Cisco boosts stadium WiFi, makes MLB slightly more tolerable for the internet-obsessed (video)


Anyone who’s been in a packed stadium or concert venue knows better than to expect to be able to browse the web or even check email, unless of course your device happens to be compatible with a certain underutilized data-only network. A new initiative from Cisco, however, aims to bring connectivity to the over-saturated masses. The company’s Connected Stadium WiFi bundles the Aironet 3500p access point, designed specifically for “high-density stadium and arena deployments,” with strategically placed antennas that target fewer seats with the same amount of throughput — likely similar to the 884-device network AT&T deployed at Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl XLV. We hope the lighter load placed on carriers — and already sky high ticket prices — would help make Connected Stadium a free service, but key words like “purchasing” and “monetizeable” in the networking company’s announcement make us think that some greenbacks are likely to change hands once the service launches in the real, connectivity-challenged world of overcrowded venues.

Continue reading Cisco boosts stadium WiFi, makes MLB slightly more tolerable for the internet-obsessed (video)

Cisco boosts stadium WiFi, makes MLB slightly more tolerable for the internet-obsessed (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clear Spot 4G sails through the FCC, heading to WiMAX territories soon

Remember that Clear Spot 4G that was unveiled a fortnight or so ago? Hello, again! The so-called WIXFMM-122 has just made its way into the FCC’s blossoming database, boasting 4G-only hotspot functionality (here we’re talking WiMAX, not LTE), a minuscule display for showcasing signal strength and battery life, and support for up to eight simultaneous connections. Per usual, there’s no information regarding a solid price or release, but given the inability to switch over to a 3G network if necessary, we’re guessing it’ll go for a song.

Clear Spot 4G sails through the FCC, heading to WiMAX territories soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint wants enterprise customers to consider WiMAX, ditch the T-1

SprintSprint seems to think its 4G tech would make an excellent replacement for the old-school T-1 lines many businesses have been relying on to keep them connected to the web since the 1970s. You may remember that WiMAX was originally pitched as a “last mile” solution as well as the next generation of mobile broadband. Well, the wireless carrier rocking black and yellow is taking the plunge on fixed-access 802.16 and targeting enterprise customers. The speeds are the same that everyone toting an Evo is already accustomed to (3 to 6Mbps down and 2.5Mbps up), but with a guaranteed 99.95 percent availability. When compared to traditional wired business connections, WiMAX is both both quicker to deploy and cheaper to operate, but Sprint will certainly face an uphill battle in trying to convince businesses to ditch the tried-and-true T-1. Check out the full PR after the break.

Continue reading Sprint wants enterprise customers to consider WiMAX, ditch the T-1

Sprint wants enterprise customers to consider WiMAX, ditch the T-1 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rep. Eshoo intros 4G disclosure act, hopes to turn consumers into techies

We’re gonna shoot from the hip here — wireless carriers have gotten a little out-of-hand with their 4G marketing. Even industry standard setter, the ITU, can’t figure out a way to keep the story straight. This consumer disinformation loop is exactly what Rep. Anna Eshoo plans to undo with her “Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act.” Like its title says, the bill would force carriers to be absolutely, unfalteringly crystal clear on minimum data speeds, network reliability, accessible coverage maps, and, of course, the technology being used. Think the T-Mobile girl can handle that in thirty seconds? We didn’t think so, either. Retailers tried a similar consumer hand-holding effort during the DTV transition, although that came without a regulatory shove. Hit the source for legalese in all its undisturbed glory, and while you wait for Uncle Sam to act, you can clear up any lingering confusion by diving into our primer.

[Image courtesy Going WiMax]

Rep. Eshoo intros 4G disclosure act, hopes to turn consumers into techies originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO View 4G review

It’s not often that we feel a keen sense of déjà vu while writing a review, but here we are. The EVO View 4G ($399.99) is a first, but also something you’ve most definitely seen before. This tablet is, for all intents and purposes, the HTC Flyer: it has the same 7-inch display, aluminum build, single-core 1.5GHz processor, Gingerbread-plus-Sense-combo, 32GB of storage, and stylus for pen input. But, it also happens to be Sprint’s first WiMAX tablet to go on sale in the US, with a 4G radio promising download / upload speeds up to 10Mbps / 1Mbps on Sprint’s network. And, at the risk of spoiling our review, the View’s connection is, indeed, zippy. But does this have any bearing on the tablet’s overall value? Join us past the break to find out — we’ve got some revisiting to do.

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HTC EVO View 4G review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC Kingdom soars into FCC’s database, WiMAX radio signals a Sprint release

Up until now, all we’ve had to go on were leaked Blurrycam photos and a few morsels “from the inside.” Now, however, HTC’s going to have an awfully difficult time denying the existence of its so-called Kingdom, known to the FCC as PH44100. The filing itself doesn’t reveal a whole heck of a lot beyond what we already knew — a 4.3-inch qHD display, namely — but the presence of both a CDMA and WiMAX radio assures us that it’ll be heading for Sprint sooner rather than later. A qHD contender for The Now Network? Yes, please.

HTC Kingdom soars into FCC’s database, WiMAX radio signals a Sprint release originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 09:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO View 4G tries to sneak through FCC, gets caught

We’re only a fortnight away from Sprint’s launch of the HTC EVO View 4G, and we were beginning to wonder if we’d see the WiMax tablet wander into Washington, DC anytime soon. Today is the day, friends, as we just dug up some test reports for the HTC PG41200 tablet with WiMAX support. While the documents don’t offer up any more juicy details, we won’t have to wait terribly long before we can fork over $400 for the privilege of holding this baby in our own hands. Head past the break for more imagery.

Continue reading HTC EVO View 4G tries to sneak through FCC, gets caught

HTC EVO View 4G tries to sneak through FCC, gets caught originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO 3D launches on June 24th for $200, joined by EVO View 4G tablet at $400

The HTC bonanza that Sprint has been cooking up for a while now has its official launch date: June 24th. That will be the day when the 4.3-inch EVO 3D and its tablet buddy, the 7-inch EVO View 4G, launch on the Now Network, both equipped with WiMAX radios and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) as their OS. The 1.2GHz dual-core EVO 3D costs $200 on contract, with pre-orders available right now provided you buy a $50 Sprint gift card, whereas the 1.5GHz single-core EVO View 4G will set you back double that, at $400, while still requiring a two-year contract. Skip past the break for the full press release details.

Oh, we’ve also just noticed that Sprint Premier customers will be able to buy the EVO 3D online on June 21st — a three-day headstart on the competition to say thank you for being so damn premier.

Continue reading HTC EVO 3D launches on June 24th for $200, joined by EVO View 4G tablet at $400

HTC EVO 3D launches on June 24th for $200, joined by EVO View 4G tablet at $400 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 07:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC EVO 3D walks its WiMAX by the FCC on its way to Sprint

HTC Evo 3D walks its WiMAX by the FCC on the way to a date with Sprint

It’s looking like we’re about three weeks away from our first dose of glasses-free 3D on a smartphone, and Sprint is going to be the one getting you all cross-eyed. But, before you can hold a device like HTC’s EVO 3D to your head, the FCC has to make sure it won’t be doing anything too nasty to your gray matter. The phone and its myriad of antennas — covering CDMA, EVDO, WiMAX, Bluetooth, and WiFi — all ran the gauntlet successfully, and, in the process, exposed a long list of componentry. No, sadly, there’s no teardown involved with this one, but we now know the model numbers of just about every major piece of equipment wedged behind that parallax-barrier screen, from its Qualcomm processor to its Broadcom wireless chipset. Really, though, you only need to know one thing: June 24th.

HTC EVO 3D walks its WiMAX by the FCC on its way to Sprint originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 04:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WiMAX PlayBook 4G announcement betrayed by Google search?

Google Search for

Well, we’ve been waiting for a PlayBook packing something more than WiFi to rear its enterprise-friendly head, and there it is — sort of. Search Google for “Sprint PlayBook” and the number one (non-sponsored) result is a page “introducing the BlackBerry 4G Playbook tablet,” which means the companies are right about on schedule for that promised summer release. Clicking on the link just redirects you to the Sprint homepage for now and, sadly, price and exact ship date are still anyone’s guess. There’s enough detail in the search snippet to tell us that this is legit and and an announcement page is ready to go, though — so, WiMAX fans, we hope you like QNX.

[Thanks, Josh]

WiMAX PlayBook 4G announcement betrayed by Google search? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 May 2011 10:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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