Posts Tagged ‘LTE’

iPhone 5? Apple to Unveil the Next iPhone in September 12 Event

Apple has sent invitations to the media Tuesday (US)  regarding an event that will be held on September 12, 2012 at Yerba Buena Center, San Franciso. Although not explicitly mentioned, the invitation gave hint at a possible release of the next iPhone, which the media often refers to as iPhone 5.

The invitation shows a big number 12 but casting a shadow of something that looks like 5. See for yourself below:

The Apple event invitation shows hint of the possible release of iPhone 5.

What does the rumor tells us about the next iPhone?

Big Screen (4 inches)

Recently, there’s a strong rumor that iPhone 5 will sport a bigger screen.  In my opinion, this move is logical since Apple’s main competitor in the smartphone market, Samsung Mobile has already released dozens of smartphones which gigantic screen.  The Galaxy line for instance sports screen sizes of as big as 5.5 inches (Galaxy Note 2). Other phone manufacturers such as HTC and Motorola follows a similar move.

Smaller Dock Connector, Thinner Uni-body Aluminum Case

Photos of rumored iPhone 5 reveals a smaller dock connector, a thinner uni-body aluminum case. The thinner aluminum might compensate for the increase in the phone size and maintain the current weight of iPhone.

LTE Support and Nano SIM

Rumor also says that iPhone 5 will be the first to use the so called nanoSIM, smaller than the current microSIM used in iPhone 4S. The purpose of which is to conserve space inside the already jam packed smartphone design.

Even before the release of iPhone 4S, people have been expecting Apple to support the increasingly becoming popular 4G LTE wireless technology. Many are unsatisfied that iPhone 4S just support up to 14.4 Mbps of data transfer (3G HSDPA). If Apple will indeed finally support the faster LTE network, then it would be a huge leap for many.

iPhone 4S Availability in the Philippines

Now that the two largest mobile network company in the country (SMART and Globe) selling iPhones in the Philippines, it would be good that Apple make the device a little earlier. Last year, it took more than two months before the celebrated device officially entered the Philippine market. I hope, this time it would be much earlier.

When it comes to price, I think Apple won’t break its tradition of keeping the price of the iPhone series while lowering the prices of the previous models. If that holds true then the prepaid 16GB iPhone 5 will likely be priced at 33, 200 Pesos.

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SMART To Launch Its 4G LTE on August 25

After more than nine months since SMART Communications begins public testing of its upcoming 4G wireless technology known as Long Term Evolution (LTE), the company announced today that the official launch will be on August 25, 2012.

This launch is expected to further boost SMART‘s lead in wireless internet connectivity.Currently, SMART is offering variety of wireless technologies, from GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, 4G HSPA+, and WiMAX. With the addition of LTE on the line up, it will take SMART to another level of wireless communication, both in terms of speed and efficiency.

SMART LTE Launch on August 25, 2012

What is LTE?

LTE or Long Term Evolution is the most advanced commercially available wireless communication standard capable of achieving speeds as fast as 100Mbps, depending on variety. In the case of SMART, testing shows that it is capable of clock download speed of up to 42mbps. To give you an idea, a 700mb movie can be downloaded in  less than 30 seconds (depending on signal consistency). And based on public beta tests, LTE is lightning fast!

On August 25, the Philippines will be the third country in the region to have a commercial LTE available to the public. The other two were Singapore and Hong Kong.

Still Lagging in Internet Speed

Although the country is one of the biggest internet users in the world, based on study, we are still lagging in terms of internet speed. For instance, data from Internet World Stats and SpeedTest.net says that the Philippines is lagging behind almost two-thirds of the world. We are not only surpassed by wealthier nations but that of relatively of the same income range as ours. For more details, see the article published by GMA News Online here.

With the launch of SMART LTE, I hope that better internet will be here in the Philippines.

SMART Shows Upcoming 4G LTE Broadband Stick on Its Product Page

It’s already a public knowledge that SMART Communication has been testing a new mobile wireless technology for quite a while now. That technology is classified as 4G (4th Generation) and is known by the acronym LTE which stands for Long Term Evolution.

4G LTE was by far the fastest mobile wireless technology in the world. SMART reports that it can deliver as fast as 50Mbps data transfer rate. For consumers, SMART claims that it can download a one-hour HD movie in less than a minute, while a 200-mb upload is done in 5 seconds!

Today, if you check SMART Bro’s product webpage, you can  notice that they already added the upcoming broadband stick for 4G LTE.

SMART 4G LTE Broadband Stick

Note: SMART’s 4G Rocket Plug-it is also a 4G technology but is not LTE. Instead it was using a technology called HSPA+.

PLDT myDSL Plan 3000 Upgrades to “up to 5Mbps” Speed

Current and future subscribers of PLDT myDSL Plan 3000 have all the reason to rejoice because PLDT will be upgrading the speed from “up to 3Mbps” to “up to 5 Mbps“. If you enjoyed the previous speed or at least satisfied with it, this upgrade will give you more reasons to stay connected to PLDT.

PLDT myDSL Plan 3000 Speed Upgrade

The new speed rollout comes less than two weeks after Globe Telecoms begins to offer 4G Wireless Broadband plan for only 2199 pesos in the new Tonino Lamborghini Tatoo product. If this is PLDTs reply to Globe’s challenge, we are not sure.

PLDT myDSL Plan 3000 pesos comes with free land line telephone and Watchpad account. It offers unlimited internet without data cap in contrast to similar services of other internet providers.

For more information call 171 for details.

Smart Bro Internet (Canopy) Plan 999 is “up to 2Mbps” Again

Last Saturday, I posted my comments on the recent downgrade of SMART Bro Plan 999 (Canopy) speed down to “up to 1 Mbps”. And just now, Yugatech reported once again that there’s another change. The speed specification of SMART Bro Fixed Wireless Plan 999 was reverted back to the original “up to 2Mbps”. Again, for an unannounced reason, SMART changes their specs. See the screenshot below taken today.

SMART Bro Canopy Plan 999 is back to "up to 2Mbps"

I’m wondering now what will happen to to those who signed up for a service contract between the two changes. Will they have “up to 1 Mbps” or “up to 2 Mbps” speed quality? If you are one of those customers, the best thing to do is to go to the nearest SMART Wireless Center or call them at their hotline, *1888 on your cellular phones. SMART’s inconsistency reflects the quality of their services. We may even argue that there might be no difference between “up to 1Mbps” and “up to 2 Mbps” after all. How many customers have seen their internet speed soar to more than 1Mbps? And how many of those customers have seen that speed for more than minute?

But then again, it is very sad to say that we have no better option. You can try PLDT myDSL if you are in the vicinity of Metro Manila, but if you are living in the suburbs, those areas not currently reached by telephone cables, you have no choice but rely on SMART Bro Wireless internet. Sorry, but for me, based on my own experience, Globe is not even an option for now.

WiMAX, HSPA+, 4G, LTE etc

What I’ve been noticing about our local internet providers is that they keep on adopting newer and supposed-to-be faster technologies but they usually fail to improve the quality of their current services. They have recently  introduced WiMAX, HSPA+, and LTE to the Philippines but they can’t even improve the consistency of their current 3G technologies. We need to change this.

Smart Bro Canopy Plan 999 Downgrades Specs Down to “up to 1Mbps”

My attention was caught by a blog post on Yugatech saying that the speed claim for SMART Bro Fixed Wireless Plan 999 (the one with a Canopy antenna) has been downgraded from “up to 2Mbps” down to “up to 1 Mbsps”. I am a SMART Bro user for almost a year now  and my family back in Bulacan is using the Canopy-type SMART Bro Plan 999 so this change really matters.

To check things by myself, I went to SMART Bro website to confirm. And yes, it was indeed downgraded to 1 Mbps as shown in the screenshot below.

The new SMART Bro Fixed Wireless Plan Speed Specification

As you can see, the effectivity of the change started last June 1, 2011. But one thing I need to confirm first is if it will affect existing customers who signed a 24-months contract based on the previous speed specification. My guess is, it will NOT affect due to the contract obligations.

Will the change really matters?

One question though is how this change will affect the new subscribers. As a SMART Bro user, I haven’t experienced having the speed of even close to 1Mbps  eventhough my SMART Bro plan is up to 2Mbps. Anyway, what really matters to me is their service quality. Would you enjoy an internet connection that reaches 2Mbps for a few seconds, then goes down to 0Mbps for a few seconds and just stay at an average at 50Kbps?

If SMART’s move to downgrade their specs to 1Mbps was for the improvement of their consistency and overall quality, well for me, that’s very much welcome. I may even give then a two thumbs up if they just claim a 500 Kbps connection and maintain that speed all the time.

For existing customers of SMART Bro Canopy Plan 999 who experienced a slower-than-usual connection, the best thing you can do is to contact SMART Bro’s customer service. Transferring to other service providers may not be the best option for now. I think, in general, SMART still offers the best broadband service in the Philippines. I am hoping that Globe Telecoms will catch up as well as other providers so as to have more options.

Globe Launches 4G Mobile Network in the Philippines

                            4G. Image via WikipediaGlobe Telecoms announces the launch of another 4G mobile technology in the Philippines. The Ayala-led telecom company has rolled out HSPA+ or Evolved High-Speed Packet Access, a 4G wireless, mobile, high speed broadband technology capable of attaining peak theoretical download speeds of up to 21 Mbps with upgradeability for 84Mbps. This technology will complement Globe’s existing 4G technology, the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) which has been rolled out last 2009.

See original content at www.technology.bloggedphilippines.com