Skype is keeping busy at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. With rumors that the company would be buying Qik by the end of the show, and then turning out that the deal is already almost finished up, it seems that the company is revamping a few key areas of their business plan at the start of 2011. With that in mind, the company has unveiled a new premium package for those who need to do more, together.
The company has unveiled the new premium packages in tandem with the announcement of their new group video calling feature. This gives users the ability to correspond in groups, instead of just one-on-one. The group feature will be part of the premium package, and the company has provided several different options for people to use. All of the packages include live chat customer support, for those who need it.
The first package, which is meant as a day-pass for those who just need the service as a one-time deal, will cost $4.99, and the monthly subscription will run $8.99. But, as a bonus for those who sign up for the group feature right out of the gate, they’ll receive a 33% discount on the available 3- or 12-month subscription plans. There won’t be a discount made available for the day pass. The group calling feature, and the premium package are available now.
Press Release
Do More Together Wherever You Are with Skype Group Video Calling
Skype Launches New Premium Package
2011 International CES LAS VEGAS, Nev.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Skype has officially launched group video calling for consumers and enterprises, allowing people to do more together wherever they are. Whether you're looking to bring your family together on a video call or better connect with work colleagues across the globe, group video calling makes it easy to bring to together groups of three or more on a single video call. Video calling accounted for approximately 41.5% of all Skype-to-Skype minutes in the second half of 2010.
Group video calling is available as part of the new Premium package from Skype which offers group video calling together with access to live chat customer support as a day pass for $4.99 (€3.49/£2.99)* or as a monthly subscription for $8.99 (€5.99/£4.99)* per month. Skype users who sign up for group video calling in the first month it's available will receive a 33 percent discount on 3 and 12-month subscriptions. New users receive a 7-day free trial. In addition, consumers who sign up for group video calling will receive a 25 percent discount off an HD webcam.
Group video calling is also available in the new Business version of Skype, a desktop application for PCs, which gives enterprises the ability to control how Skype is used within the workplace, with the capacity to turn off or configure a variety of Skype settings. With group video calling, enterprises can easily set up real-time, face-to-face meetings and work in more collaborative and productive ways. For enterprises using Skype Manager who sign up for Group Video Calling, they will receive a 33 percent discount when signing up for a 3 or 12 month subscription. In addition, they will receive a 15 percent discount off of a headset and speakerphone bundle.
Group video calling has brought together family, friends and work colleagues like never before, such as a Spanish family who were reunited after 6 years apart, the Global Learning Exchange who brought together classrooms from Singapore and Bakersfield, CA and companies like ePromos who can better collaborate with remote co-workers and suppliers.
To start a group video call, only one member of the call needs to have activated the seven-day free trial or to have signed up for a day pass or monthly subscription using Skype for Windows 5.1. For all participants to receive video, they need to be on at least the 5.0 version of Mac and windows. Skype video calls between two parties will continue to be offered as a free product.
Resources for Media:
Case studies on how consumers and organizations are benefiting from group video calling today Screenshots of group video calling and other Skype products Video of how businesses can use group video calling *Pricing is VAT exclusive. Pricing inclusive of VAT for a day pass is $5.74 (€4.01/£3.44) and for a monthly subscription $10.34 (€6.89/£5.74). A fair usage policy applies.
About Skype Skype is the world's communications platform whose purpose is to break down barriers to communication. With an Internet-connected device, families, friends and colleagues can get together for free with messaging, voice and video. At low cost, they can also call landlines or mobiles virtually anywhere in the world. Skype has recently introduced group video, allowing groups of more than two people to do things together whenever they’re apart.
It is always irritating when you buy media that doesn’t seem to work on all your devices. Blue-Ray discs usually come with a digital copy now, which is nice, but sometimes not always enough. Now Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem’s has announced UltraViolet; a platform that will digital media among any UltraViolet registered device.
Many major companies have signed on with DECE including Dell, Fujitsu, and Akamai to name a few. Below, the press release discusses the roadmap DECE plans to implement when introducing UltraViolet content to consumers.
DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT ECOSYSTEM (DECE) COMPLETES DESIGN OF ULTRAVIOLET™, PAVING THE WAY FOR CONSUMERS TO ENJOY DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT ACROSS MULTIPLE PLATFORMS
Top Executives from DECE Member Companies to Appear on Panel at the Consumer Electronics Show to Discuss the Future of Home Entertainment in the Digital World
LAS VEGAS, (January 6, 2011) – The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC, www.decellc.com, a cross-industry consortium dedicated to creating a consumer-friendly open market for digital content distribution, today announced a series of milestones in the development and availability of UltraViolet™. The milestones include a roadmap for introducing UltraViolet content, services and devices to consumers beginning in mid-2011; planned expansion to the United Kingdom and Canada; and the release of technical specifications for evaluation by potential licensees.
UltraViolet will allow consumers to purchase digital content and watch it wherever, whenever. Consumers who purchase UltraViolet entertainment will have an easy and consistent way to watch film and television content across multiple branded platforms, such as computers, connected TVs, game consoles, smartphones and tablets. The UltraViolet name and logo will help identify content, devices and services from a spectrum of familiar entities – including studios, retailers, consumer electronics manufacturers, cable companies, ISPs and other service providers – that will work together.
"Today's announcement that UltraViolet is ready shows that the entertainment and technology communities have made good on their promise to give the world a new, user-friendly digital standard for collecting movies and TV shows in the digital age," said Mark Teitell, general manager of DECE. "In the coming months, consumers will hear exciting news from DECE member companies and other UltraViolet licensees about a host of interoperable products and services, ushering in a new era of choice, confidence and freedom in digital entertainment."
This evening at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, high level representatives from DECE Member companies will come together for the first time to discuss the future of home entertainment for consumers and for businesses. The panel will take place at 5:00 p.m. (PST) in Room LVCCS221, and will feature top executives, such as: · Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager, Home Entertainment Group, Best Buy · Peter Levinsohn, president, New Media and Digital Distribution, Fox Filmed Entertainment · Blair Westlake, corporate vice president of the Media & Entertainment Group, Microsoft Corporation · JB Perrette, president, Digital and Affiliate Distribution, NBC Universal · Lisa Hook, President and Chief Executive Officer, Neustar · Tae-Jin (TJ) Kang, senior vice president, Media Solution Center, Samsung Electronics · John Calkins, executive vice president, Global Digital and Commercial Innovation, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment · Thomas Gewecke, president, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
DECE today announced the following key milestones:
The UltraViolet Experience Through the UltraViolet Account system, each household will be able to create an account for up to six members who can access the household's UltraViolet movies, TV and other entertainment via participating retailers, streaming providers and devices. Consumers will also be able to register up to 12 devices so UltraViolet content can be easily downloaded to those devices, or shared among them. In addition to these UltraViolet devices, UltraViolet streaming access will enable consumers to access their collections via set-top boxes and most places they can access the web, via computers, web-connected home video devices such as Blu-ray players and Internet TVs, and mobile apps for smartphones and tablets. Also, the UltraViolet Account will enable retailers to provide consumers with a copy to use on DVD players or other physical media, such as portable flash memory.
Technical Specifications and Licensing Program After a rigorous development process which brought together engineering and product management experts from the world's leading technology and entertainment brands, DECE has released an evaluation suite of technical specifications for the UltraViolet ecosystem. These include: · DECE Common File Format – video files are encoded and encrypted just once, but used by multiple compliant DRMs. This offers substantial efficiency improvements for the industry, while allowing consumers to transfer UltraViolet movie and TV show files to any of their registered UltraViolet-compliant devices, regardless of brand · Technical Design Specifications for Each Major Category of Company – spanning content providers, retailers, streaming services, device and application providers and digital distribution infrastructure providers
DECE's UltraViolet licensing program will allow companies to use the technical specifications, interact with the UltraViolet Account infrastructure via a suite of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and use the UltraViolet logo for promotion and marketing of UltraViolet content and devices.
In addition to use within UltraViolet, to achieve the highest possible efficiency gain for the industry, DECE intends to make the Common File Format widely available for use in other areas of video content preparation and delivery. Details of this will be confirmed in the coming months.
UltraViolet Account System Infrastructure Availability Based on the technical specifications and licensing program announced today, studios, distributors, device and application makers and other participants can now begin developing UltraViolet-based offerings for consumers. The UltraViolet Account system infrastructure, which was developed by Neustar and is now operational, will be fully available to support the launch of UltraViolet products and services in mid-2011.
Roadmap for Consumer Rollout As an industry group, DECE has focused on defining the branded UltraViolet experience that is consistent for users, as well as developing the technical specifications for licensing, and creating the UltraViolet Account system – all announced today. Market deployment of these capabilities now shifts to individual companies, and this roadmap for consumer rollout is based on expectations and subject to the specific rollout plans of UltraViolet licensees.
Beginning in mid-2011, DECE Member companies and other UltraViolet licensees are expected to introduce UltraViolet products and services. Initial offerings will gradually expand to include a slate of UltraViolet titles from studios for purchase through a growing roster of retailers, either electronically or as digital copies included with Blu-ray Disc or DVD purchases. Initially, UltraViolet retailers will enable consumers to use downloaded copies on many devices they already own. Additionally, initial streaming services will allow consumers to access their UltraViolet collections via websites or linked devices, like set-top boxes, Internet-connected Blu-ray Disc players, smartphones and tablets.
Later in 2011, UltraViolet-optimized media player apps will begin to roll out via software updates to PCs, game consoles and smart mobile devices that consumers already own, as well as on new devices for sale. In early 2012, the first designed-for-UltraViolet consumer electronics devices are expected to become available. These devices will be immediately compatible with UltraViolet; potential offerings include connected Blu-ray Disc players, set-top boxes, Internet TVs and other devices.
International Expansion (United Kingdom and Canada in 2011) The UltraViolet Account system infrastructure that is now operational will initially be available for use by consumers in the United States. DECE plans to begin operations in the U.K. and Canada later in 2011, with deployment timelines for additional international markets expected to be announced in the coming months.
New DECE Members DECE announced that several additional companies have joined the group in recent months, including Akamai Technologies, Arxan Technologies, BSkyB, Dell, Fanhattan, Fujitsu and QuickPlay Media Inc. DECE now includes more than 60 Members across entertainment, software, hardware, retail, infrastructure and delivery.
New Consumer Website As of today, the UltraViolet website, http://www.uvvu.com, has been updated to provide a resource for educating consumers on the benefits they can expect to reap from UltraViolet. The new website also includes access to press materials.
About Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) LLC is a cross-industry initiative developing the next generation digital media experience, UltraViolet. UltraViolet is based on open, licensable specifications and is designed by DECE to create a viable, global digital marketplace. DECE is currently made up of Adobe, Akamai Technologies, Alcatel-Lucent, Arxan Technologies Best Buy, British Sky Broadcasting Limited, BT, CableLabs, Catch Media, Cineplex Entertainment, Cisco, Comcast, Cox Communications, CSG Systems' Content Direct, Dell, Deluxe Digital, Dolby Laboratories, DTS, Fanhattan, FilmFlex, Fox Entertainment, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei Technologies, IBM, Intel, Irdeto, LG Electronics, Liberty Global, Lionsgate, LOVEFiLM, Marvell Semiconductor, Microsoft, MOD Systems, Motorola Mobility, Nagravision, NBC Universal, NDS Group, Netflix, Neustar, Nokia, Panasonic, Paramount Pictures, Philips, QuickPlay Media Inc., RIAA, Red Bee Media, Rovi, Saffron Digital, Samsung Electronics, Sonic Solutions, Sony, Switch Communications, Technicolor, Tesco, Toshiba, Verance, Verimatrix, VeriSign, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Widevine Technologies Inc. and Zoran . DECE's new digital media specifications, logo program and interoperable digital rights locker will enable consumers to purchase digital video content from a choice of online retailers and play it on a variety of branded devices and platforms from different manufacturers. For more information, please visit http://www.uvvu.com.
What DECE Members are saying:
Adobe
"The promise of the UltraViolet brand is to create a new consumer experience for digital content that is seamless and convenient. Adobe Flash is already the leading platform for online content distribution, providing high quality video, rich interactivity and multiple opportunities for content monetization. By combining the UltraViolet experience with the Flash Platform, content providers can reach consumers across platforms and devices, from PCs and mobile devices to Internet-connected TVs." – Florian Pestoni, principal product manager, Flash Platform, at Adobe
Akamai Technologies
"Over the last decade, Akamai has had the privilege of working with the top retailers, consumer electronic manufacturers and media and entertainment companies to accelerate their websites and enable high-quality digital media experiences," said Steven Chester, Akamai Vice President of Film. "Akamai believes that our global network of 77,000 servers is uniquely able to provide the scale, security and quality required for the industry's next phase of business model innovation. Akamai's goal is to enable retailers and content providers to take advantage of the incredible opportunity presented by UltraViolet, and be a part of bringing the next generation of premium home entertainment services to the market."
Arxan Technologies
"Arxan is pleased to contribute our application security expertise to support DECE's vision of enabling consumers to select and view their preferred digital entertainment across multiple platforms and retail channels," said Mike Dager, chief executive officer of Arxan. "Ultraviolet provides tremendous opportunity for consumers to benefit from this revolutionary cloud-based entertainment service, which is being brought to market with top entertainment, technology best-of-breed content and software security practices to provide end-users with choice and peace-of-mind."
Best Buy
"Best Buy is proud to be a founding member of DECE, and we look forward to the upcoming release of Ultra Violet later this year. In the ever-changing world of digital entertainment, we will continue our commitment to advocate choice in how and where consumers choose to purchase and view their content. With Ultra Violet, consumers can be confident in an easy-to-access system that allows them to access and engage with their entertainment across a variety of devices." -Chris Homeister, senior vice president and general manager, home entertainment group for Best Buy.
Comcast
“As a founding member of DECE, we’re proud of the tremendous progress that’s been made to expand the ability for households to view their collections of content across so many current devices and to provide the platform for future devices yet to come,” said Mark Coblitz, Senior Vice President of Strategic Planning for Comcast.
Dell
"Dell is committed to providing the ultimate entertainment experience across our entire Consumer portfolio of products – from tablets to laptops to desktops," said Russ Ray, Dell Product Marketing Director, "With UltraViolet, we can offer students, families and mobile professionals access to the movies and entertainment they want on any device."
Dolby
"As a Founder member of DECE, we celebrate the arrival of UltraViolet,” said Pat Griffis, senior director, Technology Strategy, Dolby. “UltraViolet represents a new way to think about digital entertainment and Dolby aims to bring outstanding experiences to people who choose UltraViolet content and devices.”
Fox Filmed Entertainment
“UltraViolet will substantially raise the bar on consumers’ home entertainment experience,” said Peter Levinsohn, President of Digital Distribution and New Media for Fox Filmed Entertainment. “By enabling a more consistent user experience and new features on a wider variety of devices and storefronts, UltraViolet represents a great step forward in digital media.”
Fujitsu Semiconductor America
"We are very pleased to join DECE as a new member," said Davy Yoshida, Director, Business Development and Marketing, Fujitsu Semiconductor America. "As a provider of advanced embedded technology solutions, Fujitsu looks forward to collaborating with other members in DECE to further develop UltraViolet as a robust, secure, and widely-adopted digital content distribution platform."
HP
"HP is pleased to have contributed to the development of the UltraViolet media experience and its global alliance of supporting companies. As a Founder member of DECE, HP is committed to ensuring that consumers have new and intuitive ways to enjoy digital movies and television content at home and on the go," said Carlos Montalvo, vice president HP Innovation Program Office. "UltraViolet will enable an open and trusted marketplace for the enjoyment and sharing of premium content on PCs, slates, mobile phones and other consumer products around the world."
Huawei
"UltraViolet enables a new era for consumers to access premium content and media services. As the network transitions from a communication vehicle to an indispensable infrastructure that sustains all elements of society, Huawei is pleased to join fellow DECE members in improving consumer experiences for premium content via viable business models. Huawei's global relationships with progressive service operators and our "innovation with speed" culture can help bring these experiences to consumers around the world." – Mr. Jun Shu, Director of Corporate Research
Intel
"Intel has been pleased to contribute to the development of the exciting new UltraViolet ™ digital media experience and congratulates the consortium on these significant milestone achievements. UltraViolet will bring consumers a new level of choice and confidence with the freedom to enjoy their media on all of their family's UltraViolet devices, including PCs, smart phones, netbooks, tablets, game consoles, and connected TVs, regardless of which UltraViolet retailer it was purchased from," noted Jeff Lawrence, Intel director of Global Content Policy.
Irdeto
"Irdeto is proud to support DECE’s mission and the UltraViolet brand," said Jan Steenkamp, vice president Americas, Irdeto. "Irdeto has worked closely with DECE as a Digital Service Provider to ensure our media authorization services are closely aligned with the UltraViolet Account service as envisaged by DECE. With the launch of UltraViolet, we look forward to offering DECE service providers a well integrated, end-to-end service from the outset."
LG
"Consumers will find it easier and more flexible to buy and enjoy UltraViolet entertainment and services." said ByungJin Kim, research fellow for Convergence Lab in LG CTO division. "UltraViolet will continue to expand its footprint to serve as 'the ecosystem' for all members of this digital entertainment world including content providers, service deliverers, retailers, device manufacturers, and also, consumers."
Microsoft Corporation
"UltraViolet provides the industry with a solid foundation to enhance the consumer entertainment experience," said Blair Westlake, corporate vice president of the Media & Entertainment Group of Microsoft Corporation.
NBC Universal
"Thanks to the DECE, UltraViolet is ushering in a new era of convenience and value for consumers and their content,” said Jean-Briac (JB) Perrette, President, Digital & Affiliate Distribution, NBC Universal. "NBCU is excited to be part of this collaborative partnership to help bring the digital promise of ‘your media anytime, anywhere’ to reality."
Neustar
"With these announcements, we are paving the way for a new era in digital content distribution — one that provides ultimate freedom, choice and confidence to consumers, and lowers the barriers to entry to the digital marketplace for all. Neustar is delighted to have worked with the studios, retailers, technology leaders and service providers engaged in theDECE consortium to bring UltraViolet to market" said Timothy Dodd, vice president, Neustar Media. "The UltraViolet launch announcements and Neustar’s leadership in the effort, working alongside our consortium partners, reflects our commitment to make an open, interoperable and compelling digital media marketplace a reality for all."
Nokia
"The UltraViolet ecosystem is first and foremost about enriching the consumer experience of enjoying premium digital entertainment media. It extends the rights of users to share their digital media, amongst friends and family members across multiple devices in ways that represent a unique offer" said Bryan Biniak, vice president, Nokia Ovi Service. "As a Founder member of DECE, we are committed to the continuing development of the UltraViolet ecosystem and exciting prospects it will deliver for the consumer"
Paramount Pictures
"Paramount is pleased to support technology that can allow consumers to change devices easily and access their content from anywhere," said Chris Carey EVP Worldwide Technical Operations for Paramount Pictures. "UltraViolet creates a simple and compatible digital media format, that lets consumers download or stream their content to a broad range of devices."
QuickPlay Media
"QuickPlay Media is pleased to support DECE's UltraViolet initiative to empower consumers to seamlessly manage and watch movies and TV shows across multiple platforms including portable wireless devices," said Wayne Purboo, CEO and co-founder of QuickPlay Media. "By contributing our mobile video expertise to the ecosystem we complement UltraViolet members' capabilities to offer rights-protected, high-quality entertainment experiences to consumers."
Samsung
"Samsung is pleased to support Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) and UltraViolet as it will provide significant benefits to media consumers worldwide. As a market leader in key consumer electronic devices, including Smart TV and smartphones, Samsung shares DECE's vision to deliver the best media experience to consumers," said Tae-Jin(TJ) Kang, Senior Vice President of Media Solution Center, Samsung Electronics
Sonic Solutions
"Sonic's involvement in DECE and our contributions in helping bring UltraViolet to market are a vital component of driving our retail partners' digital businesses," said Dave Habiger, President and CEO, Sonic Solutions. "We will continue to align our RoxioNow platform to UltraViolet and prepare our retail partners for early implementation in order to help take digital delivery mainstream."
Sony Pictures Entertainment
"Ultraviolet will provide consumers an easy way to access their content without the limitations of a physical product, in the same way that the ATM network provides consumers access to their money – anytime, anywhere. It’s a tremendous leap forward in consumer control and flexibility," said John Calkins, executive vice president, Global Digital and Commercial Innovation, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Verimatrix
"We feel that the momentum of UltraViolet's broad partner ecosystem bodes well for mainstream consumer adoption," said Steve Christian, VP of Marketing at Verimatrix. "As a leading source for commercialized Marlin DRM technology with intent to support Marlin as an UltraViolet DRM, Verimatrix demonstrates how open DRM standards can enable the wide consumer choice that the industry is aiming for, at the same time as supporting a long term business model for everyone in the value chain."
Warner Bros.
“Consumers have made it clear, accessibility is key. They want to enjoy their digital entertainment whenever and wherever, without cumbersome restrictions. UltraViolet will deliver this by providing consumers an easy-to-use way to manage their UltraViolet-enabled content in one place and enjoy it across multiple platforms,” said Thomas Gewecke, President, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution.
While HTC may have been first to pull the trigger on the Verizon stage at the Consumer Electronics Show, showing off the often-rumored about HTC ThunderBolt and making it official, Samsung is ready to announce three new 4G-enabled devices. They aren’t focusing on one market, though. They’ve just announced that they’ve got a smarphone, a tablet, and a mobile hotspot with the Samsung name coming to Verizon soon.
The 4G-enabled smartphone, which is currently running around without a name (according to the press release, anyway), will be running Android 2.2. Other features of the device will focus on the high-end, with the device boasting a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus display, a 1GHz processor under the hood, an 8MP camera on the back, and a 1.3MP camera on the front for video chats.
The tablet is, not surprisingly, a Galaxy Tab, which is already available on the Verizon network. This one, though, will feature 4G LTE technology on board. It will launch with Android 2.2, and feature a 1.2GHz Hummingbird processor under the hood. There will be a 5MP camera on the back, and a 1.3MP camera on the front. As for the mobile hotspot, it will allow users to connect up to five devices, and access LTE 4G. Full press release is below.
Press Release
LAS VEGAS, NV and BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The operator of the fastest, most advanced 4G network in the United States unveiled a suite of 10 consumer-oriented devices that will run on its 4G LTE network by the middle of this year.
At a news conference at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) today, Verizon Wireless announced a suite of 10 forthcoming 4G LTE devices – including smartphones from HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung; tablets from Motorola and Samsung; a MiFi from Novatel Wireless and a mobile hotspot from Samsung; and two notebooks from HP – which will transform the wireless experience and offer consumers new ways to connect and share their lives at blazingly fast speeds. Verizon expects these consumer-oriented devices to be available by mid-2011, with some available as early as March 2011.
The company also announced it is expanding its 4G LTE network to an additional 140 markets by the end of this year.
Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless, said, "Today, we're unveiling the next evolution of 4G LTE for consumers. During this three-year journey, from acquiring spectrum to launch, we not only transformed our network, but also our business by engaging in a strategy of collaboration and openness, while driving partnerships that will make 4G LTE successful across the globe. The result is true magic – the sum of a powerful network, applications, software systems and devices that bring 4G LTE to life."
Marni Walden, vice president and chief marketing officer of Verizon Wireless, said, "For consumers, our 4G LTE network isn't about simply doing things faster. It's about doing things we couldn't do before. In the consumer electronics arena, it's not just about devices. It's about those powerful devices with deeply integrated applications and how our 4G LTE network truly transforms the wireless experience with rich multimedia and real-time response intervals."
4G LTE devices available from Verizon Wireless by the middle of 2011 include:
Smartphones
HTC ThunderBolt (exclusive to Verizon Wireless) – HTC Sense 2.0, Skype mobile™ with video, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 4.3" WVGA display, Dolby surround sound, 8-megapixel camera and HD video recording, wireless DLNA capability. LG Revolution – HD support for streaming, playing and recording video, large 4.3-inch touch screen, Android™ 2.2, video telephony support with front-facing camera and mobile hotspot capability to share a 4G connection with up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices. DROID Bionic 4G – Android with Adobe® Flash® and HTML5, front-facing VGA camera and See What I See video feature, rear-facing 8-megapixel camera, 4.3-inch HD quality screen, HDMI connectivity, dual-core 1GHz processor, 512 DDR2 RAM. Samsung 4G LTE Smartphone – Android 2.2, Google Mobile services, including Google Search™, Google Maps™ and Gmail™, YouTube™, brilliant 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen display, powerful 1GHz application processor, HTML5 Web browser, rear-facing 8-megapixel camera with LED flash and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera to support video chat capabilities, Samsung Social Hub and Media Hub. Tablets
Motorola XOOM – 10.1-inch HD 4G LTE upgradable tablet, Android™ Honeycomb, 1080p HD video, Adobe® Flash® Player, front-facing 2-megapixel camera for video chats and 5-megapixel camera to capture video in 720P HD. Mobile hotspot capability provides connection for up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. 4G LTE-enabled Samsung Galaxy Tab™ – 7-inch enhanced TFT display with 1024 x 600 WSVGA resolution, Android 2.2, Adobe® Flash® 10.1, 1.2GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird application processor, rear-facing 5-megapixel camera and front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera and camcorder enable video chat capabilities. MiFi and Mobile Hotspot
Novatel MiFi® 4510L Intelligent Mobile Hotspot – Small enough to fit in the palm of the hand, share Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE and 3G networks with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Samsung 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot – Dual-mode device works as a wireless access point to connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices to Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE or 3G networks. Notebooks
Compaq CQ10-688nr – 10.1-inch diagonal anti-glare widescreen LED display, Intel® Atom N455 processor, up to 8.5 hours of battery life, multi-format digital media card reader, webcam and multiple connectivity options. HP Pavilion dm1-3010nr – 11.6-inches, HP CoolSense Technology, HD 1080p, VISION Technology from AMD, up to 10.75 hours of battery life, 320 GB of storage, full-size, island-style keyboard, multi-format digital media card reader, HDMI port, Dolby Advanced Audio and GPS for mapping and navigation. Verizon Wireless also introduced new applications that are being fully integrated into the new smartphones and run seamlessly over the 4G LTE network. An upgraded version of Skype mobile takes advantage of video capabilities enabled by 4G LTE's incredible speed, allowing users to see and hear friends and family when making or receiving Skype-to-Skype video calls. EA's ROCK BAND leverages the high-speed, low-latency 4G LTE network to provide the next generation of multiplayer gaming. At launch, this will be the first time the game can be played with friends over the mobile network, which means consumers can rock out with their friends like never before with 20 favorite hits – while on the go.
Since its launch 32 days ago, Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network has provided laptop users with speeds up to 10 times faster than the company's 3G network. In real-world, fully-loaded network environments, laptop users experience average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink.
Tony Melone, executive vice president and chief technology officer of Verizon, said, "We will aggressively continue launching 4G LTE markets over the next 36 months. We'll cover two-thirds of the U.S. population in the next 18 months, and by the end of 2013 we'll offer our 4G LTE network from coast to coast – everywhere that we offer 3G today. In order to get there, we'll add more than 140 markets in 2011, including Detroit, Raleigh-Durham, Memphis, Milwaukee, Honolulu, Boise, Mobile, Little Rock, Sioux Falls and Salt Lake City."
(EDITORS NOTE: A list of initial 4G LTE markets to be launched in 2011 is located at the end of the news release.)
Verizon Wireless' primary 4G LTE network vendors, Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent, are providing the underlying infrastructure for the 4G LTE network. Verizon Wireless' 700 MHz spectrum gives the company specific advantages with 4G, including improved in-building penetration and a contiguous, nationwide network footprint.
Verizon Wireless is also working with rural companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas using the tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless' core 4G LTE equipment and premium 700MHz spectrum. Rural operators are leveraging Verizon Wireless' scale for infrastructure while they keep their customers on the cutting edge of technology. Bluegrass Cellular is the first rural wireless provider to partner with Verizon Wireless, and to date, more than 200 organizations have expressed interest in collaborating with Verizon Wireless to bring 4G LTE to rural America.
Since 2007, when Verizon Wireless jump-started the global 4G LTE ecosystem with its selection of LTE for its 4G technology, the company has developed deep partnerships to spearhead a broad LTE ecosystem, including the LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and an LTE Applications Center, soon to open in the San Francisco area.
Melone concluded, "2011 will be a gang buster year, especially as we combine our growing 4G LTE network with our amazing lineup of 4G devices and applications that take advantage of high speed and low latency."
Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network already reaches more than one-third of all Americans. A list of initial 4G LTE markets to be covered by Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network in 2011 include:
Huntsville, Alabama Mobile, Alabama Montgomery, Alabama Little Rock, Arkansas Colorado Springs, Colorado Gainesville, Florida Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida Pensacola, Florida Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida Tallahassee, Florida Augusta, Georgia Honolulu, Hawaii Kahului-Wailuku, Hawaii Lahaina, Hawaii Boise-Nampa, Idaho Carbondale-Marion, Illinois Wichita, Kansas Baton Rouge, Louisiana Hammond, Louisiana Detroit, Michigan Flint, Michigan Fayetteville-Lumberton, North Carolina Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point, North Carolina Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Wilmington, North Carolina Dayton-Springfield, Ohio Tulsa, Oklahoma Erie, Pennsylvania State College, Pennsylvania Charleston, South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina Hilton Head, South Carolina Sioux Falls, South Dakota Chattanooga, Tennessee Clarksville, Tennessee Cleveland, Tennessee Kingsport, Tennessee; Johnson City, Tennessee; Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee Memphis, Tennessee Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas Bryan-College Station, Texas Provo-Orem, Utah Salt Lake City-Ogden, Utah Centralia, Washington Olympia, Washington Charleston, West Virginia Madison, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin
For more information about Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte. To see a replay of the Verizon 4G LTE News Conference webcast from CES 2011, visit http://www.verizonwebcasts.com/ces/2011/news.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Media can access high-resolution images and video of the 4G LTE devices and other multimedia assets related to Verizon Wireless' 4G LTE network in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.)
About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest and most advanced 4G network and largest and most reliable 3G network, and serves more than 93 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 80,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
NOTE: This press release contains statements about expected future events and financial results that are forward-looking and subject to risks and uncertainties. For those statements, which may include or be preceded by such words as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this presentation and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise them for any reason.
The following important factors, in addition to those discussed under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K (No. 333-160446), could affect future results and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements: changes in economic conditions; our ability to complete transactions relating to acquisitions and dispositions, including the integration of the Alltel business; changes in the ratings of our debt securities or those of Verizon Communications; adverse conditions in the credit markets impacting cost or availability of financing sufficient to meet our capital requirements; our ability to acquire and retain customers; our continued provision of satisfactory service to our customers at an acceptable price; the effects of competition; our ability to adapt to changing conditions in the wireless industry; the ability of our key suppliers to meet their obligations to us; the effects of material changes in available technology, including technology substitution and the cost of deployment; the impact of continued unionization efforts with respect to our employees; adverse regulatory and taxation developments; the effects of litigation; the impact of equipment failures, natural disasters, terrorist acts or other breaches of network or information technology security; and the effects of any required future changes in accounting assumptions.
Verizon and HTC have just officially unveiled the much talked about HTC Thunderbolt. The device has been the focus of the internet lately with countless leaks and rumors all pointing to the device being the first LTE phone in the US.
Formally known as the HTC Mecha, the device will feature a single-core 1GHz processor, 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with a 1.3 megapixel front camera for video chat.
Storage wise, the device will sport 8GB of internal storage with a microSD expansion option. The phone will ship with Android 2.2.1 with the new HTC Sense overlay DLNA support, and a 4.3 inch screen.
After the event we will be getting to see the device, so expect more images and hands-on with the wide array of devices up here soon.
Along with the other announcements, Verizon has just detailed the company’s 4G plans for 2011. As Verizon is pushing big into the 4G marking for the coming year, their pricing is set to be very competitive and we have a full rundown of the upcoming service after the break.
As the new frontier, Verizon is very excited about their venture into 4G with current coverage of LTE in 38 major markets which covers one in three Americans. Verizon plans to double this coverage over the next year to “blanket the country in LTE.”
Verizon will take advantage of its 700 MHz network with their new Rural Initiative. Verizon will be sharing their network coverage with rural carriers to being 4G LTE to just about everyone. Currently there is about 200 companies who show interest in the LTE from Verizon and that’s expected to grow significantly as LTE expands.
Their future plans include aggressively expand the LTE service will full coverage available in 36 months. The network will double in 18 months time bringing Verizon 4G to 200 million users.
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas isn’t all about the high-end devices that get announced here. Sure, they get all the time and attention, but we can’t forget about the accessories, either. XtremeMac has officially unveiled a series of new USB chargers that may look like any other USB charger out there, but they have a few extra features in store.
The first of the bunch is the universal dual USB charger. It provides 10 watts of power to both USB ports, which means you’ll have space enough to charge two of your devices at once, in one plug. The universal name keeps going, with XtremeMac also unveiling the universal car USB charger. No surprises here, unfortunately.
And finally, there’s the universal USB battery pack and charger. It’s meant to charge batteries while it’s not plugged into the wall, and then provide power to your devices when it’s connected to a wall outlet. Prices start at $14.99 for the dual USB charger, $24.99 for the universal USB car charger, and $59.99 for the battery pack/charger combination.
Press Release
XtremeMac™ Announces New Universal Series of USB Charging Solutions
See the new chargers at Pepcom’s Digital Experience or the Bellagio Grand Ballrooms during CES
Sunrise, FL – January 6, 2011 – XtremeMac, a leading designer and manufacturer of accessories and audio solutions for Apple devices, is pleased to announce its new Universal Series USB charging line during CES. The new wall and car universal chargers are designed to help keep your mobile devices charged while you’re on the go. The chargers are compatible with most USB powered device, including Apple, Blackberry, HTC and Samsung phones, MP3 players, GPS systems, digital cameras and more.
The Universal Dual USB Wall Charger has two USB charging ports allowing users to charge two USB-powered devices simultaneously. The charger delivers 10 watts of power to ensure rapid charging and features a low profile design that leaves access to a second wall outlet.
XtremeMac’s new Universal USB Car Charger is a compact, versatile accessory that quickly and efficiently charges and powers any USB-powered device while on the go. Features include an LED power status indicator and a built-in self- resetting fuse for device protection.
The Universal USB Battery Pack and Wall Charger extends the battery life of any portable USB-powered device while on the go or while at home with its featured rechargeable lithium-polymer battery and dual USB port wall charger. It also includes an integrated viewing stand for mobile devices and five orange LED power indicators to let users know how much juice they have when on the go.
XtremeMac’s Universal USB Car and Wall chargers are available for US$14.99 and US$24.99 (MSRP) respectively, or can be purchased in a combination power pack Dual USB Wall and Car Charger for US$39.99 MSRP. The Universal USB Battery Pack and Wall Charger is available for US$59.99 MSRP. These new chargers are available at XtremeMac.com.
The set-top box market picked up in the past year. A slew of companies joined the fray, like Boxee, while others, including Roku, Apple, and Western Digital, improved their line of products to better appeal to consumers.
Aside from the Apple TV, perhaps the most notable addition to the set-top box market last year was Google TV. The platform was made available on the Logitech Revue and some Sony HDTVs, and was expected to captivate audiences.
But it didn't. And all the while, the Apple TV performed quite well.
Apple's set-top box features a small footprint and allows consumers to stream movies and television shows from iTunes. It also includes Netflix streaming, among other features. Unlike its predecessor, Apple isn't treating its latest set-top box like a "hobby." That renewed focus helped Apple sell over 1 million Apple TV units since the device's launch, making it one of the more popular set-top boxes on store shelves.
As an Apple TV owner, I have no issue seeing the device perform well at retail (it is a useful product, after all), but I am concerned that the market will focus more on delivering an experience similar to that set-top box's, rather than what Google TV offers, given recent sales.
See, the Apple TV is too simple. It doesn't interface with my DVR, it doesn't have an App Store-like marketplace, and it delivers a movie-viewing experience that's far too similar to the sub-par offering on my DVR.
But Google TV is different. Even with its faults, Google TV has more promise than any other service on the market. It will soon allow users to access apps; it has a full-fledged Web browser; and with some help from content providers, it should soon deliver far more content than any other platform in the space.
As far as I'm concerned, Google TV is the only service available now that makes sense in such a forward-thinking marketplace.
The Apple TV is a fine product, but it's too, well, today. And I'm not looking for a product that's suitable for today. I want a product that can look ahead and bring the future to me sooner rather than later. And at least right now, that's Google TV.
So, going forward I don't want to see vendors get wrapped up in the Apple TV's success and follow its lead. Not only would it hold the streaming space back, but it would also annoy a lot of consumers who are looking for far more functionality.
Today, T-Mobile took the stage, and brought LG on board with them, to officially announce, and show off, the T-Mobile G-Slate by LG. The first Android-based tablet device from LG to feature Android as its main Operating System (OS), along with the first Android-powered tablet device to access T-Mobile’s 4G network.
The device will feature Android 3.0, or Honeycomb, like the other tablet devices we’ve seen recently. Other details about the tablet device were scant at the event, though, so we expect to get more information regarding the tablet soon. Check out the picture to see how LG’s first tablet device looks from a distance.
Press Release:
T-Mobile G-Slate by LG Is Set to Launch in the Coming Months on America's Largest 4G Network
Las Vegas, Nev. — Jan. 5, 2011 PST Today at 2011 International CES, T-Mobile USA, Inc. and LG Mobile Phones announced the upcoming Android™ Honeycomb-powered T-Mobile® G-Slate™ with Google™, by LG. Expected to be available in coming months, the G-Slate will be the first 4G tablet from the two companies powered by Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), the upcoming version of Google's Android platform optimized for tablets.
"T-Mobile is proud to add a new milestone in the evolution of the Android platform with our first 4G tablet powered by Android 3.0," said Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. "The T-Mobile G-Slate with Google will build on our rich history of Android innovation and leadership and deliver deep integration with Google services."
"LG is dedicated to continuing its role as an innovation leader and is thrilled to announce its entry into the tablet marketplace with the G-Slate," said Jeff Hwang, president of LG Mobile Phones. "Streamlining everyday tasks and enhancing entertainment with blazing fast 4G speed, the T-Mobile G-Slate by LG will deliver the latest in Android technology and provide users with an advanced tablet experience."
The T-Mobile G-Slate will be among the first 4G tablets to fully benefit from the tablet-optimized Android 3.0 platform, which was designed from the ground up for devices with larger screen sizes and addresses the unique aspects of tablet use cases and form factors. The Honeycomb user experience improves on Android favorites such as widgets, multi-tasking, browsing, notifications and customization. It will also feature the latest Google Mobile innovations including Google Maps™ 5.0 with 3D interaction, collection of more than 3 million eBooks and Google Talk™ with video and voice chat.
Additional product details will be disclosed at a later date.
Continuing their time on stage at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, T-Mobile took some time to detail their plans for 4G, how they stand currently against the competition, and even added a bit of a definition as to how the wireless carrier defines their 4G, HSPA+ network.
4G for T-Mobile means having a great 4G radio interface, and great 4G backhaul. Connectivity to the cell site. Basically, T-Mobile sees 4G as a way to connect customers faster to the Internet, and the world, as quickly as they can. T-Mobile says they are 160% bigger than Verizon, based on metropolitan areas for their “new” 4G LTE network. T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network is 40% bigger than Sprint’s WiMAX network. As for AT&T, T-Mobile can’t compare quite yet, as the other company is still in the process of rolling it out.
HSPA and HSPA+ is a growing market that’s seeing global adoption, and T-Mobile is still focused on the advanced network. The carrier believes that the evolution of the network will continue, from where they are at 21+ Mbps, and ratcheting up to 28Mbps, to 42 and 84Mbps. All the way up to the theoretical speeds of 672+Mbps. T-Mobile sees 42Mbps a strong possibility in 2011.
T-Mobile announced that they will be moving to 42Mbps with HSPA+ in the United States. The carrier has been testing HSPA+ in Las Vegas while they’ve been here, over the last couple of weeks, comparing Verizon’s 4G LTE network and Sprint’s WiMAX on data sticks, against T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network. The results show that Verizon’s LTE and T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network are neck and neck, while Sprint’s WiMAX seems to be trying to keep up. T-Mobile tried to stress that their network was stressed, while Verizon’s wasn’t.
And finally, T-Mobile took some time on stage to show off HSPA+ with 42Mbps right on stage. They began with a streaming test, with a prototype USB stick running the faster network speeds. During the test, there were stable speeds of anywhere between 26Mbps, all the way up to 35Mbps, for download. When they tested upload, it ranged from 2Mbps to 5Mbps, which also seemed stable.
The big test came in downloading music, which they did from the Amazon MP3 store. It started off quickly, but then the speed seemed to taper off with each song downloaded. They pointed out that a song should download in between 3 to 4 seconds, but during the demo it took noticeably longer. They also mentioned that, with HSPA+ 42Mbps, it should take about a minute to download a full album.
The carrier showed off gaming, using the HSPA+ network, online. They showcased playing Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, playing against online gamers, while using the network.
After wrapping up their announcement on 4G, Dell came up on stage with T-Mobile and officially showed off the brand new 7-inch Dell tablet, called the Dell Streak 7. The device is already official, thanks to a press release sent out a little before, but the two companies wanted to show off their first 4G device, which will be launching on T-Mobile.
The device is similar to the Dell Streak, which is a five-inch version that was released earlier in the year. The device, featuring a two-inch larger display, it’s T-Mobile’s first 4G HSPA+ tablet. Dell is aiming it as a media consumption device. “Collect, consume, and share it.” That is the mainstay bullet points for the device. It weighs in under one pound.
The NVIDIA dual core 1GHz processor provides faster Web browsing, better Flash usage in a web page, and better gaming on the go. It will focus on the widget-based User Interface that Dell created for the tablet devices, called Stage UI.
Dell has officially announced its second Android 2.2 smartphone of CES 2011, and it’s the candybar Dell Venue we saw unveiled in South Korea at the tail end of last year. Fronted by a 4.1-inch AMOLED display behind a sheet of curved Gorilla Glass, the Venue has an unspecified 1GHz processor and an 8-megapixel camera.
There’s also WiFi and Bluetooth, along with access to the Android Market. Dell preload the Venue with Swype, RadioTime, ActiveSync and QuickOffice, along with their own Stage media app. No word on pricing or availability at this point, but Dell says we’ll know them both “in the coming weeks.”
Venue: Your Personal Express Lane to, Well, Everything
The Venue with Android 2.2 is the perfect one-touch, unlocked GSM smartphone providing instant access to everything you love. With its pre-loaded Stage software and 8-megapixel camera, on-the-go students, mobile professionals and active social networkers can quickly capture and share life's moments with just about anyone.
Elegantly designed, the Venue offers a vibrant, high-contrast 4.1-inch AM-OLED display with curved Corning Gorilla Glass that's perfect for watching videos to performing business applications. The Venue's elliptical, slender form factor feels great in your hand and also slips easily into your pocket.
Pre-loaded applications and the Dell Stage user interface make Venue perfect for entertainment. Download the latest tunes and books, or stream radio stations from all over the world with RadioTime. Stage displays your music, your photos, and more, while the 1 GHz processor makes it fly. As with the Dell Streak 7, Venue offers access to thousands of Android Market widgets, games and applications.
In addition to a full array of entertainment features the Venue also comes fully equipped with today's necessary business features including support for ActiveSync and QuickOffice. The combination of high speed access and Swype for fast text input makes viewing e-mail, editing documents, and surfing the web fast and easy.
The Streak 7 and the Venue smartphone are the latest in a series of distinctive Dell mobility solutions, including the Streak 5 ultimate pocket tablet, the Inspiron duo convertible tablet and the Venue Pro smartphone with its unique sliding vertical QWERTY keypad.
Dell has officially announced the Dell Streak 7 tablet, which will land on T-Mobile USA in “the coming weeks” and take advantage of the carrier’s 4G HSPA+ network. The Streak 7 has a 7-inch touchscreen covered in toughened Gorilla Glass, and runs NVIDIA’s dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 processor.
There’s also WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1, along with a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera for video calls, and a rear camera for photography. Flash Player 10.1 is supported, and the Streak 7 is capable of up to 22MB/s on T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network.
No word on pricing at this stage, but T-Mobile says the Streak 7 will arrive on its network imminently. Nor do we know if Dell plans to update the Streak 7 to Android Honeycomb; it will apparently launch with 2.2 Froyo.
Press Release:
T-Mobile Doubles the Speed of America's Largest 4G Network and Introduces Its First 4G Tablet: the Dell Streak 7
LAS VEGAS, Nev. and BELLEVUE, Wash. — Jan. 6, 2011 — Today at the 2011 International CES, T-Mobile USA CEO and President Philipp Humm highlighted the company's network leadership, supported by Nielsen data confirming that T-Mobile delivered the fastest wireless data performance in the top 100 U.S. markets during the second half of 2010.1 In addition, Humm announced the nationwide availability of T-Mobile's 4G network, now reaching approximately 200 million people in 100 major metropolitan areas.
"In 2010, we delivered on our ambitious goal to become America's largest 4G network, and this year our customers will be able to experience speeds equivalent to home broadband while on the go," said Humm. "We'll continue to focus on fueling the adoption of mobile data, by offering innovative and affordable smartphones and tablets, as well as aggressive data plan pricing and rich and compelling data services."
T-Mobile also unveiled plans to double the speed of its 4G network this year, which will be capable of delivering peak download speeds of up to 42 Mbps. Moreover, the company announced that in 2011 it will launch at least 25 new 4G devices, starting with its first 4G tablet — the Dell™ Streak 7, expected to be available at T-Mobile stores across the country in the coming weeks. The company vowed to aggressively expand and evolve its 4G smartphone portfolio, launching additional devices capable of delivering peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps in the first half of 2011, and smartphones capable of delivering peak download speeds of up to 42 Mbps in the second half of the year.
The cutting-edge download speed was demonstrated today by company representatives using a T-Mobile laptop stick developed by ZTE, capable of delivering peak download speeds of up to 42 Mbps and slated to launch in the first half of 2011. By doubling the speed of its 4G network, T-Mobile will offer its customers an unprecedented wireless experience, fueled by improved performance in the use of rich media applications, including creating and sharing mobile content, streaming video, and participating in multi-player gaming and videoconferencing.
The company expects 140 million Americans in 25 metro areas to have access to these increased 4G speeds by mid-2011. T-Mobile's enhanced speed capabilities will also benefit its customers using existing 3G devices for data services, as the backward-compatible network enables 3G devices to achieve their maximum speed performance.
"We are pleased to support T-Mobile as it continues to deploy and develop its 4G network, which today is delivering next-generation speeds and performance to hundreds of millions of customers," said Angel Ruiz, president and CEO, Ericsson North America. "We are confident that HSPA+ will continue to offer a viable and cost-effective alternative to LTE and WiMAX, providing a comparable 4G experience to customers for the foreseeable future. And, with a strong and growing ecosystem of network equipment and handsets, we anticipate that HSPA+ can develop into one of the most advanced technology platforms in the industry."
"Consumers are increasingly embracing the benefits of smartphones, with 80 percent of U.S. mobile customers wanting a smartphone, and as many as 100 million of them not yet having one," said Cole Brodman, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. "Our compelling offering of affordable broadband devices and consumer-friendly data plan pricing will enable customers to step up to mobile data and 4G, and our customers will not pay a toll to ride on our 4G superhighway."
About the Dell™ Streak 7 T-Mobile's first 4G tablet, the Dell Streak 7, is capable of peak speeds up to 21 Mbps to provide a super-fast 4G mobile broadband experience for watching movies and entertainment through preloaded content and thousands of widgets, games and applications available on Android Market™. Running the Android 2.2 operating system, the Dell Streak 7 features a brilliant 7-inch WVGA touch screen with Gorilla® Glass, dual core NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and full Adobe® Flash® Player 10.1 support.
About T-Mobile USA, Inc. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the third quarter of 2010, approximately 130 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.8 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world's most widely-used digital wireless standards. Today, T-Mobile operates America’s largest 4G network, and is delivering a compelling 4G experience across a broad lineup of leading devices in more places than competing 4G services. T-Mobile USA's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.
For more information about T-Mobile's 4G products, please visit http://www.t-mobile.com.
1 Source: The Nielsen Company estimation based on an independent benchmark. Nielsen's benchmark tests included the following networks: AT&T-HSPA, Verizon-EVDO-RevA, Sprint-EVDO-RevA, and T-Mobile-HSPA+. The tests were conducted between May 28, 2010, and Nov. 30, 2010. Results do not reflect all commercially available services in the market, including AT&T's HSPA+, Clearwire's WIMAX and Verizon's LTE networks. Copyright (2010) The Nielsen Company.
Home broadband speeds vary widely, and speed boosts for 3G devices vary based on device capability. T-Mobile's HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere. For more information about T-Mobile's 4G services, mobile broadband products, device features, or the offers and services mentioned, see http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage.
Press Release:
Today at 2011 International CES, Dell and T-Mobile USA, Inc. unveiled Dell's new 7-inch Android™ tablet, the Streak™ 7, both companies' first 4G* capable tablet specifically designed for the super-fast mobile broadband speeds of T-Mobile's 4G network. The sleek compact form of the Streak 7 combined with T-Mobile's super-fast 4G mobile broadband network make it the ultimate entertainment hub for families and consumers craving a rich multimedia and web experience both at home and on-the-go.
Portable, passable and easily shared, the Streak 7's brilliant seven-inch WVGA touch screen with Gorilla® Glass is ideal for Web browsing, streaming video, watching TV and movies, reading books and magazines or playing games virtually anytime, anywhere. The Streak 7 features Google's™ Android 2.2 operating system, a dual core 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor and full support for Adobe® Flash® Player. Preloaded with a variety of compelling content and applications from T-Mobile, the Android-powered tablet also has access to more than 100,000 applications, games and widgets from Android Market™.
In addition to a rich entertainment experience, the Streak 7 easily captures and shares life moments with the rear-facing 5 megapixel camera for high-definition stills and video recording. The front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera with the preloaded Qik™ Video Chat application provide video-calling over T-Mobile's network as well as Wi-Fi to enable spontaneous connections with family and friends.
"Dell is continuing to create the very best in entertainment, mobile and gaming experiences," said Steve Felice, president of Dell's Consumer, Small and Medium Business unit. "With Streak 7 on the blazingly fast T-Mobile network, families, students and mobile professionals will gather, share, and find new ways to interact and keep in touch."
"We're proud to bring consumers our first 4G tablet, a milestone for T-Mobile, Dell and the industry," said Cole Brodman, CMO, T-Mobile USA. "As tablets change the way we consume content, T-Mobile's combination of 4G speeds, breadth of our 4G network, our affordable data plans and compelling new products like the Streak 7 place us in a position to offer the best experience and value for our customers."
The new Streak 7 will feature Dell's innovative Stage user interface, which provides a seamless and unified experience for accessing all your favorite content. Later this year, Dell will add syncing to Stage so people can keep their photos, contacts, calendars and other personal content synchronized across their Dell Stage-equipped devices, from tablets to PCs, connected through their home network.
T-MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT AND CONTENT:
The Dell Streak 7 also comes preloaded with unique content and applications to entertain the whole family, including:
T-Mobile TV: live and on-demand TV including live news, sports and full-length entertainment, plus on-demand full episodes of your favorite shows. BrainPOP: animated educational content embraced by students and trusted by teachers and parents around the globe. BrainPOP brings learning to your fingertips. Zinio: the largest online newsstand, enabling customers to shop for, search inside, read, share and save digital content in new ways with more than 75,000 digital magazines from 26 countries. Qik Video Chat: connect with friends and family through T-Mobile's network and Wi-Fi, unlike some other video-calling solutions that only work through Wi-Fi. With the Streak 7's front-facing camera paired with Video Chat through Qik, customers can hold video conversations with those who have a Streak 7, or other compatible mobile device, and even broadcast their view through the rear-facing camera. Additional entertainment applications including Blockbuster, Kindle for Android, Let's Golf demo, Slacker Radio and Zoodles.
AVAILABILITY INFORMATION:
The new Dell Streak 7 Tablet is expected to be available in the U.S. in the coming weeks at T-Mobile retail stores, www.t-mobile.com, and direct from Dell.
FEATURES & SPECIFICATIONS:
Brilliant seven-inch WVGA (TFT) touch screen display with Gorilla Glass Android 2.2 (Froyo) with Android Market Qik video chat with built-in front-facing 1.3-megapixel webcam Stage User Interface – easy access to the stuff you care about Built-in support for T-Mobile's 4G mobile broadband network and Wi-Fi Dual core 1Ghz NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor SMS/MMS, SWYPE® virtual keyboard and stereo Bluetooth 2.1 capable Support for Adobe® Flash® Player Support for Microsoft® Exchange e-mail, contacts and calendar 16 GB of internal memory and SD Card slot with support for expandable memory up to 32 GB Dimensions: 7.87" x 4.72" x 0.49"
Streak 7 adds to Dell's rapidly expanding mobility portfolio and represents the first 4G tablet for T-Mobile's robust mobile broadband product lineup.
Skype has announced that it is buying Qik, in a deal rumored earlier on today. The deal, the company claims, will allow them to integrate Qik’s recording, sharing and storing capabilities to Skype’s existing video systems.
Meanwhile, it will also allow Skype to use Qik’s Smart Streaming technology, and the 60-strong employee team responsible for it and the Qik service, to further optimize video transmission over wireless networks. Earlier this week, Skype and NVIDIA demonstrated a new HD video calling system for Android, which could benefit from reductions in bandwidth use.
Terms of the deal have not been announced, but the earlier rumors suggested it would be worth in the region of $100m. Skype expects the deal to close later this month.
NVIDIA has outed Lenovo’s latest 3D capable display, the L2363d, running at Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution and capable not only of playing back 3D but recording it thanks to dual webcams. The Lenovo L2363d supports 3D photos and 3D web-conferencing, as long as you have NVIDIA’s 3D Vision specs.
There’s also the Lenovo IdeaCentre K330 PC, a 3D-capable desktop using NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX460 GPU. Lenovo is, unsurprisingly, hoping you buy them both together. No word on full specifications as yet, since NVIDIA is only gloating about the 3D Vision tech, but we’re guessing it’s a similar – albeit updated – version to the K330 Lenovo outed back in December.
Press Release:
NVIDIA Showcases New Lenovo 3D Gaming Monitor With NVIDIA 3D Vision Technology at CES
Lenovo IdeaCentre PCs and Monitors With Built-In Stereoscopic 3D Webcam Expand NVIDIA’s 3D Vision Ecosystem to More Than 1,000 Supported Products
LAS VEGAS, NV — (Marketwire) — 01/06/2011 — CES 2011 — NVIDIA today announced the expansion of its NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ ecosystem with the addition of new 3D-enabled PCs and monitors by Lenovo.
NVIDIA is demonstrating the new Lenovo 3D monitor, as well as a number of new 3D Vision systems and 3D content, at CES this week (Booth # 31431 — Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 3).
Award-winning NVIDIA 3D Vision technology delivers a breathtaking stereoscopic 3D experience for gamers, movie-lovers and photo enthusiasts on their PCs and notebook computers. The 3D Vision ecosystem now exceeds 1,000 notebook and desktop PCs, displays, TVs, projectors, NVIDA GPUs, video applications, cameras, and games, with more devices and 3D content being steadily added.
The Lenovo IdeaCentre K330 PC, a high-performance 3D gaming PC tower that features the powerful NVIDIA GeForce® GTX460 GPU, now joins the extensive list of 3D Vision technology-supported PCs. In addition, the new Lenovo L2363d 23-inch 3D monitor, one of the first full-HD (1920 x 1080) monitors to feature dual webcam lenses, enables users to take 3D photos or participate in stereoscopic 3D web conferencing using NVIDIA 3D Vision glasses and technology.
“NVIDIA’s 3D Vision delivers superior quality, performance and compatibility required to our consumers to enjoy an immersive 3D entertainment experience,” said Wei Jin, director of Lenovo Idea product group. “The IdeaCentre K330 PC and L2363d monitor were designed with this in mind, providing new levels of power, performance and high-quality visuals to shift consumers’ 3D gaming and multimedia experiences into overdrive.”
NVIDIA 3D Vision technology supports the richest array of 3D content available, including 500 3D games, Blu-ray 3D movies, 3D photos and streaming Web video. It also enables users to upload, share and view full-resolution 3D photos, as well as enjoy 3D movies at NVIDIA’s 3DVisionLive.com, the world’s first 3D Vision online community. In addition, NVIDIA’s new 3DTV Play™ software enables consumers to attach their PC or notebook to 3D HDTVs and HDMI 1.4-capable audio/video receivers and enjoy all the latest 3D content in the comfort of their living rooms in full HD 3D, and with HD surround sound audio. 3DTV Play software is bundled free with 3D Vision notebooks and PCs, and is available now at NVIDIA’s online store for $39.99.
“By joining the growing list of OEMs selling 3D Vision PCs, Lenovo will enable more consumers throughout the world to experience high-quality 3D entertainment on their PCs,” said Phil Eisler, general manager of 3D Vision at NVIDIA. “And, with the new Lenovo monitor, consumers for the first time can experience high-quality stereoscopic 3D web conferencing on a desktop PC system.”
For more information on the Lenovo IdeaCentre K330 PC and 3D L2363d monitor, please visit: www.lenovo.com
Pogoplug has outed its latest network sharing device, the Pogoplug Video, a way to instantly stream video content to any remote device without having to manually recode it. The Pogoplug Video looks just like the company’s existing model, but can stream video in AVCHD, H.264, MPEG-4, MJPEG, MPEG-2 and DivX format directly to your iPhone, iPad, Android or other internet-connected device.
Alternatively, there’s UPnP support to stream footage direct to an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. Like the other Pogoplug units, the new Video version has a gigabit ethernet port and four USB 2.0 ports for hooking up your choice of external storage.
As always, there’s the usual file sharing and remote access that we found so appealing when we reviewed its predecessor. The Pogoplug Video will go up for pre-order from March 1 and then begin shipping on April 1 2011.
Press Release:
Cloud Engines Unveils Pogoplug Video
Instantly streams personal video library anywhere on the Internet
Today we are proud to announce our newest product Pogoplug Video, a new version of the award winning Pogoplug that allows personal video content to stream instantly to any device on the Internet without requiring end users to convert video to a new format or to upload it to an external website.
Pogoplug Video is built upon next-generation hardware video technologies. The product enables users to stream video directly to iPhone, iPad, Android and other Internet connected devices. Video can also stream to UPnP Internet-connected TVs or set-top boxes.
"Pogoplug Video is the breakthrough product that many of our end users have requested." said Daniel Putterman, our co-founder and CEO. "Now you can become your own personal broadcaster and share and stream personal video without uploading it to a website."
Ensuring compatibility with the latest HD video formats, Pogoplug Video has been optimized to work with Sony's AVCHD camera products to make high-quality video instantly streamable. Sony has selected Cloud Engines Inc. as a featured solutions provider, and will showcase Pogoplug Video at the Sony booth at the Consumer Electronics Show 2011.
"Sony is pleased that Pogoplug Video will support our latest AVCHD camera products and will make premium quality AVCHD recorded content accessible to anyone on the go." said Masashi Imamura, Corporate Executive, Senior Vice President of Sony Corporation.
Daniel Putterman said "Sony represents high quality video. Pogoplug Video lets users easily share content without compromising quality."
Pogoplug Video is $199, will be available for pre-order on March 1, 2011 and will sell at various retail locations, and directly from www.pogoplug.com, on April 1, 2011.
Pogoplug Video Features • Share high-quality videos of supported formats immediately. Users no longer need to wait for complicated conversions and lengthy uploads to view and share personal content on mobile or networked devices. • Watch videos and pictures in full HD. Pogoplug Video automatically streams at the highest quality possible. • View multimedia on all devices. Pogoplug Video uses multiple streaming protocols to support the most popular mobile and Internet enabled devices. For local viewing, Pogoplug Video supports UPnP so users are able to play content on any UPnP set top box or video game console. • Stream media from many of the most popular camcorders, video cameras and mobile phones.
Withings seems obsessed with shaming us into sharing our weight with whoever might be interested; their WiFi scales tweeted out our chubby readings last year, and now you can bypass the latest sports game and put your weight on the big screen instead. If you’ve a Panasonic VIERA Connect HDTV, you can now access the Withings health dashboard as a widget.
That means you can check body weight, lean & fat mass and calculated body mass index (BMI), all from the comfort of your couch. Of course, if you want to do something about those numbers, you’ll have to get up and stop watching television.
Press Release:
Withings and Panasonic Connect Your Body Scale with Your Television
Now, users of the Withings Scale can access their Health Dashboard directly on their Panasonic VIERA Connect™- enabled VIERA® HDTVs
Las Vegas, Nevada – January 6, 2011- CES / North Hall / Booth #3619- Today, what seems like an unlikely pair, your body scale and your television, comes together seamlessly with the partnership between Withings and Panasonic – a leader in high definition and connected TV entertainment — as users of both innovative devices can now access their Withings health dashboard right on their VIERA ConnectTM-enabled VIERA HDTV screen with the touch of a button.
The WiFi Body Scale is a revolutionary product that transforms an ordinary bathroom scale into an automatic weight tracking device for up to 8 people. It wirelessly records a user's body weight, lean & fat mass, and calculated body mass index (BMI) onto his/her own secure webpage and/or free Withings iPhone application, WiScale. Now, this data dashboard can be easily accessed directly from the VIERA CAST™ menu page.
"Withings is working towards a new era in connected health devices and this partnership is yet another move in that direction, said Co-Founder of Withings Cedric Hutchings. "Making your health data as easily accessible as possible is a key feature of the WiFi Body Scale. Now, you can access all your information via your MAC, PC, mobile device or television."
Panasonic's VIERA Connect IPTV feature allows owners of VIERA ConnectTM-enabled 2011 VIERA HDTVs to enjoy internet content directly on their television with the push of a button and without the need for a PC. VIERA Connect offers a robust collection of applications including expanded video streaming, and two-way interactive features from gaming to social networking, and fitness programs.
"We are very excited to have Withings as part of our VIERA Connect IPTV offerings in 2011," said Panasonic Corporation of North America Vice President Merwan Mereby. "VIERA Connect is taking connected TV to a whole new level of interactivity for consumers to deliver an unprecedented, more robust, two-way interactive set of features such as Withings' WiFi Body Scale for consumers to interact with directly through their Panasonic VIERA® HDTVs."
For more information, contact PR representatives below or visit www.withings.com/press.
TiVo’s iPad app is expected to be released sometime before the end of the month, according to the company’s VP of user experience. Announced back in November, the app will allow TiVo owners to control recordings and live TV, browse an on-screen program guide, set up schedules and use social networks like Facebook and Twitter.
However, the ambitious software – which will be a free download – has failed to drop into the App Store quite as soon after announcement as TiVo owners had hoped, with the company’s site only saying that it was “coming soon.” When it does arrive, you’ll need a TiVo Premiere or TiVo Premiere XL box to use it.
Verizon has just demoed the new Honeycomb operating system running on the Motorola XOOM. The entire operating system is completely redesigned for use with a tablet which makes it the first tablet optimized Android OS.
The Honeycomb UI is proving to be extremely refined. Just as rumored, all of the controls will be within the OS itself. The Motorola XOOM has no buttons on the front, allowing full control from the software alone.
With the walkthrough of the device we saw the new widgets UI. When wanting to add a widget to the home screen, the user user is presented with a new UI that features previews of each widget so you know what you're adding before you drag it to a screen.
Another impressive UI feature of the operating system is the new Youtube application. Focusing on heavy 3D visuals, the Motorola XOOM seemed to handle the graphics with a fluidity that we haven’t seen on any current-gen tablets. Videos are presented in a laid out window view, giving users an impressive UI for one of the most popular Android applications.
Also demoed was the new Google Maps 5. The entire application ran incredibly smoothly on the tablet. After using Google Maps 5 on devices, running on the XOOM it’s a completely new user experience. All features are elegantly laid out, and the UI is really optimal for the larger screen.
Honeycomb will feature its own optimized version of Google Books. Featuring an iPad-like design you are able to swipe between pages flawlessly. One of the benefits of having all of the controls within the software is when a user is reading a book, they have the option to hide all controls making only the text available, which means no distracting lights or buttons to interrupt reading.
As far as gaming goes, the device proved to be incredibly fast. Running Dungeon Defenders, we noticed no lag or delay in video. Dungeon Defenders for Honeycomb will be the most impressive mobile game with more visual levels and UI options, and the OS can handle more processes than Android 2.3 making the game able to feature more enemies.
Gaming peripheral manufacturer Razer knows that CES wouldn’t be the same without some slick concept to drool over, and their Switchblade gaming laptop is a great example of the breed. Switchblade is based around a 7-inch multitouch display and a keyboard that can dynamically change to show different legends and symbols depending on what title you’re playing, complete with WiFi and 3G connectivity.
Video after the cut
At its heart, Razer reckons the Switchblade would have a new Intel Atom processor, along with mini HDMI, USB 3.0 and audio in/out ports. Owners would be able to create their own custom keyboard layouts, which would change between games, and the keys could support static images as well as animations.
Unfortunately this is all just a concept, though Razer’s press release does say they have physical hardware on show at CES 2011; you know we’ll be digging it out as soon as we can. Still, the company does say it will be “working with selected partners to design and launch products based off the Razer,” so something similar might eventually find its way to market.
Press Release:
Razer™ Announces New Mobile PC Gaming Concept Design
The Razer Switchblade powered by the Intel® Atom™ processor redefines Mouse/Keyboard Interface for mobile gamers with an all new ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen and dynamic tactile keyboard
Consumer Electronics Show, Las Vegas, Nevada – January 6, 2011 – Razer, the world’s leading brand of high-end precision gaming products announced today the development of an innovative concept design, based on the Intel® Atom™ processor, bringing traditional PC desktop gaming to a portable form factor.
The new Intel® Atom™ powered concept model, codenamed “Razer Switchblade”, brings an evocative level of design to gaming by replacing the traditional mouse and keyboard interface with an ultra-sensitive multi-touch screen, dynamic tactile keyboard, and an intelligent user interface that adjusts the configuration and key layout on-the-fly based on game content and user requirements.
The Razer Switchblade concept was created from the ground up by Razer designers and engineers, in collaboration with Intel; focusing on enhancing the entire user experience of playing the extensive PC game library on a handheld device.
“The main problem with mobile PC gaming so far is that no one has been able to port the full mouse and keyboard experience onto a small size portable solution,” said Min-Liang Tan, CEO and Creative Director, Razer. “By combining adaptive on-the-fly controls and display, we managed to maintain the full tactile keyboard in a miniature computer while saving valuable screen estate.”
“PC Gaming continues to attract innovation with rich 3-D graphics, high definition video, and life-like animation,” said Brad Graff, director of gaming platforms for Intel’s Ultra Mobility Group. “The Intel® Atom™ processor, combined with Razer’s expertise in bringing gaming solutions to market, will help make it possible for consumers to have a powerful gaming experience in mobile devices.”
“With our established focus on human interface devices, moving the mouse and keyboard experience to the next level was a natural step.” continues Min-Liang Tan. “Razer isn’t just about bringing innovation to the PC, but creating products that will change the future of gaming. The Razer Switchblade is one such product.”
About the Razer Switchblade Concept
The Razer Switchblade Concept is a breakthrough portable gaming device model that allows gamers to play on the go without giving up the precision and control ordinarily possible on a desktop gaming system. Integrating a multi-touch seven-inch screen and an innovative tactile dynamic keyboard, the Razer Switchblade Concept delivers the full desktop experience in a netbook sized solution.
For more information, please visit: www.razerzone.com/switchblade
About the Razer Group:
Razer is more than just the world’s leading brand in high-end precision gaming products, perpetually defining the gaming and technology space. Founded in 1998 in Carlsbad, California, Razer is driven by the ceaseless pursuit for absolute precision and high usability in a distinctive, aesthetic design that will give gamers the edge they demand. With labs and offices in seven cities around the world, Razer dedicates user interface research and development to bring cutting-edge technology to each and every product. We live by our motto: For Gamers. By Gamers.
According to an insider, Skype may be looking to pick up Qik and add them into their fold soon. Qik’s name became popular more recently with the introduction of video calls on mobile phones, and Skype’s rumored purchase of the unit would lead some to believe that Skype is trying to stay ahead of the pack when it comes to that particular feature. According to the report, the deal would be somewhere in the park of $100 million.
Furthermore, it looks like Skype is trying to wrap up the deal as quickly as possible. The company is said to be wrapping it up by the end of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. With Qik’s ability to livestream, and Skype’s strength in video calls, it’s not too hard to imagine that Skype would want to go through with this purchase. The details and motivations of the deal weren’t discussed.
Streaming media is a big theme at CES 2011, and RealNetworks believes it has the magic required to help all your mobile devices share all your music. Rather than stream from a single point – usually a PC or home server – RealNetworks’ Unifi pulls together your content from all local and network sources, as well as cloud-based storage such as Flickr, Facebook and more.
Video demo after the cut
All of that content – including pictures, music and video – is catalogued (though left in place at wherever Unifi discovered it), and then streams them to your PC or Mac, your Android phone or any browser. Meanwhile, any device can act as a remote control for other devices, thanks to a remote page accessed with a browser.
RealNetworks promises cross-platform compatibility, so that iTunes tracks and playlists, for instance, will be accesible on your Android device. Finally, photos taken with Android or iOS devices are automatically uploaded to the cloud. If it works, it sounds like impressive stuff. Unifi is currently in closed beta, and a commercial launch is expected
Press Release:
RealNetworks Previews Unifi, the All-Inclusive Library of Your Digital Life
SEATTLE and LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — RealNetworks®, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the digital entertainment services company, today previewed Unifi™, a new personal media cloud service that solves one of the escalating problems of the digital age: how to keep track of the thousands of photos, music tracks and videos stored on multiple devices and online services so a user can easily find and enjoy them.
Unifi, shown as a public preview today at the Consumer Electronics Show and expected to be available in early 2011, is the complete library of all the media you own, all accessible from any internet-connected device. It doesn’t matter whether your digital content is stored on your devices, on your social media sites, or in the cloud. Unifi catalogues and organizes your content into a single digital library, organized in a way that lets you easily find, access and enjoy what you want – by media type, by device or through tags.
“RealNetworks already delivers vast amounts of digital content daily to millions of people around the world, and now we’re bringing our expertise to the cloud with Unifi,” said Robert Kimball, CEO of RealNetworks. “Our vision for Unifi encompasses everything from the mobile devices, online and social networking services of today to the connected TVs, cameras and game consoles of tomorrow – assuring that our customers can enjoy their content wherever it is.”
“It used to be that the personal computer was the hub where we collected and stored all of our photos and music, but those days are over,” said Hank Skorny, RealNetworks’ senior vice president of media cloud computing and services and architect of Unifi. “Over 58 million Americans already own four or more connected devices, each storing various collections of photos and music. Add to that the many online services like Facebook and Flickr where we store our content and it quickly becomes obvious that finding the media you own is becoming a nightmare. That’s why we created Unifi – it is the unified library of your digital life.”
Unifi is intended for people who don’t want the complex task of trying to integrate and organize their disparate digital collections themselves. Unlike other personal cloud services that focus on sync and storage of files, and far beyond a simple digital storage locker, Unifi brings your digital world together in a way not possible before.
What Unifi Does: After installing a lightweight bit of software on your devices, you’re ready to use Unifi. Unifi gives you:
One complete library of your digital content: Unifi catalogues all of the photos, music and video on all your devices and online services and represents them in the cloud. You can decide to store all of your collections in the Unifi cloud or just those you use often or need to take with you. But either way, you can see everything you own, whether uploaded to the cloud or not, on all your devices.
No barriers that restrict use of the collections you own: It doesn’t matter whether your collections are purchased on iTunes or Amazon or whether the content you own is on Mac, PC, Android, iPhone, Facebook or Flickr – Unifi knocks down the walls between your digital libraries and lets you enjoy them no matter where you legally acquired them. For example, you can play the iTunes selections and playlists you own right from your Android phone. (see screen shots here)
All devices are “remote controls” for your library: All of your network-enabled devices can not only view and play your media, but they can also contribute to and control your digital library on any other device. It’s like every device is a remote control for your content. Plus you can get full access to all of your content, on any device from any web browser.
Instant upload of your pictures from your smart phone: Most people use their iPhone or Android to take pictures – but those photos remain on the phone because it’s cumbersome to manually upload them to your computer or to the cloud. Unifi automatically uploads your photos to the cloud without you doing a thing.
Unifi will begin public beta during the first quarter of 2011, followed by a commercial launch in the first part of the year. Free and premium versions will be offered, priced at about the same cost as a few lattes a month.
With tablets monopolizing the market and consumer mindshare, many ereader manufacturers are turning to color displays in order to compete. iriver has different ideas: the iriver Story HD is being billed as the world’s highest resolution 6-inch ebook reader, thanks to a new XGA e-paper panel from LG Display.
That panel runs at 768 x 1024 resolution, which means it has 63.8-percent more pixels than its rivals. iriver also reckons it flips pages faster, a side-effect of both the screen and the Freescale i.MX508 processor.
There’s also WiFi – along with Easy Wi-Fi Network support for easier logins at open hotspots – and a QWERTY keyboard, along with support for Adobe EPUB and PDF formats with DRM. iriver reckon the Story HD will last for up to three weeks on a single charge. No word on pricing, but it’ll be available in Q2 2011.
Press Release:
iriver Unveils The World's Highest Resolution 6" eBook Reader At CES 2011
iriver Teams Up With LG Display To Introduce The iriver Story HD eBook Reader With The Best Legibility Ever, Wi-Fi and Rapid Response
Irvine, CA — iriver, the award-winning producer of stylish digital devices, unveils the new iriver Story HD eBook at CES 2011, the world's first 6" XGA (768×1024) eBook reader with 63.8% more pixels and faster page turns than the competition.
The iriver Story HD provides outstanding legibility with crisp fonts, fast response and high performance with an advanced i.MX508 eReader applications processor from Freescale Semiconductor based on ARM® CortexTM technology and automatic, built-in Wi-Fi. The eBook will be able to access content through the major content partner.
The Story HD will also be equipped with the Easy Wi-Fi Network (www.easywifi.com) feature so that users can access any open or subscribed Wi-Fi hot spots automatically without log-in process. Easy WiFi is the world’s largest WiFi network, and with the network supporting thousands of providers, users can also personalize access by extending Easy WiFi to any personal WiFi accounts as well. The service features a map to locate hot spots, classified by capability. Users can find hot spots, get connected, and personalize access.
Chulmin Lee (COO of iriver Ltd. and President of iriver Inc.), said, "iriver is excited to unveil the iriver Story HD at CES as a world's first. No other eBook features a higher resolution, and users will appreciate fast page-turn performance and the chic design that is the hallmark of iriver. "
The slim and lightweight e-reader features the signature; sleek, iriver style, QWERTY keypad, a curve with two-tone colors at the front and back for easy grip and slim design. The Story HD has buttons located from the side to the center of the keypad, featuring the up/down layout instead of the right/left design to make the unit more user friendly than other eBooks – other models feature the right/left buttons for flipping pages.
The iriver Story HD has a 3-week battery life, making it ideal for travel, and supports Adobe EPUB and PDF formats with DRM.
In June 2010, iriver and LG Display established a joint venture for the OEM development production and sales of e-Books. Iriver is responsible for product design, accumulated knowledge on e-book technology, including designs and platform development, as well as technical assistance within the joint-venture. LG Display, with its global sales network and world class production skills, provides a stable supply of e-book displays, such as electronic paper displays (EPD).
The iriver Story HD will be competitively priced and available in the second quarter of 2011.
About iriver, Inc. iriver Inc. is the award-winning producer of iriver digital A/V devices, owned by iriver, Ltd., the global digital A/V product powerhouse. Since its founding in 1999, iriver has become renowned for its product innovation, style-driven technology, and track record of market dominance. The company's ever expanding digital product lines include: Multimedia Devices (MP3. MP4, PMP, DMB), Network Devices (Home Media Center, Wi-Fi Network, Navigation products) and Content Devices (E-Dictionary, E-Book). For more information on iriver and its product lines, please visit: www.iriver.com.
Apple’s Mac App Store may have arrived earlier today, but it hasn’t been happy downloading all around. Multiple complaints are hitting Twitter about failed installs with “error 100″ messages, and there are several different fixes on offer to get it working properly. One suggestion is that the iTunes Terms and Conditions aren’t automatically showing up as they should, and that by quitting the store and restarting it you can prompt its proper display.
Meanwhile, developer James Whelton sugests that by deleting ~Library/Caches and /Library/Caches and then restarting the Mac App Store you can also fix the problem. Others are suggesting restarting iTunes or indeed restarting your Mac will address it. Let us know if this works – or doesn’t work – for you in the comments.
A seemingly premature update to T-Mobile‘s site has tipped the incoming Dell Streak 7 ahead of the Android tablet’s official announcement. The 7-inch slate gets name-checked in the drop-down “Discover” menu, though at present the link itself only results in a 404 page.
Still, with T-Mobile USA holding a press event later today at CES 2011, the Streak 7 could well make its official debut very soon. The slate is expected to use NVIDIA’s Tegra 2 chipset and pack WiFi b/g/n along with Bluetooth 2.1+EDR. Interestingly, it’s also been spotted crossing the FCC with both AT&T and T-Mobile USA compliant 3G bands in a single SKU.
Boxee’s CES 2011 plans aren’t just limited to the new Iomega TV; the company also has software and content provider news for the show. The company has announced that CBS has been brought on board to provide premium content, while VUDU’s 3D movies will be available on the PC, Mac and – when VUDU finally makes its imminent arrival on the standalone STB – on the Boxee Box.
Meanwhile, the iPad Boxee app is almost fully baked, and will include the ability to send currently playing content on the Apple tablet to your D-Link/Iomega/Mac/PC with the touch of a button. The app will also allow access to videos on a user’s Watch Later list as well as from your Feed (shared from Facebook / Twitter), as well as supporting directly streamed videos to the iPad from a PC/Mac.
Speculation that Android’s tablet-centric Honeycomb update would demand a dual-core processor has been debunked, with Android team developer Dan Morrill confirming that in fact there’s “no hard minimum processor requirement.” The news will come as a relief to Samsung Galaxy Tab owners, who had faced the prospect of not seeing a Honeycomb update since the slate uses a single-core CPU.
The rumors started back when Enspert director Bobby Cha told press that Honeycomb-based tablets would require at least a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor in order to “run properly.” It’s unclear if that was based on faulty information, or if Cha was suggesting that single-core chips would simply struggle to offer the same sort of performance as dual-cores.
Either way, it’s good news all round, and now we just need Google to commit to a release date. Still, as we’ve seen with Notion Ink’s Adam, it’s possible to make a slick Android 2.2 based tablet as long as you’ve taken time to suitably fettle the software.
The impending Windows Phone 7 software update still hasn’t been officially dated by Microsoft, but it seems their web team aren’t quite so cautious. BGR spotted that, while Steve Ballmer was careful not to confirm a ship date during the Microsoft CES 2011 keynote yesterday, the preview page itself mentions “January update” in the URL.
That would certainly fit in with rumors earlier in the week about the incoming upgrade, which will – among other things – add copy/paste functionality to the smartphone and boost the startup speed for apps and games. It will also improve search functionality in the Marketplace.
AT&T were at pains to highlight the fact that the Motorola ATRIX 4G was a network exclusive when they launched the Tegra 2 based superphone yesterday, but it seems that limitation only applies to the US. Canadian carrier Bell has just announced that the ATRIX 4G will be winging its way to their HSPA+ network in the coming months too.
The handset itself will be identical to the AT&T version, which means a dual-core 1GHz processor, qHD resolution display, Android 2.2 Froyo, a biometric fingerprint scanner and both front and rear cameras. There’s also Citrix Receiver support, together with two optional docks: the Motorola HD Multimedia Dock, with three USB ports and an HDMI port, and the Motorola Laptop Dock, with an 11.6-inch screen, full keyboard, stereo speakers and 36Wh three-cell battery that delivers up to seven hours of battery life, all in just 2.4 pounds.
No word on pricing but we’re expecting this behemoth to be carry a flagship tag when it arrives in Canada. More information on the ATRIX 4G here.
Press Release:
Motorola Mobility Canada and Bell Announce ATRIX™ Coming Soon to Canada
The world's most powerful smartphone transforms into a laptop, desktop or home entertainment center through Motorola's revolutionary webtop application
Jan. 05, 2011
LAS VEGAS (CES ) and TORONTO – Jan. 5, 2011 – Motorola Mobility Canada and Bell today unveiled Motorola ATRIX, the only smartphone with the Motorola webtop application that puts a true desktop browser in the user's pocket. The ATRIX will be available to Canadians exclusively from Bell Mobility on Canada's Best Network.
Designed to bring unprecedented computing to a smartphone, Motorola's webtop application brings a PC browsing experience with a full Mozilla Firefox 3.6 browser to a mobile environment. Motorola ATRIX supports Adobe® Flash® Player to open up all the rich graphics, animations and video on the web. Featuring a dual-core processor –with each core running at 1 GHz, delivering up to two GHz of processing power – 1 GB of RAM, coupled with webtop and a unique docking system, the Motorola ATRIX is, simply put, the world's most powerful smartphone.
"Motorola ATRIX ushers in a new era in mobile computing and converged electronics experiences, and we're thrilled to offer it to Canadians on Bell's state-of-the-art network," said Sanjay Jha, chairman and chief executive officer of Motorola Mobility. "The Motorola ATRIX is a symbol of the innovation consumers can expect from the new company that is Motorola Mobility. ATRIX is a revolutionary tool for staying connected, informed and entertained at home, on the job and anywhere in between."
"Motorola ATRIX is a ground-breaking product and offering it exclusively to Canadians fits with Bell's commitment to deliver products and services that lets business and consumer clients say 'today just got better,'" said Wade Oosterman, President of Bell Mobility & Residential Services, and Bell's Chief Brand Officer. "ATRIX and its mobile computing capabilities are ready to leverage the speed, coverage and quality of Bell's world-leading wireless network."
Motorola ATRIX delivers unprecedented mobile computing capabilities in a package less than 11mm thin, including:
A dual-core processor – which outputs up to two GHz of processing speed – for opening web pages twice as fast as most other smartphones, rendering games faster and displaying HD quality video on big-screen TVs. A full 1 GB of RAM is twice that offered in most other smartphones and delivers effortless multi-tasking, such as watching a movie while receiving and responding to email. The world's first qHD smartphone display, offering high resolution and 24-bit colour, making it easier to read indoors and outdoors Facilitated by Motorola's webtop application and optional docking system that offer a larger screen, full-size keyboard and trackpad for an enhanced and more interactive experience, Motorola ATRIX can be used as a primary digital hub to create, edit and enjoy documents, media and content.
Motorola is introducing two industry-leading companion docks for the ATRIX:
The Motorola HD Multimedia Dock has three USB ports and an HDMI port, enabling connections to a keyboard, monitor, mouse, speakers or HDMI monitor for working on traditional PC tasks, and connects to an HDMI-enabled television and home theater audio system for enjoying video, music, games and more. The Motorola Laptop Dock has an incredibly thin design with an 11.6-inch screen, full keyboard, stereo speakers, 36Wh three-cell battery that delivers up to seven hours of battery life and weighs just 2.4 pounds. Users simply dock their Motorola ATRIX 4G into the back of the Laptop Dock to experience true mobility at work, home and playing on-the-go in a form factor that's lighter and smaller than most laptops on the market. While using the webtop application, business users with an existing Citrix account will benefit from the integrated Citrix Receiver application that provides secure, high performance access to virtual desktops as well as Windows®, web and office applications hosted on Citrix XenDesktop. In addition to the full suite of office productivity and email applications, users can also access a number of web applications such as Salesforce.com, Google Docs, and any HTML application or service from a full desktop browser.
Motorola ATRIX runs Android™ 2.2 with access to more than 100,000 apps and games in Android Market™.
Key features and specifications:
A dual-core processor capable of opening web pages twice as fast as most other smartphones, rendering games faster and displaying HD video on big-screen TVs Front- and rear-facing cameras for video chat and the ability to record and output in HD Biometric fingerprint reader for easily unlocking your phone while providing extra security Under 11mm thin, with an extra large 1930 mAh battery for extended standby and talk time Keep up to date on social networks with automatic delivery of messages through MOTOBLUR™, including the ability to locate, wipe and restore data if the device is lost or stolen Up to 48GB of storage (16GB internal and optional 32GB MicroSD card) – enough to store thousands of songs, photos and as many as 15 full-length movies Mobile Hotspot service for connecting up to eight Wi-Fi-enabled devices Availability
Motorola ATRIX will be available exclusively to Bell Mobility clients in the coming months. For more information, go to Motorola.ca or to pre-register please visit www.bell.ca/atrix
AT&T has slashed pricing on the iPhone 3GS, pushing the last-gen Apple smartphone down to just $49 with a new agreement. Previously $99, the new pricing will take affect from Friday, January 7, and be available to both new and upgrading customers.
As for the necessary plan, that has to include at least a $39.99 per month voice plan paired with at least a $15/mo data plan (which gets you a mere 200MB per month). Frankly we’d still spend the extra on an iPhone 4 if we’d settled on going the Apple way; the Retina Display and faster processor really will make a difference over the two years you’ll be using the device.
Press Release:
AT&T Announces iPhone 3GS for $49.00
AT&T* today announced a new price for the popular iPhone 3GS – $49.00 – available beginning tomorrow, Friday, January 7, for both new and upgrade-eligible existing AT&T customers. The offer will be available online at www.att.com/iphone, across more than 2,200 AT&T retail locations nationwide and through AT&T business channels, as well as Apple channels.**
Available only on the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, iPhone 3GS delivers the following advantages unique to AT&T and its customers:
Allows for true smartphone multi-tasking, such as talking and using applications at the same time, on AT&T's mobile broadband network Provides access to our entire national Wi-Fi network with nearly 23,000 hotspots Provides the best global coverage with wireless voice and data access in more than 200 countries "We want to deliver the best, most complete package for our customers – from price, to speed, to worldwide access and more," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Combined with our new, lower monthly data plans beginning at just $15 a month, this new price brings even more value to one of the most popular devices in our leading lineup of smartphones. We're very excited for more people to experience iPhone on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network."
iPhone 3GS gives users access to the latest iPhone iOS 4 software plus the revolutionary App Store. Additional information is available at http://www.apple.com/.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
**Price for 3GS sold in Apple channels is determined by Apple.
Requires new 2-year wireless voice agmt of $39.99 or higher with min $15/mo plan. Subject to wireless customer agrmt. Internal roaming rates or charges apply. Credit approval req'd. Activ. fee up to $36/line. Coverage & svcs, including mobile broadband, not avail everywhere. Geographic, usage & other conditions & restrictions (that may result in svc termination) apply. Taxes & other chrgs apply. See store or visit att.com for details and coverage map. Early Termination Fee (ETF): None if cancelled during first 30 days, but a $35 restocking fee may apply; after 30 days, ETF up to $325 applies (details att.com/equipmentETF). Regulatory Cost Recovery Charge up to $1.25/mo. is chrg'd to help defray costs of complying with gov't obligations & chrgs on AT&T & is not a tax or gov't req'd chrg. Wi-Fi: Access includes AT&T Wi-Fi Basic.
Citrix was pushing its Nirvana Phone concept on us almost a year ago, and now the company is gleefully claiming its soothsaying has come true. The device in question is Motorola’s ATRIX 4G, which not only can output 1280 x 1080 video via its HMDI port, but also comes preloaded with Citrix Receiver so that you can run a virtual desktop wherever you are.
That means you can plug a display into the ATRIX 4G, pair a Bluetooth keyboard (or, indeed, use Motorola’s own special ATRIX 4G HD Dock and USB peripherals) and get up and running with a Windows 7 desktop as if you were in your office. Alternatively there’s Motorola’s Webtop laptop dock, which has a keyboard and 11.6-inch display of its own, and which will also work with Citrix Receiver.
“Audio is currently not supported and not all of the HDX features are available, however, it’s easy to multitask and bounce out of the Citrix session and run YouTube and audio with the native Firefox browser, or even take phone calls. In “windowed” mode (vs. full screen) the webtop environment can display Citrix hosted apps alongside native Firefox windows, plus an Android window making a phone call at the same time” Citrix
Paired with the full Firefox browser on the ATRIX 4G, it’s perhaps the closest we’ve got the original promise of UMPCs working as our mobile devices as well as our PC replacements. The Motorola ATRIX 4G will arrive later in 2011 on AT&T.
Citrix Receiver with Motorola ATRIX 4G and HD Dock:
Citrix Receiver with Trackpad and Bluetooth keyboard:
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