Google And LG Reportedly Prepping 32GB CDMA Nexus 4 With LTE For I/O

When Google takes the stage during its I/O conference next month, we’re expecting great things: Key Lime Pie, unified messaging, a Nexus 7 follow up and more. But what we won’t get, according to SidhTech, citing unnamed sources, is a Nexus 5, or even an X Phone. Apparently the search giant is planning on introducing a Nexus 4 with more storage and LTE support that’s it in the phone department.

SidhTech’s report claims Google will reveal a 32GB Nexus 4 that will support LTE and CDMA bands for wider availability across the biggest carriers in the U.S. The two biggest gripes you could throw at the Nexus 4 was its storage and lack of LTE, but it appears Google wants to address both issues. But will that be enough to please those in search of a more up-to-date vanilla Android experience?

The Nexus 4 is still one of the best Android options out there, even if it doesn't sport the latest specs. The device certainly wouldn't be a bad candidate to run Key Lime Pie first, and it’ll certainly garner more interest once LTE and higher storage options are available.

Sprint Galaxy S 4 Approved By FCC With Global Roaming In Tow

The FCC today approved Sprint's version of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S 4 phone. The approval documents show support for GSM and WCDMA, in additional to Sprint's CDMA and LTE networks, indicating that the phone is intended to have global roaming capability. Last year's Galaxy S III for Sprint was the only Galaxy S III for a top-tier carrier without global roaming. The FCC also approved the Galaxy S 4 variant for U.S. Cellular (and, most likely, Cricket); it does not appear to support overseas networks.


Source: FCC

Alltel To Offer Apple iPhone Starting March 15th

The iPhone 5 is already available for pre-order and the 16GB model starts at $149.99 with a two-year agreement.

AT&T is positioned to acquire Alltel’s assets and customers in their entirety in the second half of this year. It is still business as usual for the once large regional carrier, mostly bought out by Verizon Wireless.

As you may recall from that merger some years ago, Verizon had to divest several markets or work some spectrum swaps with other providers (like AT&T) in order to secure regulatory approval. The leftovers remained as the Alltel brand, operated by Atlantic Tele-Network Wireless and that is what AT&T will be taking on later in the year.

Meanwhile, Alltel continues to maintain its lineup of products and services and that includes the iPhone. In addition to the iPhone 5, Alltel will also begin selling the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4. The16GB iPhone 4S will run just $49.99 and the iPhone 4 will move for $0.99. The iPhone 5 starts at just $149.99 for the 16GB flavor, add an additional $100 for each iteration up the storage ladder for the other models.

Alltel operates a CDMA/EV-DO network in 6 states and hold spectrum licenses that AT&T will certainly be able to make use of. Though with the addition of the more expensive hardware, it will be interesting to see what route AT&T takes as it converts Alltel’s network to GSM/UMTS and LTE.


Source: Alltel

T-Mobile Announces MetroPCS Merger

T-Mobile this morning announced that it's merging with MetroPCS in a $1.5 billion deal. The two companies will unite under the T-Mobile name, with current T-Mobile parent company Deutsche Telekom to keep a 74 percent stake. The rest goes to MetroPCS shareholders, who also get the cash.

MetroPCS already has LTE up and running, a technology sorely lacking from T-Mobile's current U.S. offerings, so we'd expect that's part of the impetus behind all this. But it'll take a little time to get all that worked out.

• The two companies actually will remain operating as fairly separate entities. Two business units. One network. MetroPCS isn't going anywhere for a few years.
• They're hoping to have GSM-capable devices ready to sell on MetroPCS when the deal closes next year.
• As we figured, LTE's playing ia big part here.

Voyager Mobile Officially Up And Running, A Few Days Behind Schedule

It's tough being the new kid in town ask Voyager Mobile, an up and coming MVNO that had its launch delayed by a "malicious network attack" last week. The tenacious firm may have missed its planned May 15th launch, but managed to pull things together in time for the weekend, piggybacking unlimited talk, text and data off of Sprint's CDMA and WiMAX network for $40 a month. A basic unlimited voice plan is also available to the tune of $20, without data allowances, of course. Phones are available too, albeit without subsidies Samsung's Epic 4G Touch or Galaxy S II will each set you back $550, though an assortment of more affordable devices can be had from $120 and up. 

Check out the official Voyager Mobile website.

PocketESN For Android Checks The Status Of A Phones ESN

The folks at Cunning Logic have released their latest Android application PocketESN. Cellular networks that utilize CDMA technology, such as Verizon, Sprint, Boost Mobile, Virgin Mobile, StraightTalk, Tracfone, and Cricket, all use ESN numbers to blacklist stolen or unpaid devices. For example, if you fail to keep your Sprint contract, your device’s ESN number will automatically be blacklisted by the company. If blacklisted, a device cannot be used on the network anymore.

Download link

St. Louis Latest Market To Receive 3G Boost From Sprint

Sprint announced that it has made improvements to its CDMA 3G network in the St. Louis market. Specifically, Sprint has increased the capacity of its network in the St. Louis metropolitan area such that customers should expect to have fewer dropped calls and faster 3G data speeds. Sprint said that it has made 32 different improvements over the past three months and has another 30 improvements scheduled to take place in the next three months as part of its Network Vision program. Several other markets will receive similar improvements from Sprint this year.

Verizon To Stop Allowing Legacy Alltel Devices On Its Network

It's been three years and two days since Verizon officially closed its acquisition of Alltel, and it looks like Big Red's finally putting the sledgehammer down on activating legacy devices from the purchased network. Official word from a Verizon spokesperson that effective today, the carrier will no longer allow you to bring over an Alltel device to a retail outlet and get it activated on their network. If you're currently using an Alltel-branded phone on Verizon, don't panic: this new policy change only applies to handsets that haven't already been activated. We can't imagine this will affect too many users at this point, but we imagine Chad's still feeling a little bummed out today regardless.

Verizon Confirms All Future Smartphones Will Feature LTE

Verizon made it clear that it plans to equip all of its future smartphones with LTE as it tries to move more customers off its 3G CDMA network. The largest phone carrier in the United States is putting new LTE requirements in place for all smartphones, hotspot devices, tablets and netbooks, including devices from Research In Motion and those running Microsoft’s Windows Phone, according to CNET.

Big Red also confirmed some other plans which include support for Windows Phone devices and global GSM/WCDMA roaming capabilities on new 4G handsets. Support for global roaming has been in Verizon’s sights for awhile, but has yet to be implemented, with the company’s new plan for this year that will no longer be the case.

“The LTE phones work globally in over 40 countries that currently use CDMA technology,” Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney told Phonescoop. “For the new LTE phones to provide global roaming voice and data in non-CDMA countries, we are working on a few network enhancements so we can provide customers with the best voice and data roaming experience. We anticipate this capability to be available this year, likely the first half of the year.”