Design considerations and trends fuel mobile chip revolution

Analysts estimate that in 2009, billions of mobile devices – from smartphones and other “pocketable” communication products – roamed the earth. That number will only increase in 2010 and beyond. When you take a step back, it's hard to imagine a time when consumers weren't reliant on mobile devices to get through the day. Whether sending an e-mail to a co-worker, getting turn-by-turn directions to a restaurant, watching an urgent news clip or experiencing the Internet for the first time, a mobile device is arguably one of the most vital connecting points to the outside world. The chips inside these mobile companions serve as matchmakers, building personal experiences that address consumers' unique needs and wants.

With this enormous volume up for grabs, device manufacturers continually seek semiconductor solutions that enable the next “killer” device at an affordable price for target markets. Suppliers answer this call with chips that marry consumer expectations with device requirements on the processing, power and connectivity sides. Mobile device boards are stacked with these tiny wonders that act as the brains behind consumers' favorite devices, and each chip is designed with a unique purpose. Let's take a look at certain components that make the parts of the mobile machine work together, and trends that drive today and tomorrow's mobile chip designs.

Trend one: True differentiation found through a discrete processor approach

There is no “all-in-one” solution for the mobile market – each user craves a device that fits their personal needs. True mobile device differentiation rests in the software running on the applications processor, which often defines an end product. The applications processor and modem work hand-in-hand to deliver a compelling user experience, features and applications. The modem receives signals and/or data from the antenna and converts the data to a useable format, which is then sent to the applications processor. The applications processor drives the ultimate user experience, leveraging modem data as needed to deliver experiences like high-definition 1080p video decode, graphics rendering for user interfaces and PC-like Internet browsing.

A discrete applications processor solution, where the modem and applications processor are located on separate chips, provides the ability for mobile device manufacturers to quickly and efficiently scale software to deliver unique features that meet various market needs. In comparison, an integrated solution that marries the modem and applications processor within a single package often requires compromise and sacrifice in terms of innovation and time to market.

There are many reasons for keeping the modem and applications processor functions separate, including the rate of technology advancement and ramp-to-market times between generations of modems and applications processors. Current discrete applications processors show about a six- to 12-month time-to-market feature advantage over integrated modem/applications processor designs, due to easier processor design and easier mobile device PCB design. Indeed, even for modem technology, it's easier to bring the latest innovations to market faster as standalone “thin modems” rather than as part of an integrated solution. The rates of innovation are also drastically different, so the switch between versions is more efficient with separated solutions.

Beyond these timing differences, the discrete applications processor approach also yields advantages from development and design perspectives. For example, discrete processors foster the thriving open-source community, making it possible for device manufacturers to benefit from collaborative software development. They also allow for greater improvements in the voice path, allowing new features as well as higher voice quality.

Trend two: Advanced processing capabilities, new realities

Applications processors warrant faster, more innovative designs for today and scalable investments for tomorrow. They also symbolize a key call to action echoed across the entire mobile product spectrum: low power consumption must be paired with high performance in every instance – one must not be sacrificed for the other. Simply put, mobile devices are no good when they're dead, and weight/size considerations limit battery size. Similarly, product differentiation calls for roadmaps that include a generous amount of performance headroom. With discrete applications processors at the heart of designs, manufacturers have the flexibility to meet power and performance demands across the full variety of products.

The optimal balance of power and performance continues to revolutionize pocketable experiences, and next-generation applications processors will soon bring to life features like touchless gesturing, 3D high-definition video and imaging, and more. Within the coming year, a new class of mobile engagements driven by Human Device Interactions will also radically change how consumers connect to devices and the outside world. HDI is a set of technologies that improve the way humans interact with mobile devices in natural and intuitive ways. For example, a standard 2D camera will track and recognize body movements and gestures on the device, transforming touch commands into touchless interactions with the wave of a hand.

With intense processing capabilities, stereoscopic video and imaging enhancements will also change the way we capture and view content. Every-day 2D images will morph into interactive, 3D-HD memories. Sharing information will turn from a one-to-one into one-to-many experience with the ability to project mobile content on any flat surface, and traditional phones will morph into data epicenters through face, logo and object recognition. Future applications processors will transform these capabilities from mere design ideas to real-life experiences that alter the way users live life “on the go.”

Trend three: Combo connectivity technologies provide strong connections to the outside world

Similar to consumer demands for high performance at low power levels, there is an increasing uptake of connectivity capabilities in mobile devices. Bluetooth, GPS, FM radio and mobile wireless local area network technologies boost on-the-go products' utility by offering additional information and wider-ranging connections. Like applications processors, these connectivity technologies must provide robust capabilities at an affordable price while not shortening battery life, degrading cellular service or decreasing performance.

On the other side of the mobile globe, however, a discrete approach to connectivity technologies does not compare to the discrete approach with applications processors. In fact, combination connectivity solutions that integrate one or more mobile radio technologies on a single chip continue to prove their value in answering consumer and manufacturer requirements. Multi-radio combo solutions save space, minimize power consumption and reduce the phone's bill of materials, thus saving system costs and simplifying the manufacturing process. Today's combo solutions drive outstanding connections, and next-generation chips will provide even greater functionality by merging up to four technologies on a single die. With various connecting points, multitasking, sharing and overall communication reaches completely new heights.

Power-reducing features are also used in the design of combo solutions, including complete processors that provide communications flow management, and are thus capable of handling the entire communications load for their respective connectivity technologies. The devices operate independently of the host processor except when communication with the larger system is necessary. As a result, the host and other functions in a handset can remain in low-power modes while a combo is handling communications tasks, saving power and extending battery life between charges.

Though hugely valuable, the path to combo solutions is not necessarily a smooth one for semiconductor engineers. Bluetooth, GPS, WLAN, and FM solutions all require different transmission and reception techniques. Adding one or more of these capabilities to a device requires parallel communications gathered from multiplying RF functions. Signal interference between different RF technologies, especially Bluetooth and WLAN technologies that both utilize the 2.4 GHz frequency bands, can also cause user difficulties, including reduced call reliability and even dropped connections. Due to these and other factors, providers face many challenges in creating devices that allow RF connectivity for multiple communication tasks to operate successfully on a single silicon die. Sharing the same antenna among different technologies compounds these conflicts and increases the need for enhanced design.

New mobile chapters take flight

A few years back, the word “mobile” insinuated a handset or smartphone. Today, “mobile” touches a variety of products, which all utilize applications processors and connectivity technologies in one way or another. The importance of flexible designs is loudly echoed in emerging segments, and the need for versatility is best served by an approach that reuses the same technologies across new markets. Take the emerging e-book space, for example. Through platform-level integration, manufacturers reused mobile technologies and software to architect this new form factor.

The present generation of e-books that use relatively small processors based on the ARM7 or ARM9 cores are being replaced with ARM Cortex-A8-based processors. The first of these Cortex-A8 based e-books will hit the market later this year. Next-generation e-books will need ARM's Cortex-A8 processors as consumers expect more features, a better reading experience (such as faster page turns), larger screens (12-inch and bigger), and higher performance (driven by such items as faster PDF document opening and viewing). Likewise, the “not-so-distant” future shows the introduction of ARM Dual Cortex-A9 SMP-based processors in the e-book space, with support for larger color e-paper/color TFT LCD displays to enable highly interactive and feature-rich e-book content, including embedded 3D animations and 720p/1080p HD videos. Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 processors are mobile industry veterans, which bodes well for manufacturers looking for an easier path into e-book design. Derivatives of previous mobile processors and connectivity technologies provide considerably lower e-book manufacturing costs, while fully optimized solutions from experienced mobile vendors serve as critical tools to success.

With strong performance from discrete applications processors, robust connectivity options, power-management techniques and more, the next chapter of e-books – along with the next chapter of other mobile devices yet to be imagined – promises to be exciting, built from a sturdy mobile foundation and starring happy consumers.

A bright future

Designing mobile devices – from smartphones to feature phones and e-books – requires a rich understanding of user expectations and experiences. Consumers are increasingly demanding when it comes to the types of applications they expect mobile devices to support, and the ability to quickly and easily update products to meet these higher expectations is critical to achievement.

Mobile device boards are stacked with tiny chips that act as the brains of sleek devices, and each chip inside is designed with a unique purpose. Key components, including discrete applications processors and combo connectivity solutions, make various parts of the mobile machine work together in unison. Successfully implementing tomorrow's designs will require leading-edge silicon and wireless technology – the best of the best will continue to build even more personal experiences and connections to the outside world … and the mobile future will remain bright for generations to come!

Sierra Wireless shares surge after 2Q results

Shares of Sierra Wireless Inc. jumped Friday after the Canadian wireless modem maker posted better-than-expected second-quarter results, prompting at least one analyst to upgrade its shares.
Sierra posted a net loss of $8.6 million, or 28 cents per share, compared with a loss of $5.9 million, or 19 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.
Excluding stock options expenses, restructuring costs and other items, the company earned 14 cents per share in the latest quarter.
Revenue rose 18 percent to $159.1 million from $135.3 million.
Analysts, on average, were expecting a profit of 8 cents per share on revenue of $156.6 million, according to a survey by Thomson Reuters.
Morgan Joseph analyst Ilya Grozovsky upgraded Sierra to "Buy" from "Hold," with a target price of $10.
"As (manufacturing) customers serving a wide range of industries integrate wireless services into their products, we believe Sierra is well positioned to post further sales and (earnings per share) growth," the analyst wrote in a note to investors.
Sierra's shares jumped $1.42, or 18.7 percent, to $9 in after-hours trading. The stock has traded in the 52-week range of $6.26 and $13.02.

How To Connect A Cable Modem To A Linksys Router For Wireless Internet

The Linksys router is made by Cisco. Like other wireless routers, it turns the signal from a modem connected to the Internet via phone line or cable line into a wireless signal that can be picked up by desktop computers, laptops, notebooks, PDAs, phones, game consoles and even printers.
Routers such as Linksys allow you to have wireless networks and Internet in your home so that you can use your devices from anywhere on your property. Place the router near the modem. Attach all the antenna to the router. USB WIRELESS LAN Adapter(WIRELESS USB LAN Adapter)
Make sure the router is an open area. If it is surrounded by metal or cinder block the signal may not be able to travel. Look for the port labeled “Internet” on the back of the router.
Attach the Ethernet cable to the “Internet” port. An Ethernet cable looks like a large phone cable and can just be inserted right into the back of the router. Start your computer. With the computer connected to the modem, open the start menu and the Command Prompt. Command Prompt is located under “All Programs” and “Accessories.”PCI Wireless LAN Card(Wireless PCI LAN Cards)
Type “ipconfig /release” then hit “Enter” on your keyboard. Next type “ipconfig /renew” and hit “Enter” again. Write down the IP address that appears on the screen. Unplug your computer from the modem and plug it into the router.
Type “ipconfig /release” then hit “Enter” on your keyboard. Next type “ipconfig /renew” and hit “Enter” again. Write down the IP address that appears on the screen. Open your Web browser and go to the address provided in the router’s instructions to get to the administration screen. Network Device(USB Wireless LAN Adapters )
Choose “Clone Mac Address.” This may take a few minutes. Plug the router into the modem using the cable you hooked up to the “Internet” port of the router. Click on “DHCP Renew” in your browser. Unhook your computer from the router.
As long as your computer has a wireless card you can connect to the Internet wirelessly.
If your computer does not have a wireless card then you will have to plug your computer back into the modem to connect to the Internet. You can always plug your computer back into the router if you need to change settings at a later time.

Hayes-compatible 1200 baud modem

This is part 2 of my column on gadgets that changed the world for me. These aren’t necessarily gadgets that changed the world, not even the gadget world. But they all had a profound impact on my life, and were more important to me than simple technological tools or joyous little toys.


[Image credit Ryonix.com]
Hayes-compatible 1200 baud modem
This is sort of a cheat, because the Hayes-compatible modem was definitely important, but it came bundled with a membership to the Prodigy network. Signing up for Prodigy was one of the most important moments of my life, and it started my contentious relationship with the Hayes modem.
For those of you who are a few years younger than I, Prodigy was sort of like AOL without the rest of the Internet behind it. It was a pay service with tons and tons of original content. You could shop on Prodigy. You could read the news and send e-mail. You could post messages on bulletin boards and comment back and forth on what other people were saying. Except for the multimedia, there is little about today’s Internet that wasn’t already possible on Prodigy, 20 years ago.
For those of you decades younger than I, Prodigy is what the Internet would be if it were only Wikipedia . . . with comments. We had flame wars. We had anonymity. We had modems that made crazy loud beeping noises, followed by the static white noise sound. I often wonder if my toddler son will understand that sound in 10 years when he hears it in an old movie.
I could say more about Prodigy and its effect on me, but let’s just say I blossomed on that early network. I made some of the best friends I’ve ever made. Real friends; in-person friends. I took a girl to my Junior Prom after getting to know her on Prodigy. I still talk to old Prodigy friends. But Prodigy was inseparable from that modem. I had one computer at the time, a huge beige desktop. I couldn’t tell you the brand; at the time we just called it an IBM-compatible.
The modem was a giant unit that had its AC plug built into the box. You plugged the entire modem into the wall, and then plugged the phone line into the modem. My parents had to get a new line installed in our basement, where I kept the computer for homework. I had no games on the computer, since it used only a CGA graphics card, and my gaming consoles were much better. It was a computer for word processing and Prodigy.
At some point during my Sophomore year, my grades slipped a bit. It wasn’t Prodigy’s fault. I was hanging out with friends after school. I was blowing off work I didn’t enjoy. My grades slipped from “A”s and “B”s to “B”s and “C”s, but never lower. My parents blamed Prodigy. It was easy to blame, because it was right in front of them.
When I was home, I was usually tucked into the basement, keeping up with my new online friends. Even when my parents couldn’t see me, they could pick up the phone in the kitchen and hear that modem connection. Since it seemed like the modem was always connected, Prodigy was an easy scapegoat for my falling grades.
They didn’t take away Prodigy, they took away the modem. Except that my parents had no idea what a modem looked like. They saw the hardware: a large AC plug with a cord running to the PC. The cord ended in a pin adapter. The modem came with two, one each for two differently sized serial ports.
Instead of taking away the modem, they took the adapter. Thankfully, the modem came with a spare that fit the other port size, and this worked fine with my machine. They took the serial adapter and hid it away in an antique apothecary scale that my father displayed on the mantel.
I kept connecting. When I heard footsteps upstairs near the phone, I would quickly kick the modem out of the wall. With no power, the connection terminated instantly. Using this deception for about a year, I was only caught once. That was enough. They couldn’t figure out my trick, but they did figure out that canceling my subscription would solve the problem.
Not really, though. Like with AOL, every Prodigy account came with 6 different login names. I lost my account, but a good friend, the girl I took to prom (the one for whom I made mix tapes as well, if you read the first half of this column), gave me one of her login names. I never got caught again.
As a post script, that apothecary scale sits on a new mantel in a new house, my parents having long-since moved. I checked last thanksgiving, and the serial adapter is still there. Perhaps if my grades improve, I’ll get it back, someday.
Macintosh Powerbook 520c
It almost seems like a copout putting this machine on the list. It’s just too awesome. The Mac Powerbook 520c was the low end of Apple’s Powerbook line at the time. There was a 540c using an active-matrix, full color display, but my machine used a passive matrix screen that left trails and a foggy picture. I loved that computer.
It wasn’t the color screen, the first I’d seen on a laptop computer. It wasn’t the trackpad, either, the first I’d seen anywhere. I’ve owned computers since I was 10 years old, and Macs since I was 17. I was 19 when I bought my Powerbook 520c, a sophomore in college, and it changed my education for good.
I had always typed papers for school, since I was in middle school. But my note taking was atrocious. I managed to squeak by. I had a good mind for math equations, and I could fake my way through any English test. But in history, science, even my language studies, I was at the mercy of my own memory. My handwriting is nearly illegible, and in all my time in grammar school, I don’t once remember studying from my own notes.
After a month with my first laptop, I was bringing it to every class. In 1994, I was still the only one with a laptop in class. By the end of college, I could type out an hour-long lecture verbatim. I was sharing my notes with other people, comparing my notes to make sure they were correct.
I don’t think that reviewing notes later necessarily improved my education. But being able to take accurate notes and follow closely as the class was in session was a priceless advancement for me, and I think it would help an incomprehensible number of today’s students.
Note taking is a difficult skill to teach because it is so personal; but every teacher expects students to take notes and follow closely at the important moments. If every student went to class armed with a computer of her own, it would change the way students interact in a classroom.
I’m not talking about advanced networked classrooms sharing multimedia presentations and taking digitized quizzes at the end of a term. I’m talking simply about taking notes. Writing things down. Processing and recording the information as it is being thrown your way. I can’t think of a better way to pull underperforming, bright students into the modern age than arming them with the proper tools for the job. In today’s education system, those tools are no longer notebooks and pens, but laptops and wireless networks.
TiVo
This seems like an easy choice, and I’m sure plenty has been written about how TiVo has rocked the entertainment world. But it all hit home for me about ten years ago. I was a very early adopter for TiVo. I’ve been a customer since the first boxes hit the shelves.
A professor of mine once said that the VCR was the most disruptive thing to happen to performance art in a hundred years. For the first time, you could pause a work of art while it was happening, leave the room for a snack, and start the piece where you left off. Before the VCR, you couldn’t stop a movie, you could only choose to miss some of it. You couldn’t stop a play, you couldn’t only interrupt it, or remove yourself from it.
TiVo is similar, but it adds another component. TiVo is always recording what you see on television. It has a constant buffer, so if you see something you want to save for later, you can hit record and it’s already done. On my oldest TiVo (of the three I’ve owned), I have an assortment of shows that I’m keeping for posterity. Some I even have cued to my favorite part. Press a button and George Costanza says “Well, there’s nothing dirtier than a giant ball of oil.” Start up my favorite Simpsons and the first thing you hear is Homer asking: “Are you really the head of Kwik-E-Mart? Really? You?”
TiVo changed the world for me on September 11, 2001. I was faxing resumes, looking for a teaching job. My wife was working in midtown Manhattan. She called to tell me to turn on the news, something big and evil was happening downtown. I turned on CNN, and even in my initial shock, I knew to press the record button. I still have those first hours of the newscast from that day.
Some day I’ll show it to my children. I know they could probably find archival footage, but I want them to see the moment as I saw it. Aaron Brown starting to speak mid-sentence. The camera cuts to a building billowing smoke. That’s when I pressed record, and created a memory that I’ll never forget.

Rogers To Offer 6GB of Data For $30 With Optional iPad Sharing

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it agian – mobile data is getting more and more expensive as time goes on. First you have your normal smartphone, then you have tethering or a mobile hotspot/broadband modem, then you have your iPad, then you have your 3G connected netbook and you can see how some consumers data bills are ridiculously high. Luckily, Rogers Wireless has announced that they will be launching a new data plan of 6GB for $30 per month with a 3-year contract, of course.
This isn’t too out of the ordinary considering Bell just recently launched a similar plan but it gets better with the fact that consumers will be able to share this data between an iPhone and an iPad for $20 more a month.
Sure, it’s not the most ideal plan out there but it’s certainly better than some.
via bgr

Verizon's LG-made 4G modem seen in photos

mages of the LG VL600 USB modem that went through FCC testing earlier this month have now been leaked on the web. Thanks to BGR, the device is known to be in testing and will be the first to handle Verizon's LTE-based 4G network. The device promises both 3G and 4G support, with the 700MHz band for the LTE network along with 800MHz and 1,900MHz bands for EVDO-based 3G.
The images aren't accompanied by release date information, but their mere existence suggests the device is nearly ready for release and is widely expected to be out before year's end.

LG’s LTE 4G USB modem coming to Verizon?

We spotted the LG M17 USB LTE modem, pictured above, back in January when the device passed through the FCC.  Recently, external photos of the device were made public, revealing a rather large form factor – we estimate the device is about 6 inches long and 4 inches wide.
The M17 has an internal, 2400 mAh rechargeable battery, so technically the device is portable.  It also comes with a portable travel charger.
According to test reports, the M17 operates on the 700MHz LTE frequency, which will be used by Verizon.  You can also see a SIM card slot on the M17 – a new feature on Verizon devices.
No word on pricing or availability, but Verizon is rolling out its LTE network later this year so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the M17 within the next few months.

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Severed deep-sea cable disrupts service

When it comes to repairing a severed fiber-optic cable 3,000 feet under the sea, it won't be as simple as calling the cable guy.

"Wish it was," said Cliff Miyake, general manager of tw telecom, which co-owns the severed cable that interrupted service for hours to about 400,000 Oceanic Time Warner Cable customers here yesterday. "It could be a very costly repair."

At about 1:10 a.m., Oceanic Time Warner started seeing disruptions. It was later discovered that part of a fiber-optic cable was severed about 30 miles off Kihei, Maui.

Most, if not all, Internet service was restored by yesterday afternoon. TV service on Maui and the Big Island was the last to be restored because of the cut's proximity to both counties.

Oceanic Time Warner rents bandwidth (data transmission capacity) from the fiber-optic cable, co-owned by Colorado-based tw telecom and Wavecom Solutions, formerly Pacific Lightnet. Tw telecom was part of Time Warner Cable but became an independent entity in 2008.

Oceanic Time Warner is among 144 Maui firms that rent bandwidth from that section of the cable. That section went online in 1997, Miyake said.

When the cable was cut, Internet protocol addresses did not know which route to take back to the mainland. Oceanic crews had to reroute connections through alternate cables connecting the islands.

"We have a daisy-chain fiber connection that connects all the islands together," said Norman Santos, Oceanic's vice president of operations. "The main transmission point for Oceanic Cable is here on Oahu."

Oahu and Kauai services were restored by 8 a.m. yesterday. Maui and Big Island services were restored by yesterday afternoon.

"We have a disaster recovery plan," Miyake said. "There was another separate system we had access to, so we worked to get that up and running, and that's what we'll be using."

It was not immediately known how the cable was cut. Initial indications seem to point to the possibility that water may have seeped into the cable, but Santos said crews cannot be sure until they see the cable itself.

A cable repair ship must be contracted by owners tw telecom and use pontoons to float the cable up to the service for repair. The process is likely to take up to five weeks, Santos said.

The cable is a Prisma DT digital transport system by Georgia-based Scientific-Atlanta Inc., which is now part of Cisco Systems Inc., according to Star-Advertiser files.

The system delivers Oceanic's video-on-demand and cable channel programming, major broadcast television programming, residential high-speed cable modem service and high-speed data service for government clients.

Maui County officials reported that offices with phone numbers that have the 270 prefix were unable to receive or make phone calls due to a disruption of service. Also affected were offices at the county building in Wailuku and administrative offices of the Wailuku Police and Fire departments.

Big Island Civil Defense said there was a "minor inconvenience" with Internet service. However, the agency also uses DSL Internet connections.

State Civil Defense, which uses a special dedicated line provided by Oceanic, did record that a break occurred, but it did not affect its Internet, said Shelly Ichishita, state spokeswoman.

Bank of Hawaii experienced phone problems with service on Maui and the Big Island, but full service was restored at 10:30 a.m.

Russell Pang, a spokesman for the Governor's Office, said the state government does not use Oceanic for any of its phone service.

Hawaiian Telcom services were not affected by the undersea cable cut, but made its interisland fiber-optic cable network available to assist residents and businesses on the Big Island, Maui, Molokai and Lanai during the cable repair process, said Hawaiian Telcom President and Chief Executive Officer Eric Yeaman in a written statement.

Oceanic users having problems connecting with Oceanic Roadrunner Internet service may have to reboot by unplugging the cable modem for 20 seconds and then plugging it back in.

Santos said Oceanic is still evaluating whether to allow claims on loss of business due to yesterday's outage. Oceanic has a policy to not respond to claims unless the outage was longer than 24 hours, but Santos acknowledged that yesterday's outage was a unique circumstance.

"This is not normal," Santos said. "We'll make the determination, and once we know the final remedy, we'll go from there."

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Meyers named managing director for Publicis Modem West

Publicis named Drew Meyers managing director of Publicis Modem West, effective August 2. Based in San Francisco, he will report to Dani Nadel, president of Publicis Modem USA.
Meyers previously worked as SVP and digital group account director at Publicis Seattle. He will replace John Rabasa, who has been promoted to director of experiential strategy for Publicis Modem USA.
Meyers will focus on winning new business for the digital agency as well as growing the digital business for all Publicis USA clients.
“We're trying to bridge the gap between traditional and digital within Publicis,” Meyers said. “We want to go after things from a pure-play perspective as Modem, but also integrate with other agencies. We have a strong positioning, but we see an opportunity to make interoffice collaboration easier.”
Meyers will continue as the lead for Publicis' T-Mobile digital account, a role he has filled since joining Publicis Seattle a year ago, he said. 

Warehouse, Dick Smith spills details of 2degrees' 3G launch

There was yet another sign that 2degrees' 3G launch was close last night.
An eagle-eyed Geekzone member spotted that Warehouse Stationery was already listing a series of 2degrees devices, all bundled with data, on its website (see screen shots below).
READ ALSO: 2degrees' US owner seeks to raise $NZ501 million
Before 2degrees August 2009 2G/pre-pay launch, Warehouse Stationery made the same error - and the details proved to be correct.
Dick Smith has also listed several 3G phones for 2degrees.
Couldn't possibly commentA 2degrees spokeswoman told NBR this morning: "2degrees doesn't currently have these types of products for sale. As to if we will and at what prices I couldn't possibly comment".
PB Technology also inadvertently (or publicity-stuntedly) posted a 2degrees modem deal.
Again, 2degrees did not comment. But it did confirm to NBR that PB Technology will be an official 2degrees hardware supplier.
10GB of data pre-loaded ... but what's next?The devices all come with a big chunk of 3G data preloaded - which can only be tapped when they are activated on 2degrees' 2100MHz 3G network.
Some of the bundled data deals seem skimpy - an Acer phone comes with 50MB - while others - notably 10GB of data with a $199 modem - seem generous. But without knowing the cost of follow-up pre or post-pay plans once the bundled data runs out, it's hard to gauge the competitiveness of the pricing.
As promised, there's an Android phone in the line-up, albeit a relatively obscure Acer model, the Smartphone BE-130.
And if Dick Smith's pre-launch listing is correct, 2degrees is also moving up the Nokia foodchain, with the all-touchscreen X6, (perhaps tellingly - for Friday launch conspiracy theoriests - the site says the handset is due July 29; the X6 is already available in Vodafone's lineup).

READY FOR LIFT OFF: 2degrees' head of network operations Nick Read.(with iPad 3G) and CTO Mike Goss (with iPhone) pose for NBR last week. Live customer 3G trials are underway.
Other 3G launch signsThe ultimate move for 2degrees at this point would be to spring a Friday surprise, launching 3G on Friday to ride the iPhone 4 launch hype (yesterday, the company delivered a working 2degrees 3G Mico-SIM to NBR, which is now resident in an iPad 3G; NBR is already using a Huawei data stick from 2degrees; see test results here).

2degrees completed its 3G network at the same time as its 2G network, but since August 2009 has been tweaking it. The company recently told NBR that after its present public trial concludes, it would block the network to customers, then once again tweak it before the official launch.

 

And the company is still in the very early stages of leasing store space and recruiting operators ... so maybe a Friday surprise would be a stretch.

 

2degrees, could, of course, just be trying to keep it fresh in customers' minds that its 3G launch is imminent, the better to give them pause before signing a long-term contract with Telecom or Vodafone.

 

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U.K. Broadband Speeds: "Good News" and "Bad News"

Ofcom, the U.K. communications regulator, reports that average actual fixed-line residential broadband speed has increased by over 25 percent over the past year from 4.1 Mbps to 5.2 Mbps as Internet service providers sell higher-speed broadband packages, and as customers buy them.
In November 2008 just five percent of U.K. consumers had a service offering speeds up to 10 Mbps. In May 2010 fully 25 percent of U.K. consumers were buying a service running at 10 Mbps or higher.
Conversely, in November 2008 29 percent of U.K. consumers bought services running at less than 8 Mbps. In May 2010 just eight percent bought services running at less than 8 Mbps.
But Ofcom also notes a greater disparity of advertised speeds and actual speeds on digital subscriber lines. In practice, users got 3.3 Mbps on packages described as supporting 8 Mbps to 10 Mbps.
What to make of the results? They actually show a more-complex situation than might first appear.
First of all, the increase in average "experienced" speed has at least a few causes. Providers are offering higher speeds, users are buying packages offering higher speeds and there might also be a bit of a shift to cable-provided services, which will raise "average" speeds simply because cable modem services appear clearly to be more capable of delivering an "advertised" speed than digital subscriber line services, which are distance dependent.
The marketing gap appears to be the bigger "problem." Why do carriers advertise "up to" speeds? Because there is no way, on an unmanaged connection, to know precisely what the end user experience is going to be, or how fast the connection will be. Under those conditions, marketers can tout only their lower prices or better value.
There is a logic to citing only "typical" or "real world" speeds, but that presents some problems. Even an "average" speed is going to change over time, vary between neighborhoods, time of day, day of week and types of applications used.
And to the extent that ISPs need to determine "typical" speeds, the method of measuring and who measures is important. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, have found that the way speed is measured can result in figures that vary by 50 percent to 100 percent.
Average "speed" also is affected by all the other parts of the Internet ecosystem, including the user's hardware, software and server performance on the far end of the connection.
The reason there is "marketing creep" is that broadband access tends to be seen by end users as a commodity with just two fundamental variable attributes: speed and price. To the extent that prices can be hard to compare or offer little room for differentiation, "speed" is going to get the attention, and higher numbers are better than lower numbers.
Also, there is no contradiction between "highest" speed and "average" speed. They simply are different measures of performance.
Ofcom’s research, conducted in partnership with broadband monitoring specialist "SamKnows", found that 24 percent of U.K. fixed-line residential broadband connections had a headline or advertised speed greater than "up to 10Mbps" in May 2010, compared to just eight per cent in April 2009.
On telco-offered 20 Mbps or 24 Mbps packages users got 6.5 Mbps. On telco-offered 10 Mbps packages users got about 8.7 Mbps.
On cable-offered 10 Mbps packages, users got 8.7 Mbps. On cable-offered 20 Mbps cable services, users got 15.7Mbps.
In April 2009, average actual download speeds were 4.1 Mbps, 58 per cent of average advertised "up to" speeds. In May 2010, average download speeds were 5.2 Mbps, 45 per cent of average advertised "up to’ speeds."
Perhaps the more-important finding is that cable broadband services delivered significantly faster actual (or download) speeds than comparable DSL services. In part, that is because cable modem services are not distance dependent, as are digital subscriber line services.
Virgin Media’s services delivered average download speeds around twice as fast as DSL packages with the same or similar headline speed. But it is fair to say no ISP can deliver anywhere close to its headline speed at hours when most users are awake.
Virgin Media’s 50 Mbps service reached 36 Mbps, but only between 4 am and 6 am. That's the other problem with measuring "average" speeds: they vary greatly, and always will.
The cable broadband service on average delivered higher download speeds at all times of the day than comparable DSL services, however it showed a greater slowdown during peak periods than some DSL providers.
The other observation one might glean from the Ofcom results is that consumers get the "best value" from services running between 8 Mbps and 10 Mbps, as "experienced" speeds more closely approximate "advertised" speeds than for packages advertising 20 Mbps to 24 Mbps speeds.
One can surmise that this is the case because more fo the latency begins to appear when the local access pipe effectively does not impose constraints. In other words, the contribution of far-end servers starts to dominate application latency.
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unlock your mtn modem here and free browsing code for all network

you are welcome to this site, in this site .we unlock mtn modem that is, we torn your modem to use any network sim card, price 1,500 ORFER last from NOW till August 15 THANK FOR YOUR PARTRONAGE
Web/downloading
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BOLT
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SNAPTU
Proxyserver-10.199.212.8/servlets % 2fmm@dmg.snaptu.com

MIG33
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EBUDDY
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UCWEB
10.199.212.8 % 2fservlets % 2fmm@uc6.ucweb.com


ETISALA WEB
Ip-80.239.242.253
Port-80
Trick-www.etisalat.com.ng@anysite

OPERA 4.2
10.199.212.8/servlets/mms/@roadwaytocollege.com/go/page.pl/emma/http/64.25.164.20:80



ON FREEDOM NEW SETTING USE THIS
SERVER USE ems09.your-freedom.de
HTTPS 443
TWEAK NIGERIA MTN
tick 1,2,3,5,6,7,

PROXY SETTING NIL
PORT NIL
save and exit
MAKE SURE YOU USE VERSION
20100709-01
OR
THE LATEST VERSION


HERE ARE LISTS OF IPS YOU CAN USE AS WELL

, I will just list them below:

94.231.80.100
81.169.137.16
85.214.22.104
193.164.133.62
85.214.151.58
85.214.151.156
85.214.149.43
85.214.102.17
85.214.149.36
67.212.67.75
85.214.149.35
85.214.143.29
85.214.116.165
77.92.68.5
83.170.96.78
83.170.105.81
81.169.130.185
80.74.137.161
76.73.125.131
67.159.5.116-01usa
193.164.133.61-02
85.214.149.35-03
85.214.149.43-04
85.214.149.36-05de
81.169.130.185-06de
85.214.22.104-07de
85.214.45.166-08de
85.214.143.29-09de

80.74.137.161-11swit
83.170.105.81-12uk
76.73.125.131-13usa
94.231.80.100-14swit
193.37.152.232-15de
208.53.158.27-16usa
217.150.244.92-17swit
85.214.116.165-18de
83.170.96.78-19uk
67.212.67.74-20ca
202.160.120.226-21sing
123.108.109.9-22hk
77.92.78.225-23uk
94.126.16.7-24swit
95.143.192.144-25sweden
johnen 27 Jul 10 09:45
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CHEAK DIZ OUT http://10.199.212.8/servlets/mms@unblock-facebook.org/nph-proxy.cgi/000A/http/94.246.126.96:80
johnen 27 Jul 10 09:47
guyz check page 45
Wilad 27 Jul 10 10:27
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johnen 27 Jul 10 12:11
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r the fellows that have been calling for your freedom cheat.

make sure its the latest version of your freedom(20100709-01) for it work accurately and you must have the latest open vpn to make the speed run like river.after the downloads click on configure and fix this:
Address: ems31.your-freedom.de
port: 443
connection mode: HTTPS
Tweak: Nigeria_MTN
tick the second box by the left side.follow this carefully.tick the 2,3,4,leave the 5 empty,tick the 6,7,8
for the right side of the table leave the buffer to be 1500, leave the second & third to be empty fix 5000,200000,10000

server ip:10.199.212.2
port:8080

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USRobotics 56K USB Faxmodem USR5637 - 56 Kbps Fax / modem - USB

The USRobotics 56K USB Modem delivers the performance and reliability USRobotics is known for, in a compact, flexible form factor. This controller-based modem integrates powerful communications processing functions into the modem itself, for assured performance without sapping your computer's processing power. Quick Connect reduces your connection time to get you online quicker, and V.PCM Upstream provides 50% greater upload speeds - perfect for sending e-mail messages with large attachments. Also supports USRobotics Modem on Hold application to screen incoming voice calls while online, and to answer calls without losing your internet connection - no second phone line is needed!

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Linksys Cable Modem with USB and Ethernet Connections CM100 - Cable modem - USB / Fast Ethernet

Experience the savings of owning your own cable modem! The Linksys Cable Modem is an easy and affordable way to get a blazing fast connection to the Internet - far faster than a dial-up, and without tying up your phone line. The "always on" connection eliminates dial-up wait time and busy signals. Web surfing and your e-mail are instantly available, anytime. And with the extra speed, online gaming is a whole new experience, and download time on big music, video, and other files goes from minutes to seconds. Installation is quick and simple. Connect it directly to any PC with an available USB or Ethernet port, and you're ready to surf the Internet. Or connect it to a Linksys router and share that high-speed Internet access with everyone on your home network. The Linksys CM100 Cable Modem is fully compliant with all industry standards - DOCSIS 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0 - so you know it'll work with any DOCSIS cable Internet service provider. When you own a Linksys Cable Modem, you'll avoid monthly equipment rental charges, and make the most of your high-speed cable Internet connection.

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DSL MODEM HACK

How To Setup A Wireless ( WiFi ) Internet Connection On Your Computer Or Laptop

If you want to set up a WiFi Internet connection you need a basic knowledge about what ethernet cables, wireless router, broadband modems and other similar things are, because all these are what you need to successfully create a WiFi internet connection. After you manage to connect the wireless router and modem with the ethernet cable, you can go on and configure the WiFi Internet connection by reading the instructions manual or check our step-by-step guide to setup a WiFi Internet Connection on your PC or Laptop.
So, if you want to successfully setup a Wireless ( WiFi ) Internet Connection, the you need to check the instructions below :

1. First, you need to disconnect the modem from its power source.
2. Now you need to grab the ethernet cable and plug it into the WLAN / Internet port, which is located at the back of the Wireless Router. \
3. Now you need to plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the modem’s ethernet port.
4. Now you can connect the modem to its power source, and it should take a few mins to start correctly, also you might need to press its Reset button after you plugged it back in.
5. Find the Wireless Router’s installation manual and somewhere within it you should find an unique web address, which you need to use to successfully configure the network’s name and set up the security encryption of your Wireless internet connection. Also, you should find a default password, which you need to use.
6. Open a web browser and type in the web address you found in the manual and press the Enter key. After that type in the password which you also found in the instructions manual.
7. Select a ‘SSID’ type for the network you are currently creating. The name you select now, will be name of the Wireless Network .
8. Now you need to set a password for the wireless network or you can skip this step if you don’t want to use a password. To set up a password, select ‘WPA’ security encryption mode. Enter a password that you will be able of remembering it easily.
9. Press ‘Apply’ , which will save all the changes you’ve done.
10. Double click on the Wireless icon, it can be found on the desktop screen.
11. Now you need to choose the name of the newly created Wireless network from the ‘Available Networks’ Screen. After you did this, you’re WiFi internet connection will be successfully configured.

These are exact steps you need to follow, in order for you to successfully configure a Wireless ( WiFi ) Internet Connection. I hope that you understood easily all the above instructions and that now you’re free to surf the web directly from your PC or Laptop without the need of keeping permanently a cable plugged into them.

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Why Choose a DSL Wireless Modem?

In a world of constant connections , wherein people are being a lot more mobile every single day, the old “fixed to the wall” dialup modem from yesterday just does not cut it anymore. Yet there are lots of solutions available in order to connect to the Internet. Now, the concern is…  how would you pick the best one that will keep up with your lifestyle, while still being cost-effective?
When it comes to DSL modems, you basically have three choices. ADSL modems, DSL cable modems, and wireless DSL modems. Let us compare the three real quick. ADSL modems connect via your traditional telephone line, meaning they require a phone connection in the area. The main advantage of ADSL modem is that you won’t be sharing bandwidth with many others in your area, but because most companies will control your bandwidth anyway, you won’t see faster speeds.
A cable DSL modem connects through your cable line, that enables you to be connected to the web constantly. The big drawback is, if you don’t already have a cable connection near your computer, you will need to wait for your cable provider to come and fix both the connection and your modem for you. While DSL wireless modems connect with the use of a wireless network that providers are constructing worldwide. They operate through radio frequency, just like your cell phone, but have a lot faster speeds than the majority of cellular networks.
All offer comparable cost, both up front as well as in monthly service charges. And also the capability of most home networks and home computers means that your speed and capabilities would be the equal to the rest of the subscribers. So, how do you choose? Which one provides great advantage?
DSL wireless modems do! DSL wireless modems have one option that no other modem can offer. This option can go completely anywhere, within a wireless coverage area, and still connect to the Internet. Absolutely no more plugging your modem in to the telephone line, or waiting forever for the cable provider to set up a connection near your computer. Simply turn on the power, turn on your computer, and you are all set to go! A DSL wireless modem is an especially great option for people in more rural areas, where traditional ADSL and cable DSL is not yet available. A lot of wireless networks are expanding into rural areas, which makes it the best option against slow dialup or pricey satellite Internet providers.
With a wireless modem, you can travel anywhere within your provider’s network and still connect to the Internet. You also have the benefit of being able to have a built-in wireless network with your modem, therefore laptops and other wireless devices can connect automatically simply by plugging your modem into the wall – no other wires required! Wireless Internet is getting a lot more usual in today’s mobile generation – and with the DSL router wireless modems currently available, there’s no reason why you can’t get on to the Internet, even away from home!
Learn more about DSL wireless modem and even get more tips in securing your DSL wireless router modem at http://www.dslwirelessmodem.org.

SBG6580 Cable Modem – Four in One Device for High-Bandwidth Wireless Network

Wireless networks have become hugely popular in companies as well as in the homes. The beauty of all wireless networks is the lack of wires – no cables are required, no hassle of running the network cables. Home users with lack of networking knowledge can now build a wireless network in home easily with all-in-one SBG6580 cable modem router. Basically when you build a wireless network to share your Cable broadband internet connection with multiple computers in home securely, you require three devices. Firstly, you need a cable modem. A modem is used to covert analog signal to digital signal and vice versa. Secondly, you need a router with firewall feature. A Router (with firewall feature) is used to help your private network protected against any types of internet threats. Besides, firewall with NAT function is used to allow a single internet connection to share with multiple computers in the network. And lastly you need a wireless access point to extend the network wirelessly. Building a wireless network with three devices by mostly home users who lack of networking knowledge will sound complicated. Fortunately technology innovations make life easier. Motorola ships a compact device – an all-in-one device which combines all the requirements in building the wireless network in home with no hassle, SBG6580 cable modem router. What this Product Does
SURFboard SBG6580 is a fully integrated all-in-one cable modem router, a single device for your home wireless network solution to share your Cable Internet connection. Not just that, with a wireless network in home you can share documents, share multifunction printer (with wireless print server), play games, and make Internet phone calls. Cable Modem Function
SBG6580 is a DOCSIS 3.0 / EuroDOCSIS 3.o cable modem, enables channel bonding of up to 8 downstream and 4 upstream channels – which allows an operator to offer their customers advanced multimedia services, capable of data rates of well over 300 Mbps in DOCSIS and 400 Mbps in EuroDOCSIS in the received (downstream) data stream and over 100 Mbps in the send (upstream) data stream. This is the first requirement for your network. Firewall & Router Function
SBG6580 cable modem router supports the NAT firewall feature to allow network IP address translation, means you can share a single Internet connection with many computers in the network behind the firewall. The modem also supports the Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) feature for inbound traffic filter in protecting your network against any internet threats such as DoS (Denial of Services) and malware. The modem also supports the routing function including static route and dynamic routing (RIPv1, RIPv2). This is the second requirement for your network. Wireless Access Point SBG6580 cable modem wireless router is powered by the wireless access point with the latest wireless technology 802.11n standards with dual selectable frequency band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) and with an internal 2 x 2 antenna array, enables users to maximize the high-bandwidth potential of their home or business networks. Besides the wireless access, the users can also utilize the included 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for high speed wired connections to the computers. This is your third requirement for your wireless network in home. The modem also includes the DHCP service that is very essential service for networking. With the DHCP service, all the IP configurations of all the computers in the network will be done automatically – reducing the administration overhead.
Unlike wired connection, wireless connection is susceptible for the eavesdropping by the users within the network coverage. Therefore, the SBG6580 supports the wide range of security including WEP-64/128, WPA-PSK, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES, 802.1x, 802.11i (pre-authentication). For secure client connection to the network, the device supports user-friendly Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS) to easily connect with WPS compatible device The modem also supports the VPN feature to allow you create secure tunneling into your private network via the public network (aka the internet). Travelling users can access the private network via the internet from all over the world securely with L2TP. The SBG6580 includes an enhanced tuner that supports up to a 1 GHz downstream input allowing operators to increase the frequency spectrum for deployment of new high-value services such as bandwidth on-demand, commercial services, interactive gaming, and IPTV to their customers. By Ki Grinsing


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Conexant Plans to Present at Oppenheimer Annual Technology, Media & Telecommunications Conference

Conexant Systems, Inc., a supplier of semiconductor solutions for imaging, audio, embedded modem, and video surveillance applications, announced that Christian Scherp, company co-president, will present at the Oppenheimer Annual Technology, Media, & Telecommunications Conference on Wednesday, August 11 at 10:30 a.m. (ET) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, Mass.
A link to the live Webcasts will be posted on the Investor Relations section of Conexant's Web site on the morning of the presentations.
Conexant specializes in providing semiconductor solutions includes products for imaging, audio, embedded modem and video surveillance applications.
More Information:
www.conexant.com
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))
For full details on (CNXTD) CNXTD. (CNXTD) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on (CNXTD) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.

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What the Heck Does Conexant Do?

ast Friday, Foolish godfather Tom Gardner wondered aloud what the heck Conexant Systems (Nasdaq: CNXT) does. How is this company different from any other semiconductor designer with a swooning long-term stock chart?
And that got me thinking. I would like to think that I know Conexant better than most, having covered the company from many angles in the past. This is a specialist in audio, video, and communications signal processing that faces off against like-minded chip slingers such as Marvell Technology Group (Nasdaq: MRVL), Silicon Laboratories, and Zoran (Nasdaq: ZRAN) when looking for customer signings. It's also a fab-less business, meaning that manufacturing is outsourced to third-party foundries. So far, so good.
The badIf you asked me at gunpoint why anybody would pick a Conexant chip over Marvell or Zoran, I'd probably be praying for my life really quick. Come up with an investment thesis? Same thing. Give me a browser and some time to do research, and I still come up empty-handed on both questions.

http://adf.ly/4T66Tom is right: Conexant can't explain what makes it special. Follow along as I try to figure it out, OK?
Let's start at the company's "about us" web page: "Conexant Systems is a leading provider of solutions for imaging, audio, embedded modem, and video surveillance applications – areas where the company has established leadership positions."
OK, but that tag line would work for Marvell or STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) too -- except that those other guys wouldn't brag about modem chips. Hold that thought.
How about the corporate governance credo off Conexant's investor relations site? Uh-oh, nothing but boilerplate blather that doesn't mean anything; no mission or vision, no clearly defined goals.
Investor presentations sounds like a promising resource. Oh, but it's empty. There are no press releases in the archives. SEC filings fare even worse -- you get a web server error there. Is anybody running this ghost ship? Would you help me count the tumbleweeds to the soothing sounds of crickets and loons?
The worseOK, so I have to get Conexant's 10-K statement off some other site. The business description there doesn't make me feel any better:

Digicel launches HSPA+ wireless service

Bermudan mobile operator Digicel today launched a new 3G+ wireless modem which will enable its cell phone and laptop users to access the World Wide Web via a mobile broadband connection from almost anywhere on the Island using HSPA+ technology. The new device is available in a range of different flavours to suit the user’s demands. Entry level prices start at BMD79 (USD79) per month for a plan with a 2GB download cap, rising to BMD89 per month (3.5GB) and BMD99 a month for 6GB of traffic. Moreover, 3G+ for smartphones costs BMD9 per month for the 2MB plan it said, BMD20 for 10MB, BMD35 for 20MB and BMD45 for the premium data plan (350MB) which is controlled through a ‘fair usage’ policy to prevent network congestion. The operator’s single user modem costs BMD99 and the multi-user modem BMD199.

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Telecom price wars shift to internet

KAMPALA, UGANDA - Internet services are now the latest turf for the telecom company price wars. Internet price wars are not new in Uganda but the heat has now been turned with internet prices dropping significantly.

Telecom companies have been concentrating on the provision of voice services but because of the declining expenditure by customers on airtime, the telecom companies are now finding alternative sources of making money.

"The operating costs remain futile and that's why we are moving more into the provision of data services. Data services especially the internet is the way to go right now," MTN Uganda CEO Themba Khumalo said at a recent event.

The voice calling price wars begun with Warid Telecom offering 24hours of calls for atleast Ushs1500($0.7), this meant atleast Ugandans now started owning more than one sim-card but spending less on airtime.

Orange came up with a similar promotion dubbed Gyekiri but it has not yet picked up in the market. Zain is still currently offering 25 minutes for Ushs500 ($0.2). Uganda Telecom recently introduced free calls for 24 hours at a cost of Ushs1000 ($0.5).

It is promos that have reduced turnovers of some of the telecom and so they had to find alternative ways of making money. For long, UTL and MTN have been providing internet to Ugandans but these services were expensive.

Early this year Orange Telecom Chief executive Phillip Luxcey announced that the telecom company will focus on making more money by being a market leader in the provision of internet and data services. They came with slashed rates whilst offering high speed internet after being hooked to the SEACOM undersea fibre optic cable.

Warid Telecom also came up with internet services at reduced rates as they tried to outwit Orange in this market. Both companies were however coming into the market which UTL had dominated in the provision of Local Area Network (LAN) internet. Their reduced rates however began to eat into the UTL and MTN sales as they both mainly concentrated on the voice services.

The mobile internet modem has been a gadget that more Ugandans are using more often because its price has dropped significantly. By early last year a UTL and MTN modem was atleast over Ushs250, 000($109) but by the end of last week the rates have gone as low as Ushs130,000($57). Zain was the first to reduce the price of its modem to atleast Ushs50,000($22) at the beginning of the year but their cost per kilo byte remained expensive for the regular user.

Orange had its modem at Ushs199,000($87) but this rate has reduced to atleast Ushs70,000($30) for a 3.6mega byte per second connection and Ushs110,000($48) for 7.2mps. The reduction in rates by Orange was because new Internet Service Provider Foris Telecom had launched its internet at a cheaper rate. The Foris Telecom internet brand is known as "In."

Then last week, MTN introduced 3G+ internet and cut its rates for monthly charges to atleast Ushs25,000($11) for the 500MB package. Orange also offers the same price for packages just like MTN.

MTN was previously charging a flat fee of Ushs90,000($39) for its unlimited internet which was usually unreliable during the day. Warid Telecom has also slashed the rates for its modem to Ushs70,000($30) but the marketing of the internet package remains low meaning that Orange, MTN and UTL remain the market leaders in data provision.

Orange and Foris can also carry forward unutilised bandwidth to the next month in case the customer doesn't fully use the whole package. If a customer acquires 1GB from Orange, then they use only 800MB then the balance of 200MB is carried forward to the next month but the customer has to pay for the next month though.

In the newspapers, on TV and other media the adverts are not about new calling rates but are now about the new internet rates. The price wars may be bringing competition among telecom companies but for the customers they mean acquiring cheaper internet at low cost.

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Advanced Modem Data Logger 2.4.3.718

You may be an experienced hardware or software designer,or a college student making his first steps towards a professional career,or a gifted hardware lover illuminated by a new bright technical concept and looking for a handy software for extending your hardware application. Whichever the case may be,look no further than Advanced Modem Data Logger,for it may well suffice all of your technical needs. The program can utilize several
RS232,PCI,USB modems,that accept AT requests or have TAPI interface. Advanced Modem Data Logger contains a task schedule to dial a phone numbers and aquisite a data from data sources to . The software receives modem dataflow,custom filters it to your needs,then extracts tags with the data from data records and writes the data to files or to a database,or any Windows software either by sending keystrokes to the application’s window. If you have several modems working at the same time,do not worry,our software can handle many modems at once and write the data simultaneously Advanced Modem Data Logger can work as a Windows service,which means that users can log on and off the PC,but the program will still be there recording your information,recordingreceivingcapturingcatching] every character. Astonishing functionality and power at an affordable worth Key features: * logs multiple modems together; * utilizes RS232,USB,PCI or GSM modems; * collects binary and text data from remote devices; * a configurable scheduler for each modem; * supports date/time stamping; * supports aggregation of several sentences to one data record; * saves received modem data without any changes to a log file; * data parsers that allows you to parse,filter and format your data; * data exporting to MS Excel files; * data exporting to any ODBC-compatible database; * many plug-in modules; * works as a service or a standalone application on all Windows versions.

Using warez version,crack,warez passwords,patches,serial numbers,registration codes,key generator,pirate key,keymaker or keygen for
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Leaked Verizon FiveSpot MiFi To Feature Dual CDMA/GSM Radios

A tipster within Verizon sent pictures of an unannounced new WiFi hotspot/MiFi to tech blog Engadget this past week. The “FiveSpot” as it’s called, won’t be just any Verizon hotspot – as its “Global Ready” with room for a GSM SIM Card and full UMTS (3G) support.

Not much was released about the “FiveSpot” other than it’s awesome name, some pictures, and the news that it’s global ready. I would imagine that it’ll be configured for European 3G bands only (2100 MHz), so don’t get any ideas about using this with a T-Mobile or AT&T SIM card (although that would surely be awesome – Verizon probably doesn’t think so).
No idea on how much this would cost – but Verizon’s current mobile broadband offerings range in price from free (on the USB modem) to $80 for their existing USB global modem (both prices are with two-year contract).
Despite being a CDMA carrier, Verizon is pretty global-friendly. A number of their phones have room for SIM cards for international travel, and they offer “Global Ready” mobile internet devices already, but they’re only USB

modems – not WiFi devices like this “FiveSpot” looks to be.
Nothing yet on pricing. We’ll keep you advised as soon as we hear more.

Via | Post filed under Mobile/Cell Phones

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Paul Rosen dies; helped develop high-speed modem

Paul Rosen, an electrical engineer who in the mid-1950s helped develop the high-speed modem, spurring revolutionary progress in the nascent industry of telecommunications, died of congestive heart failure July 20 at his cottage in West Bath, Maine. He was 88.
The technology behind the modem -- a device that converts data into signals that can be passed through channels such as phone lines -- has existed in primitive forms since the late 1940s. But in those days, phone lines carried data signals inconsistently, and information was transmitted slowly.
While working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory in 1958, Mr. Rosen and a colleague, Jack Harrington, patented a device that rapidly transmitted large amounts of data over phone lines.
Their invention, "Method of Land Line Pulse Transmission," helped expand computer networks nationwide by significantly accelerating the flow of data over phone lines.
"One of my colleagues said, 'Oh, you're going to get rich on this,' " Mr. Rosen said in a 2004 interview with IEEE, the organization formerly known as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
But the patent's wording was too constrained -- the work of an inept lawyer, Mr. Rosen often said -- which allowed competitors such as AT&T's Bell Labs to create their own modems by making only minor adjustments to the patented design. Thus, Mr. Rosen never made the fortune he thought he deserved when high-speed modems based on his work began popping up across the United States.
Nonetheless, Mr. Rosen's system was a crucial addition to a landmark Army defense project during the Cold War. The SAGE program, or Semi-Automatic Ground Environment, was a series of more than 100 radar installations spread across the northern border of the United States. Each station sent data about incoming planes, such as Russian bombers loaded with nuclear weapons, to centers around the country at a rate of more than 1,800 bits per second through Mr. Rosen's modems
The standard maximum speed for data transmission was about 600 bps, but Mr. Rosen's breakthrough technology allowed the military to monitor U.S. air space nearly in real time.
In 1979, for his leadership and contributions in military communications, Mr. Rosen was made a fellow of the IEEE, one of the most prestigious honors for engineers.
Paul Rosen was born in Boston on Jan. 4, 1922. His parents were Jewish immigrants from Russia, and he grew up in ghettos in suburban Boston. His father's first job in the United States was washing milk cans at a dairy.
Mr. Rosen said he became fascinated with engineering while toying with old crystal radios as a teenager. At what is now Tufts University, Mr. Rosen said, he received a "lousy education" and made money working in the school's machine shop, where he made cast-iron ingots for 40 cents an hour. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1944 and joined the Navy during World War II.
After sporadic training that included stints as an enlisted sailor and deck officer, Mr. Rosen spent the rest of his Navy service in Guam with a logistics company, supervising the loading and unloading ships
The two supplies that Mr. Rosen said his company never ran out of were shaved ice and beer.
Mr. Rosen began working at MIT in the late 1940s, where he later received a master's degree in engineering. At the Lincoln Laboratory, he became a senior leader in the communications and mechanical engineering divisions and oversaw the development of radar systems, satellites and data encryption systems.
For much of his time at MIT, Mr. Rosen worked in Building 20, a site of antiwar protests during the 1960s because the school's ROTC and several programs funded by the Defense Department were there.
"I felt like a turkey, because here I was working my butt off and I thought doing good work, and these guys would come around and accuse me of being a warmonger," Mr. Rosen said in the 2004 interview.
He left the Lincoln Laboratory in 1977 and spent three years as head of the Defense Communications Agency. He returned to the Lincoln Laboratory in 1980 and spent four years there before retiring.
Mr. Rosen went back to school in the early 1970s for a second master's degree in psychiatric counseling from Boston University and volunteered as a crisis and intervention responder in Cambridge.
In 1992, he moved to Deerfield Beach, Fla., and taught courses on existentialism for senior citizens at Lynn University in Boca Raton.
He had lived in Silver Spring since 2006.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Annette Braverman Rosen of Silver Spring; three children, Mark Rosen of Auburn, Calif., Bruce Rosen of Newton, Mass., and Elliot Rosen of Takoma Park; a sister; a brother; and five grandchildren.
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Digicel launches 3G+ network

Digicel officially launched its 3G+ network at a press conference held at Washington Mall Phase III yesterday.

The mobile provider claims that the state-of-the-art network is the fastest mobile broadband network in Bermuda and offers the best value and customer service from Digicel.

The Digicel 3G+ network is the first of its kind in Bermuda and is one of 30 worldwide. 3G+ is the name used by Digicel to describe the 'Evolved High-Speed Packet Access' technology Digicel has deployed. The technology is also known as HSPA Evolution or HSPA+.

3G+ technology, which was introduced globally in late 2008 and is a significant improvement on the standard 3G counterpart which is now eight years old, enabling users to connect wirelessly to the Internet, e-mail and other web-based applications using a 3G-enabled handset or a Digicel USB modem at faster speeds.

To celebrate the launch, Digicel is offering its USB modem for $45 with the purchase of a BlackBerry 9700; a single user wireless USB modem for $69; or a WiFi wireless modem that provides data to five users simultaneously for $139 (an introductory offer that runs from today until the end of August).

Speaking at the launch, Digicel Bermuda CEO, Wayne Caines, said: "We are using the very latest in 3G technology and have expanded our coverage right across the Island.

"There is no need for a new SIM card, customers simply need to register for the 3G+ service and start browsing straight away. And for customers with an Apple iPad, we have introduced a 3G+ Micro SIM card that can be purchased in any Digicel store." 

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Modem Booster 5.0 Speeds up your internet upto 300%

Modem Booster description

Helps you get up to 300 percent faster download and surfing speed with Modem Booster

Tuning your modem setting is as easy as clicking on a button with Modem Booster.

Selecting Auto Tune-Up runs a series of tests and optimizes your modem settings. These tests check your actual performance and derive the optimal settings by fine-tuning each of the important components as seen in the Manual Tune-Up.

Modem Booster works for all Dial-Up modems and major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) worldwide. It is also specially designed to optimize AOL, CompuServe 2000, MSN, NetZero, Prodigy and AT&T WorldNet Connections.

If you`re on 56 kbps modem, Modem Booster help make your modem blaze like a DSL without the hefty monthly subscription.

Modem Booster's new Ping Technology gives you the absolute best possible ping settings on your system and ISP! Enjoy significant speed boosts all ISPs, including AOL, Compuserve 2000, MSN and NetZero.

Here are some key features of "Modem Booster":

Boost your :
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Works on All Internet Connections:
· Modem Booster now works on all Internet connections, even high speed internet access connections! Dial-up, DSL, ADSL, Cable modem speeds can all be improved with this Internet accelerator!
Max Out your Modem Speed:
· Modem Booster tests your Internet speed settings systematically by running a series of diagnostic tests to see how much room there is for improvement, then determines the best settings for improved performance!
Tweak Hidden Internet Settings:
· This accelerator download tweaks and optimizes your hidden Windows settings safely for greater Internet speeds!

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