Cell Phones Blog

It’s been roughly 8 months since the release of the iPhone and there haven’t been any software updates that have drastically changed the usability of the iPhone. The most significant update allowed for the addition of web clips and the ability to move icons around the screen. Those frustrated with the lack of movement have resorted to jailbreaking the iPhone and utilizing many of the unofficial applications already available. The landscape will all drastically change soon after Apple releases the official iPhone SDK (shorthand for Software Development Kit) later this month, clearing the way for official iPhone applications.

Although a specific date has yet to be announced, a statement made by Steve Jobs back in October promised a February release. "Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers’ hands in February," said Jobs in a statement in October. The impact of the release will no doubt have a substantial impact on the device itself. A robust operating system, an anxious group of quality developers and the release of the iPhone software development kit should pay off for iPhone users looking to expand the capabilities of their device.

The release of third party applications will change the way people think about the iPhone. One of the few drawbacks that detractors could fall back on was the fact the iPhone was a "closed device". Clearly, this will no longer be the case as the floodgates of third party software will be open. Steve Jobs doesn’t have to release iPhone version 2 to get the iPhone buzz back on track. Adding hundreds of useful robust applications will most certainly generate excitement that’s waned since the release. To be fair, it would be impossible for it not to be in decline given the vast amount of coverage surrounding the release. Jobs continued, "We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users." There have been rumblings surrounding an Apple event at the end of this month. While it most likely will not be iPhone 2, it might very well be the iPhone SDK and for many the result will be like having a new iPhone.

Source: Countdown to the iPhone SDK Release

According to ZD|Net Cisco is going to come out with a mobile phone, Android powered, that looks similar to the iPhone, but is meant for enterprise use. The demo Dave Greenfield was shown comprised of a 3 way video call, we can assume the device has a camera in the front for video calls, and many business tools such as email, calendering, todo's, etc, all integrated.

One to watch out for, just a reminder: we're going to be at Mobile World Congress, hopefully catching this baby on camera.

Source: Cisco to release Android powered mobile phone, looks like iPhone

Love AT&T's 3G network performance? Hate AT&T's 3G network reliability and coverage? Right, us too. But, fear not, AT&T-fan. The No. 1 national wireless carrier has announced that they've got some massive 3G upgrades planned for 2008 - again. As expected, AT&T will be turning up the dial on their HSPA network and offering coverage in 80 new cities - bringing the grand total of HSPA-covered areas to 350.

The announcement times perfectly with the FCC's approval of the AT&T acquisition of Aloha's 12Mhz slice of the 700Mhz spectrum. AT&T has ear-marked this extra bandwidth for “broadcast video or for two-way communications such as voice, data or multicast content," and expanding their 3G HSPA network falls directly in the "data" category. The network upgrade will bring 600Kbps to 1.4Mbps downlink speeds and 500Kbps to 800Kbps uplink speeds to even more parts of the country.

And, after most of AT&T's network gets the HSPA-treatment, the AT&T 3G network will be ready for inevitable HSPA+ upgrades. Of course, all these upgrades are just milestones on the path towards AT&T's eventual 4G LTE network rollout in 2009 at the earliest, with 2010/2011 being more realistic time-frames for a full commercial LTE network launch.

Is AT&T upgrading their 3G network to get ready for the 3G iPhone? Well, AT&T upgraded its EDGE network ahead of and during the iPhone's initial launch. So, it wouldn't be a far-stretch to think that AT&T is making sure its HSPA-ship is in shape before Apple bows the 3G iPhone sometime this year.

Read on for the full press release…

AT&T Plans Major Expansion of 3G Wireless Broadband Service in 2008

Company to Expand 3G Service to More Than 80 New Cities, Complete Upload Broadband Speed Enhancements

New Milestones Mark Next Step in Direction Toward Long-Term Evolution (LTE)

San Antonio, Texas, February 6, 2008

_uacct = “UA-361227-16″; urchinTracker(); AT&T is casting a wider Net for mobile customers this year by building out its network to make catching a high speed wireless Web connection easier coast-to-coast.

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced highlights of the company's 2008 wireless network expansion plans, including the deployment of third-generation (3G) wireless broadband service to more than 80 additional cities in the United States through the course of the year. The planned expansion is expected to deliver AT&T 3G services to nearly 350 leading U.S. markets by the end of 2008, including all of the top 100 U.S. cities. The 3G initiative will include the roll out of more than 1,500 additional cell sites nationwide.

Other plans for the new year include completion of the nation's first High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA)-enabled network by the middle of the year. The AT&T 3G network now delivers typical downlink speeds ranging between 600 and 1,400 Kilobits per second (Kbps), as well as faster uplink speeds, ranging from 500 and 800 Kilobits per second (Kbps). The faster uplink speeds allow AT&T's HSUPA-enabled laptop users to more quickly send large files and take full advantage of the latest interactive Internet and business applications.

The company's wireless network is based on GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) technologies, the most open and widely used wireless network platform in the world, supporting 86 percent of the people worldwide who use wireless devices. This platform also positions AT&T to continually adopt next-generation technologies.

"Fast wireless broadband is the foundation for a whole range of new and emerging applications that our customers are adopting, including everything from social networking to sending live video and large business files," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO for AT&T's wireless unit. "With these aggressive initiatives, we're expanding the scope and the speed of our 3G capabilities, connecting people with their world and enabling more customers to do more with their wireless devices, wherever they may be.

"We're also planning for the future by establishing a clear path to a 4G network that will meet the needs of our customers for years to come," said de la Vega.

The deployment of HSUPA this year is the next step in the evolution of AT&T's 3G network, with further enhancements and speed boosts expected in the near future. This year's HSUPA deployment will complete the transition of the AT&T 3G network to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) standards, marking the only full transition by any wireless provider in the United States to this latest generation of wireless broadband capabilities.

As customer needs continue to evolve and grow in the future, AT&T's global leadership in deployment of GSM technologies positions the company to continuously evolve its network to meet those needs. The evolution towards HSPA+ and LTE technologies will enable the company to continue to deliver higher speeds and capacity in the years to come.

"From the beginning, our wireless network has been designed with the future in mind," said de la Vega. "The capabilities of 3G standards will continue to expand over the next several years, enabling us to stay well ahead of our customers' broadband needs. And looking even further into the future, our existing technologies provide the ideal platform for a smooth transition to next-generation platforms."

AT&T's GSM technology also offers customers the largest international roaming footprint. AT&T devices work in 196 countries and regions — accounting for more than 90 percent of the planet. All GSM customers in those countries can roam on the AT&T network in the United States as well.

Note: This AT&T release and other news announcements are available as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rssAT&T press release 

[Via: Electronista]

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Source: AT&T 3G network slated for massive expansion in 2008 - preparing for 3G iPhone?

James