be covered with 4G LTE by the end of the year, but AT&T is well on their way to that number. AT&T 4G LTE is now live in over 100 markets across the United States, a number that AT&T didn’t originally plan on hitting until the end of 2012.
AT&T launched LTE service today in Portland, Oregon and Pensacola, Florida, and are still working on adding LTE to other parts of the country who still have yet to receive it. Today, AT&T said its 4G LTE is available in 103 markets, compared to 53 in August and just a mere 26 at the beginning of 2012, which it only covered 76 million Americans at the time.
Since AT&T’s 4G LTE network first launched last August, the carrier has made clear of its intention to catch Verizon, but AT&T doesn’t plan to reach that point until late next year, and its complete rollout of 4G LTE won’t be completed until the end of 2014, which will be a year after Verizon is finished with their own 4G LTE rollout. In any case, both carriers have emphasized how committed they are to bringing the faster data service to as much of the country as possible.
AT&T 4G LTE now covers over 150 million people is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
If you didn’t pre-order an LTE version of the iPad mini last month, not all hope is lost. Both AT&T and Verizon are now offering the smaller iPad as well as the 4th-gen iPad. AT&T says that you can purchase the new iPads at any of their physical locations, although they don’t mention anything about availability on their website, but the two devices appear to be ready for purchase at ATT.com.
There’s no word on how many units AT&T and Verizon have available, but don’t count on an abundant supply. So, if you’re planning on getting an LTE version of the iPad mini, there’s really no better time than right now to head to your preferred carrier store and pick one up before they’re sold out. Apple’s website still lists a two-week delay.
Apple launched the iPad mini and the 4th-gen iPad on November 2, while LTE versions would begin shipping a couple weeks afterward. Of course, as with any Apple product launch, the iPad mini sold out fairly quickly, although not as quickly as with past product launches — customers could still grab a black 16GB WiFi model well after the initial launch at midnight.
The iPad Mini LTE version comes in black and white variants, and prices start at $459 for the 16GB version, while $659 will get you a full-blown 64GB model. The 4th-generation iPad with LTE starts at $629 for 16GB and goes all the way up to $829 for a 64GB version. Apple’s website lists the 4th-gen iPad LTE with a one-week ship date.
iPad mini LTE and 4th-gen iPad now on sale at AT&T, Verizon is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Sprint has announced that it will be selling cellular versions of the iPad Mini, and updated iPad, in its stores as of this morning. Go grab one while you can. More »
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Google is in talks with satellite-TV provider Dish Network, with the intention of joining forces to create a “new wireless service that would rival the networks of wireless carriers such as AT&T and Verizon”. More »
So you think that you are cruising to the latest and best mobile network – the 4G LTE network in the neighborhood? Here’s news for you, buddy, coverage of your 4G LTE network could eventually whittle to nothing, courtesy of $650 worth of equipment. Yes sir, I am referring to how the entire 4G LTE network in a city could be taken down using such equipment – if researchers have done their homework and they are correct, of course. The research team over at Virginia Tech do believe that a battery-operated transmitter which is no larger than a small briefcase could, theoretically, shut down 4G coverage with a radius that is measured in miles instead of meters around a large base station, meaning thousands of users would be cut off from their communications and downloads.
All it takes is attacking a small section of LTE spectrum, and the LTE base station can be knocked out. Assuming that both 3G and 2G networks are phased out eventually, with just 4G LTE left behind, then the lack of a back-up system in place might be precarious as emergency services need a backup plan to communicate with one another. The hardware required? A laptop, a software-defined radio and a car battery. Hopefully there will be a workaround on this issue soon.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Verizon expected to complete LTE rollout mid-2013, Verizon to sunset 2G and 3G CDMA networks by 2021 [Updated],
Eager to size up Cupertino’s latest tablets on the Now Network? Better call your local retailer — Sprint is now offering the iPad mini and Apple’s 4th generation revision at select brick and mortar locations. Existing smartphone customers who make the trek down to their local mini-mall will be able to add the slates to their account at a discounted rate, scoring a 1GB data plan for $15 per month or 100MB for $10. Sprint will also be enacting a waitlist system for customers who miss out due to the company’s admittedly limited stock, asking customers to purchase a $50 gift card in exchange for a guaranteed device when the next wave of tablets hit stores. Check out the official press release after the break for Sprint’s full announcement.
Update: Looks like Verizon and AT&T have the mini on shelves starting today as well.
iPad Mini, 4th generation iPad hit Sprint retail stores in limited quantities, (update: Verizon and AT&T, too!) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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4G LTE might be a thing of beauty for mobile users who love a good and fast internet connection while on the road, but according to a document filed with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, a laptop and a software-defined radio unit costing about $650 is all it takes to take down a 4G network within a reasonably-size radius.
It turns out that every mobile phone grid is vulnerable to this technique, including FirstNet, which is the emergency communications network that was designed and implemented after 9/11, but 4G networks are said to be especially vulnerable to the hack. The authors of the document say that “it’s relatively easy to do” by anyone with basic communications engineering skills, and if you were to spend just a bit more on a cheap power amplifier, you could take down a region as large as the state of New York.
If 4G LTE networks were to be compromised, existing 3G and 2G networks would still operate, but seeing how these older network technologies are gradually being phased out, there soon won’t be a backup for a downed 4G network. Of course, any radio frequency can be “jammed” if a transmitter sends a signal at the same frequency with enough power, but knowing that it can happen to a 4G LTE network across an entire state is a little disconcerting.
While the authors say that anyone could do this, it would require technical knowledge of the complexity of the LTE standard. However, those standards are actually openly published, which means that “any communications engineer would be able to figure this stuff out.” And all they would need is less than $1,000 to make it happen. Both Qualcomm and Ericsson, which are companies heavily invested in LTE networks, have yet to comment on the matter.
[via Technology Review]
4G LTE networks vulnerable to easy takedown hack is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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