A few months ago FreedomPop started offering a free WiMAX service that lets iPod touch customers connect to the internet on the go for just the 1-time price of a $99 accessory. While the free plan only includes 500MB of data, you can pay for extra — or get your friends to sign up in […]
wireless
Samsung slides LTE, NFC-equipped tablets through the FCC
Two new Samsung tablets showed up at the FCC website this week. One appears to be a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet with support for 4G LTE mobile broadband. Â The other looks like it could be a previously unannounced 10 inch tablet with support for NFC (Near Field Communication). The Galaxy Note is pretty easy […]
Wireless charging: Recharge a phone by placing it near an ultrabook
In case you hadn’t noticed, Intel has a lot of big plans for future ultrabooks. The company wants to see thin and light laptops thinner batteries, high resolution displays, and cheaper cases, among other things. But Intel isn’t just focused on making ultrabooks smaller and cheaper. The company is also looking at adding features such […]
$3.1 billion later, Qualcomm is now the proud owner of Atheros
Earlier this year chip maker Qualcomm announced plans to acquire Atheros Communications. Now it’s official. The $3.1 billion acquisition is complete and Atheros is now a subsidiary of Qualcomm. Qualcomm is already one of the top chip designers for cellphones, offering speedy smartphone processors and wireless communications. But Atheros has had a broader focus, producing […]
Bluetooth 4.0 devices could be on the way
Bluetooth is a wireless technology that lets you connect devices over short distances. For instance, you can use Bluetooth to connect a headset to your phone without wires, or link a wireless mouse to a computer. You can also transmit other forms of data, such as sharing an internet connection between two devices. The problem […]
Starbucks joins the 21st century, makes free WiFi easier to access
As expected, Starbucks is now making it easier to access free WiFi at all of its coffee shops in the US. The company has been offering free WiFi for a few years now, but until today you had to register for an AT&T account to use the service — which kind of slows down the […]
Best Buy to offer mobile broadband plan
Best Buy already offers a number of phones and laptop computers that are bundled with mobile broadband plans from Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T. Now it looks like Best Buy is preparing to offer its own wireless plan, allowing users to get online for prices ranging from $40 to $60 per month. Honestly, the plans […]
Toshiba NB300 netbook shows up at the FCC
Did anybody order a next-generation Toshiba netbook with 3G wireless and GPS capabilities? Because it looks like you’re about to get one. Sure, it might not actually ship in time for the holiday season, but the FCC has published documents related to an upcoming Toshiba NB300 mini-laptop and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s introduced […]
Novatel develops a combination 3G/WiFi module for Dell notebooks
Novatel Wireless has filed documents with the FCC demonstrating a new laptop module that supports both WiFi and 3G wireless connections. Typically you need two separate modules for these different features, but by combining a 3G modem with an 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi module PC makers may be able to cut down on size and price. The […]
Logitech Unifying Receiver could give Bluetooth a run for the money
If you’ve got a Bluetooth enabled netbook, you can plug in a number of wireless devices including keyboards, mice, headphones, and whatnot. But that means futzing with Bluetooth software to configure everything correctly, and that can be a real hassle sometimes. While wireless USB is expected to shake things up any day now, Logitech has […]