LTE

First unboxing images of iPad mini hit the web

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2012

Apple originally promised to ship the 4G LTE cellular version of the iPad mini mid-November. However, following selling out of initial supplies of Wi-Fi models, analysts have warned the company could easily face production issues that could easily affect delivery dates. Multiple web reports now indicate that Apple is in fact removing delivery dates for iPad mini LTE pre-orders.

Some customers are now reporting that the company updated their November 23 shipment date to just "mid-November". Meanwhile, just as first (and largely positive) reviews hit the web, a guy in France has already received his Wi-Fi unit ahead of Friday's official launch and posted a series of unboxing pics...

UK’s Everything Everywhere launches 4G LTE network

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 30, 2012

Everything Everywhere today launched its 4G LTE network in the United Kingdom, giving UK shoppers plenty of reasons to buy the new iPad mini, the iPhone 5 and the fourth-generation iPad this holiday season. All these devices feature improved cellular connectivity that supports a wider gamut of LTE frequency bands across the world's carriers.

Apple's web site also lists Everything Everywhere as being compatible with the 4G LTE flavors supported by Apple's late-2012 iOS devices. Go past the fold for plans and pricing information...

Sprint unveils new no-contract 4G tablet data plans

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

After two years of sitting on the sidelines, Sprint will finally be landing the iPad this fall. Once they become available, the carrier will be offering LTE versions of both the new iPad and the iPad mini.

And it looks like it has some new data plans to go with the new tablets. The company announced last night that starting November 11, it will be offering new 4G tablet data plans starting as low $15...

New iPads to support 19 LTE networks at launch

Cody Lee ∙ October 23, 2012

Both of Apple's new tablets it introduced today — the iPad mini and the 4th generation iPad — come in a Wi-Fi + Cellular option that features an LTE chip for ultra fast wireless internet access.

And unlike with the third generation iPad, these two tablets will work on LTE networks around the world. In fact, Apple says that 19 carriers in 9 countries will support the 4G slates at launch...

Sprint finally lands the iPad

Cody Lee ∙ October 23, 2012

Apple made a number of big announcements at its media event this morning, including some new computers, and of course the iPad mini. But one revelation that seems to have flown under the radar is a new carrier deal.

Sprint is now (finally) an official iPad partner. The company just pushed out a press release a few moments ago stating that in the coming weeks, it will be offering LTE versions of the 4th gen iPad, and the iPad mini...

Sprint has acquired control of Clearwire

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

It was reported that the nation's third-largest telco Sprint Nextel is looking to buy a controlling stake in Clearwire without an acquisition. Sure enough, Sprint instead opted to buy out one of Clearwire's other shareholders to increase its 48 percent stake to a controlling 50.8 percent stake. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Sprint acknowledged as much in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday...

Verizon activates 3.1M iPhones in Q3, nearly 1 out of 5 was iPhone 5

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Verizon reported today it activated 3.1 million iPhones during the three-month period ending September 30. About 650,000 were iPhone 5 units that had been purchased in just one week, the largest US carrier reported. The iPhone represented 46 percent of smartphones Verizon sold during the period. Overall, smartphones now account for 53 percent of the handsets Verizon sells.

The 650,000 iPhone 5 sales figure is impressive, given Apple's latest handset was released in late September, permitting only one week of sales during the third quarter. The Cupertino, California-based Apple confirmed it sold 5 million of the new handsets during its opening weekend last month...

Sprint to take control of Clearwire without acquisition

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 10, 2018

Sprint is said to be in high-level negotiations with Clearwire, a wireless broadband provider, that would give it greater control over its long-time partner. The deal would give the carrier the ability to appoint a majority of the company's board members, without having to pony up cash for a buyout.

The news actually comes as a bit of a surprise, as many folks (especially investors) believed that Softbank's announcement that it was going to take a controlling stake in Sprint from earlier this week would lead to a Clearwire acquisition. But apparently, the carrier had other plans...

FCC gives AT&T the go-ahead to use its WCS spectrum

Cody Lee ∙ October 17, 2012

Reports are coming in this afternoon that the Federal Communications Commission has approved AT&T's plan to use its dormant WCS spectrum to expand its LTE network. The carrier acquired the spectrum years ago, but has been unable to use it due to concerns that it would knock out the popular Sirius satellite radio service...

Study: Americans pay too much for their LTE plans

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated February 8, 2016

American smartphone owners are taking a bath on LTE and 3G pricing compared to European mobile consumers, a new study indicates. Verizon Wireless subscribers pay $7.50 per gigabyte on that carrier's LTE network versus an average of $2.50 in Europe, for example. Even more shocking: Sweden's LTE users pay as low as 63 cents.

According to the London-based GSM Association, despite the U.S. being the largest LTE market in the world, Americans pay much more for the superfast wireless technology than anyone else. The reason boils down to fewer choices...

EE to launch the UK’s first LTE network on October 30

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Folks in the UK who recently purchased an iPhone 5 will be happy to hear that in less then a month, they'll finally be able to use the handset to its full potential. It's official: the country's first LTE network will go live on October 30.

The network belongs to EE (Everything Everywhere), which is a joint venture between Orange and T-Mobile. And the new 4G service will be available to existing customers on either of the two carriers, and obviously, new ones...

T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS to become one

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

Following its failed acquisition with AT&T, T-Mobile USA's parent company Deutsche Telekom just announced that it has reached a deal to combine its U.S. operations with MetroPCS, the nation's fifth-largest carrier. What's in it for you?

For starters, T-Mobile gets to finally jump on the 4G LTE bandwagon as MetroPCS has been deploying this technology over the past two years. This could be a bargaining chip the merged carriers may just need to finally land the iPhone...