AT&T to Launch 4G Network in Salt Lake City
AT&T to Launch 4G Network in Salt Lake
AT&T to Launch 4G Network in Salt Lake City
Last week AT&T announced that it will launch 4G LTE services over its own 4G network in the later part of this year in Salt Lake City to give competition to Verizon which also operates its own 4G LTE network in Utah.
With the advanced 4G technology mobile devices like computer tablets and cellphones are able to send and receive data up to 10 times faster than 3G networks. On these superfast networks users can stream movies and music, surf the Internet and download songs and apps at blazing speeds.
Jenifer Robertson, VP and General Manger for AT&T’s Rocky Mountain area said that the company is pleased to offer its 4G services to the residents of Salt Lake City. AT&T’s teams would work hard towards making the upcoming launch a success.
AT&T currently is using a form of 3G called HSPA which is compatible with select devices only including the latest iPhone 4S. Meanwhile its competitor, Verizon had already launched its 4G services in Salt Lake City in June last year and has even expanded its reach to areas around Ogden.
With the launch of AT&T’s 4G LTE service in Salt Lake City, its customers in this area can now get access to data speeds of up to 10 times faster than 3G networks and improve speeds for downloading movies, songs and applications.
AT&T did not specify as to when exactly the service would become available to its customers. Or will the service be extended beyond the city. But analysts feel that the start of AT&T’s 4G LTE service could coincide with the launch of new iPhone either in June or July this year. It is believed that the new iPhone will be compatible with 4G networks as the third generation iPad, launched in March last year is already 4G compatible.
Categories: 4G, At&t, Internet News, Utah, Wireless Tags: 4G, At&t, Salt Lake City, Wireless
Verizon Q1: Wire-line Revenue Impacted by Wholesale Losses: Gains in FiOS, Enterprise Services
Verizon Q1 Revenue Gains in FiOS, Enterprise Services
Verizon Q1: Wire-line Revenue Impacted by Wholesale Losses: Gains in FiOS, Enterprise Services
Verizon declared its Q1 2012 earnings last week and as expected it saw gains in next-gen services like Verizon FiOS data and TV and business services like Ethernet and cloud. However the picture was clouded by a decline in wholesale revenue.
The company’s consumer revenues rose 1.7 percent to $3.4 billion. Its enterprise revenues also rose by 0.9 percent to $3.9 billion majorly due to its acquisition of cloud and data center provider Terremark.
However a decline of 8.9 percent in wholesale revenue drove the company’s overall wire-line revenue 2 percent to $9.9 billion while EBITDA margin decreased to 22,6 percent from 23.6 percent in 2011.
The Telco’s key wire-line metrics are as below:
- Landline losses: Verizon continued to lose POTS voice subscriptions as expected. In Q1 the Telco lost 437,000 voice line subscribers to end the quarter with total 23.7 million subscribers.
- Video and broadband: While DSL subscribers declined, in the consumer segment FiOS TV and FiOS broadband data continued to be Verizon’s shining stars. Total 104,000 broadband subscribers were added, taking its subscriber base to 8.8 million. Verizon added 108,000 new FiOS TV subscribers, taking the number of subscribers to 4.35 million. FiOS share in the company’s wire-line revenues was 63 percent.
- Business and wholesale services: Verizon’s global enterprise earnings saw an increase of 0.9 percent to $3.9 billion. The major contributors in this growth were robust sales of strategic services including security and IT solutions and Terremark cloud services. Strategic revenues grew by 11.6 percent and represented 51 percent of its global enterprise revenues although wholesale revenue declined by 8.9 percent to $1.86 billion.
Despite the losses, Verizon said it expects improvement in wire-line margins over the year because of repositioning its enterprise offers. Overall in Q1 2012 the company’s revenues rose 4.6 percent to $28.2 billion and its operating profits improved to $5.2 billion from last year’s $4.5 billion.
AT&T Expands Mobile Internet Wireless Capacity in Macomb County
AT&T Expands Michigan Mobile Internet Wireless Capacity
AT&T Expands Mobile Internet Wireless Capacity in Macomb County
Michigan Wireless Broadband customers in three Macomb counties of Clinton, Macomb and New Baltimore are expected to experience the better mobile Internet and wireless Internet coverage and voice performance as a result of AT&Ts ongoing investment in regional. The company last week announced that it had completed a key initiative in its continued efforts for better wireless capacity in these areas.
Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel said that with AT&Ts additional investment, Macomb County along with entire Metro Detroit area would be better connected. Expansion of hi speed Internet and voice coverage provides job makers the necessary tools to infuse new vigor in the economy and gives the residents the chance to stay connected with the rest of the world he added.
President of AT&T Michigan, Jim Murray said that AT&Ts goal is to provide an extraordinary experience to its customers and the Macomb County initiative is part of the goal to invest in local wireless networks. This is part of the AT&Ts strategy of developing its network in more areas and providing mobile broadband and Internet services to large communities.
AT&T’s network enhancements in the Macomb County region provides new frequency layers for better managing demand for mobile Internet services by allocating additional network resources.
The AT&Ts mobile Internet network uses 3rd generation partnership project family of technologies which includes UMTS and GSM, which are most widely used platforms globally. Amongst all the carriers in the U.S. AT&T have the best international coverage with access to voice services in over 225 countries and data services in over 200 countries.
With over 30,000 hot spots, AT&T manages the biggest Wi-Fi network in the U.S. With roaming agreements it provides access to over 225,000 global hotspots. Most AT&T Smartphone users can access the entire Wi-Fi network in the country with no additional cost. Also Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count towards the user monthly wireless data plans.
Fed’s Target 95MHz Wireless Spectrum for Mobile Broadband
Fed's Target 95MHz Wireless Spectrum for Mobile Broadband
Fed’s Target 95MHz Wireless Spectrum for Mobile Broadband
As per the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 95MHz of government, wireless spectrum could be used for mobile broadband. But it has also recommended that government agencies and commercial users should share spectrum.
The agency which belongs to the U.S. Department of Commerce announced last week that 95MHz of government wireless spectrum could be freed for commercial use. The exact details of how and when this would occur and how much will it cost had not been discussed yet but the agency feels that it is possible.
Adding 95MHz of spectrum from the 1755MHz to 1850 MHz band is in line with President Obama’s vision of doubling the wireless spectrum used for wireless broadband by 2020.
Lawrence Strickling, NTIA administrator and assistant secretary for communications and information said that the report has set a path to put prime spectrum in wireless commercial broadband use as per the Obama administration’s goal of encouraging innovation and investment and increasing America’ s financial competitiveness.
The wireless industry is highly interested in the spectrum band identified by the NTIA. Big wireless operators like Verizon and AT&T feel that increasing wireless data services has created a capacity shortage and unless new wireless spectrum is not auctioned by the government there won’t be room in future for wireless companies to serve their customers.
Freeing 95MHz of spectrum won’t be soon or easy as it would take millions of dollars and at least a decade to move existing government users to a different band.
As per the NTIA currently over 20 agencies with over 3,100 individual frequency assignments are in this spectrum band. The Department of Defense handling highly critical missions like military communications, remote controlled robotics, air combat trainings and precision guided ammunition uses this band. The Law enforcement Department also uses this band for surveillance.
The government has freed spectrum in the past but current users had to be relocated to other frequencies which took a lot of time and money.
Categories: FCC, Internet Law, Internet News, Mobile Broadband, Wireless Tags: government, Mobile Broadband, Wireless
Is a Wireless Internet Connection Right For You?
Wireless Internet Connection
Is a Wireless Internet Connection Right For You?
by Dan Karas
In the modern age of technology, most of us are using the Internet wherever we go. We use it at our homes, at our offices, at public places such as libraries, Internet cafes, and airports. However, the vast majority of people never think about how this Internet access they are using reaches their laptops, desktop computers, smartphones, tablet PC’s, PDA’s and so on. Well, today’s most commonly found and widely preferred type of Internet connection is a wireless Internet connection, or Wi-Fi.
Wireless Internet Connection Explained in Simple Terms
To put it simply, wireless Internet connection is a type of Internet access that doesn’t require a physical connection to your computer or any other device that will access the World Wide Web through this network. However, there must be a central device of some kind, which is responsible for retrieving the Internet access from the ISP, and sending it to other devices covered by the wireless network. This device uses radio waves to send the signal to other devices, while being connected physically to the source of Internet access. So, this basically means that you can turn your broadband Internet connection into wireless Internet connection, and this can in many cases be done only by contacting your Internet service provider and asking for the necessary equipment. They will be happy to provide you with everything you need for this, and sometimes even at no additional cost at all.
The Benefits of Wireless Internet Connection
Here are the most important benefits of having Wi-Fi available to you:
- Convenience – This is the most obvious benefit, as you can access the Internet from anywhere you want within the network range, as well as access it from any device that has a wireless adapter. What this means is that you can take your laptop and access the Internet from any room in your home, or even from the backyard.
- Security – Thanks to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2, no one can access your network except you, as they will need a password for doing so. Also, all traffic that passes through Wi-Fi networks is encrypted, so there are few security issues to worry about here.
- Cost – Imagine what the cost of connecting all the computers in a big company would be if people had to do this with wires or cables. Even though this had to be done in the past, all of these devices can now be connected to the Internet wirelessly, which saves a lot of money and trouble.
- Speed – Speed used to be a real problem with Wi-Fi Internet access, but modern technology (WiMAX and EV-DO) has made it possible for wireless networks to enjoy large download speeds of up to 7 Mbps, or even more in some instances. If you connect your Cable modem or ADSL2+ Fiber Internet Gateway to a wireless N router you can download as fast as your Internet connection will allow, over 100 Mbps in some areas.
Should You Go For Wi-Fi?
Well, it really depends on your needs. If you are thinking about finding an ISP to provide you with Internet access for the first time, you should definitely ask if they are offering wireless Internet options. Even though you might be living alone and only have one laptop, you will still enjoy the convenience of being able to take your laptop wherever you want and surf the Internet. On the other hand, if you have a large family, Wi-Fi is a great idea as you will not need to lay down cables to every computer in the house. Be sure to check the usage limits, as most 3G and 4G providers have low monthly limits of 10 GB or less compared to cable and DSL limits of over 100 GB per month. If you use a lot of data, you are better off with a cable or DSL plan combined with a wireless router for home use and a separate mobile broadband plan if you need Internet access on the go.
What is Broadband Internet?
What is Broadband?
What Is Broadband Internet?
by Dan Karas
Can you even imagine the world without the Internet? Can you imagine living without the ability to turn on your computer and use the World Wide Web as an omnipotent and omniscient tool that it is? Well, you will probably have a negative answer to the previous two questions. However, you will also have a negative answer to the following question: what exactly is broadband Internet? Sure, a lot of people will say that this is the type of Internet connection they have set up at their homes or offices, but this doesn’t really answer the question, does it?
So, What Is Broadband Internet?
Technically speaking the FCC currently defines broadband Internet as a connection that is faster than 4 Mbps. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband_Internet_access However, the more common definition is anything that is faster than a traditional 56 K dial up Internet connection. In most cases, it is true to tell people that broadband, also commonly called high speed Internet is the type of Internet connection they are using, as this really is the most commonly used type of Internet connection throughout the USA and the entire world. In addition to this, it is also true to say that this is the form of Internet access that offers the highest Internet connection speeds at the moment, and when compared to dial-up connection, broadband Internet is the obvious choice.
Types of High Speed Internet
There are five types of broadband Internet, and below they are listed and explained:
- DSL – The Digital Subscriber Line Internet access is a type of Internet connection that comes to you through your telephone line. Contrary to what many people may think, you can use your Internet and your phone at the same time, as voice and Internet connection travel at different frequencies which are commonly separated by a device called a DSL splitter. DSL speeds range from 256 Kbps to over 6 Mbps, although the distance that you are located from the telephone companies CO will affect the speed that will be available.
- Cable – If you have Cable TV, you can probably ask your Cable TV provider for Cable Internet. Currently DOCSIS 3.0 cable connections can provide the fastest consumer Internet connections, with some cable companies such as Comcast offering speeds of over 100 Mbps in select areas. With Cable Internet, your connection speed will depend on how many users are using the same connection bandwidth at any specific moment. So, you will not have the same Internet connection speed in the mornings and in the evenings, as the evenings will be characterized by more active users, thus a somewhat slower connection.
- Satellite – Even though the satellite Internet connection is the slowest and the most expensive type of broadband Internet to set up, it is the only option for many who live in areas where other types of broadband Internet are not available. The connection speed will in this case may depend on weather conditions, and the speed will generally be lower than with the other three types of broadband Internet. Satellite Internet is also a poor choice for gaming due to the high latency (delay) of the signal. This is due to the extreme distance that the signal needs to travel from the earth to the satellite and back.
- Wireless – Wireless Internet is available from cellular providers such as Verizon, At&t, Sprint, etc. It currently comes in two flavors of 3G and 4G. 3G or third generation wireless is the most widespread and offers speeds comparable to low end DSL services. 4G or as you may have guessed fourth generation wireless is the new kid on the block and boasts much higher speeds. Even though the 4 G wireless network is expanding rapidly there are still relatively few locations providing widespread 4G coverage. Wireless broadband Internet is very convenient; however its Achilles heel is the low usage limits as compared to DSL and cable plans. Most wireless providers charge outrageous overage fees or throttle your connection to a crawl when you exceed these modest bandwidth limits.
- Fiber-optic – This is the least used, as well as the one of the fastest broadband Internet connections out of the four types mentioned here. The reason why it is the least used is the fact that not many areas have fiber-optic Internet connections available yet. However, where it is available, its cost is very competitive with standard DSL and Cable, but provides much higher connection speeds. There are a couple of types of fiber optic Internet connections. FTTH (Fiber To The Home) This is the type of connection used by Verizon FiOS which brings the fiber all the way to your house, if you get the At&t U-Verse version it is FTTK (Fiber To The Kerb/Curb) which uses copper from the curb to your house. Both Fiber connections provide ADSL2+ Internet speeds of up to 50 Mbps and can also provide on demand HD television and digital telephone service on the same line.
In order to choose one of these types of broadband Internet, you will first have to check and see which of them are available in your area. Some Internet services, particularly DSL, are very distance sensitive. For example you might qualify for a specific level of service while your next door neighbor doesn’t. Not all Internet service providers will offer the same conditions, so you will also have to shop around before you make the final decision. You’ll want to pick the fastest broadband plan that fits your budget. In some areas this can be 100 Mbps+. But these extremely high end broadband plans are also extremely expensive. You may find that a plan in the 5 to 25 Mbps range might satisfy your Internet service needs at a much lower cost that won’t break your monthly budget.
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Categories: Broadband, Cable Internet, DSL, FiOS, Internet Access Article, Satellite Internet, Wireless Tags: Broadband, Cable, Dial-Up, DSL, fiber, Satellite, Wireless
Is It A Good Idea To Invest In 4G Smartphone?
Verizon 4G LTE
Is It A Good Idea To Invest In 4G Smartphone?
by Dan Karas
With the advent of new technologies such as 4G smartphones, information access has become much easier and faster than ever before. Now for starters, 4G or 4th generation smartphones are the best way to experience extremely high speed Internet connectivity across different mobile platforms. There are different kinds of jargon and standards related to the latest mobile Internet technologies but in short, they all relate to fast, high speed access to the Internet using mobile devices.
Recently, AT&T introduced the 4G LT-one of the latest in wireless network technology capable of delivering high speed Internet access to its customers. In addition, faster data transfer can be valuable for users who use smartphones for downloading streaming audio or viewing video clips. Just imagine sitting in the comfort of your home, or anywhere else for that matter, and downloading videos without any hassles. You can also enjoy a unique online gaming experience with smooth and uninterrupted game play by using the latest technology.
In addition, there are plenty of other benefits to be gained by using 4G smartphones for business owners as well. The use of 4G smartphones can help in boosting quick connectivity and enable faster communication between clients. These newer generation smartphones have the potential to provide high quality video images that can be useful for video conferencing. Moreover, the fourth generation devices can empower you to accomplish most of your business tasks in an even quicker and more efficient manner than ever before.
3 good reasons for choosing a 4G Smartphone to meet all your communication needs:
-Enhances user experience
With the use of 4G smartphones, users can have access to higher bandwidth and run mobile phone applications faster than ever before. Real time communication is also quicker on these 4G smartphones with easy availability of vital business information at your finger tips. Most of the latest 4G based mobile devices are equipped with LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology and offer higher speeds with more efficient use of the spectrum providing a better networking experience.
-Get access to a wide range of features
Using the advanced 4G mechanism that offers greater bandwidth, you can now run applications smoothly that were not possible with earlier technologies. Data encryption and security features with strong use r authentication are also possible using the newest 4G technology. Since most of the 4th generation based devices offer low latency, the response time is also greater using these advanced networks. So if you have to download large content or view graphic intensive webpages, then the time takes is much shorter and that makes for a more efficient and reliable way of accessing information.
-Increases possibility of remote access
There is a greater possibility of working from any remote location and accessing information by sitting anywhere across the world- thanks to these new fourth generation technologies. So even if you are travelling outside, physical location will no longer be a problem for sharing and exchanging of vital business data and information. Most of these 4G enabled smartphones will allow you to transfer large amounts of data using remote servers allowing a seamless integration of networking and communication.
Compare 4G Wireless Plans & Devices
Categories: At&t, Cellular, Smartphone, Verizon, Wireless Tags: 3G, 4G, smartphone, Wireless
Everything You Wanted To Know About Wi-Fi
Everything You Wanted To Know About Wi-Fi
by Dan Karas
With the increasing use of wireless technologies among many devices, Wi-Fi has gained a lot of popularity among both personal and business users. Now for starters, Wi-Fi commonly refers to accessing the Internet using radio waves and without the use of wires. Today, wireless technology or broadband services are in greater demand that ever before and it is one of the most convenient methods to gain fast and easy access to the Internet. So whether you are at home or traveling for business or pleasure, Wi-Fi helps you to meet all of your business and personal communication needs. Hence, it is one of todays most preferred ways of accessing information on the Internet and sharing valuable info with your friends and colleagues.
Just imagine a situation where you may need to urgently send a critical e- mail about an important business meeting while waiting at the airport to catch your flight. In such times, Wi-Fi connectivity can enable you to set up your laptop and get quick access to the local Wi-Fi hotspot in just a few minutes. You can finish all your important business tasks and even set up a quick meeting using a fast and reliable Internet connection. No matter where your workplace is, you can now have access to the Internet using Wi-Fi right from your hotel room or any of the public places, where there is a facility of Wi-Fi access.
Today, you can spot Wi-Fi hotspots virtually everywhere ranging from fast food outlets, shopping malls, bookstores, airport lounges and some popular coffee-shops. Many of these outlets charge a minimum fee for accessing the Internet using the hotspots whereas a few of them provide free access to their customers. Moreover, there are also many well known service providers that allow you to subscribe to gain access to any of the Wi-Fi hotspots as covered by their network and your subscription plan.
How Can Wi-Fi Connectivity Work For You?
Wi-Fi is a quick and convenient way of gaining access to the Internet so it may be an attractive option for both home and commercial purposes. If you are an individual user, then Wi-Fi access can allow you to download your favorite movie or TV episode and also provide the flexibility to surf the Internet when you are home or even traveling outside.
Today, with the vast improvement in technology, there are a multitude of Wi-Fi enabled smartphones that are readily available in the market. This can allow you to have quick access to the Internet through any wireless network, similar to a wireless laptop or a desktop that you may have at home. Most of the Wi-Fi enabled smartphones today have higher processing power and provide enhanced features for quicker downloading of applications and allow for smooth multimedia streaming.
The application of Wi-Fi connectivity is not just limited just to mobile phones but can also include other devices such as MP3 players, video game consoles, PDA’s and home computer as well. Having Wi-Fi connectivity ensures a quick, fast and efficient way of accessing broadband Internet and provides for smooth communication among Internet users.
Advantages of Home Wireless Internet
Advantages of Home Wireless Internet
Advantages of Home Wireless Internet
by Dan Karas
If you are mulling over investing in an Internet connection for the home turf, chances are that you may have already stumbled on the debate of wireless versus wired home Internet connections. Many people argue that the expense of a router, which is integral to a home wireless network, is quite futile.
However, the fact remains that a wireless Internet connection has several advantages. Here is a look at how a home wireless Internet network works and their pros and cons which will help you to make an informed purchasing decision.
What is a home wireless Internet networks and how does it work?
Contrary to belief, a wireless Internet connection is not a new type of Internet service; it is merely a way to access connectivity without being fixed to a specific location in the home. In other words, you will not have to bother with hooking up a wire to your computer or laptop.
A wireless connection is poles apart from mobile Internet which affords connectivity at any time and any place that is in the range of cell phone signals; this equates to an almost unlimited range. However, with a wireless Internet connection, you only get a radius of about 100 meters.
So, while you can use your broadband out and about your home and even take your laptop to the garden that is as far as your wireless connectivity will support you.
The pros of home wireless Internet
Ease of usage: This is the most obvious benefit of using a wireless connection, you won’t be restricted to just one area of the home. This means that you could browse while comfortably sitting on the couch in your living area or could take things outside to the yard for a bit of sun and online surfing.
Connectivity for multiple devices: Unlike a wired connection which can only service a single device, with wireless connectivity you can use multiple internet devices with a single connection. From your laptops to VOIP phones just about every gadget will work with a wireless Internet connection. So, there certainly won’t be any squabbling over who gets to use the Internet first.
Available for multiple devices: In fact, you could buy enough bandwidth to serve all the computers in the household. So, at any given time, all the members of the household can be online if they want.
The cons
Open buffet of sorts: The only problem with a wireless connection is that unless proper security measures are put into place, it is up for grabs for just about anybody who is in the vicinity of your home. This not only means additional billing for bandwidth that you have not used but there is also the risk of unscrupulous elements using your connection for illegal activities.
However, this concern can be easily remedied by using an access password, so only people in your home can use the connection.
Because most Internet providers offer wireless connections and the setup is not particularly expensive, wireless Internet is commonplace in most homes across the country. So, if you are interested in buying wireless Internet, you should not have too much trouble finding a reliable provider.
How Can Rural Broadband Services Work For You?
Rural Satellite Internet
How Can Rural Broadband Services Work For You?
by Dan Karas
If you live in an urban area, then you have a plethora of options to obtain a high speed Internet connection. However, in remote regions and rural areas it may not be possible to get a reliable Internet connection that meet the needs of bandwidth hungry customers. Today, wireless Internet services offer some interesting options to provide customers with a high speed, fast and secure connection. Moreover, the ability to have access to a wireless Internet connection from anywhere, makes it a suitable choice for both home and office users.
Today, most of the people living in the larger cities have greater access to wireless broadband services. With the rising number of broadband Internet subscribers, the public demand for high speed Internet service providers has gone up too. At the same time, there are wireless enabled devices such as smartphones and iPhones that can provide high speed connectivity to people living in urban areas. The usage of broadband services has also gone up in the corporate sector, where the majority of businesses rely on high speed Internet service to meet their vital business communication needs.
People living in centralized urban areas also have a broad range of options to access connectivity to the Internet from anywhere by using some of the latest wireless technologies. Mobile hotspots are one such trend that has caught fire in some of these cities, where people can gain wireless access to the Internet in the public places. Even, businessmen who are travelling can have instant communication using the Wi-Fi Internet access facilities available in numerous locations such as airports and restaurants. On the other hand, in rural areas, such facilities using wireless technologies are still not widely available and accessible to the masses.
Possible options for Internet connectivity in rural areas.
Wireless broadband services are not as widespread in the rural areas but the increase in demand has led to a large rise in the number of Internet service providers in these regions. However, there are a few well known rural Internet service companies across the U.S that provide Internet services to their customers. Satellite Internet, using a satellite dish and special receiver is a more popular form of Internet access in rural areas and isolated regions of the U.S. and Canada. Satellite Internet is often the best possible option for the people living here, as there is a limited availability of DSL and cable Internet services in these areas.
Both HughesNet and Wild Blue are the largest companies across North America that provide satellite Internet services to their customers. There are many benefits of using satellite Internet and you do not have to depend on the local infrastructure of any region, whenever you may be traveling across the world. They can be effective in time of emergencies and natural disasters, where phone lines may be not be accessible and may provide good back up to establish communication among individuals.
I should also note that people living in rural and remote areas have yet another option of using a dial up Internet service, but it does not offer broadband speeds and may not be as reliable as a wireless satellite Internet connection. Hence, satellite broadband service may be the best solution for accessing a relatively high speed Internet connection.
Categories: Broadband, Internet Access Article, Satellite Internet Tags: Rural, Satellite, Wireless
