interafe of the world

Selasa, 30 Juni 2009

The Harsh Reality of Suburban Broadband, Part Deux

Goddamit! Why have I been offline for so long?

As I explained in a previous article last summer about my broadband situation, my employer, like many large technology services companies, has elected to classify my work situation as “Home-Based”, in that when I am not at a customer site, I’m working from home. So for connectivity to corporate email, our Intranet and Instant Messaging system, my link to the mother ship is entirely dependent on the reliability of my connectivity through Optimum Online, Cablevision’s cable broadband service.

Click on the “Read the rest of this entry” link below for more

Service interruptions with residential broadband are not uncommon, in particular with cable and DSL providers. It’s not unusual that once or twice a month, I’ll have to re-boot my cable modem or have a 2 or 4 hour service interruption. I don’t usually notice it though, as I spend a great deal of time traveling and my wife is usually the one complaining when it goes down. If she can’t get onto Rummikub.com, GMail or FaceBook, I’m usually the first to get a phone call.

This time, it happened when I was home for the entire week, so I was particularly dependent on my cable internet service in order to get work done. On Wednesday night, at approximately 10PM, I noticed a large amount of incoming/receive traffic on my Motorola Surfboard cable modem, and my web browsing performance ground to a halt. TweetDeck stopped updating and my Instant Messenger connections on Pidgin all dropped. My VPN connection to the mother ship also drops. I couldn’t even get to the Google homepage. I yell upstairs to my wife.

“Honey, are you downloading something really huge?”

“No, I’m not. I noticed all my connections dropped, are you doing something?”

The Surfboard was lit up like a Christmas tree. I rebooted it twice, as well as my router/firewall. Same problem. Modem lights going crazy but the PCs have no apps running. DVRs aren’t downloading anything over On Demand either. I’m thinking DOS attack, or some script kiddie in the neighborhood is screwing around. So I call up Cablevision.

Also Read: The Harsh Reality of Suburban Broadband (June 2008)

First, I get to the voice response system. Press 1 for English. “Empuje el numero dos para espanol“. Press 1 for Sales and Appointments, Press 2 for Billing. No option for technical support, unless you hit zero a bunch of times causing to system to say “I didn’t understand that, forwarding you to a representative.” A rep picks up after about 40 seconds, where she then proceeds to look up my account number and service history. Then when I finally get to tell the representative I’m having a technical problem, I get transferred to “Mike”.

I explain to Mike I’m getting a ton of incoming traffic and I can’t connect to anything, this despite my router having leased a WAN IP address from Cablevision’s servers. Mike tells me from his remote diagnostics that I’m dropping a ton of packets, and suspects the modem is bad, and to get it swapped out the in morning from a local Optimum/Cablevision retail location.

Thursday morning I wake up and head right over to the local Optimum store. Optimum swaps out my presumably dead Surfboard for a Scientific Atlanta, a smaller modem with the equivalent build quality of a Chinese-made child’s toy, and a date of manufacture of April of 2004. I don’t complain about this because next Friday, I’m being upgraded to Optimum “Ultra” service, their competitive broadband offering to Verizon’s FiOS.

I happened to find out about Ultra when I asked Mike if Optimum had rolled out DOCSIS 3.0 yet, and he said that they literally just got it up a few weeks earlier. At $99 per month (as well as a $300 equipment fee for the new channel-bonding DOCSIS 3 modem and an on-site tech visit) for 100Mbps downstream and 15MPBS upstream, it sounds like a hell of a deal compared to my current $65 per month Optimum Boost service, which is 20Mbps down/5Mbps up.

I’ve been doing a lot more Internet streaming intensive stuff such as Netflix instant view with Roku and DirecTV On Demand, as well as a lot more usage of my Slingbox when I’m away, so the increased bandwidth should be really nice. I had been pining for Verizon FiOS, but after speaking to the mayor of my town about the prospects of it happening anytime soon, he told us we are on the bottom of Verizon’s list and I’ll be old and grey by the time it ever happens. So Ultra should be fantastic if it lives up to its promises.

In any case, I bring the replacement modem home and hook it up. It lights up like a Christmas tree, just like the Surfboard did. I yank my router’s Ethernet and do a direct CAT-5 bypass from my laptop, pull up Wireshark, and begin capturing on my primary interface, which spits out a ton of errors about dropped packets and malformed TCP requests. GODDAMIT!!!!!

I call up the tech support line again. It’s 11AM. I call back the same support phone number, but now it takes a bit longer to get through to the technician. I explain to him, again, the packet situation and that the modem has been replaced.

“Well Sir, it does look like there is some sort of outage situation going on, but the system doesn’t have any updates about it logged since 8:05AM.”

“So you can’t definitively tell me if people are working on it or what exactly is wrong?”

“No Sir, I cannot.”

I call back in at 1PM, effectively having the same conversation. Frustrated and angry, I hang up the phone. My Internet access has now been out for 14 hours. My entire business day is on the verge of being completely shot. Thankfully, my BlackBerry works, I’m able to tether it to my laptop for some limited 3G email and web browsing, and I haven’t had any urgent company messages or issues that need to be addressed.

At this point, if I were the average Joe, I would have had no recourse. He would have waited, and waited, and waited, and maybe at some point that day, or the next, or perhaps the day after, his service would have come back. Maybe. But I’m not the average Joe. I’m a columnist for a high-profile tech blogging site, and when I bitch and complain, people tend to listen. So I do the only thing a mad-as-hell tech journalist does when deprived of his broadband. I jump on Twitter with my BlackBerry.

Not surprisingly, right after my first complaint that the modem swap didn’t do any good, I have some direct Twitter messages Jim Maiella, Cablevision’s Vice President of Media Relations waiting for me. Before you can say “Don’t incur the wrath of the fat angry Jewish dude from New Jersey” I have the regional Director of Network Engineering on the phone, and two Cable Guys at my house and casing the neighborhood for several hours chasing what appears to be a systemic problem that is now affecting a large number of customers, not just my “Node”.

Nevertheless. I get my modem swapped out AGAIN, for a Motorola surfboard just like the one I first had, because the on-site tech tells me the Scientific Atlanta I’ve been given is a piece of crap.

Predictably, the new-new Motorola lights up like a Christmas tree, and I show him the Wireshark readouts with the red errors and warning signs about packet loss and malformed requests. I also show him that they’ve got a CISCO router or switch going nuts on Cablevision’s internal network, sending out a broadcast storm that is effectively causing a denial of service. Not alarmed by this, he walks outside and attaches a portable network analyzer to my coax drop at the house. 60-70 percent packet loss.

The Cable Guy leaves and comes back a few hours later — 8:30PM, telling me that my service has been restored. I’ve experienced an outage of approximately 22 hours.

The cable guy informs me that the problem was “On the back end, related to switch port configuration.” OH REALLY? I HAD NO IDEA!!!!

I think there are a couple of things that need to be added to the lessons learned pile here, and that is that I don’t think broadband customers should need to be authors of high-profile tech blogs in order to get prompt customer service. If there’s an outage, some sort of update as to the nature of the problem would be nice.

Additionally, if you’re running a large residential broadband provider, it’s probably a good idea to have some sort of low level network monitoring of all your manageable devices put in place so that you can trigger and send alerts of exactly what is going wrong to the right people who can fix the problems. Having cable guys chase down endpoints at customer premises when the problem is on the back-end is a huge time waster.

Has anyone else experienced a significant downtime or lousy customer service with their residential broadband provider? Talk Back and Let Me Know.

http://blogs.zdnet.com

New Wireless Modem Routers from the line Pure E-motion | X-series

Sitecom (Rotterdam), June 2009 - Sitecom presents the new Wireless ADSL 2+ Modem Routers with Internal High Performance Antenna technology from the Pure E-motion | X-series range. The Modem Routers are the ideal solution for users who expect everything needed to create a wireless home network and make optimal use of ADSL internet. The Wireless Modem Routers take advantage of the Internal High Performance Antenna technology and offer maximum wireless performance in terms of speed and coverage. The new solutions enable the user to wirelessly share files and broadband internet access, as well as the peripherals in the network, without the need to worry about an unsecured network, since the devices are standard fully “out of the box” secured with WPA2.

With the WL-348 Wireless ADSL 2+ Modem Router 300N X3, which is equipped with three Internal High Performance Antennas, and the WL-347 Wireless ADSL 2+ Modem Router 300N X2 it is easy to create a direct connection with ADSL and establish a secure wireless network with speeds up to 300 Mbps, since the modem routers support the latest 802.11n draft 2.0. The devices are ideal for users who await optimal performance in environments with demanding applications, such as streaming audio and High Definition video, VoIP, online gaming and the transfer of large files. The Internal High Performance Antennas strengthen the range of the wireless network, guarantee less “dead spots” and expanded coverage at home or in the home-office. With the WL-346 Wireless ADSL 2+ Modem Router 150N X1 - which is equipped with one Internal High Performance Antenna - the user can count on a reliable range and excellent performance with speeds up to 150 Mbps.

Sitecom takes into consideration the growing demand for simple solutions with which even inexperienced users can make use of a secure network environment, therefore all the Wireless Modem Routers from the Pure E-motion | X-series range are standard fully “out of the box” secured with WPA2. Additionally it is possible to create a secure wireless connection with just the push of the button and without any complicated software installation thanks to WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) technology.

User-friendliness and design have played an important role in the development of the Wireless ADSL 2+ Modem Routers. The devices do not look out of place in any interior thanks to the lifestyle design in warm brown and cream colours. Since Sitecom is aware of the global scale of environmental problems, the X-series Wireless Modem Router’s casings are produced without the use of paint, but made of coloured raw materials.

The new Wireless ADSL 2+ Modem Routers from the line Pure E-motion | X-series are available from July and are accompanied by Sitecom’s 10 year warranty.

A Wireless Modem That Charges by the Byte

By Roy Furchgott

Virgin Mobile is offering a prepaid wireless broadband phone modem, an apparent first in the United States.

It’s called Broadband2Go, and although prepaid, it’s not exactly a cheap. But it may be an economical choice for some people.

First you have to buy the $150 modem (sometimes called an aircard), which is the Novatel Ovation MC760, a U.S.B. device the size of a thumb drive.

Online use is charged by the megabyte. Charges begin at $10 for 100 megabytes, expiring after 10 days. It goes up to $20 for 250 megabytes, which expire after 30 days, $30 for 600 megabytes, expiring after 30 days, or 1 gigabyte for $60 expiring in 30 days.

Virgin Mobile estimates an hour of Web browsing uses about 20 megabytes of data, 100 e-mails without any attachments are about 1 megabyte, and one minute of streaming video is 4 megabytes. That means the plans would support 5 to 50 hours of Web browsing. If you want to watch TV, an hour show will wipe out the $20 card. You’ll get two, two-hour movies on the $60 card.

Clearly, these aren’t a bargain for heavy users, but it could be a good deal for the person who needs to connect during occasional travel.

Here’s the math: The big carriers start plans at about $60 a month with a two-year commitment. That’s $1,440 total over the contract. So even if prepaid costs more a minute, if you use less than $1,440 worth over two years, prepaid is the better deal for you.

The goal is always to buy only the minutes you use. Even if it’s more for each minute, your total cost can be lower.

http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com

Docsis 3.0 Gear Tracker

4:30 PM -- CableLabs recently posted the results of Docsis Certification Wave 67, and there's not exactly much new to write home about.

That's because many of latest Docsis 3.0 approvals were for re-certifications of cable modems and embedded multimedia terminal adapters (E-MTAs). However, the results did reveal a new wideband product from Ubee Interactive (formerly Ambit) -- the DDW3600.

Per usual, the CableLabs posting offers skimpy details about these certified products, but Ubee VP of business development Barry Hardek tells me via email that it's a Docsis 3.0 wireless gateway that supports four bonded channels in each direction (the bare minimum required by the specs), plus built-in 802.11n.

Also important: The product is based on Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) silicon. Ubee has also won certification for a standalone modem based on the TI platform, along with two that use a Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq: BRCM) chipset that can bond up to eight downstream channels. (See Broadcom Breaks Docsis 3.0 Barrier .)

Newbee from Ubee

Ubee's latest certified wideband box is powered by the TI chipset.

In the latest Wave, CableLabs also awarded recerts to the Arris Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRS) TM702G EMTA and WBM750A modem; the Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) SB6120 modem; and the SMC Networks Inc. SMCD3G Docsis modem gateway. Nothing new on the cable modem termination system (CMTS) front so far, meaning Casa Systems Inc. remains the only supplier to win qualification for a CMTS that can do upstream channel bonding.

In non-Docsis 3.0 news of note, CableLabs did "verify for interoperability" a digital set-top from Pace Micro Technology that uses Docsis 2.0 and the Docsis Set-Top Gateway (DSG), a data and headend signaling path that supplants proprietary methods used by Motorola and Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: CSCO) and is a key piece of the tru2way platform. The box in question is the Pace RNG110, a lower-end, all-digital device that's part of Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK)'s next-gen set-top project.

Shifting back to wideband, here's our most updated list of Docsis 3.0 certified and qualified products:

Table 1: Docsis 3.0-Certified Modems and E-MTAs

Vendor	Product	Silicon partner	Cert wave approved
Arris	Touchstone 702G Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter	TI	58, 59, 63, 67***
Arris	WBM750A	TI	59, 63, 67**
Cisco	DPC3000	TI	58, 63, 65*
Cisco	DPQ3202	TI	60, 63**
Cisco	DPC3010	Broadcom	65
Hitron	BRG-35503	TI	61, 63**
Motorola	SB6120	TI	58, 63, 67**
Motorola	SBV6220	TI	58, 59, 63*
Netgear	CMD31T	TI	60, 63,65*
Netgear	CVD31XT	TI	64
Orient Telecom	ORT3100	TI	64
SerComm Corp.	FM301T	TI	63
SMC	SMCD3CM	TI	58, 63,65*
SMC	SMCD3G-BIZ	TI	64, 67****
Thomson	DCM475	Broadcom	65
Thomson	DHG575	Broadcom	65
Ubee Interactive	U10C035	TI	58, 63, 65*
Ubee Interactive	DDW3600	TI	67
Ubee Interactive	DDM3500	Broadcom	65
Ubee Interactive	DVM3200 (EMTA)	Broadcom	65
Device re-certified for Docsis 3.0 and obtained initial PacketCable 1.5 certification in Wave 59. Device re-certified for Docsis 3.0 in Wave 63. Device re-certified for Docsis 3.0 in Wave 65. *Device re-certified for Docsis 3.0 in Wave 67. Source: CableLabs, the companies, and Cable Digital News* research.

Table 2: Docsis 3.0-Qualified Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTSs)

Vendor	Product	Wave qualified	Highest level of 3.0 qualification achieved*
Arris	C4 CMTS	56	Bronze
Casa Systems	C2200 CMTS**	58	Full
Casa Systems	C3200 CMTS	58	Full
Casa Systems	C10200	64	Full
Cisco	uBR10012	56	Bronze
Motorola	BSR64000	58	Bronze
* CableLabs currently uses a tiered CMTS qualification system, awarding "Bronze," "Silver," and "Full" designations based on the product's supported features. ** Casa's C2200 CMTS won Silver qualification in Wave 56. Source: The companies, CableLabs, and Cable Digital News research.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Cable Digital News

http://www.lightreading.com

Be wise to a salesperson's tricks

By Dan Serra

McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

These days of frugality have many of us second-guessing our expenses and passing over things we normally have bought in the past without thinking. That's not easy. We are called "consumers" for a reason - we love to consume. Retailers now have to try extra hard to entice us, and for the most part they have been successful. But if you know their tricks, you can see the pitch coming and avoid handing over your money without thinking.

These pitches begin with simple strategies such as the sale. Practically every window of every store has a 20, 40, 60 percent off or more sign. What stores don't say is how much the item cost them to buy. If it cost $40 for the store to buy, they price it at $120 and then put it on sale for half price, they make $20. So it's always good to try to find out the wholesale cost of a product, like the dealer price of a new car.

But there are other more sophisticated ways salespeople can persuade us to buy more.

Humans make decisions primarily based on emotions. If we made them based on our finances, no one would be in debt. Therefore, retailers try to approach a sale from an emotional aspect.

I learned this firsthand during a recent service call by a cable repairman. He used multiple sales strategies to get me to upgrade my equipment.

He started planting his sales seeds by being extremely nice and conversational, even complimenting my home and cute kids. Emotionally, we like people who like us so he was gaining my respect. Watch out for salespeople who are extra friendly. While it's appreciated, don't let it persuade you to buy a product you don't need just because someone is nice.

Then he told me other people are using wireless modems and how popular they are now. That painted a picture in my mind that if everyone else has one then I should have one. We consumers love to "keep up with the Joneses." But I really didn't need one because I rarely use my laptop at home.

He also used the strategy of reciprocation. He wanted me to buy his modem by offering to give me his cell phone number to call if I had any questions instead of calling the cable company. He was giving me something in return for hoping I would give him the sale.

Finally, a big sales strategy is to buy now to save money. Buying it now would avoid paying for another service call and price hikes in the cost of the modem. He created a sense of scarcity in my mind that if I did not buy now I wouldn't be able to get the deal later. But if you think about it, technology is getting cheaper so it's unlikely the price will go up, and I can always buy one and plug it in myself. Most deals won't go away forever, especially in this economy.

When you are shopping, begin by placing your needs first and have a price range that fits your budget. Don't be afraid to walk away. This way you are in control, not a savvy salesperson.

(Dan Serra is a financial planner with Strategic Financial Planning Inc. in Plano, Texas. E-mail him at serrafinance@yahoo.com.)

(c) 2009, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

http://www.philly.com

Actiontec Debuts Powerful VDSL2 Modem Featuring Dual-Core 32-bit Processor, Built-in 802.11n Wireless and Plenty of Memory to Easily Manage the Entire

Actiontec's Q1000 Is One of the Most Robust Routers Available Today With Enough Processing Power and Memory to Drive the Next Generation of Broadband

SUNNYVALE, CA, Jun 30, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Actiontec Electronics today announced the Q1000 Wireless N VDSL Modem Router, the latest addition to its line of triple play VDSL2/ADSL2+ Universal DSL Wireless Gateways. Sporting a Wireless N radio, Gigabit Ethernet switch, and capacious amounts of memory, the Q1000 represents one of the most powerful DSL routers ever built.

While most modems on the market provide only a single 32-bit processor and limited memory, the Q1000 boasts a powerful wireless N radio, gigabit Ethernet, a dual core 32-bit processor, 32 MB Flash, and 64 MB SDRAM. This high performance platform means the router can simultaneously support a wide range of demanding multimedia applications, including HDTV, Voice over WiFi, media sharing, and online gaming.

"As consumers continue to drive the demand for a richer online experience, carriers are continually looking for ways to deliver faster speeds and more entertainment and communication options," said Brian Henrichs, vice president of business development at Actiontec Electronics. "The Q1000 offers a new standard in home router performance -- and ensures that bandwidth-hungry, multi-tasking consumers have all the processing power they need today and tomorrow."

The powerful home gateway also features Gigabit Ethernet on the LAN or home networking side. With support for blazing speeds up to 1,000 Mbps, the Q1000 ensures users can stream HD video content, simultaneously download or upload large data files and more without having to worry about network slowdowns, hiccups or a loss in voice, video or data quality.

Along with Gigabit Ethernet, the Q1000 also supports 802.11n wireless, and is backward compatible with older wireless protocols. The router's MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) smart antenna technology improves home coverage and minimizes those despised dead spots that plague other WiFi products. The router also includes a fully customizable firewall with Stateful Packet Inspection, denial of service protection, content filtering, intrusion detection, plus WPA/WPA2 and WEP wireless encryption to keep home networks secure.

While the Q1000 supports the latest VDSL2 access technology, it also features an "Auto Fallback to ADSL 2+/2" function that lets carriers deploy the same device on older networks. Cost and complexity are significantly reduced as there's only one SKU to manage and less inventory to handle. In addition, the router is equipped with TR-069 remote management to minimize costly truck rolls and provide superior customer service.

About Actiontec Electronics

Actiontec Electronics develops broadband connectivity and broadband-powered solutions that simplify and enrich the digital life -- delivering a unified experience that encompasses communications, entertainment, home management, and more. Actiontec offerings range from the market's broadest selection of IPTV-capable broadband home gateways for bringing IP-based video services into the home, to DSL modems, wireless networking devices, routers and digital entertainment devices. The company's carrier-class products are easy to install, manage, and use, and are sold through retail channels and broadband service providers. Founded in 1993, Actiontec is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, and maintains branch offices in Colorado Springs, CO; Shanghai, China; and Taipei, Taiwan. For more information, call 408-752-7700 or visit http://www.actiontec.com.

Trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Brian Blank
FutureWorks PR
(408) 910-4460
Email Contact

Lesley Kirchman
Actiontec Electronics, Inc.
(408) 752-7700
Email Contact

SOURCE: Actiontec Electronics

http://www.marketwatch.com

Comcast to offer 4G wireless broadband service

by Marguerite Reardon

Comcast is getting into the wireless broadband business by bundling Clearwire's 4G wireless service with its existing broadband products.

The largest cable operator in the U.S. will launch the new service in Portland, Ore. And it will expand the service to other Comcast cities later in the year, including Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

(Credit: Comcast)

Comcast invested in the new Clearwire in 2008, along with Google, Intel, Time Warner Cable, and Sprint Nextel, which gave Clearwire its 2.5GHz spectrum. Clearwire's plan has been to roll out its service nationwide. The service is now up and running in a few cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, and Portland, Ore. And the company has plans to roll it out to 80 markets by the end of the year.

Some of the cities where it plans to launch the service include, Las Vegas, Chicago, Charlotte, N.C., Dallas/Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Philadelphia, and Seattle. And it plans to launch the network in cities such as New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Houston, and the San Francisco Bay Area, in 2010.

Clearwire is using a technology called WiMax, which offers faster speeds than current 3G wireless technologies, but offers wider coverage than other high-speed wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi. Clearwire claims that it can provide up to 4Mbps for downloads and 500 kbps for uploading, which is more than double what consumers can expect using a 3G wireless connection.

Comcast will be selling 4G wireless access as part of an Internet bundle to Comcast subscribers. To entice new subscribers, Comcast is offering the new 4G wireless with its 12 Mbps download cable modem service, plus a free 802.11g router for $50 a month for the first 12 months.

The data card used for the 4G wireless, which fits into a laptop, costs $99. But subscribers who sign up for the package with a two-year commitment get the data card for free.

After the first 12 months, subscribers will then pay $43 per month for the 12 Mbps broadband service and $30 extra per month for 4G wireless service. The 4G wireless service is only available in Comcast's cable territory, but subscribers who travel to other cities where Clearwire's network is operational will be able to access the network at no additional cost.

New customers signing up for Comcast's triple play bundle of TV, phone, and Internet can add the 4G wireless component for $30 extra a month. So with the introductory price of $99 a month for the first year, the total would be $130 a month. After the first year, that bundle increases to $130 per month, so it would cost subscribers with the 4G wireless service $160 a month.

For subscribers who want more ubiquitous coverage, Comcast is offering a 3G/4G service that provides wireless connectivity on the Clearwire 4G network when it is available and on Sprint Nextel's 3G wireless service in other areas where 4G is not available. The cost of this service is an additional $20 per month.

Existing Comcast customers can add the new service for $30 more a month to their existing packages. And they can add the nationwide access with 3G access for $20 more per month.

Comcast has had its eye on the wireless market for quite sometime. The company bought wireless spectrum in the Federal Communications Commission's wireless spectrum auction in 2006. So far, the company hasn't said what it plans to do with that spectrum. But it has at least 10 years to decide, after which time the FCC could ask for the licenses to be returned.

Comcast has also worked with other cable operators to form a joint venture with Sprint Nextel in 2005. This joint venture was supposed to allow Comcast to bundle its broadband, TV, and telephony services with Sprint's wireless services. But the partnership never really got off the ground.

This time, Comcast thinks it has the right service package that will finally offer consumers a compelling product mix. The company is interested in not only using the service to help it win new customers but to also help it keep existing ones who may be tempted to defect to phone company competitors.

"This is really our first entree into expanding our in-home broadband service in combination with a wireless Internet service," said Catherine Avgiris, the company's senior vice president and general manager of wireless and voice services. "We are trying to get those consumers, who may not have chosen Comcast's broadband services in the past, to see that they can get the best and fastest in-home and wireless service from Comcast. But we are also trying to make sure we can keep the customers we do have from going to a competitor."

While it's clear that Comcast is using this new service to compete against its phone rivals, namely AT&T and Verizon Communications, it will also be competing against its partners Clearwire and Sprint Nextel, which will also be selling the same WiMax service to consumers.

Clearwire's service called Clear starts at $20 per month for in-home wireless broadband. And its mobile Internet plans start at $40 per month. Customers can also get a day pass for $10. The company also allows customers to add voice service to their in-home package for $25 per month.

Sprint is also offering a 3G/4G wireless service for people living and traveling regularly to places with 4G wireless coverage. For about $20 more a month, Sprint wireless data customers can get access to its 3G network plus the 4G Clearwire network for $80 per month. Sprint's regular 3G wireless data service costs about $60 per month.

AT&T and Verizon haven't included their 3G wireless data services into their in-home broadband and TV services, but the companies have been offering special deals for wireless customers. And both operators have announced Netbook offers where they subsidize the cost of these mini-laptops in exchange for a two-year service commitment. AT&T has also given free Wi-Fi access for its more than 20,000 Wi-Fi hotspots around the country to its broadband customers as well as some smartphone users.

AT&T isn't the only Wi-Fi provider that could compete with Comcast's 4G wireless service. In cities, such as San Francisco, there is already quite a lot of Wi-Fi in public places thanks to services like X. And in Philadelphia where EarthLink had deployed a citywide Wi-Fi network, Wi-Fi is still available for free in some locations.

Comcast isn't completely down on Wi-Fi. The company also offers a Wi-Fi solution in cooperation with Cablevision, a cable operator serving the New York area. The two companies are deploying Wi-Fi hotspots in train stations and on train platforms along the North East corridor from Philadelphia to New York City. The Wi-Fi access is free to Comcast and Cablevision broadband subscribers.

But Wi-Fi doesn't offer ubiquitous coverage. So these networks aren't the best answer for every consumer. But the success of Comcast's 4G wireless service is very much dependent on price. The company has priced the first year of the service extremely well, making it the hands down winner in terms of value for consumers. But it will be interesting to see if consumers are still interested in the service once the promotion is over.

The other potential downside to the service right now is that consumers will only get one USB laptop card per account. This might make it hard for families with multiple family members who want wireless broadband service outside the home. And this is also a problem for small businesses, which Comcast is also targeting with this service.

That said, Avgiris said that Comcast is working on a solution and will be offering multiple wireless cards for an additional cost. But the exact pricing of these cards and service hasn't been determined just yet.

http://news.cnet.com

Senin, 29 Juni 2009

Modem 3,5 G Cheap Quality with major in Computer Alnect

It when you need a mobile broadband modem for Internet connection mumpuni fast and stable, they should look to products from Prolink this besutan. Prolink PHS100 is shaped USB modem that can work on 3.5G GSM networks especially - HSDPA. Concerning the price can be spelled out in the lightweight bag, that is only Rp.740 thousand in-Alnect Computers Yogyakarta.

This modem supports GPRS network, EDGE, UMTS and HSDPA, so even though you do not tercover the 3.5 G or 3G but can still be connected up to the available networks. In addition, can also be used to read the MicroSD and the ber-sms-ria. Size is small enough so that where it was easy. Can plug in a laptop computer and take the Windows Vista, XP, 2000, and Mac OS X.

Prolink PHS100 speed downlink HSDPA in the network to reach 3.6 Mbps and uplink up to 384 Kbps. In fact, this modem is actually capable dikebut up to 7.2 Mbps HSUPA network. Unfortunately there is no operator who have HSUPA.

The performance of this modem is very diverse mumpuni for surfing purposes. Of light as a facebook-an, ngeplurk, blog, message, up to a heavy form of video streaming and download (although later depending on the speed of operator). Prolink PHS100 connection stable and not easily bodynya hot, so be able begadang 24 hours continuously. Do not worry if there is damage, the product is guaranteed warranty Alnect Care Warranty 30-Day factory warranty and / distributor for 1 full year.

In other words Prolink PHS100 is ideal for personal mobility that has a high and want to always connect anywhere with internet access and a fast stable.

Modem Prolink PHS100-worth Rp.740 thousand can be obtained online at Alnect.net or can slide Alnect directly to the Computer Shop, Jln. Raya Janti, Kruwing No.1 Yogyakarta. If you want a modem with different prices and specifications can view here. Cheapest price around Rp.390 thousands.

http://darmawanku.com/

Sabtu, 27 Juni 2009

CableOne snags FCC waiver to increase HD programming; Dyersburg to be company's first all-digital system

CableOne recently made a bold move concerning its Dyersburg market that has drawn national attention.

Last October, the system requested the Federal Communications Commission allow them to purchase and deploy HD-capable all-digital devices, a much less expensive means to provide high-definition programming to customers in small and rural markets. CableOne requested a waiver from the FCC allowing the company to use the devices in its cable system in Dyersburg.

"It just makes sense (to make this change on the Dyersburg system)," said CableOne Director of Communications Melany Stroupe from her office in Phoenix, Ariz. "It is not too large or too small and it has the bandwidth. Dyersburg will be our first all-digital system, which means that (customers there) are going to get a clearer picture."

Last week, the FCC awarded the first waiver of its kind to CableOne for Dyersburg customers, a move some say could benefit other small cable operators seeking ways to deliver a larger menu of HD broadcast TV services without having to pay for the more expensive two-way boxes.

"As a company, CableOne is pleased with the FCC's decision to grant this limited condition waiver, which will permit the inclusion of hi-def functionality in an integrated low-cost limited capability set top," said Dyersburg CableOne General Manager Elvis Brown. "This will permit CableOne to convert the cable system to all digital, which will reclaim over 300 MHz of bandwidth in a 550 MHz system, while simultaneously making every TV outlet in the system hi-def ready. And CableOne will refer to this new device approved by the waiver as the hi-def, all digital device."

"It's the first (waiver) in the nation," said Stroupe. "Basically, the FCC has allowed us to get different boxes to bring in the HD programming. Before (the waiver), our cost was $500 to $600 for each piece of equipment and a rental fee for customers of about $10 per month. Because of the less expensive box, boxes can be offered for free or a minimal charge of maybe a dollar or so."

"This waiver will provide numerous benefits to the CableOne customers," said Brown. "This is a very exciting time for the CableOne customers of Dyersburg. CableOne really appreciates the wisdom of the FCC in providing this waiver to us."

As a condition of the waiver, CableOne must meet several pre-determined conditions, including:

* Converting the Dyersburg system to all-digital service within 12 months.

* provide a minimum of 50 HD channels alongside a tier that carries those same channels in standard definition

* provide one hi-def box to subscribers at no cost, with additional HD boxes available for a monthly fee of no more than $1

"HD is really no longer an advanced feature," said Stroupe, who said many customers purchasing HD televisions are not receiving the benefit of high-definition channels. "What's happening is that many consumers are getting HD TVs and not the boxes, so they are using HD televisions and not getting HD channels. We plan to covert the Dyersburg system over within a year. This really is exciting news for Dyersburg."

http://www.stategazette.com

Utilities series: A look at Cable One, Qwest and Cox

By Derek Jordan
Herald/Review

SIERRA VISTA — Cable One started providing service in Cochise County in 1994 in Bisbee. The telecommunications company now provides residents with cable and digital television as well as high-speed Internet access.

It’s only presence in Cochise County, Cable One serves 1,760 customers in Bisbee.

“Bisbee is our second smallest system,” said Melany Stroupe, director of public relations for Cable One. This area is served by only three full-time employees, Stroupe said.

Owned by The Washington Post Company, Cable One operates in several small communities throughout Arizona, including Prescott, Safford, Globe, Show Low, Winslow and Holbrook, with the state headquarters located in Phoenix.

“We tend to service small cities and large towns in non-urban areas,” Stroupe said.

In total, Cable One serves 720,000 households in 52 different locations in 19 states.

Though it has a much smaller marketshare than its larger competitors, the company believes that offering bundled services with attentive customer care will ensure it’s success and competitiveness in the market, she said.

One of the larger telecommunications companies in Cochise County is Qwest Communications.

In 2000, the fiber optics company Qwest acquired US West, one of the seven smaller telephone companies created after the antitrust breakup of AT&T in 1983.

“We were the original provider of telephone services in the state,” said Jim Campbell, Qwest president for Arizona.

Qwest services are available throughout Cochise County with the exception of Bowie, San Simon, Portal and Elfrida.

The publicly-traded company has approximately 70 employees in the county.

Currently, Qwest offers high-speed Internet and telephone service, while partnerships with Direct TV and Verizon Wireless allow for bundled offers.

“So a Qwest customer can order Qwest services and get Direct TV and Verizon services in one phone call and get those services all under one bill,” he said.

The company serves more than a dozen states in the western United States, with its main headquarters located in Denver. The state headquarters is in Phoenix.

There is a small office in Sierra Vista for Qwest technicians, Campbell said.

Like many similar-sized corporations, Qwest does not release it’s number of customers in a specific area.

As the Internet becomes a more and more common part of the daily life of millions of Americans, a new issue in providing access to it has been brought up numerous times in recent years.

“The big term you probably hear is net neutrality,” Campbell said. Basically, net neutrality argues against the creation of tiered Internet service in which customers would have to pay more for access to a greater number of Web sites or for preset bandwidth limits that restrict the amount of time a person would be able to browse the Web. In many ways, the idea is similar to the current structure of premium television channels.

“Qwest has never considered introducing bandwidth caps,” he said.

The other large telecommunications presence in southeastern Arizona is Cox Communications.

Cox entered Cochise County in 1998, when the company purchased the current cable system from TCI Cable, said Tim Cervantes, director of system operations for the county.

Cox provides high-speed Internet and cable television services to areas within Cochise County that include Benson, Huachuca City, Whetstone, Sierra Vista, Fort Huachuca, Douglas, Pirtleville, Sunsites, St. David and Willcox.

“We’re right at about 45 employees in Cochise County,” Cervantes said. The company’s main office within the county is in Sierra Vista.

Cox is the third-largest cable television provider in the country, with services in more than a dozen states. Its company headquarters is located near Atlanta.

The company was started by the Cox family, who got it’s start in the newspaper industry at the end of the 19th Century, said Cervantes.

It’s founder, James M. Cox, was an Ohio governor and member of the House of Representatives.

“He ran for president in 1920 with Franklin D. Roosevelt as his running mate, but they lost to Warren Harding,” he said.

The Cox family, acting through the entity Cox Enterprises, recently repurchased the remaining portions of Cox Communications.

“We’re in, I believe, our third year of being privately owned,” he said.

The company does not release subscription numbers for certain regions, but does have more than 2.5 million customers in Arizona and approximately 6.7 million nationally.

Herald/Review reporter Derek Jordan can be reached by telephone at 515-4680 or by e-mail at derek.jordan@svherald.com.

http://www.svherald.com

Kamis, 25 Juni 2009

Verizon to offer HTC Ozone for just $50

by Bonnie Cha

Rebranded as the HTC Ozone, the Windows Mobile 6.1 smartphone will be available online starting June 29 and in Verizon stores on July 13 for just $49.99 with a two-year contract and after a $70 mail-in rebate. This is an incredible deal especially when you consider that unlike the Sprint version, you're getting world-roaming capabilities and wait for it, wait for it ... integrated Wi-Fi.

In addition, the Ozone will support a number of Verizon services, such as VZ Navigator and Visual Voice Mail. The messaging-centric smartphone features a full QWERTY keyboard and supports Microsoft Exchange synchronization and other popular e-mail services (Yahoo, Windows Live, AOL). Other highlights include EV-DO Rev. A support, a microSD expansion slot, a 2-megapixel camera, and stereo Bluetooth.

http://news.cnet.com

New ExpressCard modem offers quad-band 3G connections

Berlin, DE Jun 23, 2009 in Hardware

[prMac.com] Berlin, Germany - The GlobeTrotter Express 441 offers quad-band 3G internet access for MacBook Pro computer with an ExpressCard slot. The built-in HSPA support offers download speeds with up to 7.2 Mbit/s and upload speeds with up to 5.76 Mbit/s, if supported by the mobile operator. The antenna of the GT Express 441 is retractable and automatically powered off when retracted, so it can stay in the ExpressCard slot of the MacBook Pro, even when travelling in an air plane.

"This card is the closest thing to a built-in 3G module. Whenever you withdraw the antenna, the Internet connection is established. By retracting, the connection will be closed." states jan Fuellemann, PR spokesperson at nova media. "The supplied GlobeTrotter Connect software for Mac OS X is a mac-like and convenient to use mobile Internet manager and features a powerful SMS text manager solution as well."

For 3G, the GlobeTrotter Express 441 supports 850, 900, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands, for GPRS and EDGE connections, the 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz bands are supported. The necessary software is delivered on the modem's flash memory ready to install and does not need a separate CD or download, which makes it very convenient to use on different computers.

Pricing and Availability:
GlobeTrotter Express 441 is available now for Euro 189.21 including VAT. The ExpressCard includes GlobeTrotter Connect software for Mac OS X 10.4.11, 10.5.6 and higher as well as Windows XP and Vista.

nova media
GlobeTrotter Express 441
Purchase
Product Image
Screenshot

The founders of "nova media Mobile Data Solutions GmbH" started their business in 1996 in Berlin. The company specializes on mobile data solutions for Mac OS X. More information at their website or phone 49 30 3909040. Copyright 1996-2009 nova media Mobile Data Solutions GmbH. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, and MacBook are registered trademarks of Apple Computer in the U.S. and/or other countries.

###

Jan Fuellemann
PR Spokesperson
nova media MDS GmbH
0049151523424447
Germany

GlobeTrotter Express 441 supports 3G connections on all continents

Posted by Dennis Sellers

media has released the GlobeTrotter Express 441, which allows Mac users to establish 3G connections with an ExpressCard on all continents. The sleek modem supports HSPA connections in the 850, 900, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands with up to 7.2 Mbit/s download speeds and up to 5.76 Mbit/s upload speeds.

The antenna of the GT Express 441 is retractable and automatically powered off when retracted, so it can stay in the ExpressCard slot of the MacBook Pro, even when traveling in an air plane.

“This card is the closest thing to a built-in 3G module,” says jan Fuellemann of Nova media. “Whenever you withdraw the antenna, the Internet connection is established. By retracting, the connection will be closed. The supplied GlobeTrotter Connect software for Mac OS X offers a convenient-to-use SMS text message manager besides managing the mobile Internet connections. As usual, GPRS and EDGE connections are supported in all 850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz bands.”

GlobeTrotter Express 441 is available now for Euro 189.21 including VAT (approximately US$267). The ExpressCard includes GlobeTrotter Connect software for Mac OS X 10.4.11 and higher, as well as Windows XP and Vista

http://www.macsimumnews.com

Nokia signed agreement enabling Intel to license HSPA/3G Modem Technologies

Nokia and Intel have signed an agreement that will allow the latter to license Nokia's HSPA/3G modem technologies which further expands Intel's existing computer chipsets.

With an aim to create next generation mobile computing solutions, the two firms have signed an agreement to possibly extent and deliver powerful and flexible computing experience for end-users.

A greater potential impact may lie in the licensing of Nokia's 3G HSPA technology.

Wi-Fi and WiMAX technology are already integrated to Intel's chipsets.

An excerpt to the announcement of both firms on a new mobile platform says that "Intel supports multiple mobile broadband standards on its platforms to address the needs of service providers worldwide, and to provide people with an always-connected experience."

3G HSPA would serve as an additional bridge to connect client devices and the licensing of Nokia’s 3G HSPA technology would impact another great advantage.

Nokia's 3G HSPA modem already trusted by most and Intel licensing is another step for executing Nokia's chipset strategy.

http://www.ibtimes.com

Nova Offers ExpressCard-based 3G Modem

Peter Cohen, Macworld.com

ExpressCard slots may have gone away on new 15-inch MacBook Pros, but that's not stopping Nova media from offering the GlobeTrotter Express 441 -- a new ExpressCard-based 3G cell data modem designed to work worldwide. It costs €190 (US$264).

The GlobeTrotter Express 441 supports HSPA connections in the 850, 900, and 2100MHz bands with up to 7.2 megabit per second download speeds and up to 5.76 megabit per second upload speeds. It works with GPRS and EDGE networks in the 850, 900, 1800 and 1900MHz bands. Designed to fit into the ExpressCard/34 slots found on older 15-inch MacBook Pros and all 17-inch MacBook Pros, it features a retractable antenna.

Nova includes GlobeTrotter Connect software, which is included on the ExpressCard device itself and is automatically installed when you first insert the card. It provides you with access software to help configure the device to operate with your local cell data service carrier.

System requirements call for Mac OS X 10.4.11 or Mac OS X 10.5.6 or later. It's also compatible with Windows.

http://www.pcworld.com

Selasa, 23 Juni 2009

Speed Up USB CDMA Modem SU-6350U

Description:
Modem : SU-6350U
CDMA : CDMA2000 1xRTT protocol with R-UIM
CDMA 800 MHz (824~894)
Data Speeds : Up to 153.6 Kbps (averaging 60 to 100 Kbps)
Additional Connectivity Support : Voice Call, SMS, and Phonebook.
Mechanical : USB Slot
Dimension : Size - L : 80mm x W: 34 mm x D:7.5 mm Weight : 27 gr.
Accessories Included : Hands-Free Earphone (for Voice)
USB Extension Cable
CD Driver and Installation
User,s Guide and Warranty Card
Operating System Support : Windows Vista 32bit/XP/2000
Others System Requirements for PC/Laptops :
- USB Host Port : USB 2.0
- Communication Ports : Available
- Disk Drive : CD-ROM
- I/O Resources : IRQ, 32 bytes I/O Space
- Memory : 64MB
- Disk Space : 50MB
Antenna : External Antenna
USB Power : 5 V
Operation Temperature : -20C to + 60C
Network Protocol Support : TCP/IP, PPP, and VPN

http://rajamodem.com

(*) Depending on the CDMA Operator Network.

BandLuxe C270 series

Product Spec:
- 7.2Mbps HSDPA & HSUPA 2Mbps, Download: 7.2Mbps, Upload:
2Mbps
- Compact Size & Sleek Design (size small / smaller than other modem)
- MicroSD memory card slot (no memory card slot, so that it can
used as a flash)
- Retractable USB Connector (model colokan slide, so the usb can exit
entry without using close)
- Auto APN Matching for Global Roaming
- CD-Free Auto Installation (can be installed without the CD)
- Ban GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz
- OS Support: Microsoft Windows vista, XP + SP2, 2000 SP4 +, Mac OSX,
Linux 2.6.27 and above

Description:

* UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA at 2100
* HSDPA up to 7.2Mbps
* HSUPA up to 2Mbps
* EDGE / GPRS / GSM at 850/900/1800/1900
* USB interface
* Very attractive size - easy to carry
* OS Support: Vista, XP (SP2), 2000 (SP4), Mac, Linux
* 4 colors LED indication
* Installation CD-free

http://rajamodem.com

Minggu, 21 Juni 2009

Comcast Braces for IPv6

Faced with a dwindling pool of IPv4 addresses, Comcast Corp. (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) already has its backbone outfitted for next-gen IPv6 and could begin residential tests as early as this year.

Technical trials could start late this year or in 2010, says Richard Woundy, Comcast's senior vice president of software and applications. "Those dates are not 100 percent solid right now," he adds, noting that a full deployment might not occur for "several years."

"It's still relatively early in the IPv6 game," Woundy says.

The topic comes up because Comcast demonstrated its networkwide IPv6 prowess at this week's North American Network Operators' Group (NANOG) meeting in Philadelphia. Comcast showed how a PC with a Docsis modem could feed IPv6 traffic into the cable modem termination system (CMTS), onto the MSO's production network, and then off to demo partner sites that had been upgraded to IPv6. Limelight Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: LLNW) and Netflix Inc. participated in the demo, Woundy says.

The MSO is already in a position to sell IPv6 transit for wholesale customers, and BitGravity Inc. and The Planet Internet Services Inc. are among those that have already signed on. (See IPv6 Is in the House and Comcast Preps for IPv6 .)

Comcast won't say how many IP addresses it's supporting now, but it's in the tens of millions, based on the fact that it has more than 15.3 million high-speed Internet subscribers, each one using at least one cable modem and one computer or home gateway. Comcast is certain to eat more IP addresses as it starts to support set-top boxes with embedded cable modems.

The American Registry of Internet Numbers (ARIN) fired off a letter to Comcast and other ISPs in mid-April warning that "IPv4 will be depleted within the next two years" at the current rate of consumption. "You should begin planning for IPv6 adoption if you are not doing so already," the letter continued.

Because routers have had IPv6 baked in for a number of years, Comcast already supports the scheme on its fiber backbone. To ease the transition, those routers are running in dual stack mode, meaning they can pass IPv4 and IPv6 traffic concurrently.

But, thanks to Docsis 3.0, which Comcast expects to have installed on all its cable systems by the end of next year, it will also be able to employ IPv6 for its residential and small business customers. (See Comcast Sets Wideband Goal and 40%... & Counting.)

"We really didn't have true IPv6 support in Docsis until Docsis 3.0 was fully specified," Woundy says. He adds that CableLabs has created a specification for running IPv6 on Docsis 2.0 in "certain operator cases," such as when Docsis 2.0 modems are embedded in set-tops, gateway, and other equipment -- "but I think the preferred plan is to use [IPv6] in Docsis 3.0 modems."

Comcast's residential deployment of IPv6 will first happen on Docsis 3.0 cable modems, an environment the operator can control. After that, Comcast will extend IPv6 support to home gateways, which combine the cable modem with home networking capabilities.

— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Cable Digital News

http://www.lightreading.com

A Wireless Modem That Charges by the Byte

By Roy Furchgott

Virgin Mobile is offering a prepaid wireless broadband phone modem, an apparent first in the United States.

It’s called Broadband2Go, and although prepaid, it’s not exactly a cheap. But it may be an economical choice for some people.

First you have to buy the $150 modem (sometimes called an aircard), which is the Novatel Ovation MC760, a U.S.B. device the size of a thumb drive.

Clearly, these aren’t a bargain for heavy users, but it could be a good deal for the person who needs to connect during occasional travel.

The goal is always to buy only the minutes you use. Even if it’s more for each minute, your total cost can be lower.

LG shows off the world’s first 4G (LTE) modem

While we’re still waiting for a 4G / LTE network to be commercially launched anywhere in the world, LG has recently showcased the first-ever LTE USB modem.

Presented in Singapore, during CommunicAsia 2009, the new LG modem is capable of providing data transfers of up to 100 Mbps over a mobile network – thus being much faster than any 3G modem currently available.

LG didn’t say when its LTE USB modem will be commercially available, but this clearly depends on when LTE networks are launched.

LG LTE modem

LG LTE modem 2

LTE should be widely deployed around the world in the coming years.

For example, Verizon should start offering LTE services in some US markets as soon as 2010.

Via mobil.se

http://www.unwiredview.com

This Week in Mobile Broadband: June 21, 2009

By Alex Tcherkassky, Reporter, BroadbandCensus.com

WASHINGTON, June 21, 2009 – The domestic broadband aircard plans of the “big four” remain unchanged: Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobility, Sprint-Nextel Corp. and T-Mobile USA all offer five gigabytes (5GB) of data for $59.99 a month. Sprint offers a $79.99 plan that also includes unlimited Wi-Max service, where available. Internationally, however, VZW launched an international aircard on Friday. This aircard has its own plan for international use, but its domestic usage is still capped at 5 GBs, just like its domestic-only counterparts.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Sprint announced that it will debut the BlackBerry Tour 9630 later this summer. While the basic feature set is similar to the GSM Curve 8900, the Tour has both GSM and CDMA radios, making it a phone that can be used around the world. Its international data plan is $69.99 – or add $40 add on for an “everything plan.” Because of BlackBerry’s ability to tether the Tour, it could possibly double as an international modem in competition with VZW’s Novatel USB1000.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps announced an investigation of mobile handset exclusivity agreements. Copps’ announcement came after a Senate Commerce Committee hearing regarding wireless consumer experience – and a letter from Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., Amy Klobouchar, D-Minn, and Roger Wicker, R-Miss. The Senators asked Copps to investigate the exclusivity deals, saying they were concerned that these deals may limit consumer choice and competition. The letter specifically mentioned smaller rural and regional carriers. In an interview with BroadbandCensus.com, Copps said that he doesn’t see why the FCC’s Carterphone decision wouldn’t also extend to wireless networks. Copps also said that typical broadband providers don’t determine what type of computers customers use to access their networks. He said he couldn’t see why wireless carriers should decide what handsets customers use to wirelessly access the Internet.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Verizon’s USB1000 is an EVDO Rev-A modem that has GSM capability for use overseas. The USB1000 requires the purchase, at a minimum, of VZW’s $59.99 five gigabyte plan. VZW is also offering plans that add 100 or 200 megabytes of international data usage on top of the domestic five GB for either $129.99 or $219.99, respectively.

Apple launched the new iPhone 3GS. Aside from the addition of a camcorder feature, the 3GS has multimedia messaging service and the capacity to tether, making it a modem. Although AT&T is still the only carrier to offer any iPhone, AT&T doesn’t currently support either of those features. AT&T has taken heat from the non-profit advocacy group Free Press regarding the restrictions on the use of the iPhone. Apple and AT&T claim that the 3GS offers a faster internet connection than its predecessor.

Upcoming

Leap Wireless’ U.S. arm, Cricket, is coming to the Washington area. They bring an unlimited EVDO Rev-A aircard plan. In addition to unlimited versus five GB and $40 versus $59.99, Cricket offers its services without a contract or credit check. Cricket doesn’t have full nationwide coverage yet, but users can pay an additional $5 per month for extended premium coverage and still save versus the plans from the big four. Cricket says that, “Throughput speed may be limited if usage adversely impacts our network, service levels or exceeds 5 GB per month.” Cricket’s “respeKt” ads have been at Metrobus stops for weeks, and have more recently placed representatives throughout the city distributing Cricket info. Cricket also offers unlimited calling plans, similar to those offered by Virgin Mobile, Metro PCS and Boost. Their D.C.-area launch is set for June 23.

http://broadbandcensus.com

Option launches new iCON(R) 505 HSPA USB modem with TeliaSonera in Sweden

LEUVEN, BELGIUM, Jun 16, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Option.N.V. /quotes/comstock/11i!opnvy (OPNV.Y 2.67, -0.08, -2.91%) ,

the wireless technology company, is pleased to announce the launch of a brand new HSPA+ USB modem - the iCON 505. The new USB modem is sold by TeliaSonera Sweden as of this month and offers TeliaSonera's broadband users the possibility of staying connected, using the fastest network of their choice, wherever they go.

Surfing, blogging, and tweeting at top speeds

Going on holiday or travelling for work? Whether it's for business or pleasure, blogging, surfing, tweeting, sharing images or just staying in the loop is made easy with Option's ultra-compact modem - the iCON 505. With a stylish design, this extremely lightweight multimode device (29g) delivers exceptionally fast Internet connection for users on the move now and in the future.

With impressive maximum download and upload speeds of 10.2Mbps and 5.76Mbps, the iCON 505 is uniquely upgradeable, allowing it to evolve as networks move towards faster HSPA+ speeds. With a simple firmware upgrade it will soon offer download speeds reaching 14.4 Mbps. It can easily transfer large files or handle high-quality streaming media at speeds that match or exceed those found on traditional fixed line internet connections in many homes and offices.

Designed in Europe and being the first USB modem in Europe to be powered by the Icera Livanto(R) baseband chipset, the iCON 505 is quick and easy to set up and offers outstanding reliability and excellent usability.

Option helps to take care of the environment by not only endorsing eco-friendly production processes but also by ensuring that our packaging uses renewable and sustainable materials.

Staying ahead of the rest of Europe with Option's technology

Jan Callewaert, CEO at Option, comments: "The new iCON 505 is a good example of Option delivering highly sophisticated wireless technology in a very fast, compact, simple to use and reliable product. The new iCON 505 meets the evolving needs of our customers in a timely way. "

iCON 505 features include:

* Download speeds of up to 10.2Mbps and upload speeds of up to 5.76Mbps

* Upgradeable to higher download speeds.

* Compact (6cm) and ultra light (29g) design

* Easy installation with Option's Plug 'n' Play technology

* Functional easy-grip finish

* Multimode HSUPA/HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE/GPRS/GSM compatibility

* Multiple communication ports for simultaneous data call and network coverage reports

* USB 2.0, backward compatible to USB 1.1

More information about the iCON 505: http://www.option.com/en/products/products/usb-modems/icon505/

For the PDF version of the press release in English or in Dutch, please click on the link below:

Option launches new iCON(R) 505 HSPA USB modem with TeliaSonera in Sweden: http://hugin.info/133962/R/1322837/310242.pdf

Option lanceert nieuwe iCON(R) 505 HSPA USB-modem met TeliaSonera in Zweden: http://hugin.info/133962/R/1322837/310243.pdf

This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

CONTACT OPTION:
Jan Poté, PR & Media Relations
+32 (0)475 92 55 82
Email Contact


SOURCE: Option   http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/emailprcntct?id=4AA7AB3494CC0389

Copyright 2009  Marketwire, All rights reserved.

O2 to cut off unauthorised iPhone web tetherers

Apple iPhone owners who've upgraded to iPhone OS 3.0 have been told by O2 not to tether their phones to laptops in order to enjoy free 3G connectivity of their PCs. O2 says it will disconnect anyone who attempts to use their iPhone as a modem without paying the necessary charges.

Along with the launch of the iPhone 3G S, O2 today launched its iPhone OS tethering Bolt On. But there are several hacks on the internet that allow you to use the iPhone's tethering capabilities without using the Bolt On.

O2 has quickly fired a shot across web-users' bows, telling Techradar: "Internet rumours suggest that some customers have modified their iPhone to enable Internet Tethering without the purchase of the Internet Tethering Bolt On.

"Any use of this particular feature without the purchase of the Bolt on is specifically prohibited under our terms of service.

"Under those terms we reserve the right to charge customers making modem use of their iPhone or disconnect them.

"If customers wish to use the Internet Tethering feature on their iPhone 3G or iPhone 3G S, we recommend taking the Bolt On which is available from Friday 19 June."

O2 hasn't given any details of how they would detect illegal tetherers, or enforce the ban.

The O2 Internet Tethering Bolt Ons cost £14.68 per month for 3GB of data, or £29.36 for 10GB

http://news.idg.no

Clearwire launches WiMAX in Atlanta

Clearwire Corp. on Tuesday officially launched mobile WiMAX in Atlanta, where it is available to almost 3 million people.

Atlanta Business Chronicle first reported the launch in May, when the company first started taking customer orders. Atlanta is the company's biggest market to date.

The ultra-fast, high-capacity mobile broadband service, branded Clear, covers about 1,200 square miles, Kirkland, Wash.-based Clearwire (NASDAQ: CLWR) said. Clearwire is also building six retail outlets here.

Clearwire's wireless high-speed service allows greater mobility than cable or DSL. Subscribers can access service anywhere in Clearwire's coverage via a USB modem, or by plugging in their residential modem into an electric outlet.

In Atlanta, Clearwire offers 4G WiMAX wireless broadband service that delivers download speeds of up to 6 Mbps.

High-speed plans range from $20 to $50 a month. Bundled plans, including telephone service, are also available.

Overland Park, Kan.-based Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) is majority owner of Clearwire, which includes Sprint’s former WiMAX unit. The $14.5 billion deal to form the new Clearwire closed on Nov. 28, combining Sprint’s and Clearwire’s WiMAX assets and including $3.2 billion from several strategic investors.

Products compatible with Clear include modems, Wi-Fi devices and WiMAX-compatible laptops. A modem compatible with both WiMAX and earlier technologies will be available in the summer. A WiMAX-enabled handheld device, the Samsung Mondi, also will be available soon, the release said.

Clearwire, based in Kirkland, Wash., already has launched WiMAX service in Baltimore and Portland. The company plans to launch Clear in Las Vegas later in the summer. Other cities slated for WiMAX this year include Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Honolulu, Philadelphia and Seattle. Markets planned for service in 2010 include New York, Boston, Washington, Houston and the San Francisco Bay area.

Clearwire plans to offer Clear in 80 markets and to as many as 120 million people by the end of 2010.

http://www.bizjournals.com

Huawei's wireless modem is really wireless

by John Chan

Aside from its Android smartphone, Huawei also showcased its E583X wireless modem at CommunicAsia 2009. Other HSDPA modems are usually shaped like flash drives that you plug into a free USB port on your computer.

The E583X does it differently because it's able to send out a Wi-Fi signal that you connect to wirelessly (like at a hot spot) from your notebook. This means you can leave the device out of sight and not have something dangling from your slim, fashionable Netbook. A 1,500mAh battery powers the device, giving about five hours of wireless productivity. It charges via USB, and if you prefer, you can also use it plugged in to your notebook like regular HSDPA modems.

Now, freeing up a single USB port may not seem like a fantastic reason to pick this product over a regular USB modem. What's more, your notebook will probably consume more battery power with Wi-Fi turned on. But variations of this product will allow up to five users running a single cellular connection, perfect for situations when others around you need to share your Internet access.

Like all of Huawei's products, this one will be sold through mobile operators. It will first appear in Europe come July. Below is a quick hands-on video of the E583X.

Want to Turn Your New iPhone 3G S Into a Modem? Be Ready to Pay Up.

by Peter Kafka

If you’re the sort of person who gets up early to stand in line for the new iPhone 3G S, then you’ve almost certainly got one in your hands by now: Early reports are that the lines for Apple’s (AAPL) newest handset are much more manageable than for previous rollouts. (Though there are some exceptions!)

And if you are that kind of person, chances are you’re interested in the new phone’s “tethering” function, the ability to plug it into your laptop and use it as a modem. But you’re going to have be patient–and affluent.

If you’re an AT&T customer, you’re not going to get the chance to do this in the near future. The wireless company has announced that it’s going to offer tethering, but hasn’t said when. Meanwhile, it has said that it will offer MMS, the ability to send videos and photos from the phone without using email, this summer. So reading between the lines, it’s reasonable to assume that tethering won’t be showing up for the next few months at the very least

And if you’re an AT&T customer, chances are that when you do get the chance to tether, it’s going to beLike most carriers, AT&T (T) has said it is going to levy an additional charge for tethering, but hasn’t said how much. Web reports out today suggest that AT&T plans to charge $55 a month
UPDATE: Thanks to reader Rob Campbell for catching my error: AT&T charges Blackberry users an additional $15 a month for tethering. So if AT&T really does charge tethering iPhone users $55 a month, it’s likely to be an all-in-one charge that includes the phone’s $30 data plan. We’ll see when the company finally announces pricing, whenever that is.

For what it’s worth, I’m not in the chorus of those who think that’s outrageous: I currently pay Sprint (S) $60 a month for a (pokey) wireless EVDO card with a 5GB data limit, on top of the $100 I pay for an unlimited voice/data plan for my BlackBerry.

ANOTHER (!) UPDATE: Earlier in the day AT&T refused to comment on the $55 pricing plan. Now, via their Facebook page (!), the company confirms that tethering will not cost $55 on top of standard data plans. But it doesn’t actually say how much tethering will cost. So we’re back where we started.

http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com