Spectrum is the new oil. Or, so it would appear given all the backbiting that’s overtaken the wireless industry as of late. One company, however, is perched advantageously to benefit from these squabbles and that’s Cox. In separate filings to the Commission dated today, the cabler’s begun the official process of seeking approval to transfer portions of its 700MHz holdings in the A and B blocks — acquired during an FCC auction back in 2008 — to U.S. Cellular and AT&T, respectively. Barring any (Big Red) opposition, this exchange would put eight licenses in AT&T’s fold and four in U.S. Cellular’s that would enhance existing voice and date service, while also aiding in LTE buildout across southern CMAs. All three parties still have a ways to go before these deals pass regulatory approval, but if the recent state of the wireless union’s any indication, one of the three primary carrier colors is bound to rear its nay-saying head.

Cox seeks 700MHz spectrum transfer to AT&T, U.S. Cellular originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 18:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Though it hasn’t been officially announced, AT&T’s likely has a new Pantech LTE phone in its reasonable future. The P8010 just got approved by the FCC, and its next-gen radio offers support for no less than four LTE bands: the 700 / 1700 frequencies used by AT&T, as well as 850 / 1900. What’s curious about the latter pair of bands is that they’re the same ones used by the largest GSM carrier for its HSPA+ / WCDMA needs, suggesting that AT&T’s planning ahead for possible refarming of its spectrum. Aside from this hefty nugget of info, the federal docs don’t give much else away, aside from a well-detailed diagram showing the back of the phone — complete with its microSD and micro-SIM slots — and the usual smattering of compatible GSM / EDGE and 3G radios. According to preliminary benchmark results, however, the P8010 will likely be a step up from the Burst, sporting a 1.5GHz dual-core Krait processor, qHD display and Ice Cream Sandwich. To sneak a peek at the docs yourself, head to the source.

Pantech P8010 meets FCC, brings AT&T LTE along to say hello originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 May 2012 16:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a relatively strange fashion, AT&T’s quietly pulled the plug on its U-verse kit for the Xbox 360 — at least for the time being. According to a note on its own site, the company’s taking some time to focus on “improving and enhancing” its U-verse bundle. This is probably a reference to the updated app (that would also require XBL Gold) AT&T promised for the new dashboard with Kinect support and a new UI, but has yet to deliver. As Multichannel points out, earlier last week Netflix had filed a complaint with the FCC, claiming that AT&T’s U-verse on Xbox violated network neutrality regulations — though, it’s unclear whether this had anything to do with the outfit’s decision to suspend the service. AT&T has said the set-top kit won’t “be available until the new enhancements and functionality are added,” so we’d recommend not holding your breath for too long.

AT&T stops offering Xbox 360 U-verse bundle until it can deliver an updated version originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nokia’s major focal points within the US market may currently be its Lumia 900 and Windows Phone, but that doesn’t mean it’s planning to leave its other notable offerings outside of Uncle Sam’s borders. Speaking with PC Mag, Nokia executive Chris Weber explained that the company aims to offer its current imaging- / Symbian Belle flagship-handset, the 41-megapixel 808 ureView 808, north of Mexico in the “next couple of months” — unsurprising, considering it recently passed through the underground testing-chambers of the FCC. Unlike the Lumia, however, this mega-phone will only be sold unlocked, naturally sporting AT&T bands (possibly others, too. See the update below.) for connectivity. While we’re still eager to find out more detailed availability information, you can now rest assured that you’ll soon be able to capture highly detailed photos of your freedom fries to post on Tumblr.

Update: PC Mag’s Sascha Segan wrote in the comments below to clarify this device’s likely connectivity options:

Weber said he was sure the phone would support AT&T. He didn’t refer specifically to any frequency bands or say the phone wouldn’t support any other carrier. I presume it’s going to be the international model, so it’ll be any carrier the international model supports.

Nokia confirms intent to bring unlocked 808 PureView handset to US (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 May 2012 15:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CTIA 2012 is wrapping up and we thought we’d spend a few minutes reminiscing about some of the more interesting devices we had a chance to see for the first time or that were launched here. Unfortunately for us — and thereby for you, too — the show lacked the bite we’ve seen at previous events, in fact it barely registered a nibble. We did catch up with five products we’d like to highlight so follow on after the break for our recap.

Continue reading CTIA 2012: a look back at our favorite devices

CTIA 2012: a look back at our favorite devices originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 15:10:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mystery, solved. That SGH-i667 ‘Mandel’ Windows Phone that cropped up earlier in the month (and is shown above on the left)? Word on the street at that point was that it had been nixed from AT&T’s lineup, but somehow, that same device actually made the trip to New Orleans. Sure enough, it debuted at CTIA as the Focus 2, a mid-range followup phone that’s destined to tempt smartphone buyers to the WP7 side with a rock-bottom $50-on-contract price point. Hard to say if Samsung and AT&T mutually decided to carry through with launch plans after initially spiking ‘em (or if that intel was just wrong to begin with), but we can think of it least one recently-canned phone that’s hoping it’s the former.

Samsung’s SGH-i667 ‘Mandel’ Windows Phone: surprise, it’s the Focus 2 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 17:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember the Samsung Skyrocket HD for AT&T? Great, now forget it. According to Sammy, the largest GSM carrier has decided to forego the mysteriously absent device, announced all the way back at January’s AT&T Developer Summit, in order to focus on other products. This move adds credence to our suspicions that this particular handset wouldn’t have a distinct place in the lineup alongside the carrier’s version of the Galaxy S III, which hasn’t been officially announced for US availability yet.

We reached out to Samsung, and here’s the company’s official statement on the matter: “AT&T and Samsung have agreed to cancel plans to offer the Galaxy S II Skyrocket HD. We are concentrating resources on other products to bring exciting experiences to consumers.” Not too much of a surprise, but those eagerly awaiting this device shouldn’t get too frazzled — if you can’t wait for Samsung’s newest flagship, at least we’re hopeful that a few carrier-branded prototypes will leak out on eBay to whet your appetite.

AT&T cancels plans to release Samsung Skyrocket HD, likely setting sights on Galaxy S III originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T’s Glenn Lurie believes that WiFi-only tablets won’t be around for long as the cost of cellular modems falls. Talking at CTIA Wireless, the “emerging devices” honcho thinks that the low ($30) cost of an HSPA+ radio will eventually make manufacturers abandon the two-tier model — doubling the potential customers for his network. He pointed to the success of the sold-out Pantech Element and has said that the company would be offering similarly enabled tablet devices in the future. Of course, if manufacturers only charged $30 extra for 3G-enabled tablets in the first place, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.

AT&T’s Glenn Lurie sees the end of WiFi-only tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T’s Glenn Lurie believes that WiFi-only tablets won’t be around for long as the cost of cellular modems falls. Talking at CTIA Wireless, the “emerging devices” honcho thinks that the low ($30) cost of an HSPA+ radio will eventually make manufacturers abandon the two-tier model — doubling the potential customers for his network. He pointed to the success of the sold-out Pantech Element and has said that the company would be offering similarly enabled tablet devices in the future. Of course, if manufacturers only charged $30 extra for 3G-enabled tablets in the first place, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.

AT&T’s Glenn Lurie sees the end of WiFi-only tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T’s Glenn Lurie believes that WiFi-only tablets won’t be around for long as the cost of cellular modems falls. Talking at CTIA Wireless, the “emerging devices” honcho thinks that the low ($30) cost of an HSPA+ radio will eventually make manufacturers abandon the two-tier model — doubling the potential customers for his network. He pointed to the success of the sold-out Pantech Element and has said that the company would be offering similarly enabled tablet devices in the future. Of course, if manufacturers only charged $30 extra for 3G-enabled tablets in the first place, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.

AT&T’s Glenn Lurie sees the end of WiFi-only tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No sooner did the international variant of the One X reveal its source code, now the AT&T version has landed itself an unofficial root. Better still, the folks over at xda-developers have already squeezed the occasionally laborious process into a one-click install. For those not in the know, this doesn’t mean an unlocked bootloader, which is still wrapped up in AT&T red tape. Root meddling types can hit up the source for the necessary files. Just, be careful — that’s some pricey polycarbonate and the Galaxy S III‘s still some weeks away.

AT&T’s HTC One X gets rooted, catches up with the global gang originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 12:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Someone at Google’s advertising department has probably received the hairdryer treatment this morning after a Gmail advert prematurely revealed that Sony’s Xperia Ion would arrive in June. The banner ad popped up atop Droidmatters’ inbox and revealed that the Stateside version of the Xperia S will turn up just in time for Summer.

Continue reading Gmail advert ruins AT&T’s big surprise, Sony’s Xperia Ion arrives stateside in June

Gmail advert ruins AT&T’s big surprise, Sony’s Xperia Ion arrives stateside in June originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 10:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T has been hinting for a while that it’s getting closer to implementing small cell sites in its network, and at CTIA Wireless 2012 gave a stronger clue as to when and how the mini network hubs will operate. Executive technology VP John Donovan clarified to Reuters that a pilot is expected to start late this year and should run into 2013. If all runs smoothly, the below-tower-sized sites will be clipping on to lamp posts and other parts of the urban landscape to strengthen coverage in places where wide-area WiFi alone won’t do. While Donovan didn’t venture deep into the infrastructure at the trade show, Cisco had previously said that AT&T would be using sites incorporating 2G, 3G, 4G and WiFi when the provider did start experimenting with small cells. If so, there’s a chance subscribers could get AT&T WiFi without having to turn to an airport, landmark or coffee shop.

AT&T small cell site pilot due between late 2012, 2013 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 20:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In one corner, we have CNBC’s Jim Cramer. And in the other corner stands the heads of the four largest mobile operators in the United States: Ralph de la Vega (AT&T Mobility), Dan Mead (Verizon Wireless), Dan Hesse (Sprint) and Philipp Humm (T-Mobile). We fully expect Jim to lob a few hardball questions at these gentlemen, and there’s no doubt zingers will be flung around. Who knows — maybe we’ll even get some news out of this keynote, so join us as we liveblog the Tuesday afternoon CTIA keynote, won’t you?

Live from CTIA with Jim Cramer and the CEOs of the four largest US carriers! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung got official with the Samsung Focus 2 Monday, the third Windows Phone smartphone on its 4G LTE network.

“Samsung is the unmatched leader in offering smartphones across a variety of platforms and the Focus 2 is a powerful example of our continued commitment to Windows Phone,” said Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile. “As our first 4G LTE Windows Phone, the Focus 2 is a fast and versatile device for productivity, entertainment and social networking.”

The Focus 2 follows in the footsteps of the Focus, Focus Flash, and Focus S. The handset has a 4-inch Super AMOLED screen, and a 5-megapixel camera that is also capable of shooting 720p HD video. The handset also has forward-facing VGA camera for video chatting.

“AT&T offers our customers the broadest Windows Phone portfolio of any carrier, with three 4G LTE Windows Phones – the only 4G LTE Windows Phones in the U.S. – now at a variety of price points and form factors,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility. “The Samsung Focus 2 brings the people-first Windows Phone interface together with AT&T’s fast 4G LTE network for an unbeatable experience.”

We had the opportunity to spend a little bit of time with the Focus 2 at an AT&T event at CTIA. First impressions? While we couldn’t recommend the Focus 2 over the Lumia 900 (which is currently selling for the same price point), the lightweight handset is priced right at $50 for entry-level smartphone buyers who might want to give Windows Phone a try.

The Focus S will be available on May 20 from AT&T.

Click here to view this gallery.

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We had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Glenn Lurie — AT&T’s president of emerging enterprises and partnerships — about the company’s Digital Life product which was announced back in February and launched today at CTIA 2012 here in New Orleans. Our takeaway? AT&T wants to tag everything in your home with an IP address and tie it all together seamlessly in a blaze of wireless glory. Don’t believe us? Watch our video interview and judge for yourself.

Brad Molen contributed to this post.

The Engadget interview: AT&T’s Glenn Lurie talks Digital Life at CTIA 2012 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 20:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In what seems to be turning into an annual tradition, the CEOs of the largest mobile operators in the US will be matching wits with Jim Cramer — and each other — in tomorrow afternoon’s CTIA keynote. This year, however, we’ll get to hear from T-Mobile chief Phillip Humm in addition to the usual trifecta of Dan Mead, Dan Hesse and Ralph de la Vega. We’ll be liveblogging the show to soak in all of the latest news, quotes and groaners that may come out as a result. Join us! And while you wait, stay caught up on the happenings in New Orleans by checking out our event hub.

Join us for the CTIA keynote with the CEOs of the big four US carriers, tomorrow at 5:30PM ET! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 18:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s the first night of action at CTIA Wireless 2012, and we’re not wasting any time finding the best of what New Orleans has to offer. To start things off properly, we got some time with the Samsung Focus 2, announced by AT&T earlier this morning as the latest addition to the network’s healthy Windows Phone lineup. Of course, the phone’s no stranger to being in front of the cameras — this is just the first time it’s occurred without any shroud of secrecy surrounding it. So what kind of specs come with the Focus 2? The $50 handset, due out on May 20th, offers a 4-inch Super AMOLED WVGA display, a 1.4GHz CPU with unspecified RAM, 5MP rear-facing camera capable of recording 720p HD video, a VGA cam on the front and LTE connectivity.

The Focus 2, without a doubt, feels completely tiny in our hands when compared to Nokia and HTC’s latest Windows Phone entries. And at 4.3 ounces, it’s incredibly light as well — sadly, the device’s 11.98mm thickness was a slight disappointment for us. Aside from the inclusion of LTE and a 1,750mAh user-removable battery, we’re not quite sure the reasoning behind it. With that said, anything with a display smaller than 4.3 inches these days seems immensely easy to grip, regardless. When handling the phone, we couldn’t help but think of the similarly-designed Galaxy Blaze 4G, as the two devices appear to have come from the same mold.

Overall, this isn’t a device meant for power users, and it faces some heavy competition against the Nokia Lumia 900 in price point (though the Focus 2 is slightly less expensive than the Lumia’s normal subsidized cost). But for anyone who enjoys a Windows Phone with a smaller display and was disappointed in the lack of LTE connectivity on the Focus Flash, this will be the ideal handset for you. If your curiosity is getting the best of you, go below to see the full gallery.

Update: Hit the break for our hands-on video.

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

Continue reading Samsung Focus 2 for AT&T hands-on at CTIA 2012 (update: video)

Samsung Focus 2 for AT&T hands-on at CTIA 2012 (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 17:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Nokia Lumia 900 may be the current leader when it comes to a quality Windows Phone handset on a budget, but Samsung is under-cutting the competition with the newly announced Focus 2. Succeeding the Focus and Focus S, this new handset offers LTE and comes in any color you like (so long as it’s white) for the low-low price of $49.99 on-contract. It has a 4-inch Super AMOLED (non-Plus) display up front and a five megapixel sensor in the back, capable of recording 720p video, paired with a VGA camera facing forward. No details on processor memory at this point, but for that price we wouldn’t expect to be too overwhelmed. Intrigued? You can sate that curiosity when it hits AT&T stores on May 20th.

Update: AT&T’s site now specifies that the Focus 2 will use a 1.4GHz CPU.

Continue reading Samsung and AT&T announce Focus 2: LTE Windows Phone on May 20th for $50

Samsung and AT&T announce Focus 2: LTE Windows Phone on May 20th for $50 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 09:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While the AT&T One X is getting some flack for being blocked from HTC’s bootloader unlocking program, the good news is that it’s officially available starting today. So long as you’re not fazed with having Sense 4 sprinkled on top of your 4.7-inch Ice Cream Sandwich, the dual-core, LTE-enabled device is on offer in gray or white for $200 with a two-year contract ($150 if you order through Amazon Wireless). Hit up the source links below to get your hands on a One X to call your own — and don’t forget to parse our review if you’re still making up your mind about this frosty treat.

PSA: AT&T’s HTC One X now in stock, get it while it’s frosty originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 May 2012 14:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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