AT&T, Boingo, T-Mobile agree to back wireless in 30 more New York City subway stations

New York City subway WiFi plans expand to 30 more stations, let you Twitter underneath Times Square

As welcome as Transit Wireless’ strategy for wireless in New York City subways has been, having access in just six stations around one Manhattan district has been limiting for locals who want to stay online underground. Thankfully, there’s plans afoot to cover a much wider base. AT&T, Boingo and T-Mobile have offered to back a next wave of expansion that will cover 30 extra stations with cellular and WiFi access, in places we’re more likely to recognize: Columbus Circle, Rockefeller Center and Times Square are all part of the rollout. While the tragedy of Hurricane Sandy has pushed back completion to early 2013, it shouldn’t be too long before some of the city’s most important hubs (and tourist traps) are covered — and Transit Wireless’ ambitions to eventually put wireless in all of New York City’s subways could keep every borough online during the daily commute.

[Image credit: Retromoderns, Flickr]

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Department of Justice asks MetroPCS for more info regarding T-Mobile merger

Department of Justice asks MetroPCS for more info regarding TMobile merger

We can’t say we’re exactly surprised, but it’s still worth noting that the United States DOJ has contacted MetroPCS to ask for additional information about the company’s recently announced merger with T-Mobile. The adequately-named “Second Request” will be essential before an actual consolidation approval can be made, and MetroPCS has stated it plans on being fully cooperative so that it can “obtain the approval of the transaction as soon as possible.” Additionally, the Wireless for All carrier says it’s pretty confident on the Department of Justice’s ability to see the proposed merger is “both pro-competitive and pro-consumer.” In the end, it’s nothing more than a required hurdle before the two telcos can move on with their original plans. Official word from MetroPCS can be found inside the presser below.

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Via: Android Central

Source: MetroPCS

EE unveils 4G sim-only plans: 5GB max of LTE zip for £36 per month

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If you already had a handset and wanted in on EE’s extra 4G vroom, you may have been miffed when it launched without a sim-only option. The operator has now atoned, however, with new packages for the already-smartphoned: a threadbare 500MB contract will run you £21 per month over a year, while those who need data galore will have to pony up £36 for the max 5GB data plan. The latter option will save you £15 over a handset-included contract with 12 months less commitment, and adding an extra £5 along with another year will get you unlimited texting and calls while roaming. The plans are available online or over the phone, but will be coming to stores “very shortly” as well, according to EE. So, if you’re looking to give that LTE equipped phone a speedy new life, hit the source for all the details.

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US Cellular promo brings unlimited LTE to smartphone owners for $40 per month, but tethering is another $20

DNP US Cellular now serving all you can eat data for $40 per month

A US Cellular rep confirmed today that the carrier is now offering a new unlimited 4G LTE data plan. Customers within the company’s LTE markets can now add unlimited 4G data for $40 per month — only through January 31st of next year, though. If surfing the web on a smartphone isn’t enough, you can add optional tethering for an additional $20, which requires a separate tiered hotspot data plan. Just in time for the holidays, this ample offering lines up with the carrier’s recent LTE expansion and its plan to bring 4G access to 58 percent of its customers by the end of the year. In addition to this promotional data plan, US Cellular is offering a $100 instant rebate on select smartphones, including the Huawei Ascend Y and Samsung Galaxy S III. Not stopping there, anyone who purchases a smartphone or tablet can score a free Samsung SCH-LC11 hotspot. It’s uncertain if this is truly unlimited data or the type that comes with a throttled cap. So, we’d caution you not to go on a Netflix and Pandora binge, as such activities could result in a nastygram from US Cellular for use beyond what the fine print allows.

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Source: US Cellular (Facebook)

Handy Dandy Mouse-Keyboard Combo Fits into Your Pocket

Most of the portable keyboards I’ve seen are too bulky for my taste. Either they’re bigger than the actual device that you want to use it with or they’re twice as thick.

If you’re on the hunt for a portable yet completely functional keyboard for your mobile, then look no further.

compact keyboard mouse 1
Donya’s compact QWERTY Bluetooth keyboard lets you type away without having to worry about your fat fingers hitting other keys (as they usually do on your device’s virtual keyboard.) In addition to working with mobile devices, it can be used with the PS3. It also crams in a clickable touchpad on the side for your Windows and Mac devices.

The best thing – as I’ve mentioned earlier – is its size. Comparable to the size of an iPhone, this portable keyboard  fits easily into your pocket or laptop sleeve without adding much to the bulk.

compact keyboard mouse

Plus, it’s reasonably priced. It sells for ¥2999 (~$37 USD.) At the moment, it looks like you’ll have to order one from Japan if you want one, but you can always try and use a service like White Rabbit Express to import one for you.

[via Gizmodo]


Republic Wireless opens up its network to everyone

If you’re tried of paying an arm and a leg for mobile service, you might want to give Republic Wireless a try. We heard about the new wireless service late last year, and now Republic has opened up pre-orders for the Motorola DEFY XT. You can order up to four devices starting today, and they’ll begin shipping in mid-December.


Of course, one of the big draws of Republic is its mobile plan. Republic charges a flat rate of $19 per month for unlimited talk, text, and data, which gained a lot of attention back when the service first launched. Today, however, is the day that Republic service becomes available for everyone, so you’re free to sign up whenever you like.

The Motorola DEFY XT will set you back $249 if you’re going through Republic, so the initial payment isn’t exactly going to be cheap. There’s also an extra $10 service fee on top of that, which includes shipping and handling for your phone. Your first $19 monthly fee will be charged once your phone ships next month, so by the time you get your phone in the mail, you’ll be out $278 – and that’s if you only order one phone.

Still, that hefty initial payment might be worth it when you consider that you’ll only be paying $19 per month from there on out. For unlimited talk, text, and data, that’s a pretty significant discount over the major carriers (most of which aren’t offering actual unlimited plans anymore), so Republic might be worth checking out. Do you think you’ll give Republic Wireless a spin now that it’s open to everyone, or will you be sticking with your current carrier?

[via Republic Wireless]


Republic Wireless opens up its network to everyone is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


MiFi Liberate review: does the world need a mobile hotspot with a touchscreen?

DNP MiFi Liberate review

There are two factors that are of the utmost importance when it comes to choosing mobile hotspots: speed and battery life. Further down the list is portability, with hardware design ranking even lower. So the idea of a touchscreen MiFi struck us as a ridiculous luxury, the sort of thing we’d find in a SkyMall catalog. This is why we were intrigued by the MiFi Liberate, Novatel Wireless’s first-ever 4G LTE MiFi with a built-in touchscreen. While it might seem like a gimmick, the interface does, in fact, provide quick access to vital stats like data usage. Novatel wasn’t content to leave it at that, though: the Liberate has features we would never dream of adding to a MiFi, including media streaming, GPS and even a basic messaging app. Fortunately, the addition of such features don’t inflate the price: it’s available for $50 with a new two-year agreement with AT&T. How well does it all work? Join us after the break for our review.

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DOCOMO Develops World’s First Small-cell Base Station for 3G and LTE

NTT DOCOMO announced last Friday that it has developed the world’s first dual-mode small-cell base station, or femtocell, supporting 3G (W-CDMA) and LTE simultaneously for improved service coverage in indoor locations such as offices, shops and homes. The dual-mode femtocell will be commercially launched from December.
DOCOMO’s new femtocell, which weighs only 0.7 kg and measures just 18.5cm by 17.5 cm by 4.5 cm (H x W x T), provides 3G/LTE service coverage in a range of up to several tens of …

Twinbird outs a new Waterproof Wireless TV with the Wireless ZABADY

Twinbird dedicated its “life” to offer wireless Audio and Video equipment to Japanese customers in search for more “flexibility! And today the company announced yet a new ZABADY branded product with the VW-J108W.
This new 10.1” Portable TV comes with an IPX7 waterproof casing and separate Wireless TV Tuner capable to offer you up to 5h of continuous video play before having to put it back on its charging cradle.
With a total weight of 1.2kg and a size of 305x36x180mm the VW-J108W is far from …

Mobile Miscellany: week of November 12th, 2012

Mobile Miscellany week of November 12th, 2012

If you didn’t get enough mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we’ve opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, we found new smartphones at Virgin Mobile, Fido and Wind, along with a hefty new round of LTE expansion from AT&T. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the “best of the rest” for this week of November 12th, 2012.

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Mobile Miscellany: week of November 12th, 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 17 Nov 2012 21:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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