Posts Tagged Alliance
[Deal Alert] N.O.V.A. 3 currently on sale for $0.99, supports Moga Too
Still don’t have your fill of apps and games just yet? Well Gameloft has your back, yet again. Looking to help you ring in the new year with another one of their great games. They have just placed N.O.V.A. 3 Near Orbit Vangaurd Alliance on sale from $6.99 clear down to just $0.99. The price alone makes it worth picking up.
N.O.V.A. 3 is the most current release of the series. It brings with it some incredible grapahics, 10 immersive levels across the galaxy, up to 12 player mulitplayer battles in 6 various modes. Let’s not forget to mention that N.O.V.A. 3 is also supported by the Moga controller. So all of you that snagged one of those up during the free controller special have a chance to add another supported game to your collection.
As always, feel free to click or scan the QR code below to pick it up before the sale ends.
Application: N.O.V.A. 3
Developer: Gameloft
Cost: $0.99 on sale for a limited time
Is Samsung Preparing a 7.7-Inch Galaxy Note?
Rumors of new 7-inch version of the Samsung Galaxy Note have been circulating lately in tech blogs. The speculation is fuelled by an unknown tablet that has been benchmarked at GLBenchmark. The device sports the model number GT-N5100. Said model number, it may be recalled, was previously seen at the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), as well.
As per the rumors, the new Galaxy Note features a 7.7-inch display with has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels and a pixel density of 196 ppi. It will also purportedly come with a 1.6GHz Exynos 4412 processor and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. Like other Galaxy Note devices, it is expected to have the S Pen stylus to facilitate note-taking.
The new device has various repercussions on Samsung. First, it may cannibalize the sales of the Samsung Galaxy Tab, since the two products are similar. Second, Samsung’s widening range of choices in terms of tablet sizes may be confusing for consumers in the long run.
On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Note has proven to be one of the company’s most successful products of late. The most recent Galaxy Note, the Note 2, was able to sell 5 million units in just two months since it was launched.
In terms of price, it is also speculated that Samsung may be pressured by the growing 7-inch tablet market to offer a more competitive price. Already, the market is saturated with budget offerings from Amazon, Google, and Barnes & Noble, to name a few. In the past few days, it had also been rumored that Acer is entering the 7-inch budget tablet market with a device that could sell as low as $99 in emerging markets.
CNet surmises that the South Korean electronics giant may announce the 7.7-inch Galaxy Note during CES in January or Mobile World Congress in February.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 spotted with with Verizon Wireless LTE
While nothing is official until we hear something from Verizon Wireless, a recently discovered document from the Wi-Fi Alliance website suggests the carrier is planning to launch the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet. No hints yet as to when an announcement may arrive, however assuming we see this launch, the Galaxy Note 10.1 will join the Verizon tablet lineup alongside a few others from Samsung as well as a pair from Motorola.
As far as the Wi-Fi Alliance document, it shows a Galaxy Note 10.1 with a model number of SCH-i925 and was discovered by the Japanese site Blog of Mobile. More to the point here in terms of connectivity, the document shows support for LTE/CDMA2000/W-CDMA/GSM connectivity along with dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n.
Verizon, of course, also has the Galaxy Note 2. Phablet aside though, as far as the Galaxy Note 10.1 pricing goes, we can look towards the other Galaxy branded tablets for some hints. Taking the Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 as an example, this model sells for $499.99 on a month-to-month agreement. Those interested in a Galaxy Note tablet but in a model without cellular connectivity, the Note 10.1 can be found with various retailers and is priced from $499.99 for the 16GB model.
Speculation on the price aside, the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet has a 10.1-inch (1280 x 800) display, quad-core 1.4GHz Exynos processor, 2GB of RAM, a microSD card slot, 7,000 mAh battery, 1.9 megapixel front facing camera, a 5 megapixel rear facing camera and the S Pen. The one catch, or in this case hope — that if Verizon does indeed launch the Galaxy Note 10.1 — they do so with the tablet already running Jelly Bean.
[via unwired view]
Landfall Expansion Now Available on WOW; FIFA Ultimate Team Apps on FIFA 13
Video game giant Blizzard announced the Landfall Patch, the latest expansion to its MMO series, is now available for Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria.
Landfall, also known as patch 5.1, will further expand the world of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, adding more story quests into the current series.
Landfall introduces additional daily quests into the Krasarang Wilds zone that revolves around the war between Alliance forces and the Hordes. Moreover, it provides new reputation tracks that allow gamers to try WOW’s open world PvP play.
Blizzard also expanded the game’s pet battle system by allowing gamers to capture pets, train them, and do battle with other monster on the field or Pokemon-like arena.
The game developer has presented five Scenario systems, which are built for three players and does not ask gamers to assume roles like damage dealer, tank, and healer. Four of the five scenario systems are split between Alliance and Horde.
There are other changes and additions introduced in the Landfall patch, including item level upgrades, legendary quest, new classes, and of course bugs fixes.
Meanwhile, the FIFA Ultimate Team application is now available on FIFA 13. Considered as one of the most-entertaining game modes in FIFA 13, the FIFA Ultimate Team enables gamers to take control of the finest football players in the world and battle with other online opponents with stunning graphics and enhanced gameplay.
The FIFA Ultimate Team application is available for free on the App Store, serving as an expansion to players who already downloaded FIFA 13 on iOS.
The FIFA Ultimate Team allows games to build, manage, and compete with their soccer fantasy squads on their way to achieving the best FIFA team rating.
Developer Electronic Arts is conducting weekly single-player tournaments and Team of the Week challenges for the FIFA Ultimate Team application, offering coins to the winners. Players can use their coins to acquire other players and improve their team ratings.
Wal-Mart Is Currently Selling A Red Galaxy S III 920 To People Who Don’t Read Too Closely
So far, the red Galaxy S III has been limited strictly to AT&T. If you wanted to get your hands on that device in the color that denotes danger and sexiness (you know, in keeping with the whole calming ‘nature’ theme), then two-thirds of U.S. mobile users would have to switch carriers. Now, however, you can get a red Galaxy S III 920 from Wal-Mart as long as you don’t mind it being a Lumia 920, running Windows Phone, and not being a Galaxy S III at all.
Wait, that’s not right.
Someone at Wal-Mart is either very confused, very stupid, or brilliant and out to make Artem’s day.
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Wal-Mart Is Currently Selling A Red Galaxy S III 920 To People Who Don’t Read Too Closely was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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New Huawei MediaPad In The Works?
China-based Huawei seems to have a new version of their MediaPad 10 FHD 10-inch tablet that will be released in the near future. According to a report from NotebookItalia, there have been at least three different models numbers that have surfaced at the WiFi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG sites. The models have all received WiFi certification, S10-201W, S10-201U and S10-202U. Of course, with any device that surfaces like this, details always minimal. It does seem like the 201U and 202U versions will perhaps have antennas for 3G and 3G/4G connectivity. Details are a bit sketchy, but this is likely a possibility.
What we know so far is that the tablet has been dubbed the MediaPad 10 Link, and the devices do appear to have the MediaPad 10 FHD’s 10.1-inch IPS LCD HD display. NotebookItalia was able to compare images of the new device with the MediaPad 10 FHD and had found some different variations in the cases. Again, information is a bit sketchy here, but I’m going to go ahead and guess that the China-based company is possibly trying to bring some low-cost alternatives to the table here. That would make sense since a lot of companies are moving forward with cheaper tables (e.g. Kindle Fire, iPad Mini, Nexus 7). We’ll just have to wait and see. We might even be able to get more information during CES 2013 as well, maybe the Mobile World Congress even?
This tablet definitely sounds interesting, but I personally don’t think the company has been able to achieve a whole lot of popularity with their tablets. Unless they can pull something crazy off, I doubt we’ll be seeing a huge push on these from the company.
source: Talk Android
New Huawei MediaPad 10 Link surfaces on certification sites
China’s Huawei appears to have some new versions of their MediaPad 10 FHD 10-inch tablet set to be released in the near future. According to NotebookItalia, at least three different model numbers have surfaced at the WiFi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG sites. The models – S10-201W, S10-201U and S10-202U – have all received WiFi certification. Details are still sketchy, but it appears the 201U and 202U versions probably contain antennas for 3G and 3G/4G connectivity.
Dubbed the MediaPad 10 Link, the devices do appear to possess the MediaPad 10 FHD’s 10.1-inch IPS LCD HD display. NotebookItalia compared images of the new device with the MediaPad 10 FHD and noted some very minor variations in the cases. The question remains as to whether the new devices are low-cost alternatives Huawei is trying to bring to market or the next evolution of the MediaPad 10 FHD. Perhaps we will find out during CES 2013.
source: NotebookItalia
Huawei MediaPad 10 Link shows up with WiFi and Bluetooth certifications
Huawei looks to be readying their next 10-inch Android slate, according to documents filed with the WiFi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG. Dubbed the MediaPad 10 Link, Huawei was even nice enough to include a picture of the tablet. While the majority of specs remain unknown, the new 10-inch MediaPad looks to carry over the high-definition IPS display of its predecessor.
Three different model numbers have surfaced for the device (S10-201w, S10-201U, and S10-202U), which likely designate the various connectivity configurations that will be available. Expect a WiFi-only model and a couple of cellular data-enabled versions.
The overall appearance of the slate keeps in line with the MediaPad 10 FHD, which we reviewed earlier this year. The best guess is we are either looking at the direct followup to that particular tablet or a low-cost take on the original setup, nixing some of the device’s high-end features (the presence of the HD display might suggest otherwise). Unless it’s announced sooner, the MediaPad 10 Link could be barreling toward a CES 2013 debut.
[via NotebookItalia]
Avengers Initiative from Marvel ready to land on Android devices
If you have ever muttered to yourself, “HULK SMASH!” Marvel may have a new game right up your alley. Demonstrating the influence of smartphones and tablets, Marvel is releasing Avengers Initiative as a title specifically developed for touchscreen devices. This is the first of four planned titles in the series, this one giving players the opportunity to play as the Hulk.
The back story involves several monsters and criminals breaking free from a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility. The Hulk is recruited to track down as many of the bad guys as he can while the rest of the Avengers are assembled. Marvel indicates the combat system is completely gesture based with high definition visuals. Players can customize their Hulk character and access on-line features like live events and new character reveals. Marvel has created a new service called Marvel XP that will let players track progress, receive achievement rewards, unlock badges and other character content. The system is also supposed to work across multiple games like the Avengers Alliance game on Facebook.
Avengers Initiative requires Android 4.0 or better and Marvel lists about 18 devices the title will work on. If you have a Tegra powered device, Marvel has included some TegraZone enhancements like better character textures, realistic clothing, life-like environments, and Iso-8 effects.
Avengers Initiative is available in the Google Play store using one of the links below for $6.99. Who is ready to show they are the strongest there is?
Click here to view the embedded video.
Google expands music portfolio with European license deal
Google took a big step in expanding the portfolio of music it is able to make available to customers with a new licensing deal covering several European countries. The license deal with Armonia, an alliance of French, Italian and Spanish licensing groups, opens the door to music from 35 countries. Notable artists covered by the new deal include Lady Gaga and Rihanna.
In addition to the European countries covered by the agreement, Google also gained access to the British and American portfolios of Universal Music Publishing and the Latin portfolio of Sony. Sources indicate royalties for publishers and artists are consistent with industry standards. The breadth of the deal is unusual as license deals with others have typically been on a country-by-country basis.
source: Businessweek
Google Music signs deals with European music publishers
Google has reached licensing deals with representatives of European music publishers, artists and composers. This deal will give Google Music access to 5.5 million musical works. These songs span a total of 35 countries, which opens up a ton of options for Google. The deal with Armonia, the alliance of French, Italian and Spanish licensing groups, is considered the broadest of its kind.
Google could leverage the power of this deal to open Google Music in many other countries. This could give them leverage in countries where its major competitors Apple and Amazon do not have a footing yet. The three companies are major players in the music game, and these deals could certainly help Google get a leg up in the cloud-based and digital music sales game.
This deal does not necessarily open cross-country licensing of music. Meaning, it does not necessarily mean Google can use the deal to sell Italian songs in the US, for example. Of course, we need more details about the deal to know exactly what kinds of ways Google can leverage it. Either way, this is a big deal in the music licensing world, and it could help Google a great deal.
The biggest difference between this and the way Apple and Amazon do similar deals is that those companies typically go country-by-country, and are not as sweeping as Google’s. Google also rounded up the British and American catalog of Universal Music Publishing and Sony’s Latin songs. Hopefully this deal opens up Google Music to a slew of countries where it was not available before. Only time will tell what comes from this.
[via BusinessWeek]
Google Reaches Deal With European Music Publishers, Adding 5.5 Million Works To The Play Store
Just one week after bringing Play Music to France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, Google has reached a major licensing deal with Armonia, a music licensing initiative that represents an alliance of publishers from across Europe. The deal will give Play customers access to Armonia’s 5.5 million musical works licensed across over 30 countries.
Armonia’s repertoire, which it calls the “widest in the world,” includes works from an alphabet soup of collective management societies, including SACEM, SGAE, SIAE, UMPI, SONY Latino, PEER Latino, and SPA.
Besides giving customers access to a huge number of new pieces, this deal is significant in that it represents a unique strategy in music licensing, whereby Google is gaining access to licensing for over thirty countries at once, rather than licensing in countries on a one-by-one basis.
- Google Brings Play Music To France, Germany, Italy, Spain And The UK Right On Time
- Google Play Movies Continues To Slowly Invade Europe, Now Available In Spain
- Nexus 4, 10, And HSPA+ Nexus 7 Orders Now Live For Customers In UK, France, Germany, Spain
- Nexus 7 Now Available From The Play Store In France, Germany, And Spain
Google Reaches Deal With European Music Publishers, Adding 5.5 Million Works To The Play Store was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Android 4.2 Feature Highlight: So, What Is This Miracast Thing And How Does It Work, Anyway?
Android 4.2 is out now and it brings a bunch of new goodies. Multiple users on a tablet, photospheres, and gesture typing are all pretty neat. What about this Miracast thing, though? If you’re part of the majority of Android users out there, you know that it involves screen sharing and something vaguely to do with WiFi. Well, here. Let’s clear some of that up for you.
So, Uh… What Is Miracast?
At its most basic level, Miracast is a video streaming specification created by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It allows a user to share whatever is displayed on their device’s screen with another compatible product.
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Android 4.2 Feature Highlight: So, What Is This Miracast Thing And How Does It Work, Anyway? was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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[New Game] The Hunters Look To Scratch Your Strategy Itch
The Hunters: Episode One is a new game on the Google Play Store that looks to appeal to fans of the XCOM, Jagged Alliance, and Final Fantasy Tactics series. You take control of a team of mercenaries in turn-based missions which will earn you money upon completion. You can use that money to upgrade your squad and complete contracts that refresh every day. You can also purchase in-game currency with real money, as well.
The game takes advantage of a tablet or phone’s touch screen in order to give you a really good look of the battlefield; of course, you can zoom in and out to get as intimate as you want.
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[New Game] The Hunters Look To Scratch Your Strategy Itch was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Google Brings Play Music To France, Germany, Italy, Spain And The UK Right On Time
Just as planned, Google just unleashed Play Music upon select European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK.
We’ve known that Google would bring Music to Europe since last month, when the Mountain View giant also announced a new alliance with Warner Music Group, meaning that Play Music was finally partnered with “all of the major record labels globally.”
Readers may remember that this rollout also heralds the introduction of music matching for Google Play Music users. Music Matching, for those unaware, is a service by which Google peeks at the music users upload to their account (up to 20,000 songs free), and checks the files against its own servers, automatically adding matched tracks to the user’s library without the need for lengthy uploads.
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Google Brings Play Music To France, Germany, Italy, Spain And The UK Right On Time was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Happy Fifth Birthday, Android: An Exploration Of Android’s Five Year Journey To The Top
Hi, Android! Sorry your present is a little late, it took a while to wrap it. Five years ago yesterday, Google’s then-CEO Eric Schmidt joined other members of the newly-formed Open Handset Alliance to announce the Android operating system. Back then, we were still nearly a year away from an actual Gphone (and yes, people really called it that) and Sprint and T-Mobile were the only US carriers even interested. Now, Android is installed on over 400 million devices, nearly every carrier in the world wants a piece of the action, and the platform as a whole is the single largest mobile OS ever.
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Happy Fifth Birthday, Android: An Exploration Of Android’s Five Year Journey To The Top was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Android officially celebrates its 5th birthday
When do you celebrates one’s birthday? In some cultures, it’s starts with conception. Others say it’s when you’re actually delivered and come into the world. That being said, depending on how you celebrate birthdays, today is officially Android’s 5th birthday.
Formed in 2007, the Open Handset Alliance was assembled consisting of heavy weights like Google, HTC, Motorola, Samsung, and LG, who all banded together, choosing Android as their platform of choice. Here was their creed:
Each member of the Open Handset Alliance is strongly committed to greater openness in the mobile ecosystem. Increased openness will enable everyone in our industry to innovate more rapidly and respond better to consumers’ demands. Our first joint project as a new Alliance is Android™. Android was built from the ground up with the explicit goal to be the first open, complete, and free platform created specifically for mobile devices.
Holy cow, how right they were. We’ve all reaped the benefits of an open ecosystem. Competition has move ahead at blazing (sometimes too fast) speeds, and here we are today with HD displays and quad-core devices in our pocket. Feels good, don’t it?
Android Inc. was originally founded by Andy Rubin — the man who brought you the Sidekick – and Google snatched him, and Android up, back in 2005. On November 5th, 2007 — Android was officially announced (although the SDK wasn’t made available until the 12th) and my, how far we’ve come. Here’s a quick ancient YouTube video from the early Android creators introducing their all new mobile platform. (I promised myself I wouldn’t cry).
Happy Birthday: Android and the Open Handset Alliance turns 5 today
It was five years ago today that the Open Handset Alliance and Android was born. It sure has been an awesome ride. One that has resulted in around 1.3 million activations per day and 75% of the smartphone market share. There is still a lot more to go as the tablet market needs to be seized and don’t forget, we still have 16 more desserts to go for Android versions. So Happy Birthday Android and hit the break for the video that introduced Android to the world five years ago today. It features Nice Sears, co-founder of Android; Alex Rubin, Andy Rubin’s dog and team mascot; Steve Horowitz, Engineering Director, Dan Morrill, Developer Advocate; Peisun Wu, Engineering Project Manager; Erick Tseng, Product Manager; Iliyan Malchev, Engineer; Mike Cleron, Software Architect; Per Gustafsson, Interactive Graphic Designer; Brian Swetland, System Tech Lead; Tobias Anderson, Interaction Designer; and German Bauer, Experience Designer.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Open Handset Alliance turns five today
Today marks the fifth birthday of the organization that made Android possible — the Open Handset Alliance. On Nov. 5, 2007, Google, T-Mobile, HTC, LG, Motorola, Samsung and others joined forces and announced the development of the Android mobile platform.
The result of Google's 2005 acquisition of Andy Rubin's Android, Inc., the first version of Android wouldn't appear on handsets until a year later, and even then, early versions looked radically different to the Android we know today.
But the main pillars of Android were already in place back in 2007 — a focus on an open platform that anyone could build on, and variety in hardware and network support through numerous partners. It's this variety that's seen Android thrive in recent years.
At the time of the announcement, the iPhone had just been released, and many of us were carrying either featurephones, or BlackBerry or Windows Mobile devices. Five years on, the landscape has shifted dramatically, with Android claiming as much as 75 percent of the global smartphone market, according to recent figures.
How times have changed. Any guesses as to where the next half-decade might take us?
More: Open Handset Alliance
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Celebrating Android’s 5th Birthday: 5 of the Best Things about Android OS
This day five years ago, Google together with mobile hardware manufacturers and cellular service providers unveiled the Open Handset Alliance, an event that marked the birth of Android. Google has been on the forefront of steering the development of this mobile operating system since it purchased it 7 years ago from Android Inc. Android Inc. was founded back in 2003 and Google announced its intention to take it over in 2007 and stir up the smartphone market.
The first version of Android, Android 1.0, came in September 2008, but it did leave much impact until late 2009 when such products as Motorola droid running on Android began to emerge in the market. Since then, Android has grown to become the most popular and dominant operating system running on over 60 percent of smartphones and tablets worldwide, and it is still growing in popularity. The big question is, why is Android so popular, and how has it revolutionized the smartphone and tablet worlds?
1. Android is very customizable
When you buy a device from Samsung with TouchWiz interface and get another by HTC with HTC Sense interface but running the same operating system, they look completely different. This customization is on manufacturer level, but users can customize their devices to suit their needs. They can install third party launchers to change how the device looks and response, they can install applications to monitor device performance and modify device settings to suit their needs.
There are also custom programs downloadable, mostly for free or for less than $10 from Google Play Store for almost any task including emails, browsers, camera and photo editors applications, and other system applications. There has never been any mobile operating system that is as customizable as Android.
That is not all; advanced users can even overhaul the entire operating system and install modified ones in a process called rooting. This grants the user full control of the operating system and access to device hardware for a whole new Android experience.
2. Vibrant Android Community
Over the five years that Android has been in existence, one of the most dynamic android user and developer community has mushroomed. When users first get android devices and need help getting around, they will find all kinds of answers for questions they may have about the operating system. The most dynamic communities – xdaDevelopers and CyanogenMod forum have all kinds of articles, blog posts and help files for all users – from beginners to advanced modders. There are also so many blogs and websites that are dedicated to providing news and support information such as this post on the internet – no other mobile operating system rivals Android’s. The vibrant Android community can be attributed to the operating system’s open source nature
3. Availability of applications – for almost anything
You want to edit your photos on phone or tablet? There is an Android app for that. Do you want to install your own program? You can do that without any modifications to the operating system. Sideloading applications, which means installing applications which are not from the play store, is as simple as locating where it is saved and tapping to install. Unlike iOS, Android has several popular app stores including the Google Play Store which has almost 800,000 applications now, the Amazon Android store, soon-to-come Firefox app store and many other smaller application stores. This means that finding applications from different sources eliminates the inconveniences and disadvantages of monopoly.
4. Android an open source operating system
Since Android is an open source operating system, its source code is available to the public. This is a big deal to application developers and advanced users who want to modify the operating system to suit their needs.
5. Android home screen
One of the best features of the Android operating system is its home screen. With a home screen that supports widgets, its dynamicity and ease of use, it means that the home screen provides functionality and access to tools, services and applications that would otherwise be so complicated to access. No other mobile operating system provides such functionality – or if there is, it got the idea from Android.
Five years down the line, Android has grown from 1.0 to the current 4.2 and it is something completely different. It has changed what phones can do, and tablets now do what laptops do – even better than most laptops. Smartphones on the other hand have such extended capabilities that it is difficult to predict how they will be five years from now.
AT&T, T-Mobile collaborate to aid Hurricane Sandy victims, networks opened up
Two of the major carriers in the United States, AT&T and T-Mobile are recently teaming up to help all customers who were hardly hit by Hurricane Sandy, particularly those in the New York and New Jersey areas wherein cellular service communication remains hard.
Hurricane Sandy has left a huge portion of New York and New Jersey drenched to date, causing cellphone reception difficult to catch.
The special arrangement both telecommunication companies have come up with denotes an extraordinary measure to warrant all their customers can stay in touch despite the hurricane aftermath. Customers will then be able to use whichever network acquires coverage in their locations.
AT&T and T-Mobile have agreed to enable roaming service on their networks to customers in the heavily impacted locations and other areas where capacity is accessible. All subscribers with a compatible device can also take advantage of this special network service offer.
The linking of networks will take place entirely behind the scenes. All the customers have to do is to dial out the numbers they would want to call, just like the usual way and the stronger network will automatically route these calls.
Fees and rates agreement
The transitory alliance of both network systems means that all calls made by AT&T and T-Mobile subscribers will spontaneously be carried by whichever network is most operational in the location. Rest assured, there will be no extra charges and no changes will be made on the customer’s current service agreements or rate plans, even if the phone directs the device is connected to the other carrier’s network.
The sharing of voice and data traffic is made possible with T-Mobile and AT&T’s network technology based on UMTS and GSM standards.
Hurricane Sandy has inflicted major damages especially in New York and New Jersey. About half a quarter of cellphone towers in ten states were destroyed by the storm, making calls across the Northeast very difficult, according to the Federal Communication Commission.
It would still take several days for these towers to be entirely fixed. The unrelenting bad weather is also thought to cause further repair delays and additional problems. Some of the operational transmission sites are currently running on backup generators due to massive power outages. Carriers only hope these generators could last until electricity is back up and running. Otherwise, communication outages proliferate.
This is likely driving AT&T and T-Mobile to stick into such a deal of sharing towers ad networks, as a form of relief to their customers in need of communication assistance following the ferocious storm.
Regional President of AT&T northeast, Steve Hodges said in a statement that: “Our goal here is to help people stay connected to family and loved ones in the aftermath of this terrible storm.”
Meanwhile, a latest report said AT&T will be extending its late-payment window and will waive late payment charges for all customer victims of Hurricane Sandy who are behind.
In-store charging is also offered in 400 AT&T retail locations across the northeast. Customers however, are advised to call ahead to make sure electricity is available in the area. Generator-powered charging stations and RVs are also being rolled out at food and water stations across the city of New York.
So far, either of the telecom companies had not specified a definite date as to when this rare transitory network sharing service is offered or how long the agreement will last.
Source: Phone Arena
Verizon Wireless Deploying Help For Those Affected With Hurricane Sandy
AT&T and T-Mobile were generous enough to form an alliance to help their customers in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy by letting them roam on each others networks, but Verizon, whose network seemed to outlast a whole lot better than others throughout the storm, is offering up help as well. Verizon Wireless has gone ahead and deployed various Wireless Emergency Communication Centers to certain areas to help out with charging handsets. They also have on-site computers to help with communication if the need is there.
Not only that, but Verizon has also launched a bunch of Verizon Communication Stores on-wheels that will allow people affected by Sandy to make free phone calls to friends and family if the need is there as well. Verizon has also said that 96% of their network is up and running, even in some of the areas that were hit the hardest in the Northeast. Whatever the case, this will definitely be a huge PR boost for Verizon, and may even encourage customers to switch over to them. But, business aside, it is nice to see that Verizon has offered this. While AT&T and T-Mobile has helped out with roaming networks, I have to say that charging stations were probably what was most needed here.
source: Droid-Life
Android Overload: Google, AT&T, Starbucks join Power Matters Alliance; Unlocked Galaxy Note 2 for $580, and more
- Google shows off the Wireless Charging Orb for the newly announced Nexus 4. [TheVerge]
- Pandora on Android receiving major UI overhaul. Completely redesigned with new social features. [Pandora]
- Google, AT&T, and Starbucks, join up with the Power Matters Alliance. [Electronista]
- Paypal cuts 325 jobs worldwide in new restructuring effort. [WashingtonPost]
- Nook HD and Nook HD+ now available for order in the UK. [NookUK]
- Unlocked Samsung Galaxy Note 2 only $580 at Daily Steals.
AMD, Intel and RSA team up, form the Cyber Security Research Alliance
Sure, it’s not the first elite cybercrime-fighting team we’ve heard of, it’s also not everyday you hear the likes of Intel, Lockheed Martin and AMD buddying up on research. The companies are looking to address the “complex problems” in cyber security, with the private, non-profit group (which also includes Honeywell and RSA/EMC) aiming to work somewhere between government-funded security research and commercial products already out there. The Cyber Security Research Alliance is already in talks with NIST, and plans to launch a security research symposium early next year. The CSRA will also start tracking cyber security R&D, “prioritize” those aforementioned challenges, and hopefully come together for the greater good.
Continue reading AMD, Intel and RSA team up, form the Cyber Security Research Alliance
Filed under: Misc, Internet, Mobile, AMD, Intel
AMD, Intel and RSA team up, form the Cyber Security Research Alliance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 
Security Week | 
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Isis’ NFC payments go live in Austin and Salt Lake City: 3 carriers, 9 phones, 1 long way to go (video)
To say that the launch of Isis has felt drawn out would be a mild understatement. The alliance first signaled its intentions two years ago, detailed its first markets one year ago and faced a last-minute delay. All the ducks are finally in a row, however, and residents of both Austin as well as Salt Lake City can tap to pay (or score discounts) at the “hundreds” of locations that accept NFC-based purchases through American Express, Capital One, Chase and Isis’ own cash card. Launch day brings app- and SIM-enabled access for nine devices spread rather unevenly across AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon: only the Droid Incredible 4G LTE is confirmed working for Verizon subscribers, while the rest are divided more equally between multiple Samsung Galaxies and HTC devices like the Amaze 4G and One X. Over 20 phones should be Isis-aware before the end of the year. It’s a potentially strong start to one of the few truly cross-network mobile payment systems in the US, but we see a long road ahead before Isis gives Google Wallet some jitters — there’s legions of banks, cities and stores needed before Isis is widespread, and we’re not counting on that ever-elusive universal hardware support.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung, HTC, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile
Isis’ NFC payments go live in Austin and Salt Lake City: 3 carriers, 9 phones, 1 long way to go (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
UK carriers form alliance to speed up 800MHz LTE rollout, let us enjoy our Freeview TV
Isn’t it better when we work together? British carriers think so. EE, O2, Three and Vodafone have officially created a non-exclusive joint venture, Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, that should speed up the deployment of 800MHz LTE by keeping Freeview over-the-air TV signals clear of interference while the partners bring their low-frequency 4G online. Previously, the networks were bound to form an equivalent company called MitCo that wouldn’t have been active until after the 800MHz auction, preventing companies from getting their wireless houses in order until they’d already made a commitment. There’s also a competitive angle involved to go with the cooperative work, as you might imagine: with EE’s 1,800MHz LTE poised to go live on October 30th, choosing infighting over assistance would only help widen the frontrunner’s lead. Whether DMSL represents altruism or pragmatism, we’ll appreciate knowing that the hurdles to a catch-up in UK 4G will be more those of the technical reality than the usual political maneuvering.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
UK carriers form alliance to speed up 800MHz LTE rollout, let us enjoy our Freeview TV originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Understanding the Difference Between AOSP and the Open Handset Alliance [Opinion]
Over the past few years there has been grumbling among some that Google needs to stop calling Android open source. The argument is a simple one: Google can call Android open source as long as it doesn’t place any requirements on its OEMs to use Android. This article will unpack some of the misconceptions about [...]
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Rogers, CIBC may launch Suretap NFC-based payments on October 15th, require a unique SIM
Rogers and Canadian bank CIBC struck a deal for NFC-based mobile payments back in May, long enough ago that it was starting to fade out of the public consciousness. The alliance may be near refreshing our memory with a commercial launch in the cards. MobileSyrup has reportedly scored internal documents that has the two launching their e-commerce collaboration on October 15th under a slightly catchier Suretap name. Unfortunately, the text also suggests that the initial launch will require at least as much hoop-jumping from customers as for the original Google Wallet plans. Avoiding a traditional wallet will demand a BlackBerry Bold 9900 or Curve 9360 on Rogers, a CIBC MasterCard, nearby stores with PayPass terminals, a CIBC app and now a special NFC-enabled SIM card — a set of criteria that disqualifies almost everyone, especially when there’s supposedly a $50 ceiling on transactions. It remains a step forward for mobile payments in a country that has had very few options to start with, but we’d only anticipate widespread adoption once there’s a much wider selection of devices and banks.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, RIM
Rogers, CIBC may launch Suretap NFC-based payments on October 15th, require a unique SIM originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 12:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
[Giveaway] Win One Of Three Big Android BBQ Android Figurine Sets From Android Police And Dead Zebra
![1[11]](http://cdn.androidpolice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/nexusae0_1111.png)
As you probably know, the Big Android BBQ is coming up on October 19-21 in the Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX area. If you didn’t know, don’t stress – you can still get a ticket. But hurry – they’re only on sale until the 19th.
In celebration of the BBQ, Dead Zebra – the creator of those awesome little Android figurines that everyone loves – has crafted some to commemorate the occasion!
These little guys will be on sale at the BBQ for $20 a set – but we also have three sets to give away. That is why you’re here, after all!
Official Android Police t-shirts are now on sale, with over 25 designs to call yours.
- Canadian Galaxy Nexus Spotted In Wi-Fi Alliance Database
- The New Developer Console Has Started To Go Live For Those Who Signed Up For The Preview
- [Updated: Here Are The Winners!] Mega-Holiday Lightning Giveaway #2: Win One Of Five Of The Sold Out Dead Zebra Android Toy Soldiers For Doing Next To Nothing
- [Updated] Amazon Offering A Few Cheap Apps To Celebrate One Year Of Appstore Success
- T-Mobile Teases Online Pre-Orders For G2 : Coming Soon
[Giveaway] Win One Of Three Big Android BBQ Android Figurine Sets From Android Police And Dead Zebra was written by the awesome team at Android Police.
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Feel the Force: Angry Birds Star Wars coming November 8th to iOS, Android and computers
Rovio teased a certain film-inspired Angry Birds picture a long, long last week, and as expected, it’s another new game — Angry Birds Star Wars. Our furious feathered friends are assuming the likenesses of characters from the epic saga, with the trusty Red Bird taking on Luke Skywalker’s role. It wouldn’t be the Rebel Alliance without a dark side to fight, which is where the Pigs fit into the storyline; even the music and levels for gravity-based play will hark back to the film franchise. In addition to the software, details of related merchandise have also been uncovered, including table games, toys and costumes. The game is out on November 8th for iOS, Android and computers, and if it follows the original storyline, we wonder how Red Bird’s going to feel about his porcine family history.
Feel the Force: Angry Birds Star Wars coming November 8th to iOS, Android and computers originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Oct 2012 06:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq | USA Today, Idle Hands blog | Email this | Comments
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