Verizon plans to roll out its 5G mobile network in 30 cities this year

At Samsung's Unpacked event Wednesday, it emerged Verizon is getting a short-term exclusive on Samsung's first 5G phone, the Galaxy S10 5G. To make sure people can use the handset and other 5G phones as intended, the provider plans to turn on its 5G...

Vodafone Foundation’s Backpack Is a Mobile Network on the Go

Vodafone Foundation Backpack  - A Mobile Network on the Go

Have you ever wanted to have a mobile network that never fails on you, no matter where you go? Vodafone’s Instant Network is exactly that, and on top of everything, you can carry it in a backpack.

The paradox of mobile networks is that despite the whole wireless communication, we are restrained in a certain area, and leaving it will result in our inability to communicate due to the signal dropping. That’s very unfortunate, because sometimes there arise emergency situations while in a no signal area. Vodafone Foundation’s Instant Network was particularly built with emergency situations in mind, when the infrastructure is either inexistent or has been damaged.

The Instant Network Mini offers support for both voice and SMS communications, and could prove to be life-saving in the case of natural or man-made disasters. If you want to see another bright side of this portable network, whoever carries the backpack will also get the chance to work his or her muscles, as the devices weighs no less than 11 kg (24.3 lb). Still, the Mini is very compact (otherwise it wouldn’t fit in a backpack, now would it?), so it could also play the role of hand baggage on commercial flights, provided that TSA’s regulations have nothing against it. Anyway, I don’t think that in the case of a disaster TSA’s regulations would matter that much anymore.

A spokesperson of the company explained that “Once the Mini is linked to the host mobile network, it is controlled similarly to existing base stations on the 2G network. The satellite and base station units are powered by an internal battery, but can also be powered via mains, or generator, electricity, 12 V from a car lighter or by using the included solar panel.”

Vodafone’s portable network works in an area measuring up to 100 meters (328 ft) in radius, and can sustain up to 5 simultaneous phone calls. Best of all, Vodafone made sure that setting up the network is as intuitive as possible, and that no technological know-how is necessary.

Furthermore, the spokesperson stated that “Collaboration with partner providers is essential for the Vodafone Foundation to provide support in all countries in times of humanitarian need, including, when required by those countries, areas in which Vodafone does not operate. We have most recently collaborated with SMART in the Philippines to provide support after Typhoon Haiyan.”

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the Vodafone Power Pocket that uses body heat to charge smartphones and the portable laptop case that transforms into a desk.

UK government and industry heavyweights set up 5G Innovation Centre, want to go one better

UK government and industry heavyweights set up 5G Innovation Centre, want to go one better

The UK is almost ready to flip the switch on its first LTE network, but it's determined to be at the forefront of the next-generation, setting up a "5G Innovation Centre" at the University of Surrey. The government announced it's putting up £11.6 million (around $18.6 million) in funding, but another £24 million (around $38.5 million) will be coming from an industry group comprising the likes of Huawei, Samsung, Telefonica, Rohde & Schwarz, Fujitsu and others. The money will allow research to go beyond concept and theory, with the aim that all partners work together to develop and standardize 5G technology, which the university has been looking into for a number of years already. They will focus on energy and spectrum efficiency as well as speed, and although it's early days, 10Gbps has been banded around as a per-tower target, translating to roughly 200Mbps for each connection. Unfortunately, we've also got a number to kill your geek buzz -- it's upwards of a decade away. Still, at least you've got a long time to think about which case you'll be picking up for your 5G-ready Galaxy S XV.

Continue reading UK government and industry heavyweights set up 5G Innovation Centre, want to go one better

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UK government and industry heavyweights set up 5G Innovation Centre, want to go one better originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mach inks carrier billing deal with Everything Everywhere, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK

Mach inks carrier billing deal with Everything Everywhere, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK

Not a month after Mach's last carrier billing deal, UK network providers Vodafone, Three, O2 and Everything Everywhere are getting in on the action. The company's direct billing solutions will initially allow the networks to charge app and online purchases straight to your bill, with in-app sales joining them at a later date. Don't expect this to be implemented immediately, however, as the agreement covers the back-end processing -- the individual carriers will be responsible for turning it on customer-side. They'll likely inform you when they hit the switch and your phone bill becomes a monthly surprise.

Continue reading Mach inks carrier billing deal with Everything Everywhere, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK

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Mach inks carrier billing deal with Everything Everywhere, O2, Vodafone and Three in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rogers boosting its LTE coverage in Canada, will cover 10 new cities by October 1st

Rogers boosting its LTE coverage in Canada, will cover 10 new cities by October 1st

We're sure it's just coincidence, but on the same day a certain new LTE phone was revealed, Rogers announced the expansion of its 4G network in Canada. By October 1st, the carrier will have switched on its high-speed network in Kingston, Edmonton, Quebec City, Oakville, Burlington, London, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Barrie. That's not quite the end of it either, as the plan is to feed 60 percent of the country's inhabitants the same 4G nourishment by the end of the year, and even more in 2013. With so many new LTE-capable devices soon finding their way into the hands of data-hungry Canadians, all that remains is the important decision of choosing your latest pocket-filler.

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Rogers boosting its LTE coverage in Canada, will cover 10 new cities by October 1st originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sprint confirms its HD Voice is incompatible with the iPhone 5

Sprint confirms its HD Voice is incompatible with the iPhone 5

The new, lighter iPhone 5 has a bigger screen, punchier processor, LTE and dual-band WiFi, but if you plan to pick one up for Sprint's network, you can't have it all. Carrier spokesperson Michelle Leff Mermelstein told Phone Scoop that its version of HD Voice will not work on Apple's new wünderphone. While most carriers use WCDMA networks to achieve the greater definition, Sprint uses CDMA 1X Advanced, which unfortunately isn't compatible with the handset. Knowing the feature will be missing prior to launch isn't ideal, but when you're calling your friends to boast about that day-one purchase, a slight drop in clarity isn't likely to kill your geek buzz.

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Sprint confirms its HD Voice is incompatible with the iPhone 5 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 06:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype strikes deal with Mach to expand direct carrier billing for credit purchases

Skype strikes deal with Mach to expand direct carrier billing for credit purchases

Skype is always finding new ways of making it easier for users to spend money, and now it's extending its carrier billing options in a new deal with Mach. From October, more users than ever will be able to buy credit for the VoIP service then forget about it -- at least until the phone bill arrives. Purchases will initially be available through a web browser, but in-app functionality is expected in the future, although there's no word on exactly which network providers will be involved. We hope, however, that sometime next month, at least a few of those who enjoy Skyping on the move will appreciate sending the bill to their carrier.

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Skype strikes deal with Mach to expand direct carrier billing for credit purchases originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Sep 2012 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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