Computerworld Matt Hamblen News

LifeSize unveils all-in-one HD videconferencing units

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:30:00 GMT

LifeSize unveiled two portable, all-in-one videoconferencing units for various work spaces, including home offices, meeting rooms and executive offices.

Verizon LTE expansion continues with 28 more cities

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:15:00 GMT

Verizon Wireless will add 28 more cities to its nationwide LTE network on Thursday, bringing the total number of markets with access to its faster 4G service to 258.

Is November Win 8 tablet release too late?

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:08:00 GMT

If Intel-based Windows 8 tablets launch in November, as one informed source expects, Microsoft would face a narrow window to play a role in the important holiday sales period.

Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 on sale Sunday for $400

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:54:00 GMT

Samsung's Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 is set to go on sale at retailers nationwide Sunday for $399.99, furthering the variety of tablet sizes from the vendor.

AT&T reportedly in talks to buy Leap Wireless

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:20:00 GMT

AT&T has recently been in talks to buy Leap Wireless, a carrier operating in 35 states with 6 million customers, according to Reuters.

BlackBerry 7 smartphones approved for DOD use

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:38:00 GMT

Research in Motion's BlackBerry 7 smartphones have been approved for use by the Department of Defense, the company announced this week.

Amex cards to work with Isis mobile wallet

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:07:00 GMT

American Express will enable its credit cards to work with the Isis Mobile Wallet system once the technology is deployed in Salt Lake City and Austin this summer.

What the summer portends in new tablets

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Summer 2012 promises to be the season of tablet experimentation. Just about every tablet maker is expected to announce a new product in the next four months. The devices are likely to be smaller in the case of Apple, bigger in the case of Amazon.

HTC Evo 4G LTE goes on sale May 18 for $200

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:14:00 GMT

The HTC Evo 4G LTE smartphone from Sprint will go on sale May 18 for $199.99 with a two-year contract.

RIM names new COO, CMO

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:25:00 GMT

Research in Motion has appointed a new COO and CMO as it prepares to launch BlackBerry 10 smartphones later this year in hopes of reversing a decline in its global smartphone share.

T-Mobile commits to Passpoint automatic Wi-Fi access; other U.S. carriers mum

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Of the nation's four biggest wireless carriers, only T-Mobile USA has revealed plans to deploy Passpoint, a technology that would allow wireless users to automatically access Wi-Fi hotspots from carriers' 3G and 4G cellular networks.

4G LTE networks hit battery life on some smartphones, Metrico finds

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:08:00 GMT

While battery capacities in smartphones has increased, 4G LTE networks are taking their toll on battery life for Web browsing and video streaming, according to Metrico Wireless.

AT&T trials of wireless home automation service start this summer

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:32:00 GMT

AT&T plans to begin trials of a home automation and security service in Atlanta and Dallas this summer.

AT&T launches Samsung Focus 2 for $50

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:19:00 GMT

AT&T on Monday announced another low-priced Windows Phone, the $49.99 Samsung Focus 2, which will run on 4G LTE and will go on sale May 20.

Tablets will be preferred computing devices by 2016

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Tablets will become most users' main computing devices within the next four years, Forrester Research analyst Frank Gillett has predicted.

Target to stop selling Amazon Kindles in its stores

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:35:00 GMT

Target plans to stop selling Kindle e-readers in its brock-and-mortar stores after seeing buyers test the devices in its showrooms only to later buy them online from Amazon.

Samsung launches Galaxy S III with voice and face recognition

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:57:00 GMT

Samsung on Thursday unveiled a larger Galaxy S III smartphone in London, and said the phone would be sold in the U.S. this summer after launching in Europe on May 29.

Smartphone screens are getting bigger

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

Smartphone screens are getting larger, although vendors will likely continue to offer many sizes to woo a wide variety of users.

Consumerization trend driving IT shops 'crazy,' Gartner analyst says

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:55:00 GMT

IT managers who grapple with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies can expect to see an explosion of different devices used by their workers in the next few years.

RIM presents BlackBerry 10 to developers

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:41:00 GMT

The BlackBerry 10 mobile operating system took center stage at the opening of BlackBerry World on Tuesday, as RIM CEO Thorsten Heins gave a sneak peek of the next-generation software on a prototype smartphone called the Dev Alpha.

LG backs off Windows Phone for now, report says

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:46:00 GMT

Smartphone-maker LG Electronics has backed off producing Windows Phone devices for now and will instead focus on Android phones, according to a report.

Microsoft-Barnes & Noble deal could lead to Windows-based tablet

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 19:08:00 GMT

Microsoft's partnership with Barnes & Noble could lead to development of a Windows-based tablet or e-reader, not just a Nook e-reader application for Windows 8, some analysts said.

Carriers desperately seeking Windows Phone

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 10:00:00 GMT

AT&T and Verizon Wireless want Windows Phone smartphones to succeed in the U.S., partly to provide leverage against Apple's demands for subsidies required for selling the popular iPhone.

First BlackBerry 10 smartphone to launch in October, reports say

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:12:00 GMT

Reports indicate that the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone will be announced by mid-August and will be launched in October, somewhat earlier than expected.

Sprint to stick with unlimited data, likely even for an iPhone on LTE

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:14:00 GMT

Sprint plans to stick with unlimited data plans for its smartphones, and that policy apparently will apply even if the next iPhone runs over 4G LTE, which is much faster than 3G service.

Asus, fifth and rising in tablet market

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:05:00 GMT

Asus in 2011 became one of the top five tablet makers, and though it still lags somewhat behind the market leaders, analysts say its influence on the market is clearly on the rise.

Unlocked Galaxy Nexus gets Google Wallet, sells directly for $399

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:05:00 GMT

Google said Tuesday it was going direct to consumers again, selling the Galaxy Nexus smartphone on Google Play for $399. The unlocked smartphone will also run the Google Wallet mobile payment app.

Tablets will be most users' main computing device, Forrester says

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:41:00 GMT

Tablets will become most users' primary computing device within the next four years after a period of explosive growth, a Forrester Research analyst believes.

Samsung details Android 4.0 phone, tablet upgrades for U.S. carriers

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:52:00 GMT

Samsung posted a list today detailing which Samsung phones and tablets sold by U.S. carriers will eventually receive an upgrade to Android 4.0, or Ice Cream Sandwich.

Canada's CTV gets a grip on international roaming voice, data costs

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:44:00 GMT

International voice, text and data costs can get expensive for vacation and business travelers alike, something Canadian news operation CTV found out the hard way. Now it's cutting costs with a telecom expense management system.

School system tweaks its Wi-Fi for better control

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:16:00 GMT

Rowan-Salisbury School System is looking to technology from Aerohive Networks for better management of its Wi-Fi network.

Microsoft evangelist corrects comment that Windows Phone 7 devices will get upgrade to Apollo

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:34:00 GMT

A Microsoft developer evangelist has corrected his earlier comments that all Windows Phone 7 phones, including Nokia's new Lumia 900, will be upgraded to the next major version of the operating system, Windows Phone 8, dubbed Apollo.

HTC One X to debut May 6 for $200 on AT&T

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:45:00 GMT

HTC's One X smartphone will be available exclusively from AT&T on May 6 for $199.99 and a two-year agreement.

Cisco sells 50 millionth IP phone

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:45:00 GMT

Cisco boasted Wednesday of having sold 50 million IP desktop phones, up from 30 million sold just two years ago.

Verizon Wireless cuts international data charges

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:10:00 GMT

Verizon Wireless announced that its data prices Monday will drop dramatically -- to $25 for 100MB -- for U.S.-based customers traveling abroad.

Verizon combines its widespread LTE service with Private IP

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:30:00 GMT

Verizon announced Wednesday that it has combined its 4G LTE wireless access, which is now deployed in more than 200 cities, with its Private IP network service to give business users secure, high-speed Internet access.

Verizon to activate 27 more LTE cities on Thursday

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:31:00 GMT

Verizon Wireless will expand its faster 4G LTE network to 27 new cities on Thursday, bringing the total to 230 metro areas nationwide and reaching two-thirds of the U.S. population.

Windows RT, formerly WOA, to have Office apps included

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:13:00 GMT

Windows 8 on ARM, now dubbed Windows RT by Microsoft, will include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote applications -- a move that could be used to entice Windows tablet buyers.

Galaxy Nexus arrives at Sprint on Sunday for $200

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:52:00 GMT

Sprint will begin selling Samsung's Galaxy Nexus on Sunday for $199.99 with a two-year contract, making it $100 cheaper than the Verizon Wireless version.

Don't look for Windows 8 to be ported to current Android tablets

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:26:00 GMT

With a variety of new tablets hitting the market, some IT pros are hoping for a way to convert those tablets to support Windows 8 on ARM. But that may be easier said than done.

Free Lumia 900 offer ends April 21

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:14:00 GMT

Nokia's Lumia 900 won't be free much longer. A $100 discount being offered on the $99.99 smartphone (with two-year service contract required) will expire at the end of business on April 21, Nokia said.

Lumia 900 materials cost $209, point to low-cost approach by Nokia, Microsoft

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:52:00 GMT

The materials used to build the Nokia Lumia 900 smartphone cost $209, according to IHS iSuppli, which did a physical teardown of one of the new smartphones.

Toshiba's jumbo tablet, the Excite 13, garners early kudos, scorn

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:34:00 GMT

Toshiba expanded its Excite family of Android tablets with three new models, but the one getting all the attention, and already some scorn, is the Excite 13, which as a 13.3-in. display.

AT&T adds St. Louis to LTE network, brings total to 32 cities

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:53:00 GMT

AT&T has added St. Louis to its growing 4G LTE network, bringing the carrier's nationwide total to 32 cities.

USC's web-based classes go mobile

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:00:00 GMT

USC is enhances its online education option with a mobile app.

Sprint set to offer cure for poor wireless voice quality

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:06:00 GMT

Sprint announced high-definition voice technology for the new HTC Evo 4G LTE smartphone and future phones, although HD Voice will only work once Sprint upgrades its 3G network, a process expected to begin in late 2012 in several cities.

Windows Phone seen as driving a wedge between iPhone, Android

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:19:00 GMT

Nokia's Lumia 900 smartphones will reach AT&T stores on Sunday for $99.99, and one analyst said it could be the start of something big: Windows Phone as a market disrupter between the successful iPhone and Android phones.

It's raining sub-$100 LTE smartphones

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:01:00 GMT

Wireless carriers recently began offering LTE-ready phones at bargain-basement prices of less than $100, but those customers still must commit to paying a minimum of $60 a month, or $1,440 for two years of voice and data service.

Sprint offers LG Viper on LTE for $100

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 19:41:00 GMT

The LG Viper 4G LTE smartphone will be available for pre-order April 12 with a price tag of $99.99, and a two-year service agreement and rebate, Sprint said.

RIM launches BlackBerry Mobile Fusion

mhamblen@computerworld.com (Matt Hamblen) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 16:41:00 GMT

IT managers in business and government can consolidate management of smartphones and tablets on BlackBerry, iOS and Android platforms with the new Blackberry Mobile Fusion launched Tuesday.