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AT&T’s LTE to blanket 103 markets, with 24 new markets announced this week

AT&T just revealed its 4G LTE now blankets over 150 million people across the United States, more than doubling where it stood at the end of 2011 in terms of people covered, and now it plans to push full steam ahead by expanding to 103 markets total, with more expected by the end of 2012.

The carrier further noted its 4G LTE coverage is “part of the nation’s largest 4G network” that services 3,000 more 4G areas than Verizon currently does (although much of that is slower HSPA 4G).

Moreover, as AT&T’s 4G LTE coverage continues to widen, customers can access 4G speeds “outside of 4G LTE areas on the nation’s largest 4G network, unlike competitors, whose smartphone customers fall back to slower 3G technologies when outside of LTE coverage.”

4G LTE expansions announced today: 

  • Charleston, S.C.
  • Columbia, S.C.
  • Greenville, S.C.
  • Columbus, Ohio
  • Toledo, Ohio
  • Corvallis, Ore.
  • Eugene, Ore.
  • El Paso, Texas
  • Jonesboro, Ark.
  • Mobile, Ala.
  • Pensacola, Fla.
  • Portland, Maine
  • Saratoga Springs, N.Y,
  • South Bend-Mishawaka, Ind.
  • Bridgeport, CT expansion (in Fairfield County/Danbury)
  • South Detroit expansion (in Monroe/Downriver)

Today’s expansion notice comes just two days after the carrier also announced its 4G LTE network would light up in Daytona Beach, Fla. Denver, Colo., Louisville, K.Y., Milwaukee, Wis., Provo-Orem, Utah, Tacoma, Wash., York, Pa., and Washington D.C.

This article is cross-posted on 9to5Mac.

Get the full press release below.

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HTC Rezound announced on Verizon LTE for $299 on November 14th, featuring Beats Audio and 720p 4.3-inch display

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HTC and Verizon have just announced the rumored HTC Rezound (formerly Vigor) at their event in New York City. The HTC Rezound is available on Verizon for $299 with two year contract, featuring Android 2.3, Verizon LTE, a 720P 4.3-inch display, 1.5-GHz processor, and 1GB of RAM. You can notice the Beats Audio branding on the back of the device, in which headphones are includes. This device is sure to go head-to-head with Samsung’s Nexus Prime. Sadly, the Rezound won’t get Ice Cream Sandwich until early Q1 of 2012.

The HTC Rezound will be available at Best Buy and Verizon for $299 on November 14th.

[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CCZuMH5mYs”]

We’ll have a hands-on of the device when the event ends in just a few minutes. In the mean time, check out the press shots of the device after the break:


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Ultra-thin ‘Toshiba Thrive’ Honeycomb tablet coming soon, possible IFA announcement

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It looks like Samsung isn’t the only one set on launching an Android-powered tablet at this year’s IFA. According to a translation of a Notebook Italia story, Toshiba is planning on introducing a refreshed version of their 10.1-inch Honeycomb tablet known as ‘Thrive’.

As you can see from the image above, the new refreshed Thrive is expected to be super thin upgrade that will more than likely do away with the full-size USB port, SD card slot, and HDMI (opting for mini USB, HDMI, and micro SD ports). The translation also notes the device is “dominated by the screen edge to edge and brushed-metal finish on the cover. The tablet is completely surrounded by a chrome frame crossed by a central groove.”

Toshiba’s Thrive tablet launched to less than stellar reviews after having gone up for U.S. pre-orders in June. The Thrive’s specs weren’t the issue (it currently packs a Tegra 2 chipset, 1 GB DDR2 RAM, 5MP back and 2MP front camera, and ranges from 8GB to 32 GB in storage). The real problem is the Thrive chunky design (0.66 inches thick) which has been described as “huge” and “bulky”. The current Thrive line up weighs in at 1.6 pounds (comparable to the first-gen iPad which has been considerably slimmed down for the iPad 2).

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Google to pay $500 million settlement for showing illegal online pharmacy ads

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Google will have to pony up $500 million in charges related to ads shown from online pharmacies that “operate outside the law”, according to a report from NYTimes citing sources “briefed on the investigation”.

The charges relate to an investigation launched in May which accused Google of displaying ads from illegally operated online pharmacies who allegedly sell “counterfeit drugs” or fail to “require a prescription”. While site owners are liable for the ads they display on their websites, Google is obviously being held somewhat accountable.

This isn’t Google’s first run in with shady online pharmacies. The company took to their official blog last year voice their frustrations calling the process of regulating online pharmacies an “ongoing, escalating cat-and-mouse game”.

The post explained:
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Samsung releases Galaxy S II teaser video for US, August 29 unveiling imminent

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUinl4Wclr4&feature=player_embedded]

Samsung already told us “something big is coming” on September 1st during this year’s IFA in an announcement accompanied by two extremely vague teaser videos. While we’re still unsure which of the many rumoured devices will be unveiled, the teaser vid above released by the company today indicates their upcoming August 29 announcement in New York will be focused on bringing the Samsung Galaxy S II to US carriers.

We’re not exactly impressed with the creativity in the ad/teaser vid, but at least it isn’t the typical iPhone/Apple commercial knock off. There are many that hope the September 1st announcement would bring that mysterious Ice Cream Sandwich-powered, 4.65-inch (hybrid tablet/phone?) “GT-I9250” device we’ve heard about. There is definitely still a possibility Samsung will take time to unveil new products other than the Galaxy S II at IFA, we’re hoping to get a sneak peek at a new tablet (perhaps a 7-inch Galaxy tab refresh). We’ll be on hand on August 29 for the New York event as well as during IFA to bring you the latest updates.

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Microsoft responds to Google/Motorola acquisition: Windows Phone is the only “truly open mobile ecosystem”

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If you haven’t heard by now, Google has shocked many this week with their acquisition of Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion, which still may have to pass regulatory review for GOOG to avoid an unusually high $2.5b reverse termination fee. However, while there might be a few hoping the deal falls through, Microsoft is taking this time to convince smartphone makers the Windows Phone platform is the only “truly open mobile ecosystem”.

President of Windows Phone division, Andy Lees, provided the following statement (via WinSuperSite) following the Google/Motorola acquisition announcement:

“Investing in a broad and truly open mobile ecosystem is important for the industry and consumers alike, and Windows Phone is now the only platform that does so with equal opportunity for all partners..”

This comes after Microsoft announced a deal with Nokia in February that would see Windows Phone 7 become Nokia’s primary OS for smartphones (a deal that appears to give Nokia an unfair advantage over other partners). As a result, Nokia will be working closely with Microsoft and integrating a ton of their own content into the OS including their content and application store, and the Nokia Maps app. The handsets will also receive the Xbox Live, Zune music store, and Bing search treatment from Microsoft.

While the deal isn’t exclusive (allowing Microsoft to partner with other manufacturers and Nokia to make devices powered by another OS), it certainly gives the two companies an unfair advantage over other OEMs considering the Windows Phone platform… and seems to contradict Lees’ statement of the OS being an “equal opportunity for all partners”. Google’s acquisition of Motorola may have a bigger impact down the line depending on their plans for the company… but for the time being the Google/Motorola partnership doesn’t provide any less incentive for new Android partners than the Microsoft/Nokia deal does for potential Windows Phone manufacturers.

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