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Posts with tag 7.2mbps

AT&T intros USBConnect Lightning for 7.2Mbps service

When you're rolling out a new 7.2Mbps upgrade to your network, it naturally helps if you've got some compliant hardware in the stable -- so to that end, AT&T has announced its USBConnect Lightning from Sierra Wireless today. Apart from 7.2Mbps downlink capability, the new model's little more than a run-of-the-mill USB stick so there's not a lot to say about it, though it features a trick swiveling USB connector that should make the thing more likely to work with unusual (and unusually tight) port configurations. It'll be available on November 22 for free after rebate on contract, just in time for service launches in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami expected by the end of the year.

T-Mobile 7.2Mbps HSPA rolling out now?

Reports are coming in, by and large it seems via Android and Me, that T-Mobile's begun its rollout of its 7.2Mbps HSPA network for some extra speedy mobile browsing. We've done some testing in the listed cities, notably Chicago and New York, but so far are coming up with the usual, mundane speeds. It'd certainly make up for yesterday's snafu (almost), but at this point we're classifying as unconfirmed. Anyone else having better luck?

Read - 1MB mobile speed test
Read - Android and Me's report

AT&T slinging HSPA 7.2 to six cities this year, adding backhaul capacity too


If there's one thing AT&T's network could use, it's more network. Particularly in major cities (we're looking at you and your dastardly street parking situation, San Francisco), AT&T's 3G network is perpetually overwhelmed, oftentimes forcing users to switch to EDGE just to tweet about how awful the coverage is. Thankfully, the operator is making good on its earlier promise to roll out HSPA 7.2Mbps to select cities, with Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami now destined to get lit this year. Potentially more interesting, however, is the deployment of "additional backhaul capacity to cell sites," which will also support LTE when the time comes. All told, around 2,000 new cell sites should be added before the year's end, and at least a half dozen 7.2Mbps-capable smartphones should be in AT&T's portfolio by the same deadline. Feel free to express your joy in comments below -- that is, if you can get comments to load on your existing 3G connection.

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O2 Germany boosts HSPA speeds to 7.2 Mbps


Seems like only yesterday we were sitting about the campfire, chit chatting about the wonders of O2's EDGE update. Now, just a couple years later, the baby's all grown up, and rocking speeds in the 7.2 / 2.0 down and up range for some rather fortunate parts of Germany. Apparently all Huawei-based sites in the south and most other sites are technically able to offer the giddy up, though, there's a far stretch between being able and actually seeing this in the real world, right Rogers? Happy times Germany, no go forth and max your bandwidth caps!

iPhone 3G S data isn't really faster than the 3G's in Chicago


There's been talk the last couple days about the fact that there really isn't anywhere in the States to take advantage of the blazing 7.2Mbps downlink connection supported by the iPhone 3G S -- except for one great hope, one diamond in the rough that could become a shining destination for 3G S owners the world over. That destination would be Chicago, where AT&T fired up 7.2Mbps trials late last year, and the hope was that they might be letting lay folk (like us) in on the action in time for the 3G S release. Well, we've been running side-by-side tests today, and the short answer is that we're clearly not accessing 7.2 -- granted, the 3G S is getting marginally faster speeds both up and down, but we figure this can easily be attributed to the new model's faster processor because a doubling of the downlink pipe simply doesn't account for a 100kbps bump in speed (latency was all over the map on both phones, for the record). If you're holding out on upgrading from a 3G to a 3G S, go ahead and crack a smile -- because for now, anyway, this is one spec bump that means precisely zilch in the real world.

So long, HSPA+: AT&T "likely" moving straight from 7.2Mbps to LTE

At Mobile World Congress, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega had mentioned to us that AT&T was "better off" than Verizon thanks to 3GPP Release 7's capabilities to extend existing HSPA infrastructure through to 21Mbps and beyond by using the wonders of HSPA+ before the company would need to bite the bullet and get moving on LTE. We're not sure whether Big Red's aggressive LTE plans have AT&T rethinking its strategy or if it just wants to save time, money, and energy by avoiding yet another interim rollout, but we're now being told by a company spokesman that "it's likely that timelines for LTE standards will lead us directly from 7.2 to LTE." He mentions that HSPA+ is "still an option," but at any rate, this is a markedly different tone than we've heard in the past -- even as late as last month -- and if this means we're getting LTE even a single day sooner, we're all for it.

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AT&T announces 7.2Mbps HSPA rollout plans


We knew AT&T had an HSPA upgrade in the works, and now the company has announced its plans, with initial rollout beginning later this year and reaching completion in 2011. That will overlap only slightly with LTE, which AT&T plans to put into trials in 2010 and start melting our faces in 2011. The HSPA upgrade takes the network from 3.6Mbps to 7.2Mbps in theoretical speed, and AT&T also plans to nearly double the amount of wireless spectrum it dedicates to 3G in metropolitan areas -- which should come as a relief to city dwellers who haven't managed more than a couple minutes of sustained conversation since mid-2008. To support the increased bandwidth of HSPA, AT&T also plans on adding thousands of new cell site backhaul connections, while also rolling out 3G service to 20 new metro areas and deploying 2,100 new cell sites in total. HSPA-sporting mobile data cards and smartphones will be available "later this year."

Rogers toots its own horn and 7.2 Mbps network update


Canada's Rogers Wireless made official today what some of us had already noticed: its coast-to-coast 3.5G HSPA network (read: 7.2Mbps of fast) lives. Of course, while we may never see "real world" speeds that even get close to this -- nor will the Europeans be particularly impressed -- we're sure Rogers is loving the fact that it's the first wireless network in North America that can brag about it at wireless operator conventions, or something. Rogers currently lists the HTC Touch Diamond, the LG Vu T915, the Novatel MC950D Rocket Stick, and the Novatel X950D Express card as 7.2 Mbps-ready. So start hitting Speedtest already, and let us know how the bits are flowing.

Telstra activates 7.2Mbps HSDPA, users rejoice

We've been hearing that Telstra had the means to deliver some pretty impressive numbers via its Next G HSDPA network, and sure enough, the carrier seems to have finally activated it. According to its website and an independent report, users can now see download speeds ranging from 3Mbps to upwards of 6Mbps, while clocking upload rates between 300Kbps and 1.3Mbps. Telstra claims that users can see peak speeds of 7.2Mbps / 1.9Mbps, but of course, that's under "ideal conditions." So, if you're a Telstra user looking to get in on the high-speed fun, head on out and pick up a 7.2Mbps-class data card, and for those who already own a firmware upgradeable 3.6Mbps-class card, you should be receiving instructions to update shortly.

[Via ITWire, thanks Simon]

Samsung busts out 7.2Mbps SCH-W300


Ooh, how do you like them apples, LG? Just days after word of its SH150 for Korea's 7.2Mbps HSDPA trials spread across the lands, Samsung fires this little gem in return. The so-called "UFO" (don't ask us) SCH-W300 features a 2 megapixel camera (plus the obligatory front-facing piece for video calls), QVGA display, Bluetooth, and microSD expansion in a 12.9mm thich shell -- not particularly impressive by 2007 standards, until you hear about that magical 7.2Mbps downstream radio packed somewhere in there. Look for it alongside its crosstown rival's SH150 for just a little more dinero, 600,000 won (about $632).

Hands-on with Samsung's slick, sliding glory, the F700

More Ultra Smart love was on parade for us today and it came in the form of the glorious SGH-F700 from Samsung. Many things immediately stand out when playing with this device -- but first and foremost, it's a stunner. The rear of the phone is made with a glossy material that is reflective, like plastic chrome (think Sony Ericsson Z610i, then scale up the beauty) that really bumps this already classy device up a few notches. The F700 is a tri-band device with 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz GSM, EDGE, and HSDPA. It is definitely worth noting that the F700's HSDPA is the 7.2Mbps variety; no word on 3G frequencies, but we are all praying for some North American salvation. The screen is huge, taking up 2.78 inches of the touchscreen face (yes, it has that too), which is almost all of the front surface. The 440X220 resolution is ideal for mini-widescreening your favorite flicks using the native support for MPEG4, H.263, H.264, and real video. A quick slide and the bottom half hops out to reveal a pretty tight, but ultimately useful keyboard. The F700 seems to cover it all, follow the link to see some pics, we even popped a TyTn down for some comparative magic.





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