March 2008
1 post
The 3G Portal has now become The 4G Portal →
After tracking news about 3G since May 2000, we are now switching to 4G. The 4 G Portal: A collection of information, news and opinion on 4G, an acronym for Fourth-Generation Communications System, is a term used to describe the next step in wireless communications. Find it here
January 2008
5 posts
3G devices and beyond: what can we expect? →
3G devices can no longer be classified as smart phones. In prior years, a clear distinction could have been drawn between smart phones and feature phones using 3G capability. But this barrier has been blurred with modest feature phones carrying 3G capabilities on one end and high-end devices such as the iPhone relying on the 2.5 G EDGE network on the other.
Qualcomm barred from using Broadcom 3G patents →
A federal judge in California ruled on Monday that wireless chip maker Qualcomm Inc must immediately stop selling third-generation, or 3G, WCDMA cellular chips that infringe on the Broadcom Corp patents.
China telecoms shares rise on 3G talk →
The shares of Chinese telecoms companies listed in Hong Kong surged yesterday on what the industry’s regulator and a government researcher called speculative reports about the long-awaited introduction of 3G mobile services.
Stocks climb on "misinterpreted" 3G report →
Shares in local telecom firms jumped yesterday on a report the State Council had approved a plan to launch 3G services, which analysts and officials said could be a misinterpretation. China Unicom, the nation’s second largest mobile carrier, closed at 12.29 yuan in Shanghai yesterday, up 8.82 percent. ZTE Corp, the nation’s second biggest phone-equipment maker, gained 4.39 yuan, or 7.4...
Taiwan market: Co-location of WiMAX and 3G/2G base... →
Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) has encouraged operators of 3G and/or 2G mobile communication services to set up base stations in common structures where possible, but it may not be easy to additionally set up WiMAX base stations at such locations, according to the Taiwan Telecommunication Industry Development Association (TTIDA).
November 2007
30 posts
Nokia, STMicro close 3G chipset deal →
Nokia and STMicroelectronics have finalised a licensing and supply deal for 3G chipsets first unveiled in August, the two companies said. Some 185 Nokia employees in Finland and the UK are transferring to STMicro as part of the agreement, they said. The companies had initially expected around 200 staff to switch as part of the agreement, which saw Nokia award STMicro its first contract for the...
3G race in closed loop →
A war over who will grab juicy opportunities in the high-stakes telecommunications game got hotter on Monday with the government announcing guidelines for operators to offer third-generation (3G) mobile telephony, with a plan to auction the relevant spectrum.
Vendors display 50 handsets for China's 3G network... →
Vendors including Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics showed off over 50 mobile phones being readied for the launch of China’s 3G (third-generation mobile telecommunications) network, an important step in ensuring a smooth launch of mobile services next year.
VoIP-over-3G to make some noise →
VoIP-over-3G will be far more successful than the voice-over-Wi-Fi approach being touted by many communications providers, a new report suggests. According to analyst Dean Bubley, of Disruptive Analysis, there could be more than 250 million ‘VoIPo3G’ users by the end of 2012. Because operators tend to block such use, hardly anyone uses the technology in this way at the moment.
iPhone to get 3G in May 2008 →
Apple is asking for 30 per cent of subscriber revenue and can’t provide enough iPhones for a Christmas 2007 launch in Spain, according to Spanish technology company SevenClick, which reports that it got the information from a senior manager at Telefonica. It also claims the May 2008 launch will see a 3G version of Apple’s super-slate.
China’s delayed 3G →
Some calls take forever to put through. China has been signalling its intention to introduce third-generation telecommunications services almost since the beginning of the decade. The fact that it has repeatedly failed to deliver does nothing to subdue enthusiasm. The latest promise, with the regulator saying it would grant licences “at an early date”, sent fixed-line providers’ share prices up 6...
Nokia 8800 Special Editions With 3G →
Nokia’s 8800 is about fashion first and phone second. If you doubt this, check the product page, where you will be confronted by Zoolander-like slogans: “The Art of Seduction… Begins With Knowing Your Own Essence”.
Bouygues selects Sierra AirCard for 3G launch →
Bouygues Telecom has selected Sierra Wireless’ AirCard 880E ExpressCard to support its 3G network launch in France. The AirCard 880E is now available through Bouygues Telecom’s business sales channels, and offers connectivity to the newly-announced network, supporting transmission speeds of up to 7.2Mbps (downlink) and 2Mbps (uplink), as well as offering worldwide roaming, with support for...
RF Micro Devices introduces MEMS for 3G phones →
RF Micro Devices, which designs and manufactures high-performance radio frequency systems, has introduced RF MEMS transmit/receive switch and mode switch for 3G handsets. The company says its MEMS switch technology will help accelerate 3G deployment by significantly reducing the product footprint and improving efficiency.
Analyst Bets VoIP on 3G will Beat Wi-Fi →
Mobile VoIP is set to grow, but it will run over the 3G data provided by cellular handsets, rather than over Wi-Fi, according to a research report from Disruptive Analysis, which predicts 250 million users of 3G VoIP by 2012, compared with less than 100 million for voice on Wi-Fi.
People Aren't Impressed with AT&T's 3G Launch -... →
AT&T and Verizon Wireless have been in tight competition for the Illinois market. Earlier this year, AT&T announced system upgrades in the Springfield and Bloomington areas in an attempt to make their network comparable in speed to Verizon’s existing system. They’ve now announced that their 3G system is in place and ready for use in Springfield. But not everyone in the state thinks that...
Baidu working on 3G mobile applications for... →
Google might be the global leader in the search engine market but they are yet to overtake Baidu in China. Baidu.com is the market leader here and they are now working on a possible challenger to the recently announced Google Android mobile platform. The Chinese search engine company is working with partners to develop new mobile search applications. These would be optimized for the 3G platform.
Telenor unit buys 3G spectrum →
The Malaysian GSM network provider DiGi, a subsidiary of the Norwegian telecoms group Telenor, announced an alliance with Time dotCom Berhad (TdC) that it will involve the acquisition of a 3G license owned by TdC for the issuance of 27.5 million new DiGi shares.
Archos PMP with 3G SIM in the works →
Rumor has it that the French company Archos is releasing a new model in 2008 that has a 3G SIM card and high-speed connectivity. French tech sites say that the wireless connectivity will build on Archos’ strengths with the WiFi connectivity in their players, allowing users to access media over mobile phone networks rather than through WLAN set-ups.
Qualcomm intros Snapdragon 3G chipset →
Qualcomm have introduced a new chipset platform for cellphones that it hopes will make integrating 3G Internet access as well as HD video and other features that normally require expensive or battery-draining secondary hardware.
Motorola Begins 3G Femtocell Trial In Europe →
Femtocells enable operators to provide higher-quality and higher-performance wireless voice and real-time data services to their customers inside their homes. In addition, they enable a significantly lower cost of delivery for wireless traffic, in comparison to the macrocell network. For consumers, the benefits of femtocells include a seamless communication experience as they roam from inside to...
India Finally Has a 3G Plan; WiMAX in the Mix, Too →
After a long wait, the Indian government has decided that it will auction 3G spectrum, and will allow foreign players to participate in the bidding. The spectrum is going to be released in the 2100 MHz band, which would make it compatible with rest of the world, barring a few countries such as the U.S.
Will Wi-Fi hot spots survive WiMax and 3G? →
3G WWAN support working on the 4G Eee →
I finally wrested away the Asus from my son after recording our brief video overview and made some headway today on a few fronts. First up, I had been mucking about with the file systems and scripts in order to get my HSDPA modem working, so I decided to start with a clean slate. Besides, it’s always good to get a feel for the factory restore process on any mobile device; if you’re out...
Report: Big growth for VoIP over 3G in five years →
Analyst firm Disruptive Analysis is prediction big things for VoIP over 3G, with the number of VoIPo3G users predicted to grow from virtually zero in 2007 to over 250 million within five years. The anticipated explosion in VoIP over 3G usage would rapidly eclipse voice over wifi, including FMC and dual mode cellular phones, to become the preferred method of communication.
Oxford University to run 3G workshops in December... →
The following courses are now open for enrollment - click the headline to find more information * Mobile Social Networking - the Financial Saviour of the Mobile Sector (10 December 2007) * Market Success of 3G and Wireless Mobile Services (11 - 12 December 2007) * User Generated Content and Web 2.0 - A Strategic Viewpoint for Decision Makers (13 December 2007) * Mobile Web 2.0...
Nokia, STMicro close 3G chipset deal →
Nokia and STMicroelectronics have finalised a licensing and supply deal for 3G chipsets first unveiled in August, the two companies said. Some 185 Nokia employees in Finland and the UK are transferring to STMicro as part of the agreement, they said. The companies had initially expected around 200 staff to switch as part of the agreement, which saw Nokia award STMicro its first contract for the...
NTT DoCoMo Unveils 23 Multimedia 3G Phones →
Showcasing the latest innovation in the mobile device space, Japan’s wireless carrier NTT DoCoMo on Thursday unveiled 23 new devices as part of its 905i and 705i series. Ten new mobile devices in the 905i series are designed to perform various advanced functions, such as international roaming through built-in 3G/GSM, high-speed data access via HSDPA-based networks, mobile TV, GPS-based...
Partner Communications Q3 profit rises as 3G grows →
Partner Communications, Israel’s second-largest mobile phone operator, said on Wednesday its quarterly profit rose 16 percent due to higher revenue and further growth in 3G subscribers, sending its shares up more than 6 percent.
Korea's 3G Mobile Phone Users Top 4 Million Mark →
Use of the WCDMA third-generation mobile phone service is growing rapidly in Korea, with the number of subscribers reaching the four million mark eight months after the service was launched in March. WCDMA, which stands for wideband code division multiple access, is known for fast data transmission and video calling. KTF said Thursday that it signed up some 390,000 subscribers for its Show 3G...
DoT against inclusion of 450 Mhz as 3G band →
In a setback to CDMA operators, the Department of Telecom has decided against recognising the 450 Mhz band for third generation mobile services. At the ongoing World Radio Communication Conference being held at Geneva under the aegis of International Telecommunication Union, DoT has taken a position against supporting a global move to include the frequency band as part of the 3G bands. India’s...
Mobile 3G abounds with competitors →
Unlike WCDMA and CDMA 2000, TD-SCDMA has yet to see commercial deployment anywhere in the world. The less mature technology has been playing catch-up with foreign rivals, but is now gaining momentum largely due to backing from the Chinese government and domestic telecom operators.
New free 3G Survey from GSA →
3G Services and Trends is a summary of selected 3G services available on WCDMA/HSPA networks. This first issue focuses on service launches and trends in Europe. Information is current for September 2007.
Fido Finally Launches 3G and Video Calling! →
Fido has just announced that they are now offering Internet Data plans using 3G. Before this Fido had really expensive data plans ranging from 1MB for $12 and 200MB for $100 but this all changes now. Introducing their new 3G data plans which are not only cheaper but blazing fast too (if your phone supports it!!).
WiMAX Is 3G But Still Outside Looking In! →
This week, the ITU decided that WiMAX qualifies to be added to its list of IMT-2000-compliant (3G) wireless technologies and the WiMAX community is celebrating. I guess no one remembers Gary Forsee, now ex-CEO of Sprint, touting WiMAX as a 4G technology when Sprint announced its selection of WiMAX for its new network on 2.5 GHz.
October 2007
30 posts
3G Mobile Blog phone SGH-L760 →
Samsung Electronics Korea has just announced their latest 3G mobile phone the SGH-L760 in Europe. The SGH-L760 is a slim sliding mobile that is distinctly being marketed as a 3G Mobile Blog phone. The cell phone will allow users to connect with the world via mobile internet activation and has built in youtube features. You can easily upload photographs on the net or download from their folders to...
NTT DoCoMo Begins Super 3G Experiment →
NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced today that this month it began testing an experimental Super 3G system for mobile communications. With this experiment, DoCoMo will seek to achieve a downlink transmission rate of 300Mbps over a high-speed wireless network. Super 3G features low-latency data transmission and improved spectrum efficiency. It is a highly advanced version of High-Speed Downlink Packet...
Vertu's 3G Ascent Ti hits FCC →
You’ve gotta give credit to Vertu for maximizing the life of its Signature and Ascent models by tweaking colors and precious metals ad nauseam, but at some point, you knew they had to just gut the thing and start anew. This here “Ascent Ti” just passed through the FCC, taking the Ascent formula and updating key specs to bring the luxury phone well into 2007.
3G changing history →
I think this is the first ever campaign from Iceland I post here on Adverblog. Not sure whether I like it or not (after all I’m Italian and here we say “Scherza con i fanti ma lascia stare i Santi”) but the concept it’s original, and could definitely be applied to more situations therefore generating a series of good commercials. Click through to see the...
China continues to hedge on 3G →
China continues to play coy about when it plans to issue 3G licenses. Lou Qinjian, vice-minister of China’s information industry, indicated China has no timetable for issuing the licenses, saying 3G services still lacked a clear business model. Of course, the Chinese government has been pushing the country’s home-grown standard, TD-SCDMA, and has a vested interest in making sure it...
Broadcom ships "3G phone on a chip" →
Broadcom is continuing its push into the market for ARM-based mobile phone processors, with a newly shipping, sub-$25 “3G phone on a chip.” The BCM21551is built on 65nm technology and combines two ARM11 cores with HSPA (high-speed packet access) modem acceleration, multiple radios, 480Mbps USB, and on-die audio/video subsystems, according to the company.
BSP OKs Smart loan for its 3G project →
SMART Communications Inc., one the country’s top mobile phone providers, has obtained the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ approval for its plan to seek a fresh $50 million foreign loan for the expansion of its 3G services.
GSM body opposes mixed-band offer to CDMA →
GSM operators have opposed the government’s plan to offer a mixed-band (1,900-1,910 MHz spectrum) to their rivals, CDMA operators, alleging they (GSM operators) will lose Rs 2,000-3,000 crore to them. “The mixed-band plan has not been implemented anywhere in the world, and this plan has not been certified by any international body. The trials are meaningless as they will not lead to any...
LG LG-KH1600 3G Global Roaming Mobile Phone →
LG introduces the LG-KH1600 WCDMA mobile phone which supports automatic roaming in 121 countries around the globe. In 41 countries like U.K. or Australia the LG-KH1600 can use 3G networks. The LG-KH1600 is a compact slider with outside buttons to access functions such as the music player.
Network Failures Taint KTF's 3G Growth →
KTF’s third-generation mobile service is being marred by technical glitches. The company said that its “Show” 3G service was paralyzed for more than five hours Tuesday afternoon in the southern Gyeonggi Province and Incheon areas.
Qtel launches 3G MobileCam service →
QTEL has launched its new MobileCam service using 3G technology. The 3G MobileCam is a wireless camera that can be placed at one’s home or office and accessed via 3G video calls from one’s mobile phone from anywhere, anytime. Qtel said the easy-to-use MobileCam would enable customers to enjoy live audio, video and a talkback facility while maintaining complete privacy by entering a security PIN...
NTT DoCoMo 3G FOMA subscribers exceed 40 million! →
While 40 million 3G users would certainly seem impressive for any other country, we’re just not that excited when it comes to Japan. The obvious reason is that they are THE most advanced mobile phone market on the planet.
Network Failures Taint KTF's 3G Growth →
KTF’s third-generation mobile service is being marred by technical glitches. The company said that its “Show” 3G service was paralyzed for more than five hours Tuesday afternoon in the southern Gyeonggi Province and Incheon areas.
MegaFon builds up first 3G network fragment in... →
North-West MegaFon has built up the first fragment of the UMTS/HSDPA network in St. Petersburg and some part of Leningrad Region. Thus, that is the first Russian commercial 3G network fragment.