[MobileRatty] tag: verizon

Alternatives to the iPhone!

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:32:49 +0000

The iPhone seems to be the sexy choice for the new touch screen smart phone market, but there are alternatives to the iPhone. AT&T along with Mac started this new trend by revolutionizing cell phones. Not to be outdone Verizon, Sprint and other major carries have come out with their own phones to act as alternatives to the iPhone. The Samsung Instinct on the Sprint network is the first one that comes to mind. This phone seems to be the closest to the iPhone as far as popularity goes. Features include voice activated navigation, easy web browsing and a plan that costs $100 for unlimited everything. That means unlimited talk, web, text–everything! That is a very popular feature that the iPhone does not offer.

Next you may think of the LG Dare, exclusive through the Verizon network. This phone is unique because it has a sensor in it that tells if you are holding it vertically or horizontally. A true standout feature with this phone is the 3.2 megapixel camera, which is amongst the best for camera phones.

BlackBerry is even on the verge of releasing the BlackBerry “Thunder” or it could be known as the Blackberry 9500 when it becomes available to the public. When this phone hits the market it will simply add to the amount of phones that could act as alternatives to the iPhone. The new BlackBerry will sport a hybrid CDMA/EV-DO. It may even come with a 4G LTE component. Verizon and Vondaphone stand to be the exclusive carriers of this impressive looking phone.

Rest assured that there will only be more and more alternatives showing up on the market. Cell phones have seen a new day and the iPhone had the largest contribution to this trend. Just like the Motorola StarTac was the first created the flip phone. A trend that saw a near end to standard phones that were, at the time, the only game in town. Boy how times have changed.

comScore Reports that the U.S. Catches Up With Western Europe in Adoption of 3G Mobile Devices

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:36:00 +0000

U.S. Experiences 80 Percent Growth in 3G Subscribers

RESTON, Va., /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR - News), a leader in measuring the digital world, today reported that after a slower start, the United States has caught up with Western Europe in the adoption of 3G with 28.4 percent of American mobile subscribers having 3G devices versus 28.3 percent in the largest countries in Europe.

The number of U.S. subscribers with 3G enabled devices has grown 80 percent to 64.2 million during the past year. The market has responded enthusiastically as mobile vendors have rolled out their enhanced networks and a new crop of 3G enabled devices. The only individual major European countries exceeding the U.S. in 3G penetration are Italy and Spain.

"For years, the American mobile industry has aspired to the level of sophistication of the European market," observed Mark Donovan, senior vice president and senior analyst, comScore. "Today, Americans have finally caught up with Europeans in adoption of 3G. The advancements in 3G network technology and the introduction of sleek devices into the U.S. market have paid off as adoption of mobile media continues to grow at a rapid pace."

About comScore

comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR - News) is a global leader in measuring the digital world and a preferred source of digital marketing intelligence. In an independent survey of 800 of the most influential publishers, advertising agencies and advertisers conducted by William Blair & Company in July 2008, comScore was rated the 'most preferred online audience measurement service' by 54% of respondents, a full 20 points ahead of its nearest competitor. comScore's capabilities are based on a massive, global cross-section of approximately 2 million Internet users who have given comScore permission to confidentially capture their browsing and transaction behavior, including online and offline purchasing. comScore panelists also participate in survey research that gathers and integrates their attitudes and intentions. Using its proprietary technology, comScore measures what matters across a broad spectrum of digital behavior and attitudes, helping clients design more powerful marketing strategies that deliver superior ROI. With its recent acquisition of M:Metrics, comScore is also a leading source of data on mobile usage. comScore services are used by more than 1100 clients, including global leaders such as AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo!, BBC, Carat, Cyworld, Deutsche Bank, France Telecom, Best Buy, The Newspaper Association of America, Financial Times, ESPN, Fox Sports, Nestle, Starcom, Universal McCann, the United States Postal Service, the University of Chicago, Verizon Services Group and ViaMichelin. For more information, visit http://www.comscore.com.

UK: Orange to open another 60 stores

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:31:12 +0000

Following relatively hot on the heels of Vodafone, Orange UK has announced plans to open 60 new stores through 2008, and into 2009. These will take up locations such as Southampton, Bristol, and parts of London - adding to the existing 338 shops. If that wasn’t enough, another 100 stores are set to get a facelift in the next 12 months!

The new and re-furbished stores will be based on the design of Cardiff’s flagship city centre shop, following its success since the opening last year. The stores will be designed to enhance the shopping experience, display our full product range from mobiles to laptops and to improve customer service, with a clean, stylish look and feel and open floor space. Features will include modernised displays for PAYM phones, making it easier for customers to browse and view the products on show as well as a dedicated space highlighting Orange only offers.

It seems like the battle for new and existing customers (on other networks) is going to played out at least partly on the shopfloor - with Vodafone announcing stores, now Orange, and other Operators surely making moves, this is going to be an interesting one to watch…..

[Via: Cellular News]

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Related Articles at IntoMobile:

HTC Touch Diamond coming to Sprint on September 14th for $249.99

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:02:26 +0000

We’ve already wrote about it, but now we have yet another proof and a more concrete details to report about the upcoming HTC Touch Diamond for Sprint.

Arguably the single coolest looking Windows Mobile smartphone will be hitting Sprint’s offering in 10 days. According to PC Magazine, we’re talking about September 14th here when both existing and potential Sprint customers will be able to grab the all-touchscreen device for $249.99 on a two-year contract and after a $100 rebate. That’s kinda steep when you consider the iPhone 3G could be yours for $199, but then again, you won’t have to sign-up for iPhone-like expensive plan. Or that’s my take, at least. We’re eagerly counting the last days before the Touch.

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

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Related Articles at IntoMobile:

AT&T will improve North OC indoor service this year

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:10:23 +0000

This is an update to last night’s post about AT&T improving signal strength in South Orange County. Read “AT&T improves indoor cell signal … for some of O.C.” to learn why South OC was first and other technical details.

Geoff Mordock, with AT&T, updated me this morning that North OC AT&T users should see improvement in their signal strength indoors in upcoming weeks.

He writes: “I confirmed that we expect to roll out 850 coverage in that area over the next several weeks (expected completion is by mid November). Please understand that this takes considerable resources and that not all areas can be completed at once.”

Feel free to join the AT&T signal strength discussion HERE and please share your experience with the rest of us!

Past AT&T posts:

Screen Grabs: jerkface Verizon FiOS guy brandishes a Kindle

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:05:00 +0000

Filed under: Handhelds

Screen grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com.

Yeah, we know a Screen Grabs about a commercial about technology is kind of cheating, but there are a couple of gaffes to point out here. First, Mr. Smug Surfer-Do "I Was In A Band But We Split Up Over Creative Differences" Verizon FiOS Guy is a total jerk, so we're totally rooting for the Zach Galifianakis look-alike, even if his bandwidth might suck. Second, waving a Kindle around might make you look like you rock at your job, but we're guessing a paper clipboard is about 100 times more functional for the actual task, unless you're supposed to read self-help books to your customers. Bitter cable users who can't get FiOS yet unite!

[Thanks, Don R.]

Continue reading Screen Grabs: jerkface Verizon FiOS guy brandishes a Kindle

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MediaFLO USA Lineup of Live, Full-Length College Football Games

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:41:16 +0000

MediaFLO USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, will carry an unprecedented lineup of live, full-length college football games on its award-winning mobile TV service throughout the 2008 season.

With an extensive schedule of college football games on CBS Mobile, ESPN Mobile TV, FOX Sports and NBC 2Go, the service is the perfect teammate for fans who want to enjoy live football in stunning clarity on their mobile phones. MediaFLO USA's mobile TV service is available to AT&T subscribers as AT&T Mobile TV and to Verizon Wireless customers as V CAST Mobile TV.

AT&T and Verizon Wireless subscribers have access to more than 200 hours of live programming, including all six Notre Dame home games on NBC 2Go, and full-length Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 Conference, Big East Conference, Big Ten Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Pacific-10 Conference, Southeastern Conference, Sun Belt Conference and Western Athletic Conference match-ups.

Additionally, MediaFLO USA's mobile TV service will air a comprehensive schedule of more than 20 bowl games following the regular season.

Starting in early September, MediaFLO USA will stoke the passions and rivalries of college football fans with an innovative online and mobile “Perfect Teammate” marketing campaign - including an online application that allows rival fans to taunt each other before big games, a sweepstakes, a widget and details of MediaFLO USA's college football programming.

ESPN Mobile TV will offer between five to 10 live games per week featuring teams representing every BCS Conference. The action started during Kickoff Week on August 25, which included ESPN Mobile TV's showcase of defending BCS National Champion LSU hosting defending Football Subdivision Champion Appalachian State on August 30.

Highlights of the 2008 college football season on CBS Mobile include:

Georgia at South Carolina (Sept. 13)
Florida at Tennessee (Sept. 20)
Tennessee at Auburn (Sept. 27)
Tennessee at Georgia (Oct. 11)
LSU at Florida (Oct. 11)
Georgia at LSU (Oct. 25)
Georgia at Florida (Nov. 1)
Alabama at LSU (Nov. 8)
Georgia Tech at Georgia (Nov. 29)
SEC Championship game (Dec. 6)

Highlights of ESPN's September college football coverage include:

South Carolina at Vanderbilt (Sept. 4)
Navy at Ball State (Sept. 5)
West Virginia at East Carolina (Sept. 6)
Miami at Florida (Sept. 6)

FOX Sports on FOX Mobile will provide an extensive lineup of Big 12 games.

Highlights of the 2008 college football season from NBC Sports on NBC 2Go include:

San Diego State at Notre Dame (Sept. 6)
Michigan at Notre Dame (Sept. 13)
Purdue at Notre Dame (Sept. 27)
Stanford at Notre Dame (Oct. 4)
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (Nov. 1)
Syracuse at Notre Dame (Nov. 22)

All programming is subject to change.

AT&T Mobile TV and V CAST Mobile TV from Verizon Wireless feature an impressive lineup of primetime, news, entertainment and children's content from leading entertainment brands such as CBS, CBS College Sports, CBS News, Comedy Central, ESPN, FOX, FOX News, FOX Sports, MTV, NBC 2Go, NBC, NBC Sports, NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC, NickToons and Nickelodeon. Recent programming highlights include a dedicated, 24/7 X Games channel delivered in conjunction with ESPN; live U.S. Open golf coverage from ESPN and NBC Sports; “CSI” (CBS Mobile); “The Hills” and “Real World: Hollywood Season 20” (MTV); “Bones” (FOX Mobile); NBC's “30 Rock” and more.

All programs are available to AT&T and Verizon Wireless subscribers in 58 major metropolitan areas nationwide, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, Seattle and Washington, D.C., among others. Consumers can learn more about the service by visiting www.flotv.com, www.mediaflousa.com, www.att.com/mobiletv or www.verizonwireless.com/mobiletv, or by stopping by local AT&T stores or Verizon Wireless Communications Stores.

MediaFLO USA Lineup of Live, Full-Length College Football Games

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:41:16 +0000

Georgia at South Carolina (Sept. 13)
Florida at Tennessee (Sept. 20)
Tennessee at Auburn (Sept. 27)
Tennessee at Georgia (Oct. 11)
LSU at Florida (Oct. 11)
Georgia at LSU (Oct. 25)
Georgia at Florida (Nov. 1)
Alabama at LSU (Nov. 8)
Georgia Tech at Georgia (Nov. 29)
SEC Championship game (Dec. 6)

Highlights of ESPN's September college football coverage include:

South Carolina at Vanderbilt (Sept. 4)
Navy at Ball State (Sept. 5)
West Virginia at East Carolina (Sept. 6)
Miami at Florida (Sept. 6)

FOX Sports on FOX Mobile will provide an extensive lineup of Big 12 games.

Highlights of the 2008 college football season from NBC Sports on NBC 2Go include:

San Diego State at Notre Dame (Sept. 6)
Michigan at Notre Dame (Sept. 13)
Purdue at Notre Dame (Sept. 27)
Stanford at Notre Dame (Oct. 4)
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (Nov. 1)
Syracuse at Notre Dame (Nov. 22)

Sponsor Thanks [Announcements]

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:32:00 +0000

Without our sponsors, we couldn't afford the whippets that make this whole thing possible. So a very special thanks to Autotrader, Chevy Fuel Solutions, Clone Wars Soundtrack, Coors Light (Wilson Rothman's fave), Elgato Systems, Equifax, Gamestop, Hotflops, Lenovo, Microsoft Windows, Puma, Samsung, Sharp Aquos, Sprint, Starwood Aloft Hotels, Stolichnaya, T-Mobile, Toshiba Gaming, Unscrew America, Verizon. All of these companies are the best company ever.

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AT&T improves indoor cell signal for some of O.C.

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:07:08 +0000

If you’re an AT&T Wireless user living or working in South Orange County, consider yourself special. The company just upgraded service there so that its subscribers will get better cellular signal inside buildings.

This is part of a $310 million investment AT&T is making this year in the greater Los Angeles area, which spans from San Clemente to San Luis Obispo. This should improve cell signal for voice and data calls.

South OC was considered high priority, said Geoff Mordock, an AT&T spokesman. He couldn’t elaborate as to why South OC is special to AT&T, as is Bakersfield and Palm Springs where the improved service has also launched. But, apparently, not high priority is North OC. (South OC, as AT&T defines it, includes Irvine and anything southward.) But North OC “is in our plans, ” he said.

And the upgrade, he added, has nothing to do with reports of unsatisfactory 3G iPhone service.

Technically, the improvement came about because AT&T added the wireless frequency of 850 Megahertz, which supplements its existing 1900 Mhz service, Mordock said.

Now, 850 MHz is a frequency that has been reserved for analog cell phone users since the 1980s, said Charles Golvin, who tracks the mobile industry as a principal analyst at Forrester Research. The newer 1900 MHz started in the 90s and is used for digital service (Sprint uses just 1900 for its all digital service). Over the years, the technology has been tweaked so service and features have improved. While most cellular carriers use both frequencies, they may use different ones depending on region. AT&T has now chosen to offer both here in parts of OC.

“Over time, AT&T and Verizon offer the same thing because they both have 1900 and 850. They have gradually transitioned their services and technologies so in any market that you travel into, you may be using 1900, maybe 850 or both but not simultaneously,” he said. “But the main point is 850 Mhz penetrates buildings better.”

AT&T turned on the service this week. By the end of the year, the company will have added 74 new cell cites in OC to boost its high-speed services. Most are already online, the company said.

Any South OC AT&T users out there? Has the service improved? Please share your experience with the rest of us!

Image from AT&T

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