RIM introduces the BlackBerry Curve 9320 (Canada)
Research In Motion announced a stylish new smartphone for socially-connected customers. The new BlackBerry Curve 9320 smartphone features all the core BlackBerry messaging and social-centric features that keep people connected, and it offers global 3G connectivity backed by long battery life to allow users to make the most of their day.
Carlo Chiarello, EVP, Smartphone Business at Research In Motion, said that the new BlackBerry Curve 9320 is designed to make it incredibly easy for users to stay socially-connected. The new BlackBerry Curve 9320 will be especially popular with customers upgrading to a smartphone for the first time and existing Curve customers looking for a step up in speed and functionality.
The BlackBerry Curve 9320 has everything a customer needs to stay in touch with the people and things that matter most to them. It features a dedicated BBM key, bringing the power of RIM’s popular mobile social network up in an instant, as well as the best keyboard in its class for quick and easy typing. It includes a built-in FM radio, allowing users to tune into their favorite local stations, and listening to the FM radio does not require a data plan or use data services. Designed to allow both 3G connectivity and long battery life, customers can get up to 7 hours of talk time or up to 30 hours of FM radio listening or music playback with headphones.
Customers can easily interact with their social network in real time, using preloaded apps for Facebook and Twitter. The new Social Feeds 2.0 app is also preloaded, allowing users to post updates to multiple social networks simultaneously and capture updates from news sources (RSS), social apps and instant messaging apps all in one consolidated view. The integrated camera includes a flash and supports video recording, and pictures can be tagged with their location thanks to the smartphone’s built-in GPS.
The BlackBerry Curve 9320 comes with the new BlackBerry 7.1 OS, which supports features such as Mobile Hotspot and Wi-Fi calling where available. Parental Controls is a brand new, on-device feature that provides parents and guardians with simple options to help protect children by restricting access to specific functions, features and applications.
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 to be released in April 2012 (South Korea)
Mobile handset maker Samsung has revealed that it will be delaying the much awaited Galaxy Tab 2 and Galaxy Tab 2 tablets until the end of April. According to reports, the company has said that it needs more time to work on driver support and a seamless user experience for the Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.
The Galaxy Tab 2 will include both 3G and Wi-Fi versions. The tablets were announced to be launched in March, at the Mobile World Congress 2012, but are now being delayed by a few weeks. The Galaxy Tab 2 has a display screen of 7 inches as well as a model with a display screen of 10.1 inches.
MTN launches 3G services in Ivory Coast (Africa)
MTN plans to offer its customers 3G services as soon as possible following the receipt of 3G licences in Benin and Ivory Coast. According to reports, Christian de Faria, MTN Group Chief Commercial Officer, said that this is exciting news for their customers, as they will now enjoy the benefits of world-class connectivity. They are grateful to the governments of Cote d’Ivoire and Benin for enabling MTN to further enhance the experience of mobile telephony for their customers.
Wim Vanhelleputte, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), announced that West African Cable System (WACS), a submarine cable stretching 14,000 kilometers between Portugal and South Africa, will upgrade connectivity for Ivoirians to international standards.
Vanhelleputte said that this is a dream come true for many Ivoirians whose internet access has been held back for a very long time. The cable will allow more Ivoirians to enjoy fast access to the internet. They have already identified about 30 per cent of subscribers who will be the first to experience and enjoy the 3G service.
Regarding the licence offered in Benin, Eric Tronel, Chief Executive Officer for MTN Benin, said that MTN is the first and only operator in Benin with a license which allows the use of new generation technologies, such as 3G, 4G, LTE and Wimax. This presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to customers, both in the consumer and corporate sectors. Customers are already eagerly waiting for the launch of new services using the new technology, and MTN Benin is working hard to ensure that customers are not disappointed.
MTN obtains 3G licences in Ivory Coast and Benin (Africa)
South Africa’s leading mobile operator MTN has obtained 3G licences in both Ivory Coast ad Benin, and is looking to launch 3G services in these regions soon. As per a report by CommsMEA, Bruno Koné, Icory Coast’s minister of post and ICT, told MTN that it was awarding the 3G licence to the telco at MTN’s offices in Abidjan.
Further, Wim Vanhelleputte, CEO, MTN Cote d’Ivoire, said that the operator had already identified about 30 per cent of subscribers who would be the first to experience 3G services.
As per the report, in Benin, the government granted MTN a universal licence which allows the company to provide mobile telecommunication services using any technology within the defined agreed frequency range without additional fees. This includes 3G, 4G, LTE, Wimax, Wi-Fi outdoor as well as the use of VoIP.
Eric Tronel, CEO, MTN Benin, said that MTN is the only operator in Benin with a licence to use wireless technologies such as 3G, LTE and WiMAX. He added that this presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to customers, both in the consumer and corporate sectors.
Apple Launches New iPad (USA)
US handset giant, Apple has introduced the new iPad — the third generation of its category-defining mobile device — featuring a stunning new Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics, and a 5-megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing incredible photos and 1080p HD video.
As per the company, iPad with Wi-Fi + 4G connects to fast networks worldwide, including AT&T’s and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks, and still delivers the same all-day 10-hour battery life while remaining amazingly thin and light. The new iPad will be available in black or white through the Apple Online Store and in Apple Retail stores on Friday, March 16, beginning at $499.
Customers can begin pre-ordering their new iPad on the Apple Online Store. Further, company report states that the iPad 2 will be offered at a more affordable price, starting at just $399 .
The Retina display on the new iPad features a 2048-by-1536 resolution, 44 percent greater color saturation, and an astounding 3.1 million pixels — in the same 9.7-inch space. That’s four times the number of pixels in iPad 2 and a million more than an HDTV. The Retina display transforms the entire iPad experience, so everything looks and feels incredibly lifelike and perfectly detailed.
The new iPad features Apple’s 5-megapixel iSight camera. The 5-megapixel iSight camera features a backside illumination sensor that captures great-looking pictures whether by sunlight or candlelight. The new iPad offers the most comprehensive support for networks around the world. It’s designed with cellular antennas that access a larger frequency spectrum.
Further, the new iPad supports fast cellular networks the world over — up to 4G LTE. So users can browse the web, stream content, or download a movie at blazing-fast speeds.
Vehicles to be equipped with internet services in future
The extensive use of data enabled smartphones and iPhones have got more and more consumers looking for internet services on the go. According to a new survey by KPMG, internet access in the car is likely to become a common feature soon. Further, the survey highlights the future possibility of a vehicle enabled with speech recognition as well as wi-fi and 3G services.
The report also reveals that as many as 37 percent of the car executives claimed that such services in the vehicle are as important as the safety features. Further, keeping the trend in mind, the future could see many agreements being signed between car companies and players in the music and telecom industry.
John Leech, Automative Head, KPMG has said that Intel claims that the connected car is the third-fastest growing technological device, following smartphones and tablets. For a car maker that offers huge potential.
The report also reveals that 53 percent of the executives agree that hybrid cars will consume a large part of the company investment in the coming years.
Verizon Wireless and Samsung deliver 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot
Verizon Wireless and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) today announced that the Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot is available for order. You can purchase your Samsung 4G LTE Hotspot from 3Gstore for $99.99 after $50 mail in rebate.
Key features:
Share 4G LTE internet connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices at the same time
4G LTE customers can expect download speeds of 5 to 12 Mbps and upload speeds of 2 to 5 Mbps in 4G Mobile Broadband coverage areas
Backward compatible with the Verizon Wireless 3G network
Dimensions: 2.32â€(H) x 3.54â€(W) x 0.45â€(D)
Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot customers can take advantage of Verizon’s 4G LTE network by subscribing to a 4G LTE mobile broadband data package starting at $50 monthly access for 5GB. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G networks. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years.
About Verizon Wireless:
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 94 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 82,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone.
Dutch rail NS launches 100th intercity train with Wi-Fi (Netherlands)
Dutch rail NS has launched its 100th intercity train equipped with Nomad Digital’s Wi-Fi system.
NS launched its Wi-Fi service less than a year ago and is intending for 365 intercity trains equipped with Wi-Fi by December 2013. Currently over 200,000 sessions per month are being reported.
The five year contract with Nomad Digital also provides real time travel information, presented via a variety of passenger information screens, both on the train and trackside.
Nomad has also just received a purchase order from the NS worth around US$11.30 million to launch the new VIRM fleet.
CAT selected to provide Wi-Fi to McDonald’s (Thailand)
CAT Telecom has been selected by fast food outlet McDonald’s to provide Wi-Fi. CAT will provide Wi-Fi services in 134 branches across Thailand.
This partnership is a significant step of the CAT and McDonald’s to provide to people of all ages with a modern lifestyle with CAT WiFi, wireless high-speed internet in 134 branches nationwide. Customers can surf internet and log in e-mail while enjoying with McDonald’s menu, a coffee or bakery items from Mc Cafe.
Prague launches free Wi-Fi in trams
Travellers in the Czech capital trams will have free internet access via Wi-Fi, confirmed City Transport in Prague for iDnes.
At first, the service will be launched in the new set KT8N2. The accees will be free for at least six months from the launch planned for 31 March.
Besides Wi-Fi, City Transport will install new LCD monitors in the trams, with information on services offered and city transport rules. The company is considering installation of new technologies also in older trams.
