Hasta La Gadget!

What’s the point of owning Samsung’s shiny new flagship if you can’t take it on tour? Well, prior to Verizon’s Galaxy S III launch, customers were promised that global roaming would be enabled sometime in the future via an OTA update. That unspecified date has yet to come, but if it’s something of a priority for you, XDA Developers forum member lair12 has discovered a way make it happen without Big Red’s involvement. We feel we should add a warning here — switching from LTE to GSM isn’t a simple process and goes far beyond a basic rooting (which, of course, is required). It includes a fair amount of preparation, including manually adding GSM network identifiers, and several steps to switch allegiances once abroad. But if you’re a jet-setting Android tinkerer interested in giving it a go (at your own peril), the step-by-step guide is just a source link away.

Filed under: Cellphones

Verizon’s Galaxy S III gets global roaming workaround, packs its bags originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 07:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aren’t you glad you waited to buy an LTE version of the Galaxy S III? Samsung has confirmed that the versions with faster cellular data will support Voice over LTE on appropriately equipped networks, giving them that IP-based boost to call quality. The rollout will start with the Korean LTE model receiving support in August — we suspect SK Telecom is an early partner here — followed by a deployment in foreign LTE markets, which would mostly limit the upgrades to American and Canadian owners. About our only qualm is with Samsung’s assertion that the update makes the Galaxy S III the “world’s first Voice over LTE smartphone:” we’re pretty sure the fine folks at LG and MetroPCS have a thing or two to say about keeping up with current events.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Samsung Galaxy S III LTE to support VoLTE calls, starting with Korea in August originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Aug 2012 22:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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We just saw some evidence a few days ago a new QWERTY slider from Pantech would soon be hitting Verizon, and it turns out that was indeed the case. The carrier has now officially announced the Pantech Marauder, an LTE-equipped device that will set you back just $50 after a $50 mail-in rebate (on a two-year contract) when it becomes available on August 2nd. Not surprisingly, that won’t exactly buy you the highest-end phone around — you’ll get a 3.8-inch WVGA screen, a 5-megapixel camera, an unspecified 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, mobile hotspot functionality, and Android 4.0. Somewhat notably, the phone also offers you a choice of Standard and Starter modes, the former of which is apparently stock Android (or something close to it) while the latter provides a simplified UI aimed at new smartphone users. Assuming they aren’t scared off by a name like “Marauder,” that is.

Continue reading Pantech Marauder QWERTY slider gets official for Verizon, runs $50 after rebate

Filed under: Cellphones

Pantech Marauder QWERTY slider gets official for Verizon, runs $50 after rebate originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rogers was the first with LTE in Canada. Its budget brand Fido has largely been left out of that 4G fiesta, but the gap is closing today with official plans to give the yellow doghouse some LTE of its own. The initial deployment this summer will largely overlap Rogers’ fledgling network, starting with benchmark cities Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, St. John’s, Toronto and Vancouver. Only a Fido Mobile Hotspot with 10-device sharing will kick off the hardware selection; if you’re impatient, though, any compatible and (usually) unlocked LTE device will do with a relevant SIM card. About 20 million Canucks will potentially have the high-speed option by the end of the year — and with Fido’s plan costs expected to stay the same, that coverage could make the provider a de facto choice for fast data in the Great White North. Click past the break for the official word and the full 2012 expansion list.

Continue reading Fido hops on the LTE bandwagon, gives Canadians frugal 4G this summer

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Fido hops on the LTE bandwagon, gives Canadians frugal 4G this summer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2012 03:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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