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| LightSquared Asks FCC to Standardize GPS Design |
LightSquared has requested that the Federal Communications Commission create a standard for GPS devices. Such a standard, says LightSquared, would help GPS devices and 4G networks co-exist in peace. The process involved in creating such a standard would likely take years to shape and implement. LightSquared is seeking FCC approval for its own proposed LTE 4G network, but has run into roadblocks in the form of GPS interference. LightSquared maintains that GPS equipment encroaches on the spectrum for which it paid billions of dollars. |
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| Adobe: No Flash for Android Chrome Beta |
Adobe today posted a reminder that it is no longer developing its Flash Player for mobile devices. As such, Adobe's plug-ins are not available for the newly-released Chrome Beta browser for Google's Android 4.0 platform. Flash content will not play in the Chrome beta browser on Android phones or tablets. Adobe is, however, working with Google and others to bring HTML5-powered content to Chrome and other browsers. |
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| T-Mobile Offering All Smartphones for Free Feb 11 |
T-Mobile USA today announced a one-day sale that will take place on Saturday, February 11. During the sale, T-Mobile will offer all its smartphones and select tablets for free (via mail-in rebate) with the purchase of a qualifying voice and data plan. |
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| Google Voice Updated with New UI and Features |
Google today provided an update to its Google Voice product for Android devices. The new version includes a new user interface for Ice Cream Sandwich smartphones and Honeycomb tablets. It now allows offline queuing of SMS messages for sending later, and also adds a feedback menu on most screens within the app. The update is free. |
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| Google Debuts Chrome Beta for Android 4.0 Devices |
Google today announced the availability of its Chrome browser for Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich devices (smartphones and tablets) in beta form. Chrome and the stock Android browser are now both based on the open-source Chromium Project, which means it will be easier for Google to share features back and forth in the future. Google says that Chrome on Android focuses on being fast and easy to use. It renders web pages quickly, and has a brand-new way to sort through tabs while browsing. Other tweaks include a refreshed user interface, syncing tabs and bookmarks between desktop and mobile browsers, and support for private browsing sessions. Chrome for Android also features a place-shifting tool. It keeps track of open browser tabs on the desktop, for example, and will then open those same tabs to the same pages when the user pulls out their phone. Chrome for Android also offers better handling of URLs with a link preview tool that makes it easier to select and copy web addresses. The application is a free download for Android 4.0 devices, and Google says its ultimate goal is to merge both Chrome for the desktop with Chrome for Android devices.
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| Bluetooth SIG Forms New Fitness Working Group |
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group today announced the creation of the Sports and Fitness Working Group. The new working group's focus will be to improve the way Bluetooth-enabled sports and fitness sensor products interact with devices such as smartphones, smart watches, and gym equipment. All the sensors and devices involved in the effort with use the Bluetooth 4.0 specification, which allows them to operate on small batteries but still share information in real time. The Sports and Fitness Working Group is accepting new members. The working group may eventually yield news use scenarios for fitness-related sensors and mobile devices.
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| Verizon Resurrects Double Data Promotion for 4G Phones |
Verizon Wireless is resurrecting its double data promotion for its LTE 4G devices. Starting Friday, February 10 customers who subscribe to a 4G smartphone data plan will receive double the amount of monthly data, said Verizon in an email to Phone Scoop. For example, someone who chooses the 2GB plan for $30 per month will receive 4GB of data per month for the same $30. New customers and customers upgrading from a 3G smartphone or basic phone to a 4G LTE smartphone are eligible for the double data plans. Verizon Wireless is also offering a buy-one, get-one promotion for the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX. Customers who purchase either device will receive a second one for free (with a new contract). |
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| Elevate Signs MVNO Agreement with Sprint |
Elevate today announced that it has signed an agreement to sell mobile voice and data services under its own brand using Sprint's network. The company will offer both post-paid and pre-paid services and will sell devices such as Android smartphones. The company, which operates in 22 markets around the country, offers home internet and home automation products. Moving forward, it will also sell Sprint-powered wireless services to its existing customer base separately and in bundles. |
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| Motorola Droid 4 Streets Feb 10 for $199 |
Verizon Wireless today announced that the Motorola Droid 4 will be available in stores starting February 10 for $199.99 with a new contract. The Droid 4 has a completely redesigned keyboard, 4.0-inch qHD display, 8-megapixel camera, and can be upgraded to Android 4.0. |
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| RIM Adds Qt Support to PlayBook OS 2.0 |
Research In Motion today revealed that Nokia's Qt developer framework is now supported by PlayBook OS 2.0. Qt is the platform through which developers created applications for Nokia's Symbian and MeeGo platforms. By adding Qt support to its PlayBook OS, RIM is offering developers invested in the Qt framework another platform for which to develop. PlayBook OS 2.0, which is expected to debut on RIM's tablet later this month, is the foundation for what will eventually be BlackBerry 10. Apps that are written to support PlayBook OS 2.0 will also run on BlackBerry 10 devices at launch. |
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| Transparent Screen App Lets Android Users Walk Without Worry |
An application called Transparent Screen, which hopes to make using Android smartphones safer when on the go, recently became available in the Android Market. The free application uses the smartphone's camera to create a real-time view of what's on the other side of your phone. The live view is then layered underneath other running tasks, such as SMS or the browser. The idea is to allow people to keep their faces buried in their smartphones as they walk from point A to point B, while still allowing them to avoid potential obstacles in their path. Transparent Screen requires Android version 2.2 and up. |
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| Nokia Offering Belle to Die-Hard Symbian Customers |
Nokia today announced that the latest version of its home-grown smartphone platform, called Belle, is available to download. The new system software brings a refreshed look to the user interface as well as a number of under-the-hood improvements to the operating system. Belle is available to the N8, E7, E6, X7, C6-01, C7, and Oro handsets. Belle boosts the number of home screens from three to six and improves the performance of home screen widgets. The update is available in most countries, and Nokia says that it must be installed via the Nokia Suite desktop software over USB. The system update is free. |
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| AT&T to Top 5 Percenters: We Warned You |
AT&T today responded to reports of throttling from users who have unlimited data plans. The company announced in July of last year that it would throttle the data speeds of its top 5% of users -- even those who have unlimited data plans. "Smartphone customers with unlimited data plans may experience reduced speeds once their usage puts them in the top 5% of our heaviest data users," said AT&T spokesperson Seth Bloom in an email to Phone Scoop. "We will continue to send reminders and communicate with these customers ahead of time as their usage approaches the top 5%. For 95% of our smartphone customers this continues to present no impact." According to AT&T, the actual amount of data used by the top 5% changes each month. Customers who are throttled during a portion of their billing period due t heavy use will be restored to full-speed service at the start of the next billing cycle. |
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| Nextel Site Shows Timing of iDEN Network Tower Reductions |
Sprint Nextel has published a web site that allows customers to see approximately when iDEN services will be reduced in their local market. Using the tool, for example, Nextel shows that it will reduce the number of iDEN cell towers in Seattle in mid-April, while San Francisco's towers will be reduced in late-April, New York City's towers will be reduced in late-May, and Miami's towers will be reduced in mid-June. According to the site, iDEN service will not be discontinued entirely with these tower reductions and Sprint's CDMA coverage will not change due to these actions. Sprint is in the middle of its Network Vision project, which will have it refarming some of its 800MHz iDEN spectrum for use with its CDMA voice network. |
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| Sprint Signs MVNE Agreement with Simplexity |
Sprint and Simplexity MVNO today announced that they have signed a multi-year agreement giving Simplexity the rights to resell Sprint's network products and services. Simplexity is a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE) and this deal will allow it to act as the go-between company that interfaces with Sprint's wholesale and MVNO partners. Simplexity provides the back-end products and services that allow MVNOs to launch using Sprint's network. Simplexity has a similar agreement in place with LightSquared. |
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| U.S. Cellular Now Offering Voice-to-Text Service |
U.S. Cellular today announced that it is offering Nuance's Voice Mail to Text to its customers. U.S. Cellular customers that choose to use Voice Mail to Text will be able to read their voice mail messages via text message or email on their mobile phone rather than dial in to the voicemail system and listen to the messages directly. Customers can respond to voice mail messages via text or email if they wish, and the service makes it easier to search through old voice mails. Voice Mail to Text is being offered for free for 30 days, after which it will cost $2.99 per month. |
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| Review: Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G for MetroPCS |
 Samsung brings a mid-range Galaxy-class device to MetroPCS's network in the Attain 4G. This simpler smartphone packs some surprises, along with some disappointments. |
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| Motorola Looking to Win 2.25% of Apple's iPhone Sales |
Court documents reveal that Motorola is seeking 2.25% of Apple's iPhone sales in order to license the standards-essential patents that Motorola holds. That percentage amounts to about $15 per iPhone (unsubsidized iPhone 4S 16GB). Motorola and Apple are amidst a patent battle in German courts, and the document came to light as part of this week's proceedings in those cases. At issues is whether or not Motorola's terms represent a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) offer. Apple argues that the terms are not fair. Motorola has won two decisions against Apple, one in December and one on February 3. The first pertains to smartphone patents, while the second pertains to Apple's iCloud service and email syncing patents. |
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| AT&T Asks FCC to Place Conditions of Dish's Network Plans |
AT&T has requested that the Federal Communications Commission set a number of requirements in place before Dish Network can build out its planned LTE-Advanced 4G network. AT&T wants Dish beholden to similar requirements levied on LightSquared. It would be required to cover 100 million POPs within 33 months and reach 260 million POPs within 69 months. AT&T also noted that it has "concerns" over Dish's use of 700MHz spectrum (which AT&T is also using for LTE). Dish responded this week to AT&T's request, saying such conditions would thwart its plans. Dish argues that LTE-Advanced will require much longer to deploy, as no other operator has deployed it yet. It also believes the differences between its commercial network (which will be sold directly to consumers) is different from LightSquared's wholesale approach, and requires more back-end systems be put into place. Last, Dish said its LTE-Advanced network will be deployed on its 2GHz spectrum holdings, not 700MHz. The FCC has not yet ruled on the matter. |
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| Motorola Atrix 2 Receives Maintenance and Security Update |
Motorola has provided a system update for the Atrix 2, which is sold by AT&T. The software update, which must be downloaded via Wi-Fi, makes a number of adjustments to the Atrix 2. According to Motorola, the update improves the performance of the camera; adds the Google Music application; patches security holes; adds emergency alerts from government agencies; and improves the keyboard, device stability, and performance of the Webtop application. The update is free to download and install. |
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