AT&T customers in the top 5% of data usage to face throttled speeds

If you’re on an unlimited data plan on AT&T, and consider yourself a heavy data user, you may want to pay attention. Like other carriers, AT&T is going to begin throttling speeds once a certain threshold is reached. However, unlike other carriers, AT&T has decided instead of setting a fixed number as the limit, they will simply reduce speeds for customers falling into the top 5% of the heaviest data users. Users will still have unlimited data, and speeds will be restored at the start of the next billing cycle.

The amount of data usage of our top 5 percent of heaviest users varies from month to month, based on the usage of others and the ever-increasing demand for mobile broadband services.  To rank among the top 5 percent, you have to use an extraordinary amount of data in a single billing period.

There will be no changes for the vast majority of customers.  It’s not how much time you spend using your device, it’s what you do with it.  You can send or receive thousands of emails, surf thousands of Web pages and watch hours of streaming video every month and not be in the top 5 percent of data users.

Chances are, this change won’t affect you, unless you use an extraordinary amount of data through streaming tons of video/music daily, streaming remote web camera apps, sending large data files, online gaming, or tethering. If you utilize wifi for these things, you aren’t using your data plan, so therefore you won’t be affected. The changes go into effect October 1, 2011. You can find full details at the source link below.
Source: AT&T via: TiPb

via: cb

Virgin Mobile Canada offering the BlackBerry Pearl 9100 for $99 off contract

Virgin Mobile Canada is offering up a smokin’ deal on the BlackBerry Pearl 3G 9100 right now. You can pick one up for just $99 off contract, which is awesome if you’re in need of a new device, or maybe looking for an inexpensive yet feature packed back-to-school present. And since Virgin Mobile offers some great pre-paid options that include BlackBerry data, you don’t have to worry about expensive data overages — or jut unlock it and use it on any other GSM compatible carrier. You can check out the full details on the Virgin Mobile website.

Source: Mobilesyrup

AT&T announces throttling plans, gently reminds us why the T-Mobile acquisition is so great

AT&T today officially confirmed what so many had expected for some time now: the carrier will be throttling select users’ unlimited data plans. The move, which takes effect on October 1st, is a response to a “serious wireless spectrum crunch,” according to a message issued today. The changes will not affect most customers, according to the company, primarily targeting those who fall within the top five percent of heavy users in a given billing cycle. Once the new period begins, speeds will be restored. Even with this new plan in place, however, the company says that the spectrum problems still won’t be resolved — it does have a simple solution, however, explaining that “nothing short of completing the T-Mobile merger will provide additional spectrum capacity to address these near term challenges.”

Full text after the break.

Official: 6.0.0.643 OS for BlackBerry Bold 9780 via T-Mobile UK

Official OS 6.0.0.643 from T-Mobile UK has reached the BlackBerry Bold 9780. If you have a Bold 9780, get out that USB cord and give your a device a fresh OS. Don’t forget to drop a comment below and let us know how it’s working out for you!

**Currently this update seems to only be showing on Desktop Manager for T-Mobile UK users, but BBH-Plus has created a home made installer for the install**

*Disclaimer – Install at your own risk and always back up your data before loading! This is NOT an official release and as such is not supported by Research In Motion or your Wireless Carrier. NHCBBA.com  is not responsible for any loss of data or any other issues that may arise during the loading process.

We also have the .zip of just the UMTS and Java files if you prefer to do a copy/paste method.

Instructions:1. Install 6.0.0.600 to PC (http://bit.ly/ndsvgo)

1a. UMTS/Java Folder only: Download
2. Install this over 6.0.0.600 folder using this installer
2a. Shrink your OS if you want
3. Install to phone
3a. For best results, do 2-3 battery pulls and allow 24-48 hour “settling” time

This is the full OS 6.0.0.643 DM Update.Contains:
– Updated: BBM, Facebook, Twitter, IM apps

• Download OS 6.0.0.643 for Bold 9780 from T-Mobile UK (home made installer)

Verizon release dates leaked online for BlackBerry Torch 9850 and Bold Touch? Plus other Smartphones their going to carry..

Are you dying to know when that shiny new BlackBerry with OS7 will launch on Verizon?

Well, today on twitter, excitement was created when Lee Huffman (@liquidcyber) tweeted the details of Verzion’s upcoming inventory and it read’s as follows:

INCOMING PHONES

• Moto bionic pushed back to September
• Xoom 4g upgrades-devices have to be sent back here to be updated (around 8/11)
• Samsung 10” tablet-should be available some time next week but will not be stocked in all stores due to cost. We will bring in about 10 of each.
• Convoy 2-first release date given 8/4-please wait to check tags for orders placed! I will update you when I know!
• Rim torch– 8/25 (not sure if we will carry-will keep you updated)
• Bold-replacement due date 8/10

If these dates are true, we are less than two weeks away from the Bold Touch being released on Big Red!

 

via: bbos

Russian government may ban iPad, adopt PlayBook or Android tablets instead

The Russian government is considering disallowing the use of Apple’s iPad tablet within government agencies due to security concerns, Russian-language business news site RBC Daily reports. Instead, it is investigating various alternative tablet options including RIM’s BlackBerry PlayBook, Android-powered tablets or even a new device created by a Russian agency. Government security experts are reportedly looking for more “cryptographically secure tablet PCs” than Apple’s iPad tablet, and if the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology’s recent certification is any indication, the BlackBerry PlayBook could fit the bill. RIM announced last week that its PlayBook tablet received FIPS 140-2 certification, thus allowing it to be used by U.S. government officials. No other tablet has received FIPS certification to date.

[Via Financial Post]

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bgr

No link between cell phones and brain cancer, European study says

The results of a recent European study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that there is no connection between cell phone use and an increased risk of brain cancer, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. There were 1,000 participants in the study, including 352 people aged seven to nineteen who were diagnosed with a brain tumor between 2004 and 2008. The report “shows that a large and immediate risk of cellphones causing brain tumors in children can be excluded,” Dr. Martin Roosli, an epidemiologist at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute said. The results are in contradiction of a recent World Health Organization study, which said that cell phones are “possibly carcinogenic.” However, the WHO report was shot down immediately by the Economist, which said it was not possible for cell phone radio waves to cause cells to mutate, and a second report in Environmental Health Perspectives that argued there is evidence “increasingly against the hypothesis that mobile phone use can cause brain tumors in adults.” One World Health Organization cancer epidemiologist, Kurt Straif, told The Wall Street Journal that the results from the latest survey may not be 100% accurate. “Participants with brain cancer may not have the best recall for how often they used their phones,” he argued.

 

BGR

Official: OS 5.0.0.1079 for BlackBerry Bold 9000 via T-Mobile Germany

Official OS 5.0.0.1079 from T-Mobile Germany has reached the BlackBerry Bold 9000. If you have a Bold 9000, get out that USB cord and give your a device a fresh OS. Don’t forget to drop a comment below and let us know how it’s working out for you! If it is any better for you?

Note: The Software Platform and Applications version numbers can be found under Options-About screen on the handheld.

 

• Download Official OS 5.0.0.1079 for BlackBerry Bold 9000 from T-Mobile Germany

Facebook Updated to v2.0.0.986 for BlackBerry PlayBook

 

After the release a few days ago of Facebook 2.0 for the PlayBook encountered certain errors, BlackBerry has released a new update to fix those bugs for all Facebook users out there. Nothing else is new in this new version so if you haven’t done so already fire up your PlayBook and look for the update in App World.

Cellphones are dangerous / not dangerous: little tykes under the spotlight

In the rough and tumble debate surrounding the mobile phone’s ability to cause cancer, both sides agree that our young ones — indeed, some of the heaviest users — could be at an increased risk for cellular-induced tumors. According to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, the radio emissions from mobile devices penetrate much deeper into the brains of children, and in the case of little tykes ages five to eight, their noggins will absorb twice the energy of the average adult. This, combined with their developing nervous systems, has brought concern for the welfare of our youngest mobile-savvy citizens, and led to a European study of nearly 1,000 (informed?) participants. Data was gathered over a four-year period, which relied upon self-reporting methods, where youngsters were found to not talk very often, and typically sent text messages instead — big surprise, right?

While long-term risks remain unknown, the researchers conclude that “a large and immediate risk of cellphones causing brain tumors in children can be excluded.” In other words: little Suzy won’t begin sprouting cancer cells overnight. While you doting parents may find comfort in the latest research, you might consider stopping short of giving the mischievous rascal an unlimited voice plan. After all, gossip still spreads best at the school yard.

[Image courtesy Derek Olson (flickr)]

The Wall Street Journal

 

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