Monday, March 31, 2008

Exciting Wireless Network News and Surprises Expected at CTIA 2008

CTIA 2008 is about to start and mobile phone enthusiasts are expecting a lot from the mobile phone trade show. What so exciting about the CTIA? Well, it one of the best venues where exciting mobile phone news are revealed.

Mobile phone manufacturers and wireless networks often use the CTIA as a spring board to launch industry changing mobile phones. I'm sure every carrier subscriber is excited about the announcement of the new devices that will be sold by their wireless network.

Some exciting mobile phone news have been announced just before the CTIA began and undoubtedly there will be more scoop when the event begins. Let give you some info on the exciting news that were released just before the mobile phone trade show began.

First off, it was announced that Verizon Wireless will release the CDMA network compatible, BlackBerry Curve 8330 in the next few weeks. This silver finished smartphone offers true 3G support unlike GSM models offered by AT&T and T-Mobile. It also supports EVDO mobile broadband which makes it faster than the EDGE supported BlackBerry Curves currently on the market.

The BalckBerry 8330 will support VZ Navigator navigation service as part of it's GPS feature since it will be available on Verizon Wireless. The other features on this smartphone includes a media management software developed by Roxio and a 2-magepixel camera. Once CTIA begins, more details regarding this device will be released.

It was also announced that the Motorola Q9c will be available on Alltel Wireless and US Cellar.A new lime green version of the Motorola Q9c will be added to the carriers' handset line ups. The traditional black Q9c for consumers who may not like the new version. Alltel and US Cellular consumers can begin purchasing the smartphone this summer.

Sprint also launched a similar device a few months ago. The Mtorola Q9c is powered by Windows mobile 6 and offers a 1.3 megapixel camera, 128Mb Flash memory, Bluetooth with A2DP support, EVDO and other features. More details on the release dates and pricing of the device will be available in the next few weeks.

These are just the news that appeared before the trade show. Expect more exciting mobile phone and wireless network news in the upcoming days.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Wireless Networks Reviews part Two

This is the sequel to my attempt to provide some useful reviews on the services offered by various wireless networks. these reviews were mostly based on what consumers say on a particular carrier. L provided reviews on Verizon Wireless, US Cellular and AT&T in my first post.

Let us begin this sequel with a review of Virgin Mobile USA. This mobile phone network is known as a consumer champion. Of course, that doesn't mean that Virgin Mobile customers do not file complaints against their carrier. Like most wireless networks Virgin Mobile also receive complaints but surveys have shown that the company provides great consumer satisfaction and customer service.

Many consumers also like the fact that the network offers a wide variety of phones. Consumers like to have a lot of option so offering plenty of mobile phone models will sit well with consumers. A wide selection means that users will be more likely to find the most suitable handset to fit a certain lifestyle or personality.

Virgin Mobile Customers also like the freedom to roam anywhere in the country without incurring roaming fees that is offered by the company. But this offer is also limited because devices will only access Virgin Mobile cell phone towers. A mobile phone is virtually useless if the owner is in an area that is not covered by the wireless network.

Virgin Mobile also offers affordable and flexible mobile phone plans. Customers can get plans for less than fifteen bucks and do not have to worry about yearly contracts. Virgin mobile plans do not require contracts so there are not a lot of disputes.

There are also some negative feedbacks from Virgin Mobile consumers. For instance, Virgin Mobile is not yet offering GSM technology in their handsets. Consumers are unable to send packets of information to their recipients because of the absence of this technology.

The lack of relationship with other networks is also hurting some of their consumers. The network offers a wide coverage but they are still unable to offer service in some areas of the country. this means that consumers have to switch to other networks in order to use their phones.

Let us proceed with Alltel Wireless. This wireless network provider is known for proving quality service in the states that are covered by its network. Consumers in the 35 states being served by this carrier experience good call quality.

Altell also maintains good ties with other wireless networks so consumers can connect with their family and friends using thwe networks of other carriers. Customers have also expressed that this company provides quality customer service.

This company is also credited with offering generous benfits in their plans such us unlimited mintues during weeekends and nighttime. There are also a wide variety of Alltel services that are available to customers. For instance, laptop users can benefit from the networks WiFi service that grants online access in many places across the country.

However, Alltel's limited service to only 35 states can also bring problems to customers. Limited area coverage often translates to high roaming costs. Most Alltel special services are also unable in states not covered by the carrier. That means that customers may not benefit from Alltel promotions if they are out side the carrier's network.

I think I'm running out of space here. Making a very long blog post may not capture the interest of readers so I will limit the sequel to reviews of two wireless networks. i hope to cover the remaining networks in the third installment of this topic.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Wireless Networks Reviews part One


I have made several post on this blog that offers information on how users feel about certain mobile phones.These reviews were offered by users who posted them on the Internet. Now, I thought it would be interesting to offer a review of wireless networks or mobile phone providers.

Let us begin with Verizon Wireless. Sources on the web describe this wireless network as having the top score in call quality. This means that the subscribers of Verizon Wireless suffer from less drop calls and enjoy great calling experience.

This network is also known for being able to serve a wide range of customers. Verizon offers services that are suitable for corporate customers and non business subscribers. Many sources also credit this wireless carrier for the discount packages it offers to customers.

Since no company is perfect, Verizon has also been criticized for its shortcomings. The wireless network has been chastised for having poor coverage in some areas. Some customers have complained that the network has sub par performance in their location.

Some observers also had commented that Verizon wireless plans are more expensive than most wireless networks. Perhaps they feel that the quality service that the carrier provide does not justify the high cost.

Let us move on to US Cellular. This carrier is known for being the top regional wireless network. This company is credit as providing good customer service to their subscribers. The company takes pride in making their customers feel that their needs will be satisfied.

US Cellular also receive points for the extras they provide on their services. This is also a contributing factor in the company's reputation of providing commendable customer service. Extras and discounts are a good tool for making customers feel that they have received more than their money's worth.

Unfortunately, this wireless network also has its share of criticisms. Some say that the price of their services is also high. Compared with other networks, this company's plans have similar or higher price tags.

Since US Cellular is a regional carrier, its network is limited. It can only provide services in 26 states and most of them are in the Midwest. This can be a problem for customers who have friends and family in states not served by US Cellular. They make be charged for roaming fees when they contact them.

Let us finish this first part with a review of AT&T. This wireless network is considered as one of the giants of the mobile phone industry. With more than sixty million customers, this company has a lot of clout in the industry.

AT&T offers great service and provides good calling quality. The wireless network would not be able to maintain millions of customers if it offers poor service and great products. This carrier offers unique services that are unmatched by other networks. Mobile phone customers subscribe to AT&T because of the great and unique options available.

The company's ability to offer the best and the latest mobile phone products is also a factor in the company's dominance in the industry. Nothing attract customers more than the temptation of being able to get the latest and hottest handsets. The Apple iPhone for example, pulls a massive number of customers to the network.

Nevertheless, the company has also received complaints from dissatisfied customers and reviewers. One of the recurring complaints that are hurled at the network is the delay in voice message delivery. many customers experienced that the voice messages they send are not received by the intended recipient at the expected time.

Some customers have also complained that the company does not treat customers well. The quality of the company's customer service have been questioned. The attitude of the AT&T's service representatives have been the cause of many complaints.

Well, that's it for now. I didn't expect my post to be this long. Judging by the length of this one, two more post may be required to cover other wireless networks. I hope this post will be able to provide you with useful information.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

LG Glimmer Coming to Alltel Wireless

I came upon an exciting piece of wireless network news for Alltel subscribers. The interesting thing is that the source of this information is from Asia.

LG Korea has made it known that the Glimmer or the LG-AX830 will be made available on Alltel wireless. The fliers about the release of this mobile phone have started appear last month. But, the news was confirmed only a few days ago with the announcement made by LG Korea.

The LG Glimmer has not yet appeared on the wireless network's site but the press release indicate that subscribers can get the phone in the next few weeks. I know that Alltel subscribers will be delighted by these news and are excited to get their hands in this nice device.

The LG Glimmer may not be familiar to many mobile phone fans so let me offer a brief description of the phone and its features. The LG-AX830 is similar to the LG Shine in appearance but offers its own unique appeal. The device is in the form of a slider and is Bluetooth capable like the latest handsets. The device is powered by an 800 mAh battery that gives users up to 7 days of standby time and 3.5 hours of talk time.

For subscribers who want to take pictures, this phone is a good choice because it comes with a 2-megapixel camera. The wireless network's new device is also a good entertainment device because it has a media player that can cope with MP3, WMA, AAC and AAC+ audio files. Another neat thing about the LG Glimmer's media player is that when it is hooked up to a PC via USB, it shows up as a mass storage device.

The handset also features a 2.8" 262K color 240×400 touchscreen that gives it a unique appeal. It can accept 4GB microSD cards and user can use the speaker-independent voice control when they make calls or listen to music. Alltel subscribers will also like the fact that the Glimmer is compatible with the Access TV and Navigation subscription services of their wireless network.

The device is supported by EV-DO but a GSM version may become available in the following weeks or months. I hope this news can make Alltel subscribers and LG fans smile.

Monday, March 10, 2008

HTC Mogul from Sprint: First EV-DO Rev. A Mobile Phone

According to this article from Yahoo news!, Sprint is planning to release a software update for the HTC Mogul. This update will make the Mogul the first EV-DO Rev. A mobile device. Before I proceed I think it well be helpful to give more information on the HTC Mogul and the EV-DO Rev. A wireless networks.

Let us begin with Sprint Nextel's HTC Mogul. This mobile phone is the upgraded version of the older HTC 6700 PDA phone. Compared with the older model, the Mogul is lighter and thinner. It weighs just 5.8 oz and its dimensions are 110 x 59 x 18.5 mm.

The HTC Mogul is also updated to be compatible with
Windows Mobile 6. It also features an assisted-slide keyboard, stereo Bluetooth, and a 2 megapixel camera which are absent in the HTC 6700 PDA phone.

After reading some reviews from people who have used the Mogul, I learned that it performs well and it's an improvement from the older HTC 6700. Users love the Mogul's qwerty keyboard that performs well for data purposes and they also like the increased memory.

Now let us move on to the EV-DO Rev. A wireless network. The name is the short version of Evolution-Data Optimized Revision A. This network is the faster version of the EV-DO Rev. 0 wireless network. It is currently operated by two major wireless networks namely, Sprint and Verizon.

This wireless network is the counterpart of AT&T's HSDPA or High-Speed Downlink Packet Access. Both wireless networks are listed as having similar speed. This network has only been used for laptop cards so the update makes the HTC Mogul from Sprint the first EV-DO Rev. A mobile phone.

How will Sprint's HTC Mogul perform after the update. Well, the reports say the the update will enable the device to connect to a faster data network. Connecting the device to the wireless network will double its download speeds and boost its upload speed.

However, since the EV-DO Rev. A improves upload speeds it is very important to laptop users but less so for mobile phones. Nevertheless, the improvements that connecting to the network bring will make the upgrade worth it.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

AT&T to Launch Nokia N95?

I found an interesting wireless network article as I was surfing the web today. This phonedog.com article says that there are rumors that the Nokia N95 may be coming to AT&T.

The article also indicated that the Nokia N95 maybe available in AT&T outlets during the second quarter of this year. As these are still rumors, it is still unsure whether wireless network will launch the N95 or the newer 8GB model. Let me give a short preview on these phones just in case you are unfamiliar with them.


The Nokia N95 Super Phone

The N95 is Nokia's flagship Nseries mobile phone. This smartphone has a an enormous features list that is packed into a compact slider form. The phone has a large QVGA display with slide-activated landscape mode. It also has a 5 megapixel auto-focus camera with high-quality video capture.

GPS, Wi-Fi, quad-band GSM, EDGE data, Bluetooth, memory card slot, and version 2 of Nokia's full web browser software are also included in the Nokia N95's features. It weighs in at
125 g and has dimensions of 3.9" x 2.09" x 0.83" in inches.

Here is a video tour of the device to give you more info on this phone



I also scanned some user reviews about the Nokia N95 so I'll give a brief summery. Users generally love this device because of the screen, the 5MP camera, high quality videos, and the web browser. However, the device has its shortcomings as users disliked its battery life, high price and the absence of a Qwerty keyboard.


Nokia N95 8 GB

The 8GB is an updated version of the N95. This newer version features 8 GB of built-in memory and an even larger display. The N95 was criticized for having a poor battery life so the 8 GB improved on this aspect.

Generally, the version retained the features of the N95. The 8 GB features the 5 megapixel auto-focus camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, version 2 of Nokia's full web browser software and stereo Bluetooth.

I'm sure AT&T subscribers are thrilled with these rumors. The N95 is one of the coolest phones to date so mobile enthusiasts will be glad that the wireless network may make this smartphone available in the upcoming months. I hope that the high price will decrease, so I can afford one of my own. :)

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Cool Nokia Nokia 6650 Smartphone Coming to T-Mobile

I just found out that the Nokia 6650 smartphone will be coming exclusively to T-Mobile. Unfortunately, I have no ides when this phone will be available in the US but it will be released by the wireless network in the third quarter of this year. This wireless network news was announced at the CeBIT tradeshow in Hanover, Germany.

No information on the retail prices have been released but customers will crave this phone no matter what the price. I wasn't even able to find a picture of the smartphone on the Internet. The wireless network acquired this mobile phone as part of a general plan to get smartphones into the hands of multimedia consumers. These customers are willing to pay the premiums associated with advanced services so this is a good strategy for T-Mobile.

Since there is not a lot of information on when the Wireless network will launch the Nokia's 6650, let us just discuss the details of the device. Some sources describe the device as a feature-rich handset. It was designed to satisfy mobile users who expect an experience comparable to what they get in fixed environments.

Let us explore some of the features of this feature-rich smartphone. Among the features found in the wireless networks smartphone is the 6650's 2-megapixel camera with flash, FM radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. For storage it has 30 MB of internal memory and a MicroSD card slot.

The wireless networks networks' bifold handset is equipped with an assisted GPS (A-GPS) capability and multimedia player functions. This feature allows T-Mobile customers to access the wireless network's services such as Web'n'walk, MyFaves, Mobile Jukebox, and NaviGate.

Another cool feature found in the Nokia 6650 is the interface for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). At present, this feature allows 1.4-Mbps downloads and has the potential to reach 7.2 Mbps HSDPA. Web browsing video playback on the device will get a big boost from the 2.2 square-inch display and its 16 million colors.

The limited information on the Nokia 6650 smartphone sounds great. I know that mobile phone enthusiast will be excited to get their hands on this device. i hope that we can see video reviews and more information on this device soon.