At this point, it’s pretty much an open secret that Sprint needs to hitch its ride to LTE to stay in the wireless game. CNET caught wind of the operator’s intended 4G plans ahead of its scheduled October strategy announcement — an event at which many in the industry expect Sprint to lay out its LTE cards. According to the report, the Hesse-led network’s been hard at work installing the necessary infrastructure to convert to its towers to FD-LTE, which is the same flavor of LTE as Verizon and future partner LightSquared. Using the iDEN spectrum it acquired from its Nextel purchase, Sprint reportedly plans to set up 4G shop on those radio waves, and make use of current WiMAX provider Clearwire’s proposed switch to TD-LTE by incorporating chipsets in future phones that accommodate both frequencies. The network changeover, rumored to cost Sprint somewhere in the range of $4 – $5 billion, should get carried out over the next five years, laying the groundwork for a true three-way 4G race.

Sprint’s LTE build out already underway, new 4G network to launch first half 2012? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s far too early to be writing it off, of course, but AT&T’s proposed acquisition of T-Mobile is facing some fairly significant hurdles that could throw a big wrench in the companies’ plans — not the least of which is a lawsuit from the US Department of Justice. Now, according to Blooomberg, AT&T is proactively talking to a number of smaller rivals about selling some of its assets (namely, “spectrum and subscribers”) in an effort to save the deal. While talks are described as “preliminary,” AT&T has reportedly already reached out MetroPCS, Leap Wireless, Dish Network, CenturyLink and even Sprint, although Bloomberg notes that any such sell-off may still not be enough to please the DOJ. As you might expect, all of those companies are remaining mum on the matter.

AT&T reportedly talking to rivals about asset sales in effort to save T-Mobile deal originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See that faint silhouette lurking on the horizon? That’d be a wave of white space internet, and it’s inching ever closer to the US. On Wednesday, the FCC confirmed that it will begin testing a new database that will enable gadgets to operate on white space airwaves, nearly a year after first ratifying its “super WiFi” initiative. The Spectrum Bridge database, as outlined last year, will map out all channels that aren’t being used by radio or TV services, thereby preventing broadband devices from interfering with broadcasts. The system will be tested over a 45-day period beginning on September 19th and ending on November 2nd, in order to make sure that it correctly distinguishes available channels from those currently in use. Cable operators and wireless mic users are invited to register with the database to test its accuracy, but this trial period could easily be extended if the Commission determines that further tests are in order. And, though there’s still no indication that unlicensed broadband devices will be hitting the market anytime soon, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski seems confident that this white space spectrum could drastically change the industry. “Unleashing white spaces spectrum will enable a new wave of wireless innovation,” Genachowski explained. “It has the potential to exceed the billions of dollars in economic benefit from WiFi, the last significant release of unlicensed spectrum, and drive private investment and job creation.” You can read the FCC’s full public notice, after the break.

Continue reading FCC to test white space database at its own pace

FCC to test white space database at its own pace originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LightSquared faces Congressional hearing over proposed 4G network, submits revised plan originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T today officially confirmed what so many had expected for some time now: the carrier will be throttling select users’ unlimited data plans. The move, which takes effect on October 1st, is a response to a “serious wireless spectrum crunch,” according to a message issued today. The changes will not affect most customers, according to the company, primarily targeting those who fall within the top five percent of heavy users in a given billing cycle. Once the new period begins, speeds will be restored. Even with this new plan in place, however, the company says that the spectrum problems still won’t be resolved — it does have a simple solution, however, explaining that “nothing short of completing the T-Mobile merger will provide additional spectrum capacity to address these near term challenges.” Full text after the break.

Continue reading AT&T announces throttling plans, gently reminds us why the T-Mobile acquisition is so great

AT&T announces throttling plans, gently reminds us why the T-Mobile acquisition is so great originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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“In advance, yes — you’re right, it’s impossible. But nonetheless, we have ten radios all working at the same frequency, all at the Shannon limit… and there’s no interference.” You may not fully grok the significance of that statement, but anyone heavily involved in solving the wireless bandwidth crisis is probably dropjawed. For a little background, there’s a perceived limit in wireless known as Shannon’s Law, which largely explains why no one can watch a YouTube clip on their EVO at Michigan Stadium. For whatever reason, it’s been assumed that this law was fundamentally unbreakable, but it looks as if an unlikely member of society may have just overrode expectations. OnLive’s CEO Steve Perlman recently revealed a breakthrough from Rearden Companies — in short, they’ve figured out a workaround, and in testing, it’s doing things like “removing dead zones” altogether. His slide, shown during a presentation at Columbia, notes that the implications here are “profound,” and we couldn’t agree more. Do yourself a solid and hit play in the video below the break — we’ve fast-forwarded to where this section begins.

Continue reading OnLive CEO reveals ‘entirely new approach’ to wireless, credits Rearden for toppling Shannon’s Law

OnLive CEO reveals ‘entirely new approach’ to wireless, credits Rearden for toppling Shannon’s Law originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As promised, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts treated Cable Show 2011 attendees to a quick demo of the company’s latest and greatest tech earlier today. The presentation consisted of the new Xfinity TV platform with all its cloud processing and internet content from Facebook and others, as well as a speed test running on a Comcast cable modem that broke through the 1Gbps speed barrier on the production network. There’s no word on when home users might see such speeds but the company promised to “keep up the pace as the internet continues to evolve” — let’s hope that extends to the increasingly restrictive 250GB bandwidth cap. The demo of new DVR software also went off without a hitch, appearing to run smoothly and showing off a vision of “cloud processing” that speeds up search, personalization and recommendations in the program guide by handling them at the head end instead of on the box itself. We’re still waiting to get our hands on the RF remote and see if the experience is just as smooth ourselves, but for now you can get a taste in the 17 minute video embedded above.

Comcast Cable Show 2011 demo features 1Gbps cable modem speeds, new Xfinity TV UI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As promised, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts treated Cable Show 2011 attendees to a quick demo of the company’s latest and greatest tech earlier today. The presentation consisted of the new Xfinity TV platform with all its cloud processing and internet content from Facebook and others, as well as a speed test running on a Comcast cable modem that broke through the 1Gbps speed barrier on the production network. There’s no word on when home users might see such speeds but the company promised to “keep up the pace as the internet continues to evolve” — let’s hope that extends to the increasingly restrictive 250GB bandwidth cap. The demo of new DVR software also went off without a hitch, appearing to run smoothly and showing off a vision of “cloud processing” that speeds up search, personalization and recommendations in the program guide by handling them at the head end instead of on the box itself. We’re still waiting to get our hands on the RF remote and see if the experience is just as smooth ourselves, but for now you can get a taste in the 17 minute video embedded above.

Comcast Cable Show 2011 demo features 1Gbps cable modem speeds, new Xfinity TV UI originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We dropped by Nanosys’ nook at SID 2011, and not only was it showing off its new Quantum Dot Enhancement Film, but had hacked the tech into an off-the-shelf iPad. A company representative presented the modified slate as an example of how quickly QDEF‘s high color gamut magic could be integrated into existing devices, offering “OLED color depth without OLED power consumption and OLED price.” Sure enough, we were told to expect to see QDEF in a “mobile device,” probably an Android tablet, sometime in Q4; when pushed for details, our rep could only tell us that the device would come from a Korean firm. (LG or Samsung, take your pick.)

Integrating QDEF into new devices may be a snap, but company representatives told us the film could add as much as 100 microns to a screen’s thickness, suggesting that smartphone manufactures aren’t too keen on the idea of a thicker display. Still, Nanosys has high hopes for the new film and told us that it expects high-color QDEF to become an “ecosystem changer,” as industry-altering as HDTV. The firm even suggested “wide color gamut” apps could be in our near future — we love our color depth here at Engadget, but somehow it’s hard to see Angry Birds: High Color (its suggestion, not ours) taking off. Check out our hands-on after the break.

Continue reading Nanosys QDEF screen technology ships in Q4, slips into iPad at SID 2011 (video)

Nanosys QDEF screen technology ships in Q4, slips into iPad at SID 2011 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 May 2011 05:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Throwing a little caution to the wind over brewing GPS interference concerns, Cricket — the CDMA budget carrier that specializes in contract-free plans — has hooked up with LightSquared to deliver additional LTE service through a roaming agreement that’ll supplement its own rollout “over the next few years. ” All told, the moves should bring it up to technological speed with archrival MetroPCS, which deployed LTE last year (beating Verizon to market, actually) and currently has a pair of Samsung-sourced handsets on the market to take advantage of it. For LightSquared’s part, this is exactly the type of deal they’ve been looking to ink: the company has expressed no interest in lighting up a retail-facing carrier of its own, instead offering wholesale LTE deals to other carriers — like, say, Cricket — who don’t necessarily have the spectrum, the time, or the budget to roll out 4G in earnest. Follow the break for LightSquared’s press release.

[Thanks, Mark]

Continue reading Cricket ties up with LightSquared for LTE roaming agreement

Cricket ties up with LightSquared for LTE roaming agreement originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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