LG recently has announced its Optimus LTE 2 smart phone which comes with a whooping 2GB of RAM. That’s double of most high end smart phones today including the recently announced Samsung Galaxy S III. Having double the amount of RAM does help in multi-tasking especially when running intensive apps concurrently.

Besides the memory, the Optimus LTE 2 also comes with True HD IPS display (obviously a jab at PenTile displays) that pushes 1280×720 pixels, a generous 2,150 mAh battery and runs on the latest Ice Cream Sandwich. There’s no mention of processor and storage but it is likely to be a dual-core processor, which is typical for LTE devices these days.

Another interesting feature is its wireless charging capabilities. Details are scarce at the moment but is said to be compliant with Wireless Charging standards. The device will hit the South Korean markets end of this month. We wonder if LG will be releasing an international version (non-LTE) as well.

More photos of the Optimus LTE 2 after the break including a photo of it charging on a induction mat.

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	Android, LG, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS
	LG, LG Optimus LTE, LG Optimus LTE 2, lte

Nokia today announced its first LTE smartphone, the Nokia Lumia 900 running on Windows Phone 7.5. Other than the 4.3-inch 800×480 pixel AMOLED ClearBlack Display, a 1.3MP f/2.4 front camera and LTE connectivity, everything else about the Lumia 900 is pretty much identical to its smaller-screened stable mate, the Nokia Lumia 800, including the single-piece polycarbonate body and the 1.4GHz single-core processor with 512MB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. You also get the same 8MP with a 28mm f/2.2 Carl Zeiss camera as on the Lumia 800. Also, being a LTE device, the battery on the Nokia Lumia 900 has been beefed up to 1840mAh compared to the 1450mAh unit in the 800.

The Lumia 900 is scheduled to hit stores within this quarter and as the title suggests, the phone is for the US market only at the moment. Closer to home, we’ve gotten word that Nokia is currently gearing up to launch the Lumia 800 and 710 in Malaysia. No word on the exact date but the indication is that it will happen before the end of March.

Whatever it is, Nokia had better haul ass because the Lumia is going to face some tough competition from the Android camp especially from Sony Ericsson and Samsung looking to refresh their smartphone range with ICS-ready device right about the same time as Nokia is looking to launch Lumia in Malaysia.

Considering the choices available and soon to be available, would the Lumia series be a consideration for you?

Head on to after the jump for the full Nokia CES keynote launching the Lumia 900.

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	Mobile Devices, Nokia, Video
	lte, nokia, Nokia Lumia, Nokia Lumia 900, windows phone

Update: At 1625hrs DiGi announced via Twitter that services in affected areas in Petaling Jaya and Damansara has been fully restored.

If you’re using DiGi and are in Petaling Jaya and Damansara and are currently experiencing problems getting connected to the internet and, making and receiving phone calls, well then you’re not alone.

As it turns out the DiGi is currently having issues with its network in Petaling Jaya and Damansara. We can’t determine how many customers are affected by this but the fact that DiGi has made a public announcement about the issue via its Twitter account indicates to us that the issue is something that affects a lot of people.

DiGi is currently undergoing an ambitious network upgrade exercise. Whilst this is going on, DiGi say subscribers can expect intermittent network disruption but referring to the update schedule posted by DiGi, upgrades in Petaling Jaya should have been completed by December 16. In the schedule, DiGi assures that “there would be no service interruptions in your area if it is not listed in the Upgrade Schedule” and Damansara is currently not listed in the update schedule. It’s also worth pointing out that the schedule has not been updated since December 2.

With the network upgrade DiGi hopes to be the first LTE network in the country by the end of the year and also at the same time deliver a more robust and reliable 3G service to customers. While DiGi’s aspirations are indeed noble, we’re not sure if subscribers are patient enough to wade through the disruptions as DiGi sorts out its network. Chances are most won’t be.

	DiGi, Industry in General, Network Outages, Players on the Field
	DiGi, DiGi LTE, DiGi network, DiGi network interuption, DiGi network upgrade, DiGi service interuption, lte, LTE Malaysia, network, network outage, network upgrade, service interuption, service outage, Tomorrow Network

First, the UK gets the white version, now the US gets a super Galaxy Nexus with LTE connectivity and an ultra-fast 1.5GHz dual-core processor while we’re stuck with just a 1.2Ghz dual-core processor and HSPA+ connectivity. Ini tidak adil!

But apart from the faster processor and LTE connectivity, all the other specs in the pimped up Galaxy Nexus remains the same as the standard version.

Now, why can’t Yes offer a WiMAX version with uprated specs? Or perhaps when DiGi’s LTE network comes online, we will be able to get uprated devices like this One can certainly hope.

Yes and DiGi, you know what to do.

[source]

	Galaxy Nexus, LTE, Mobile Devices, Samsung, Technologies
	Galaxy Nexus, Galaxy Nexus LTE, Galaxy Nexus Malaysia, google, lte, Samsung

Since December 2011, DiGi has begun a network upgrade of epic proportions. DiGi says the exercise is the single most ambitious network modernisation the operator has embarked upon. That’s also indirectly saying that its network was probably not able to cope with the ever growing hunger for mobile data in Malaysia.

The upgrade is expected to continue through 2012 and within this period DiGi targets to upgrade over 400 sites a month on average. Once completed, a total of over 5,000 DiGi sites will have been upgraded.

DiGi says its “Tomorrow Network” will be Malaysia’s first LTE-equipped network by the end of 2012. At the same time the upgraded network will also expand existing EDGE and 3G coverage to 95.8% of the Malaysian population. In addition, DiGi also promises a more stable and environmentally friendly network once the year round upgrade is completed.

It’s certainly interesting to see what this new DiGi network can deliver to consumers. But we noticed that DiGi didn’t specifically put a number to how large its LTE network will be. Being Malaysia’s first publicly accessible LTE network is commendable but if it’s just a small coverage area confined to city centres, it wouldn’t be that useful either.

In this respect, Yes did an amazing job with its WiMAX network covering over 60% of the populated areas in West Malaysia from day one. What Yes did is a hard act to follow but it is not impossible and we’re pretty sure DiGi is aware of this. So we’re expecting DiGi’s LTE footprint to be considerable so that it will be practical.

While all this is fine and dandy, DiGi subscribers can expect some network disruption as the operator upgrade its network in stages. DiGi has put up an upgrade schedule where you can check which areas are currently being upgraded (thus will be prone to network disruptions). At time of writing, areas in Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Subang are affected. Do check the website periodically to see the latest areas affected by the upgrade.

We would like the information presented in the upgrade schedule to also include areas in which the upgrade works have been completed. This way, users can try the new network out for themselves and see if there are discernible increase in network performance and stability.

All the best in your network upgrade DiGi. To DiGi subscribers in the upgrade areas, do let us know if you noticed any difference in network performance and stability. Thanks!

For more on DiGi’s Tomorrow Network, click here.

	DiGi, Network Outages, Players on the Field
	DiGi, DiGi LTE, DiGi network upgrade, lte, LTE Malaysia, network upgrade, Tomorrow Network

So it seems Malaysia has a new 4G operator.

Yesterday, Puncak Semangat Sdn. Bhd. (PSSB) announced that it will be the first Bumiputera company to offer telecommunications services based on LTE. It’s Managing Director, Datuk Abdullah Kadir Bacha says that the services PSSB will offer will reduce the digital gap between rural and urban areas by offering broadband access and related content to all Malaysians — all the same-old, same-old PR speak.

PSSB says that it wants to deploy a nationwide 4G network based on LTE but there was no timeline given on when this network will be deployed.

PSSB is a privately owned company that was founded in 1993 with five other subsidiaries under its name.

A quick check on Google revealed very little about PSSB and its MD that’s relevant to this news. Building a mobile network is tremendously complex and requires huge sums of money. In the course of the mobile industry in Malaysia, many have tried and many have failed. In terms of 4G, out of the four, all but only two WiMAX operators are actively in business at the moment. Even established 3G operators are cautious when it comes to 4G deploymen though Maxis and DiGi have indicated that they are looking to deploy LTE networks sometime in 2012.

So the question is, does PSSB have what it takes to deploy a nationwide 4G network? We’re not saying “no” but looking at past records of other operators and judging by the lack of background info on PSSB, its difficult to say “yes” as well.

What do you think?

[source]

	Industry in General, LTE, Players on the Field, Technologies
	4g, Datuk Abdullah Kadir Bacha, Datuk Seri Dr. Rais Yatim, lte, MCMC, PSSB, Puncak Semangat Sdn. Bhd., rais yatim, skmm

Engadget has a picture of a new Android device from LG that supports LTE. It is believed to be slated for middle of next year as part of Verizon’s LTE roll out in the states.

From the picture, the high end device comes with a HD camera, either HD 720p or 1080p and it also comes with a front facing camera. At the back, there’s couple of logos which reported to be WiFi and DLNA.

Since we are talking about LTE, ITU has ruled out the current WiMAX and LTE as 4G. Only the upcoming WiMAX2 and LTE Advanced are considered true 4G. Looks like our ’4G’ players are not backing down from their 4G claim anytime soon. One of the CEOs now diverts attention to ‘customers’.

[ SOURCE ]

	Android, LG, Mobile Devices, Mobile OS, Rumour Mill
	Android, LG, lte, Verizon, Verizon Wireless

All around the world, there has been a long debate as to what is 4G. Is it LTE or is it WiMAX? Well, as it turns out, technically neither are. The UN sanctioned International Telecommunications Union (ITU) have issued a release outlining specifically what is 4G.

We’re sad to inform that right now, the current iteration of WiMAX and LTE that’s commercially available around the world does not cut the mustard.

The ITU defines 4G as wireless networks using either LTE-Advanced or WiMAX 2 running the 802.16m standard. Right now in Malaysia, the WiMAX touting to be 4G operators are running on WiMAX 802.16e and this falls out of the ITU’s classification of 4G. On the same note, there’s no commercial LTE network currently available.

So what does this mean to the layman? Nothing actually. Honestly we think people don’t really care what technology they get their wireless broadband on. What’s important is is that it’s fast, stable and affordable. So telcos don’t get caught up in all the mumbo jumbo and focus on delivering a good broadband service ok.

Head on after the jump for the official release from ITU.

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	Industry in General, LTE, Technologies, WiMAX
	4g, ITU, lte, LTE-Advanced, next-generation wireless standards, WiMAX, WiMAX2

Another update on 4G LTE in Malaysia. The Star reports that majority of the earlier mentioned 9 companies have been informed via fax that they have been allocated the 2.6GHz spectrum for 4G LTE use. This will only take effect on 1st January 2013 which is a long way to go, and time is something that the players need to roll out commercially. As mentioned earlier, the 9 companies are Maxis, DiGi, Celcom, U Mobile, P1, AMAX, YTL, REDtone and a new comer. Each of them will be getting 20MHz block of the spectrum.

2 years should give the players sufficient head start to evaluate vendors, conduct trials and plan out their coverage expansion. By 2013, we should have more 4G LTE devices in the market. Hopefully better than the Samsung Craft, the first 4G LTE phone.

[ SOURCE ]

	AMAX, Celcom, DiGi, Industry in General, LTE, Maxis, P1, Players on the Field, REDTone, Technologies, U Mobile, Yes
	3G, 4g, 4G LTE, 4G LTE Malaysia, 4G Malaysia, 4g wimax, amax, asiaspace, Celcom, Celcom Axiata, DiGi, Long Term Evolution, lte, LTE Malaysia, Maxis, P1, P1 WiMAX, REDTone, REDtone WiMAX, U Mobile, WiMAX, Yes, YTLcomms

Samsung has announced the Craft (SCH-R900) which is the first ever 4G LTE phone that’s coming to MetroPCS in Las Vegas, US. It features an AMOLED screen, TouchWiz UI and a slider QWERTY keyboard. It also comes with a rather low 3.2MP Camera with 2GB microSD included. No mention of the OS yet but it might be running on Samsung’s Bada OS.

Looking at the device, you can’t help to notice that it is looks cheap. Being the first 4G LTE device, we would expect something better. Even their 4G WiMAX device, the Epic 4G looks more premium. Let’s hope there are higher end models for 4G LTE in the works. How about a Galaxy S variant?

[ SOURCE, VIA ]

	LTE, Mobile Devices, Samsung, Technologies
	4g, 4G LTE, 4G LTE Phone, lte, MetroPCS, Samsung, Samsung Craft, SCH-R900