SK Telecom announced the world’s first consumer LTE-Advanced network today, and it’s quick. This new standard is the successor to the current-generation LTE technology, and supports much higher data transmission speeds – downloads top out at 102Mbps, ten times faster than the average home broadband speed in the US. And SK Telecom is rolling the new service out to customers free of charge. The service will be available by the end of the year, and the first device to take advantage will be the Galaxy S4 LTE Advanced. With the rest of the world just getting a taste of LTE, Korea remains several steps head of the mobile world.
Tag: LTE
AT&T 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot Unite Available February 8 For $0.99
AT&T’s second touchscreen LTE mobile hotspot, the Sierra Wireless device called Unite, was announced today just four days before it is available for purchase through all conventional AT&T channels. With a 2.4″ touchscreen display that prominently features data usage and Wi-Fi information on the home screen, Unite is primed for customers looking to expand their wireless connections beyond the traditional grid. The device boasts 10 hours of battery life with regular use, along with ten days of standby, for customers who need the device for long stretches of time away from the desk. It’s just one way to stay connected on the go, and for $0.99 represents AT&T’s attempt to bring its LTE and wireless plans to the budget-conscious marketplace.
Smartphones Eclipse Tablets In Data Consumption
A recent report from mobile analytics provider, Arieso shows smartphone users consuming more data than tablet users for the first time. Despite increased tablet growth, it appears that usage on devices like the iPhone 5 and Galaxy SIII is skyrocketing. Another interesting fact is that 40% of all data is consumed by 1% of users thanks in large part to LTE.
LTE steps up to bat
If you didn’t look you might have missed it. If the letters LTE just passed your field of vision at CTIA you might have missed the next evolution in wireless technology. LTE or Long Term Evolution is being positioned as the successor to 3G.
Technically speaking, LTE is a modulation technique that is the latest variation of Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology. It was dubbed “Long Term Evolution†because it is viewed as the natural progression of High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), the GSM technology that is currently used by carriers such as AT&T to deliver 3G mobile broadband.
4G and apps dominate CTIA
CTIA 2009 was a much smaller show than last year, which was a big talking point at the show. Despite the reduction in size, the show had two big stories to tell: 4G and apps.
The 4G story began with Verizon CEO Seidenberg’s keynote, where he mentioned Verizon’s plans to roll out Long Term Evolution (LTE), a 4G technology, by year end in select markets. On the show floor, those three letters took on a much greater meaning, and were everywhere. At LG’s booth, I saw high quality HD video streaming over LTE connections that were four times faster than peak cable broadband.
For marketers, LTE is going to make things very, very interesting. Continue reading “4G and apps dominate CTIA”
