Hasta La Gadget!

Don’t worry about Cricket hogging the spotlight during the second wave of the iPhone 5’s US launch. C Spire, Appalachian Wireless and Alaska’s GCI have also promised to carry Apple’s taller smartphone on the same September 28th date. Details of the arrival will have to wait, although they’re not likely to veer sharply from the prices and rates that carriers were setting back in the iPhone 4S days. There are a few gaps in the narrative versus the earlier releases: we have yet to see news from GCI’s Alaskan neighbors as well as Cellcom or nTelos, for example. The plan is nonetheless a sign that Apple wants to blanket the American landscape with new iPhones as quickly as possible.

[Thanks, Colby]

Update: Not surprisingly, nTelos has also confirmed (PDF) that it’s hopping aboard the September 28th iPhone 5 train.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

C Spire, regional carriers join the iPhone 5 deluge on September 28th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 10:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The new, lighter iPhone 5 has a bigger screen, punchier processor, LTE and dual-band WiFi, but if you plan to pick one up for Sprint’s network, you can’t have it all. Carrier spokesperson Michelle Leff Mermelstein told Phone Scoop that its version of HD Voice will not work on Apple’s new wünderphone. While most carriers use WCDMA networks to achieve the greater definition, Sprint uses CDMA 1X Advanced, which unfortunately isn’t compatible with the handset. Knowing the feature will be missing prior to launch isn’t ideal, but when you’re calling your friends to boast about that day-one purchase, a slight drop in clarity isn’t likely to kill your geek buzz.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Sprint confirms its HD Voice is incompatible with the iPhone 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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San Francisco shook today, but thankfully, it wasn’t from an earthquake. In case you missed today’s event, Apple took the wraps off of the new iPhone 5, along with a new batch of iPods, a new version of iTunes and a round of price reductions. A replay of the keynote is available on Apple’s website, where you can join Tim Cook, Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall and even the Foo Fighters make waves. So grab your beverage of choice and settle in for two hours of gadget goodness — you’ll find it at the source link below.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

Apple’s iPhone 5 keynote event now live for online viewing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 19:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So the rumors are true, and the iPhone 5 is indeed offering LTE for regions around the globe. This is no small feat, given the plethora of frequencies used by various carriers worldwide. Apple’s taken to its official website to discuss in detail its plans for making such a task possible. The new device will come in two different models and three total SKUs (excluding color): the A1428 (GSM model) will facilitate LTE for the US (AT&T) and Canada (Rogers, Bell and Telus) on the 700MHz and AWS bands; the CDMA version of the A1429 covers the US (Verizon, Sprint) and Japan (KDDI) using Bands 1, 3, 5, 13 and 25; and the GSM version of the A1429 spans Europe (Germany, UK) and Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea, Japan and Australia) using bands 1, 3 and 5.

This certainly prompts a few thoughts. First, if you purchase an A1429 unlocked, you won’t be able to use it on AT&T’s LTE network or that of any Canadian carriers. You’ll still be able to take advantage of the global HSPA+ capability, but its lack of LTE on the Western Hemisphere is important to note. It gives us pause to wonder if we’ll see both the A1428 and A1429 sold as unlocked models in North America in case you’d like to have either option. Additionally, it’ll be interesting to see what Verizon and Sprint do with the CDMA models — namely, will these devices allow for global LTE roaming? And will they be unlocked for traveling abroad? We’ll get you set up with answers as we hear them, but it may be an influencer on exactly which iPhone 5 option you choose.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile

Apple details LTE plans for iPhone 5: true global reach requires multiple models originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At long last, the iPhone 5. We just got our hands on Apple’s latest smartphone following its unveiling in San Francisco, and suffice it to say, it’s a beautiful thing. Some might say we’ve been waiting for this moment since October 4th of last year, but another crowd may say that the real next-gen iPhone has been on the burner for much longer. Indeed, this is the first iPhone since June of 2010 to showcase an entirely new design, but it’s obvious that Apple’s not going to deviate far when it comes to aesthetics.

Apple followers will aptly recall Steve Jobs’ quote in July of 2010 — you know, that one about “no one” wanting a big phone, with current CEO Tim Cook seated just feet from Steve as the phrase was uttered. Now, however, Apple’s inching ever closer to that very realm, with an elongated 4-inch display that enables new apps to take advantage of more pixels (1,136 x 640), while legacy apps can still operate within a familiar space. The phone itself doesn’t feel too much different than the iPhone 4 and 4S; yes, it’s a bit taller, but by keeping the width the same, you’ll utilize a very familiar grasp to hold it.

In typical Apple fashion, even the finest details have been worked over tirelessly. The metal feels downright elegant to the touch, and the same line we’ve said time and time again applies here: there’s no doubting the premium fit and finish when you clutch one of these things. Yeah, the headphone port’s now on the bottom, but avid Galaxy Nexus iPod touch users shouldn’t have too much trouble adjusting.

Continue reading iPhone 5 hands-on!

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

iPhone 5 hands-on! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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