AT&T enhances network in part of Manhattan you probably won't visit

If you’re walking through New York City today, you may notice that your AT&T phone just got a little bit faster. But you probably won’t. The carrier activated a new broadband cell site in Manhattan’s Turtle Bay area in Midtown — somewhere between Times Square and the Upper East Side — in a five-block area that few tourists ever visit. The company says the upgrades are part of a larger plan to enhance coverage across the nation and eventually roll out 4G LTE coverage, with help from recently acquired T-Mobile — that is if all goes well in court, of course.

 

Sprint extends 4G coverage to wholesale

Sprint’s 4G service is taking a turn for the wholesale — the company announced this week that it will be offering up some 4G-packing products to resellers. The list of available products includes the EVO Shift-esque HTC Detail and a data card from Sierra Wireless. More products are expected in the coming months. The model is not a new one for Sprint — the company already offers rebrandable 3G products for companies. At present, Sprint’s 4G coverage is available in 71 markets across the US.

 

More info in the press release below.

AT&T announces 4G BlackBerry portfolio

AT&T BlackBerry fans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the BlackBerry Torch 9810, BlackBerry Bold 9900 as well as the BlackBerry Torch 9860 will all be making their way to AT&T. Looking for the full details?

Read on past the break for the full press release.

House Judiciary chairman Lamar Smith pledges support for AT&T, T-Mobile merger

House Judiciary Committee chairman Lamar Smith wrote a letter to FCC chairman Julius Genachowski and Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the United States, on Tuesday expressing his support of AT&T’s planned $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile. Smith said he believes the FCC and the Department of Justice have only heard “one side of the story” from members of congress who provided “limited information” during recent briefings. Smith also said that his committee has “heard evidence” that the merger will:

Substantially improve the quality of the capacity of its broadband network thereby creating jobs an spurring innovation; use existing spectrum more efficiently to overcome the current spectrum shortage; expand its LTE mobile broadband Internet service to 97% of America including much of rural America; and provide better service to its customers thereby giving its competitors an incentive to improve their service.

Smith said any evidence from the congressional hearings that omits the aforementioned points “paints an incomplete picture.” Sprint has been one of the most vocal opponents of the merger and has said that, in contrast to creating jobs and innovation, the acquisition will “stifle” innovation in the U.S. Wireless market. Read on for more.

AT&T said Microsoft, Facebook, 76 Democratic members of congress, 72 mayors, 6 governors and “unions representing 20 million members,” are in support of the merger. However, Senator Herb Kohl, chairman of the the Senate antitrust committee has called on federal regulators to block it. In addition, Senator Al Franken said the acquisition will “affect consumer prices, customer service, innovation, competition in handsets and the quality and quantity of network coverage.”

 

BGR

T-Mobile responds to Sen. Al Franken’s recommendation against AT&T merger

Minnesota Senator Al Franken sent a letter to the heads of the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice earlier this week, stating that AT&T’s proposed $39 billion acquisition of T-Mobile USA was not in the best interest of the American public. “The competitive effects of a merger of this size and scope will reverberate throughout the telecommunications sector for decades to come and will affect consumer prices, customer service, innovation, competition in handsets and the quality and quantity of network coverage. These threats are too large and too irrevocable to be prevented or alleviated by conditions,” Franken wrote. The Minnesota democrat also said that the deal could cost thousands of Americans their jobs. T-Mobile issued a statement in response to Franken’s note late on Tuesday, stating plainly that Franken’s assessment of the deal is wrong. “While we respect Senator Franken, his analysis of our pending transaction is just wrong,” T-Mobile said in a note to the press. “The combination of T-Mobile and AT&T should be approved because it will deliver what consumers are looking for in the age of smart phones, tablets and mobile internet – speed, service quality and reduced costs. As is documented in our government filings, the combination of our two networks creates significant efficiencies that will trigger strong benefits for consumers. We are confident that a thorough review of the record will demonstrate the transaction advances the public interest.”

 

BGR

Rogers Flips the Switch on LTE in Ottawa and Selling LTE Rocket Stick

Rogers has flipped the switch on the LTE network in Ottawa and the above map shows the coverage. The coverage is really decent and it’s interesting that Rogers chose Ottawa as the launch city. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the city is so incredibly vast and 90% of it is in a country setting. That brings to mind what the value of LTE is over WiFi. While LTE speeds are great for those who are on the move and want high speeds on their laptop, most people will probably just opt for a location with WiFi if possible. There are very few times when the average person is going to be in need of a connection, with no WiFi available, unable to tether or in need of speeds faster than 3G, and willing to pay the price for the Rocket Stick.

Who is actually buying into LTE? Perhaps we should be looking at better WiFi solutions before thinking about how to get little Johnny playing Call of Duty on his laptop while on the 20 minute bus ride home.

We’re also not even sure how much the Rocket Stick even costs yet. According to Rogers, it will be $169.99 no term and $79.99 on a 3-year. Plan details will be announced when the sticks are available for pickup.

via:bbcool