LG’s Android 3.0 powered tablet, the LG G-Slate, is looking good for a UK release – although it’s likely that it won’t be the 4G version that we see.
Speaking to Pocket-Lint, LG’s James Choi pretty much confirmed that the 4G LTE-enabled device would be heading to UK shores, “That information isn’t available yet. The first announcement was for the Americas. We are planning another announcement pretty soon”.
UK mobile services provider Vodafone are offering their existing mobile phone customers the chance to sign up to their mobile broadband service at a discounted rate.
In an effort to encourage more consumers to use their mobile broadband services, Vodafone have made a number of price cuts across their range of mobile dongles.
Apple’s new iOS 4.3 beta is now available to developers, which gives us a look at what new features the operating system will bring to the iPhone and iPad devices.
Top of the list has to be the significant arrival of multi-touch gestures for the iPad, which will allow users to pinch, swipe and flick the iPad’s screen using up to five fingers.
T-Mobile has this afternoon issued a statement saying that existing smartphone users will now not be affected by their plans to reduce data usage limits to 500MB from February 1st.
UK regulator Ofcom are set to launch an investigation into T-Mobile’s recent service changes to ensure that customers are properly protected.
Earlier this week T-Mobile UK announced that they would be reducing the monthly data allowance for smartphone users down to 500MB per month.
T-Mobile have today confirmed that their recent mobile data limit cuts will affect Android smartphone users that were previously allowed a 3GB allowance.
The data usage reduction means that T-Mobile Android owners will see their monthly mobile data usage slashed by 83%.
From February 1st, T-Mobile UK have announced that they plan to reduce the mobile data allowance for smartphone users down toto 500MB.
With most T-Mobile contracts previously offering data limits of 1GB, the new reduction will ultimately mean that both new and existing T-Mobile customers are entitled to half the data they had before.
Google are planning to release the next version of the Android operating, Android 2.4, during the Summer according to “multiple sources familiar with the matter”.
A report by Pocket-Lint reveals that the new update (also known as Ice Cream), is scheduled for release in June/July of this year, with an official Google announcement expected during the Google I/O conference which takes place in May.
The Ice Cream update will be the latest in a long line of Android updates that include Cupcake (1.5), Donut (1.6), Eclair (2.0/2.1), Froyo (2.2), Gingerbread (2.3) and Honeycomb (3.0).
What do we know about Android 2.4? Well, not a lot really. Here’s a list of some the new features we can expect to see the Ice Cream update.
Motorola are expecting to ship some 800,000 Xoom tablet units in the first quarter of 2011 alone, according to an article by Digitimes.
Motorola’s new Android tablet was showcased at the CES 2011 event earlier last week, with industry reviews already naming the Xoom one of the most powerful iPad rivals out there.
A video preview for Google’s new Android 3.0 Honeycomb system was posted to their official blog this week.
The Android Honeycomb video shows off some of the new tablet-friendly features of the mobile platform, which now includes a bigger, almost iPad-like keyboard, along with a split screen and carousel viewing options.
Ofcom have this week given mobile operators the permission to make use of their 2G radio spectrum in order to help increase mobile broadband speeds, delivery improved in-building coverage, and widen mobile broadband coverage for users in more rural areas.
As of yesterday, the airwaves that are currently used by mobile phone networks for 2G services (for making voice calls and sending text messages), will now be open to providing 3G services, such as mobile broadband access.
The next generation iPad 2 isn’t expected to arrive in the UK until May/June of 2011, but that doesn’t stop the rumour mill from working overtime on the possible new features the iPad 2 might include.
Earlier this month it was rumoured that the iPad 2 would include cameras on the front and back of the device, according to reports from Apple’s hardware supplier.
Vodafone have this week announced that as of February 1st 2011, customers using their Pay As You Go Vodafone mobile broadband service will find that they only have a 2GB top-up option as opposed to 3GB which is currently available. The price will remain the same as before.
In effect, Vodafone are introducing a price increase to their PAYG service, with many customers already venting their frustration at this stealth price increase.
Ofcom have today announced that the 2.6GHz radio spectrum (2500-2690MHz) can be used for wireless camera applications during the 2012 London Olympic Games that are due to take place from 27th July to 9th September 2012.
This would ultimately prevent the 2.6GHz spectrum from being used by either WiMAX or LTE mobile broadband technologies whilst the Olmypics games are taking place.
Apple’s next-generation iPad, rumoured earlier this week to be shipped by Apple’s manufacturers as early as February 2011, may also include both rear and front-facing cameras, according to various reports circulating today.
Citing unnamed sources from four component suppliers working on the iPad 2, Reuters reports that the next-generation iPad will feature cameras on the front and back of the device, along with a reduction in weight and bulk and a longer battery life.
The European Commission have today begun a new consultation into the roaming charges applied to mobile voice, sms and mobile broadband services across Europe.
The EC want mobile operators to remove the cost difference between roaming charges and the national tariffs by 2015. Despite new rules that were introduced this summer to cap the costs of calling, texting and surfing the web while abroad, the Commission believes that mobile companies are still uncompetitive and have launched a consultation with the aim of speeding up the rate at which roaming charges will fall.
Since the official announcement of Android 2.3 earlier in the week, owners of Android handsets like the HTC Desire, Nexus One and Samsung Galaxy S are no doubt eagerly awaiting the update to be released for their handsets.
The newly announced Google Nexus S will be the first phone to go on sale powered by Android 2.3, but what about existing handsets? When will they receive the update?
Communications and media services company Arqiva have teamed up with Alcatel-Lucent to begin trialling Long Term Evolution (LTE) wireless technology in West Wales by making use of the existing 800MHz spectrum that has since been freed up due to the digital TV switchover.
The trial will take place in the Preseli Mountains, West Wales – a region that has around five village locations that struggle with “not spot” broadband speeds of less than 0.5MBit/s.
Users of popular Android phones like the HTC Desire and the Samsung Galaxy S, use more mobile data services than other smartphone users and threaten to choke wireless network capacity according to a new industry study.
At a time when mobile handsets look set to overtake computers as the most used device for accessing the internet, mobile networks are faced with the problem of increasingly congested networks.
Following yesterdays announcement that the latest Android 2.3 update will be available before Christmas, Google have today unveiled Android 3.0 up and running on an unknown Motorola tablet.
During the All Things Digital conference that took place earlier today, Google’s vice president of engineering, Andy Rubin, demonstrated the Android 3.0 ‘Honeycomb’ software to attendees with the newest version of Google Maps.
UK regulator Ofcom have today released their annual 2010 Consumer Experience Report.
The report reveals that despite customer satisfaction with broadband ISP services remaining stable at 80%, the number of consumers unhappy with their broadband speed has grown from 14% in 2009 to 19% in 2010.
Apple’s next-generation iPad looks set to begin rolling off production lines by the end of February 2011, according to a report in Digitimes.
According to anonymous sources within manufacturer Foxconn (Taiwanese manufacturer who made the first iPad), the company will begin shipping the devices within 100 days.
That would suggest an April release in the US, although a UK release date for the Apple iPad 2 would most likely be in May or even June.
Google have today officially announced the release of the latest Android 2.3 update better known as Gingerbread.
The Android 2.3 Gingerbread update includes a number of updates and tweaks to the popular mobile platform including a new User Interface, UI, NFC support, a new keyboard, new text selection tool, improved gyroscope sensitivity, improved copy/paste and best of all added VoIP/SIP support.
The government has today announced plans to provide every UK community with access to super fast broadband by 2015.
The new broadband strategy known as ‘Britain’s Superfast Broadband Future’ aims to create a Digital Hub in every community in the UK, which the government hope will provide Britain with the best broadband infrastructure in Europe.
Popular mobile operator 3 have this week launched a new range of broadband deals for customers purchasing the Apple iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G.
The new iPad broadband pricing increases the current choice of fixed contract data plans and also introduces new SIM-only tariffs aswell.
