CES 2012
The grand-daddy of consumer electronics shows takes place the week of January 9th. A lot of cell phone news is expected, from LG, Samsung, Nokia, AT&T, Sprint, and more. We'll be reporting all week from Las Vegas, with liveblogs, hands-on reports, and other news . Our CES page collects all of our CES news in one place.
T-Mobile Backpedals on AWS iPhone Comments
T-Mobile USA today issued a statement concerning comments made by CTO Neville Ray regarding the evolution of wireless chips. He was quoted as saying, "The next chipset will support AWS. The challenge that existed in the past will go away." His comments led many to believe that the next version of the iPhone will support AWS spectrum, which is needed for the iPhone to operate on T-Mobile's 3G network. T-Mobile said, however, "Mr. Ray was speaking generally to chipset advancements available to all phone manufacturers. T-Mobile has no knowledge of Apple's product roadmap and our position on the iPhone has not changed."
Fujitsu Targeting Late 2012, Early 2013 for US Market Entry
"North America is our priority market," said Fujitsu Senior Executive Vice President Hideyuki Saso in an interview with AllThingsD. Fujitsu sells Android and Windows Phone smartphones in Japan, but has yet to tackle the US market. It is looking at how to enter the market in such a way that it isn't just another player. "If we try to do [the] same thing as our competitors, it is going to be tough," said Saso. "We would like to identify the right way of entering the North American market that would make use of our technology and expertise to make a steady landing. We don't want to be just another mobile phone. We want to be special." Some of the features available on Fujitsu's smartphones in Japan include water proof models that are very thin.
ZTE Scores U.S. Distribution Deal with PCS Wireless
PCS Wireless and ZTE today announced that PCS Wireless will distribute ZTE's phones and other devices to regional U.S. network operators. The deal with give smaller network operators better access to customized handsets and services from ZTE, including custom flash screens to retail packaging.
Hands-On: EmporiaCLICK and EmporiaSOLID
Austria-based Emporia Telecom is hoping to break into the U.S. market with its Click and Solid phones. These simple-to-use handsets target the senior set. Here a first look.
Hands On with GreatCall Responder and iOS Apps
GreatCall is known for their Jitterbug phone, but this year they're expanding both up and down. For people who want something even simpler or cheaper, there's now the one-button Responder. They also have a new suite apps and services for your tech-savvy grandma who loves her iPhone. Read on for our quick hands-on.
TomTom Adds Facebook and Twitter to iOS Nav App
TomTom recently announced a forthcoming version of its navigation application for Apple's iOS devices that will integrate data from Facebook and Twitter. Specifically, it will use Facebook places, events, and friends as a source of turn-by-turn navigation. It will also let drivers share their destination and arrival time on Twitter, Facebook, or by email and SMS. The refreshed software is expected to arrive by the end of the first quarter, and will be a free update to current users of the TomTom navigation application.
Motorola Adding Chrome Support to Next-Gen Webtop
Motorola is working on a next-generation version of its Webtop mobile application that will add support for Google's Chrome browser. In an interview with The Verge, Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha said, "What we call the next generation of Webtop will have more capabilities," adding that the switch to Android 4.0 will lead to a smoother user experience. Webtop allows Motorola phones to connect to a lapdock device and use a full browser and Android applications on the larger screen. The first generation supports Mozilla's Firefox browser instead of Chrome. Jha also revealed that only 9% of Webtop-enabled device owners are using the Webtop application. Jha didn't say when the next version of Webtop will be available.
Hands On with the Samsung Galaxy Attain 4G
The Galaxy Attain is the result of trying to make a 4G LTE phone really affordable, for a prepaid carrier like MetroPCS. It's a cute little phone, with that blazing fast LTE inside. See how it stacks up in our hands-on.
T-Mobile Announces Samsung Galaxy S Blaze 4G
T-Mobile today announced a new 4G Galaxy-series phone from Samsung. The Blaze sports HSPA+ 42 Mbps data, a Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 dual-core processor at 1.5 GHz, and a Super AMOLED screen. It will be available "in the first half of this year." Further details will be announced closer to launch.
Motorola to Add Intel to Android Smartphones
Motorola and Intel today announced a new partnership that will result in Motorola using Intel's Atom processors in future Android smartphones and tablets. The two companies called it a "multi-year, multi-device strategic relationship." Motorola didn't provide details on any specific Intel-based Android devices.
Motorola Plans for Fewer Phones This Year
Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha today indicated that the company hopes to make fewer phones during 2012 in order to conserve marketing resources. In an interview with The Verge, Jha also said that Motorola needs to be able to differentiate the Motorola experience when compared to the competition. "Verizon and AT&T don't want seven stock ICS devices on their shelves. The vast majority of the changes we make to the OS are to meet the requirements that carriers have." In short, Motorola will continue to offer its own user experience on Android devices, but there will be fewer of them this year.
Hands On with the LG Spectrum for Verizon
The Spectrum is LG's new flagship 4G LTE phone from Verizon. The display is huge and HD, yet it's thinner than last year's Revolution. How does it shape up?
Lenovo Hopes to Crack U.S. Smartphone Market
Lenovo today indicated that it wants to sell smartphones in the U.S., according to an interview with Reuters. David Schmoock, Lenovo's North American chief, said, "I will spend time over the next couple of years building out the relationship with the mobile providers — AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc. You have to build out that network first, then that allows you to put products on the shelf." Schmook doesn't see Lenovo hitting U.S. retail stores imminently, but he is working to make it happen. Lenovo recently announced a new Android-based smartphone called LePhone 2 that will be sold in its home market of China.
Nokia Looking to Offer Each Network Its Own WP7 Flagship
Nokia want to sell an exclusive Windows Phone device with each of the major U.S. network operators, said Nokia's U.S. chief Chris Weber in an interview with Fierce Wireless. "The most important thing we can do in the U.S. market is bring exclusive devices and opportunities to each of the carriers. Doing that exclusivity and giving them something unique allows us to get great carrier support. I think it's critical for us to be successful in the U.S. That's the way you get great carrier support." Weber did not indicate that Nokia has concrete plans to offer such devices beyond those already for sale with AT&T and T-Mobile USA. Nokia hopes to win over first-time smartphone buyers, too, with inexpensive WP7 smartphones to get them hooked on the WP7 experience and the Nokia brand. Nokia plans to market its U.S. devices heavily in the coming months.
Hands On with the Huawei Mercury
The Mercury is out with Cricket, but CES has been our first chance to try one. It's and unusually high-spec Android phone for both Huawei and Cricket. How does it stack up? Read on to find out.
Hands On with Moneto Secure NFC Payment microSD Card
DeviceFidelity this month is launching Moneto, a new independent NFC payment solution. It lets you add tap-to-pay to any Android phone just by inserting a microSD card. We took a look at this revolutionary - and very tiny - NFC payment system.
Sprint's LTE to Launch On 1900MHz Only
All of the Long Term Evolution 4G devices released by Sprint this year will use only its 1900MHz spectrum, said Sprint spokesperson David Owen in an interview with Phone Scoop. Right now, Sprint doesn't have access to Clearwire's spectrum nor LightSquared's spectrum for LTE services, so it will repurpose its 1900MHz spectrum assets to handle both its current CDMA voice/data network and future LTE data network. Sprint plans to launch the LTE network, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and LG Viper at approximately the same time, but couldn't commit to a specific date. Sprint believes its LTE roll-out will be complete by the end of 2013, though Owen wouldn't say how Clearwire and LightSquared's spectrum and LTE networks will play a role in that final 4G picture. Clearwire will not, however, expand its WiMax network beyond what it already covers and will eventually transition to LTE. Owen said that Sprint's goal is to offer smartphones and mobile hotspots that provide good battery life and fast internet speeds, no matter what network technology is being used. The new tri-network (CDMA, WiMAX, LTE) mobile hotspot offers that for data-hungry customers. Owen said that tri-network phones are cost prohibitive, so it will offer CDMA/WiMax and CDMA/LTE devices at the same time as it completes its transition from WiMax to LTE 4G networking technologies.
Hands-On: LG Viper for Sprint
Sprint showed off one of its first LTE 4G smartphones at CES, the LG Viper. We took a quick look at it and here are our thoughts.
T-Mobile: We're Going It Alone, and We're OK With That
T-Mobile USA CEO Philip Humm today said that there are no new acquisition deals on the table and that the company is prepared to move forward without merging or being acquired by a competitor. Speaking to AllThingsD, Humm said, "There is no second AT&T deal around. Now it's really a question about restarting the business. We will give you more details probably by the end of the quarter. We are right now finalizing our plans." T-Mobile USA recently lost its bid to sell itself to AT&T. T-Mobile USA gained valuable spectrum and a roaming deal with AT&T has part of the break-up, but the company still needs to raise capital. Parent company Deutsche Telekom scored $3 billion in cash from AT&T, but it's not clear if it will reinvest that money in developing T-Mobile USA further.
Qualcomm Atheros' Wi-Fi Display Eases Content Sharing Pains
Qualcomm Atheros today announced new Wi-Fi Display services, a Wi-Fi Direct-based technology that allows users of consumer electronics to share the content on the screen of one device with the screen of another nearby device. For example, smartphones or tablet users will be able to share content (web pages, media, etc.) from their device to a nearby television set or computer without the need for a network or internet connection. Wi-Fi Display technology uses the 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless bands, and offers non-overlapping channels for "relatively interference-free transmission of latency-sensitive media content." The Wi-Fi Display standard uses Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) for security to keep content protected. Qualcomm Atheros' Wi-Fi Display solutions will initially support Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and Windows 7 and Windows 8. The technology will sample to vendors later this year, and is expected to reach consumer devices by the end of the second quarter.
Hands On with the LG Connect 4G
The LG Connect 4G is designed to be a relatively affordable LTE phone for carriers like MetroPCS. While it's small in size and price, it's no slouch in features. We spent some time with it.
Hands On with the Moto Droid 4 and Droid RAZR MAXX
Motorola has a couple of new LTE Droids here at CES. The Droid 4 brings the original Droid series in the 4G era. The Droid RAZR MAXX uses RAZR engineering to deliver unheard-of battery life. We go hands-on with both.
Hands-On: Sony Xperia Ion
Here is a quick look at the Sony Xperia Ion, an LTE smartphone for AT&T
Hands-On: Sony Xperia S
One of the first phones to bear only the "Sony" name, the Xperia S is a sleek Android smartphone.
Hands-On: Nokia Lumia 900
Nokia's Lumia 900 is a seminal smartphone in many ways. Here are our hands-on impressions.
Nokia Makes the Lumia 900 for AT&T Official
Nokia today announced the Lumia 900 Windows Phone device for AT&T at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Lumia 900's stand-out feature is its support for AT&T's LTE 4G network. Other features of the Lumia 900 include a 4.3-inch AMOLED ClearBlack display, 1830 mAh battery, 1.4GHz processor, front-facing camera for video chats, and Carl Zeiss optics for the 8-megapixel main camera, and 512MB of RAM. The Lumia 900s design is based on the N9 and the Lumia 800, and is carved from solid polycarbonate. It will be an exclusive device for AT&T. Pricing and availability were not revealed.
Liveblog: Nokia Lumia 900 for AT&T
Nokia has promised us the first Windows Phone with 4G LTE, and it will be exclusive to AT&T. Tune it for details as they unfold!
Hands-On: Pantech Burst for AT&T
Pantech was one of a slew of companies that outed new Long Term Evolution 4G gear for AT&T today. The Pantech Burst is a nice little $50 LTE 4G smartphone.
Hands On with the Huawei P1 S
We spent a few moments with the new world's thinnest phone, the Huawei P1 S. Although it's a global announcement, an LTE/CDMA version is promised, practically assuring a US release. Read on for our impressions.
Hands-On: HTC Titan II with LTE for AT&T
HTC dropped a Windows Phone-shaped bomb on AT&T today. The Titan II packs Long Term Evolution 4G and a 16-megapixel camera. Here are our first impressions.
Motorola, Verizon Announce Droid RAZR MAXX
Motorola and Verizon today announced the Droid RAZR MAXX, a new flagship Droid RAZR phone. The MAXX boasts a massive 3300 mAh battery that can sustain 21 straight hours of talk time, yet measures only 8.9 mm thick (compared to the Droid RAZR's 7.1 mm.) The display measures 4.3 inches and uses Super AMOLED Advanced technology, like the Droid RAZR. The processor is 1.2 GHz dual-core and LTE data is included. The camera is 8-megapixel. It also contains 32 GB of internal memory. The MAXX will come to market "in the coming weeks" for $300 with two-year contract.
Nokia to Debut LTE 4G Windows Phone in U.S. with AT&T
Nokia CEO Stephen Elop today said that the company is going to launch its first Long Term Evolution 4G Windows Phone device in the U.S. market with AT&T. The New York Times earlier reported that Nokia would unveil the Lumia 900. Nokia has a separate press conference scheduled for Monday afternoon during CES in Las Vegas. It is expected to show the Lumia 900 at that time.
Verizon and Motorola Debut the Droid 4
Verizon Wireless today announced the Motorola Droid 4, the fourth-generation Android device that has a 4-inch qHD display and support for Verizon Wireless's Long Term Evolution 4G network. The Droid 4 is a sideways slider that has a full QWERTY keyboard and a dual-core 1.2GHz processor. The Droid 4 also includes a water-repellant coating; 16GB of on-board memory; an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video capture and Mirror Mode to display images and video on an HDTV; and compatibility with Motorola's Lapdock accessories. It runs Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread, and will be updated to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. The Motorola Droid 4 will be available in the coming weeks. Pricing wasn't disclosed.
HTC Titan II Boasts 16-Megapixel Camera
AT&T, Microsoft, and HTC today announced the Titan II, a new Windows Phone device that has Long Term Evolution on board. The Titan II has a 4.7-inch display, dual-core 1.5GHz processors, a 16-megapixel main camera, and a 1.3-megapixel user-facing camera. It has dual-LED flashes and can record video in 720p HD. The device will become available later this year.
Hands On: Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T
AT&T revealed that it will sell Samsung's monstrously large Galaxy Note smartphone/tablet. With its 5.3-inch display, the Note defies categorization.
AT&T Announces New LTE Smartphones
AT&T today announced six new LTE phones, some with record-breaking high-resolution cameras.
- Sony Ericsson Xperia Ion, an Android phone with a 12-megapixel camera with Sony Exmor R sensor and 4.7-inch full HD display. A front camera also supports 720p capture. It also sports HDMI-out and is PlayStation Certified.
- HTC Titan II, with a 16-megapixel camera and a 4.7-inch Super-LCD display. Powered by a Qualcomm 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S2 processor.
- Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD, with a full HD display measuring 4.65 inches, powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor.
- Samsung Galaxy Note, with a huge 5.3-inch display that borders on tablet size. A stylus is included, but not required. 1.5 GHz dual-core processor.
- Samsung Exhilarate, an affordable LTE smartphone with a 4-inch Super AMOLED display and made from 80 percent recycled post-consumer materials.
- Pantech Burst, with 4-inch Super AMOLED display and Android.
Verizon Wireless Announces Global JetPack
Verizon Wireless today announced the ZTE JetPack, a new mobile hotspot that will work on Verizon's CDMA/LTE networks in the U.S., as well as the GSM/HSPA networks in other countries. The JetPack can reach download speeds between 5 - 12Mbps and upload speeds between 2 and 5Mbps over LTE in the U.S. and can roam in 205 countries around the world. It includes support for up to 10 Wi-Fi devices and has an OLED display that helps users monitor the device's status. It supports most devices that have Wi-Fi on board. The JetPack will become available in the coming weeks.
AT&T Intros AppCenter for HTML5 Apps
AT&T today announced AppCenter, a new application store that is intended to help distribute HTML5-based applications to Android and other phones. The AppCenter will be accessible from a number of phones, and can link to third-party application stores, such as the Android Market. AT&T hopes developers will use its new APIs to increase the availability of HTML5-based apps.
Sprint Announces LG Viper with LTE
Sprint today provided a few details about the LG Viper, an upcoming Android smartphone that will be one of the first to use Sprint's forthcoming Long Term Evolution network. The LG Viper has Android 2.3 Gingerbread, a 4.0-inch WVGA touchscreen, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a primary 5.0-megapixel camera and front-facing VGA camera, and Near Field Communication and Google Wallet. Sprint didn't say when the phone would launch, but its LTE network is set to go live before the middle of 2012.
Sprint Officially Reveals Galaxy Nexus
Sprint has published a web site talking up its forthcoming Long Term Evolution 4G network. As part of the site, it revealed that it will sell the Samsung Galaxy Nexus device with LTE support. Sprint's LTE network is expected to go live in a handful of markets before the middle of 2012.
