With Sprint’s WiMAX-based next-generation 4G (well, officially it’s a 3G network) XOHM mobile broadband network officially up and running in Baltimore, the US is poised to see 2-4Mbps download speeds and 1-2Mbps upload speeds blanketing the nation. Sprint has finally started redefining themselves as the premier data-centric carrier in the US, and manufacturers are rallying…
Airlite 900 Review
Bluetooth headsets are plenty popular, but unless you’re a corporate powerhouse who’s on the phone nonstop or a yuppie too cool to hold a phone in their hand like the rest of us plebeians, headsets aren’t that practical to be wearing all the time. Honeywell’s recently-launched Airlite 900 aims to provide an alternative hands-free solution…
Next-generation LED lightbulbs could replace WiFi – Optical wireless networks on the way
Convergence this, convergence that. In the mobile world it’s all about converging multiple devices/features into a single, mobile device. The latest converged technology concept comes to us from Boston University’s College of Engineering. Using a National Science Foundation grant, researchers are looking to converge wireless data communications into a lowly light-bulb. The engineers hope to…
SpinVox goes in to South America
I think it’s clear now that I like SpinVox, and rate very highly their voicemail-to-text service (it’s gotten me out of the hassle of having to collect voicemails in real-time more times than I can remember!). So it pleases me to be able to post about their progress in to South America… Movistar Chile and…
Sony Ericsson patent application hints at automatic zooming camera
The struggling Japanese-Swedish mobile phone venture, Sony Ericsson, isn’t exactly seeing their mobile phones flying off the proverbial shelf. With the company announcing employee layoffs and a retail store shutdown, Sony Ericsson had better inject some serious “cool” into their handset portfolio if they want to remain a viable mobile phone manufacturer. This latest patent…
Toshiba shows off direct methanol fuel cell tech again
Toshiba is really pushing their direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology recently. Coming off of their DMFC demonstration at CTIA Las Vegas 2008, Toshiba brought their liquid methanol-based fuel cells at CEATAC. Using liquid methanol, Toshiba’s DMFC power packs convert energy-packed carbohydrates into freely flowing electrons capable of powering your device for about twice as…
WiMAX and LTE – Happily ever after?
Sprint’s launch of their WiMAX-based XOHM network this week in the big MD ushered in a new age of contract-less high-speed wireless networks. With Sprint XOHM, customers will have multiple options for high-speed mobile broadband access in the home, on the road, or with daily passes that run $10 for 24 hours of “4G” service…
Microsoft patent application has future devices sharing resources – Battery, video, processor sharing coming soon
Well this is surely one way to interpret the “convergence” movement. Rather than concentrating on crafting devices that can handle all your multimedia, computing, and mobile phone needs in one handy-dandy device, Microsoft might be looking towards a future filled with portable devices that can seamlessly interconnect with other devices – even sharing resources amongst…
ZTE launches first HSDPA/TD-SCDMA handset
Okay, that’s a mouthful of acronym there, but let’s break it down. Chinese manufacturer ZTE announced their first Windows Mobile handset, the U990 last week, and now it’s available (presumably from China Mobile). HSDPA is the GSM-flavoured 3G standard we all know and love, but TD-SCDMA is another 3G network that’s been developed exclusively in…
Sprint’s WiMAX service launches in Baltimore
As anticipated, Sprint’s XOHM WiMAX network went live today in Baltimore, touting 4G, but unfortunately they seem to have missed the memo about WiMAX being officially classified as a 3G network standard. Still, with 2-4Mbps worth of downlink throughput, Sprint’s XOHM network is plenty fast compared to the limited 3G (HSPA and EVDO Rev. A)…