Manchester is playing catch up to other cities in the UK when it comes to 3G mobile broadband speeds, according to research conducted by mobile and broadband comparison website, Top10.com.
Businesses, locals and visitors to the city have to endure an average 3G mobile broadband speed of 2.47 megabits per second (Mbps). This compares to smartphone users in the UK’s fastest city for 3G mobile broadband speeds, Peterborough, where the average speed is 3.86Mbps, 56% faster than Manchester.
Top10.com has analysed thousands of 3G speed tests carried out by smartphone users via Top10’s unique Streetstats 3G mobile broadband speed test tool. The results reveal a significant variation in mobile broadband download speeds across the UK’s major towns and cities. The slowest city was Milton Keynes, with a speed of 1.73Mps.
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Yesterday it was rumours of a Nexus Two launch, and today the tech-blog rumour mill is at it again - this time with reports that one of Apple’s future iPhones will be network agnostic.
The report originated on GigaOm in an article which suggests that Apple is looking to cut out the carrier, by producing a special SIM card which would not be tied to a single network. The SIM card, allegedly being created in conjunction with digital security company and SIM-card manufacturer Gemalto, would most likely be integrated into the phone’s hardware, and would allow users to connect to a network of their choosing.
The idea is said to be aimed predominantly at Europe, where the sales relationship between iPhone and network is not at tight as it is Stateside; and important bods from European telecoms companies are believed to have visited Apple to discuss whether they would allow such a device to operate on their networks.
Apple, of course, has had nothing to say in response to the rumours, but the theory is that the company is trying to cut the telcos out of the device retailing business, by enabling users to choose their network when they purchase the device directly from Apple. Google’s recent attempt to sell a device direct to the public was not a spectacular success, and analysts are suggesting that the agnostic SIM is Apple’s attempt to make the direct sale easier.
However, as The Reg points out, the reason the public don’t buy premium handsets direct from the supplier most likely has more to do with operator subsidies than with the tricky business of finding a network after you’ve purchased the handset. With iPhone prices coming in at over £600 without subsidies, how many would-be iPhone owners will be able to afford the upfront outlay to buy from Apple, even if they wanted to?
Mobile broadband warning to those heading to South Africa!
If you’re lucky enough to be heading off to South Africa for the World Cup (or unlucky enough to have booked a holiday there, not realising the World Cup was happening at the same time), you may be thinking about using your mobile broadband abroad on the trip. Whether via a laptop or smartphone, you need to be aware that using mobile broadband in South Africa can be an extremely expensive undertaking.
Firstly, the good news - both 3 Mobile Broadband and Vodafone have reduced their South Africa roaming rates for the period of the World Cup. Unfortunately, for many people, even these reduced rates will be prohibitively expensive for a lot of people. Even within the EU data roaming is very expensive, and all these two companies have reduced their South Africa prices to their EU rates.
Never mind ‘fun’ applications for your iPhone, how about one that acts like your mum?
The NHS, with our best interests at heart, has released an app for the hugely popular Apple handset which counts your units of alcohol and tells you when you’re drunk. It’s all part of the government’s plan to spend less money on treating self-inflicted ailments, by pointing out to people that it’s not entirely wise or necessary to live entirely on take-aways or drink until you’re incapable - which of course very much has the feel of a doomed enterprise.
Users can get the app, called NHS Drinks Tracker, free from iTunes; but quite aside from the fact that no-one wants to be nagged by their gadgets, there seems to be another issue in that entering the serving size of the drink, its percentage of alcohol and how many of them you’ve had requires - well, a measure of sobriety.
If you’re really concerned about watching your alcohol intake, then sticking to just the one, or better still the iPhone beer drinking app might be a better bet.
Virgin Media have announced they are increasing mobile mobile broadband speeds to 7.2Meg with discounts to existing Virgin customers who take other services.
English mobile broadband providers are delivering services “far lower than advertised”.
Almost three and a half thousand broadband connections were tested over a five month period.
It was found that users recorded an average download speed of 1.1Mbs, substantially lower than advertised.
However, some experts queried the results, saying that quantifying mobile broadband was almost impossible.
Rob Webber, Broadband Expert’s commercial director, explained how they did the tests.
“These are tests performed by users on the Broadband Expert website. They select their internet service provider, their promised connection speed, and the sort of connection they have.
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The roll-out of fully functional, faster, more efficient next generation mobile broadband came a step closer today, with Verizon Wireless completing successful LTE tests in the US.
With the next mobile broadband standard still not 100 per cent decided, the States is as good a place as any to watch the two potential contenders battle it out. So far, WiMax has an advantage in that it is already up and running in some areas, and last week Clearwire, which has adopted the WiMax standard, announced that it would be launching its services in ten new US markets next month.
Now Verizon has a conducted successful LTE data call in both Seattle and Boston, including streaming video, uploading and downloading, web browsing and VoIP. Both cities have 10 LTE sites up and running - although only for testing at present - and Verizon has said it plans to launch its LTE mobile broadband in 30 markets in 2010, and have a full nationwide network by 2013.
Tony Melone, senior vice president and CTO at Verizon commented that the LTE mobile broadband network will make a "ubiquitous, highly mobile, super-fast broadband experience a reality for customers."
The follow on plans from the Digital Britain report are progressing with details of who will lead each project and how funding is going to work.
Orange are making special cheap deals for students with mobile broadband provider Orange!
Students signing up for a new bank account at Barclays will be able to kit themselves up with broadband in good time for the start of the next academic year. The bank has announced, from today, eligible customers will be able to receive a 25 per cent discount on Orange mobile broadband.
As part of the deal new student customers will receive a free mobile broadband dongle as well as acccess to telephone banking and a contactless Visa debit card.
Speaking on the incentive, Barclay’s head of current accounts, Andrew Harris, said: “We recognise the financial challenges students have and that’s why we have looked to provide them with a relevant package to support them through student life.”
BT Ireland and Vodafone have signed a deal that will see mobile broadband and voice customers in Ireland transfered to Vodafone.
