Dec 07

Google partners with Verizon for free 3G data allowance with every Chrome OS netbook

Posted in: breaking news, BreakingNews, Chrome, chrome os, ChromeOs, free, Google, laptop, netbook, Today's Chili, verizon, Verizon Wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw, Wireless

There you go, folks. Google says it wants you always connected, now it’s helping you do it. 100MB of free Verizon data, each month for 24 months, will be yours as a complimentary extra when buying a Chrome OS netbook. $9.99 will give you unlimited access for a single day and there are no contracts to fiddle with. Obviously, and sadly, this is a US-only hookup. If nothing else, this announcement provides some neat context to the joint net neutrality policy that Google and Verizon dished out back in August.

Google partners with Verizon for free 3G data allowance with every Chrome OS netbook originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 07

Verizon CEO: 4G can be a ‘substitute’ for home internet and cable, will accelerate cord cutting

Posted in: 4G, lte, Today's Chili, verizon, Verizon Wireless, VerizonWireless, vzw, Wireless

Sometimes, you have to wonder if these CEO types are being paid the big bucks just because they can believe their own outlandish claims. Latest to try and push the boundaries of credulity is Verizon’s Ivan Seidenberg, who told an investor conference that he sees the company’s newly unveiled 4G offering as becoming a “modest substitute” for premium home entertainment services as offered by cable and online streaming companies. He concedes that for now VZW’s new LTE network will be viewed as an addition, rather than a replacement, to our connected world, but, over time, Seidenberg expects that its presence will be enough to convince more people to cut the cord. Perhaps those who’ll find the $50 per 5GB levy easiest to swallow will be people with no cord at all — the folks in rural areas for whom wired broadband isn’t yet an option. As to the rest of us, we’ll just wait until the economics start to look a tiny bit more appealing.

Update: Speaking of economics, Fierce Wireless has another disclosure from the same conference. On the topic of LTE smartphone plans, Ivan said Verizon is still undecided on pricing, but he sees 10GB a month as the “floor of what people will do,” going on to say that Verizon must “hold firm as best we can until the entire environment is mature enough.” Listen to the webcast of his speech at the link below.

Verizon CEO: 4G can be a ‘substitute’ for home internet and cable, will accelerate cord cutting originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 06

What Is Near-Field Communication? [Video]

Posted in: cellphone, feature, mobile, Today's Chili, top, Wireless

Samsung’s Nexus S brings with it the latest tasty version of Android, Gingerbread. But the phone also comes with another technological bonus baked in. Here’s what you need to know about near field communication. More »

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Dec 06

Samsung Nexus S utilizing NXP’s PN544 NFC chip

Posted in: Android, gingerbread, NeXus, nexus s, NexusS, nfc, samsung, smartphone, Today's Chili, Wireless

Well, color us surprised. Just last Wednesday, Samsung announced that it had developed its very own NFC module in-house, but today we’re learning that it came just a few months too late for inclusion in the outfit’s forthcoming Nexus S. Right on cue, NXP Semiconductors has come forward today proclaiming its involvement in the first handset to ship with Android 2.3. The outfit’s PN544 NFC controller and accompanying open source software stack will be used in the Nexus S, and naturally they’ve both been “fully integrated and validated on Gingerbread.” Of course, only time will tell what sort of applications spring up to take advantage, but we’ve got a feeling that metro payments and the like could be first in line. Nice of America to finally catch up, right?

Continue reading Samsung Nexus S utilizing NXP’s PN544 NFC chip

Samsung Nexus S utilizing NXP’s PN544 NFC chip originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 05

Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building

Posted in: hotspot, Law, legal, Today's Chili, us, usa, wifi, Wireless

Here’s one way to fix the spectrum crunch: set up wireless base stations and WiFi hotspots in every single one of the 9,000 buildings currently owned and operated by the US General Services Administration. That idea, along with the proposal that such installations be made mandatory in all future federal structures, was put before the US Senate this Friday. It’s argued that installing femtocells at those locations would improve reception indoors, lighten network loads in busy areas, and expand accessibility for more rural locales. Ubiquitous WiFi routers, on the other hand, hardly require any justification beyond “common sense,” but you should be aware that the Federal Wi-Net bill also asks for a $15 million budget for the performance of retrofitting and future installs. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building

Federal Wi-Net bill proposes a femtocell and WiFi hotspot in every federal building originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 01:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 02

Verizon LTE Speed Test: Insanely Fast [4G]

Posted in: 4G, cellphones, lte, Smartphones, Sprint, Today's Chili, top, verizon, WiMAX, Wireless

Verizon’s first LTE dongle is startlingly large. But not as startling as the speed. More »

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Dec 01

Do You Really Need a 4G Phone Right Now? [4G]

Posted in: 4G, att, cellphones, networking, Smartphones, Sprint, t-mobile, Today's Chili, top, verizon, Wireless

4G is here! More Gs means more faster, right? And who doesn’t want their phone to be faster? Except—maybe you don’t need 4G today. More »

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Dec 01

Sony Ericsson LiveView review

Posted in: Android, bluetooth, cellphone, Features, mobile phone, MobilePhone, peripheral, phone, review, smartphone, Sony Ericsson, SonyEricsson, Today's Chili, video, watch, Wireless

This isn’t the first time that Sony Ericsson’s dabbled in the field of spy-like Bluetooth wrist accessories, but as we all know, extortionate prices and limited functionality meant these old timers never really took off. But now, things may be different: SE’s freshly baked LiveView promises to offer a generous set of features — alongside your Android 2.x device — while going a little easier on your wallet. It sure sounds tasty, but before you grab your virtual shopping cart, be double sure to read our full review first… right after the break.

Gallery: Sony Ericsson LiveView review

Continue reading Sony Ericsson LiveView review

Sony Ericsson LiveView review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dec 01

AirSync Wireless Media Syncing for Android

Posted in: Android, Phones, sync, Today's Chili, Wireless

AirSync, a new feature in doubleTwist, lets you sync your music, movies and photos wirelessly between your computer and your Android phone. It’s like a wireless iTunes, only without the slowdowns, hangs and general frustration of Apple’s “solution”.

DoubleTwist is a media-manager that lets you get content on and off your devices, offering the same seamless iPod experience you get from Apple, only for pretty much any phone, Kindle or even iPods. It comes from DVD Jon, the legendary hacker who cracked DVD encryption all those years ago.

Air sync, currently $1 in the Android Marketplace (doubleTwist itself is free) let’s you beam your photos, movies and music to your phone or tablet over a Wi-Fi network, relegating the cable to mere charging duties. If all your devices use 802.11n connections, then this should be as fast as hooking up to USB. If not, then you might not be cutting the cord quite yet.

AirSync is available now.

Introducing doubleTwist AirSync [doubleTwist]

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Nov 30

Verizon hosting 4G LTE news conference tomorrow to discuss launch plans

Posted in: 4G, breaking news, BreakingNews, lte, mobile broadband, mobile internet, MobileBroadband, MobileInternet, network, plans, roadmap, schedule, Today's Chili, verizon, Wireless

Guess what people, Verizon’s LTE network launch is really for real and the carrier has now scheduled a news conference for tomorrow where it’ll discuss its December plans in more detail. Tony Melone, VZW’s chief tech officer, will be on hand to answer any questions beyond the already known plans for 38 metropolitan areas to get the 4G LTE treatment — accounting for a cool 110 million Americans who’ll be able to ride the lightning of faster internet speeds on the move. The event kicks off at 12PM and we’ll make sure to tune in, if only to find out what Tony’s answer is to the inevitable “what is 4G” question.

[Thanks, Henry]

Verizon hosting 4G LTE news conference tomorrow to discuss launch plans originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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