Following some leaks, HP has unveiled its new Chrome OS device, the HP Chromebook11. With the device comes a splash of color featuring accents along the bottom half of the inside and outside of the otherwise shiny white device. Along with the specs that we covered in detail earlier today, the Chromebook11 will also be […]
We knew good and well that Japanese carrier NTT DoCoMo would be divulging details about its 5G wireless plans at CEATEC, but the claims that we’ve stumbled upon here in Chiba are nothing short of bananas. Granted, the operator is making clear that its vision isn’t intended to reach implementation until 2020, and it confesses that a 5G standard has yet to be ratified. That said, it’s dreaming of a world where its network offers “1000 times the capacity and 100 times the speed as the current network.”
Representatives for the company told us that the challenge is going to be dealing with range limitations in higher frequency spectrum, but it plans to employ “high-frequency bandwidth by transmitting with a large number of antenna elements.” The goal for looking so far forward? It’s already seeing an insane appetite for video on networks that can barely maintain poise under the load, and the notion of transferring 4K content to the masses is going to require a substantial upgrade. CEATEC’s known as a place that allows companies to dream big and aim for the fences, but we’ll be honest — we’d really, really prefer that 2020 arrived sooner rather than later.
Mat Smith contributed to this report. %Gallery-slideshow99596%
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
In the summer of 2010, a decision was made to end the unlimited data plan offered to iPad 3G owners, something that spawned a class action lawsuit that has been in play for a while now. As of this week, the dispute has been put to an end, with AT&T and Apple resolving to settle […]
Back in January, Verizon sold $1.9 billion worth of its 700MHz spectrum to AT&T, something the latter carrier will use to boost its 4G LTE network. More than half a year later, the deal has been completed, with AT&T announcing that it has acquired the licenses needed to cover 42 million individuals located throughout 18 […]
Huawei‘s rotating CEO and deputy chairman Ken Hu has made a guest contribution over at Forbes discussing 5G networks, stating that the company has been working on developing them for the past several years. If all goes as Huawei expects, the company plans to launch said networks commercially in 2020, stating that it would be […]
T-Mobile rolled out its 4G LTE network earlier this year, stating ambitious goals for coverage by the middle of the year, something it ultimately surpassed. It has been a couple of weeks since the carrier’s New York City event, and the company has made a new announcement: most of its 4G LTE network will be
Samsung Electronics has announced that it has been testing next-generation 5G wireless service in one of its in-house testing centers. Samsung reports that the new 5G service is “hundreds of times faster” than current 4G mobile networks. The next generation 5G network will be able to support all the same content types as current generation 4G networks.
The big benefit is that it will be significantly faster. That will mean less buffering time for streaming media such as movies and video. It will also mean faster networking for multiple player games and faster downloads for new games and other large files. Samsung says that it expects the maximum transmission speed for 5G mobile networks to reach the “tens of Gbps.”
Samsung says that the speed will be high enough that users will be able to download an ultra high definition movie file “within seconds.” During testing Samsung has been able to demonstrate the ability to achieve transfer speeds of up to 1Gbps over distances of up to 2 km. The technology is currently relying on 28 GHz ultrahigh frequency bandwidths.
Samsung also notes that other companies and institutions around the world have been developing technology that would take advantage of 6 GHz bandwidths. The problem with using those ultra-high-frequency bandwidths, such as a 6 GHz range, according to Samsung is that the transmission range is decreased.
Samsung is currently looking to commercialize be 5G technology is developing by 2020. Samsung isn’t alone in trying to roll out 5G mobile communications technology by 2020. Several international standards unions are working on 5G technology and overall standards to govern the rollout of these networks and the development of technology.
SOURCE: Samsung
Samsung next gen 5G wireless service hits 1 Gbps in testing is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
It hasn’t even been a month, and reports are already coming in that North Korea has cut its visitor-only 3G Internet connection, which went live the beginning of March. It seems those with a smartphone, which is still allowed in the country following the recently changed laws, can still make international phone calls (except to South Korea), but can no longer share content or access the Internet via a mobile data connection.
Originally, visitors to North Korea could purchase a SIM card from Koryolink from either the airport or a Koryolink retail store. Despite the very high rates for data, which are reported to be 150 Euros per 2GB, images from within the nation began to hit Instagram and other social networks within days, such as the one featured above. The videos and images sparked quite a bit of international attention, as was expected.
Perhaps the quantity of content being published by visitors spooked North Korea, because it hasn’t even been a month, and the mobile broadband connection has already been taken down. Nothing official was said about the change, and it is possible the change is only temporary, prompted by some government tweaking or perhaps a technical issue. Only time will tell if it goes back up or not.
Word has it that long-term visitors can still access the mobile network, and if that is the case, it would seem the move was intentional, and that short-term visitors are out of luck. The SIM cards can still be purcahsed from the airport and retail stores for about $70 USD, and international phone calls will cost visitors about 5 Euros per minute, which isn’t too bad, but still a substantial price tag.
[via North Korea Tech]
Image via Joseph Ferris III
North Korea takes down mobile Internet connection for visitors is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
On February 22, we reported that North Korea planned to switch on a 3G mobile data network for visitors by March 1, providing for the first time an open Internet connection to foreigners in the nation. Now that the network is live, visitors in the country have begun uploading pictures from within to Instagram, giving a glimpse into the locked down nation.
The activation of its 3G network followed a law that was passed allowing visitors to bring their own smartphones into the country, new freedoms not bestowed onto the nation’s residents. The network is provided by carrier Koryolink, and while it provides visitors with a much-needed way to connect with the outside world, it doesn’t come without a hefty price tag.
The data network can be accessed by purchasing a SIM card that is available at the airport and at Koryolink retail stores for $70 USD. The card needs to be used with the visitor’s own smartphone, and is reported by the Associated Press as having a rate of 5 Euros per minutes for calls placed to the United States. Calls cannot be made using the SIM to South Korea.
For those more interested in the data connection aspect of the network rather than the voice capabilities, the service can also be used with a monthly-billed mobile broadband plan, which supports USB modems. For more Instagram pictures from within North Korea, check out the hashtag “#pyongyang”.
[via Digital Photography Review]
Pictures from North Korea hit Instagram after its 3G network goes live is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
By March 1, foreigners in North Korea will be able to access the Internet via a 3G mobile network. This is achieved by using a SIM card that is available for purchase for a lowish fee, but is unique to visitors. Those who live in North Korea are limited in their access to mobile services, and still won’t have access to the World Wide Web. The network will be provided by Koryolink.
The service is set to launch by March 1, though it could happen earlier. This follows a change in North Korean law not too long ago that allows visitors to bring their own smartphones into the nation so that they can be used with the carrier’s SIM card. This is something that was never before allowed, and provides visitors with a level of connectivity with the outside world that has never existed in the northern Korean nation before.
The SIM cards are available at Koryolink retail stores and at the airport, priced at $70USD. The call rate is reported by the Associated Press as being 5 Euros per minute to the United States. Not surprisingly, calls to South Korea are not allowed. The hefty price tags will no doubt prevent travelers from using their cell phone as they would elsewhere, but does provide a necessary service to visitors, giving an (expensive) way to contact home.
In addition, users will be able to purchase a per-month mobile broadband plan via the service, using the SIM card in their mobile data device (USB modems will be supported). The cost of the monthly plan has not been released yet, however, but we’re guessing it’ll be pretty high if the per-minute rate is any indication.
[via Yahoo]
North Korea to switch on 3G network for foreigners by March 1 is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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