Gigabit LTE has arrived - these are some crazy speeds!

Last week, at an event in New Orleans, Sprint, Qualcomm and Motorola jointly announced the introduction of Gigabit LTE in the U.S. The next frontier in cellular connectivity has been long in the making, but it’s finally here.

At a press event, Motorola used a yet-to-be-released phone that comes fully equipped with the antenna bands and specs to support Gigabit LTE to test out the new network. This was the first device in the U.S. to test out Gigabit LTE.

The mysterious device was reaching speeds between 400 and 600Mbps. This was made all the more impressive by the location. Not only was the announcement held right before an NBA game in an arena full of people, but Sprint had ten devices running HD videos on non-stop loop, two Google Daydream stations to test out VR and the three devices running Speedtest. The network didn’t miss a beat and the devices testing out the speeds were still clocking over 500Mbps.

Gigabit LTE combines three channel carrier aggregation and 60MHz of Sprint’s 2.5 GHz spectrum with High Performance User Equipment (HPEU) and 4×4 MIMO (Multitple Input Multiple Output). What does all that mean? HPEU enhances uplink coverage for a greater range and 4×4 MIMO is the use of a new four antenna system that intelligently shifts between bands.

Representatives from Sprint stated the goal is not to reach an impressive peak speed, but sustained speeds throughout the usage of a carrier’s network. Think of it this way: It’s cool to get 50Mbps down when using a phone in an empty parking lot, but try to use a phone in a crowded place—like an arena, for instance—good luck getting anything to load. The network becomes so congested that the phone’s data connection can becomes unusable. Now imagine getting 500Mpbs down in that empty parking and in the middle of a sporting event.

When will everyone get access to Gigabit LTE? Soon, but it’ll take time. It took a tremendous amount of work by Qualcomm, Sprint and Motorola to get devices ready to test out the network yesterday, but the roll out to the masses will be much slower. We’ll need to wait for new phones that support the tech to launch, and carriers need to roll out Gigabit LTE across the nation. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 chip, which supports Gigabit LTE, is expected to power the Galaxy S8, which means that phone may be the first broadly available consumer device to support next-gen networks.

First there was 2G, then there was 3G, now we're on 4G. But coming soon: 5G!

Verizon announced Wednesday that it will begin testing its fifth-generation wireless service in 11 markets across the country, from rural areas to dense urban centers.

5G provides speeds up to 40 times faster than 4G, and it's expected to eventually impact connected everything from self-driving cars to robots.

The pilot will be available to customers in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Atlanta; Bernardsville, New Jersey; Brockton, Massachusetts; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Miami; Sacramento; Seattle; and Washington, D.C.

Verizon will begin tests during the first half of this year.

Verizon said it will select pilot customers based on their proximity to the new 5G towers and contact them about participating in the trial directly.

5G tests have been conducted for the past few years in labs and prototype environments. Now, Verizon is testing the tech that will eventually be rolled out when 5G is available everywhere, which isn't expected until 2020.

Faster broadband means you'll be able to download and consume more high-quality video. It most likely also means you'll pay more for data.

Shortly after Google announces, Comcast admits "assessing the possibilities" of entry into mobile carrier market.

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts recently hinted that the company is looking to launch a mobile phone carrier, to compete with the likes of Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint. The service would make use of Comcast’s numerous national Wi-Fi hotspots to connect phones and tablets to the Internet.

As reported by FierceCable, the Comcast boss said during an earnings call Tuesday that the company is ”still assessing the possibilities” of becoming a carrier. Under the plan, Comcast would employ its 8.3 million Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), but Roberts emphasized that the time is not right to “chew open what [Comcast’s] Wi-Fi plans are.”

As pointed out by FieceCable’s sister site, FierceWireless, most of today’s MVNO services, like Republic Wireless and FreedomPop, work with a major cell carrier to augment their coverage when Wi-Fi isn’t available. The majority of your calls and website visits occur over Wi-Fi (at home or at work, for example); when there’s no Wi-Fi available, you are then passed off to a cellular network. It’s unclear whether Comcast would go this route or follow its competitor Cablevision, which recently launched Freewheel, a strictly Wi-Fi-only mobile phone service available at $9.99 a month for current cable subscribers.

"We do believe in the asset, and we’re looking for ways to bring it to market over the next several months," Roberts went on.

If that’s not enough evidence to convince (or scare) you, on Wednesday Engadget came across what seems to be a related Comcast job post. According to the listing, the company is looking to hire an executive under the context that it’s “evaluating potential entries into the wireless ecosystem” that would “utilize” Comcast’s millions of Wi-Fi hotspots.

Confirmed: Google to launch its own mobile phone network.

Google is planning to launch its own mobile phone network, the software and search firm has confirmed, as it plots a major business shift that will see the company move into supplying broadband connections across the planet

Details of what Google insiders are calling “Project Nova” were unveiled by Sundar Pichai, recently promoted as second in command to co-founder Larry Page, at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona.

Subscribers of Google’s virtual network will be able to switch seamlessly between mobile phone and WiFi signals, and between the masts of competing mobile phone networks, as their phones seek out the best signals.

Dropped calls may also become less of a nuisance, as phones will automatically try to redial the number should the communication be cut mid conversation.

Nova, which will begin life as a US project, is part of a wider move by Google from software into networks, and the company’s ultimate goal is to beam internet connections to the earth’s remotest reaches, where four billion people have poor internet connections or simply live offline.

“We are creating a backbone so we can provide connectivity,” said Pichai. “We will be working with carriers around the world so they can provide services over our backbone. We want to focus on projects which serve billions of users at scale and which make a big difference in their every day lives.”

Leaks in January suggested Google had already signed agreements for Nova with Sprint and T-Mobile in the US. Google will not put up its own masts but will buy airtime wholesale from networks and repackage it for Nova subscribers. The model is known as MVNO, or mobile virtual network operator. It is used by services such as Tesco mobile and would be relatively simple to expand into Europe and further afield.

Pichai claimed Google’s intention was not to compete with existing operators like AT&T, but to improve their performance by demonstrating what was possible.

He said the project would follow the same model as Google’s Nexus devices, low cost but high performance phones and tablets which are made in partnership with manufacturers such as Samsung and LG.

“We don’t intend to be a network operator at scale,” said Pichai. “All innovation in computing happens at intersection of hardware and software. That is why we do Nexus devices. We do it at enough scale to achieve impact. We are at a stage now where it is important to think about hardware software and connectivity together.”

Did you know, in many states, it is illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving?

Did you know, in many states, it is illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving? It is, however, legal (in most states) to use a Bluetooth headset.

Check out our newly stocked line of Apple and Samsung Bluetooth headsets below. For as little as $29.99, you can drive safely...and legally!

View details for Samsung Bluetooth device.

View details for Apple Bluetooth device.

*These devices will work with any Bluetooth enabled phone - Apple, Samsung, Nokia, Blackberry, Motorola, HTC, Sony, etc.

**We are not lawyers here at IES; we're technology experts! Of course, laws vary from state to state. Please check into your local laws before using any wireless device while driving.

Samsung Galaxy S4 to come preloaded with LoJack & recovery service.

There are apps and settings to locate a lost or stolen smartphone, and to remotely wipe the contents, but those will only get you so far if your phone's actually been nabbed.

On Tuesday, LoJack for Laptops maker Absolute Software announced the imminent release of LoJack for Android smartphones, starting with Samsung's Galaxy S4.

In the event that your smartphone disappears, through your own carelessness or malicious intent, LoJack's software offers remote locking and deleting to keep your photos, passwords, and other sensitive information private.


However, what you really pay for is the company's team of cybercrime-cracking "recovery specialists" who will attempt to go out and retrieve your absconded-with phone.

LoJack will be embedded in the Galaxy S4's firmware layer, where it remains dormant until you awaken it with a monthly subscription that becomes your theft insurance - pricing starts at $29.99 per year for subscriptions that range from one to four years. Even if robbers wipe your phone to the factory settings, LoJack is still active, and unremovable.

LoJack for Android phones becomes available early this summer.

Source: CNET

If you thought your toilet was full of germs...wait until you see this!

At 25,107 bacterias per square inch, you phone...yes, your beloved cell phone....is dirtier than these 5 objects! Hard to believe, isn't it?

Rank	Object	Bacteria Per Square Inch
5	toilet seat	1,201
4	kitchen counter	1,736
3	pet food dish	2,110
2	checkout screen	4,500
1	door knob	8,643

Source: Mashable YouTube Channel

Use Bluetooth? Protect yourself from hacking scams.

Cell phone users are increasingly turning to Bluetooth technology to talk - hands free - on their phones. But as this high tech tool gains popularity in the US and Canada, scammers are finding ways to exploit it.

How the Scam Works:   
Scammers use specialized software to intercept your Bluetooth signal and hack into your device. It’s called “bluebugging.”  Doing this gives them access to all your texts, contacts, photos, call history… everything on your phone.
Scammers sometimes use hacked phones to make long distance calls. Other times, they access your private text messages or photos. But unless you are a celebrity, government official or high-powered corporate executive, you are unlikely to be a target.
Recently, the newest scheme is for scammers to set up a pay-per-minute phone number. Then, they hang out in a busy area and hack into phones. Scammers use the phones to dial the number and rack up charges by the minute.

Tips to Ensure Your Bluetooth Isn’t Hacked: 

• Always use a minimum of eight characters in your PIN. The longer your code, the more difficult it is to crack.
• Switch Bluetooth into “not discoverable” mode when you aren’t using it. If you make a call from your car, be sure to switch it off when you get out. Crowded public places are top spots for hackers.
• Don’t accept pairing requests from unknown parties. If you happen to pair your phone with a hacker’s computer, then all your data will be at risk.
• When pairing devices for the first time, do so at home or in the office.
• Make sure you download and install regular security updates. Device manufactures will release updates to address threats and correct weaknesses.

For More Information
Check out Bluetooth.com for tips on using products with Bluetooth technology. Also, see your cellphone manufacturer’s website for more advice.

Source: BBB

On your phone too much? Send it to cell phone jail!

Here's a funny little gadget that helps the most gadget-addicted of us to put the cell phone away for an enforced break. It's the Cell Lock-Up, which has a timer you can set for locking your devices away for that amount of time. And if you try to get at your cell phone before the allotted time, a buzzer sounds.

The Cell Lock-Up retails for $20 and probably makes a better joke gift than anything else. Though, with so many kids and teens burying their noses in their cell phones rather than having conversations with people standing in front of them, it might be a good idea for parents to have this set up for mandatory breather time.

Picture courtesy CellLockUp.com.