Device Arena

Sprint and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) announced today that customers across the country will soon be able to get enhanced wireless coverage, plus the option of unlimited calling with an AIRAVE voice plan, in their homes or offices with the upcoming nationwide launch of the Sprint AIRAVE by Samsung. The AIRAVE, named one of the 25 Most Innovative Products of the Year by PC World, is the first commercially available femtocell, a mini cell tower that works with any Sprint phone* and a broadband Internet connection to provide enhanced in-home wireless coverage. Customers purchasing the AIRAVE can take advantage of unlimited in-home calling with an optional AIRAVE Unlimited Voice plan.

“Customers are using their wireless phones at home more than ever, and with the AIRAVE, Sprint is making it even more convenient for customers to rely on their Sprint phones while in their home or office,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president of product and technology development for Sprint. “For customers who want to reduce their monthly communication expenses by using their wireless phone as their only phone, the AIRAVE offers enhanced coverage that works with all Sprint phones, plus the option of a low cost and worry-free unlimited in-home calling plan.”

(more…)

The company with the nation’s most reliable wireless network today introduced the G’zOne Boulder™ – the newest Push to Talk phone that is exclusively available through Verizon Wireless. This rough and tough phone is built to military specifications to withstand shock, water and dust environments. The G’zOne Boulder provides customers with access to Verizon Wireless’ Push to Talk service that uses the company’s Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) network to ensure customers can get their jobs done quickly and efficiently. Packaged in two smart-looking finishes – black and silver or orange – the G’zOne Boulder is now available online at www.verizonwireless.com and through business sales channels. The phone will be available in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores in mid-August.

Leveraging EV-DO Rev. A technology, Push to Talk from Verizon Wireless provides customers with fast two-way communication – all with the assurance of a reliable network so customers can instantly connect to colleagues and friends. Additionally, the G’zOne Boulder supports a number of productivity tools and entertainment services from Verizon Wireless including VZ Navigator(SM), Field Force Manager, V CAST Music with Rhapsody and V CAST Video.

(more…)

An eager crowd greeted the official arrival of the highly anticipated Americas version (GSM 850/900/1800/1900, HSDPA 850/1900) of the Nokia E71 at a private event in the Nokia Flagship Store in midtown Manhattan on the evening of Thursday, July 24th. Attracted by its balance of style, features and services, the invited guests had each signed up to ensure that they would be among the first people in the United States to bring home this exciting new device. The Nokia E71, which at .39 inches thick, is the slimmest QWERTY device on the market, is now available to the general public through a variety of consumer electronics, wireless and online retailers, and at the Nokia Flagship Stores in Chicago and New York

(more…)

Alcatel-Lucent today announced changes to its leadership and Board of Directors. The company also announced its quarterly results and demonstrated improvements to its operational results for the third straight quarter. The Company reported that it is making steady progress on the strategy the company laid out last fall.

To pave the way for a fully aligned governance and management model going forward, the company announced the following changes to its management team and Board of Directors:

(more…)

AT&T announced today that the Text Accessibility Plan (TAP) for iPhone 3G will give customers with disabilities unlimited text messaging, Web browsing and easy access to e-mail for $50 per month. Customers with disabilities wishing to use enterprise email can sign up for a $65 per month plan that features unlimited messaging, data, and support for enterprise email with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. Pay-per-use voice is included in both the consumer and enterprise TAP at $.40 per minute.

“We are thrilled to extend our Text Accessibility Plans to iPhone 3G customers so they can truly experience all of the speed and functionality of this powerful new device,” said Susan Mazrui, Director, Federal Regulatory, AT&T. “With TAP for iPhone 3G, customers can use the intuitive Multi-Touch touch screen to tap out their communications and stay connected while on the go.”

(more…)

Verizon Wireless has activated a new advanced digital cell site in the heart of the town of Webster. The site will provide expanded wireless service to the famous Webster Flea Market, as well as enhanced in-vehicle coverage along the heavily-used routes between U.S. Highway 301 and Highway 50.

With the new site, which utilizes high-speed Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) technology, customers will enjoy clearer call reception and faster speeds when downloading music and games and sending text, picture and video messages. Customers using BroadbandAccess, the company’s high-speed business data service, can now expect average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second (kbps) to 1.4 megabits per second and average upload speeds of 500-800 kbps.

The new cell site is part of the company’s continuing investment to expand coverage, increase capacity and enhance the quality of its wireless voice and data network in Florida and throughout the country. Verizon Wireless has invested more than $1.7 billion in Florida and more than $45 billion nationally since the company was formed. The company spent $178 million to enhance services and coverage throughout Florida during 2007 alone.

Verizon

Motorola today announced that the stylish MOTO U9 is now available unlocked for GSM networks in the U.S. exclusively through MOTOSTORE. In addition to its curvaceous, graceful design, the U9 features an abundance of mobile entertainment features.

Motorola today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held AirDefense, a leading wireless LAN (WLAN) security provider. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

AirDefense is a privately-held developer of Wireless Intrusion Prevention Solutions (WIPS) and premium software applications, which enable corporations to secure their networks against wireless security threats and comply with regulatory and industry standards. AirDefense has been an innovator and a leader in the industry since its inception in 2001, including the introduction of the first 24×7 Monitoring and Wireless Intrusion Detection System, the first use of access points as sensors and a host of add-on modules that address customer specific security problems and RF troubleshooting needs. In addition, AirDefense enables secure multi-vendor environments, which allows organizations to benefit from AirDefense’s solutions regardless of their WLAN infrastructure.

(more…)

Alcatel-Lucent today announced that it has been selected by Gtd Group, one of the main service providers in Chile, to deploy the country’s first network based on fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) gigabit passive optical network (GPON) technology. Installation and deployment of the GPON network will start in the third quarter of 2008, initially serving residential broadband users in Santiago’s prestigious Santa Mar?a de Manquehue district, with other neighborhoods of Chile’s capital city following shortly after.

Alcatel-Lucent’s solution will enable Gtd Manquehue, which serves residential customers and small and medium businesses for the Gtd Group, to deliver advanced broadband services such as high-definition television (HDTV), Internet protocol television (IPTV), video on demand (VoD) and high-speed Internet. Alcatel-Lucent’s GPON architecture also will enable Gtd Manquehue to seamlessly migrate its traditional voice services to voice over IP (VoIP).

(more…)

Alcatel-Lucent today announced it is hosting the 72nd meeting of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) which takes place in Dublin this week. During the event, more than 1,200 vendors, service providers, application developers and academics will converge on the city to determine standards that may influence the evolution of the Internet.

The Task Force was formed in 1986 and since its inception, has standardized many of the protocols and applications that drive the Internet - including IP, MPLS, email, instant messaging, diary functions, the domain name system, IP mobility, SIP, security and network management systems. The group has three meetings a year, one of which is in Europe. This is the first time the Task Force has met in Ireland.

(more…)