Dubbed Dell Voice, the new service is powered by Fongo, providing users with a Canadian phone number and the ability to make free calls to numbers in 30 large metropolitan areas, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, as well as hundreds of smaller cities. Incoming calls from Canada are free as well, while international calls are competitively priced — i.e. cheaper than Skype. For instance, calls to the U.S. and U.K. cost just 2 c/min.

Aside from the basic phone calls, Dell Voice also offers call display, call waiting, voicemail and even the 911 emergency service. Moreover, users have the option to port their existing phone number over to Fongo for $25.

The free to download application is available for Android, iPhone, Windows desktop and, soon for BlackBerry. It works both over 3G/4G and Wi-Fi networks.

Finally, it’s worth adding that we’re pretty confident Dell is using Canada as a testbed market, and will soon launch its service in the U.S.

[Via: MobileSyrup]

Other noteworthy specs include:

• 1.5 GHz dual-core processor
• Support for quadband GSM/GPRS/EDGE, dualband UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA at 900/2100 MHz as well as dualband LTE at 800/2600 MHz
• Bluetooth 3.0, WiFi b/g/n and a GPS
• 4.5-inch qHD touchscreen
• 8 megapixel auto-focus 1080p HD camera on the back
• Front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera
• 1 GB RAM
• 16 GB flash memory expanded with microSD memory cards up to 32 GB
• 1620 mAh battery

There were 2,000 base stations added in Germany that is suppose to power up more than 8.5 million households with LTE service. But a large part of these base stations only reside in rural areas where Vodafone LTE in the 800 MHz frequency space lies, as this provides large areas and many users as possible with a DSL replacement.

So with a 4G network finally ready to go, the HTC Velocity is a pretty good beginning. That said, a price or launch date hasn’t been announced, but Vodafone Germany, HTC and Qualcomm will hold a press conference next week, which will more than likely reveal even more details on the country’s first LTE handset official.

[via Computerwoche]

The third largest wireless provider plans to shut down push-to-talk service on its iDEN network, in an attempt to move customers to advanced PTT services on its CDMA network. And with the extra 800 MHz iDEN spectrum, the company will use it for advanced voice services as well as for LTE, a process that should be completed in the year 2017. We don’t know exactly when the final transition will occur, but we at least know when the first stage of shutdowns will be taking place.

This is a necessary move Sprint has to take in order to get itself into the 4G market, as the company is not only behind Verizon but AT&T as well. As a customer, I hope this first stage of its “Network Vision” pans out so I don’t have to jump ship.

[via FierceWireless]

Now what’s the big deal, you ask? Well, the newer LTE chip inside the Galaxy Nexus is substantially cheaper than the previous version, as the latest model is estimated to cost half as much as its $23 predecessor, according ABI Research. The cost shouldn’t be surprising because this kind of thing tends to happen when consumers are shelling out big money for technology that seems to get better and faster.

In the end, this, without question, is great news for manufacturers who want to bring in these 4G smartphones downmarket and offer them at a lower price point. I guess the big picture is how components are becoming cheaper, but this doesn’t make smartphones ultimately less expensive — case in point — Apple makes over $400 dollars profit from a phone that costs the company slightly less than $200 to make.

[via mobileburn]

The security issue at hand pertains to secure information becoming exposed while on WiFi networks and affects the following handsets: Desire HD, Glacier, Droid Incredible, Thunderbolt, Sensation, Sensation 4G, Desire S, EVO 3D, and Evo 4G. As we said before, its interesting to see that the Evo 4G is among the handset affected by this issue, as it has been around for quite a while.

HTC posted on its website:

HTC has developed a fix for a small WiFi issue affecting some HTC phones. Most phones have received this fix already through regular updates and upgrades.However, some phones will need to have the fix manually loaded. Please check back next week for more information about this fix and a manual download if you need to update your phone.

HTC is trying to play the issue down and we’re not surprised. This wouldn’t be the first time security holes have been found in HTC handsets (due to the heavy customization it put into its devices) but users will be relieved that the fix itself is already available. The company claims that the fix has already been implemented in most of its handsets that had the security issue but some may require a manual update.

While we like the Sense UI for the most part, it’s issues like this that can show that heavy customizations from the OEM can produce more issues than stock Android, or even less heavily customize user interfaces for that matter. One of the main concerns about the Android operating system is that its less secure than its competition and manufacturers who punch holes in the security the OS does have just makes it worse. We think we’ll stick with the Nexus line, thanks.

If you’re rocking one of the HTC handsets listed above, check out the website to see if you need to manually update to get the fix.

[Via: TMONews]

The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 is easily the most popular Android tablet available today (although not the most powerful), if you’re not counting the Kindle Fire, of course. The large, 1280 x 800 display is coupled with the NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core SoC, along with a very thin profile. It’s also the very same tablet that has been put under fire multiple times by Apple. Nonetheless, it’s a solid device that should excite some of the US Cellular faithful.

The second device, the Galaxy S Aviator looks exactly like the Droid Charge we saw land on Verizon back in May last year. The Aviator is rocking a 4.3 inch WVGA Super AMOLED Plus display, 8 megapixel rear camera, front-facing camera, HDMI port, and Android 2.3.6. We can’t say that the Droid Charge was our favorite phone when it debuted but it’s still decent device that would pair well with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 if you were going for a Samsung double-play.

The Galaxy Tab is set to be released sometime in March and the Aviator will follow shortly in April. If you’re a US Cellular customer looking for the some LTE love, you’ve got two pretty nice options coming your way.

Press release below.

[Via: Engadget]

U.S. CELLULAR ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF 4G LTE NETWORK NEXT MONTH ALONG WITH UPCOMING DEVICES

Brings up to 10 times faster download speeds and better web browsing experience

CHICAGO (Feb. 1, 2012) – U.S. Cellular, in conjunction with its partner, King Street Wireless, is launching a 4G LTE network next month that will enhance the wireless experience with countless entertainment possibilities and help customers simplify and organize their lives. The 4G LTE network will cover 25 percent of U.S. Cellular’s customers and will coincide with the launch of the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 4G LTE mobile tablet followed shortly by the Samsung Galaxy S® Aviator™ 4G LTE smartphone.

4G LTE speeds allow customers to begin watching a movie in seconds and enjoy smoother video streaming with little to no buffering, and video chatting with family or business colleagues is seamless.

With the Samsung Galaxy S® Aviator™, customers have the ability to talk and access the Internet at the same time. They can talk to their family about dinner plans while downloading an app to find nearby restaurants and simultaneously check out reviews online.

The March rollout of 4G LTE includes select cities in Iowa, Wisconsin, Maine, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma, including some of U.S. Cellular’s leading markets such as Milwaukee, Madison and Racine, Wis.; Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Davenport, Iowa; Portland and Bangor, Maine; and Greenville, N.C. U.S. Cellular is the first wireless carrier to offer 4G LTE in several of these markets. The next wave of market launches will be announced later this month.

“With 4G LTE speeds, you can quickly get what you want when you need it,” said Mary N. Dillon, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular. “This 4G LTE network builds upon our industry-leading network satisfaction and is the only one that comes with a valuable rewards program and other unique benefits like Overage Protection and Battery Swap that make our customers the happiest in wireless.”

The Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 is powered by Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) and has a 10.1-inch WXGA TFT touchscreen. It features superior multi-tasking capabilities, a video watching experience similar to TV and smooth graphics and responsive controls for faster gaming. Apps are downloaded faster on the sleek Samsung Galaxy S® Aviator™ smartphone that comes with Android 2.3.6 (Gingerbread). It has a 4.3-inch WVGA s-AMOLED plus touchscreen, 8 megapixel rear camera and front-facing camera for easy video chatting. Both devices will provide download and browser speeds that are up to 10 times faster than 3G and be similar to a cable Internet connection.

The 4G LTE network builds on the 3G data services that U.S. Cellular customers already enjoy on the carrier’s high-quality nationwide network. U.S. Cellular has the highest call quality and network satisfaction of any national carrier. For more information about the 4G LTE experience, visit uscellular.com/4G.

Rogers has come a long way, it’s the first to launch an LTE network in Canada, starting in Ottawa last July, followed by Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver in September. The company’s VP and CMO, John Boynton, expressed how proud he was with the company trendsetting the way when it came to 4G in the country of Canada.

“We were proud to be first to bring the LTE network to Canadians,” said John Boynton, Rogers Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “Today, we reach over 11 million and we are continuing to expand. By the end of 2012 we will double this with 20 million Canadians able to use LTE devices to download apps, stream HD videos and music or play on-line games, with no delays or buffering.”

Rogers 4G network is said to bring in peak download speeds that could potentially hit 150 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 70 Mbps, which is more than likely around 30 Mbps. A sophisticated LTE network like this is awesome for our neighbors up north.

Rogers customers, are you excited to get some LTE coverage in a town or city near you?

[via Rogers]

According to leaked document MobileSyrup got, TELUS will start offering LTE-enabled SIM cards version 3 starting on February 1st. The specific wording used in the mentioned document goes like this:

A V3 SIM is mandatory for use with all upcoming LTE devices. The current V2 SIM will not allow access to TELUS’ 4G LTE network. Only the V3 SIM should be used for LTE devices effective February 1, 2012.

Of course, existing HSPA+ network will also be supported with V3 SIM cards.

As for the compatible devices, TELUS will be offering the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE and Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE. Hopefully, the coverage map will be released shortly, as well…

[Via: MobileSyrup]

Fundamentally, the LG Spectrum isn’t much different than the LG Nitro on AT&T and that’s not necessarily a bad thing because both phones are packed with power. The LG Spectrum has a few different design tweaks but it still packs a large 4.5-inch True HD IPS display, 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 8-megapixel camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera and Android Gingerbread (we expect an Ice Cream Sandwich upgrade relatively soon).

While nearly every major Android handset has a screen with a 720p HD resolution, I’m a big fan of what LG is doing with its IPS screens because it’s bright, beautiful and images are crisp and clear. Do yourself a favor and dig through some of the HD content that LG preloads in the Gallery, as some of these will blow you away. The performance of the device seems to be pretty solid so far, too.

Unfortunately, I’m not a huge fan of the design tweaks LG did on the Spectrum, as the backing of the Nitro had a nice texture to it, while the Spectrum’s plastic backing isn’t very nice to hold. The Spectrum is also a bit larger than the Nitro and it also has a block-like shape that’s not very good in the hand. Still, if you’re not comparing it to the Nitro, the Spectrum is a decent high-end handset but I prefer some of the other 4G LTE devices Verizon is offering like the Galaxy Nexus.

LG’s played around with the software a bit but we still find it tough to go back from Ice Cream Sandwich. That doesn’t mean it’s a bad experience at all but we do hope that the update comes really soon.

The idea is simple – more satellites mean better positioning. So instead of some 31 satellites orbiting around you, now you’ll have 55 of them at your disposal. As a result, Sony promises up to 50% improved accuracy, as you can see for yourself from the image above. In case you wonder, these field tests were conducted in downtown San Francisco with the help of Qualcomm using two Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman smartphones.

Finally, it’s fair to add Sony isn’t the first company to implement Russia’s positioning system, with devices like the Apple iPhone 4S and Samsung Galaxy Note already relying on extra satellites…

And in case you need to know more on this, hop over to this page at Sony Ericsson’s blog for more information.

[Via: Engadget]

Here’s where Cirque Corporation comes in. Never heard of them? They invented the first laptop trackpad. Their latest innovation is figuring out how to embed an NFC antenna into a trackpad, as seen in the video above. This is important stuff since Windows 8 will include NFC functionality out of the box. At CES earlier this month Intel even showed off NFC working on their Ivy Bridge chips, which are due to hit the market as early as the first half of this year. Windows 8 isn’t slated to hit until Q3 2011 however, and we can’t imagine laptop vendors wanting to shoehorn NFC software on top of Windows 7 and worrying about supporting said solution.

The important point is this: NFC will finally make a meaningful splash in 2012, albeit late 2012, but it’s better than nothing. When Google launched the Nexus S in December 2010 we thought that 2011 would be the year of NFC … and it wasn’t.

Maybe things will be different for 2012?

[Via: NFC World]